《A Professor of Magic at Hogwarts》


 Chapter 1: Felix Harp

    Chapter 1: Felix Harp


    July 1992, London.


    Within a grand building nestled in the heart of London''smercial district, skilled professionals bustled ceaselessly, their discussions mixing with the tter of keyboards. Meanwhile, in a small makeshift conference room, a solemn conversation was taking ce.


    "Felix, have you truly made up your mind? Although you''ve been with thepany for less than a year, I swear your talents have already gained the recognition of everyone here. If you stay, believe me, you will achieve greatness!" spoke a quintessential middle-aged British man. He wore a polished business suit, his neatly curled hair giving him a distinguished appearance.


    Seated across from him was a young man of around twenty, strikingly handsome, with a pair of light blue eyes that left asting impression. At this moment, Felix smiled, "Boss, I''ve made up my mind."


    The middle-aged man stared deeply into Felix''s eyes for a while, witnessing his unwavering resolve. He sighed resignedly, "Very well, you win."


    Felix''s mild smile emerged as he stood up, picking up the suit jacket draped over his chair. He extended his hand to shake the hand of the middle-aged man who had also risen. The middle-aged man stepped closer, opened his arms, and embraced Felix tightly, murmuring softly, "Different paths for different folks, right? I believe we''ve lost a promising neer."


    Felix blinked his light blue eyes, "We''ll always encounter even better people."


    Half an hourter, Felix packed his belongings and exited the building. As he approached the exit, he watched the flow of people on the street, filled with anticipation.


    ...


    Carrying a small suitcase, Felix strolled down the street, asionally pausing to step aside as vehicles zoomed by. Yet, he took keen interest in examining the different makes and models of cars.


    "Antique cars, hmm~"


    His steps were light and brisk, and the somewhat lengthy journey did not fatigue him; rather, it invigorated him.


    After nearly an hour of walking, he finally arrived back at his temporary residence in the city, or one might say, his home.


    The street scenery grew increasingly familiar, and Felix spotted more than one familiar face. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Murphy."


    "Good afternoon, Mr. Harp."


    After exchanging pleasantries with some familiar faces, Felix finally stood before his own front door.


    He retrieved his key, unlocked the door.


    Stepping inside, he closed the door.


    "Ah!" Felix let out a triumphant exmation, shutting his eyes and spreading his arms wide. And in that very moment, the ordinary house seemed toe to life all at once.


    The suitcase slipped from his grasp and floated, gliding over to the closet. The closet door swung open on its own, the dozen or so hanging clothes on the upper rack lifting slightly to make way for thefortable cement of the suitcase.


    Felix''s suit and white shirt removed themselves, his tie twisted itself off from around his neck, hanging together on the closet''s crossbar. There were three other exquisitely colored ties hanging there as well.


    His belt loosened itself from his waist, and as he took a step forward, his trousers smoothly separated. Felix beckoned with his hand, and a blue silk robe swiftly flew out, draping itself around him, the buttons fastening themselves neatly.


    With a gentle snap of his fingers, soft music filled the air. Still with his eyes closed, Felix waved his hands like a conductor, producing a tinkling sound from the kitchen. After a while, a cup of rich, steaming coffee floated before him, emitting warmth.


    He lifted the cup, taking a sip to the apaniment of the music, a thoroughly contented smile gracing his face.


    ...


    Felix Harp, apart from being a recent ex-frencer, is also an adult wizard.


    He graduated from Hogwarts¡ªthe finest and only magical school in the British Isles.


    Since the day Felix received that splendidly adorned owl post from the orphanage, a decade has flown by. In those ten years, he not only graduated from Hogwarts but also transformed from a young boy into a mature twenty-one-year-old man.


    "Time flies by so quickly. It''s been three years since I graduated," Felix mused while seated on the sofa.


    He then muttered with a touch of mncholy, "And it''s been 21 years since the journey began."


    Indeed, beyond his status as a frence professional and a discreet wizard, Felix harbors a most concealed secret: he''s a time traveler.


    Only the heavens know how surprised and exhrated he was upon receiving that invitation letter from the wizarding world! The world of Harry Potter! The magic-filled escapades of the trio!


    But s, they were not of the same generation.


    When he entered Hogwarts and naively inquired about Harry Potter''s information, he learned that he was a whole nine years older than him. In other words, during his time at school, they wouldn''t even cross paths.


    Admittedly, Felix wasn''t a "Potterhead" and was only vaguely familiar with the plot.


    Vaguely familiar.


    After all, he couldn''t predict the future and had no way of knowing he would end up in the actual magical realm. If he could have foreseen it, he would''ve memorized every word!


    What truly brought him some insight into the plot was the rise of short videoster on, like certain snippets.


    And it''s precisely through these that he managed to piece together a rough storyline.


    But remembering the details? That was simply wishful thinking.


    Fortunately, what really interested him was the wondrous magic, the tangible, touchable magic world. And he had all of that.


    Evening approached.


    Felix sat at his desk, quietly perusing a magical tome, a cup of hot tea by his side.


    The clock ticked away, irritatingly exacerbating his restlessness, disturbing his previously serene mind.


    He was waiting for a letter.


    An incredibly important letter!


    As time flowed on, finally¡ªoutside the window, a soft "tap tap" sounded. An owlnded soundlessly on the windowsill, gently tapping the ss.


    "Atst!" Felix''s heart raced in anticipation. His wand slid out, and with a gentle flourish, the window swung open, allowing the owl to glide in.


    The owl circled overhead twice before dropping an envelope,nding on his desk, and absentmindedly pecking at its feathers.


    Felix swiftly seized the envelope. On its back, a wax seal, a coat of arms, and arge letter "H" surrounded by an eagle, a lion, a badger, and a snake.


    He unsealed the envelope and withdrew the letter. It read:<blockquote>


    Dear Mr. Felix Harp,


    We are pleased to inform you that your application for employment (Muggle Studies) has been epted. An interview is scheduled for 21st July at 10 o''clock in the morning. Please be prepared in advance.


    Also: Use Floo Powder to ess the school (Location: Deputy Headmistress''s office, Hogwarts). If you intend to use an alternative method, please inform us in advance.


    Deputy Headmistress (Female) Minerva McGonagall</blockquote>


    Felix couldn''t help but punch the air, promptly downing the steamy cup of tea on his desk!

 Chapter 2: The First Half of My Life

    Chapter 2: The First Half of My Life


    He had been waiting for this day for three years.


    Three years, truly a long time.


    Felix Harp sat back in his chair, lost in thought, apanied by the scent of tea, as if his memories were transported back to ten years ago.


    Back then, he was still an ignorant 11-year-old, carrying dreams and aspirations, much like a neer striving to make a living in the city.


    Felix admitted to having great ambition. Anyone with mature thoughts and foreknowledge of certain events wouldn''tck the desire to achieve something meaningful. Consequently, he found himself sorted into Slytherin House as a matter of course.


    However, this house, whose keywords were ambition, lineage, and honor, wasn''t particrly friendly to him. It had been less than a year since the fall of the enigmatic figure, and remnants of the "pure-blood" ideology still held sway. Slytherin House, as the stronghold of pure-blood families, was undergoing intense internal turbulence.


    And precisely during this time, a student from a Muggle orphanage was sorted into Slytherin (though one of his parents might have been a wizard, which wasn''t entirely impossible given the circumstances of that era). The magnitude of the impact on them could easily be imagined¡ªindeed, cases like Felix were rare, though not entirely unheard of.


    If Felix were just an ordinary person, or even a regr time traveler, his seven years at school might have been filled with terms like "school violence," "bullying," and "indifference," which could have influenced him deeply.


    But, unfortunately, Felix wasn''t an ordinary person. He was a man (or boy) with a golden finger¡ªa metaphorical ability to improve certain practical magic spells through repeated practice, surpassing his current level of magical theory.


    Of course, it wasn''t without limits.


    For instance, if his magical theory level was at grade 1, he could use extensive, repeated, and ultra-intensive practice to elevate a specific magical spell to grade 2 or even grade 3, although it became progressively more difficult as he went higher.


    Although the golden finger wasn''t overwhelmingly powerful, it helped him get through the initial awkward period. Reflecting on his first three years at school, one could say it was a masterpiece of "face-pping" in this magical world:


    Before starting school, driven by his curiosity about magic and certain fantasies exclusive to adults, apart from trying out some simple spells, he spent most of his time on mastering two spells: "Petrificus Totalus" and "Protego."


    One offensive and one defensive, reflecting his moderate approach to character development in his previous life''s games.


    Rtively speaking, "Petrificus Totalus" was simpler. After experiencing thousands of dull casting exercises, Felix forcibly advanced it to grade 2. "Protego," on the other hand, was only cast at a barely eptable grade 1 level.


    For someone with near-zero theoretical levels, this was nothing short of a miracle! The magical world should have awarded him a Merlin Badge.


    And armed with grade 2 "Petrificus Totalus," in the first week of school, Felix triumphed over the entire Slytherin first-year ss, even taking down a second-year boy who had cursed him, leaving him shivering in the restroom for a whole night.


    This action had far-reaching consequences, causing even Severus Snape, who had recently be the youngest Slytherin House Head in history, a considerable headache.


    Snape had to bnce external pressure from other Slytherin parents while dealing with the extremelyplex internal conflicts within the house. Fairly speaking, this put the newly appointed Professor Snape''s management skills to an extreme test.


    But what caused even more headaches for Snape was yet toe. At the end of his first year, Felix defeated the entire second-year ss in a magical duel, leaving a considerable number of seats empty at the House Cup celebration.


    As a result, during the entire holiday period, Felix was subjected to mandatory schoolbor¡ªa situation that oddly suited his desires.


    Otherwise, he suspected some parents might have paid him a visit with curses in mind! In the circumstances of that time, this wasn''t just baseless imagination.


    By his second year, under Snape''s pressure, Felix had be more restrained, refraining from sending Slytherin students to the infirmary on arge scale. Instead, he did it one by one.


    At the end of his third year, Felix Harp had be the de facto strongest student of Slytherin House, a crowned king without a crown. The effects were significant¡ªno one dared to disrespect him within the whole school. Of course, there were still those outside the school who boasted arrogantly, vowing to show him a lesson while he remained within the school''s confines.


    Yes, Felix had spent a full three years at the school, never going anywhere beyond Diagon Alley to buy his textbooks.


    A pitiable school life...


    However, as in any story, there are twists, and Felix''s came in his fourth year.


    During the fourth-year holiday, Felix finally stepped out of the school and, over the course of the break, defeated seven adult wizards who had attempted to attack him, sending them all to Azkaban.


    This was quite the sensation at the time, but an even bigger story followed. During Felix''s fifth-year entrance feast, he challenged one of the sacred 28 pure-blood families, the Shafiqs, to a pure-blood family duel.


    Felix can still recall the moment when the usuallyposed Professor Snape''s jaw dropped and Dumbledore''s eyes widened at that audacious request. Quite amusing, really! Felix disyed a childlike smile as he delved into the memories.


    The so-called pure-blood family duel was an ancient form ofbat, where family members would duel until one side waspletely defeated or wiped out!


    Even in the most chaotic and disorderly times, this kind of duel was exceedingly rare. However, it had to be admitted that this form of duel existed and hadn''t been abolished.


    When Felix stood before the sole representative of the Shafiq family, in front of everyone, and systematically followed the ancient duel etiquette to humiliate the Shafiq family (one of the necessary steps in a family duel), the sixth-year Shafiq copsed on the ground, his body twitching.


    Even when Headmaster Dumbledore tried to dissuade him after the feast, Felix held firm to his decision. He remembers what he said to Dumbledore, "Headmaster, the Shafiqs attacked me twice during the summer! Four of them in total! The first time it was one person, and the second time it was three. Do you know what spells they used?"


    Dumbledore, his hair graying, had eyes deep with wisdom, but he remained silent.


    Felix calmly continued, "They used the Unforgivable Curses, apart from the Killing Curse, the other two. Of course, they didn''t seed. It''s hard to believe that even after four years since the fall of the enigmatic figure, people would still do such things."


    Dumbledore, sounding somewhat weary, said, "The Shafiqs aren''t Death Eaters¡ªat least not all of them. They hold onto pure-blood ideology... a stubborn family."


    "But that doesn''t make much of a difference to me, does it? They sent four people after me in the summer. As far as I know, the Shafiq family doesn''t have a lot of members. Including the elderly and the underage, there are only ten of them, right?"


    ...


    The Shafiq family was far from a match. Felix''sbat abilities had been recognized during the summer, and with the four Shafiqs sent to Azkaban, their remaining forces were fewer than four!


    They could only resort to using their influence to attempt countermeasures, but the effect was minimal. Before pure-blood families, family honor was of the utmost importance.


    This unfinished duel caused quite a stir in the entire British magical world. After nearly half a year of twists and turns, it concluded with the Shafiq family permanently leaving the British magical world. The age-old tradition of pure-blood family duels was also formally abolished through legal means, influenced by a few individuals.


    This event came to be known as the 87 Duel Event, with far-reaching consequences. For some staunch families, its impact wasn''t lesser than the downfall of Voldemort!


    During his fifth-year holiday, Felix visited several pure-blood families. In summary, he had friendly meetings and reached amicable understandings on certain matters.


    Felix felt content; pure-blood families were reasonable after all!


    During his final two years at Hogwarts, Felix lived peacefully, innocuously delving into the mysteries of magic. When graduation approached, he requested to stay at the school as a teacher. Dumbledore refused on the grounds of his young age. Nevertheless, other than that, he spent his time contentedly, and the little snakes behaved well.


    Summing up his seven years of school life, he had a rather enjoyable time.


    Of course, Professor Snape might not necessarily think the same way. ording to thetest gossip around Hogwarts, a certain professor''s unpleasant personality had a connection with a troublesome student from his early years of teaching!

 Chapter 3: The Interview

    Chapter 3: The Interview


    July 21st, 10 AM


    Felix Harp was dressed formally, standing by the firece. He tossed a handful of Floo Powder into the mes, calling out, "Hogwarts Deputy Headmistress''s Office." After a sh of green fire, his figure disappeared.


    Inside the Deputy Headmistress''s Office at Hogwarts, Professor McGonagall was sternly organizing school documents.


    The Transfiguration professor, known for her strict demeanor, usually wore an expressionless face, but at this moment, her mood was quite good. Gryffindor House had secured the House Cup after a long hiatusst school year, and the joy of Gryffindor''s Head of House lingered.


    "Pop!"


    A burst of emerald firelight erupted from the firece, and a young, courteous gentleman stepped out.


    Felix Harp surveyed his surroundings briefly, and nothing had changed. How long it had been! He smiled warmly at Professor McGonagall and said, "Professor McGonagall, hello. It''s been a while."


    Professor McGonagall pursed her lips, signaling a quick shift in her mood, perhaps into work mode. "It has indeed been a while, Felix."


    She had taught him too; she was one of his professors. Her feelings toward this famous student wereplex, certainly not of the Snape variety.


    Before the long-awaited House Cup victory, Gryffindor had suffered seven consecutive defeats, an experience deeply connected to Felix Harp.


    Apart from his first three years, Felix had endured a rather rough learning environment, whichpelled him to rise and fight back, resulting in lost points. In the following years, after he found camaraderie with the Slytherins, he seemed to realize his true ce as a Slytherin student, fighting for the honor of the House.


    And in the years that followed, one could sum it up in a single phrase: "Glory belonged to Slytherin."


    ...


    Felix Harp stepped forward, checking his pocket watch. "I hope I haven''t missed the interview."


    Professor McGonagall''s reverie was interrupted. She stood up and led him to the Headmaster''s office. "Chocte Frogs," she said as an incantation, sending Felix Harp inside. Just before he entered, she added, "Your books are quite impressive. It seems you''ve had a fulfilling three years."


    "Thank you, Professor McGonagall." He paused briefly, then smiled and ascended the staircase.


    Three years since graduation, he hadn''t been idly passing the time. Especially after his initial job application failure, he reflected and followed Dumbledore''s advice: "Wander and observe."


    He spent a year traveling the wizarding world, and the remaining two years working, uh, studying the Muggle world.


    The results were remarkable¡ªthree years, three books; two on Muggle studies, one on ancient magical texts.


    He had also amassed a substantial amount of wealth.


    Climbing the long staircase, Felix Harp entered the Headmaster''s office. It was filled with various books and alchemical objects, while portraits of past Hogwarts headmasters adorned the walls.


    Beside the headmaster''s desk, a phoenix dozed with closed eyes.


    Dumbledore was engrossed in some study at his desk, and the entire office was steeped in tranquility.


    ¡°Headmaster Dumbledore, good morning," Felix Harp greeted aloud. As he spoke, the room suddenly came alive.


    The portraits of the headmasters all opened their eyes, watching Felix Harp and pointing fingers, engaged in hushed conversations.


    One portrait, in particr, was excessively dramatic. "Ha! The most outstanding Slytherin has arrived!"


    The man in the portrait sported a goatee, thin eyebrows, and was wearing Slytherin robes. He was Phineas Nigellus ck, one of the least popr Hogwarts headmasters, ording to the students. He was also a Slytherin.


    Felix Harp gracefully bowed.


    At this moment, Headmaster Dumbledore finally looked up. He had a distinctly unique appearance with his silver-white beard trailing down to his chest. His robe was somewhat disheveled, and he wore half-moon sses.


    Yet, none of this was as captivating as his eyes. His eyes were incredibly bright, and the deep blue irises seemed to shimmer.


    Felix Harp found himself slightly entranced; time had left minimal marks on the headmaster, yet it also seemed to have left a great deal.


    "Ah, ah! It''s Felix," Dumbledore stood up, walking over with a lively step. "I''ve been waiting for your arrival."


    Felix Harp shook the headmaster''s hand with a touch of restraint. After all, he was here for a job interview, and he had been rejected three times already.


    The two of them took their seats, Dumbledore''s gaze prating through the thin lenses as he wielded his wand. "What would you like to drink? Pumpkin juice? Tea?" He blinked, "I also have fresh butterbeer."


    "A cup of tea, thank you."


    Dumbledore gave his wand a gentle wave, and a steaming cup of tea drifted in front of Felix Harp. He took a sip, and a tinge of bitterness filled his mouth and nose ¨C it was aged tea. It seemed the headmaster didn''t often drink tea.


    "Sibyll sent me this tea, though personally, I can''t discern its quality. But she says ites from the distant East."


    Chatan!


    Felix Harp thought inwardly, at least one of you is a chatan.


    After the tea was sipped, the conversation transitioned into the main topic.


    "Felix, you''ve been doing exceptionally well these past few years. I''ve been reading your works, and I must say, your approach to Muggle studies is remarkably fresh and thorough... it has given this old man quite a lot to think about."


    Felix Harp smiled, "Thanks to your advice, the Muggle world is truly fascinating, especially in recent decades; they''ve developed rapidly. As for my works... perhaps it''s because Ie from a Muggle background myself, I have an extrayer of understanding for them."


    Dumbledore shook his head. "Your background doesn''t diminish your effort. Many in the wizarding worlde from Muggle backgrounds, yet not all excel in Muggle studies. They might have a deeper understanding of somemon knowledge, but trueprehension is far frommonce."


    Of course, because I was a pure Muggle in my previous life.


    Dumbledore waved his wand, summoning a book from his desk. The title read, "The Struggles of Muggles: A Journey from a Million Years Ago." It was one of Felix Harp''s works. He realized that Dumbledore had been reading his book all this time.


    "This book has been quite inspiring to me. I''ve read it more than once, particrly your perspective on the history of technology ¨C is that the right term? ¨C to exin how Muggles have progressed from primitive creatures over millions of years to their current state. I must say, it''s a marvel."


    "You also pointed out that Muggles experience rapid leaps in their technological level every once in a while, and the intervals between these leaps are growing shorter and shorter. You even predict the next leap is not far off ¨C very thought-provoking!" Dumbledore praised his book endlessly.


    Felix Harp humbly said, "This perspective isn''t entirely mine. In fact, many sociologists in the Muggle world, or rather, Muggle schrs who study Muggles, have contributed to my understanding."


    Dumbledore spoke calmly, "Many Muggles possess wisdom as well. Yet, in the wizarding world, few are willing to acknowledge this."


    "I agree with you, Professor Dumbledore."


    Dumbledore blinked shortly after, seemingly skipping over the previous topic. He yfully remarked, "So, I suppose you''ve read quite a few Muggle works? To be honest, many of my Christmas gifts are books. They seem to think I prefer books. But in reality, I quite enjoy a good pair of woolen socks."


    "Of course, if it''s a book from the Muggle world, I don''t think I''d refuse."


    A ring hint...


    At least he now knew what to give for Christmas gifts...


    "Yes, even though theyck magic, some Muggles spend over a decade toplete a single book, meticulously exploring a single question or theory," Felix Harp murmured softly. "It''s aborious process, and thus, it''s precious."


    Dumbledore looked somewhat content. "It seems you''ve truly gained a great deal over these years." Suddenly, he posed another question, "So, why are you so determined to teach at Hogwarts?"

 Chapter 4: Felixs Theories

    Chapter 4: Felix''s Theories


    Felix seemed somewhat puzzled and inquired, "I don''t understand, Headmaster?"


    Dumbledore ced his hands before him, his gaze contemtive. "What I mean is, your potential is vast, yet you''ve been fixated on returning to Hogwarts! I wonder why."


    The Headmaster''s intent was clear. Felix had already gained considerable renown¡ªthree years since graduation, three remarkable books written. Especially the two about Muggle studies, although their sales weren''t impressive¡ªcertainly notpared to the other professor he had interviewed, who was also an author. The difference in sales between their works was like night and day.


    Undeniably, these two books held immense influence. "A History of Muggle Struggles: From Millennia Past" and "How Muggles Think" had be guiding texts for many magical department dealing with Muggle-rted matters across the world.


    At least Dumbledore himself had discussed some of the content with friends, including the head of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office and members of the Wizengamot, who spoke highly of these two books.


    Felix pondered for a moment and said, "Headmaster Dumbledore, I have a deep connection to Hogwarts. It''s like a home to me, a ce offort! Moreover, I''m genuinely enthusiastic about teaching students. It''s a rewarding endeavor..."


    Dumbledore interrupted him, his bright blue eyes sharpening, showing none of the gentleness one might expect from a centenarian. "We all know that''s not true. I want to know your true thoughts; it''s crucial, especially for determining whether you should be granted a teaching position."


    Felix grew a bit uneasy, feeling the pressure. He instinctively tried to employ the lumency technique, then abruptly stopped himself.


    That wasn''t a wise decision. lumency wasn''t all-powerful, especially when you were of a rtively lower level, not to mention you were facing one of the greatest wizards of this century.


    Luckily, he had made some minor preparations beforeing here¡ª


    For instance, a few drops of Felix Felicis.


    After a brief two-second contemtion, he decided to go with his gut feeling and said, "To bepletely honest."


    Felix finally spoke up, earnestly confessing, "To delve deeper into the mysteries of magic."


    Dumbledore nodded, adopting an attentive demeanor.


    "Headmaster, from the time I entered until I graduated, you''ve been my headmaster. So, you must have a certain understanding of my experiences. Before fifth year, in order to handle certain troubles, I spent a great deal of time on practical magic, neglecting some theoretical subjects." That was true; to avoid being beaten up and punished, he had felt a sense of urgency.


    "During that time, I pursued power, the potency of individual spells. But I was mistaken. It wasn''t until thest two years at school, when I finally had the leisure to delve into the mysteries of magic, that I realized what I had missed." That was also true; his golden finger had rapidly propelled him towards strength but led him astray¡ªfocused solely on the might of magic, neglecting the importance of theory.


    Dumbledore nodded slightly, his tone softening and taking on a hint of curiosity. "So, your research focus is Ancient Runes?"


    This wasn''t hard to deduce, after all, Felix''s three books included not only Muggle Studies but also "Exploring Ancient Runes." Muggle Studies, though, couldn''t exactly be considered a study of magic.


    "Exactly! The deeper one delves into magic, the more inseparable it bes from Ancient Runes. Especially when you need to trace back to the origins and study ancient magic, it bes even more indispensable. It was only in my sixth and seventh years that I realized this. Sadly, in my OWLs exams, I got only an ''A'' in Ancient Runes. I couldn''t continue with advanced studies; I had to resort to self-study." This was more truth, a mistake Felix, in his youthful ignorance, hadmitted.


    Felix continued under the influence of Felix Felicis, his intuition bing sharper, his sentences flowing more smoothly. "I do have ulterior motives, indeed. Hogwarts possesses the world''srgest library, housing many books on Ancient Runes."


    "But on the market¡ª"


    "I''ve read all the books avable on the market. Regrettably, most are theoretical with little practicality¡ªthey seem to view Ancient Runes purely as anguage, using it solely to trante past manuscripts. Moreover, during my research on Muggles, I unexpectedly gained a new inspiration. I tried tobine the two! As you know, Ancient Runes are also essential knowledge for Alchemy."


    Dumbledore became quite intrigued. "Are you suggesting¡ªcorrect me if I''m wrong¡ªthat you wish to integrate alchemy and Muggle artifacts?"


    Felix appeared excited and went on, speaking fluently, thanks to the effects of Felix Felicis. "Yes, but it''s at a preliminary stage¡ªtransforming Muggle artifacts into magical products. For instance, air conditioning¡ªan apparatus that cools the air and maintains indoor temperatures at afortable range. Muggles rely on electricity¡ªa form of energy¡ªto operate it. However, transforming it into a magical item is simpler, with a freezing charm as its core and an enchantment for temperature regtion."


    "Of course, stability must be taken into ount, and that''s where Ancient Runese in."


    "What I''m currently doing goes even further. I''m blending Muggle ingenuity with wizarding magic. You see, Muggles often have numerous ingenious ideas. Some of their concepts are difficult to materialize, but with magic, it bes much simpler!"


    Dumbledore nodded, offering his assessment. "The first step is modification, the second is creation¡ªan ingenious idea."


    The two discussed this matter at length, for a whole three hours, before Dumbledore suddenly snapped back to awareness. He had truly been immersed in the discussion with Felix, who, it could be said, was one of the most exceptional students he had encountered in the past few decades.


    Especially now, after his suggestion, this student, after three years of development, was bursting forth with brilliant ideas!


    Though he was a Slytherin.


    A pity he was a Slytherin!


    Dumbledore fell silent, contemting and hesitating. Time seemed to rewind fifty years in an instant.


    It was too alike, eerily so!


    The same Muggle orphanage background, the same Slytherin House, the same excellence and politeness, the same obsession with power. How should he decide?


    History had proven that perhaps his choice decades ago was wrong. If he hadn''t forced the young man to submit using the mes of magic, if he had cared a bit more back then, or even if he had discovered histent ambition a bit sooner, perhaps a terrifying Dark Lord wouldn''t have emerged.


    So, what about now?


    Seemingly, another simr choice was before him. How should he decide again?


    The old man looked a bit dazed, gazing at the young, handsome, brilliant student before him, as if seeing the shadow of another.


    Voldemort!


    On the other side, Felix seemed puzzled. Everything I''ve said was true, even if selectively. We were having a good conversation earlier, so why does Dumbledore suddenly look soplex and solemn?


    Did I say something wrong?


    Did it sting him?


    What''s going on, exactly?


    Felix had quite the headache!

 Chapter 5: Decided

    Chapter 5: Decided


    The headmaster''s office was once again shrouded in silence.


    After a while, Dumbledore seemed toe back to his senses. He had made a decision.


    Dumbledore chose his words carefully, "I''m sorry, Felix, Professor Babajee has no intention of retiring yet¡­"


    Felix''s expression showed disappointment.


    "However," Dumbledore quickly continued, "it''s clear that you excel in ancient magical texts."


    "Yes, Headmaster," Felix thought of something, suppressing a glimmer of hope rising within him. He stared at Dumbledore with unwavering eyes.


    The old man across the desk didn''t beat around the bush. He straightforwardly revealed his idea, "I would like you to teach Ancient Runes, Felix. Are you willing?"


    "Of course, I am!" Felix blurted out, then slowed down his speech, "Yes, I am willing. But, Professor Babajee..."


    "Ah, Bathilda," Dumbledore sighed as if reminiscing, then exined, "She has served Hogwarts for over fifty years. In recent years, she''s been wishing to take a break and see how the world has changed."


    "A break? Are you suggesting I temporarily teach Ancient Runes? For a whole school year? Or just a semester?" Felix slightly furrowed his brow. This wasn''t exactly what he wanted.


    The library at Hogwarts was immensely rich, and being a professor at the school came with numerous conveniences. He didn''t want just a year or two. He wanted at least five, maybe ten years.


    Dumbledore chuckled, his silver beard trembling slightly. He pointed out earnestly, "Felix, Bathilda is not a pure wizard. She has a magical lineage that sets her apart¡ªher perspective on time is different from ours."


    Another lineage? Felix recalled Bathilda''s appearance. She seemed unchanged from her time as a student to her graduation...


    Could she be a half-blood? A mix of other humanoid races?


    That was possible. The wizarding world had its share of such individuals. The mostmon crossbreeds were between humans and giants, ve, dwarves, and fairies. He knew that there were more than a few at the school.


    Before he coulde to a conclusion, Dumbledore continued, "In Bathilda''s view, taking a break for ten or twenty years is perfectly normal. In fact, when sheined to me about not getting a break, she suggested a few names to rece her, including yours, Felix."


    Felix realized in a moment. His rtionship with this professor was indeed quite good. Though he couldn''t take Ancient Runes in his sixth and seventh years, he had been self-studying with her guidance. Even after graduation, their correspondence hadn''t stopped.


    It could be said that, apart from Dumbledore, Bathilda was the professor he stayed in touch with most after leaving school.


    Professor Dumbledore went on, "Your arrival will make Bathilda quite happy. Over the years, she''s been umting wishes she wants to fulfill. She''s almost filled an entire parchment."


    Seeing this as a stroke of luck, Felix nodded eagerly.


    Stepping out of the headmaster''s office, Felix let out a long sigh. Although the interview process had its twists and turns, in the end, the result was positive. He had finally returned to this ce.


    The heart of the British wizarding world¡ªHogwarts. This time, as a professor.


    Calming his emotions, he returned to Professor McGonagall''s office. He caught a glimpse of the fading silhouette of a phoenix guardian, and it struck him. Dumbledore must have conveyed the oue through the guardian to McGonagall.


    Indeed, Professor McGonagall raised her sses, "I''ve received Dumbledore''s message, Felix. No, I should call you Professor Harp now."


    "You can still call me Felix. I''ll forever be your student."


    McGonagall gave a slight hum, "Professor Snape might not be so pleased."


    Felix scratched his head. He had managed to infuriate Snape considerably back in the day. However, McGonagall swiftly moved on from that topic. She waved her wand, and from therge cab in her office, several rolls of parchment flew out. These parchments were neatly arranged into a stack, reflecting the serious and earnest nature of their owner.


    "These are your ss schedules, student rosters, duties and powers, procurement details, and things I personally believe you might need. Of course, the most urgent question is whether your teaching materials need any changes."


    "Teaching materials?" Felix was a bit perplexed.


    "Yes, teaching materials," McGonagall repeated, "Many professors have their own teaching philosophies. In principle, Hogwarts encourages this. Therefore, they can decide how to conduct their sses, the bnce between theory and practice, and, of course, the selection of teaching materials."


    McGonagall looked at him, "I know you''ve written a book on Ancient Runes."


    Felix understood and pondered for a moment, then decided not to make any changes. "Professor Babajee''s teaching materials are excellent. I gained a lot from them during my time as a student."


    "Very well." Professor McGonagall seemed nonchnt about his decision. However, Felix thought he heard her mutter something under her breath, but the voice was too soft for him to catch. It seemed to involve another professor.


    "If... only the professors were like that..."


    Felix didn''t press further. As a new professor, he didn''t want to stir up trouble before officially starting his position.


    As a Slytherin, he was very goal-oriented in his actions.


    After a while, Professor McGonagall looked up at the motionless Felix and said, "Professor Harp, you may leave. We will send you the official appointment letter and the start date. If there are additional details, they will be included in the letter."


    Felix smiled, "Professor McGonagall, I would like to do some more preparation. You see, even though I''ve made some progress in the field of magic, I''m still quite young, and I don''t have relevant teaching experience. In this regard, you''re experienced, and I greatly need your guidance."


    Whether it was an illusion or not, Felix noticed a brief smile from Professor McGonagall. Of course, it could have been a twitch of the lips; he''d heard that people who rarely smiled were prone to facial tics.


    Felix''s mind was filled with disjointed thoughts.


    "Felix, you''ve always been so polite," McGonagall seemed to sigh with emotion, but she stopped her work by the desk, giving him face. "What would you like to know?"


    "I''d like to start by looking at student information, such as their academic records, the number of students in each house by year, some exceptional or well-known young wizards. If there are evaluations for each student, that would be even better."


    McGonagall gave him a sideways nce and waved her wand soundlessly. The doors of therge cab opened with a tter, and countless rolls of parchment flew out. Felix quickly pulled out his wand and conjured a long table from the feathered quill on the desk.


    McGonagall understood and piled the rolls of parchment onto the long table. "Impressive Transfiguration."


    "Couldn''t have done it without your teaching," Felix said modestly.


    "I remember you didn''t have high marks in Transfiguration for your first three years."


    Felix blushed a bit. At the time, he was busy taming the little snakes in his seventh year, and he didn''t have enough time to practice spells, let alone Transfiguration. As long as it was passable, it was good enough.


    It was onlyter that he picked up Transfiguration.


    McGonagall didn''t linger on his grades because she knew very well the circumstances Felix was in back then. To be honest, she always had reservations about using the Sorting Hat to ce Felix. For a long time, she believed he should have been ced in Gryffindor.


    Just for that recklessness¡ªahem, bravery¡ªhow could he not be in Gryffindor!


    Even among the lions, he was the most impulsive one!


    "These are the materials you asked for, but there are no evaluations. As for some exceptional young wizards, I can only speak from my Gryffindor perspective and mention some names from our house."


    "That''s still very useful." Felix wasn''t picky.


    "Oliver Wood and Percy Weasley in sixth year, Alicia Spi and Angelina Johnson in fourth year, Hermione Granger in second year," then, McGonagall pursed her lips, "Of course, there are also the Weasley twins, Fred and George. Merlin, if they put half the energy they use for pranks into studying..."


    "Is that all? I recall that the famous Harry Potter also started school. Isn''t he in Gryffindor? I''m curious, the name Harry Potter rings a bell across lifetimes."


    "Harry..." It was clear that this name brought even more mixed feelings.

 Chapter 6: Recommendations

    Chapter 6: Rmendations


    What kind of person is Harry Potter?


    Professor McGonagall is undoubtedly one of the most qualified individuals to answer this question. To be fair, apart from a certain unnamed Potions professor, most of the staff members have a favorable impression of Harry.


    Sincere, polite, and just; but on the other hand, he can be a bit impulsive, reckless even¡ªthough that''s not entirely a bad thing, and it certainly suits his Gryffindor nature.


    However, these are all personality evaluations. If we consider his academic achievements...


    It can only be said, can''t go into detail! Detailing it would reveal great potential! Much like some teachers in the previous life during parent-teacher meetings.


    Finally, Professor McGonagall introduced Harry in this way: "Harry is a very friendly young wizard, and he''s quite skilled in Quidditch."


    Leaving Felix Harp scratching his head a bit, I asked what subjects he excelled in, and you tell me he''s friendly? Is that the only thing worth praising?


    But skilled in Quidditch... that seems to indicate a natural aptitude for sports!


    Truth be told, Felix felt a bit envious. Not envious of standing out on the Quidditch pitch, but in his eyes, those with sporting talent were at least half-duelists.


    What does dueling rely on? Spell power, casting skill, mindset, experience, reflexes.


    One could say he fully possessed the first four traits, but as for thest one, reflexes, it can only be described as average, barely notgging behind. But don''t think Felix is weak, thanks to his "plot armor," his spell power far surpasses what he should naturally possess.


    As early as the end of his fourth year, he could stand up to three fully grown wizards and break through their defenses through sheer force.


    Not to mention his current state.


    Comparing him to a certain unnamed Potions professor, Felix''s magical theory might be slightly less advanced due to age, but his spell power unquestionably surpasses thetter by more than a margin.


    And all of this, he achieved through day and night effort!


    Practicing a primary offensive spell over ten thousand times, can you believe it? Take for example, one of his strongest attack spells, "Petrificus Totalus," a spell he first encountered in magic. He now rates it as a top-level sixth-year spell, struggling to break into seventh-year level.


    No other reason, his magical foundation couldn''t support him going further.


    But what does a sixth-year spell mean? Just two years ago, with two sixth-year spells and a little trick, he took down seven American wizarding aces in an instant!


    Unparalleled speed and devastating spell power, that''s how Felix rates himself.


    It''s precisely because Felix, by the end of his fourth year, managed to master two sixth-year spells two levels above, that he has the confidence to face the outside world.


    Felix sighed a bit, if only he had exceptional reflexes, perhaps he wouldn''t need to rely on potion-enhanced finishing moves.


    Fortunately, in the three years since graduation, he hasn''t been idle. A new magic has already taken shape.


    Here, Felix strongly thanks those ck wizards who have made indispensable contributions to his magical career!


    Thank you for showing by example.


    ...


    Felix Harp sat on the other side, perusing the materials provided by Professor McGonagall. Every now and then, he copied some information and recorded statistical data ¡ª this had be his specialty after two years in the Muggle world.


    It should be mentioned that during these two years, he worked at three differentpanies. Every time he left, thepanies were reluctant to part with him, and it wasn''t because he used Confundus Charms!


    In the afternoon, Felix and Professor McGonagall enjoyed tea together. During this time, Felix raised a question.


    "Teaching Assistant?" McGonagall looked a bit puzzled.


    "It''s like an aide, someone who assists the professor with various tasks, like organizing research materials, grading papers, supervising exams, auditing sses, and so on," Felix corrected. "Of course, there are some small perks as well."


    McGonagall understood it a bit now. She rolled her eyes slightly, thinking, What aide? I can see right through your attempt to ck off!


    Just as Severus Snape had said, "Thatd Felix is a true Slytherin!" As soon as he got a teaching position, he began finding ways to shirk his responsibilities!


    "I don''t believe it''s right for a professor to delegate their work to students," Professor McGonagall sternly stated, pursing her lips.


    "Professor McGonagall, you''ve misunderstood me. I actually want to nurture exceptional students."


    McGonagall gave him a look that said, "Don''t try to fool me."


    "It''s true. ording to my n, in the first year, I don''t intend to establish my own professor''s club. After all, I need time to be familiar with teaching and the environment."


    The so-called professor''s club was when certain professors invited outstanding students from different houses in their sses to gather and research magic.


    Commonly known as giving special attention.


    For instance, Professor McGonagall''s Transfiguration Club held asional events to teach magic and techniques not covered in ss or exams.


    McGonagall nodded slightly. As Felix was new, she hadn''t discussed this matter with him at all.


    "Your idea is to discover talents in advance? Prepare for next year''s club?" McGonagall inquired.


    "Exactly!"


    McGonagall considered it for a moment. She thought this could be done and would be beneficial for the students. Just the extra guidance would be like a treat for the high-achievers ¡ª as one of the few outstanding graduates with a dominant presence in the past few decades, Felix was undoubtedly qualified.


    As for the underachievers? Who cared about what the underachievers thought? It had nothing to do with them at all!


    There were no underachievers in the professor''s club.


    "So, what are your criteria?" Professor McGonagall asked. This opportunity wasn''tmon, and she was prepared to use her power to promote her own house''s talents.


    Felix pondered for a moment and proposed a few points. "Well... first is a proactive learner, someone who''s eager to learn and hungry for knowledge. Secondly, good memory. Third... not too high of a year, after all, I''m the first assistant, and I want to spend some time cultivating them."


    "Also, Ancient Runes grades aren''t important; I have special teaching techniques." He added.


    Felix thought a bit more and felt these requirements were sufficient.


    In reality, he was looking for a handyman, someone to help him with various tasks. But even handyman had ranks, low-level underachieving handyman wouldn''t be of much use, they wouldn''t be more helpful than his own magic.


    However, top-notch handyman were different. They werefortable to use, and with a bit of training, they could develop into teaching assistants, magical research aides, even partners¡ªtruly a win-win situation.


    McGonagall didn''t even have her bite of cake anymore. She quickly scanned through the Lion House students'' names in her mind. Wood wasn''t suitable, he had Quidditch conflicts; Percy was good, but he was already in fifth year and had to prepare for OWLs...


    The Weasley twins? She feared they''d be sent back within two days! But these two did have potential...


    Suddenly, a name popped into her mind.


    "You mean Hermione Granger?" Felix was somewhat surprised. Wasn''t that the name of one of the members of the adventurous trio? She was in Harry Potter''s year, so she was only second year this year?


    "Exactly, she almost perfectly meets your requirements¡ªloves knowledge, excellent memory, and she''s not too advanced in her year," Professor McGonagall spoke kindly. She had a favorable impression of Miss Granger because there was a rumor going around that she had the nickname "Mini-McGonagall."


    Seeing Felix hesitating, Professor McGonagall also mentioned the Weasley twins, but she also told him about their awful pranks.


    "Let''s have a talk when school starts." In the end, Felix couldn''t make up his mind either.


    Can you guess what''s being referred to as the "finishing move" in the text? And what might the "little trick" be?

 Chapter 7: Lesson Preparation

    Chapter 7: Lesson Preparation


    After reviewing the materials, Felix Harp bid his farewell.


    On his way back, he made a detour to Diagon Alley, where he procured two sets of ancient magical text books, spanning from third year to seventh year, from Flourish and Blotts. One set was brand new, while the other, a carefully chosen "treasure," was extracted from a stack of old books, a task that took him quite some time.


    These old textbook editions were contributed by four academic wizards. Though their handwriting varied, their notes shared detailed consistency. Felix believed he could draw some inspiration from them, considering it as a form of research.


    The next day, he embarked on the thrilling phase of lesson preparation. He first perused the textbooks and surprisingly found them quite straightforward!


    Professor Babbling certainly lived up to her reputation as an expert in ancient magical texts. The selected materials possessed distinct characteristics: they aligned with the current mainstream perspective, yet also integrated a considerable proportion of practical magical writing.


    The prevailing viewpoint was this: ancient magical texts were a form of ancient script used by wizards of old to record magic. It was the responsibility of modern researchers to trante those remnants of magical manuscripts.


    However, this was just a partial truth. In reality, though allbeled as "ancient magical texts," their history extended far back¡ªinto distant ages when they were intricate mystical patterns used to harness wizarding magic. These patterns were extensively employed in ancient magic and alchemical creations.


    And it was these magically imbued ancient magical texts that Felix sought, the power he pursued, and the field of study he was dedicated to.


    He subsequently perused notes from several academic wizards. The sections pertaining to challenging points,prehension strategies, and solutions proved to be highly enlightening. They helped him understand how young wizards perceived the subject.


    Indeed, he admired the academic wizards, as like attracts like.


    With these notes from academic wizards and the curriculum he acquired from Professor McGonagall, Felix had a very clear understanding of the teaching content he needed to cover.


    Next came the consideration of teaching methods.


    Even though he had obtained the coveted teaching position, Hogwarts'' millennia-old library had once again opened its doors to him, and yet he was a legendary graduate returning to his alma mater. He couldn''t risk being criticized for inadequate teaching, could he?


    He couldn''t afford that! After all, he was from Slytherin House¡ªimage was important!


    "How can I make it captivating enough?" Felix pondered repeatedly. His first thought was a "sea of questions" strategy.


    At this moment, he wasn''t alone in this battle! The psychological shadows that countless examinees could never shake off were now attached to him.


    A sinister chuckle echoed within the small room.


    But back to the topic at hand. Felix took out a piece of parchment and wrote down the words "Sea of Questions" on it. He then branched out into two paths: one listed the advantages, such as "quick consolidation of acquired knowledge," and the other represented the drawbacks, noting "risk of triggering resistance."


    Of course, Felix aimed for excellence, but he also understood the level of those unpredictable young wizards. If he didn''t want to outshine Professor Binns as the "least popr professor," he had to tread carefully.


    "The key lies in being both engaging and substantial. But engaging and the sea of questions are opposite strategies..." Felix mumbled, "Perhaps I can start with using ancient magical texts to write journals and short essays."


    Time flowed swiftly as he contemted...


    "End-of-term assessments are crucial too; incorporating a practical segment might be worth considering."


    Ancient magical texts were inherently dry, yet they delved into the mysteries of magic and were essential knowledge, linking ancient magic and ancient alchemy.


    The former represented immense power, while thetter symbolized the once glorious creations of magic.


    "Ancient magic might not be easy to grasp, I can''t even fully grasp it now. But using the acquired knowledge toplete or at least repair an alchemical artifact seems like a feasible approach..." Felix plunged into a kind of "brainstorming" mode, ideas and inspirations exploding forth. His quill danced swiftly on the table, leaving a trail of fleeting strokes.


    By evening, Felix hadpleted the preliminary design of the course.


    "Not bad at all." He gazed contentedly at his creation: three sheets of parchment densely covered with text and flowcharts.


    The remaining question was what alchemical artifact he should use as a teaching medium.


    This wasn''t an easy task, as Felix Harp had no intention of preparing five alchemical artifacts spanning third to seventh year levels. It was too cumbersome, consuming his precious study time.


    He nned to select an appropriate alchemical item and categorize them into varying difficulty levels.


    For instance, first-year students would only need toplete tasks like ¡¾Connecting¡¿, ¡¾Conveying¡¿, ¡¾Bncing¡¿, and ¡¾Coordinating¡¿, akin to the tasks of connecting wires and toggling switches in a physics experiment.


    As for seventh-years, while he wasn''t asking for rocket-building, putting together a weight-bearing cart couldn''t be too much trouble, right?


    "What should I use as the medium? It shouldn''t be too simple, or I won''t differentiate between the levels. But it also can''t be overlyplex, or I''ll tire myself out."


    Hogwarts'' young wizards numbered in the hundreds, if not thousands. Even if only a third of them opted for Ancient Runes, for him, aspiring for "educational innovation," the workload was still considerable.


    Felix found himself in a quandary. He aimed to strike a bnce between "efficiency" and "quality."


    For three consecutive days, Felix rummaged through his collection, yet he couldn''t pinpoint an appropriate entry point.


    "There are so few ancient magical texts avable, and those focused on practical use are even rarer!" Felixmented. This made him yearn even more for Hogwarts'' library.


    It was his One Piece, so to speak!


    Felix had heard various peculiar legends during his school years, like how each of Hogwarts'' four founders had left behind mysterious treasures. However, in his perspective, mastering all the magical knowledge within the library wouldn''t put him below any of the four giants in terms of achievement.


    The greatest treasure trove was right in front of him, yet most people were blind to it!


    He himself had missed it too, only realizing it btedly. Why else would he have spent these years nning his return to Hogwarts? Wasn''t it all because he yearned for his white moonlight?


    Aftering up empty-handed, Felix left his room and prepared to go out to clear his mind.


    "Mr. Harp, haven''t seen you in a few days!" he encountered an elegantdy.


    "Linda, I''ve been busy preparing for my new job."


    "You found a job?"


    ...


    After a brief conversation, thedy left with a hint of reluctance.


    It''s worth mentioning that Felix''s refined personality and handsome appearance made him popr among the neighbors.


    London''s West End streets.


    Felix wandered aimlessly, contrasting with the hurried pedestrians. He seemed exceptionally leisurely, as if he belonged to a different world.


    And it wasn''t entirely inurate to say so.


    Midway, Felix passed by a dental clinic. Gazing at the clean and neat storefront, he paused briefly, a thought that had been lingering in his mind reemerged.


    No hurry, I''lle back in a few days.


    He continued walking, eventually stopping at a youth activity center. Listening to familiar phrases like "Yofaku Kinda" and "Gogsinei," Felix found himself walking in, almost as if controlled by some unseen force.


    The interior was dimly lit, with slightly older children frantically tapping buttons, tirelessly jerking the joysticks, and uttering strange terms like "huhuhaha."


    Fighting games, huh?


    Felix felt a trace of his childhood returning, not from this lifetime but from the previous one. Familiar characters on the screen brought a sense of familiarity, especially the girls in scanty outfits.


    "Fire Guy''s moves are so cool!!"


    "Ice Girl''s ultimate skill is AoE; you don''t get it!"


    Felix chuckled softly. True, gaming enthusiasts worldwide had simr naming conventions: distinctive moves plus gender.


    About to turn and leave, a spark of inspiration suddenly lit up. Wait a second, what was I just thinking about?


    Fighting?


    Action figures? Yes, action figures!


    Felix''s eyes brightened. He had finally found the suitable alchemical artifacts for the fifth-year ss¡ªsufficiently intricate yet not overly challenging. It wasn''t exactly action figures, rather magical puppets, right?


    After days of contemtion, he finally had closure.


    Using characters from fighting games as temtes and employing ancient runic circuits as the method, he could recreate some of the characters from the games!


    This type of magical puppet (action figure), both wizarding world children and Muggle-born witches and wizards would find eptable, without any psychological obstacles.


    As for difficulty, it was also easy to adjust. For third and fourth years, he could engrave the core magical runes of the puppets and leave them toplete certain nodes and branch structures.


    Older students would need to be hands-on,pleting at least one functional module.


    The more Felix thought about it, the more excited he became. He could even organize a puppet fightingpetition!


    After all, wizarding world kids were living quite a tough life, their entertainment options were quite limited. What was so great about Quidditch, anyway?


    He just couldn''t get into Quidditch; it definitely had nothing to do with his failing first-year Flying ss!


    A mental image surfaced in Felix''s mind: two students facing off, one holding a magical puppet the size of a palm. They struck ssicbat poses.


    Prepare for an intense and thrilling magical showdown!


    Felix got lost in his daydream, a faint smile involuntarily ying on his lips.

 Chapter 8: Figurines

    Chapter 8: Figurines


    What does it take to create a "genuine" magical puppet?


    First, one must understand what a magical puppet is. Simply put, it''s a guardian and protector. As Felix Harp knew, Hogwarts School had a collection of stone puppets, intricately crafted and enduring through the ages, always safeguarding Hogwarts'' security.


    However, for the purpose of teaching, such strictness was unnecessary.


    Find some high-quality y, mix in a bit of dragon dung, and add a ssh of magical creature blood - dragon blood would be best, but for instructional purposes, cost-effective options would suffice.


    But Felix himself could certainly create some advancedbat puppets for his personal collection...


    Felix quickly submitted an application report to Professor McGonagall. After aplex exchange, Professor McGonagall ultimately agreed to his idea, allowing him to give it a try.


    Along with the eptance letter, a formal appointment, and a small bag of Galleons arrived.


    Felix promptly acquired the materials for the student version of magical puppets. He dug the y himself, and obtained dragon dung and magical creature blood from the ck market. Then, he spent three days wandering Diagon Alley, Knockturn Alley, and various magical ck markets around the world, finally gathering the premium materials for his "deluxe edition" magical puppets.


    Subsequently, Felix wrote to his "dear" Slytherin ssmates, borrowing house-elves from their homes temporarily to establish a magical version of an assembly line.


    Felix cleared out his own house and used the Traceless Extension Charm to transform the room into a za-sized space.


    Before him stood a row of house-elves.


    "Everyone, I''ll be relying on you from here on!" After demonstrating the puppet model creation process once, Felix stepped back and delegated the task.


    As for himself, he was busy too! Aside from redesigning his "deluxe edition"bat puppets and adding various restricted powerful magical circuits, he also had to tend to the food needs of the house-elves, ensuring they could fully devote themselves to their work.


    Felix wasn''t just speaking idly; the testimonies of the house-elves confirmed it: "Mr. Harp is truly magnificent!" xN


    Days slipped away, and in the blink of an eye, half a month had passed.


    Felix looked at the models of hundreds of magical puppets and was greatly satisfied, even though these modelscked any magical circuits, they could be considered unfinished products at best.


    But it was sufficient.


    As a farewell gesture, Felix prepared avish farewell feast for the house-elves.


    "You''re truly generous!" xN


    After harvesting another round of thanks, Felix saw off these "volunteerborers."


    In the following week, Felix began crafting ancient magical runes of varying difficulty based on the number of students in each year. He reinforced them with strengthening charms to prevent damage, after all, these were valuable!


    Felix exhausted himself to the point of near death before finally finishing.


    "Next time, I won''t do something like this! It''s so damn tiring!"


    Felix felt drained, his face pale, but he had taken a significant step forward in understanding ancient magical runes.


    Casually picking up a semi-finished magical puppet, it was a palm-sized (about half a foot) figurine of a young man in proportionate reduction. He wore traditional Eastern-style student robes and had a pair of ck gloves with exposed fingers, adorned with a golden sun emblem on the back of the gloves and the robe.


    After spending a few minutespleting the ancient magical rune circuit, he waved his wand, and the magical puppet immediately sprang to life.


    First, it cautiously moved its limbs, kicked and punched, then it raised its index finger in a ssic pose. After a few seconds of pause, it swung its arm forcefully. A football-sized me followed the predetermined path of ancient magical runes, erupting from its fingertip, flying out half a meter away...


    "Hehehe..."


    Felix''s magical puppet, while drawing inspiration from a fighting game, wasn''t a mere copy. He made some magical modifications to its appearance and moves.


    The magical puppets came in twelve different designs, featuring handsome men and beautiful women, old and young - a variety for students to choose their favorite type.


    And for each puppet, in addition to basicbat moves, there was the design of "external skills." But considering practicality, Felix Harp didn''t make it tooplicated. He simply divided them roughly into four categories: "fire," "ice," "lightning," and "cutting."


    Take fire as an example. Considering safety concerns (one mustn''t underestimate young wizards'' curiosity), the "external skill" released by the student version magical puppet was just ordinary mes, at most made to look more impressive.


    In this aspect, he was quite knowledgeable. He even modified a character''s skill: the ultimate move transformed into a fiery phoenix ¨C yes, a phoenix.


    Felix was very satisfied. Perhaps, he could bring a new trend to Hogwarts! With teaching tools sorted, Felix turned his attention to his "deluxe edition"bat puppets.


    Six in total.


    If you mustbel them to satisfy imagination, you could summarize them with the following keywords:


    Fire Master, Beautiful female doll;


    Ice Master, Beautiful female doll;


    Lightning Master, Beautiful female doll;


    Cutting Master, Beautiful female doll;


    Speed Master, Beautiful female doll;


    Transfiguration Master, Beautiful female doll;


    Hehe, surprisingly consistent in features~


    Overall, in his collection of figurines, he added two new types: speed assassins and transfiguration disruptors. These six figurines weren''t run-of-the-mill; he expended a significant amount of premium materials, engraved intricate ancient magical runes, and protective magic to create these alchemical masterpieces.


    For instance, the Fire Master''s figurine was engraved with a potent magical fire, with extremely high temperature. It could shoot mes up to 20 meters away, its power capable of smashing half a wall and maintaining thisbat intensity for ten minutes.


    ording to his estimate, any of these six magical puppets could easily overpower a seventh-year graduate with minimal effort.


    And when the six figurinesbined, there were ranged and closebat options, speed and power, strong offense and disruption. They could fight individually or pair up, or form teams of three, four, even up to six, with theirbined power increasing exponentially.


    Hmm, Felix thought maliciously, with these six puppets, he could easily stall an unnamed Potions Professor for ten minutes!


    The only w was that they required a wizard to control them.


    But the key was that Felix himself was far stronger than magical puppets...


    A bit disappointing, Felix shook his head. There was still much room for improvement.


    At the very least, they needed somebat intelligence.


    Looking at the remaining materials, he pondered and decided to mix in some lower-grade materials to make five more puppets ¨C stronger than the student version but weaker than the deluxe edition.


    Consider them as prizes for the start of ss ¨C one for each year!


    Perfect!


    Felix took out a small box and ced the teaching tools inside ¨C needless to say, this box was also subjected to the Traceless Extension Charm.


    For his six figurines, Felix didn''t think much. He waved his wand, causing them to float and fly onto a jade-green ring on his left index finger.


    This object, resembling a storage ring, was fundamentally an alchemical creation reinforced with the Traceless Extension Charm and stable magical inscriptions.


    Hidden magical circuits were also inscribed, minimizing magical fluctuations. From the outside, it looked like a decorative gemstone ring.


    However, this ring held a third of his fortune, umted from his travels near and far!


    Though the saying goes "a fox has three burrows," Felix had already established two burrows, only one left.


    And this third burrow, he had already begun to outline it a few days ago.

 Chapter 9: The Three Chambers

    Chapter 9: The Three Chambers


    Felix Harp gently traced the inside of his wrist, where there was a nail-sized, flesh-colored pattern. Unless closely examined, few would notice this intricate design.


    In reality, this pattern was an ancient magical inscription, concealing a small pocket of space within.


    Within this space rested a backup wand.


    Given the limited size of the pattern, it could hold only a few items. Moreover, the ancient magical inscription remained sealed, only to be unlocked under specific conditions.


    And the condition for unlocking it was to apply ayer of his own blood.


    This was his most secretive and imperceptiblest resort¡ª


    For a day when he found himself in a disadvantageous position, disarmed, wandless, or even stripped of his ring, this magical inscription would aid him in turning the tide.


    As long as he wasn''t immediately killed, he would have a chance to turn the tables.


    The ring on his left hand was apparent, while the magical inscription on the inner side of his right wrist was hidden¡ªa bnce of light and shadow, nearly perfect.


    And now, Felix was preparing toplete the construction of the third chamber.


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    The reason for his caution wasn''t solely because Hogwarts was a treacherous ce with potential dangers or because he had malicious intentions. It was because he knew that from the moment he became the ancient runes professor at Hogwarts, he had officially stepped into the "plot."


    Given his shallow understanding of the plot, it was difficult for him to foresee events, hence the need for early precautions.


    He didn''t believe in so-called "fairy tales"; he only believed in his own power.


    Yet, no matter how little he understood the plot, he was clear about some fundamental things.


    For example, in the previous life, Harry Potter''s adventure experiences were condensed into eight movies, which roughly aligned with eight years in the magical world, considering one movie per school year. This fit Felix''s imagination: seven years of in-school adventures, plus a year after graduation topletely defeat the enigmatic figure¡ªseemed wless.


    A very rigorous deduction.


    Now, one school year had already passed. If everything went as expected, Voldemort would meet his end in seven years.


    Thinking about this, Felix felt somewhat relieved.


    He was by no means Voldemort''s match at the moment, but the future was uncertain.


    As Felix contemted his future strategies, he stepped out onto the streets of London.


    Half an hourter, he stood at the entrance of a dental clinic¡ªa ce he had discovered a month ago.


    Felix pushed open the door, and the bell above the entrance rang crisply.


    A middle-aged man in a white coat emerged from the inner room, peering at Felix and inquiring, "Are you here for a dental check-up?"


    Felix answered sinctly, "I need a tooth filling."


    The dentist nodded and led him to a chair, saying, "Please have a seat. I''m Dr. Will Granger, you can call me Dr. Granger."


    "I''m Felix Harp."


    Dr. Granger had him lie back in the chair and examined Felix''s oral cavity using a device resembling a shlight. A puzzled expression appeared on his face. "Mr. Harp, your teeth are in excellent condition¡ªclean, orderly, and of uniform size..."


    Felix pointed to the upper left side of his cheek. "I want to fill a wisdom tooth."


    Dr. Granger paused, finding this a rather unusual request. Wisdom teeth didn''t serve much purpose. He earnestly advised, "Mr. Harp, I don''t rmend getting a wisdom tooth filled, because..."


    Following that, Dr. Granger disyed his professionalism, delivering a twenty-minute lecture on dental knowledge.


    During this time, a girl with fluffy hair walked in. She appeared to be around twelve or thirteen years old. She nced at the two individuals, especially at Dr. Granger''s incessant exnation, and disyed an expression of exasperation as if thinking, "Here we go again."


    Finally, Felix Harp had to interrupt him, "Dr. Granger, here''s an idea. You can help me take the tooth out first, and after I''ve tried it, I''ll decide whether I want to have it filled."


    Dr. Granger thought for a moment and found the suggestion reasonable. He took out paper and a pen, jotting down the measurements of Felix''s oral cavity. Afterparing and measuring on paper, he quickly confirmed the size and shape of the wisdom tooth.


    Soon after, he walked into the back room and began his work.


    Felix Harp curiously examined the furnishings of the clinic, particrly the wall covered with small cabs, each disying erged models of teeth behind ss.


    Just as he was absorbed in his observations, a confident voice sounded to his left.


    "Filling the tooth isn''t the best option, especially for a non-essential wisdom tooth."


    Felix turned his head to see the girl. She continued, "It''s going to hurt."


    "Really? How painful?"


    "You need to drill a hole in your gum with a small drill, then do the same on your artificial wisdom tooth, screw them together, and finally fix and adjust the position."


    Suddenly, Felix''s teeth started to ache...


    And the girl''s informative monologue carried on, "Even if you get the tooth filled, it''s not a one-time solution. On the contrary, after damaging the gum, it bes more susceptible to harm. If your oral hygiene isn''t good, it could lead to gum decay, que buildup, causing your original teeth to loosen, fall out, and require further repairs..."


    "Please, no more!" He had a mental image now.


    Although he could use magic to heal and numb the pain, his mind was traumatized.


    Seeing Felix''s difort, the girl shook her voluminous hair and went to a corner to read a book, visibly content with herself.


    Almost twenty minutester, Dr. Granger emerged again.


    In his hands, he held a silver-white tray bearing a polished and refined artificial tooth.


    "Looks great, doesn''t it?" Dr. Granger praised his own craftsmanship.


    However, Felix merely nodded briefly; he was still shaken by what the girl had said!


    Following Dr. Granger''s instructions, he tested the artificial tooth¡ªof course, there were no drill holes or wires, just afort assessment.


    "Very nice!" Felix Harp praised. "However, I''ve decided not to get the tooth filled anymore."


    "Is that so? It seems you''ve made the right decision." Dr. Granger didn''t feel annoyed by losing a business opportunity; instead, he was happy for him.


    However, the customer had a new request, "I''d like to purchase this tooth as a souvenir."


    "A souvenir?" Another odd request, Dr. Granger thought, and even his quiet book-reading daughter looked up to nce at him.


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    "Yes, a souvenir."


    "Very well." In the end, Dr. Granger only charged for the materials.


    As Felix exited the clinic, Dr. Granger still felt a bit puzzled. He turned to his daughter and remarked, "A very peculiar customer, wouldn''t you agree, Hermione?"


    Hermione Granger looked up, watched Felix''s figure disappear around the street corner, shook her head, and returned to her book.

 Chapter 10: "Felixs Wisdom Tooth"

    Chapter 10: "Felix''s Wisdom Tooth"


    Upon returning home, Felix Harp approached his workbench and began to modify the tooth:


    First, he drilled a small hole at the bottom of the tooth, creating a tiny cavity;


    Next, he smoothed out the cavity;


    Then, he ced it under a microscope and, using a carving knife he had purchased from a micro-carving merchant, etched intricate ancient magical symbols, nesting them together to form a circuit.


    This was a delicate task, constructing magical symbol circuits within an incredibly minuscule space. It could be said that very few in the entire wizarding world could achieve such a feat. However, with the aid of his professional carving tools and thetest generation microscope he acquired at a high price, Felix Harp managed to reduce the difficulty of the entire magical process by two-thirds.


    This was one of the fruits of his theory ¨C the fusion of Muggle wisdom and magic.


    Muggle wisdom, in this context, didn''t merely refer to their unconventional ideas; their tools for studying and altering the world were equally fascinating.


    In the wizarding world, very few could achieve this.


    Pure-blood wizards, not to mention, often harbored disdain for Muggles, at best they might be indifferent;


    As for half-bloods or wizards from Muggle families, they might be more familiar with the Muggle world, but between the ages of 11 and 18, their focus was primarily on magic. By the time they reached adulthood, their thought patterns had already solidified, making it nearly impossible to deeply integrate the strengths of both worlds.


    ...


    It wasn''t until the afternoon of the next day that Felix Harp graduallypleted the construction of twelve sets of magical symbol circuits. Each circuit ranged from a few ancient symbols to more than ten. As he finished etching the final ancient symbol, he carefully connected these twelve circuits, forming a cohesive whole.


    Magic circuits lit up one after another, and the brilliance of magic blossomed within the narrow and confined space!


    With the illumination of thest circuit, the entire assembly of twelve circuits finally closedpletely, forming an evesting and unified mysterious pattern.


    The tiny hole within the tooth began to expand without a trace, swiftly growing to the size of a small suitcase. And this expansion did not stop; Felix Harp patiently waited, savoring the results of the day and night''s work, a satisfied smile ying on his lips.


    Finally, the interior space of the tooth expanded to the size of a small room. Then, the concealed circuits began to function; the surging fluctuations of magical power quickly diminished until they were almost imperceptible. The stable circuits solidified the entire magical script structure, making the tooth''s container sturdy and resistant to wear...


    Most importantly, the activation circuit would only trigger under the conditions he set.


    Felix Harp smiled contentedly. The Third Hole,pleted!


    He retrieved a suitcase and transferred the items he had already prepared into the tooth''s cavity. Felix Harp had designated it as a "portable backup storage room," containing not only seven or eight wands (obtained from dark wizards), but also various magical potions, flying broomsticks, tents, and other items.


    With everything in ce, Felix Harp ced the tooth into his mouth and secured it with magic.


    He smacked his lips, feeling no difference, then licked the wisdom tooth deep within his mouth. Yes, it was almost indistinguishable from a real tooth. Dr. Granger''s skills were truly impressive!


    Felix Harp sat quietly at his desk, his gaze serene and contemtive.


    His everyday items, the less important ones, resided in his suitcase;


    As for the important belongings, his contingency supplies, they were divided into three parts, known as the Three Holes of the Cunning Rabbit.


    First Hole: A gemstone ring on his left hand, storing a portion of his precious materials, potions, books, and some research findings, engraved with concealed magical inscriptions;


    The advantage lies in its portability, convenient for daily use;


    However, the drawback is that with frequent use, it''s inevitable to draw attention, making it difficult to escape the scrutiny of skilled wizards;


    Felix Harp''s intention for it is as an everyday item and also as something openly enticing to draw fire.


    Second Hole: A magical symbol circuit on his right wrist, storing only a spare wand;


    The greatest advantage is its extreme concealment, nearly impervious to conventional methods of detection;


    Felix Harp''s intention for it is as a weapon for counterattacking in desperate situations!


    Third Hole: "Felix''s Wisdom Tooth" stores a considerable amount of regr supplies and strategic resources;


    The advantage, again, is extreme concealment;


    Felix Harp''s intention for it is to provide him with ample resources when facing major crises or needing to go into hiding.


    "That should make things fairly secure."


    Felix Harp believed that individuals as crisis-conscious as himself were a rarity in the wizarding world. Perhaps some experienced members of the Order of the Phoenix had such foresight, but their methods surely couldn''t match his.


    Especially with his proficiency in the lumency, conventional methods of interrogation wouldn''t even make him reveal secrets!


    Of course, that''s the worst-case scenario; Felix Harp didn''t believe he would end up in such a predicament. Nheless, life is unpredictable, and it''s wise to be prepared.


    In theing years, a shadow called "Voldemort" will loom over the British wizarding world.


    Felix Harp never underestimated him. Perhaps the Second Dark Lord had intellectual shorings, but he was undoubtedly a magical genius. Moreover, his study of magic spanned far longer than Felix''s, and not to mention he delved into the obscure and malevolent topics of "killing and death."


    With less than a week until school starts, Felix Harp ns to rx a bit. He''s been quite exhaustedtely!


    He intends to watch some movies, attend concerts, indulge in delicious food ¨C after all, he still has a hundred thousand pounds in his ount! In the future, most of his time will be spent in the wizarding world, and keeping all that money in cash isn''t practical!


    Felix Harp spent a good amount of pounds purchasing a range of Muggle items for recreational purposes.


    Particrly, he spent eight thousand pounds on a small projection device, the kind used in cinemas, along with copies of ssic Muggle movies. Concerned that Hogwarts might not permit Muggle items?


    Is that a problem for him?


    Likewise, music is indispensable. Felix Harp, who considers himself a quintessential Slytherin, aims to enjoy life to the fullest.


    As the start of term approaches, Felix Harp tidies up his room, gathering all magical items into his suitcase ¨C if a thief were to break in and steal a few magical items, it could be quite a nuisance.


    "What else needs preparing?"


    After contemting for a while, Felix Harp suddenly taps his wise little brain, "Right, books!"


    He recalls the hint given by the Headmaster during his interview. First, he bought several pairs of colorful wool socks, then he embarked on a mad shopping spree at various bookstores.


    He got books he''d like to read and also Christmas gifts for various professors ¨C whether they''d be useful or not, it''s best to be prepared.


    Felix Harp ns to give his former Head of House a book titled "Common Experiment Procedures for Secondary Students." Yes, the one with lots of illustrations.


    Hopefully, he''ll like it.


    Felix Harp is confident he will ¨C after all, he''s his best student!


    Felix Harp''s anticipation for his new post at Hogwarts only grows stronger.


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 Chapter 11: New Beginnings

    Chapter 11: New Beginnings


    September 1st.


    The moment ofmencement.


    Felix Harp, the quintessential idler, undoubtedly employed Floo Powder to arrive at the Deputy Headmaster''s office. He was dressed in robes of deep emerald green, his hair impably groomed, carrying a small handbag as he emerged from the firece.


    "Professor McGonagall," Felix greeted with a smile on his lips.


    Professor McGonagall was upied with organizing the day''s proceedings. The annual start-of-term feast was under her charge, making these few days perhaps the busiest of her year.


    "Oh, thank goodness you finally came."


    "Is something amiss?" Felix inquired.


    "I need you to share some of the workload."


    "Delighted to be of service, ma''am," Felix responded gantly.


    After handing him a series of tasks, Professor McGonagall hurriedly departed, muttering something like, "Dumbledore never cares about these matters... it''s all on me..." It seemed she harbored some resentment toward the headmaster.


    Felix examined the parchment in his hand with keen interest. "Let''s see, the first task is to decorate the Great Hall?"


    Great Hall (not the cafeteria).


    Felix brandished his wand, adorning the walls with decorations, neatly arranging four long tables, optimizing the spacing of each chair.


    Next was the weather above the Great Hall.


    "To be honest, I''ve been itching to do this." Felix muttered and waved his wand.


    Above the Great Hall, the midday sky instantly turned overcast, thick ck clouds descending low, as if they were about to touch one''s face.


    Subsequently, Felix continued to wield his wand. The dense ck clouds dispersed, revealing a vast expanse of eerie green light from high above, casting the entire Great Hall in an ambiance reminiscent of a cursednd...


    "Ah," Felix exulted with extreme delight. He even conjured arge serpent that emerged through the green light, opening its jaws wide to reveal a twisted figure in the same sickly green hue, bearing an uncanny resemnce to a certain professor.


    "Is this how you view the professor who taught you for seven years, Felix?" Just as Felix was joyfully engrossed, a gloomy voice suddenly cut through.


    Felix turned around to see his Potions professor and Head of House, Severus Snape, his robes billowing like a specter as he floated over.


    Snape''s face was impassive, his eyes like calm, unrippled wells, devoid of any emotional fluctuation. He methodically sprayed venom, "Are you expressing your dissatisfaction toward me? Or after three years since graduation, has your noggin been filled with untimely Muggle notions, causing you to grow arrogant and impolite?"


    Cough, cough! Felix felt a twinge of awkwardness ¨C caught in the act of ying around!


    Even more awkwardly, the elongated serpent above him lowered its head. The twisted, green-tinted figure within the serpent''s mouth continued to writhe and sway...


    With a wave of his wand, Felix dissipated the serpent into nothingness. Swiftly adjusting his expression, he acted as if he had just encountered Professor Snape, first disying a surprised expression, then approaching him with rapid steps, offering a very courteous greeting.


    "Professor, three years have passed, and your magic has grown even moreposed and weighty."


    Snape surveyed him expressionlessly, employing a rhythmically paced tone for a slightly mocking reply, "Three years have passed, and you''ve certainly broadened my horizons. If not for having taught you, I might have mistaken you for a daft lion."


    Felix Harp disyed an "awkward" expression, his gaze "apologetically" averted elsewhere, before suddenly looking "startled" behind Snape, "M-McGonagall, Professor McGonagall, when did you arrive?"


    Snape was taken aback and swiftly turned around, finding the corridor empty.


    Turning back, he discovered Felix wearing a puzzled expression, "Huh? Did I just see wrong?"


    Snape was left speechless with frustration.


    Just like always.


    Thisd always managed to find an escape route for himself since his school days, making jokes, spouting nonsense. But Snape understood him well enough; he knew how dangerous this boy could be.


    In fact, Snape had a fierce argument with Dumbledore earlier this morning upon learning that Felix wasing to teach at Hogwarts. He had juste from the Headmaster''s office.


    Snape discreetly approached, speaking at a volume only the two of them could hear, "Felix Harp¡ª"


    "You can call me Felix, Professor!" Felix interrupted.


    Snape: "..."


    Again, the same! Always interrupting, always cutting him off!


    But well, Snape''s slow and deliberate speech style did invite interruption. He tended to talk like he was singing ament. Others might have been too intimidated by Snape''s oppressive aura to interject, but Felix was too familiar with him!


    Familiar enough to know the deep secrets he was hiding!


    Snape picked up his pace, "Felix, I don''t care what your purpose is foring to Hogwarts, but I''ll be watching you closely. If you intend to use Hogwarts students to spread your dangerous ideas¡ª"


    "So, Professor, you''ve read my work as well. I''m truly honored!" Felix interjected.


    Snape was momentarily speechless.


    "Professor McGonagall! Why are you here?" Felix suddenly turned his head to the side.


    "Don''t y your clever tricks with me!" Snape retorted in annoyance, feeling someone rapidly approaching from behind.


    Emmm, this time it''s true... Felix gestured discreetly behind Snape. Before Snape could turn around, Professor McGonagall''s brisk footsteps were already audible, her tone stern and impatient.


    "Professor Snape, your timing is impable. I need to discuss something with you."


    And so, Professor Snape was led away by McGonagall. Felix waved goodbye, earning a fierce re from Snape.


    "Seems like the professor has quite an opinion of me~" Felix mumbled, "It''s been years since I threatened you, but you still remember. How embarrassing."


    Well, Felix had indeed threatened Snape before. To be precise, the overt and covert shes between them had been going on for not just once during their time at school, but for a full seven years.


    But that''s a whole other lengthy story.


    In any case, Felix continued to organize the Great Hall. This time, he refrained from ying around. Waving his wand, he transformed the space above the hall into a dazzling starry sky. He deliberately erged and brought closer some stars, including the pristine round moon, the fiery red Mars, and the yellow-brown Saturn with its encircling ring... In the distance were smaller, twinkling stars that continuously blinked, adorning the hall in resplendent beauty.


    "Exquisite magic!" came a high-pitched voice. Felix looked up, then quickly looked down.


    He offered a smile, "Professor Flitwick, greetings!"


    "Oh! Felix!" Professor Flitwick seemed very excited; he was almost on the brink of fainting.


    "Hogwarts'' prodigious graduate returns to the school! How wonderful! I still remember your outstanding performance in the NEWTs Charms exam ¨C wless, absolutely wless!"


    Professor Flitwick was genuinely thrilled. Despite his small stature, he was full of emotion, and he harbored no bias toward any of the houses.


    "It''s a pleasure to see you, Professor!"


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 Chapter 12: Undecoded Conversation

    Chapter 12: Undecoded Conversation


    The scene rewinds to an hour earlier.


    Severus Snape strides into the Headmaster''s office, his face tense, but it''s evident that he''s quite infuriated at the moment.


    "Headmaster! Headmaster Dumbledore!"


    Dumbledore raises his head from the desk. "Ah, Severus, do you have something on your mind?"


    Snape stands before him, not taking a seat. He kicks aside an obstructing chair and, with the desk between them, he asks with a fiery tone, "You brought Felix Harp in to teach at the school? What were you thinking?"


    Dumbledore sets aside the book in his hand. "Severus, I don''t see any issue. Mr. Harp is exceptionally talented, and his abilities are widely recognized in the wizarding world, including by me."


    Snape shows impatience. "I didn''t say hecks ability! I taught him before; I know what kind of person he is."


    "Indeed, you''ve evaluated him as ''a quintessential Slytherin'' ¨C quite a high praise," Dumbledore responds with a smile.


    Snape''s expression darkens. "I wasn''tplimenting him," he retorts ¨C it''s more of a mockery.


    Dumbledore nods. "We both have a certain understanding of Mr. Harp. I also know your concerns. Since he''s to teach at Hogwarts, this is a matter worth discussing. Let''s sit down and talk it through." He waves his hand, conjuring the chair back.


    Snape sits down stiffly, as if there were a fire-breathing dragon cushion beneath him instead of a chair.


    "Pumpkin juice? Tea? Or perhaps a ss of butterbeer?" Dumbledore inquires, and with each word, a corresponding cup appears out of thin air.


    "I don''t need anything," Snape replies, unyielding.


    "In that case, a cup of tea. Mr. Harp quite enjoys it." Dumbledore ces a cup of tea in front of Snape.


    But judging by Snape''s expression, he seems to have swallowed a fly.


    Dumbledore speaks gently, "Let''s have a good talk. I, too, had some misconceptions about Mr. Harp in the past. However, as he grew, my perspective on him evolved. Just recently, after a thorough conversation, I finally made up my mind to hire him."


    "I think you''ve gone senile," Snape sneers.


    "Though I might be getting old, I''ve be more clear-headed over the years. We''re prone to making mistakes when we''re young, aren''t we?"


    Snape huffs but remains silent.


    Of course, he knows. Back then, Felix''s situation was dire, even worse than his own in those days. At least his enemies didn''te from within his own house.


    Dumbledore spoke calmly, "Minerva onceined to me, saying that the Sorting Hat doesn''t urately ce students into the right houses. She always believed Mr. Harp should have been sorted into Gryffindor. What do you think?"


    "Thatd is the epitome of Slytherin," Snape said with a mocking tone, repeating the same words from years ago.


    "I agree on that point," Dumbledore nodded. "Mr. Harp... he''s an exceptional wizard, remarkably so. He''s one of the most gifted individuals I''ve ever encountered. He''s always been driven by the pursuit of power, and I see that quite clearly. Even though he''s shown it less after his fifth year, he never ceased his quest for power."


    "Even after graduation, it''s been the same. That''s what worried me the most at the time."


    Snape listened quietly, not denying Dumbledore''s wisdom. The old man''s experiences were legendary, and Snape intended to listen first, to understand what had changed his perspective.


    "When he applied to stay at the school after graduating, truth be told, he was more than capable. Even in the subject of curses, he outshone even my former self. But I refused, not just because he was too young, but also due to the ambition hidden in his eyes. I feared he might take the wrong path."


    "But luckily, he heeded my advice. After his first year of travels, he settled in the Muggle world, delving into Muggle studies. It was during this time that we exchanged letters continuously."


    Snape listened silently, not expecting such experiences between the two. Considering his reaction when he learned that Felix had be an expert in Muggle studies, his eyes nearly popped out!


    "Perhaps he''s masquerading," Snape reluctantly interjected.


    "No, no, Severus," Dumbledore countered, "I''m rather skilled at reading people. Longevity has its perks, even without magic, I can discern the thoughts of most people."


    "From his enrollment until now, he''s shown no prejudice against Muggles. Quite the opposite, his understanding of the Muggle world is profound. His books bear clear evidence of this. He doesn''t see wizards as superior beings; instead, he continuously draws wisdom from the Muggle world."


    "I didn''t say he discriminates against Muggles, Dumbledore! But his ideology is equally perilous. Do you know how he expressed himself in the book ''How Muggles Think''?"


    Almost reciting, he swiftly recited a passage: "In the Muggle world, while the nobles make up about one unit, themoners exceed ten thousand units. And once the rulers emancipate themoners, their efficiency surges with an unstoppable force, aided by their productivity hundreds and thousands of times greater than before. Abundant resources have provided a solid foundation for the spread of education, and thosemoners whock noble lineage exhibit exaggerated potential, propelling the Muggle world''s development like riding on a flying broom."


    Seeing Dumbledore about to interject, Snape pressed on, disregarding him, and recited more: "In the Muggle world, if the ratio of aristocrats tomoners is one to a thousand, the power and potential of themoners outweigh the aristocracy a thousand times over. And once the barriers are shattered, they surge forward with an irrepressible force, their advancements sweeping away all obstructions!"


    The Headmaster''s office fell silent.


    Even the portraits on the walls, including the one that was eavesdropping, had their mouths wide open. While these words seemed to talk only about the Muggle world''s progress, they wereden with allusions to the current wizarding world.


    One of the portraits was indignant, shouting loudly, "This is betrayal! Betrayal of pureblood honor!"


    Other portraits began to chatter as well.


    Snape nced at that particr portrait, sarcastically remarking, "Headmaster ck, thatd isn''t pureblood!"


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 Chapter 13: The Boy Who Would Be Dark Lord

    Chapter 13: The Boy Who Would Be Dark Lord


    Headmaster ck''s portrait began to rant and rave. Soon, other portraits couldn''t bear to watch and joined in, arguing back at him. A hot-tempered former headmaster stormed into his frame, and a brawl ensued.


    Dumbledore paid no mind to the portraits. His expression was one of reminiscence. "Mr. Harp does indeed possess remarkable potential."


    "To me, that''s a deration of war from a Muggle-born wizard against purebloods. His ambitions are greater than you can imagine. He''s the next generation''s Dark Lord."


    Dumbledore''s demeanor grew solemn. "This is a grave usation, Severus."


    "You always trust too easily, Dumbledore," Snape sneered. "Perhaps he won''t start a war. I know him; he avoids trouble."


    "But as you said, he has immense potential. If I were to name anyone in this century who could rival you and that person, it''s only him. Countless will flock to be under his wing, observing every expression, dissecting every word..."


    Snape sneered mockingly, "History has its cycles. Maybe this time, the ones following him will be those foolish lions."


    "What will they call him? Perhaps, the White Lord?"


    "Severus, I never realized you held such deep bias against him." Dumbledore expressed deep surprise.


    "Hmph! I''ve said it before¡ªI understand him more than you think. I taught him for seven years!"


    Dumbledore weighed his thoughts and decided to confide, "I did hesitate for a long time. In him, I see the shadow of another person. Simr upbringing in a Muggle orphanage, sorted into Slytherin, simr excellence, a shared pursuit of power..."


    "But they are different."


    "Voldemort used magic to intimidate peers; Felix ralliedpanions against bullies. He''s still in touch with some of his orphanage friends."


    "Voldemort coveted power, forming a group around him during school¡ªan early version of the Death Eaters. Felix, on the other hand, dismisses power. As you said, he dislikes trouble. To sum it up, he doesn''t invest effort in things he''s not interested in, and power is one of those things."


    "Voldemort excelled in school and was polite; he had good rtionships with professors. Felix only focused on subjects that interested him. From what I know, he never passed in History of Magic, Divination, Astronomy, or Flying lessons. Though he set a record with his spell scores."


    "Voldemort obsessed over power, even delving into Dark Arts during school. He was naturally gifted in that regard. By graduation, his mastery of Dark Magic surpassed the lifelong efforts of some dark wizards."


    "And Felix..." Dumbledore hesitated, a rare urrence. "I must admit, he did study Dark Arts briefly, in the Shrieking Shack. But before I could intervene properly, he abandoned it on his own."


    Snape listened in a trance, realizing the headmaster had delved deep into that young man''s history. Many stories eluded even him.


    Dumbledore summed up, "Valuing friendship, shunning power, dedicated to pursuits, calm and thoughtful¡ªFelix possesses many virtues."


    Snape opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to say something, but refrained. Instead, he shed a sardonic smile at the headmaster. "Your ''concern'' for students remains intact! Why not tell me more about his experiences in the three years after graduation? Were you hiding in some thicket, spying on him during his travels?"


    "Severus, don''t be so harsh on an old man." Dumbledore''s expression turned pained. But the next moment, his words left Snape dumbfounded. "However, I did visit some of his Muggle colleagues during his time in the Muggle world. Their unexpectedly high praise for Mr. Harp was confirmed, and I ensured there were no traces of magic."


    Seeing Snape''s jaw drop, Dumbledore blinked. "Severus, you don''t really think I''m that naive, do you? Would I appoint him as a Hogwarts professor without proper insight?"


    ...


    When Snape emerged from the Headmaster''s office, he admitted that he had been somewhat convinced. Thatd didn''t seem as bad as he had thought.


    Even if he had once threatened him¡ªwith his deepest secret.


    But as he walked into the Great Hall and saw Felix Harp waving his wand, conjuring a massive snake onto the ceiling, the snake''s mouth containing the image of someone who could be found gazing at themselves in a mirror every day, Snape nearly exploded with rage!


    He was wrong!


    Felix Harp was indeed a rascal!


    ...


    Felix remained unaware of the recent conversation in the Headmaster''s office. He hadn''t even heard that someone had jokingly bestowed the title of "White Lord" upon him. Did he have that much free time?


    He diligentlypleted his own tasks step by step. During this period, Hogwarts professors returned one after another, and Felix approached them one by one to greet them.


    Networking was crucial.


    Until a particr person appeared¡ªa handsome wizard dressed in emerald robes that matched Felix''s own colors. His hair flowed gracefully, and his teeth gleamed white.


    Which Slytherin was this? Why did Felix not remember him?


    Felix intended to observe a little longer, but quickly, the wizard approached him. "Felix Harp! I''ve heard so much about you; I''ve been looking forward to meeting you."


    "And you are?" Felix felt like he recognized this person, but he couldn''t ce him.


    The wizard seemed to hear something unbelievably shocking. His mouth hung open for two seconds, as if petrified, before he swiftly recovered his smile and began to talk, "Felix, you must have been busy with Muggle studies, not paying much attention to the wizarding world. That''s alright! Let me reintroduce myself. Trust me, you deserve this honor."


    "Please, go ahead," Felix said.


    "I," the wizard blinked, "Gerolol Harte. Knight Third ss of the Order of Merlin, Honorary Member of the Anti-Dark Arts Alliance, five-time winner of the Witch Weekly''s Most Charming Smile Award. But I won''t go around boasting about it; I''m not the type to chase away specters with smiles!"


    Gerolol Harte?


    Felix remembered now. He had read Harte''s biography¡ªan impressive adventurer with considerable experience and wit. But this person seemed somewhat enigmatic, always keeping half of the story hidden, never revealing crucial details.


    Felix became intrigued, pondering how to draw some substantial information from him.


    "It''s Mr. Harte indeed. I''ve read your works; they are quite remarkable. Your experiences are truly captivating..." Felix began with ttering words, and within three minutes, he had already formed a camaraderie with the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.


    At the same time, he admired Harte''s courage silently. Not concerned about the curse of the Dark Lord, huh?


    Felix knew the significance of that course. Despite the perpetualck of professors at Hogwarts, he wouldn''t dare entertain the idea of taking up that job.


    Truly, audacity matched his expertise!


    However, judging from Harte''s experiences in his books, he was undoubtedly an incredibly astute and resourceful wizard, always managing to turn danger into triumph!


    It seemed he needed to pay more attention. What did this professor like?


    Felix delved into deep contemtion.


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 Chapter 14: The Opening Feast

    Chapter 14: The Opening Feast


    As time passed, the sky gradually darkened.


    Above the Great Hall, thousands of candles burned, casting a shimmering universe of stars onto the enchanted ceiling. The tables and chairs were neatly arranged, presenting an orderly disy.


    All the professors had gathered, including Dumbledore himself. Hagrid was the only one absent, as he was busy weing the first-year wizards.


    Not far away, Professor Lockhart, Professor Flitwick, and Headmaster Dumbledore stood together, and the entire Great Hall could hear Lockhart praising himself, "Indeed... this is a simple matter, my badges are definitely genuine, ha-ha-ha..."


    Felix Harp and Severus Snape were each in their own corners, observing everything happening in the hall.


    At this moment, Felix was quite perplexed. Just a while ago, he hadn''t expended much effort at all, yet he had guided Professor Lockhart into freely sharing information about himself. Lockhart had been more than willing to talk about his adventurous experiences, as long as you yed the role of a good audience on the side.


    But the harvest was meager.


    Was Lockhart wary of him? It didn''t seem like it at all. Could he be an actor? Gathering information through exaggerated words and self-promotion?


    Felix was utterly puzzled. Equally puzzling was another professor.


    Severus Snape stood in another corner, a mocking smile on his face, directed at someone only he knew.


    How had Professor Snape changed like this?


    Back when he was a student, he wasn''t so brooding and sarcastic, was he?


    Had something happened during those three years?


    Felix felt that his usually sharp mind wasn''t enough. He became more cautious and then joined a conversation with Professor Sprout, discussing magical nts.


    "Felix, I must say, you didn''t put much effort into Herbology during your school days."


    "Professor, I was distracted by other subjects, I was very busy."


    "I don''t quite think so. Back then, you went to great lengths to ask me about those dangerous nts, inquiring about their weaknesses..." Professor Sprout remembered this vividly.


    Well, it was a bit of a ck mark. He indeed wasn''t interested in Herbology back then.


    Could it provide strength?


    No? Not a single bit.


    So, his Herbology grades were always between A (eptable) and P (Poor). However, he was very skilled at dealing with dangerous magical nts and tirelessly worked to find their weaknesses, attempting to resolve them with the least effort.


    This was his approach to the Care of Magical Creatures ss as well.


    One could only say that he had be a bit obsessed during those years.


    Amotion came from a distance.


    "The students are here!"


    Professor McGonagall stood up and hurried away. With Headmaster Dumbledore''s guidance, the other professors also took their seats. Felix especially wanted to sit next to Professor Snape, attempting to observe the undisclosed changes that had urred in him over these years. But Snape deftly avoided him.


    Helplessly, Felix aimed for his second target and took a seat beside Lockhart.


    It seemed that Professor Flitwick was being quite bothered by Lockhart. Seeing Felix approaching was a relief, and without hesitation, he offered Felix a seat.


    Once seated, Felix casually opened the conversation, "Professor Lockhart, your description of vampires in ''Wanderings with Vampires'' was brilliant, but I do have a few minor questions..."


    This time, Lockhart became visibly ufortable. He looked around, avoiding answering the questions directly. Felix wisely changed the topic.


    Seems like he''s not too fond of me...


    The atmosphere turned a bit awkward, but soon Professor McGonagall led the students into the Great Hall. Second to seventh-year young wizards from each house took their seats on either side of four long tables.


    However, Professor McGonagall appeared to be in a bad mood. She quickly approached Dumbledore, speaking in a hushed tone. The headmaster''s face immediately turned serious. He exchanged a few words with McGonagall, she nodded, and then called for Snape. The two of them left the hall together.


    What could be going on? Felix Harp felt curious, but this wasn''t the appropriate asion for magical eavesdropping.


    On the other end, the newly-started school year wizards were excited, chattering away, making the whole hall exceptionally lively. The professors, quite open-mindedly, refrained from intervening. Dumbledore''s expression grew even more genial, and he observed everything with a twinkle in his eye, stroking his silver beard.


    Felix was also interested in scanning the crowd, spotting several familiar faces. After all, he had only graduated three years ago. In other words, any student above the fourth year had crossed paths with him.


    Slytherin House.


    The tall and muscr Marcus Flint was unabashedly regaling everyone with stories from his summer vacation. His voice carried so clearly that you could hear him from three seats away. Just as he was speaking excitedly, apanion beside him discreetly tugged on his arm.


    Marcus Flint grew irritated. What was it? Don''t interrupt my act, ugh! Don''t interrupt my sharing of exciting experiences!


    When hispanion tugged at him more forcefully a second time, he finally turned his head, only to see the boy next to him looking utterly terrified, frantically signaling toward the professors'' table.


    Was something exciting happening?


    Another new professor? Well, that was quite ordinary; some subjects have new professors every year, don''t they?


    Marcus Flint nced toward the professors'' table, scanning the area for an unfamiliar figure.


    Ah, there he was, a rather handsome wizard. Was he their new Dark Arts Defense professor?


    Nothing too extraordin...


    Wait!


    Whom did he see?!


    Suddenly, Marcus Flint emitted a short, sharp scream, like he''d been bitten by a rat. His expression turned equally terrified, mirroring that of hispanion.


    It was him!


    How could he be here?


    For a moment, his already dull mind felt even slower.


    Following Marcus Flint''s sudden scream, other Slytherins turned their gaze toward the professors'' table, then swiftly followed by a collective gasp of shock.


    In an instant, more than half of the Slytherin table fell into an eerie silence.


    And the remaining small group of lower-year students also noticed the upperssmen''s inexplicable silence, causing them to halt their conversations and stare at their peers in bewilderment.


    Malfoy, observing this bizarre scene within his house, felt perplexed. He couldn''t help but pull a nearby senior aside, whispering, "What''s going on?"


    "Shh, keep your voice down!" The senior reprimanded him in a hushed tone, lowering his head to avoid looking at the figure of that man, instead pretending to be deeply engrossed in examining a silver te.


    Then he whispered again, "Draco, keep it down. That man has returned."


    "That man? Sir?" Draco was puzzled, it sounded like a nobleman''s address.


    The senior uttered a few whispered words, "The Battle of ''87."


    "Whew!" Draco, too, inhaled sharply, unable to resist looking up at the young professor sitting at the professors'' table.


    Was it him?


    As the Slytherins unexpectedly fell silent, students from other houses also noticed their peculiarity.


    Hermione had noticed Felix''s presence earlier. With her remarkable memory, she immediately recognized him as the peculiar guest from her summer. So, he''s a wizard too? No wonder he had such odd requirements!


    I wonder what subject he''s teaching?


    The two unfamiliar faces this year¡ªLockhart she had already met, having read all his works herself.


    His experiences were truly incredible!


    The other professor, who appeared quite young, raised her curiosity. She frowned slightly, sensing that the Slytherin students had abruptly hushed down. The other three houses, initially silent, soon exploded into a cacophony of excited discussions, the Great Hall buzzing.


    The older students were enthusiastically sharing what they knew, wearing expressions akin to "I have a big secret."


    Hermione had initially been worried about Harry and Ron''s well-being, but she had already informed Professor McGonagall. It shouldn''t be a problem, right?


    Hermione inconspicuously stretched her neck, straining to listen.


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 Chapter 15: Painting Castles in the Air

    Chapter 15: Painting Castles in the Air


    In the professor''s chamber.


    Felix Harp sat there, watching this scene unfold. He felt rather perplexed; had he really done anything terrifying? Why were the Slytherin students so afraid of him? He had been cultivating his character since his sixth year, and these young wizards were, at most, second years. This felt like a smear on his reputation!


    If this got out, it would be like a mob boss infiltrating the school disguised as a new, adorable teacher.


    The other professors also exchanged curious nces. Most of them had witnessed Felix''s "Glorious Seventh Year," though they had graduated three years ago. To maintain such power was truly admirable!


    The way they were looking at him made Felix want to punch someone! Dumbledore, on the other hand, maintained his usual cheerful demeanor, as if everything that had just transpired was perfectly normal.


    Although time seemed to crawl for Felix, he continued to act as though nothing had happened, engaging in awkward small talk with Lockhart.


    Bang, bang, bang!


    A thunderous knocking echoed, and the grand doors swung open, revealing a giant entering the room. Behind him, a line of first-year students trailed like quails.


    Professor McGonagall, who had previously left, returned. She guided the new students to small stools and ced the tattered Sorting Hat on each stool.


    In the next instant, the Sorting Hat burst into song.


    Felix couldn''t help but smirk; it was still as entric as ever...


    Once the annual song concluded, the Sorting Hat began its sorting, and one by one, the young wizards donned the hat, awaiting their destiny.


    Oh, the memories!


    Sortingplete, the entire school began to enjoy their dinner. However, Felix noticed that Professor Snape hadn''t returned yet, and no professor mentioned him. Well, Professor Snape''s social standing wasn''t exactly impressive...


    Thankfully, Snape made a midway appearance, putting Felix''s worries to rest. The professor hadn''t been abducted by some unknown monster, after all.


    However, Snape took Professor McGonagall with him. What magical development was this?


    Felix let his imagination roam. He was in high spirits, finding even the sight of the translucent Nearly Headless Nick delightful.


    A whileter, McGonagall and Snape returned. Felix hurried over and pulled McGonagall aside, exining the teaching techniques he had devised for his uing lessons.


    "A public lecture?" Professor McGonagall repeated with a hint of skepticism in her gaze.


    "Yes, after all, I am a new professor. The first ss is vital, and I''ve spent a lot of time preparing during the holidays. It''s a shame to divide it into five different years."


    "But if you gather all five years together, they won''t learn much."


    Felix exined, "My first ss doesn''t involve any theoretical knowledge. It''s a demonstration ss¡ª they just need to watch with their eyes. My goal is to showcase the wonders of ancient magical scripts. If they''re interested, the rest will be easier to teach."


    McGonagall pursed her lips, not fond of breaking traditions. Still, she inquired, "On which day do you n to hold this public lecture?"


    "Thursday afternoon!"


    "Very well, I agree." Professor McGonagall disyed a touch of the Deputy Headmistress in her.


    "Um..." Felix felt a bit awkward.


    "Any other questions, Mr. Harp?"


    "Call me Felix," he quickly responded. "Thursday afternoon is a carefully chosen time, but there is a scheduling conflict with one ss."


    McGonagall sighed. "Whose ss is it?"


    "Professor Snape''s."


    McGonagall''s eyes widened, and she gave him a stern look. "I''ll speak to him about this!"


    Felix breathed a sigh of relief.


    And so, they dined and dined, continuing their meals...


    When everyone had eaten their fill, Headmaster Dumbledore stood up and, under his guidance, everyone sang the school song together before dispersing entirely!


    Felix Harp, having eaten and drunk his fill, was prepared to return to his professor''s office, watch a movie, and then sleep.


    In the uing week, all he had to do was prepare for the public lecture. Was there even much to prepare for? Tomorrow, off to the library he''d go! Oh dear Hogwarts Library, how I''ve missed you!


    His daydream was interrupted, this time by Professor McGonagall pulling him aside.


    They walked to a corner where three young wizards were already waiting¡ªtwo boys and a girl, all wearing Gryffindor robes.


    Upon approaching, Felix found the situation more interesting. The two boys looked exactly alike, both with furrowed brows, apparently troubled for some reason; as for the girl, he had met her during the summer.


    His suspicions were forming.


    Were these the assistant candidates he had discussed with Professor McGonagall? In that case, were they the Weasley twins and Hermione Granger?


    Indeed, Professor McGonagall first introduced both parties, then named Felix''s "assistant (tool)" requirement.


    Judging by their reactions, the twins seemed somewhat uninterested, while Hermione Granger appeared to be a bit intrigued but still somewhat reserved.


    Surely, being a temporary worker didn''t hold much allure?


    No, that wouldn''t do...


    Felix decided he needed to say something; he believed that after he was done speaking, they''d have aplete change of attitude.


    Time for my next move!


    Felix shot a nce at Professor McGonagall, then cleared his throat a couple of times. He looked at the three young wizards and gently began, "Greetings, I am your newly appointed Professor of Ancient Runes," with a quick nce at Hermione, "possibly your future professor."


    Hermione seemed a bit reserved, but the twins were bolder. One of them asked enthusiastically, "Professor, did you really conquer the entire Slytherin House during your time as a student? And did you drive away the Shafiq family?"


    Well, Felix was a full seven years older than the twins. He graduated and they began, a seamless transition, a perfect missed connection.


    Quite audacious... Felix was rather surprised.


    He chose not to address that directly and instead brushed it off lightly, "Hogwarts is known for its bizarre rumors. During my time, I also heard a rumor about a teleportation gate on the eighth floor that connects to Hogmorts!"


    Unexpectedly, the twins were visibly disappointed. Professor McGonagall rolled her eyes subtly to the side.


    "Let''s continue the previous topic. For an extended period¡ª at least until you graduate¡ª I will be teaching Ancient Runes at Hogwarts. Therefore, I n to mentor an assistant. This assistant would help me with some misceneous tasks, like grading papers."


    Seeing the twins''ck of enthusiasm, Felix quickly skipped over this ufortable part.


    "Of course, there are gains to be had. By bing my assistant, you''ll enjoy certain hidden benefits. For instance: extra guidance from me. Apart from Ancient Runes, I''m also skilled in spellcasting, as Professor McGonagall can attest."


    "Secondly, extra house points. Being an assistant does take up some of your free time, so I''ve discussed it with Professor McGonagall, and each semester you''ll earn fifty points."


    The twins exchanged a nce¡ª one hundred points for a year!


    And Hermione''s eyes sparkled just as much. In fact, she had been intrigued from the moment she heard the first point.


    "Thirdly, the opportunity to be involved in my research. You''ll encounter a lot of advanced magical knowledge, things that won''t be covered in ss."


    "Fourth, priority ess to my Ancient Runes Club next year."


    "Fifth, you''ll gain my personal friendship. If you be my assistant, I won''t refuse a little help now and then," Felix winked, speaking in a tantalizing tone, "like essing restricted books in the library, embarking on Forbidden Forest trips on weekends, roaming the castle after lights-out..."


    "Cough, cough, cough!" Professor McGonagall suddenly erupted in a violent fit of coughing, as if she were about to cough up her lungs.


    "Alright, thest two don''t count," Felixmented, a bit disappointed. During his time as a student, he had strongly wished to do these things openly instead of sneakily¡ªtwo entirely different experiences.


    However, with the preceding benefits, the three young wizards were thoroughly excited.


    Indeed, as Felix predicted, after he finished speaking, the twins and Hermione looked expectant, as if they were about to say "I''m in" in the next second.


    "Of course, bing my assistant won''t be that easy. All three of you are among the most exceptional in the Hogwarts under fifth year, which is why Professor McGonagall rmended you to me."


    "However, there will be necessary assessments," Felix said calmly, like a cunning and seasoned hunter. He withdrew his wand and turned two hairs into parchment and a quill. The quill started writing on the parchment seemingly on its own.


    The three young wizards sneakily nced at it; it seemed to be a very long reading list...


    The twins'' faces immediately turned bitter, even more so than before.


    After the quill finished writing, it silently transformed into mes. Felix then pointed his wand at the parchment, dividing it into three parts that floated toward each of them.


    "Here, this is a reference reading list. You can read as much as you can, but by next Monday at thetest, you need to hand in a paper about the history of the development of Ancient Runes."


    Felix looked at them with a mischievous glint, "No word limit, but the more, the better; no set structure, but the more, the better; no limit to the number of reference books, and again, the more, the better."


    "You have a week."


    The three "the more, the better" phrases left them somewhat bewildered, but that wasn''t his concern. His expectation was that they would produce at least two pages of parchment, not just extracts, but with their own reflections as well. And they should read through at least half of the suggested books.


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 Chapter 16: Unveiling Magical Inscriptions

    Chapter 16: Unveiling Magical Inscriptions


    Returning to his private professor''s quarters, Felix Harp began arranging the room ording to his own ideas. From his suitcase flew items of various sizes, big and small.


    Once everything was in ce, he watched a movie for entertainment and then contentedly went to bed.


    Early the next morning, Felix hurried to the library, wandering among the millennium-old books of Hogwarts.


    On the first day of school, there weren''t many people there to read. Felix selected an original copy of "Ancient Alchemical Secrets" from the Restricted Section and eagerly started reading.


    As expected, forbidden books had their allure; the content inside widened his eyes. He even discovered seven methods for crafting a scrying mirror.


    However, his purpose wasn''t the alchemical creations in the book. After all, it was quite old, and many things were outdated. What he valued were the ancient magical inscriptions hidden within the alchemical creations.


    Ancient magical inscriptions never appeared all at once, nor did they decline suddenly.


    In the earliest and untraceable ages, during the savage times of magic, some gifted "individuals" struggled toy the foundation of the magical edifice. They sought the secrets of magic in magical creatures and nts, unexpectedly discovering patterns that could temporarily store magical power, resulting in marvelous magical effects.


    This was the origin of the earliest ancient magical inscriptions.


    Through the continuous efforts of numerous pioneers, wizards began to grasp more and more magical inscriptions. This led to the development of powerful ancient magic and ancient alchemy, allowing human wizards to stand out.


    At that time, magical inscriptions symbolized power.


    As time went on, more and more potential "individuals" were discovered, the number of wizards increased, and they urgently needed a form of writing to record their magical knowledge.


    People gathered together, basing themselves on magical inscriptions, and derived a form of ancient script that spread widely. By this point, most magical inscriptions were not imbued with power; they were merely vessels for recording knowledge.


    Long ages passed, and new magical inscriptions with potential were discovered one after another. Meanwhile, the original ancient script that had been created continued to evolve and change, undergoing its own evolution all around the world.


    This process gave rise to numerous homophones, synonyms, mistrantions, and irregr writings, causing countless troubles for future researchers.


    Following this, two significant events deeply affected the wizarding world.


    The first was the invention of the wand, which made spellcasting more stable and straightforward.


    The second was the emergence of simplified magic derived from ancient magic. While this form of magic might have slightly less power, with the amplification of wands, it was still quite impressive. Importantly, this simplified magic was easier to learn and safer!


    And so, over more long years, wizards gradually abandoned magical inscriptions, and they eventually faded into legend.


    Today, these magical inscriptions are collectively referred to as ancient magical inscriptions. Many wizards simply view them as a type of writing, with their only purpose being to trante the magical manuscripts left by their predecessors.


    Felix wasn''t interested in studying ancient history. What he wanted was the "magical" ancient inscriptions or, in other words, the original inscriptions. As for the rest, what were they really for?


    But after all, learning was still learning. At least now, he could use them to teach students, right?


    Those original inscriptions, whether lost to time or existing within ancient magical tomes, were now gathering dust in some forgotten corner.


    As Felix Harp researched, he found that these magical inscriptions were best preserved within the realm of alchemy, even evolving and developing their own logical systems.


    From the current state of affairs, magical inscriptions and alchemy had little connection.


    However, in terms of historical origins, an alchemical creation often represented an ancient magical inscription circuit or its evolution. This was especially true for the most ancient alchemical creations.


    This was exactly what Felix desired!


    Currently, he had only mastered a little over two hundred original magical inscriptions and a dozen or so magical inscription circuits.


    The road ahead was long and challenging.


    A day passed swiftly, and Felix made considerable progress. He had discovered at least six entirely new magical inscription circuits!


    If he could break down these circuits, return to their original forms, or rather, return to the original magical inscriptions, he believed his knowledge reserves could increase by at least one-third.


    What is referred to as millennium-old heritage?


    This was it.


    Felix hadn''t even eaten all day¡ªwell, who needed food when there was knowledge? A bottle of potion could solve everything!


    Efficiency could increase by a whopping seven percentage points!


    Nobody should bother him.


    "Professor Harp!" a low-pitched female voice greeted.


    Felix looked up to see Hermione standing next to him, holding a thick book. ncing at the title, he recognized it as one of the books on his reading list.


    And, coincidentally, it was one of his own works¡ª "Exploring Ancient Magical Inscriptions."


    Of course, this wasn''t a coincidence. Hermione was a very clever witch and was eager to secure the position of "teaching assistant." However, the reading list provided by the professor was just too extensive!


    Skimming through the entire list in a week was still possible, but studying in-depth? It was simply impossible.


    She had to prioritize one book while using the others as references.


    Just now, when she spent half an hour selecting books from the list, she unexpectedly found that one of them was authored by the young professor himself! She immediately determined which book to focus on.


    Was there even a need to choose? Anyone who hesitated on this question was clearly a fool!


    Felix and Hermione sat in adjacent seats, not disturbing each other, until the closing bell rang.


    Hermione yawned without reservation.


    "Professor, good night."


    Holding the book, she took brisk steps and quickly disappeared.


    Felix gingerly stretched his stiff neck. Only now did he realize how hungry he was!


    Managing to borrow a book just in time, Felix sauntered into the kitchen. Using "please," "kindly," and "thank you" as the magical keywords, he obtained three pies, a piece of cheese, and a jug of pumpkin juice from his house-elf.


    On his way back, he encountered two young Hufflepuff wizards sneaking out to get an extra meal, but he pretended not to notice.


    Back in his quarters, he devoured the food hastily before copsing into bed.


    The second day followed suit;


    So did the third day;


    In the blink of an eye, it was Thursday morning.


    Transfiguration ss.


    Seeing Hermione rushing off right after ss, Harry and Ron exchanged nces and hurriedly caught up.


    "Hermione, slow down!" they panted.


    "What have you been up totely? Can''t see you anywhere these days."


    Hermione walked swiftly, responding quickly, "I told you both already, didn''t I?"


    Harry paused for a moment. He had been busy too, with Quidditch practice. Ron quickly recalled, "You mean, you''re preparing to be the new professor''s assistant?"


    "Exactly! But I''m not the only student candidate."


    The three of them arrived at the Potions ssroom. Hermione ced her Potions textbook aside and took out another book. She muttered incantations while flipping through it, and the thickness of the book was enough to make Ron and Harry, who weren''t exactly schrly, despair.


    "Is this your task? To read through such a thick book?" Ron eyed the book with trepidation.


    "It''s not just one book, it''s twenty!" Hermione answered while scanning, jotting down valuable information rapidly. This was her fourth book so far. Besides Felix''s own work, she skimmed through the others, searching for useful passages.


    But the number twenty still filled her with some despair, making her quite restless recently.


    This chapter took quite a few words toy out the setting, but it''s also essential.


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 Chapter 17: The Charms Lesson (1)

    Chapter 17: The Charms Lesson (1)


    Soon, Professor Snape strode into the room with brisk steps. As his wand swished through the air, the windows closed tightly and the curtains drew shut. A heavy and eerie atmosphere settled upon the entire ssroom, and the young wizards fell instantly silent.


    Hermione promptly closed her book, ready to focus on the lesson.


    After finishing their first Herbology ss of the afternoon, the trio was quite exhausted as they hurried to the Great Hall for the Charms lesson. The hall had transformed significantly; four long tables were moved to the corners, leaving a circr raised tform in the center, about twenty feet in diameter and three feet high.


    "What''s that?" Ron inquired.


    "Perhaps it''s where the professor will stand? Seems like there''s quite a crowd today," Harry nced around. Merlin''s beard, most of the school''s students had gathered, including many first and second-year witches and wizards.


    Is he really this popr, or is it another Lockhart situation? Harry mumbled to himself.


    While Harry was only thinking that, Ron had already spoken it aloud, muttering, "It couldn''t be another Lockhart, could it?"


    "No, it''s not. I''ve had contact with Professor Harp, and his nonverbal spells are extraordinary! And unlike Lockhart, he..." Hermione started hesitatingly.


    "What kind of spells?" Harry didn''t catch that.


    "Nonverbal spells. Some particrly skilled wizards can cast various curses without uttering an incantation, making it exceptionally convenient to hex people silently," Ron exined.


    Both of them missed the young witch''s opinion on Lockhart.


    Is there even a need to discuss this matter?


    Hermione shot Ron a nce.


    Harry, on the other hand, contemted a bit more. So, this professor sounds promising, then? He felt a bit more anticipation for the uing Charms ss.


    Honestly, neither he nor Ron wanted toe, does this even concern them? They were dragged here by Hermione''s insistence; ording to her, "It''s important for third-years to learn about elective courses in advance, isn''t it?"


    And Hermione also wanted to assess Felix''s teaching abilities. Although she had already read Felix''s work, "Exploring Ancient Magical Texts," which had bolstered her confidence in this new professor.


    Hmm, just like her confidence in Professor Lockhart.


    Ten more minutes passed, during which a steady stream of students arrived. Several professors also joined in, as if it weren''t a ss but a grand party.


    Harry caught sight of Lockhart and quickly lowered his head, avoiding the gaze of this professor caught in "controversy."


    Meeting him is never a good thing!


    These days, he had been in quite some difort. The sources of his distress were threefold: Quidditch training, Lockhart, and a first-year neer named Colin Creevey.


    Except for Quidditch training, which was both painful and exhrating, the other two, he did his best to steer clear of!


    Right on time, Felix''s figure appeared. He was dressed in a light blue robe ¨C the same color as his eyes. His hair was slightly ruffled, and he wore a gentle smile, appearing to be about seventeen or eighteen years old.


    He really does resemble Lockhart!


    Whispers from many lower-year students filled the air; they were truly taken aback by this appearance.


    Felix made his way through the crowd, gracefully leaped onto the tform, wand in hand. He surveyed the surroundings, and gradually, the crowd grew hushed.


    In Harry''s eyes, the professor used his wand to trace a mysterious symbol. The next moment, his voice resonated in his ears ¨C not loud, but incredibly clear, as if the professor was speaking right beside him.


    "We shall officially begin the ss."


    Felix Harp gazed at the young wizards below. "I, Felix Harp, currently hold the position of professor for the subject Ancient Magical Scripts." He waved his wand, tracing his own name in the air.


    Without dy, he posed the first question.


    "Who can tell me what Ancient Magical Scripts are?"


    Swish!


    Instinctively, Hermione raised her hand. Before she could even process it, her body acted on its own.


    "Miss Granger," Felix nodded in her direction.


    Hermione spoke up, "Ancient Magical Scripts, also known as Ancient Runes, were a type ofnguage used by wizards hundreds of years ago. Ancient wizards used it to record magic. Consequently, modern wizards primarily study how to trante these magical manuscripts. However, Ancient Magical Scripts were also a source of power for ancient wizards."


    She added thest sentence after reading "Exploring Ancient Magical Texts."


    "Very well, Gryffindor, 5 points."


    Felix began to exin the history and evolution of Ancient Magical Scripts. He moved swiftly; these details were not of great importance, at least, not in his estimation.


    The young wizards couldn''t retain such intricate details anyway.


    "You need to remember one thing ¨C Ancient Magical Scripts are a bridge, connecting ancient magic to modern magic, and furthermore, connecting ancient alchemy to modern alchemy."


    Seeing the young wizards below buzzing with discussion, Felix nodded in satisfaction.


    "But Professor, why do we mostly learn how to trante Ancient Magical Scripts?" a Ravenw senior student raised her hand and questioned.


    Felix looked at her, "There are primarily two reasons."


    "The first reason is that the trantion-focused approach is indeed the prevailing viewpoint in the current magical world."


    "In my opinion, Ancient Magical Scripts can be divided into two aspects: ancientnguage and magical text. The former was anguage used by ancient wizards, while thetter was a form of power they mastered. However, over the course of many centuries, they blended together, making it difficult forter generations to distinguish between them."


    "The former represents the mainstream viewpoint ¨C they inherit and study ancient magical manuscripts. This is genuinely useful; after all, much of our knowledge about ancient wizardses from these individuals."


    "This route is rtively straightforward for beginners; even you, as you are now, can follow it."


    "But if you wish to directly harness the power of ancient wizards through Ancient Magical Scripts, it''s extremely, extremely difficult. Not only do you need exceptional magical proficiency, but you also require remarkable research skills."


    The young wizards listened with a mixture of understanding and confusion. They grasped the gist of it. The study of Ancient Magical Scripts can be approached in two main ways: trantion-focused, which is easier to start with and doesn''t demand much from the wizard''s individual aptitude; and power-focused, which is much harder to pursue, only suited for the elite and schrly.


    Felix paused for a moment, allowing the information to sink in, before smiling and saying, "Returning to the previous question, as for the second reason¡ªbecause there are no exams for it."


    The young wizards suddenly found themselves speechless; this reason was quite strong.


    "However, personally, I believe¡­" Felix continued, "that providing you with practical applications in delving a bit into Ancient Magical Scripts will effectively ignite your enthusiasm for this subject."


    "Are you going to teach us ancient magic?" one of the twins eximed.


    Felix shook his head, "No, ancient magic is renowned for its great power and difficulty to tame. I have no intention of imparting such knowledge to you all. Moreover, my research in this area has only just begun."


    "Alright! The theoretical part concludes here. As an introductory ss, I won''t delve too deep into the specialized knowledge¡ª"


    "Next, it''s time for a demonstration."


    This book has already collected more than three hundred bookmarks. What a delightful achievement!


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 Chapter 18: The Second Public Lesson

    Chapter 18: The Second Public Lesson


    Upon hearing Felix Harp''s words, young wizards were filled with excitement, their curiosity long awakened.


    Even the few professors present were quite intrigued.


    Professor Snape stood in a corner, wondering what thisd had managed to conjure and dared to interrupt his ss time!


    Professor Flitwick was positively thrilled. He adored charms, true enough, but his expertise in ancient runes was not deep. As for Felix''s view on ancient magic, he agreed wholeheartedly. He possessed a few potent ancient spells himself, though rarely employed.


    Lockhart, on the other hand, envied Felix standing at the center of the auditorium. Wouldn''t he garner more attention if he hosted a public ss?


    If he included this scene in his new book...


    But what should he do? Perform a theatrical act?


    As each person in the room entertained their own thoughts, Felix Harp swiftly waved his wand, causing all the candles in the auditorium to extinguish instantly. The sky on the ceiling vanished too, cloaking everything in darkness.


    The entire hall was plunged into pitch ck.


    "Flicker Luminos." Felix''s voice resounded clearly in the ears of everyone present, quieting even the restive young wizards. "This is amonly used spell that illuminates the surroundings¡ªquite simple, even young wizards not yet enrolled can master it through self-study."


    Bathed in the shimmering light of Flicker Luminos, the outlines of Felix''s figure became vaguely visible.


    "After you''ve mastered this incantation fully, you can make alterations to it¡ª"


    "Such as intensifying the brightness," with Felix''s words, the glow from the tip of his wand expanded to epass the entire tform;


    "Changing the color," the sphere of light shifted from white to red, green, yellow, cyan...


    "Or, casting it outward." Felix swung his wand, and the light ball shot far away from the wand''s tip, tracing an arc in mid-air.


    The hall descended into darkness again, "And the corresponding ancient magic for it¡ª"


    Following that, people heard the pronunciation of an odd word. In the next moment, a massive burst of light emanated from the center of the tform. Milky-white radiance enveloped the entire auditorium. Strangely, the light seemed toe from all directions, leaving no trace of shadows.


    "This is the Illuminative Charm," Felix murmured softly.


    Each young wizard in the audience erupted into thunderous apuse.


    Felix Harp''s lips curved into a smile. "This is just a simple example, but even so, we can perceive the difference." Once more, he swung his wand, reigniting the candles, and the ceiling reverted to its initial state.


    "Modern magic is bounded by limits of power and intensity, fluctuating within certain ranges¡ªyet we can still clearly perceive this."


    "Ancient magic, however, is different. It''s straightforward, crude even, with its potency often determined by the size of your magical power."


    "For instance, if I wished, I could use this magic to illuminate all of Hogwarts."


    A student in the crowd shouted, "Professor, I want to learn this!"


    Felix Harp found himself inexplicably amused, his voice tinged with a humor he could hardly suppress, "Give up that idea. If you manage to learn this spell, it would drain your magical power in an instant."


    "Who remembers what I said just now? Ancient magic is renowned for its immense power and difficulty to control. Most of you probably recall only the first half."


    "But the second half is what matters!"


    Underneath the tform, the students buzzed with conversation, their faces lit up with intense excitement, as if they were on the cusp of mastering powerful ancient magic.


    However, it was a shame that books documenting ancient magic were located within the restricted section of the library.


    Ron''s face lit up with a peculiar gleam. "I want to learn this! I must master this spell! It''s just too cool!"


    Harry, too, was lost in reverie. A simple Flicker Luminos, reced with ancient magic, and it held such power. What if it were another spell? Like Hermione''s previously used Petrificus Totalus ¨C could it truly petrify a person, turning them into stone?


    Professor Snape maintained his usual expression, but that power...


    So, Dumbledore and the Dark Lord, did they indeed wield potent ancient magic?


    Felix Harp waved his wand, shooting out streams of red sparks from its tip, recapturing the students'' attention.


    "Next, we proceed with the next demonstration, the crux of this public ss, and certainly a part of this year''s Ancient Runes course assessment¡ª"


    "One of them," he deliberately paused.


    The students'' somewhat calmed hearts red with excitement once again.


    Are they really doing an open-book exam?


    At that moment, Felix Harp jumped down from the tform. "Bring forth the toy box!" With his incantation, a suitcase swiftly flew over,nding on the ground and then "pop!" it snapped open. Over a dozen figures flew out, settling on the tform and freezing in ce.


    Only now did everyone realize that those standing on the tform were actually miniature figures, around half a foot tall (about 15cm). These figurines each had unique appearances¡ªmen and women, old and young, every one brimming with distinctiveness.


    "This is... hey! I''ve yed this game!" Justin, a Muggle-born wizard, suddenly eximed, his face turning red. He hadn''t expected to see action figures at Hogwarts, and ones that moved, at that!


    Harry also felt a sense of familiarity, as if his cousin Dudley had mentioned something about it.


    "What''s this?" Ron, beside them, inquired. Being pure-blood, he had no idea what these things were. Just moving dolls, what was so astonishing about that?


    "These are characters from a Muggle world''s fighting game," Harry pondered, searching his memory to provide more information, but unfortunately, he hadn''t yed it either.


    "A fighting game?" Ron''s curiosity was piqued by this term, clearly more interested.


    Felix Harp chuckled. "It seems some have recognized them. Indeed, the inspiration for these figurines'' appearancees from a Muggle game. However, that''s not our focus today."


    Felix waved his wand again, causing two of the figures to leap high onto the tform and stand at its center. The other figurines stepped back to the edges.


    "Does anyone know their names?"


    "Fire Boy and Ice Girl!" Justin shouted, this was his domain!


    Felix Harp continued, "And do you know their abilities?"


    "Fire and ice!" Justin rushed to answer again, his enthusiasm evident.


    Felix repeated, "Fire and ice... Well then!" He waved his wand once more.


    The figures on the tform immediately sprang to life. Fire Boy''s right index finger burst into bright yellow mes. As he swung his hand forcefully, the mes expanded into a fireball the size of a Quaffle and shot far away... half a meter, then exploded with a resounding boom.


    Wizards closer to the tform instinctively took a step back. Seeing the fireball not leave the tform, they rxed, their gazes now hotly fixated on the figurines.


    They wanted to y, and they wanted their own.


    On the other side, Ice Girl kicked, disying a graceful and fierce posture. A row of ice-blue icicles shot forth, causing some young witches'' eyes to shine.


    A, they''re so cute!!! I really want to hold them!


    Felix Harp wore a smile that seemed to control the entire room¡ª


    "Next, we need a battle!"


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 Chapter 19: The Public Lesson (2)

    Chapter 19: The Public Lesson (2)


    The Great Hall of the school fell into a hushed silence. Every student''s gaze was fixed on the raised tform, fearing they might miss the slightest detail.


    A fierce battle was unfolding there.


    Palm-sized figurines moved like the wind, their forms agile, each punch and kick apanied by bursts of fire and billowing ice crystals. Every so often, one of them would unleash a certain "ultimate move," like the Fire Boy''s massive fireball or the Ice Girl''s icy spikes, elevating the fiery atmosphere to new heights.


    After three minutes, the battle concluded as Fire Boy, using a series of mingbos followed by the "Concealment Charm: Transfiguration into a Phoenix," defeated Ice Girl.


    Many young wizards let out a collective sigh.


    They had wanted to see the charming Ice Girl triumph...


    Felix Harp''s exnatory voice came in at the right moment, "This is a branch that has evolved from the ancient magical script, known as alchemy."


    "What you''re witnessing is a not-soplex alchemical creation, a magical puppet. The exterior is not the key; the crucial part lies in the ancient magical script circuitry within."


    "And the ancient script circuitry is essentially abination game of magical writing."


    "Your practical final exam will be centered around this."


    Initially enthusiastic young wizards now appeared bewildered. Make them do this? Professor, are you perhaps overestimating us?


    You''ve just arrived; you might not understand our actual situation yet...


    Let''s hope for someone less skilled to give the professor a taste of reality.


    "Of course, this magical puppet might be tooplex for you all right now. But luckily, the ancient magical script involved in creating a magical puppet essentially covers the content of five years'' worth of studies. I will divide the difficulty ording to your respective years."


    "I will provide more detailed requirements in the uing sses."


    The young wizards finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    "But Professor!" a Hufflepuff girl raised her hand to ask.


    "I''m a fifth-year student, and the ancient magical script I''ve learned so far has mostly been focused on trantion. Do I need to learn new knowledge? Also, I have my OWLs exams this year..."


    "I understand," Felix Harp calmly responded, "First and foremost, you don''t need to learn entirely new material. I''ve reviewed your textbooks. Please have some confidence in your professors."


    Felix threw in a yful remark.


    "Moreover, I must emphasize that Professor Babbling is an excellent specialist in ancient magical scripts. The material she chose is quite fitting. It includes both theoretical trantion aspects and a small amount of practical magical writing¡ªthough, perhaps Professor Babbling considered that the Ancient Runes course isn''t Alchemy, thus she didn''t delve into that part extensively."


    "But consider this as a foundation; if you aspire to study more advanced subjects in the future, these basics will guide you past the initial hurdles."


    Many young wizards rxed their tension.


    "Secondly, at least for this year, the practical exam will be mainly for extra points. Furthermore, I will also take into ount providing more theoretical instruction in your fifth and seventh years."


    Among the young wizards in the audience, some were pleased, while others let out disappointed groans.


    "Lastly, some of you might worry that practical exercises will consume too much time. However, these two aspectsplement each other. You might unknowingly grasp more knowledge through these activities."


    "This concludes my response." Felix Harp gave a bow.


    Thunderous apuse echoed through the audience.


    "Next, we have approximately half an hour left. Who would like to personally try controlling these magical puppets inbat?" Felix Harp inquired.


    This hardly qualified as a question.


    The young wizards'' excited shouts could have blown the ceiling off.


    "Oh, you might not be able to urately control the puppets with wands, so you''ll need this!" Felix Harp waved his wand, summoning twelve peculiar gadgets from his briefcase¡ªessentially, they were game controllers.


    "You can use these to control the puppets. Let me demonstrate first..."


    It didn''t take long for the students to start manipting them. Felix conjured six tforms using Transfiguration, but given the hundreds who had attended today, not everyone could take turns.


    Ron and Harry lucked out with a chance. They engaged in amateurish pecking at each other, asionally releasing an "ultimate move" and excitedly shouting.


    Yet no oneughed at them; even the little witches were utterly enchanted, shrieking in exaggerated excitement.


    Felix Harp stood on the sidelines, discussing the day''s lesson with Flitwick.


    "Absolutely brilliant!" That was Flitwick''s assessment.


    As for Professor Snape, he had silently slipped away. No one knew when he left, just as no one knew when he arrived.


    Lockhart, on the other hand, wore a heavily pensive expression, his thoughts inscrutable.


    Joyful moments are always fleeting. As the lesson drew to a close, some students, lured by their hunger, entered the Great Hall to discover a raging dueling scene. A brief nce was enough to make them forget their initial purpose, and they swiftly joined the crowd gathered to watch.


    This dyed dinner by half an hour,pelling Felix Harp to reluctantly conclude the lesson and restore the hall to its original state.


    Throughout the dinner, the young wizards continued animatedly discussing the recent public lesson. Particrly lucky students who got a chance to duel were positively beaming, enthusiastically sharing their "experience." Forks and knives danced in their hands as if they had stepped into the scene themselves.


    One has to admit, the young wizards'' entertainment options are indeed limited.


    At the Gryffindor table, Ron was still energetically recounting the "epic showdown" with Harry. Despite his minor disadvantage, he was defeated; his enthusiasm remained undeterred.


    "Harry, the Fire Boy I used just now was so cool, swoosh! Kapow!" Ron waved his fork and flung a pumpkin pasty, which smacked Neville on the head.


    Although Harry wasn''t as animated as Ron, he was equally exhrated.


    However, he had a vague notion¡ªan idea thatpared to controlling magical puppets, he''d prefer to be out on the field, participating in duels himself...


    Hermione, on the other hand, was somewhat discontented. She hadn''t had a turn yet. She liked the Ice Girl a lot¡ªso adorable, much like a doll she had as a child.


    But there will be more chances!


    Once she bes Professor Harp''s assistant, she''ll surely get to interact with that puppet.


    Hermione cheered herself on.


    What''s more, she could even craft her own magical puppet, using herself as the temte, albeit with smaller teeth and smoother hair...


    This unique public lesson undeniably seeded, cementing Felix Harp''s fame. He was the talk of the town, the center of attention!


    Discussions about this lesson were bound to persist for quite some time, perhaps even turning into a campus legend, like countless rumors do, morphing into who knows what in the end.


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 Chapter 20: The Beloved Professor

    Chapter 20: The Beloved Professor


    Friday.


    A new day dawned, and young wizards continued to enthusiastically discuss yesterday''s ss, a wave of excitement that crashed upon the school like a tumultuous sea, injecting a powerful dose of vitality into their mundane campus lives.


    What were they discussing a few days ago?


    The perfectly handsome Professor Lockhart?


    But now that news has been swept away by the rain and wind, not just because Lockhart''s performance in ss was disappointing ¡ª even the term "disappointing" was a result of some die-hard fans controlling the narrative.


    More importantly, Professor Harp has be the idol professor of the new generation, subtly trending towards recing the "heartthrob" title held by Professor Lockhart.


    This has left a certain Dark Arts Defense professor quite annoyed.


    Lockhart paced around his office, his once flowing and gentle golden hair now a bit limp. The dozen or so portraits hanging in the office disyed matching expressions of irritation.


    "I muste up with a solution, yes, a solution... Merlin''s beard! He''s truly a master of stealing the spotlight!"


    Beforeing to Hogwarts, he believed that only the famous Harry Potter was qualified to contend for the headlines of the Daily Prophet. He was mentally prepared for that. But now, he had to admit that he had encountered a formidablepetitor.


    This reminded him of the detestable Rita Skeeter. A few years ago, he also vied against that Skeeter for the title of best-selling author. Although he lost in the end, it was because that woman cheated, revealing his dark history from his school days in the newspaper!


    However, he wasn''t one to be trifled with either. Didn''t Skeeter know how unpopr he was during his school days?


    Professor Lockhart loosened the tight robes around his chest. Those were truly passionate and fiery times! He felt his fighting spirit rekindling.


    "A formidable opponent, eh?" He stopped in front of a full-length mirror, pumping himself up. "Gilderoy, you''re facing a battle right now. Someone wants to outshine you! What will you do?"


    Seeing himself in the mirror, he felt somewhat at ease. With a face this handsome, how could he possibly lose?


    Leaving aside the incident that urred in this small office, in the wider wizardingmunity, Felix''s poprity index had soared to new heights, and everyone was looking forward to his official lectures.


    "Perhaps he''ll continue the magical puppet duels in ss? Remember, many people didn''t get a turn yesterday." Ron, with a beef pasty in his left hand and a fork stabbing a potato in his right, didn''t let his mouth rest either.


    "Maybe, but we''re only in our second year, Ron. Remember?" Harry responded more sensibly.


    Ron widened his eyes, "Harry, you''ve shattered my first dream of the year." He bumped his arm against him, "Do you know what I was thinking? I was just imagining using a magical puppet to knock Malfoy senseless..."


    Ron closed his eyes, making a dreamy expression, "Malfoy''s robes caught fire from a big fireball, he tried to dodge, but it was useless. My magical puppet was too fast! He wanted to cast curses, but it was useless too, because the magical puppet was too small and he couldn''t aim!"


    Harry silently ate his pasty. He felt that only Ron would struggle to aim, given that his wand had broken in half.


    Hermione, who was eating breakfast while reading a book on the side, lifted her head and corrected, "Ron, I must remind you that Professor Harp mentioned in the ss that the magical puppets release only basic mes for the safety of young wizards. Their power is nothingpared to the roaring mes of our own Fire-Lion Spells."


    Ron seemed to be choked by his beef pasty suddenly, unable to say a word. He didn''t remember Professor Harp saying that, but Hermione was usually right about these things. He mumbled quietly, "It''s your Fire-Lion Spell, neither Harry nor I can do it. I think you forgot."


    Hermione hmphed.


    "Aren''t you supposed to be reading? Haven''t you finished?"


    "I think I told you just yesterday, I have twenty books on my reading list!"


    Ron fell silent.


    Harry became interested in what Hermione was saying and couldn''t help asking her, "Hermione, how much do you know about this professor? Ron and I missed the start-of-term feast." He was referring to their adventure in Mr. Weasley''s flying car, which spanned a good portion of Britain.


    As a result, he and Ron had to nervously hide in Snape''s dungeon, fearing expulsion. Fortunately, they weren''t expelled from school, and they didn''t lose any House points. Professor McGonagall even provided them with food.


    However, with such an incident, returning to the feast openly was impossible. Ron had missed his younger sister Ginny''s Sorting ceremony because of it.


    Hermione rapidly and fluently provided the information she had heard at the feast, "Professor Harp graduated from Hogwarts, Slytherin House ¡ª"


    "Slytherin!" Ron suddenly eximed, but Hermione gave him a fierce re, and he lowered his head to nibble on a pastry.


    "Yes, Slytherin. He''s nine years older than us and has just graduated three years ago. However, he''s quite famous. The older students at school know him well. Professor Harp excels in Ancient Runes, spells, Transfiguration, Muggle Studies, and of course, dueling."


    "Dueling?" Harry was taken aback. In his mind, Professor Harp clearly wasn''t a fraud like Lockhart, but he also appeared refined, somewhat like a teacher he had at his Muggle school.


    It was hard for him to associate Professor Harp with the word "dueling."


    "That''s right." Hermione nced left and right, then lowered her head and lowered her voice cautiously, "It''s said that he''s a Muggle-born and he arrived at Hogwarts just after the downfall of You-Know-Who. The Slytherin students weren''t very friendly to him initially, but... "


    "But what?"


    "But he fought back fiercely with spells. The older Slytherin students are scared of him because he''s given them a lesson."


    Harry and Ron had dreamy expressions on their faces.


    Honestly, they also wanted to give a few Slytherins a lesson.


    But the rumors Hermione heard were obviously wrong. By now, Felix Harp was in his fifth year when the current seventh-year students entered Hogwarts. Did he really have a reason to give them a lesson? Naturally, there would be someone to teach them how to behave.


    During Potions ss, the young wizards were still discussing the previous day''s Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson. Harry could clearly see Draco Malfoy in the group of Slytherin students, loudly boasting about his "rtionship" with himself and Professor Harp, iming they had a close connection.


    Harry couldn''t help but think, perhaps it was a "beating-up" kind of connection.


    Ron was also enthusiastically describing the scene of his magical puppet duel in the previous day''s lesson. From his words, it sounded as if he and Harry were engaged in a live duel, not the magical puppets.


    "Silence!"


    Snape''s voice echoed from the back of the ssroom, instantly silencing the young wizards. This professor walked with an air of intimidation, his ck robes making a "swishing" sound, and his presence had a +10 intimidation factor.


    He surveyed the room, his gaze settling on Harry Potter, causing him to tense up. However, Snape shifted his gaze away. This time, he fixed his eyes on Ron and mockingly said with his characteristic low voice, "Ronald Weasley... yes, you''ve certainly been quite the spectacle these past few days. However, you should focus on improving your abysmal Potion grades. I don''t want to see another ''T'' on your end-of-term exam."


    Slytherin students burst intoughter in unison.


    Ron''s face turned crimson, and he gripped his broken wand taped back together. He looked like he wanted to curse Snape on the spot.


    "And Miss Granger, put away that extracurricr book of yours. This is Potions ss, not Ancient Runes. You still have a year before electives."


    Hermione reluctantly closed her book.


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 Chapter 21: The Relics of the Dark Lord Are at Hogwarts!

    Chapter 21: The Relics of the Dark Lord Are at Hogwarts!


    The Library


    Felix Harp was engrossed in his book, his ears oblivious to the world beyond the windows. The events of the previous day''s ss didn''t seem to have affected him, even though he was the direct cause of the uproar.


    With his left hand flipping through the pages and his right hand wielding his wand with precise movements, ancient runes appeared and dissipated in the air. Madam Pins, casting watchful nces, had been observing Felix for over half an hour.


    Madam Pins was a thin and elderly woman who seemed somewhat malnourished. However, she was well-suited for her role as the librarian due to her deep love for books and keen instincts, always quick to spot and punish any students breaking the rules.


    If a student dared to brandish a wand and gesticte in the library, she would promptly escort them out. But Felix was a professor, which left her somewhat hesitant.


    Fortunately, Felix soon left with two books, relieving her of her dilemma.


    Returning to his office, Felix took out a piece of chestnut wood from his briefcase. Magic flowed from his wand through the carving knife, etching ancient runes onto the chestnut''s surface.


    Chestnut wood was a material for crafting wands, but it was neutral in nature, like a nk canvas, and not overly expensive. Felix had unearthed it to practice ancient runes.


    The enchanted carving knife left magical symbols on the chestnut''s surface. Each time aplete rune was etched, it burst into a searing red light before fading, leaving behind ck markings.


    Felix''s speed in engraving runes was remarkable, causing the chestnut''s surface to shimmer incessantly. The carving knife danced through the air, as if he were not engraving runes, butposing an enduring epic.


    After a few minutes, Felix filled the surface of the chestnut, and he swept his wand across it, causing a thinyer to peel off and fly to the other side of the table.


    He then resumed with the carving knife, continuing to work on the chestnut.


    When the chestnut had shrunk by three inches, he paused and stretched. In one corner of the table, thirty thin wooden pieces were stacked, resembling a collection of ck ancient runes on pages.


    Felix calcted a number in his mind and nodded in satisfaction, "272 runes, that''s the power I currently possess."


    Leisurely rising, he stood by the window and looked out, convinced that his decision to return to Hogwarts was absolutely right.


    This is the life I wanted!


    "Swoosh~"


    An owl flew in through the window, dropping a letter onto the table.


    Felix opened the envelope, his brows furrowing as he read.


    It was a letter from an "old friend."


    Though only three years had passed since Felix graduated, and he had only been actively adventuring for a year, his rich experiences had broadened his perspective enough to be considered "well-traveled." He could pinpoint the closest magical ck market to him even with his eyes closed, no matter where in the world he was.


    This letter came from a "friend" he had made in one of these markets.


    Felix took out parchment and hastily penned a few lines, arranging to meet this friend at the Hog''s Head Inn on Saturday.


    As the owl flew away, he pondered the friend''s intentions.


    He recalled their first meeting.


    The man went by the name of Kline, always wearing a hood on his robes that shrouded his face in perpetual mist, making it impossible to discern his true identity.


    Kline operated on the principle of fair trade. He had connections to rare magical manuscripts, wondrous potions, magical creatures, and more.


    Felix had traded with him seven times, both adhering to the rules of their transactions.


    Thus, he was curious about Kline''s intentions in seeking him out. Of course, even more intriguing was what kind of inventory this friend had acquiredtely.


    Saturday morning at ten o''clock.


    Felix Harp arrived at the Hog''s Head Inn. It was early, and there was only one patron present.


    Approaching the table where the patron sat, Felix saw the familiar mist-shrouded face and sat down with a smile. As he settled in, their forms flickered in and out of view, and their voices became entirely sealed off from the outside world.


    "Kline."


    "Felix." It was a neutral voice, impossible to discern as male or female, or to determine an age.


    The wizarding world was no stranger to such enigmatic figures, each with their own reasons. They might be dark wizards, individuals evading enemies, or perhaps just indulging in some peculiar predilections.


    "What brings you to me?"


    "Information gathering."


    "What kind of information?"


    "The relics of the Second Dark Lord."


    Felix remained silent for a few seconds, his mind working swiftly.


    "Alright, but you must tell me your source first."


    Kline tapped his finger on the edge of the table, seemingly weighing the decision, but he soon offered a single word, "Vagadu."


    "You''ve consulted that bunch of mad priests?" Felix was somewhat surprised. Vagadu was a magical school in Africa, where wizards had only begun using wands in the 20th century, resulting in their development taking a distinct path from other countries.


    For instance, they practiced a branch of prophecy magic known as witch priests, colloquially referred to as mad priests.


    This form of prophecy magic was essentially a form of dark magic, with each prophecy extracting a cost¡ªsuch as the loss of a limb.


    Most importantly, these prophecies weren''t always urate...


    When Kline mentioned Vagadu, Felix could only think of this, as there was no interaction between Africa and the British Isles.


    "Go on," Felix urged. His interest was piqued, as Kline would never resort to amateur witch priests. A skilled witch priest capable of producing prophecies would demand a considerable price.


    "The prophecy states that the relics of the Dark Lord will remain at Hogwarts for a year."


    A chill ran down Felix''s spine. "What specific relic?"


    "I''m not sure, only that it''s exceedingly malevolent."


    Felix was somewhat exasperated. "Malevolent, huh? Do you think you''re Voldemort?"


    Seemingly detecting Felix''s skepticism, Kline added, "The prophecy I sought concerned the secret of the Vanishing of Death."


    In an instant, Felix engaged lumency, appearing "astonished" as he asked, "Could you repeat that?"


    "The Vanishing of Death."


    "But the Dark Lord is already dead."


    "The prophecy remains."


    "You could check for yourself."


    "Hogwarts has Dumbledore."


    "Are you afraid of him?"


    Kline chuckled softly. Although Felix couldn''t see the expressions behind Kline''s mist, he sensed that the man wasn''t in a good mood.


    Felix feigned a pensive expression before finally saying, "Thank you for the intel, but I can''t promise that I''ll obtain the relic. I can only promise that I won''t betray you. I''ll personally tackle the Dark Lord''s secret."


    Kline contemted for a moment and then replied, "Agreed."


    They extended their hands, their index fingers touching, and a golden pattern bloomed.


    This was a temporary magical contract, valid for a year. There wouldn''t be dire consequences if Felix breached it, except that Kline would always know his location!


    If you weren''t afraid of the retaliation of a mysterious wizard, you could certainly breach the contract.


    Many readers might have questions, so let me exin further.


    In the agreement, what qualifies as unlocking the Dark Lord''s secret?


    Touching the diary, having a chat, or even destroying it¡ªall of that doesn''t count as research, as it would be meaningless for both parties in the contract.


    Who would care about the decibel level of the sound emitted when a Horcrux is destroyed?


    The content of the contract, to be direct, revolves around the knowledge of creating Horcruxes. Nothing more.


    Changing this would have lost the charm of dialogue in the novel. This was my mindset when writing.


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 Chapter 22: Seeking Guidance

    Chapter 22: Seeking Guidance


    Felix Harp stepped out of the Hog''s Head Inn, exhaling a long breath.


    Never underestimate anyone!


    Look at that, even a dark wizard harbors ambitions of glimpsing the Dark Lord''s secrets. Is one''s own ideal of "exploring the essence of magic" perhaps too modest?


    Felix pondered this seriously, ultimately concluding that his own ideals were loftier.


    As for the contract with Crane, contract be damned!


    Stirring up trouble right under Dumbledore''s nose, did he think he was invincible?


    Moreover, he had long known the answer to the problem.


    What was the secret of Voldemort''s leap into death? Horcruxes, of course¡ªFelix had some concept of that. So, as long as he refrained from researching Horcruxes, the contract would naturally dissolve after a year.


    Because the prophecy stated, "The Dark Lord''s relic shall stay at Hogwarts for only a year," which meant it was but a passing guest. Hence, the contract between them only needed tost a year¡ªthis was Crane''s idea.


    Felix, on the other hand, spected that the relic had probably been destroyed by the main group of characters.


    The main group of characters never had a peaceful year at school, maybe he would only find tranquility after they graduated.


    Yet this also reminded him that this year''s "plot" crisis came from Voldemort''s relic, the Horcrux.


    Which one of the Horcruxes could it be?


    This was the question Felix had been pondering since he returned to his office.


    He vaguely remembered that there were seven Horcruxes in total, mostly relics of the Hogwarts Four Founders, which conveniently matched Harry and his friends'' seven-year school career. Did that mean one Horcrux would be destroyed each year?


    Ravenw''s Diadem, Slytherin''s Locket, Hufflepuff''s Cup¡ªthese he knew. So, by that logic, Gryffindor''s Sword was also a Horcrux?


    Then, which one was destroyedst year? The first book seemed to be called "Harry Potter and the Philosopher''s Stone," so, was the Philosopher''s Stone a Horcrux?


    Felix guessed irresponsibly.


    The information at his disposal was quite useless, firstly because he couldn''t prove what he said, as he didn''t know where Voldemort had hidden the Horcruxes; secondly, it was too taboo. Felix himself was already in a precarious position, and suddenly revealing to Dumbledore that he was researching Horcruxes... well, that would not be wise, would it?


    So, he decided to let things take their course, at most giving a nudge.


    This also counted as a favor to his assistant (a tool), Miss Hermione Granger.


    Yes, this assistant position had already been reserved for her, for reasons that were hard to put into words.


    The only two remaining candidates had already dropped out: the Weasley twins had found him yesterday and voluntarily withdrawn. Because they were busy with Quidditch training this week, and they anticipated spending every weekend of theing year on it.


    From what Felix gathered, they were implying that he should put Wood, the guy named Wood, in detention for a year. That way, they''d have time to do other things.


    Could he agree to that? Professors using their authority for personal gain, is that how it goes?


    The main issue was the terms hadn''t been settled; the time they were asking for was just too long!


    For no reason at all, to lock a student in detention for a whole school year¡ªSnape wouldn''t even do that.


    This left Felix rather speechless. He had initially intended to do a favor for Professor McGonagall, and it had turned into this.


    Were there any promising candidates in the other houses...?


    Fortunately, Miss Granger was extremely reliable. He saw her in the library every day, and it was clear she was working tirelessly, her eyes sporting three pluses of darkness.


    The next day, in the library.


    Another unremarkable day, Felix chose a book titled "Duelling Chronicles" from the Restricted Section and read it with relish.


    This book mainly records the hidden stories of various wizarding duels throughout history. The reason it''s in the Restricted Section is due to the presence of numerous mature-rated scenes. In the era when magicws were less stringent, dark magic thrived due to its rapid learning curve, immense power, and eerie mystique. Thus, dueling back then was both bloody and brutal, and often quite bizarre.


    For instance, in one image Felix Harp saw, an unfortunate wizard''s head was irreversibly "pumpkinized." Not in the sense of inting to the size of a pumpkin, but turningpletely into a "vegetative state."


    What''s even more miraculous was that the loser remained alive, only dying three yearster.


    The book also contained variousbat techniques, some quite extreme. Felix even came across methods of integrating curses into ordinary spells.


    New skills acquired!


    As noon approached, Felix left the library, ready to enjoy his lunch.


    On the other side, Hermione hesitated briefly before resolutely following.


    "Professor! Professor Harp."


    Felix halted his steps. "Is there something you need, Miss Granger?" He hadn''t informed Hermione that she was the sole candidate for the assistant position. Acquiring more knowledge was never a bad thing.


    "Well, you see, I read from a book that some exceptionally gifted wizards can hear things others can''t. Is that true?" Hermione asked, her breath steady.


    Felix was taken aback. Could it be about The One Who Knows? But he quickly discarded that unlikely idea.


    "Could you be more specific? Your conditions are quite broad."


    Hermione thought for a moment and then carefully organized her words. "It''s a short story, about a young wizard and... his father, transcribing materials in a castle. Suddenly, the young wizard hears something strange, but his father knows nothing about it!"


    Strange, why did Hermione always hesitate on the word "father"?


    The thought shed through Felix''s mind, and he considered it seriously before answering, "Many of these stories are actually fabricated, so what you heard might not necessarily be true. However, we can discuss it for now."


    Hermione nodded eagerly.


    "The first possibility is that the young wizard is lying, hoping to gain his father''s attention. That sort of thing is quitemon in the Muggle world," Felix began with what he believed to be the most likely answer.


    Seeing Hermione about to interject, he shook his head. "The second possibility is that they were transcribing dangerous magical materials. You see, some ancient magical manuscripts contain magical power or have been treated by their previous owners. Unauthorized contact can easily lead to dangerous consequences."


    Seeing Hermione deep in thought, he added, "The Hogwarts Restricted Section holds quite a few books of this sort."


    But they''re all bound by magical chains, and young wizards are strictly forbidden to peek¡ªunless you have the professor''s handwritten signature.


    "The third possibility," Felix slightly raised his voice, "is that the young wizard awakened some sort of gift, such as prophecy, perception, or perhaps suddenly gained proficiency in a certainnguage."


    "Could you borate, Professor?"


    "Well, you know, some young wizards possess extraordinary gifts, like affinity for animals or exceptional wandless magic skills. Rarer still is the gift of prophecy; Professor Trwney''s ancestors apparently had this gift... Oh, Professor Trwney teaches Divination; you might take her ss next year."


    "As fornguage aptitude, it''s often linked to their ancestry. If their ancestors were skilled in, say, Mermish, this aptitude might be passed down to the next generation or suddenly appear in their bloodline centuriester."


    Felix offered a casual example, "For instance, the young wizard in your story might have had ancestors who spoke Mermish, and that day he happened to overhear some chatty Mr. Rat''s ramblings."


    Hermione continued pondering even after Professor Harp''s figure had left. Could it be that Harry''s ancestors included an entric wizard who could speak Rat? She felt rather baffled.


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 Chapter 23: Parseltongue and Diligent Hermione

    Chapter 23: Parseltongue and Diligent Hermione


    "Absolutely, positively, no way!"


    When Hermione ryed Felix Harp''s words to Harry and Ron, Harry countered with annoyance.


    He couldn''t bear to admit that he had an ancestor who understood thenguage of rats!


    Harry felt that he had a miserable first week of school. Flying over Britain in a car and being locked in detention, the forced encounter with Lockhart, the crazy run-in with photography enthusiast Colin, and on top of that, the demanding Quidditch training...


    And then, yesterday, he was in detention again, having to write back to Lockhart''s fans, one letter after another, endlessly, for a whole four hours!


    But that wasn''t the worst part. In Lockhart''s office, he heard disjointed phrases, "kill you... tear apart... death..."


    When he told his two friends about this today, their expressions were as if he had finally lost it. And then Hermione volunteered to inquire with Professor Snape, and the answer she got made him slightly unhinged.


    "That''s not necessarily the case, mate. I''ve heard simr rumors," Ron whispered, taking a plump rat out of his pocket. The rat looked somewhat dispirited. "You can try, talk to Scabbers!"


    Ron held Scabbers with both hands and presented him to Harry, his eyes filled with expectation.


    Harry had to lower his head and lock eyes with the rat. "Can you understand what I''m saying?"


    Scabbers rolled his eyes and turned his body away, refusing to look at him.


    "Harry, don''t speak humannguage! You just spoke humannguage," Ron advised.


    Harry: "..." Even though I know what you mean, could you be a bit more refined?


    He tried more than a dozen times, but the rat showed no reaction. "It''s not working!" He let out a big sigh of relief.


    Luckily, things didn''t take the worst turn.


    Hermione, observing the recent farce, reminded, "Harry, Professor Snape was just giving an example; there could be other possibilities."


    Ron had a different opinion, "Apart from rats, what else is there in the castle? It can''t possibly be insects, right?"


    This spection was even more terrifying. Harry shivered, quickly using his wits to change the subject.


    "Maybe it''s snakes!"


    "Snakes?"


    Ron and Hermione suddenly fell silent, exchanging strange looks.


    "You mean, you can talk to snakes?" Ron swallowed nervously.


    Harry hadn''t noticed this reaction. Excitedly, he recounted his pre-school visit to the zoo and his conversation with a snake there.


    "A giant python told you it had never been to Brazil?" Ron''s voice was very weak.


    "So what? I bet a lot of people can do that! It''s like what Professor Harp mentioned, that... gift!"


    Ron didn''t speak, but Hermione whispered, "Harry, speaking with snakes is a sign of Szar Slytherin. It''s called Parseltongue, so the emblem of Slytherin House is a snake."


    "But I''m not!" Harry was somewhat bewildered. But he suddenly remembered during his first year sorting, the Sorting Hat strongly suggested he choose Slytherin House. Thinking about this, Harry tightly closed his mouth.


    "It''s okay, mate." Ron patted his shoulder lightly, pretending to be rxed. "Pure-blood wizards often intermarry, maybe you''re a great-great-great-great-grandchild of Slytherin."


    Seeing no signs of Harry rxing, he added in a hushed tone, "Really, if you really analyze it, most pure-blood wizard families are interconnected. I''m even rted to Malfoy."


    "You and Malfoy?" Harry was shocked.


    Ron shrugged, "There aren''t many pure-blood wizards left. Intermarrying is normal. To be honest, true pure-bloods have long disappeared; their bloodline didn''t survive until now."


    Finally, Harry began to calm down.


    ¡°Harry, it''s best not to mention this to the outside world," Hermione suggested.


    Harry nodded, he wouldn''t say a word even if you forced him to; he didn''t want to be rted to Slytherin.


    But Hermione redirected the conversation back on track, "Since you''re a Parseltongue, the sounds you heard that day could very well have been from a snake. Perhaps it was moving along the gaps in the walls."


    In the young witch''s concept, a snake at most was as thick as a wrist.


    "But I heard it saying things like ''death,'' ''kill,'' ''tear you apart.''"


    "Maybe it was hunting at the time? You know, catching some rats, small bugs, and the like," Ron spected.


    Without evidence, the trio had to give up.


    Anyway, it wasn''t a big deal!


    "Hermione, how''s your essaying along?" Harry asked.


    "Horrible!"


    Hermione eximed, quickly leaving and leaving the two of them dumbfounded.


    "Has Hermione gone crazy from reading too muchtely? I''ve never seen her like this," Ron said.


    Harry shrugged.


    Library.


    Hermione upied arge table by herself, piled high with thick books. In front of hery parchment, and she was writing swiftly with her quill.


    There were less than ten hours until the library closed. She might have to pull an all-nighter tonight.


    Go, Hermione! She cheered herself on.


    Up until now, she had been cramming through twelve books, only skimming through them, barely ncing at their content. She retained less than fifty percent of what she read, which was quite different from her usual habits. She hadn''t memorized any of it.


    For the sake of her essay, she had to reluctantly abandon her reading habits. But she had already decided that after she finished her essay, she would go back and review the reading list,mitting all this content to memory.


    She flipped through the pages with a fluttering sound, simultaneously jotting down appropriate arguments and evidence with her quill. She had a maniacal demeanor, and she didn''t even notice Professor Binns walking by her several times.


    She worked until closing time. By then, she had finished reading sixteen books. Carrying the remaining four and her thick parchment, she returned to themon room, stifling yawns.


    Tonight, she was prepared for ate-night study session.


    Pushing open themon room door, everyone else had already left, leaving only two people.


    "Harry, Ron?" Hermione was somewhat surprised.


    "Hey, we didn''t see you at dinner. Figured you might not have gone, so we brought this for you." Ron pointed at the table in front of him. On it were wrapped portions of food in parchment paper, the grease from the food had seeped through the outeryer of parchment, leaving oily stains.


    Hermione covered her mouth, trying not to cry.


    Harry chuckled, "We can''t help with your essay, so this is all we can do. Hang in there, Hermione. You''re the smartest person I''ve ever met in my life."


    Hermione nodded vigorously.


    The two of them left, and Hermione unwrapped the parchment paper. Inside were two pastries, and she ate them hungrily.


    In the quietmon room, there was only her.


    The next day, Monday, Hermione was in a daze the entire day. During Transfiguration practice, she nearly turned Harry into the Transfiguration subject.


    By noon, she had to make a trip to the infirmary.


    In the afternoon, with no sses during the second period, she intended to finish thest two books. Having pulled an all-nighter toplete her essay, she felt she had to finish reading these books as well. Maybe they would add some new content to her paper.


    But she was too tired. When Harry returned from Quidditch practice, he found Hermione asleep in themon room.


    "Hermione, Hermione?"


    "Harry?" Hermione blinked her bleary eyes open. Her hair was even messier, and she looked disheveled.


    She quickly woke up, then let out a scream, "What time is it, Harry, what time is it?"


    "Half-past eight, Hermione." Fred, who had also just finished practice, answered. "I''ll never forget Wood''s craziness, practicing until eight on the first weekend of school. And it got even worse in the second week."


    Oliver Wood himself, who was present, had a ck line on his face. "I''m still here, you know!"


    Not just him, the members of the Gryffindor team were all there. They were covered in mud, too tired to even speak.


    Hermione jumped up suddenly, hastily ran outside, then turned around and hurried back, quickly straightening out the parchment paper on the table. Muttering to herself, she made sure everything was in order, then grabbed her bag and disappeared from everyone''s view.


    "What a hardworking and studious girl," Angelina, one of the yers,mented.


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 Chapter 24: Dissertation

    Chapter 24: Dissertation


    Professor of Ancient Runes'' Office


    Felix Harp wrapped up a day of teaching. Today, he had three sses in total, but half of the time was spent on exams, cleverlybeled as "assessing students'' learning progress." In his previous life, there was a professional term for this, called "formative assessment."


    The definition of formative assessment was: an evaluation of the students'' existing level of development at the beginning of a semester or unit.


    It fit quite well in this context.


    The other half of the ss time was used to review previously learned knowledge. This disappointed the young wizards who thought they might continue the magical puppet battle.


    Fortunately, the professor told them that they would see the continuation in the next ss, and those who performed well would receive extra rewards.


    Felix was in his office watching a movie, fully engrossed in it.


    Bang, bang, bang!


    A series of urgent knocks interrupted his entertainment time. He opened the door and saw Hermione, out of breath.


    "Professor... I''m sorry... I... huff... I fell asleep and missed... the time!"


    Hermione''s chest heaved, her face flushed, and a thinyer of sweat dampened her hair.


    Seeing the anxious look on the young witch''s face, Felix gestured for her to calm down and led her into the office.


    "Please, have a seat."


    Hermione obediently sat down, and only then did she realize, btedly, that a movie was being projected on the wall in front of her.


    She turned her head and quickly spotted a projector.


    Hermione felt a bit confused. Did I not wake up yet? Isn''t Hogwarts supposed to ban the use of Muggle products?


    But she didn''t dare to move recklessly and could only watch the content of the projection. After a few minutes, she realized, oh, it''s actually quite engaging.


    The movie was about a princess visiting Rome who unexpectedly meets a journalist. It was clear that the movie had some years on it, but the storytelling waspelling, drawing her in.


    She happened to watch a scene where the princess used a violin to hit a thug''s head.


    Hermione couldn''t help but burst intoughter.


    Soon, she heard footsteps and immediately suppressed her smile, sitting up straight.


    Felix held a beverage in his hand and handed it to her. "This is Butterbeer. I''ve added a touch of Cheering Charm and Dreamless Sleep Draught to it. They will be released gradually, ensuring you have a good night''s sleep when you return."


    "Thank you, Professor Harp." Hermione took a sip; the taste was a bit odd, but not unpleasant. She found her spirits lifting, dispelling the exhaustion of the past week.


    She remembered the purpose of her visit, quickly opened her bag, pulled out seven pieces of parchment, and handed them to Felix. "Professor, these are my research papers."


    Felix took the papers and nced at them, simultaneously waving his wand without looking up. A few tes of snacks floated over to Hermione. "You can have a bite to eat and enjoy the movie. You probably haven''t had much time for entertainmenttely."


    Hearing Felix''s words, she realized she had once again missed dinner. Every cell in her body wasining to her right now.


    She blushed slightly, nibbling on the snacks slowly, asionally stealing nces at the professor who was engrossed in reading her paper. Since he didn''t seem to have any intention of looking up, she quietly picked up her pace.


    Unbeknownst to her, she finished the Butterbeer, consumed three tes of snacks, and the movie wasing to an end.


    The feeling of being well-fed brought back Hermione''s cheerful mood.


    She turned her head and saw that the professor had finished reading her paper, now absorbed in a book with evident delight.


    "Professor, I''m sorry..."


    Felix looked up, a smile in his eyes. "I thought you were enjoying the movie."


    Hermione: "..."


    "Alright, let''s talk about your paper." Worried that the girl might be bashful, Felix quickly changed the subject. He picked up Hermione''s paper and praised, "An excellent paper."


    "It''s logically structured, flows smoothly, and you''ve referenced material from eighteen books, each piece of evidence fitting perfectly..."


    Hermione lowered her head, a bit embarrassed by the praise.


    "Congrattions, you''re officially my assistant." Felix stood up and walked over to her.


    Sparkles lit up in Hermione''s eyes. "Really? Oh! Professor, I''m... I''m so excited!"


    "This is well-deserved," Felix Harp said gently, "You''ve put in tremendous effort for this, I dare say, far exceeding my expectations."


    Hermione felt like crying. This past week had been so challenging for her.


    "As my assistant, you''ll undoubtedly have to invest extra time in the future..."


    "Professor, I''ll work hard!"


    "No, no, you''ve misunderstood me," Felix smiled, "To give is to receive. Therefore¡ª"


    "Gryffindor gains fifty points, each term."


    ...


    Hermione returned to themon room feeling a bit dizzy. Harry and Ron were ying Wizard''s Chess, while the twins huddled in a corner, holding a piece of parchment and murmuring something.


    Seeing Hermionee in, many young wizards looked up. Gossip traveled fast, and they had already heard that Hermione might be the new professor''s assistant.


    Meanwhile, Felix, fresh from his public lecture, was the talk of the castle.


    Harry quickly jumped up, casually moving chess pieces aside. "Hermione, how did it go?"


    "Hey! I''m about to checkmate." Ron muttered discontentedly, though his heart wasn''t in the game either.


    "I seeded." Hermione dered the oue outright.


    "Hooray! Cheers for the Gryffindor''s Know-It-All! She''s now Hogwarts'' youngest assistant!" The twins cheered, their hands behind them as they mimicked an airne''s posture, soaring around themon room.


    A few fireworks popped with a "bang," and themon room was submerged in a sea of joy. The young wizards gathered around, offering congrattions to Hermione, regardless of her whispered exnations that it was "assistant" not "professor."


    The twins disappeared for a moment and returned with arge assortment of snacks, adding fuel to the festive atmosphere.


    Halfway through, Professor McGonagall was summoned. She pursed her lips, apparently contemting how many points to deduct from Gryffindor.


    "Professor McGonagall, we''re celebrating Hermione bing an assistant." The twins quickly exined.


    Professor McGonagall cast a quick nce at Hermione, who nodded subtly, prompting a smile from her. "Well, I suppose... but... keep it down a bit, will you?" Professor McGonagall quickly conceded.


    "Is this your paper?" Professor McGonagall asked, bypassing the cheering crowd and looking at the parchment in Hermione''s hand.


    "Yes, Professor McGonagall."


    Professor McGonagall picked up the parchment and first counted the pages with surprise before quickly diving into reading.


    It contained both Hermione''s original text and the annotations added by Felix.


    At first, Professor McGonagall flipped through the pages quickly, but soon her pace slowed. While Hermione''s paper resembled more of a review, it was concise and clear, essentially reorganizing the entire development process of ancient runes.


    Basically, anyone reading Hermione''s paper would gain aprehensive understanding of ancient runes.


    "An incredibly well-written paper. I believe it''s qualified for publication in a journal."


    "I have a long way to go. Professor Harp helped me with a lot of corrections," Hermione whispered.


    Professor McGonagall was also somewhat speechless. In her eyes, Hermione''s paper was already outstanding, but the fact that Felix could provide even more corrections indicated this exceptional graduate''s depth of knowledge in ancient runes.


    However, Felix''s annotations weren''t about pointing out errors but were more like suggestions for further understanding, such as "consider reading ''A History of Ancient Runes'' pages 172-174 for deeper insights." This indicated that Felix believed Hermione''s thinking needed to delve even deeper.


    "He''s quite demanding." Even the stern Professor McGonagall found herself siding with Hermione.


    "Professor Harp thinks I''ve passed. His annotations indicate the next steps I should take." Hermione exined.


    Professor McGonagall nodded then, looking at the paper, she grew fonder of it the more she read.


    "Well then, once you''ve incorporated Professor Harp''s annotations and revised the paper, I''ll pass it to a friend of mine. There''s a chance it could be published."


    The young wizards present looked on with expressions that seemed to say, "Wow, she''s in the presence of greatness."


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 Chapter 25: Let the Lessons Begin!

    Chapter 25: Let the Lessons Begin!


    Bright and early on the second day, as young wizards rose from their slumbers, they discovered that Gryffindor House had suddenly gained fifty points, catapulting them to the lead in the House Cup. Naturally, questions swirled about what had transpired the previous day.


    And so, the news of Hermione bing the assistant to the new Ancient Magical Texts professor was announced.


    Gryffindor, of course, was the most proud, while the other houses couldn''t help but express some reservations. A second-year student, now an assistant to a professor? Was there some sort of secret involved?


    Thus, a rather unpleasant incident unfolded on the Quidditch pitch. Draco Malfoy called Hermione a "mudblood," and in his fury, Ron cast a curse intended to harm but struck himself instead.


    Hermione felt deeply disheartened, but Hagrid offered her sce, "He''s just jealous, that nasty piece of work! Our Hermione''s writing papers they can''t even dream of!"


    However, the winds of change came swiftly. The new Ancient Magical Texts professor handed out an extensive essay as supplementary material to all the students enrolled in the course, including the seventh years.


    This essay was, of course, penned by Hermione.


    Numerous older students attempted to find errors within, but despite their skill, they couldn''t find a single mistake.


    It wasn''t that Hermione''s knowledge of Ancient Magical Texts exceeded that of the seventh years¡ªshe hadn''t even started studying them yet. Rather, almost singlehandedly, she had meticulously reorganized the historical development, research directions, significant discoveries, and theoretical schools of Ancient Magical Texts, updating the information right up to the previous year.


    For nearly thirty years, no one had undertaken this task. As a result, the knowledge of Ancient Magical Texts that researchers possessed was outdated.


    This was the true value of Hermione''s essay.


    Several professors expressed their admiration for the essay on various asions, particrly Professor Flitwick, who nearly fainted with excitement during ss.


    As a result, all controversies ceased. Especially after a Gryffindor student "kindly" shared Hermione''s rmended reading list, the prevailing sentiment shifted from "Hermione the Know-It-All" to "The New Professor is Truly entric."


    For a second-year student to be tasked with reading twenty heavy tomes in a week and writing seven pages of parchment was nothing short of "entric."


    Countless young wizards taking Ancient Magical Texts were now trembling with trepidation.


    Professor Felix Harp found his reputation suffering.


    Even Professor Snape joined in, taunting Neville in his recent Potions ss, "With your intelligence, I sincerely advise you not to take Ancient Magical Texts in your third year. Professors might mistake themselves for teaching a giant."


    Felix''s Ancient Magical Texts course, meanwhile, began to follow its proper path.


    In the fourth-year ssroom:


    "Wee to the hallowed halls of Ancient Magical Texts, our first ss," Felix addressed the young lions and serpents below.


    Among them were two familiar figures¡ªthe Weasley twins.


    "I won''t waste too much time repeating the importance of this course; some information I''ve already shared in the open sessions."


    "If you aspire to uncover the glory of wizards past, to decipher the arcane secrets of ancient wizardry hidden within cryptic manuscripts, then this course is for you."


    "If you yearn to craft mystical alchemical creations, to recreate the magical artifacts of legends and fairytales, then you need this course."


    "If your aim is to delve into the true essence of magic, to unveil the unique power and glory inherent to wizards, then this course is just as vital."


    Felix closely observed the expressions of the young wizards. Seeing them involuntarily be more serious, he felt a sense of satisfaction. It seemed he could repeat this introduction a few more times.


    "But everything begins with the basics."


    On the lectern, Felix waved his wand, and a suitcase popped open abruptly, releasing dozens of magical puppets thatnded urately in front of the students.


    "Cool!" the twins exchanged a nce, both impressed.


    Other students eagerly picked up the magical puppets, ying with them in their hands. Some even attempted to make them move using their wands.


    "Considering that third and fourth years have the least exams to worry about, our course will focus primarily on practical applications."


    Below, cheers erupted.


    Felix Harp waited for a while, allowing the young wizards to casually fiddle with the magical puppets in their hands before he continued, "I believe some of you have already noticed that your magical puppets aren''t moving."


    He wore a mysterious smile, tinged with a sort of mischievous delight, "¡ªIn a way, they''re still iplete."


    The young wizards stared at him in confusion.


    "That''s right, iplete. These magical puppetsck certain crucial magical inscriptions at the nodes of magical energy¡ªconnections, alignment, bnce, coordination. These are the four categories of practical Ancient Magical Texts you''ll be dealing with this term, a total of twenty-seven."


    "As long as you master them all, you''ll have a real magical puppet."


    "Of course, that''s in addition to another 482 theoretical incantations. That''s your entire curriculum for this year," Felix added.


    One of the twins shouted, "Professor, let''s get started already!"


    Felix looked at him approvingly, not bad, they know how to y along. "In today''s lesson, I''ll be exining the four incantations rted to the ''connection'' aspect. If you sessfully master them, you can make your magical puppets move."


    "Move?"


    "Perform basic actions, like throwing a punch, kicking, rolling over, that sort of thing."


    "Professor, could you teach us more?"


    "Of course... not."


    Following that, the young wizards maintained an unprecedented level of focus in ss. Each of them tried to grasp these four incantations as quickly as possible. However, by the end of the lesson, only Fred Weasley had managed a partial sess¡ªhis puppet could continuously swing its right arm, but only the right arm.


    "Weasley, plus ten points."


    As the end of ss approached, Felix began assigning homework.


    "Your homework is to practice the four incantations we covered today. Keep your magical puppets with you for now; they''re here for your practice."


    "I hope that in the next ss, all of you will have mastered these four incantations."


    George raised his hand, "Professor, what if the magical puppet breaks?"


    Truth be told, he wanted to take it apart and reverse engineer it.


    "No need to worry, I''ve cast protective spells."


    Felix seemed to offer a well-intentioned addition¡ª


    "Under the protection spells, your magic will onlyst half an hour. So, you know, practice more."


    The young wizards, still packing up their things, looked at this amiable professor with dazed expressions.


    But for the highly skilled duo of twins, this wasn''t much of a concern. Their focusy elsewhere. Fred asked, "Professor, will you teach new incantations in the next ss?"


    He was eager to enhance his magical puppet.


    "That depends on your overall progress," Felix''s response was ambiguous. In reality, of course not. The next few sses would all be theoretical. Now, be good and trante your textbooks.


    Did they really think I''d be shepherding? Do I even need evaluations anymore?


    Felix''s strategy was to lure the young wizards in, and then he could do as he pleased.


    "By the way, there will be a test before Halloween, covering both theory and practice. The student with the highestbined score will receive a magical puppet handmade by me," Felix whispered softly, "The upgraded version."


    "Now, ss dismissed!"


    ...


    This same strategy was repeated over the following days. Soon enough, the third and fourth-year wizards were fueled by enthusiasm for the Ancient Magical Texts course, their interest reaching a fervent peak.


    After ss, everyone had a magical puppet in hand, waving their wands tomand the puppets.


    By Friday, Fred Weasley took things a step further in the Transfiguration ss. Before the lesson started, he openly used his magical puppet to perform a tap dance routine, sending this wave of enthusiasm into full throttle.


    However, Professor McGonagall wasn''t particrly pleased and deducted two points from Weasley.


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 Chapter 26: Duel with Commentary

    Chapter 26: Duel with Commentary


    Facing the fifth and seventh-year students, Professor Harp disyed a different side of himself.


    He waved his wand, distributing the test papers to the students¡ªthese were the test papers from their previous ss.


    Felix Harp stood at the front of the room, not saying a word, yet an air of tension had already enveloped the young wizards and witches.


    They were all seventh-year students who had shared three years of camaraderie with this professor, especially Felix, who was in his fifth year when they first entered Hogwarts.


    What did he do in his fifth year?


    Well, he merely issued a duel invitation to someone from the Shafiq family. However, for these students, it was not just a duel invitation; it was like a notice of impending death! Or more like a whole familying to deliver it together.


    Felix toyed with his wand, sensing that the atmosphere had reached its apex. Finally, he spoke, "These are the results of your test from thest ss. Honestly, I am somewhat disappointed, quite disappointed indeed..."


    "Marcus!"


    Marcus Flint trembled as he stood up. "Prof... Professor." Felix might not remember him, but he remembered Felix very clearly, as the ''Shafiq'' was sitting right next to him.


    Both being pure-bloods, Marcus'' father had even asked that senior student to look out for him. But just as school started, he was hit by a big lightning bolt.


    He could never forget the sight of that confident senior lying on the ground.


    Felix walked up to him and patted his shoulder. "Your grades have slipped a bit. Do better in the future, I have high hopes for you."


    "Yes... Professor."


    Marcus couldn''t say much else; he would have to study like mad from now on!


    Felix was quite pleased with this Slytherin''s attitude. After all, it was his own house, and they were really giving their all.


    "Let''s begin the lesson. Today''s content is a bit extensive, so I''ll move quickly. When you go back, make sure toplete these three sets of papers."


    "After all, your NEWTs exams areing up this year..."


    ...


    Saturday, Gryffindor Common Room.


    Percy looked exhausted, having just finished a twelve-inch essay on the History of Cauldron Development and Innovation. But he still had assignments from six more subjects to tackle¡ªhis course load was simply too heavy.


    Damn it, at this rate, I won''t even have time for a date!


    Hermione emerged from the girls'' dormitories, carrying a hefty tome. She saw Harry and Ron huddled around a table, with several other young wizards nearby, all watching something interesting.


    Walking over, she noticed the Weasley twins were present as well. In fact, they were using their wands to make two magical puppets dance.


    She recognized these two puppets¡ªthese were the ones Professor Harp had used in his public lecture.


    Apanied by silent music (there actually was no music), a pair of miniature figures, about half a foot tall, twirled around on the table, locked in a graceful dance. This was their dance floor.


    Lee Jordan was narrating the "plot": "And thus, the Fire Lad and the Ice Maiden fell in love, bing the envy of everyone. But their happiness was short-lived, as their ideologies shed severely, leading them to engage in a fierce battle!"


    Fred and Georgeplemented hismentary. Fred swung his wand first, and the Ice Maidennded a kick on the Fire Lad''s face.


    "Oh! The Ice Maiden takes the initiative, delivering a powerful kick that sends her once-beloved soaring about two feet! Has the solemn vow of mountains and oceans vanished like this?" Lee Jordan eximed with sorrow, his voice echoing.


    George wouldn''t be outdone. He skillfully waved his wand, and the Fire Lad leapt up,nding a powerful punch on the Ice Maiden''s stomach before kicking her away.


    "Finally, the Fire Lad, no longer shackled by love, realizes that it''s not worth the ideological conflict! He has to take action, he''s moving, he''s moving... and he finally uses his foot! Splendid!"


    A young witch among the spectators scoffed.


    Hermione stood there in astonishment. You guys really know how to have fun,plete with a plot.


    A few more minutes passed, and after a flurry of punches that gave the Fire Lad the upper hand, he suddenly stumbled in mid-air.


    Then, the Ice Maiden also froze in ce.


    "Out of Power! Out of Power!" Dean Thomas, who grew up in the Muggle world, eximed, using unfamiliar terms.


    Fred and George picked up the puppets and hurried to a corner, starting to re-inscribe ancient magical symbols.


    "Professor Harp is really wicked. Supplementing the runes only gives them half an hour of activity," many young wizardsined about a certain professor.


    As the crowd dispersed, Hermione, Harry, and Ron found a seat again.


    Hermione nced at the twins in the distance. "They''ve reached this level already?"


    "It''s nothing. Many wizards have spent a lot of time on this," Ron exined. "Fred said that Cedric from Hufflepuff, he often wakes up in the middle of the night to secretly practice. He aims to win the exam before Halloween and get the mysterious prize."


    "There are many witches too, holding magical puppets all day."


    Hermione nodded; this week, scenes of young wizards holding magical puppets were everywhere. "But, Fred''s puppets are not like this, are they?"


    Ronmented casually, "He borrowed them from Angelina. It''s to recreate the ssic battle in the Great Hall. But in my opinion, they still have a ways to go. I mean, they just finished learning the first set of runes, and they need to master four sets. It''s like collecting Chocte Frog cards, putting all the skills together to form a set..."


    "Harry, aren''t you practicing today?"


    Harry wore a distressed expression. "Practice is in the afternoon." Even though it had only been two weeks, he was already feeling worn out.


    Ron suddenly chuckled. He nced at Harry and Hermione, then whispered, "I heard Wood has been struggling with his Ancient Runes homework. Thanks to Professor Harp, Harry is able to have a rxing day."


    "Is the homework difficult?" Hermione guessed.


    "Nah," Ron suppressed augh. "But this professor''s sixth-year assignment isn''t about tranting; it''s to write a thousand-word essay about ''My Summer Vacation.''"


    Hermione felt a strange familiarity.


    This style seemed quitemon when she was in primary school...


    Professor Harp was a Muggle-born after all, and he certainly had a wealth of life experience, Hermione thought.


    As they chatted, Percy suddenly stood up, quickly packed his belongings, and left without looking back, his backpack on his shoulders.


    It''s time for his date!


    Watching Percy''s departure, Harry pondered, "He seems a bit agitated."


    Ron shrugged. "Percy has taken too many courses. He passed 12 OWL exams and still wants to take 12 courses this year. However, Professor McGonagall managed to talk him out of some of them."


    The two of them sighed in understanding and then turned their gaze to Hermione. Could this be Hermione''s future?


    Ignoring the two, Hermione sat on the side reading a book.


    Harry looked at the book in Hermione''s hands, "Ancient Runes History Exam," and couldn''t help but ask, "Didn''t you pass the test? Why are you still reading this book?"


    Hermione turned a page, "Professor Harp left a bunch of notes on my paper¡ªthings I need to pay attention to. Besides, I''ve found that Ancient Runes are quite fascinating."


    "Fascinating..."


    The two academic underachievers exchanged looks. Every time they discussed academic matters with Hermione, they felt like there were pumpkins nted on their necks by Hagrid.


    So, they started ying Wizard''s Chess on their own.


    In the afternoon, Wood led the team out of themon room. Harry thought about asking him how to handle his Ancient Runes assignment, but considering that not even the end of the world could deter Wood''s enthusiasm for training, he eventually kept his mouth shut.


    On the way, he bumped into Colin Creevey, the clingy enthusiast, who greeted him enthusiastically, "Hi, Harry!" Harry replied wearily, "Hi, Colin."


    He had anticipated that the uing training session would undoubtedly be apanied by countless shes and shutter sounds.


    Inside the castle, Ron was a bit bored, stuck with his homework.


    Staring at the nk parchment, he daydreamed for a while, then eventually folded it into a paper ne. Unfortunately, the paper ne hit Neville''s nose, causing him to let out a yelp.


    In the evening, after dinner, Hermione headed to Felix Harp''s office for her report.


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 Chapter 27: Hermiones Magical Script Journey

    Chapter 27: Hermione''s Magical Script Journey


    The office of Ancient Runes professor.


    Felix Harp was grading papers, a task so monotonous it made him feel as if he were adding one plus one repeatedly hundreds of times. Fortunately, as he handed this chore over to Hermione, who had just knocked on the door and was still unsure about the situation, he felt thoroughly liberated.


    "Mainly fifth and seventh-year papers, mostly multiple-choice questions and sentence trantions. Grading them is rtively straightforward¡ªyou justpare the correct answers and mark the wrong ones with a cross."


    And true to her reputation as a top student, Hermione quickly got into the groove, excelling at this type of work.


    Meanwhile, Felix perused the paper Hermione had revised¡ªa piece meant for Professor McGonagall''s consideration for publication in an academic journal. He had to be stringent in his review. However, he didn''t merely make blunt corrections; instead, he offered continuous suggestions and references to specific pages in rmended books.


    He believed this approach would be more beneficial to Hermione.


    About half an hourter, both of them finished their tasks almost simultaneously.


    "Alright, let''s get to the point."


    Hermione had fulfilled her role as an assistant previously, and now it was time for Felix to fulfill his promise.


    Seated face to face on a couch, a small low table between them, Felix conjured two sses of juice with his wand. He attempted to put Miss Granger at ease, but she still seemed somewhat reserved.


    "From your paper, it''s evident that you already possess a substantial understanding of the history of ancient magical scripts. Even though you haven''t formally begun your studies, I can assure you that your progress will be quite rapid."


    "Professor, I''m currently studying ''An Introduction to Ancient Magical Scripts.'' I''ve also learned how to use the ''Script Dictionary'' and the ''Compendium of Magical Symbols.'' I''ve gone through the reading list you provided earlier, though I haven''t fully grasped most of it." The young witch sat up straight, quickly detailing her recent learning progress.


    Felix paused for a moment. "Impressive, though I won''t spend too much time discussing trantion techniques with you. At most, I''ll offer some advice."


    "You can start around 900 years ago, the time of Hogwarts'' founding. The four founders were great individuals who both tranted the works of their predecessors and left behind challenging research materials for future generations. These materials filled the earliest library."


    "However, these materials are now located in the Restricted Section, particrly well-preserved by Lady Ravenw. Slytherin''s materials have beenrgely lost, possibly due to him taking his research with him in a fit of anger after his split with the other three..."


    Felix recounted a segment of history vividly, capturing Hermione''s rapt attention. "Nevertheless, it''s also possible that Slytherin''s research might not have been suitable for the library. Who knows."


    "If you require it, I can issue you book tokens."


    Felix stood up, motioning for Hermione to follow. They both approached his worktable.


    "My area of research isn''t trantion but rather the exploration of the inherent power of magical scripts themselves. Like this¡ª"


    He picked up a palm-sized piece of chestnut wood from the table and infused it with magic through a stylus, inscribing magical runes on the surface. When these runes were first written, they emitted a zing red light, but it quickly faded, leaving behind darkened patterns.


    Hermione witnessed this phenomenon for the first time, her gaze fixed on it while her mind raced to decipher what the professor was doing, but to no avail.


    Felix finished inscribing the runes and handed the chestnut wood to Hermione. "You can feel it."


    She took the piece of wood in her hand. Without even touching it, she keenly sensed the magical fluctuations on its surface. As her fingers glided over the darkened runes, a warm sensation spread through her fingertips.


    "Magical runes can store magical energy temporarily. However, without proper treatment, the energy on them willst for a maximum of three days, and that''s a result of the chestnut wood''s natural attributes."


    Hermione nodded. As a wand material, chestnut wood was remarkably adept at containing and channeling magical energy.


    "This defect can be addressed in several ways, such as¡ª"


    "You can link them to create a circuit, thus significantly extending the retention time of magic;"


    "You can apply specialized protective spells;"


    "Or add storage and conversion circuits..."


    Hermione''s mind worked tirelessly to remember every word, as she wished she could immediately pick up parchment and record every sentence Professor Harp uttered.


    Felix''s exnation process was, in fact, a reorganization of his own knowledge. Unlike the past three years of feeling "undernourished," he now had too many choices and had to choose carefully.


    Therefore, lecturing the young witch was a side task. At this moment, he was lost in thought, murmuring, "However, these methods are just for maintenance. In thirty years, fifty years, they will decay with time."


    Why did his voice get quieter? Hermione quickly closed the distance between them, craning her neck to listen attentively.


    "Are the heroes and beings of myths conjecture or reality?"


    "Are they powerful wizards?"


    "If so, how do those magical creations that have been passed down for centuries achieve immortality?"


    Watching the professor fall into silence, Hermione guessed, "Perhaps they can continuously provide magic themselves."


    Felix chuckled softly, "That''s impossible, they''re not living creatures."


    "What about the Sorting Hat? It''s been around for centuries and canmunicate with people, having its own wisdom." Hermione tried to support her spection with examples. "And the portraits of past headmasters in the Headmaster''s office, Harry mentioned them."


    "Miss Granger, portraits themselves are intricate magical creations; they can carry a person''s thoughts. Moreover, from what I know, for magical portraits to endure, regr maintenance is essential, although the intervals can extend for decades..."


    "However, the Sorting Hat," Felix pondered for a moment, "I did overlook it. I''m not familiar with it. Perhaps I should find an opportunity to reintroduce myself to it?"


    "Alright, Miss Granger, let''s put a halt to our imaginative journey for now. Next¡ª"


    Felix took the palm-sized piece of chestnut wood from Hermione''s hand, saying, "Next, I will connect these magical runes, forming a circuit. Watch closely."


    This task was quite intricate; he carefully guided the lines, connecting them to one another, exining as he operated. "This step is crucial; many alchemical creations possessplex functions."


    After about fifteen minutes, he handed the chestnut wood back to Hermione, allowing her to feel the difference before and after.


    "I can sense the flow of magic, with fluctuations and undtions. They... they seem to resist me." Hermione expressed her perception with some confusion.


    It was truly remarkable.


    Felix understood, "When you say ''resist,'' it''s because it''s a rough semi-finished product, with magical fluctuations spreading chaotically, and you sensed that."


    "Of course, this also indicates your keenness. You must have strong aptitude for spellwork."


    Hermione''s face turned a bright shade of red.


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 Chapter 28: "My Unique Teaching Techniques"

    Chapter 28: "My Unique Teaching Techniques"


    Hermione inquired, "Professor, what is the purpose of this magical rune circuit?"


    Felix Harp waved his wand, and a piece of chestnut wood floated up from his hand, soaring into the air as their gazes followed.


    "This chestnut wood fragment bears only one Bursting Rune circuit, extremely unstable. With just a slight nudge from me, like this..." He lightly snapped his fingers.


    "Boom!"


    The chestnut wood shard exploded abruptly, apanied by a powerful ze and a resounding boom that startled Hermione.


    Following that, Felix Harp demonstrated several more rune circuits to Hermione, giving her a fundamental understanding of this professor''s field of study.


    "Let''s end it here for today. Tomorrow, I''ll truly teach you about ancient magical runes."


    Unbeknownst to them, the time had already reached half-past nine.


    Returning to themon room, Hermione saw Harry covered in dust, looking weary as he leaned on the table, absentmindedly ying with a wizard chess piece. The "insulted" knight repeatedly poked Harry''s fingers with its miniaturence.


    Ron was busy with a potion assignment, three sets of reference answersid out in front of him.


    Seeing Hermione''s return, Harry couldn''t help but ask, "How does it feel, being the assistant for Ancient Runes on your first day?"


    Hermione smiled, "It''s been fantastic!"


    Ron was curious about her tasks, "What have you been doing? Grading papers?"


    "Well, I''m only responsible for grading a portion of the fifth and seventh year papers. You know, not many students from sixth and seventh year opt for Ancient Runes. They all attend the sses together from the four houses."


    Ron suddenly got excited, "If I were you, I''d definitely deduct points from Slytherin for their essays."


    Hermione''s face instantly turned serious, "Ron, I must uphold my responsibilities."


    Ron deted like a punctured balloon onto the table.


    "How about you, Harry? How''s your Quidditch training going?" Hermione inquired.


    "Same as usual, especially now that Fred and George got some intel from Slytherin. The Nimbus 2001 is so fast, you can''t even see their faces." Harry looked rather pessimistic.


    Hermione could only sympathize. The entire schoolcked confidence in Gryffindor''s first match against Slytherin. Ravenw and Hufflepuff were eager to use this match as an opportunity to gauge thebat prowess of the Nimbus 2001 brooms for targeted training.


    Team morale wasn''t high either. Wood secretly confided in Harry, "Our brooms might not match up to Slytherin''s, but as long as your speed is up to par and you catch the Golden Snitch early..."


    This added even more pressure on Harry.


    ...


    On Sunday evening, Hermione once again entered the office of the Ancient Runes professor.


    From a distance, she suddenly spotted Draco Malfoy exiting the office. Hermione quickly hid behind a pir, observing Professor Harp and Malfoy conversing, with Malfoy nodding repeatedly.


    Her emotions instantly grewplicated.


    Inside the office, Hermione sat quietly on the couch, watching Felix Harp wave his wand, stacking a dozen pieces of parchment into a corner.


    Could it be Malfoy''s paper?


    Hermione''s mind swirled with various thoughts. She wanted to ask Professor Harp why Malfoy was here, but wisely held her tongue.


    Just like yesterday, Felix Harp sat on the other side of the small low table, in front of which were ten pieces of chestnut wood, each engraved with a runic symbol.


    "Today, we officially delve into the practical applications of ancient runes," he emphasized the word "practical."


    "The magical meanings of these ten runes are all distinct. For instance, this one," he pointed to the first chestnut wood piece, "represents the concept of connection. To borate, it can link runes of the same category, like liquid or flow; or even concepts that are rtively opposed, like burst and stability..."


    "In actual practice, I found that its form can undergo seven different transformations, each suitable for..."


    He spoke for an hour straight, leaving Felix Harp with a dry throat.


    "Next, we proceed to practical exercises."


    Seeing Hermione draw her wand, Felix Harp smiled, "Our practice doesn''t require wands."


    "I''ve spoken with Professor McGonagall. I possess unique teaching techniques."


    Hermione still had some doubts, but Felix Harp leaned down and lightly touched his wand to the young witch''s forehead, simultaneously murmuring an incantation.


    Suddenly, her vision felt hazy. The office''s furnishings shimmered and twisted like water currents, colors blending into each other, making her feel as though she was within an abstract painting.


    However, the distorted environment soon reverted to normal.


    To her surprise, she and the professor were still seated on the couch, but the small low table between them acted as a dividing line, splitting the room into two halves. Professor''s side was cluttered with a myriad of books, easily thousands of them.


    These books were arranged into several stacks, seemingly representing different categories.


    Yet, what caught her eye were the ancient runes pulsating on the books, each disying varying colors: bright red, emerald green, deep blue, metallic sheen...


    Hundreds of ancient runes resembled yful sprites, darting around the half of the room.


    Hermione couldn''t resist standing up. She nced at Professor Harp, who gave a slight wave, indicating she could explore at will.


    The young witch passed through the invisible barrier. An ancient rune flew before her, and Hermione couldn''t help but cup it in her hands, allowing it to bounce around her palm.


    Only after the little rune hopped away did she reluctantly shift her focus. She moved through the stacks of books, skimming through them with a sweeping gaze, while quickly scanning their titles¡ª


    "History of Ancient Runes," "Explorations in Ancient Runes," "Mysteries of Ancient Alchemy," "Principles of Spellcasting," "Advanced Spell Analysis," "Selected Transfigurations," "The Art of Duelling," "Dueling Techniques," "The Ravenw Manuscripts (Volume One)," "Compendium of Dangerous Magical Creatures," "Magical Potency," "Advanced Ancient Runes," "The Allure of Alchemy"...


    So many, and all of them were substantial tomes. Hermione even spotted a book that stood two feet tall, with a thickness of nearly half a foot.


    Even as a top student, she couldn''t help but feel inadequate. She silently resolved to read as many books in the future...


    She stepped over a tall stack of books and bypassed the undisturbed deep green curtains, only to find a pile of Muggle books: "Experiments of the Mind," "Secrets of the Human Brain," "Analysis of Thought," "The World''s Best Jokes"...


    She even stumbled upon aplete set of the "Encyclopedia Britannica," her childhood favorite!


    Apart from these rtively normal books, in a corner of the room,y seven or eight books scattered about, constantly emanating dark tendrils. If one stared at them intently, they could faintly hear thement of a male wizard.


    Could it be... dark magic books? The young witch was dumbfounded, sneaking a nce at the professor.


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 Chapter 29: The Chamber of Thought

    Chapter 29: The Chamber of Thought


    Felix Harp subtly caught Hermione''s gaze.


    "Well, those indeed are dark magic books, but there''s a saying, isn''t there? If you wish to defend against dark magic, you must have a certain understanding of it. As far as I know, the Department of Magical Law Enforcement even teaches some dark magic."


    "But I rarely see..."


    "Some wizards don''t use dark magic, but that doesn''t mean they''re unfamiliar with it."


    Felix smiled gently at her, "I''ve traveled the world for a year, and I must say, when dealing with certain specific troubles, dark magic can indeed be more effective."


    Upon hearing Professor Harp''s exnation, she quickly pondered and found the reason somewhat eptable, but still maintained a stern face, "Professor, I still advise you to avoid using dark magic. I read in a book: Dark magic always quietly infiltrates your heart, corroding you unknowingly¡ª"


    "¡ªMany young wizards have gone astray due to this, especially for underage wizards. Dark magic is like an irreversible poison of the soul," Felix continued along Hermione''s line of thought.


    Seeing the young witch somewhat surprised, he blinked, "I''ve read that book too."


    "Nevertheless, I thank you for your advice."


    Hermione pursed her lips, her demeanor reminiscent of Professor McGonagall.


    Noticing his assistant''s slight disgruntlement, Felix deftly changed the subject, praising, "I never expected you to have read so many books. For your age, it''s quite an impressive achievement."


    Following the professor''s gaze, Hermione then realized that the other half of the room¡ªseparated by a low table, closer to her¡ªwas decorated entirely differently.


    Warm sunlight bathed the area, casting a gentle glow. The light brown carpet and pale yellow curtains created an extremelyfortable ambiance. In the center stood a small round table adorned with two potted nts.


    Directly across the room, there stood a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf. It held neatly arranged rows of books, and on the second shelf from the top, there were seven or eight photo frames disying family portraits and Hermione''s photos from childhood.


    Adjacent to the bookshelf was an ivory-colored door.


    Hermione gasped in astonishment, as she realized that this half of the space was uncannily simr to her own room back home, about seventy to eighty percent.


    She turned to Professor Harp, her mind full of questions, realizing that only he could provide the answers she sought.


    And indeed, Professor Harp supplied the exnation, "This is the world of thought, a dwelling of imagination¡ªyou can call it whatever you like. Of course, none of this is real; our consciousness merely exists here."


    Hermione marveled at the exnation, standing at the junction of the two spaces. With wide eyes, she took in her surroundings, then hesitantly waved her hand, "So, this ce is a joint creation of ours? One half represents your inner world, and the other half represents mine..."


    Felix gestured to his own head, "Just the external mapping and projection of portions of our inner worlds."


    "And all our deepest secrets lie behind that door," he added, nodding toward the ivory door. Then, with a flick of his wand, the deep green curtain behind him rolled up, revealing arge door.


    Hermione visibly rxed; after all, she held quite a few secrets she was not willing to reveal easily.


    Such as Harry''s Parseltongue impersonation.


    "Professor, why have wee to this... world of thought?" she inquired.


    Instead of answering directly, Felix shared a part of his own experiences, "After graduating, I spent a year traveling the world, and then settled in London, specializing in Muggle studies."


    "Muggles'' wisdom is no less than wizards'', and in many aspects such as logic, reasoning, and problem-solving methodologies, they excel even further. And a crucial point is the legacy."


    "They pass down their knowledge, umting it across generations, leading to a qualitative transformation through quantitative umtion."


    "Wizards have their own forms of legacy, like Hogwarts, but in terms of inheritance and development, we fall far behind."


    "It was recognizing this that led me to read Muggle books. Honestly, after being ustomed to moving pictures, reading Muggle books felt a bit strange."


    "Their studies about thought and the brain caught my attention. I realized they have surpassed us in this aspect, even though it should have been a field where wizards excel. After all, we possess a range of memory magic, like Obliviate, Legilimency, and lumency."


    "But regrettably, we''ve inherited only spells, not concepts."


    "So,bining Muggle knowledge with magic, I developed a spell. Though it''s still quite a way off from my envisioned oue, for our current teaching purposes, it''s quite fitting."


    "What''s the purpose of this spell?" Hermione curiously inquired.


    "Thought eleration," Felix Harp exined, "Here¡ªin what I call the Chamber of Thought¡ªyour thought process speeds up, and with this ce, we get the illusion of extended time. I can currently achieve about a three- to fourfold increase, any higher bes dangerous."


    "Simr to this spell is the Babbling Beverage, but their effects are not entirely the same. Thetter enhances the drinker''s mental capacity."


    Hermione widened her eyes, "Professor, this spell is truly astonishing."


    Felix shook his head, "It''s not perfect yet."


    Seeing the professor''s reluctance to say more, Hermione began practicing engraving ancient runes. She used a piece of chestnut wood provided by Felix¡ªit was one of the limitations of this spell; if you can''tprehend it, it won''t appear here.


    For most of the remaining time, Hermione practiced on her own, with Felix asionally offering guidance.


    Seven thought hourster.


    Felix noticed sweat on Hermione''s face, her figure growing fainter, almost like a transparent ghost.


    "Professor, I can''t concentrate, I can''t... maintain focus."


    "Hmm, it''s about time. Let''s conclude for today." Felix snapped his fingers, and in the next instant, the world spun, and the two of them returned to the sitting room.


    Felix''s wand still rested on Hermione''s head, and the previously still professor suddenly stumbled, almost falling to the ground.


    He pressed his hand to his forehead while waving his wand, summoning a potion from his bag.


    Guided by the wand, the potion bottle acted quite independently¡ªit opened its own lid, fetched two cups, and poured out a portion of the potion.


    Meanwhile, Hermione was in a less fortunate state. She copsed onto the couch, her face contorted in pain, as if she was on the verge of passing out any moment.


    "Drink it, it will alleviate your symptoms."


    Hermione reluctantly drank the potion.


    "Have a piece of chocte." Felix handed her a piece of chocte.


    After seven or eight minutes, Hermione finally regained her senses. She kept murmuring softly, "It was so terrifying, so terrifying."


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 Chapter 30: Professors Admirer

    Chapter 30: Professor''s Admirer


    After finishing an entire piece of chocte, Hermione finally began to feel normal again. Despite looking quite exhausted, at least her intellect had been rebooted.


    "Professor, is this one of the drawbacks of the Room of Thought? I feel like I haven''t slept for three days and nights, and then this exhaustion just suddenly washed over me." She described her sensations.


    "This is one of the drawbacks: it elerates the consumption of your energy, and this consumption umtes continuously," exined Felix Harp, "You''ve just spent seven hours in the Room of Thought, but the level of exhaustion you''re feeling might exceed fourteen hours."


    Felix looked thoughtfully at her, "It seems we''ll have to shorten your time in the Room of Thought in the future. I think three to five hours, twice a week, should be a more appropriate frequency."


    Upon hearing the professor''s suggestion to cut down her study time, Hermione was about to instinctively argue back, but the recent experience had left her shaken, and she agreed to Felix''s n.


    Her attention quickly shifted back to the recent magic; she asked curiously, "Professor, how did youe up with this magic? It''s simply incredible! I think the Ministry of Magic should award you a Merlin Medal!"


    Felix shook his head and said softly, "This magic is still far from perfect. I initially thought¡ªit would allow me to gain several extra hours, even dozens of hours, out of thin air. But in practice, I encountered too many troubles."


    "The essence of this memory magic is to speed up your thinking process, currently by¡ª" he nced at the clock, "about three times."


    Hermione also turned to look at the clock, her expression veryplex, "I spent seven hours in the Room of Thought, and only two hours have passed outside. This is truly a miracle!"


    If others were to learn this magic, how much time would they have for studying!


    But not many people could withstand the side effects of the magic, most likely.


    And they would also need Professor Harp''s assistance...


    It seemed she was the lucky one, Hermione thought gleefully.


    Felix continued to exin, "The Room of Thought is not the real world; fundamentally, everything in it is constructed by your cognition. Have you realized its problem?" Felix asked.


    Hermione thought for a moment, "It reflects our own understanding of the outside world, which means¡ªit means, we can''t get urate feedback! No, I could definitely practice runes inside."


    The young witch''s thought was that the foundation of the "Room of Thought" was built upon the wizard''s understanding of the outside world, so it couldn''t "create" something they weren''t clear about, like¡ªusing the Room of Thought to brew potions, practice magic, and of course, learn runes.


    But this contradicted her own experience.


    Felix looked at the young witch with interest as she struggled to put her thoughts together, her expression one of deep concentration¡ªProfessor McGonagall''s assessment of Miss Granger was quite urate.


    "That child is very eager for knowledge; she always manages to grasp the knowledge from books faster than others. Of course, her talents might not match yours, but I think you''re an exception..."


    Indeed, she was an exception, especially since she had a particr advantage when practicing spells. His perception of this witch had been constantly evolving, from a familiar stranger to a rmended assistant, and now, a hardworking academic achiever.


    Truly worthy of being one of the original trio of main characters. Few could rival her potential.


    What about the other two''s talents? Felix wondered.


    The clock ticked on.


    "Could it be because of your existence, Professor?" Hermione''s eyes lit up.


    Felix Harp looked approvingly at her and revealed the answer, "I''m the one using magic, so the Room of Thought is constructed based on my cognition, at least mostly. And that means¡ª"


    "It means that your understanding of ancient runes extends beyond mine!"


    Hermione suddenly realized, "Your understanding of ancient runes far surpasses mine, which is why I can practice ancient runes within your cognition."


    In simple terms, Felix was the creator of the "Room of Thought," and Hermione was his invited guest.


    Following this thread of thought, Hermione continued to deduce, "So, what''s the effect of this magic on you, Professor?" It seemed rather insignificant.


    Felix shrugged, "It''s still somewhat useful. I have all the books I''ve ever read here, which allows me to quickly review the knowledge I''ve learned. Or when I want a period of undisturbed contemtion, it''s very convenient."


    In fact, Felix initially developed this magic as abat spell¡ªusing it to gain supercharged dynamic vision and reaction abilities.


    Coupled with his sixth-level Phantom Shifting and being knocked unconscious, he could move as swiftly as a dart.


    He had this idea back in his fifth year, but he had no clue until he graduated.


    Frustrated, he had to carry a vial of potion with him and use it to enhance his reaction speed by "quaffing."


    It wasn''t until he read numerous research papers about the brain and thinking in the Muggle world that he made progress, though it was unfortunate that this progress ended up being applied in teaching.


    A long roady ahead.


    Putting these thoughts aside, Felix advised her, "The Room of Thought and the real world are not the same. In theing week, you must practice continuously to turn the illusionary sensations into genuine reality."


    Hermione''s current state was like she had just yed a VR game and learned the skill of "cooking." If she were to return to reality and start learning to cook, it would be like having a tenfold experience boost, but if she didn''t put in any extra effort, that somewhat "illusory" experience would quickly fade.


    Today wasn''t the day for it; she was too exhausted.


    "Professor..." Hermione hesitated, biting her lip, as if she had something to say.


    "What is it?"


    "Nothing," Hermione quickly replied.


    She had seen Malfoy leaving Professor Harp''s office on her way here. Could it be that Malfoy also received the professor''s help and was training in the Room of Thought? She wanted to ask the professor, but couldn''t find a suitable excuse.


    Perhaps Ron would know?


    Ever since the "slug" incident, Ron had been paying special attention to Malfoy, especially news of his misfortune.


    After resting for a little over ten minutes, Hermione still looked a bit under the weather, but it wasn''t a big issue. A good night''s sleep back in the dormitory would fix it.


    ...


    In the evening, in themon room.


    Hermione asked Ron about this question and unexpectedly, he knew about it.


    Ron grinned widely with delight, "He''s been put in detention by Professor Harp. It''s been three days now... Apparently, Professor Harp thinks he''s been disrespectful to his ssmates, so he''s making him copy books as a punishment."


    "Copy books?" Harry asked curiously. Seeing his old rival''s misfortune made him quite pleased, and he couldn''t wait to hear more details.


    "That''s right,pletely hand-copying them. I overheard himining to Crabbe and Goyle about it. They''re two massive tomes, stacked together they''re at least three inches thick. It''ll take him a month at least."


    "What books?"


    "I caught a glimpse, didn''t see them too clearly, seemed to be something about Muggles." Ron furrowed his brow in thought for a while, "Wait! I remember, Malfoy mentioned something, griping that Professor Harp''s books don''t sell at all, they can only be used as tools to punish students."


    "Are they ''How Muggles Think'' and ''A History of Muggle Struggles: Starting from a Million Years Ago''?" Hermione said both book titles in one breath.


    Ron scratched his head, "Sounds about right... but how did you know?"


    Hermione didn''t reply, but dashed back to the dormitory and soon returned with two books.


    They were indeed massive... Harry thought. He looked at the spines and they were exactly the two titles Hermione had mentioned.


    Ron''s mouth fell open, "Hermione, don''t tell me these are your pastimes."


    "Do you have a problem with that?" Hermione retorted assertively.


    Harry took one of the books and flipped it open from the middle, finding pages upon pages of text that made his head spin. "Hermione, do you really need to read these kinds of books? I mean, we''ve lived in Muggle households since we were kids."


    Hermione looked very pleased, "Looking at the Muggle world from a wizard''s perspective is still quite interesting. And Professor Harp''s books are really well-written; the perspectives he brings up are ones I''d never think of."


    Then she added with a hint of resentment, "Malfoy is really getting off easy; if it weren''t for Professor Harp, he''d never get to read such outstanding books in his life!"


    Hermione generously praised Felix Harp, and the two boys exchanged a nce, silently sharing their thoughts¡ªhad Hermione''s admiration shifted from Lockhart to this Professor Harp?


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 Chapter 31: Felixs Journey of the Heart

    Chapter 31: Felix''s Journey of the Heart


    Felix Harp watched as the young witch walked away. He stood by the window, able to glimpse through the darkness the distant sight of two young wizards sitting together, holding hands, savoring a leisurely weekend.


    "Times of peace..." he pondered the phrase with a touch of nostalgia. It wasn''t until he returned to Hogwarts that he truly realized the impact of the war.


    While the Dark Lord''s reign of terror persisted, Felix was leading older children in the Muggle orphanage to thrash the bullies from the neighboring school. He was, in a sense, having a jolly good time. By the time he entered school, the Dark Lord had been defeated for nearly a year.


    The magical world was in chaos at that time¡ªDeath Eaters were busy evading punishment, ambitious individuals were eager to seize power vacuums, victims were demandingpensation, and those who refused to ept defeat were plotting counterattacks from their hiding ces. Of course, none of this affected him; what affected him were the young wizards within Hogwarts.


    During those days, pure-blood families in the wizarding world were doing their best to distance themselves from the Dark Lord. Discrimination? Absolutely not, wizards and Muggles are all kin. But what happened within the household, how they educated the next generation, could bepletely different.


    Felix entered Hogwarts under these circumstances, and then¡ª


    Hush! Don''t make a sound. Let''s see what we''ve discovered. A Muggle-born Slytherin! Quick, let''s bully him!


    Hmm, that was the mindset of most Slytherin students at that time.


    After the evening feast, Felix prepared to use his talents to make friends with his housemates. But a Slytherin looked at him with disgust and said, "Get lost, filthy Mudblood!"


    It wasn''t until Felix unconsciously petrified the Slytherin that he realized the meaning of the word. What on earth had just happened?


    Both sides were a bit dumbfounded.


    Thankfully, he was as stubborn as theye, and while his other two roommatescked any sense of integrity, Felix''s responses were sharp, and so, that night as hey in bed, he had already predicted his future situation to some extent.


    He realized that this conflict today was not the end of an event, but the beginning of everything.


    Subsequent developments unfolded as he expected, but luckily, within a week, he had proven himself; well, pah! He had forcefully made friends with the new students. They said more than once in public that Felix was a good person, not only gifted but also helpful.


    Though he couldn''t yet overpower the older students, with professors and school rules in ce, they wouldn''t curse him either. After all, fighting within the same year could be brushed off as friction, but if older students attacked younger ones, they could be expelled.


    By the time he disyed his immense magical talent, there were few left who wanted to trouble him.


    It must be said, Slytherin wasn''tcking in clever minds.


    But danger wasn''t confined to the school. Felix couldn''t remember how many death threats he received during his years there, but he clearly remembered the first one during his first-year Christmas party.


    It was an anonymous howler. Later, he spected that it might have been sent by the parent of a new student he had beaten up.


    However, that year he chose to stay at school cautiously, flipping the second-year Slytherins¡ªcan''t me him, they started it, he merely guided the situation to his advantage.


    But he hadn''t anticipated the esction of death threats. In the beginning of his second year, a barrage of red howlers flew at him. The entire Great Hall echoed with "You filthy Mudblood, get out of Slytherin!" or "Don''t let me see you, or I''ll personally erase Slytherin''s shame!"


    The young wizards at the dining tables were all bewildered. Headmaster Dumbledore was unusually serious; he personally inspected the wreckage of the howlers. But it was difficult to trace their origins¡ªborrowed owls, disguised voices.


    To be honest, Felix was perplexed. He wanted to study magic in peace, but things never seemed to go as nned.


    Felix Harp had to persist with his n of making more friends and having fewer enemies. This meant enduring misunderstandings, as those unaware of the truth assumed he was seeking revenge.


    Before long, he approached a third-year Slytherin he found particrly displeasing. Under the guise of seeking guidance, he managed to send the boy to the infirmary for three weeks.


    Afterward, he visited the patient actively, deeply regretting his "mistake." After all, it had been an ident!


    "Professor, I truly feel remorse. Are you going to deduct points? Go ahead, I can bear it..."


    Felix suddenly realized that causing trouble for Slytherins was remarkably easy. All he needed to do was insult their families when no one was around.


    This fishing method worked every time.


    After a few attempts, even the stubborn third-year Slytherin conceded. The most stubborn one was his own roommate, but even he eventually epted Felix''s friendship after seven days of sleeping on the floor.


    By the time he reached his third year, he had settled thest resistant seventh-year Slytherin. When it was all said and done, it felt like leveling up and graduating from a game.


    Still, he dared not venture beyond the school grounds, as he continued to face death threats every year.


    Hence, he spent a whole year pushing himself to master two sixth-level spells, even though his magical theory was only at level four!


    Fortunately, it was all worth it. Using his sixth-level "Stupefy" and "Protego" spells, he managed to deal with seven fools who had tried to attack him during his fourth-year summer break. They were currently residing in Azkaban!


    Upon returning for his fifth year, he initiated family duels, which, to him, were no big deal. He didn''t even get to fight a formal duel¡ªShafiq was taken away the next day.


    From then on, until his graduation, he lived quite contentedly.


    After leaving Hogwarts, Felix didn''t choose positions at the Ministry of Magic or Gringotts; he had no interest in working there.


    Great prospects? High sry?


    Well, he could finally say with pride, "I''m not interested in money."


    He wanted to stay at the school, but unfortunately, Headmaster Dumbledore refused him.


    "You''re still young. Travel and explore more before settling down to work in a couple of years."


    Felix eventually chose to travel the world, experiencing different magical customs of various countries like checking off a list. He was especially drawn to the ck markets of different nations, where he found ancient magical manuscripts and alchemical products he desperately needed.


    This was how he came to know some interesting (dark) wizards, all of them masked so they wouldn''t be judged by appearances, but rather by what they could offer each other.


    In dealings within the shadows, he joyfully tested the magic he had conceived on them. It''s crucial to emphasize that he hadn''t personally ended any lives¡ªjust left behind a bunch of imbeciles. Hopefully, their friends and family took them for treatment.


    His "Chamber of Thoughts" also began to take shape, bit by bit.


    Afterpleting his travels, Felix once again applied for a teaching position at Hogwarts, only to be gently rejected. However, Dumbledore seemed to discern his disinterest in the Ministry of Magic. He suggested Felix spend some time in the Muggle world.


    Felix chose to ept the suggestion. On one hand, he believed this might be Dumbledore''s "assessment" of him, considering his actions during his school years hardly qualified him as a "potential professor." On the other hand, he wanted to pave a path for himself, to mold an identity as a schr¡ªso that even if bing a professor didn''t pan out, he could still engage in conversations with other renowned wizards.


    He was confident about it. In the field of Muggle studies, he could catch on quickly.


    If he didn''t worry about shocking the wizarding world, he could write ten Muggle research books in a year. But in the end, he decided to exercise patience and make his actions more reasonable.


    During those two years, his correspondence with Dumbledore increased substantially. Felix sent him research manuscripts, and the two engaged in written conversations about Muggle matters.


    This gave him hope of returning to Hogwarts.


    Though he faced a third rejection in his third application... reflecting on the journey, he still felt quite pathetic. But from the letters, he could discern Dumbledore''s attitude quietly shifting.


    Then came the time to publish, publish. His books received modest responses in the market, but among professionals, they held significant reference value.


    The name Felix Harp became associated with the title of "Muggle Studies Expert."


    Thanks to this, in his third year post-graduation, he established pen-pal rtionships with many renowned wizards, greatly benefiting from them.


    Some smaller wizarding countries even invited him to lead departments handling Muggle-rted matters, but he politely declined.


    Exactly three years after his graduation, he finally received an interview invitation from Hogwarts.


    From here, everything would begin...


    Felix stood by the window, watching as the sun set, itsst rays touching the horizon.


    Today''s two updates, totaling five thousand words.


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 Chapter 32: Transition

    Chapter 32: Transition


    As time gradually moved into October, Felix Harp found himself settlingfortably into the intense world of teaching, bing more and more adept at it with each passing day.


    Teaching third and fourth years, with the aim of sparking interest, Felix had organized a few practical activities in his sses. He had to admit, the young wizards'' creativity knew no bounds. Even though they had only learned the first set of practical magical phrases, which allowed them to control magical puppets for basic movements, they had managed to turn it into a spectacle.


    The "Enchanted Dance Troupe" among the girls and the "Fiery Duels" among the boys had be incredibly popr.


    Felix also discovered a talent named Cedric, a fourth-year Hufflepuff student, who had developed a magical application during lessons ¨C passing notes in ss.


    During a History of Magic ss, probably due to the inherent dullness of the subject, Cedric controlled a puppet to roam around the ssroom, passing notes to his friends. A few half-asleep young wizards were stunned as they witnessed the scene. The magical puppet bounced over to a young wizard who was deep in slumber, drooling away.


    Cedric made a subtle motion with his wand, and the magical puppet leaped up, its little fist tapping the sleeping wizard''s knee.


    "Bang!"


    The slumbering young wizard awoke with a start, instinctively kicking out. The magical puppet was sent flying, passing through Professor Binns'' spectral form and crashing to the ground.


    Professor Binns, who had been teaching for decades and was the sole yer of the Hogwarts MMORPG (Magical Multiyer Online Role-ying Game), disyed an unusual burst of anger. "Lambert, disrupting the ssroom order, ten points from Ravenw!"


    The honest Hufflepuff stood up, stating that his name wasn''t Lambert and he wasn''t in Ravenw. Nheless, he was given detention.


    This bit of gossip spread rapidly throughout the school. By the next day, some couldn''t wait to replicate this feat. However, they were swiftly suppressed by a coalition of campus miscreants led by Professors McGonagall, Snape, and Flitwick.


    The Weasley twins suffered a stroke of misfortune as they controlled magical puppets and transfigured objects in their Transfiguration ss¡ªtwo lizards in a fight earned them a fifty-point deduction and three weeks of detention.


    At the dining table, Professor McGonagall gently reminded Felix not to indulge the students. This prompted him to reiterate in his ss that practicing magical puppets in other lessons, apart from his own, would result in the confiscation of the puppets.


    In the sixth year, young wizards were still trying their hand at contending with their "disabled" magical puppets. Their tools were not as refined as those of the third and fourth years; they had to draw thirty percent of the magical phrases themselves.


    This resulted in the sixth-year ss having a rather peculiar style. One could frequently see magical puppets with disabled legs, crawling only with their hands. Many young witches had to sign a series of unequal treaties¡ªlike doing assignments¡ªin order to borrow cherished dolls from younger students.


    As for the fifth and seventh years, their magical puppets were the mostprehensive, but they were the "trial versions." Their experience time was determined by theoretical grades, and not everyone could get their hands on one.


    However, their maniption of the puppets was the most dazzling. Come the weekends, the top students would encounter each other at various school events, exchanging secretive nces before engaging their magical puppets in battle.


    Elegant ice, raging mes, thunderous lightning, concealed shes¡ªall manner of moves and techniques were executed with incredible skill, clearly the result of dedicated private practice.


    At times like these, a group of young wizards would quickly gather around them as spectators, nodding and pointing.


    Some first and second-year students, even though they didn''t have magical puppets, were fervently enthusiastic about this. A couple of young wizards from Muggle backgrounds were analyzing strengths and weaknesses with solemn expressions, attempting to predict the oue of the duels.


    "The strongest one has to be Fireboy, right? His phoenix transformation move is unbeatable!"


    "Even Ice Girl''s Frozen Moment is quite powerful, freezing the opponent into an ice sculpture!"


    "Well, I must remind you all that lightning is at its strongest in its natural state."


    "Hia, Hia, Hia..."


    "But I do think that puppet spells with cutting effects are quite cunning," said a second-year wizard, earning unanimous agreement.


    In early October, the temperature began to vary dramatically, with abrupt shifts between cold and hot. An unexpected flu swept through Hogwarts.


    Young wizards formed queues to report to the infirmary, where Madam Pomfrey was kept busy. Her restorative potions were in high demand¡ªthough they made people''s ears emit smoke, a ratherical sight.


    Approaching Halloween, the professors'' lessons naturally capitalized on the hype of the season.


    Professor Flitwick spontaneously added a ss session on "Halloween Special," teaching young wizards a spell to repel female ghosts;


    Professor McGonagall''s transfiguration subject for the day was a vampire mask, and students paraded around with it;


    Professor Snape''s lesson content remained unchanged: a standard antidote. However, in one ss, he hinted that he might "identally" drop expired potion into a student''s pumpkin juice at the Halloween feast.


    Harry and Ron shivered.


    Even the currently most popr Professor Harp couldn''t escape this trend. In his ss, he showcased a new creation¡ªa magical puppet in the form of a ghost doll. It had arge head, a small body, a ghastly white face adorned with heavy dark circles under its eyes, and jagged teeth.


    It looked adorably grotesque.


    With a wave of Felix Harp''s wand, the ghost doll opened its mouth and exhaled a plume of ck smoke, darkening the faces of the young wizards in the front row.


    "I mentioned at the beginning of the term that there would be an exam before Halloween. The top student in each grade will receive a mysterious prize. And now I can reveal it¡ªit''s going to be a magical puppet chosen from my personal collection."


    "Limited edition, exclusive, power upgraded. So... what are you waiting for?"


    "Half a month left. Work hard!"


    A group of young wizards cheered as they reviewed ancient magical texts.


    When Hermione heard this news, she felt a bit regretful. Being only in her second year, she couldn''t participate in the exam.


    However, she had personally witnessed Professor Harp creating this ghost doll. It was her first time seeing the entire process of transmutation from raw materials to finished product. To gain the privilege of observing, she had to bring her assistant duties to themon room.


    Seeing Hermione grading a thick stack of papers, the young wizards marveled. Several Ancient Runes strugglers from Gryffindor, with Wood at the forefront, hesitantly requested Hermione''s leniency in grading. She sternly declined.


    In just over a month, this young witch had gained a certain "prestige" throughout the school, especially among the senior students who had chosen Ancient Runes. Her delicate handwriting often appeared in their corrected papers.


    In contrast, Professor Harp''s handwriting was rtively scarce.


    Harry and Ron looked at the papers on her desk and felt a bit relieved. Though most of it was multiple-choice and short sentence trantions, grading them wasn''t an easy task.


    However, Hermione was enjoying herself, "I''m learning a lot from this." She told the two, with her memory, after marking a paper dozens of times, it was practically imprinted in her mind.


    Is this what it''s like to be a top student? Gryffindor students exchanged nces.


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 Chapter 33: Hagrid

    Chapter 33: Hagrid


    In mid-October, the raging flu at Hogwarts not only failed to subside, but intensified further, even affecting several professors unfortunate enough to catch it.


    Fortunately, Felix Harp had foresight. He obtained two vials of invigorating potion from Madam Pomfrey in advance, taking a sip before ss to avoid being infected by unreliable young wizards.


    On Wednesday, Felix found himself unusually free from sses. He walked out of the castle and followed a small path, passing through the greenhouse and the Whomping Willow, until he reached the cabin guarded by the Forbidden Forest.


    As he approached, arge dog started barking, but Felix waited quietly. After a while, a burly fellow with a thick beard and feet like small boats emerged from the cabin.


    He called out to the dog, "Fang, hush!" then turned to Felix, giving him an assessing look.


    "Professor Hagrid? Do you have a moment?"


    In his eyes, this professor was dressed meticulously, with neat hair and a cleanly shaven beard ¨C an entirely different kind of person from him.


    "As a new professor, I realized I haven''t paid you a visit yet, and I must say, that''s quite impolite..."


    "Is that so?" Hagrid grumbled, leaning against the doorway and showing obvious disinterest.


    "I learned from Dumbledore that you''re an excellent keeper of the Forbidden Forest and quite skilled with magical creatures. Coincidentally, I''m very interested in these lovely little creatures as well."


    "Really? Uh, I mean..."


    Felix tapped his wand on the ring on his left index finger, conjuring a thick book in his hand with silhouettes of animals on the cover.


    "This is my gift."


    Hagrid''s gaze fell upon the assorted animal silhouettes. He hesitated, then said somewhat awkwardly, "Oh, this, you''re too kind. I mean... you didn''t really have to..."


    Hagrid stood there for a moment, then waved his massive arms. "Come in, doe in."


    Felix smoothly entered Hagrid''s cabin, and from his perspective, it had the aura of a bachelor''s living space ¨C seemingly messy but with everything in its right ce.


    When Hagrid handed him a cup, Felix realized he was mistaken. Hadn''t this cup been unwashed for days? It was dirty!


    After chatting with Hagrid for a bit, Felix noticed his gaze was continuously drawn to the book. He naturally shifted the conversation in that direction.


    "Hagrid, I made this book myself. It took quite a bit of effort, and I hope you''ll like it."


    Hagrid opened hisrge hand and picked up the book, flipping to the first page. It depicted a small creature with a tiger-like head, standing on its hind legs, its body upright, with two forearms hanging in front of its chest, looking alert.


    The next page showed the little creature in a confrontation with a lion, disying remarkable bravery as it faced an opponent many times its size,unching attacks again and again.


    "What is this little critter?" Hagrid''s eyes lit up.


    Felix nced at the picture. "This is a type of honey badger found in Africa. They''re incredibly courageous and intelligent."


    On the following pages, scenes of honey badgers facing off against various animals yed out. Hagrid became enthralled, flipping through the pages.


    One novel creature after another appeared before his eyes, as if he had opened up a new world.


    After a while, he looked up, somewhat puzzled. "Professor Harp, I haven''t seen these animals much, and they don''t seem to be magical creatures."


    "Indeed, you''re an expert on magical creatures with more knowledge in this area than I do. Luckily, I worked in the Muggle world for two years and encountered quite a few interesting little creatures. Perhaps theyck magical traits, but with their unique physiology and survival environments, they still possess captivating qualities..."


    "Ipiled a portion of these creatures from various Muggle books and media to create this magical book."


    Hagrid clearly appreciated the thought behind this gift, muttering under his breath, "This is too precious, far too precious."


    Felix chuckled. "Hagrid, no need to be overly polite. I''ve prepared simr gifts for every professor. And, well¡ª"


    "I do have a small favor to ask of you."


    "What is it?" Hagrid cautiously inquired.


    "I need some unicorn hair, not too much..." Felix seemed a bit hesitant.


    "Oh, that''s all? Quite simple." Hagrid rxed, leaning over to grab a furry, dirty cushion from the side.


    "Here, take this. If it''s not enough, I''ve got more. These things, you see, I''ve got plenty. Young unicorns shed their hair several times before growing up, and I help tidy up."


    Felix was a bit stunned as he took the limp cushion. It appeared to have endured quite a bit beneath Hagrid.


    Hagrid added, "While unicorn hair holds magical properties, not every strand is suitable for wand making at that level. These are the ones that didn''t make the cut. But still valuable."


    The two then delved into the topic of magical creatures. Hagrid unexpectedly realized that this professor hadn''t been dishonest; he was entirely different from a certain narcissistic professor.


    Professor Harp was remarkably knowledgeable about certain magical creatures, so much so that he knew things even Hagrid wasn''t aware of.


    For example, facing a Sphinx, it was wise to preemptively present three riddles to confound and engage it in deep thought;


    For instance, when encountering a st-Ended Skrewt, one could use magic to shape a stone, and these creatures had an intense fear of dogs with pure white fur;


    And, the thought of food for Mountain Trolls and their fear of bright light...


    Midway through, the professor provided butterbeer and specially crafted cakes, and the two enjoyed their meal.


    When Felix exited Hagrid''s cabin, the sky had already darkened.


    By the roadside, he spotted a young witch with red hair who seemed a bit disoriented. He redirected her back to the castle.


    The next day, Felix exchanged several Whomping Willow branches and a pot of Devil''s Snare from Professor Sprout''s Herbology ss.


    The former was a highly valued material, often used for wand-making and important in the creation of several potions. Thanks to Harry and Ron¡ªdue to their collision with a Whomping Willow at the start of term¡ªthis material was currently quite abundant.


    His office.


    Felix observed the materials on his worktable: a dirty cushion, a few seven- to eight-meter-long ck branches, and a pot of tightly coiled nts.


    He was quite satisfied.


    Felix was preparing to craft a magical item.


    The method came from an extremely ancient and rare magical book he had recentlye across in the library. Initially, he didn''t pay it much attention, as the book''s title, "Alchemy Applications," seemed simr to what he had seen before.


    But he quickly realized the difference. The cover of the book had been addedter, and the pages inside were visibly older. Were it not for magical protection, Felix had no doubt that they would have disintegrated into ashes immediately.


    Within this thin little tome were the notes of more than ten individuals. Some were chaotic, while others were neat and orderly. There were annotations, corrections, additions, and condescending oversight of sessors.


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 Chapter 34: Magical Inscriptions and Halloween

    Chapter 34: Magical Inscriptions and Halloween


    Through a somewhat verbose message left by a certain loquacious Chagus Gant, Felix Harp confirmed that this ancient book came from a family named "Gant," or at least they had long held possession of it.


    For behind-the-scenes notes, there was no shortage of praises for this great-grandfather.


    Not just one person either.


    This provided Felix with the pleasure of readingments.


    The magical inscription artifact Felix was preparing also came from this ancient book. The reason it was called a "magical inscription artifact" instead of "alchemy artifact" was because its internal circuitry was entirely constructed from individual magical inscriptions, devoid of any traces ofter alchemical techniques.


    Many people couldn''t discern this distinction, but Felix was an exception¡ªmagical inscriptions could be used in ancient magic and inscribed onto objects, as they were anguage imbued with magical power.


    Their essencey in the ancient wizards'' exploration and summarization of magic.


    Alchemy, on the other hand, was different. It partially inherited ancient magical inscriptions while developing its own methods, its purpose being "to imbue objects with magical power and grant them special magical abilities."


    Thus, the symbols used in alchemy couldn''t truly be called anguage, merely magical symbols.


    But it had its merits too. To infuse various objects with magical power, many great wizards had experimented with different methods, resulting in a multitude of enchanting techniques that bordered on the unimaginable.


    A pinnacle of this was achieved by the French alchemist Nics mel.


    Compared to alchemy, magical inscription craftsmanship was quite antiquated. That''s also why he thought the notes were quite ancient in origin.


    ...


    The magical inscription artifact Felix aimed toplete was called the "Binding Vine," utilizing the inherent growth extension of magical vine nts tounch surprise attacks. The advantage was that it required no incantations and could be activated stably without interference.


    However, when it came to assessing its power, opinions varied. At least Felix had his doubts.


    Yet he didn''t prioritize power; he valued the ideas contained within it. First, the thought process behind crafting magical inscription artifacts, and second, the technique of deeply integrating opposing magical properties.


    The unicorn represented purity and goodness;


    The Devil''s Web, on the other hand, was an aggressively magical nt, alwaysunching attacks on various small animals and unfortunate humans¡ªhunting was in their nature.


    Under normal circumstances,bining the magical properties of these two was a challenging task. Following the approach in the ancient book, Felix used the Beating Willow to neutralize this opposition¡ªthe Beating Willow, despite its violent behavior, was genuinely a neutral nt.


    Felix waved his wand, unraveling the cushion woven from unicorn hair and ced it in clear water. In an almost instant, the clear water turned pitch ck.


    Felix: "..."


    He changed the water a few more times before finally cleaning the unicorn hair and then magically drying it.


    Only by now did the unicorn hair reveal its true appearance: soft and smooth white strands extended luxuriously, radiating a warm light that flowed constantly, as if it were solidified liquid mercury.


    The other two main materials needed time to mature. The Devil''s Web needed to growrger, and the Beating Willow branches required soaking in magic to increase their flexibility for easier transformation.


    Felix estimated that the preparations would likely extend to the end of November.


    Nevertheless, he could start considering how to optimize the magical inscription circuits ahead of time...


    As days passed by, Felixpleted the first extensive examination for fifth-years¡ªa promise he had made at the beginning of the school year.


    On the weekend before Halloween, he was still busy grading papers.


    Fortunately, he wasn''t alone; another assistant was workingte with him.


    It was ten o''clock at night.


    Hermione stifled a yawn, stealing a nce at Professor Harp.


    "Professor, I''ve finished grading."


    Felix Harp looked up, "I still have some left here, you can head back. Enjoy the Halloween feast."


    Hermione bid him goodnight and left the office. As she walked along the corridor, she also had something to look forward to in three days. However, what she was preparing for wasn''t the school-organized party, but the 500th Deathday celebration of Nearly Headless Nick, the ghost of Gryffindor House.


    Back in themon room, many young Gryffindor wizards were still working on their assignments.


    Ron let out a groan. His potion essay was missing eight inches, and his magical history essay wascking a foot.


    "Why on earth do we have so much homework before Halloween!"


    Ron vocalized what many young wizards were thinking, and they all shared a look of agreement before resuming their work.


    Hermione sat next to Harry and Ron, and she didn''t hold back, saying, "If you had finished your homework earlier, you wouldn''t have this much trouble."


    She was busier than most, not onlypleting her duties as an Ancient Runes assistant but also practicing the magical inscriptions taught by Professor Harp. Up to now, she had mastered 19 magical inscriptions.


    Professor Harp said she had the opportunity to independently create an alchemical product this year.


    Ron grumbled, "Enough of the lecture, just lend me your magical history essay."


    "You should finish your own work!"


    "I''m just using it as a reference, right, Harry?"


    Harry quickly nodded.


    In the end, Hermione lent them her essays.


    Over the next two days, the festive atmosphere on campus grew stronger. Despite the heavy rain pouring outside, turning the sky as dark as ink, inside the rooms were bright and cheerful.


    Professor Flitwick adorned the Great Hall with live bats, Professor McGonagall conjured massive colorful decorations, and Hagrid''s enormous pumpkins finally found their purpose as they were carved into hollowed-outnternsrge enough to fit three or four people inside.


    Whispers circted around the campus that Dumbledore had booked a skeleton dance troupe to entertain during the festivities.


    Everyone was eagerly looking forward to the Halloween feast.


    Only Harry and Ron were gloomy. The reason was that Harry, unable to turn down a request, had agreed to attend the 500th Deathday celebration of Nearly Headless Nick, and Ron, ever loyal, was apanying his friend.


    However, the more they looked at the festively decorated Great Hall, the more bittersweet their smiles became.


    This bitterness reached its peak on Halloween day.


    At seven o''clock, the trio walked through the doorway, ready to join the feast. Passing by the Great Hall, which was adorned with lights and candles, the enormous pumpkinnterns were as big as carriages. Some young wizards had already chosen their seats and were chatting animatedly.


    As Harry squeezed through the crowd, he even spotted one of the Weasley twins directing ghostly dolls to chase after one young wizard after another, spraying them with ck smoke, while the magical puppets emitted eerie "creak creak" ghostly sounds.


    Just the day before, Felix had distributed the grades and fulfilled his promise, awarding a custom-made magical puppet to the top student of each year. These puppets had even more power and a wider array of internal "moves."


    The first ce for the fourth year wasn''t imed by one of the twins, but rather by Hufflepuff''s Cedric. He had been consistently at the top. However, when it came time for him to choose his prize, he was swayed by the twins and opted for a ghostly doll.


    Now he was sitting with his friends, his gaze straying to a third-year Ravenw girl. He suddenly felt a pang of regret; if he had chosen a pretty girl instead and presented her with the doll...


    Cedric''s thoughts spun in circles, and as for Harry and hispanions, the path beneath their feet grew winding and convoluted. Descending further, they reached the dungeons. The cheerful sounds from above grew distant and subdued, mirroring their feelings.


    They passed through a corridor lit with ck candles and saw Nearly Headless Nick standing at the entrance of a room, weing the guests. He was dressed up today, draped in a ck velvet curtain.


    "Wee, my dear friends. It''s so wonderful to have you here..."


    Almost simultaneously, Dumbledore announced the official beginning of the Halloween feast, and the cheers of the young wizards resounded throughout the Great Hall.


    Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged nces. Bathed in the shimmering candlelight, their faces held a shadowy aura, and as they walked inside, they felt a sense of resignation, akin to facing the inevitable.


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 Chapter 35: Ambush

    Chapter 35: Ambush


    Great Hall.


    The atmosphere of the evening was incredibly lively. Dumbledore had fulfilled his promise and brought in a troupe of skeleton dancers. They yed cheerful tunes on instruments made of bones while performing whimsical dances. To be honest, this style of performance was truly unforgettable.


    The young wizards wore satisfied and excited expressions, sitting within pumpkinnterns, indulging in the festive delicacies. To Felix Harp, the taste didn''t seem to have changed much, but the presentation was quite innovative and unique.


    Felix took a piece of ck, tombstone-shaped caramel cake and took a bite.


    Various colored ribbons and monster masks adorned the ceiling of the hall, and he even spotted threerge ck dogs¡ªck dogs didn''t have a good reputation in the wizarding world. But upon closer inspection, he realized it was a three-headed dog.


    Felix: "..." Always feels like the three-headed dog''s reputation is unjustly tarnished.


    Unbeknownst to them, time passed, and it was nearing ten o''clock, heading towards eleven. The young wizards began to put down their utensils, wearing satisfied smiles on their faces.


    Felix wiped his mouth with a napkin and started discussing spells with Professor Flitwick. Professor Lockhart tried to interject but was ignored by the two.


    After two months of the school year, anyone with a bit of intelligence could see what kind of person Lockhart was.


    Felix couldn''t help but cast a reproachful look at Dumbledore. "You''ve wasted my trust on someone like him? Did you really have to choose such a flimsy professor?"


    I thought he had some genuine talents.


    Felix felt his investment of time was wasted.


    Finally, the troupe of skeleton dancers concluded their performance with an alternative and soothing tune. Everyone politely apuded until they took a bow and dissolved into a cloud of ck smoke, exiting the scene.


    As the evening came to an end, the young wizards left the hall in a crowded rush. A few professors remained, waving their wands to tidy up the aftermath.


    At that moment, a young wizard returned in a fluster, his lips trembling.


    "Professors, I think you need toe and see... something has happened!"


    Without him saying anything, the professors also heard the gasps of the young wizards outside the hall. Dumbledore took a few strides and walked over, the crowd naturally parting to make way.


    Felix and Professor Flitwick exchanged a nce and quickly followed.


    They ascended the stairs and reached the third floor. Following the gaze of the young wizards, they turned a corner and arrived at an empty corridor.


    The first thing Felix noticed was Harry, Ron, and Hermione¡ªstanding alone, with an obvious empty space around them. But the next moment, his gaze fell upon the cat hanging from the torch sconce.


    Mrs. Norris.


    She appeared incredibly stiff, almost as if she were dead.


    Beside her, on the wall about a foot off the ground, were some markings, gleaming with an emblematic light in the reflection of the burning torch.


    The Chamber of Secrets has been opened.


    Beware the Heir of Slytherin.


    Flich was shouting something, but Dumbledore quickly moved past the crowd and took down Mrs. Norris. His expression turned grave, his azure eyes peering through his half-moon sses as he examined carefully.


    "Come with me, Flich," he said to Flich, "and you, Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger."


    Lockhart was quickly directed to his office, and then Dumbledore led the way, followed closely by Professor McGonagall, Snape, Felix, and, Professor Flitwick remained behind tofort the frightened young wizards.


    Lockhart''s office.


    Several professors were gathered around a smooth table, scrutinizing the stiffened Mrs. Norris.


    Dumbledore''s long, hooked nose was almost touching the fur of Mrs. Norris. He peered at her through the half-moon sses, his slender fingers prodding and poking here and there.


    Professor McGonagall bent over, her face nearly touching the cat, squinting as she examined closely.


    Snape stood behind them, his body mostly obscured in the shadows.


    Felix Harp stood on the other side, his fingers brushing over Mrs. Norris''s back, her fur unusually rigid. He then lightly touched her body with his wand, sensing a powerful curse.


    Not dead... seems to be petrified...


    Almost simultaneously, Headmaster Dumbledore straightened up and murmured, "It''s not dead, Flich. It''s been petrified."


    But the headmaster''s words couldn''t dissolve Flich''s resentment. He instantly locked his suspicions onto Harry, even exposing his squib identity in the process.


    But his suspicion was swiftly rejected as "this requires the most advanced dark magic."


    The trio clearly couldn''t achieve that.


    Furthermore, there were those strange markings on the wall.


    The Chamber...


    Felix fell into thought, a very familiar name.


    Next was Snape''s domain. He interrogated the trio mockingly, Harry stumbling through his exnations, prompting a sigh from Felix on the side.


    Kid, not skilled at lying, andcking in emotional stability.


    However, Felix soon began pondering, what were they hiding?


    After participating in the anniversary party in the dungeon, they should have returned to the Great Hall, but they didn''t...


    Perhaps he could seize an opportunity to ask his assistant.


    After the trio left, the professors exchanged information.


    "Potter didn''t tell the whole truth, Headmaster, that''s my opinion," Snape reiterated.


    This point was not disputed among the professors; they all saw it.


    But Professor McGonagall habitually defended her students. "We don''t have evidence to show they did something wrong. In fact, they might have just heard some odd noises."


    "Can''t rule out that possibility," Dumbledore neither confirmed nor denied, "And what''s your opinion, Felix?"


    All eyes in the room turned to Felix, even the Lockhart picture on the wall leaned out from the shadows.


    "My opinion... I''m still thinking about the words on the wall. The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Whose chamber? Opened by whom? And who stands against this so-called heir?" He posed three questions in quick session.


    Professor McGonagall pursed her lips. "It sounds like the legend of the Slytherin Chamber again, but there''s never been any evidence to prove..."


    Except for Felix and Lockhart, the other three were seasoned faculty members. Simr campus legends spread among young wizards every few years, gaining sensational and curious details as they were passed on.


    "But from what I know, the names associated with the term ''Chamber'' are most famously Ravenw and Slytherin. And considering this attack, the direction is quite clear."


    The others understood Felix''s implication: Chamber, and rted to Slytherin.


    Ravenw couldn''t do such a thing.


    "Spection is reasonable, but sadly, there''s no evidence," Snape retorted.


    Finally, Dumbledore concluded, "Over the next few days, we''ll search the castle thoroughly to see if we can find anything."


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 Chapter 36: Serendipity

    Chapter 36: Serendipity


    On the second day, Felix Harp arrived at the corridor where the attack had urred the previous night, and quite coincidentally, he encountered Fletch.


    The corridor had obviously been cleaned up, and the umted water on the ground had disappeared. By the wall bearing the words "The Chamber of Secrets has been opened," there stood an empty chair.


    At this moment, he was facing away from Felix,boriously scrubbing the words on the wall with a cleaning solution, but it seemed to be in vain.


    "Mr. Fletch."


    Fletch turned around, his eyes bulging, his face sporting an unusual flush of red, and he mumbled something unintelligible. However, upon seeing Felix, he courteously greeted, "Professor Harp."


    "I''vee to examine the scene. Perhaps I can find some clues left behind."


    During his time at school, Felix didn''t have much interaction with this Fletch. Back then, he didn''t have the assistance of Madam Rosmerta and relied solely on his exceptional Disillusionment Charm topletely nullify Fletch''s threats.


    Fletch stepped aside, somewhat awkwardly standing to the side. Having just revealed his true identity as an Animagus yesterday, he didn''t want to spend a second longer in the presence of this brilliant professor today.


    "Well then, I''ll be off, Professor. I have a little something to attend to..."


    "You go on ahead," Felix responded with a nod. "Oh, by the way." He waved his wand, and the writing on the wall immediately faded.


    "Hmm?"


    He was slightly surprised. He quickly approached the wall, examining the writing from top to bottom. "Seems to be a form of Compulsion Magic, but not a Permanent Sticking Charm." Felix used his wand to gesture on the wall, and soon, the writing vanished.


    "Th-thank you," Fletch blushed, hastily said, and promptly left, not even taking his cleaning tools with him.


    Felix began to search the surroundings, and soon enough, he found a hint.


    He crouched down on the ground, tapping the ring on his left hand with his wand, and arge magnifying ss appeared in his hand.


    Felix carefully observed the ground. There was a charred mark there.


    "What is this? How did it appear?"


    Felix lifted his head, gazing at the girls'' restroom opposite. Without much thought, he quickly pushed open the bronze handle and entered.


    It was a rather dim and damp ce, with streaks of dirt on the walls and puddles on the floor. The tiles on a row of sinks were peeling off, and the only source of light came from a few pitch-ck candles.


    Suppressing his difort, Felix''s gaze continually roamed.


    A voice suddenly echoed from the innermost cubicle, "Who''s there?" Immediately after, a gloomy-faced ghost rushed out, her pearly sses covering most of her face.


    She looked at Felix and clearly recognized this professor.


    The ghost stared in astonishment, looking somewhat incredulously behind her. Yes, this was indeed her territory, the girls'' restroom...


    "P-Professor?"


    "Hello, Moaning Myrtle," Felix''s voice was quite calm. He was here to investigate, and he had a valid excuse. Yes, that''s right.


    Myrtle stared at him dumbfoundedly for a few seconds, then suddenly let out a scream, flying back into the toilet with a ssh of clear water.


    Felix: "..." Was that really necessary? I just wanted to ask you a question, and I''m enduring the awkwardness here.


    Felix Harp said, "Myrtle, I know you''re here. Did you see the attack that happened yesterday...?"


    "Nothing! I saw nothing!" Myrtle loudly shouted from her stall.


    Soon after, he heard footsteps not far away, and his heart skipped a beat. He quickly cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself, swiftly left the restroom, and brushed past a red-haired girl.


    Being discovered by a ghost wasn''t frightening, but being seen by students...


    His once sterling reputation would be tarnished.


    Over the next few days, he cooperated with several professors when he had no sses and searched the entire castle, but naturally, they found nothing.


    One day in the Great Hall, while Felix Harp was having lunch, he continued pondering over this matter.


    "The root cause of all this is Voldemort''s Horcrux, but knowing that doesn''t seem to help... I don''t know who the Heir of Slytherin is, where the Chamber is, or where the Horcrux is hidden."


    "Chamber, Slytherin, Heir, petrification... these are the obvious keywords. But how do they connect?"


    Felix had a feeling that he was very close to the truth, yet it remained veiled.


    "Slytherin... serpent?"


    He strained to remember, attempting to unveil long-buried memories. He seemed to glimpse something ¨C "Harry" battling a giant snake. But the memory was quite hazy; he wasn''t sure if he was recalling it correctly. In his recollection, "Harry" seemed to have dealt with arge group of Dementors on his own.


    How was that even possible? Even most adult wizards couldn''t achieve that!


    Furthermore, how could Dementors have attacked the school?


    However, Felix Harp quickly reminded himself that in the magical world, anything was possible. Especially with a "main character" present.


    "So, it''s quite likely that it''s true ¨C a giant snake causing Madam Rosmerta''s petrification." Felix followed this conjecture through.


    Yet he encountered another problem.


    What snake possessed the power of petrification?


    The only one Felix could think of was a basilisk, but these magical creatures were extinct.


    "Unless Slytherin performed blood grafting... from his remaining notes, his research into magical bloodlines was quite extensive."


    Even after finishing his lunch, he hadn''t sorted it all out. However, he soon had a new idea: he began collecting rumors about the Chamber that had circted at Hogwarts over the years and meticulously scrutinizing them.


    Perhaps the truth was hidden within the rumors.


    ...


    Three dayster, Felix Harp stood opposite a tapestry on the 8th floor of the castle, bearing the words "The Chimaera Takes on Stupid Babanus," looking at a silver door appearing before him with a curious expression.


    Could this be it?


    With a slight hesitation, he lightly tapped his chest with his wand. A sh of light passed over his wrists, ankles, and chest, and then he stepped forward into the room.


    It was an enormous storage room, piled high with all sorts of discarded items: broken quills, old books, damaged mirrors... He even saw the Golden Snitch with one wing missing.


    He cautiously walked around, finding no traces whatsoever.


    "A hidden room?" He found it difficult to believe that proud Slytherin would ce the Chamber here.


    "However, this room is certainly well concealed. Its magic must be quite fascinating. I''ll have to study it another day." Felix Harp walked out of the room, reluctantly taking his eyes off the silver door, which had quietly vanished.


    Meanwhile ¡ª


    The trio was also diligently researching the secret of the Chamber, with this "diligence" mainly being attributed to Hermione Granger.


    After days of fruitless searching and the "Hogwarts: A History" borrowing list being booked for another two weeks, this Gryffindor witch finally raised her hand in History of Magic ss, benefiting everyone by obtaining valuable information about the Chamber.


    Poor Professor Binns had to deviate from the curriculum, delivering a lecture on "Myths and Legends" to the eager gazes of the students, much to his chagrin. Following this episode, his typically sluggish, dry voice sped up ¡ª enhancing his ss''s hypnotic power even more than before.


    The once lively young wizards fell once again, their faces rapidly bing nk and vacant.


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 Chapter 37: The Trios Investigation

    Chapter 37: The Trio''s Investigation


    After ss, Harry, Ron, and Hermione walked out of the ssroom, discussing the information they had just received from Professor Binns.


    "I always knew Szar Slytherin was a mad old loony," Ron said with a strong sense of disgust.


    Hermione was sorting through the current information. "Professor Binns mentioned the monster in the Chamber of Secrets. Nobody knows what it is exactly, but Harry, we have a direction now."


    She looked deeply at Harry.


    Magically, Harry understood what she meant. He quickly nced around and whispered, "You mean, my Parseltongue..."


    Ron also looked at them with a fearful expression.


    "Exactly!"


    The three of them squeezed through the crowded corridor and soon arrived at the scene of the attack.


    The scene before them had changed significantly from that night. The water was drained, the petrified cat was no longer hanging on the torch sconce, and the words "The Chamber has been opened" were cleaned away.


    However, there was an empty chair leaning against the wall.


    "Filtch has been standing guard here," Ron whispered, "He''s been especially irritabletely, finding all sorts of reasons to deduct points, like talking too loud or goofing around."


    "But that''s not our concern. We just need to inspect the scene and see if there are any overlooked clues," Hermione said.


    The trio quickly got to work. Harry was crouched on the ground, his sses almost touching it. Soon, he discovered burnt marks, and Hermione noticed a spectacr sight of spiders queuing to flee the castle.


    "What does this mean?" Harry was puzzled.


    Ron, staying far away from the spiders, looked terrified. "This could mean a lot of things¡ªlike the spiders are afraid of the monster."


    Hermione continued to piece together the clues. "So, the attacker is a snake, one that can petrify, and spiders are its natural enemies. This clue is getting us closer to the truth!"


    The young witch eximed with excitement, "Give me a week, maybe two at most, and I''ll have its information. Ron, seriously, why have you been trembling all this while?"


    And so, Ron went on to tell the story of his childhood experience of being turned into a teddy bear with many legs by the twins'' botched magic, making her burst into giggles.


    Ron grumbled, "You wouldn''t find it funny if you''d been through that. Imagine hugging a teddy bear and calling its name, and suddenly it sprouts multiple legs..."


    "The water on the ground is gone," Harry suddenly said.


    "Perhaps someone cleaned the floor, like Filch, that''s his job," Ron replied without thinking.


    "But where did the watere from in the first ce?" Harry felt it might be a clue.


    "Ah! I''ve got it," Hermione screamed.


    "What is it?"


    "I''ve thought of something¡ªa possible witness. She''s right next door to us, possibly witnessed the entire attack."


    Following her gaze, the two boys looked at the sign for the girls'' restroom and nervously swallowed.


    ...


    After dinner, they left the castle and followed the path to Hagrid''s hut.


    Along the way, they continued to debate about the events of the day.


    "I''m telling you, we shouldn''t have gone into the girls'' restroom, that Moaning Myrtle, and that ce... it''s a nightmare! And we got caught by Percy," Ronined incessantly.


    "But we also found out that she died fifty years ago, saw a pair ofrge, scary yellow eyes before she died. What does that tell us? It''s the snake''s eyes," Hermione ignored Ron''s grumbling, saying, "And your information is valuable too. We learned about the name Tom Riddle, who received the Special Services to the School Award fifty years ago. Perhaps this isn''t a coincidence!"


    Harry''s eyes widened. "Are you saying Tom ended thest heir of the Chamber?"


    "Exactly."


    The three of them knocked on Hagrid''s door, and he warmly weed the young wizards inside.


    Ron looked surprised. "Hagrid, your house is clean."


    Indeed, the three saw Hagrid''s hut was remarkably tidier. The dark floor had turned into a rich brown wooden one, visibly cleaner.


    "Oh, that," Hagrid casually mentioned. "Professor Harp dropped byst time he visited, and before he left, he just waved his wand, and it got sorted."


    "Professor Harp?" Hermione asked, astonished.


    "Indeed, Professor Harp. Dumbledore rmended him to me. He needed some advice on magical creatures, and I happen to be an expert in that area. But honestly, he''s not bad either. He has some insightful perspectives, especially in more obscure areas. Yes, quite insightful."


    Hagrid brought a te of biscuits, a pot of pumpkin juice, and three cups. He said with pride, "Professor Harp is an outstanding wizard. We didn''t interact much during school, but..." He pointed to a book on the chair, "Look, that''s a gift from him to me!"


    The three couldn''t wait and opened the book. Hermione noticed that it was somewhat simr to Muggleic books, mostly consisting of photographs, each with brief captions.


    "These are magical creatures?" Ron asked curiously. It was nothing like what he had seen in his childhood.


    "No, these are creatures from the Muggle world," Harry said excitedly, "Look, this is a lion, this is a giraffe¡ªits neck is really long, I''ve seen one in the zoo. This one is a badger, somewhat simr to Hufflepuff''s emblem, but they''re definitely not the same."


    Hermione was not unfamiliar with these creatures; she had read the entire set of the "Encyclopedia Britannica," which included sections about animals. But Muggle books'' pictures didn''t move.


    So Hermione asked, "Did Professor Harp create this book himself?"


    Hagrid took a big gulp of butterbeer and let out a burp, "Yes, he did. Quite dedicated, isn''t he? I feel like I owe him a favor..."


    After a while, they remembered their reason foring.


    "The Chamber? The heir? The monster?" Hagrid''s face turned pale.


    "Yes, we found some clues, from fifty years ago..." Harry started to introduce their findings but was quickly interrupted by Hagrid.


    "Listen, there''s no Chamber, no monster, it was all an ident!" Hagrid got a bit worked up, waving his massive hands, and then his voice lowered, muttering, "Truly an ident, no one could have foreseen something like that happening, no one..."


    Afterward, the three were swiftly escorted out of the hut.


    "He''s definitely hiding something!" Ron protested in frustration.


    "We can all see that."


    Back in the warmmon room, they had to face reality and get back to their assignments.


    After a while, Hermione suddenly closed her book, startling the other two.


    "You guys, who do you think the heir might be?" Hermione asked in a hushed voice, almost as if she were talking to herself.


    "Definitely a Slytherin, my guess is Malfoy," Ron quickly answered.


    Harry immediately epted this viewpoint, "Could very well be him. Think about it, his family has been pure-blood for generations, he''d have a reason to do it, and most importantly, he''s been through a lottely¡ªbeing punished by Professor Harp for insulting Hermione, he got detention!"


    Hermione''s breath caught for a moment.


    Ron seemed to have found some theoretical basis too. "Harry''s right. It''s likely him. Maybe the Malfoy family is somehow connected to Slytherin, passing down this secret for generations... right, Hermione?"


    At that moment, the twins walked over from a distance, "We overheard you talking about Professor Harp. Has he done something interesting again?"


    One on each side, they sat down next to Harry and Ron.


    "Nothing much," Ron quickly said.


    Fred put his arm around Ron''s shoulder and winked at the three, "Come on, we can exchange information. We''re big fans of Professor Harp too."


    George, sitting next to Harry, chimed in, "Oh yeah, huge fans. We''d love to dissect his brain and study it."


    Fred sighed, "George, you''re making it sound like we have some ulterior motive towards Professor Harp."


    "Do we?"


    "Definitely not."


    "At most¡ª"


    "Trying to replicate his magical puppets." The twins finished each other''s sentences, speaking in unison.


    Harry pondered for a moment, "Alright, we went to Hagrid''s hut this evening and saw a magic book Professor Harp gave him."


    "What''s it about?"


    "Muggle animals, you know, Hagrid''s really into them."


    "Cool!" The twins exchanged a nce and said together.


    Ron said, "Your turn, we agreed to exchange information."


    Fred winked, "Our little Ronnie''s growing up¡ª"


    "¡ª¡ªNot so easily fooled." George followed up.


    "But... who made you our little brother?" Fred yfully teased and then muttered, "We can provide information, you know, we''re fans of Professor Harp. If any of you want to know his whereabouts, for example, arranging a coincidental encounter..."


    Ron eximed in surprise, "You''ve been following the professor?"


    "Let''s not put it that way. We just got a bit of help, you know, Professor Harp''s been frequenting the Forbidden Foresttely." Fred shrugged and casually dropped a bombshell.


    "The Forbidden Forest?" Hermione eximed.


    The three exchanged nces.


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 Chapter 38: Tracking

    Chapter 38: Tracking


    Nighttime at the edge of the Forbidden Forest.


    Harry, Ron, and Hermione hid in the bushes at the edge of the Forbidden Forest, constantly gazing towards the direction of the castle.


    Hermione said somewhat impatiently, "I don''t think we should suspect the professors..."


    Ron quickly interjected, "Hermione, we''ve been burned by that before, remember Professor Quirrell in our first year? Who would''ve thought the timid guy had Voldemort sticking to the back of his head?"


    "But that doesn''t mean other professors¡ª" Hermione tried to argue, defending the professors she admired.


    "Think about Lockhart. He might not be a dark wizard, but he sure isn''t apetent professor either. Harry, have you forgotten when you had to impersonate a vampire in Defense Against the Dark Arts?" Ron reminded.


    Harry paused for a moment, suddenly feeling queasy.


    So, in a hushed tone, Harry reassured her, "We''re not suspecting, just curious. Let''s see why he''s going into the Forbidden Forest. It could help us eliminate a suspect, and maybe even seek Professor Harp''s help."


    Hermione fell silent.


    The three of them hid in the bushes. The November night had brought a chill, and the thin mist intensified the cold sensation.


    Ron''s body had stiffened from the cold. Shivering, he said, "Maybe he won''t show up tonight. Should we head back?"


    "Let''s wait a little longer," Harry advised patiently.


    Time passed, approaching midnight.


    A tall figure emerged from the castle.


    "Someone''sing, it''s Professor Harp!" The three of them got excited, their wait had not been in vain.


    On the other side¡ª


    Felix Harp left the castle and headed towards the direction of the Forbidden Forest.


    The cool night breeze brushed against his face, creating a pleasant sensation.


    He reached the edge of the Forbidden Forest and then felt as if something was watching him.


    Small creatures? Forest creatures?


    But they shouldn''t appear at the edge of the Forbidden Forest.


    Felix drew his wand, and from its tip shot out a burst of light. Several milky white sparks flew out and then exploded, illuminating a hundred-meter radius of the forest.


    Nothing.


    Feeling curious, he walked towards arge tree and inspected it carefully.


    After a while, a soft chuckle escaped his lips.


    Across from him, three small figures were draped in Harry''s invisibility cloak, hardly daring to breathe, their faces filled with tension as they watched the professor.


    Harry could even feel his legs trembling, and Ron''s warm breath was hitting his face.


    Thankfully, the professor didn''t suddenly reach out to lift their invisibility cloak. He brushed past them and entered the Forbidden Forest.


    "Phew~" The trio took deep breaths.


    "Did he notice us?"


    "He probably didn''t."


    "Should we go back?" Ron suggested retreating.


    "No, let''s continue," surprisingly, it was Hermione who decided to press on.


    So, the three of them held up the invisibility cloak and followed the professor''s steps closely.


    Felix''s pace wasn''t fast. He yed with his wand, feeling a hint of curiosity.


    The trio, the main characters'' group, were there any "plot developments" waiting for them today?


    ws were too numerous: disarrayed footprints near the tree, faint breaths, and an intuitive feeling that exposed the trio''s position.


    But what truly gave him away was the scent of his assistant''s shampoo. That''s why Felix Harp didn''t immediately expose them.


    Felix proceeded towards his intended destination, realizing that the three were following behind. This surprised him. Are they targeting me?


    Well, that''s fine. It''s an opportunity to get to know the other two "main characters."


    After approximately half an hour, Felix arrived at a clearing deep within the Forbidden Forest and halted.


    About thirty or forty meters away, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were hiding behind arge tree. "What''s he up to?"


    "Hush!"


    They watched as Felix raised his wand, waved his wrist, and three crimson curses struck the stones. In the astonished eyes of the onlookers, the stones transformed into three ck,rge dogs.


    The dogs were half the height of a person, their fur sleek and shiny like the finest ck velvet. The three imposing ck dogs shifted slightly, then fixed their gaze on Felix. Their upper bodies lowered, teeth bared, and their eyes gleamed with aggression.


    "Quite sophisticated Transfiguration... Look, they''re practically alive!" Hermione whispered in amazement.


    "I don''t care about his Transfiguration skills, I just want to know why he came into the Forbidden Forest," Ron muttered, though he couldn''t look away either.


    However, the next moment took them by surprise. The threerge ck dogs charged at Professor Harp simultaneously,unching an attack. They were incredibly fast, covering over ten meters almost in the blink of an eye.


    "Ah!" Hermione couldn''t help but scream. From her perspective, the sharp teeth of therge dog were less than three feet from Professor Harp.


    But Felix didn''t dodge; instead, he skillfully cast a spell.


    Hermione was anxious. Even if they blocked onerge dog, there were still two more. Harry and Ron wore expressions of shock, especially Harry. A year had passed, and yet another professor was facing death before him?


    However, they had clearly forgotten that all threerge dogs were Transfigurations cast by Professor Harp.


    In the span of a second, the situation on the field changed drastically.


    Felix''s figure abruptly vanished into a puff of ck smoke, leaving behind a ck cloud. The next instant, his form appeared two meters away. Just as quickly, a burst of red light shot out from his wand. His figure disappeared again, reappearing in another corner, casting another spell.


    In the eyes of the trio, the professor seemed to split into three, simultaneously casting three spells.


    "Bang!"


    "Bang!"


    "Bang!"


    Threerge ck dogs fell to the curses, copsing instantly.


    Underneath the Invisibility Cloak, they watched in astonishment.


    "Merlin''s beard, what kind of magic is that!" Ron eximed, his mouth agape, reying the scene in his mind.


    Amidst the ck smoke, the stern face of the professor appeared along with a burst of red light, disappearing in a blink only to appear in another spot. This speed was astonishing, impossible to evade or resist.


    Harry''s eyes were equally wide.


    In the center of the clearing, Felix, having just cast the spells, shook his head. It still wasn''t quite right; he had deviated by half a meter.


    This was the second teleportation. If he had done it ten or eight times, would he be at risk of being hit by his own curses?


    The reason Felix hade out was to perfect his Triad Ambush technique. In his teenage enthusiasm, he had dubbed this tactic the "Instant Execution" skill. The principle was simple: three spells cast simultaneously, seamlessly blended, resulting in an effect much greater than the sum of its parts.


    The speed of "Phantom Translocation," the might of "Solidification Hex," and most importantly, the "Thought eleration" that maintained his own bnce and reaction capabilities.


    Whenbined, Felix could release spells from multiple different locations in an instant, forming an borate crossfire line, achieving a terrifying effect of one person acting as an entire squad.


    The principle was indeed simple, yet the path was exceedingly arduous.


    The only challengey in enhancing his reaction time and maintaining physical bnce in a split second.


    At the beginning of the school year, he had developed the rudimentary form of this magic¡ªor rather, a branching technique called the "Mind Chamber," suitable for instructional purposes. But that wasn''t enough. Over the past two months, he had been far from idle.


    While Hermione practiced magical texts in the Mind Chamber, he brainstormed how to apply it tobat situations.


    Thankfully, he had gained quite a few insights recently.


    This was why he had been venturing deep into the Forbidden Forest for the past few days¡ªto avoid the ubiquitous Anti-Phantom Translocation spells within Hogwarts Castle!


    "Two teleportations, it''s somewhat eptable." Felix was rather satisfied; there was room for improvement, after all.


    Afterward, he looked up and fixed his gaze steadily in the direction of the trio.


    "Come out."


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 Chapter 40: The Detention

    Chapter 40: The Detention


    There is no Chapter 39.


    --------------


    Harry, Ron, and Hermione tentatively lifted the Invisibility Cloak.


    Approaching, they wore mournful expressions, "Professor¡­"


    Felix Harp''s gaze swept between them, "Miss Granger, as well as Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley, could you exin the reason for your presence here?"


    Summoning his courage, Harry spoke up, "Professor, we, we wanted to visit Hagrid. You might not know, but we''re friends with him."


    "This isn''t on your way, you ventured too deeply into the Forbidden Forest." Felix shook his head, "I believe your professor should have advised you not to trespass in the forest."


    Ron stammered, "Professor, we were originally looking for Hagrid, but by chance, we saw you. Curiosity got the better of us, so we followed."


    "Curiosity got the better of you," Felix toyed with his wand, studying the three of them without speaking.


    A tremendous weight of unease settled on the trio.


    Finally, Hermione, her voice quavering, apologized, "We''re sorry, Professor, we''ve let down your trust¡ª"


    "It''s nothing," Felix said calmly, "Adventure is every young wizard''s nature, especially for Gryffindor students. But I hope you can define the boundary between bravery and foolishness. Remember, life onlyes once."


    Felix didn''t say much more; he led the three back to the castle.


    "Let me think, breaking curfew, trespassing in the forest, tracking a professor¡­" As Felix spoke, the faces of the three paled instantly, "Ten points deducted from each of you and a week of detention."


    The trio returned to themon room as if in a daze.


    Seeing Hermione''s distressed look, Ron consoled, "It''s not so bad, actually. It''s a better oue than I imagined. I thought we''d lose fifty points each and be in detention until Christmas."


    Harry nodded in agreement; he couldn''t even begin to imagine the consequences if they''d been caught by Snape tonight.


    As theyy in their beds, Ron suddenly said to Harry, "Pretty cool, huh?"


    "What?"


    "Professor Harp, whoosh whoosh whoosh! You can''t even see his moves properly. I''m telling you, he''s definitely way stronger than Snape, maybe even stronger than Dumbledore!"


    "Dumbledore is the strongest," Harry replied without hesitation.


    "Not necessarily, the headmaster hasn''t been in action for many years. If it were a few decades ago, I definitely wouldn''t doubt¡­" Ron murmured softly before gradually drifting into sleep.


    Harry, however, found it hard to sleep. In his mind, he kept reying images of Professor Harp performing magic, from the moment he cast the first spell to when he transformed into ck smoke. Every movement was dissected and reimagined in his mind.


    He saw it all vividly.


    The next day, Hermione still seemed a bit down, but she quickly rallied herself and even started discussing the Chamber of Secrets clues with them.


    With a serious expression, the young witch said, "From what it seems, Professor Harp isn''t the Heir of Slytherin."


    "Don''t be so quick to judge, we''ve just temporarily dispelled one suspicion, though it''s true Professor Harp is a good person." Ron admitted.


    Harry quickly changed the subject; he felt that their actions of following the professorst night had left Hermione, as his assistant, feeling somewhat embarrassed.


    "I think the possibility of Malfoy being involved is greater."


    "Absolutely." Ron chimed in.


    "But how do we get him to talk? He won''t openly admit that he''s the Heir of Slytherin."


    Hermione nodded, whispering, "Perhaps we need the Polyjuice Potion."


    "What''s that?"


    "The Polyjuice Potion, it can transform you into another person." Hermione enlightened them.


    Both of them still looked puzzled.


    Hermione said with a hint of annoyance, "Don''t you pay attention in ss? Snape mentioned it, the brewing process for this potion is extremelyplicated, and it requires various rare ingredients. The recipe is documented in the book ''Advanced Potion-Making.''"


    The three of them began to discuss in hushed voices.


    But soon, they hit a roadblock.


    Getting the recipe for the Polyjuice Potion proved to be difficult, as the book that contained it, "Advanced Potion-Making," was in the Restricted Section of the library.


    To borrow a book from the Restricted Section, there was only one way: obtain a signed note from a professor.


    "We have no reason to borrow that book," Ron said, "It''s not something we should be touching at our age level."


    "I think," Hermione said, "if we pretend to show interest in the theory, there might be some hope..."


    "Oh,e on, professors won''t be so easily fooled," Ron said, "unless they''re incredibly dim..."


    Saturday morning.


    After breakfast, the trio arrived at the office of Professor Binns for their detention.


    Harrymented a bit; he was about to have his first Quidditch match, but he couldn''t participate in the training due to this detention. Wood, the captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, would surely be annoyed.


    Knocking on the door, they were surprised to see Draco Malfoy here as well.


    Malfoy was leaning over a table with a thick book in front of him. He had flipped to thest few pages, and his quill was scribbling incessantly, leaving a smudge of ink on his nose.


    Harry suddenly remembered that Malfoy had been given the punishment to copy books.


    Professor Harp closed the door and said casually, "Originally, I nned to keep you separate, but I thought it would be too troublesome. I asked, and Mr. Malfoy doesn''t mind sharing the same table with you."


    Ron suddenly snorted in suppressedughter. Judging by Malfoy''s expression, "doesn''t mind" didn''t seem quite right. He was starting to look forward to this detention.


    Felix conjured three chairs and ced them in front of them, "I''ll go get the material you need to copy." With that, he left.


    In the office, the four of them stared at each other.


    Harry teased, "Malfoy, your detention isn''t over yet? Quite a price you''re paying."


    Malfoy raised his head proudly, "Harry Potter!" He nced at the three of them and seemed like he wanted to say something when he held back.


    With a touch of arrogance, he said, "At Professor Snape''s suggestion, Professor Harp allowed me a break in between to not miss the Slytherin Quidditch practice, Potter! I''m going to defeat you on the pitch!"


    Harry''s mood instantly soured. With the financial backing of the Malfoy family, the entire Slytherin Quidditch team had been equipped with Nimbus 2001 brooms, making them incredibly fast, like seven faint green shadows on the field.


    Ron taunted, "True matches are about skill. Even if you take shortcuts and be a Seeker, you''ll only be aughingstock, spoiled brat!"


    "Shut up, Weasley. Do you even have a single Galleon left in your family vault?"


    Ron''s face flushed, and even his ears turned hot. He pulled out his wand and shouted, "Say that again, Malfoy! Say it again!"


    Harry and Hermione quickly held him back. Setting aside the consequences of fighting in a professor''s office, even if Ron were to fight, what if he cried over slugs for the rest of the afternoon again?


    Felix returned with a stack of parchment. Harry and Ron looked at the pile, over a foot high, and any desire to argue had vanished.


    "I asked Professor McGonagall; she had some outdated material that needed updating. I volunteered for the job," Felix said cheerfully, "It''s coincidentally rted to your behavior¡ªstudent infractions and their punishments."


    Felix ced the material on the desk. A "thud" raised a cloud of dust, and he waved his wand to "clear the air," sending the dust away with a gust of wind. "Let''s get started, children."


    Felix sat in a corner of the office, about seven or eight meters away from them. He pointed his wand at his ears and then opened a thick book, enjoying a leisurely weekend.


    On the other side, Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat down resignedly. Ron strongly rejected sitting next to Malfoy. Grudgingly, Harry had to sit right next to him.


    Harry flipped open a parchment and began copying the material with a quill dipped in ink.


    Malfoy whispered, "Potter! You know, you''re going to lose..."


    "Shut up, Malfoy!" Harry hissed.


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 Chapter 41: Malfoy

    Chapter 41: Malfoy


    Harry felt absolutely miserable in detention, as Malfoy had been muttering and taunting him incessantly. This caused his productivity to plummet, and by nearing noon, he had only managed to copy ten pieces of parchment.


    The thickness wouldn''t even match up to a small thumb.


    During lunchtime, Harryined about this to Hermione and Ron. He was somewhat exasperated, saying, "I never imagined he could talk so much, buzzing and buzzing non-stop."


    Ron gave him advice, "You could harass him back."


    Harry was at a loss; he didn''t have that much to say to Malfoy.


    Hermione pondered, "Perhaps you could provoke him, use the opportunity to ask if he''s the Heir of Slytherin."


    "Don''t be absurd, he''d never admit it unless it was someone close to him," Ron countered.


    Harry also found this idea imusible; it might just backfire and alert the enemy. "By the way, Hermione, what about the signing?"


    "How about you consult Professor Harp?" Ron suggested.


    "That''s not a good idea," Hermione sighed, "He''s not like Professor Lockhart, that kind of¡­"


    "¡ªfool," Ron finished her sentence, earning a re from Hermione.


    "But I could give it a try tonight, just to see. It''s worth a shot," Hermione didn''t give a definite answer.


    After lunch, they returned to the Ancient Runes office to continue their copying task.


    And Harry had to endure Malfoy''s taunting looks. He considered using his wand to cast a curse on him a few times, not just one, preferably three spells in quick session like Professor Harp, rendering him powerless¡­


    In the afternoon, Felix took a look at their progress and nodded in satisfaction, "Not bad at all, the three of you will be able to finish the task tomorrow afternoon. And Mr. Malfoy, you''re even faster, only about seven or eight pages left."


    Draco Malfoy nearly cried, thinking about how much he paid for his impulsive words ¨C two thick volumes of entirely hand-copied books.


    Over the course of nearly two months, despite him sneaking out of detention several times to attend Quidditch training...


    Following that, Draco wrote furiously, to the point that Harry was ignored. He finally managed toplete the entire content just before dinner.


    Felix couldn''t help but praise him, "Very well done. Alright, Mr. Malfoy, your detention ends here."


    "Yes, Professor," Draco said softly.


    Seeing him tidy up his belongings, Harry and the others envied him. They still had a whole day of detention tomorrow.


    "Oh, by the way, Mr. Malfoy," Felix called out to him, causing Draco to startle.


    He wasn''t going to assign him a few more books, was he?


    Thankfully, Felix had no such intention. He waved his wand, and from a corner, a thick stack of parchment flew out ¨C densely filled with writing. With a wave of his magic, the parchment split in half and swiftly bound together in mid-air.


    Two book covers flew out from his briefcase, wrapping the parchment. Gilded letters appeared on the covers, slowly forming, making it look like two books.


    "Mr. Malfoy, this is the result of yourbor, a gift for you."


    The two booksnded in front of him, leaving Draco momentarily stunned.


    Felix said, "Although youe from a prestigious pure-blood lineage and possess remarkable talents, Muggles also have their merits. I believe you''vee to realize that." He gestured to the two handwritten books in front of Draco.


    "Through this detention, I hope you''ll remember one thing ¨C weakness or strength isn''t a barrier to survival; arrogance is."


    Draco held the two books in his hands, his lips moved, but nothing came out.


    After he left, Felix turned to the other trio who were watching, "Alright, your task for today is over, continue tomorrow."


    Hermione asked Felix in a low voice, "Professor, can I continue studying Ancient Runes with you tonight?"


    Felix was somewhat surprised, he thought for a moment and said, "In principle, I don''t object, but your assignments..."


    Hermione joyfully said, "It''s okay, I''ve already finished my assignments." Her expression was as if she had won a prize.


    As the three of them walked out of the office and headed to the cafeteria, Ron looked at Hermione in disbelief, "You really finished your assignments?"


    "Of course!"


    "When did you do it?" Ron was seriously suspicious. His timing and Hermione''s were different; did she have a few extra hours every day?


    Hermione was in a great mood, and she somewhat proudly said, "Since we knew we''d be in detention over the weekend, it''s onlymon sense to finish the assignments in advance, isn''t it?"


    Ron was speechless, and Harry looked embarrassed.


    ...


    Malfoy returned to the Slytherinmon room and ced his bag down.


    He sat in a chair with a gloomy expression, his gaze piercing through the greenish light of themon room, looking at the ck Lake outside the window. asionally, a fish would swim by the window.


    Two of his cronies came over, "Draco, are you having dinner?"


    "Crabbe, Goyle..." Malfoy scrutinized them seriously, "Never mind, you guys go."


    Crabbe and Goyle shrugged and left quickly.


    Malfoy shrank into his chair, half of his pale face and his tinum blond hair concealed in the shadows.


    He was still pondering the words of Professor Harp.


    Though he tried to argue against this absurd viewpoint, the two months of copying punishment had already ingrained a portion of the content from the book into his mind.


    It reminded him of a scene from his childhood when his mother took him to visit a pure-blood wizard and they happened to encounter his aunt.


    His aunt was his mother''s second sister, but because she married a foolish Muggle... a Muggle wizard, she was disowned by the family.


    At that time, they had a fierce argument. His mother tried to persuade her toe back and apologize, but she was bluntly rejected.


    He had vague memories of the incident. The only sentence he remembered was his aunt shouting at them, "Besides magic, what else do you have that''s superior?"


    He still remembered her twisted expression.


    Somehow, he suddenly picked up his bag, took out the two books, and stared at their covers.


    One was titled "The Struggles of Muggles: Starting from a Million Years Ago," and the other was "How Muggles Think."


    He was familiar with the covers, after all, he had been holding them while copying for two months, but there was a slight difference¡ª


    Underneath the author''s name, a few words had been added¡ªTranscriber: Draco Malfoy.


    Malfoy picked up the book "How Muggles Think" and opened it to the first page. Looking at the familiar font, he cast aside his preconceptions for the first time and earnestly started reading.


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 Chapter 42: Potions

    Chapter 42: Potions


    At seven o''clock in the evening, Hermione, as she had for the past two months, entered Professor Harp''s office right on time.


    However, this time, she felt a bit nervous.


    Felix Harp looked up and saw the young witch appearing somewhat uneasy. With a smile, he said, "Please have a seat. I had thought you might have a week off, considering you spend most of your daytime here."


    Hermione gathered her courage and said, "Professor, I apologize, but we tracked you because we were following a lead on the Chamber of Secrets and happened to find you in the Forbidden Forest..."


    Felix understood, "So, I''m a person of suspicion, I see..."


    "It''s not that, Professor. You''re incredibly skilled. We were just being overly cautious. In the previous school year, we encountered a professor who was a dark wizard and tried to steal the Philosopher''s Stone hidden in the school."


    "Ah, I see. With such experiences, it''s no wonder you''re a bit jumpy. However, let me advise you, your intentions might be noble, but it''s important to be realistic. Many dangers don''t change based on whether a person is vile or virtuous."


    Hermione nodded meekly.


    For the next two hours, they stayed in the Pensieve for five thought-hours, and Felix taught her three incantations.


    They had determined this timeframe through trial and error ¨C not too exhausting and still conducive to learning. Hermione even had some energy left to practice for a little over ten minutes after returning to reality, managing to barely sketch out the three incantations.


    "Absolutely splendid," Felix couldn''t help but apud.


    If it weren''t for his plot armor, he might not necessarily outshine her.


    Yet he also noticed a w in this young witch. The magic she wielded always seemed to be within the boundaries of the norm, with little fluctuation. While this was good in a way ¨C stable spellcasting that once mastered, had a low chance of failure ¨C it was also a drawback. She was unlikely to "burst forth" with magic, unable to amplify spell effects through powerful emotions.


    In a sense, she was better suited to be a magical schr, studying and learning magic, rather than bing a formidable spellcasting wizard like an Auror.


    Felix pondered, perhaps after her graduation, he could make her his research assistant, or even... a partner?


    He couldn''t me himself for overthinking; qualified backup options were scarce, which was also what he disliked about Hogwarts and the magical world atrge ¨C their methods of education were too broad. How many wizards continued tirelessly researching magic after graduating?


    On the other hand, the ck market was filled with such wizards, but the question was, could he trust them?


    "If I could govern the wizarding world..." a thought crossed his mind but was quickly discarded. That wasn''t his path.


    "It''s still early. You can head back ahead of time or perhaps watch a movie together?" Felix snapped back to the present, checking the time. It was just past nine. He asked the young witch.


    Hermione smoothed her hair and stammered, "Oh ¨C Professor Harp? I was thinking ¨C I''m quite curious about certain potions. I''d like to gain some background knowledge."


    "Potions?"


    "Yes, you know, in our Potions ss, we learn about antidotes and hup draughts and such, but I''ve read in books about some potions, more advanced ones, that have incredibly magical effects..."


    "Indeed, that''s true," Felix Harp pondered for a moment. "Potions, let me think." He waved his wand, causing the wand to lightly tap the ring on his left index finger, and six small vials, each as thick as six fingers, appeared before him.


    "The world of potions is indeedplex and wondrous. Although I took Snape''s advanced ss, I must admit that I still have a long way to go in the field of potions."


    Hermione was a bit surprised that Professor Harp held Snape in such high regard.


    "The first one, Babayawake Elixir." Felix gestured, causing the first vial on the left to fly before Hermione. "It significantly enhances the user''s intellect, speeding up their learning efficiency. To some extent, it''s a bit simr to the Pensieve."


    Hermione looked at the vial before her. It contained a pale blue liquid, gently swaying, with bright fluorescent shes.


    "Many wizards have be addicted to Babayawake Elixir due to its misuse, losing the ability to think clearly. But asionally taking it is fine," he added, seeing Hermione''s hand trembling a bit.


    "The second, mebane Elixir." A small vial of purple liquid flew before her. "Though its name isn''t shy, it effectively shields against magical mes."


    Suddenly, Hermione recalled the challenge Professor Snape set up during her first year.


    It was a logic puzzle, and one of the potions in that challenge allowed them to pass through magical mes unharmed.


    "The third, Felicitea Elixir." A vial with the least potion, only a third full, around two or three milliliters, flew before her. But it was the most beautiful ¨C a liquid akin to melted gold, shimmering like yful fish when lightly shaken.


    "Also known as Liquid Luck, it makes the drinker''s endeavors smooth and fortuitous, as if they''re blessed by providence. However, overuse can lead to dizziness, recklessness, and arrogance..."


    "The brewing process must be quite intricate, right?" Hermione inquired.


    "Extremely intricate, requiring at least six months. If even a single step goes wrong, it could turn into a cauldron of poison," Felix reflected with a touch of emotion.


    "The fourth, Wolfsbane Elixir. It prevents a werewolf from losing control after transforming during a full moon. Of course, it''s not useful to me. It''s just part of my collection..."


    "The fifth, Polyjuice Potion." Upon hearing this, Hermione''s spirits lifted, and she stared at the vial that had flown before her. "It seems you''ve also heard of this potion?"


    Hermione whispered, "Professor Snape mentioned it in ss. It can make the drinker take on the appearance of someone else."


    "Exactly, it''s another ratherplex potion, with a month-long brewing time. A standard dosests anywhere from 10 minutes to 12 hours, depending on the quality of the potion."


    "And your sample?"


    "Mine? It would probably sustain a half-hour transformation."


    Hermione felt somewhat disappointed. It seemed she''d have to brew her own. The problem had circled back; how could she obtain Professor Harp''s signature and recipe?


    Felix''s exnations continued. He waved his wand, causing thest vial to fly before her.


    "The sixth, Amortentia. Also known as Love Potion. Once ingested, the drinker bes infatuated with the one who provided the potion."


    Hermione couldn''t help but widen her eyes.


    "You''ll find that its usage is somewhat simr to the Polyjuice Potion. Polyjuice involves adding someone else''s hair or body part to transform into them."


    "While Amortentia requires adding your own hair or body part, giving it to someone else, making them fall in love with you."


    The young witch eximed indignantly, "Such potions are utterly despicable."


    Felix shrugged, "Indeed, they only provide a false sense of love, like a soap bubble ¨C much like its scent, coincidentally, it''s the smell you''re fondest of."


    With a wave of his wand, the stopper on the vial popped out with a "pop," and he said, "You can try its scent ¨C don''t worry, it''s the purest form, not very dangerous, at least won''t affect your reason."


    Hermione leaned in and took a gentle sniff. It smelled like books, sunlight, and the scent of her home in the Muggle world.


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 Chapter 43: Quidditch and the Second Attack

    Chapter 43: Quidditch and the Second Attack


    The following week flew by, with everyone bustling about in a whirlwind of activity.


    Felix Harp had to invest more energy into the fifth and seventh years, as this year was pivotal for the young wizards'' futures. Of course, he also ardently hoped for more people to engage in magical linguistic studies¡ªnot the archaic trantions, but the kind of research he pursued.


    He also had to tend to the mischievouswork of young wizards and imbue the willow branches with magic for his first magical linguistic creation, which was crucial to his sess.


    And the art of Apparition, that skill couldn''t be neglected either.


    Numerous forbidden books in the library awaited his selection and perusal...


    Others were equally busy. Harry was engrossed in Quidditch training. As the first match drew near, the entire Gryffindor Quidditch team became increasingly anxious, using every avable evening after sses for extra practice.


    In addition to her daily practice of magical linguistics and researching the Chamber of Secrets'' creature, Hermione also managed to find time to procure a signature from a certain professor.


    She sessfully obtained a signature from Professor Lockhart, who didn''t even bother to read the content of the note, signing his name with an extravagant flourish.


    "You brilliantly caught thatst leprechaun, you''re quite the sharp thinker¡­" The memory of her own words made Hermione blush slightly.


    Fortunately, the Polyjuice Potion project was progressing smoothly.


    "It should be ready in about a month, around Christmas," Hermione eximed cheerfully.


    Harry and Ron sat gloomily on the bathroom floor, the environment here was less than ideal.


    In the days that followed, the school remained calm, devoid of new attacks and sudden appearances of any unknown monsters turning young wizards into stone.


    The young wizards lost interest in the thousand-year-old legends and mysteries, even suspecting the previous incident to be a rather poor prank, especially since the victim was Filch''s cat, the "aplice" of the least popr castle caretaker.


    Some young wizards even swore they had seen a sneaky shadow lurking on the third floor right before the incident, holding a piece of cakeced with petrifying potion!


    These rumors spread faster than the truth, so within a week, everyone was discussing various petrification potions that could achieve simr effects. Dumbledore was at a loss, having to wait for the Mandrake Restorative Draught to mature for a solution.


    However, the professors at Hogwarts knew the truth of the matter. They spent a week searching the entire castle, but to no avail. Consequently, they had to instruct the prefects to take on the responsibility and handle the public rtions.


    During a Gryffindor gathering, Percy cited the example of his own brother wandering near the abandoned girls'' bathroom to illustrate the imprudence and danger of such behavior.


    The scene had been quite heated, and Ron had nearlye to blows with his brother.


    "You shameless power-seeker, caring only about your authority! I''m your brother! Your brother! You''re nothing but a power-hungry creature!" Ron''s ears turned crimson as he shouted angrily.


    "I''m a Gryffindor prefect! I have to consider my badge on my chest, do you understand, you imbecile?" Percy''s ears were equally red as he shouted back.


    "And you went there too! You went to the girls'' bathroom too!"


    "I''m fulfilling my duties as a prefect! Gryffindor loses ten points!"


    Overall, Hogwarts remained harmonious and friendly.


    This tranquility persisted until the first Quidditch match of the school year, which took ce on a Saturday.


    This Quidditch match garnered considerable attention. First, the teams ying were Gryffindor and Slytherin, two old rivals. Secondly, Slytherin shamelessly received outside assistance, with their entire team riding the state-of-the-art Nimbus 2001 brooms.


    The other two teams were also eager to witness the power of the Nimbus 2001 during the match.


    Felix Harp wasn''t there; he stood outside the tower, casting a distant nce.


    He wasn''t interested in Quidditch matches, and it had nothing to do with his failing the flying ss in his first year; the two were unrted.


    He simply preferred quiet over noise and disliked overly bustling ces.


    However, Felix still wanted to critique Hogwarts'' courseyout. Why was flying ss only in the first year? It robbed him of any chance to earn points.


    He could fly quite adeptly now, thank you very much!


    That afternoon, he heard a major piece of news: Harry Potter had been injured on the pitch, his arm shattered into fragments.


    Thanks to Professor Lockhart''s unwavering bravery, who used powerful magic to extract the broken bone fragments from Harry''s arm, Gryffindor''s prodigious Seeker''s professional Quidditch career was salvaged.


    "This is all nonsense!"


    In the evening, Hermione eximed indignantly. This incidentpletely shattered her fan goggles, and she would forever hold a grudge against Lockhart.


    The truth was, Harry had merely suffered a simple arm fracture, something that a simple Healing Charm could have fixed. However, thanks to Lockhart''s "helpful intervention," he had to stay in the hospital wing, taking Skele-Gro to regrow his bones.


    The idea of Skele-Gro''s sewer-like taste made Felix shudder involuntarily.


    That evening, after seeing off a young witch, Felix prepared to watch a movie to rx. Dumbledore''s phoenix guardian flew in through the window.


    The guardian appeared before him, Dumbledore''s serious voice echoing in the air.


    "Felix, quicklye to the professors'' lounge. There''s an urgent matter."


    When Felix rushed to the lounge, a number of professors had already gathered there, looking visibly rushed. Some of them were even in their pajamas.


    Dumbledore sat solemnly at the front of the room, half-lidded eyes focused. Professor McGonagall was nervously wringing her hands.


    "What''s happened?" Felix moved closer to Snape and asked in a hushed voice.


    Snape nced at him briefly before whispering, "Another attack has urred, the second attack."


    Felix''s expression grew serious.


    "Who''s responsible?"


    "Colin Creevey, that fanatic admirer of Potter."


    Felix had no recollection of him. Professor McGonagall''s expression turned sorrowful as she said, "He''s a first-year student this year, always idolizing Harry... Yes, he always carried around a camera, and I remember him well... Heard he''s already sent home three albums. Oh dear!"


    Felix picked up the damaged camera from the table, an intense burnt smell hitting him.


    After about ten more minutes, a cheerful, joyful voice pushed the door open, "Did I miss anything?"


    Dressed in golden pajamas, Lockhart walked into the room and was slightly surprised by the crowd, "So many people!" But his next statement earned him furious res from the professors. He said, "Are we having a pajama party, everyone?"


    "I''m an expert in this area, with extensive experience!" Lockhart winked and shed his signature toothy grin.


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 Chapter 44: The Meeting

    Chapter 44: The Meeting


    Felix Harp found it difficult toprehend the nature of Professor Lockhart.


    He had seen through this person''s essence ¨C a merchant who sold books by concocting stories and self-promotion.


    As for magical ability, that had been returned to the teachers along with his graduation.


    This author''s routine was to crown the protagonist of his stories with his own name, shamelesslybeling them as "autobiographical" to amass wealth.


    Such a thing might not be umon in the Muggle world, but the wizarding world wasn''t as open, and to some extent, it could even be considered quite sincere. When you im your adventures in a book are your own, people choose to believe ¨C and that borders on fraud. Once exposed, it almost always leads to a tarnished reputation.


    Did he not know this himself? If he did, why persist? And why perform in front of the most outstanding batch of wizards in the British magicalmunity?


    Honestly, Felix couldn''t fathom it.


    He and Lockhart were entirely different sorts of people.


    "Silence." With Lockhart''s arrival, Dumbledore convened the meeting.


    "The second attack has urred, just an hour ago. Again, a case of petrification, like Lady Lorris." Dumbledore''s tone was somber.


    "But this time, the nature of the incident is entirely different. The victim is a young wizard, a first-year student. This suggests¡ª" His piercing blue eyes swept the room with intensity. "The Chamber of Secrets has truly been opened."


    "Hogwarts is facing a crisis!"


    All the professors grew solemn.


    Next, Professor McGonagall recounted the information from the previous time the Chamber had been opened. She pursed her lips and began narrating that piece of history: "Fifty years ago, the Chamber was opened once before."


    "A student lost her life then. Her name was Moaning Myrtle Warren, and yes, she still lingers at Hogwarts as a ghost."


    "However, since then, the Chamber has remained sealed until now¡ª"


    "So you mean to say," Lockhart couldn''t contain his eagerness, "the attacks are over? I mean, a student has been targeted, hasn''t he? I''ve encountered numerous simr cases, like the Loch Lake Monster, which appears every thirty years. Since I provided the residents there with my self-made protective charms, they''ve not been bothered again..."


    Professor McGonagall''s lips tightened even more, and she umonly spoke with a raised voice: "I must remind you, Professor Lockhart, Colin Creevey has only been petrified; he hasn''t lost his life."


    Dumbledore followed up McGonagall''s words: "Indeed, we don''t know if the creature willunch more attacks or if the consequences will be limited to petrification. If any of you have suggestions, feel free to voice them."


    Professor McGonagall added, "I''ve arranged Prefect patrols for now, strictly forbidding young wizards from venturing into remote areas. Especially for first and second-year students, they must queue up for sses and avoid solo activities."


    "Very well, Professor McGonagall," Dumbledoremended.


    "Headmaster Dumbledore," Felix Harp felt it necessary to share the information he held, "My focus has always been on the Chamber. Around the Chamber, there are three key elements¡ª"


    He nced at the assembled individuals, "Unknown creature, heir of Slytherin, and the location of the Chamber."


    "As long as we know any one of these, we can deduce the truth."


    Dumbledore folded his long fingers and seemed to be pondering, "Please continue, Felix."


    "The unknown creature, why not associate it with Slytherin? Slytherin''s emblem is a serpent. Perhaps this creature is also a serpent, and that exins how it appeared in the castle¡ªby using thework of tunnels that permeate Hogwarts."


    People seemed to be pondering, and Snape spoke up in his subdued, aloof manner, "Felix, Slytherin''s emblem might be a serpent, but that''s just because he had a fondness for snakes. If you''ve done even a slight study of him, you''d realize he was a master of bloodline research, delving into magical ancestry beyond your imagination."


    "But we cannot rule that out, can we?"


    "Hmph! The unidentified creature killed a witch fifty years ago, and fifty yearster, it''s only causing petrification..." Snape''s eyes, as cold as stone, locked onto Felix. "If I''m not mistaken, Felix, those aren''t the same creature, are they?"


    Felix shook his head, "I can''t exin that either, so my opinions can only be considered as possibilities."


    He continued, "The heir of Slytherin, there are two possibilities I can think of. Active and passive."


    "Perhaps this heir is conscious, knowing what they''re doing, like inheriting Slytherin''s will to remove Muggle-borns. But it''s also possible that they''vee across an heirloom of Slytherin and are being controlled by it."


    Dumbledore raised his head, "Insightful perspective, Felix. You''ve expanded our horizons."


    He seemed thoughtful, "We''ve overlooked this in the past. It seems we need to strengthen the students'' moral education."


    Felix''s theory on "maniption" led to several professors discussing. After waiting a moment, he continued, "As for the location of the Chamber, I have no way of knowing. Perhaps we can ask the castle''s portraits and ghosts?"


    After a quiet moment, an elderly professor with hesitation began, "Originally, I shouldn''t say this, but I believe Hogwarts is in a critical time. Every clue matters..."


    Felix looked at this senior professor, Silvanus Kettleburn. He had been Felix''s Care of Magical Creatures instructor during his school days, rumored to be considering retirement.


    This professor was renowned for his love of studying and caring for dangerous creatures. He set an unparalleled record, having faced 62 medical check-ups during his tenure.


    If Felix were to rate him, he''d be another version of Hagrid.


    At this moment, Kettleburn said, "That child isn''t evil, but if you ask me, if he''s like me... making mistakes out of curiosity," he paused and mentioned a name, "Rubeus Hagrid."


    "It''s not him, Silvanus," Dumbledore said firmly, "I was the Transfiguration professor at the school back then. I know he''s innocent, but there''s no evidence... Under pressure, Headmaster Dippet expelled him."


    "It was a grave mistake; we didn''t capture the real culprit."


    The meeting concluded with Dumbledore assigning a series of tasks. For now, prevention remained the priority. Apart from regr patrols, they also needed to urge young wizards in sses not to trust any magical items'' nonsense.


    As Felix left, he saw Lockhart engaged in conversation with Dumbledore.


    The headmaster''s expression was intriguingly inscrutable.


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 Chapter 45: Influence

    Chapter 45: Influence


    On the second day of the weekend, news of Colin Creevey''s attack spread throughout Hogwarts.


    This time was different from thest incident¡ªit was a student this time, not just a cat. If it weren''t for the reassurance that the student could be saved, it might have caused widespread panic.


    On the other hand, the regr patrols by the professors and prefects also indirectly intensified everyone''s anxiety, even though it was necessary behavior.


    After the evening session of magical text instruction:


    Felix Harp and Hermione exchanged some information that could be revealed. "The professors at Hogwarts will ensure the safety of young wizards. You can spread the word about that," Felix suggested.


    Hermione agreed with a smile.


    "However, Professor, why do you think the creature in the Chamber of Secrets is a snake?" Hermione asked cautiously.


    Of course, Felix couldn''t tell the truth. Instead, he shared a story about Szar Slytherin and snakes that needed to be told.


    "Slytherin used snakes to serve him?"


    "Of course, after all, he was the most famous Parseltongue known." Felix replied.


    From the fragments left by Ravenw, it could be inferred that Slytherin had various snakes apanying him year-round, obeying hismands. This earned him quite a "resounding" reputation back then.


    Hermione eximed, "Professor! Are you saying... Parseltongue can control snakes?" Her heart raced.


    "I''m only specting. After all, Parseltongues are exceedingly rare, and there aren''t many samples to study. But since this ability can be inherited, it suggests that it''s not merely a uniquenguage but one infused with magic..."


    ...


    In a corner of themon room, the trio engaged in a heated conflict.


    "Harry, I think you should tell Dumbledore or Professor Snape about your Parseltongue ability," Hermione insisted.


    "Don''t say it," Ron countered without hesitation.


    "Ron! You don''t understand the seriousness of this matter," Hermione scolded him in frustration.


    Ron lowered his head and whispered, "Harry, what I mean is, don''t reveal this secret openly. If you expose your Parseltongue ability in public, you''re done for. You''ll definitely be seen as Slytherin''s heir."


    "We could tell Headmaster Dumbledore only and ask him to keep it secret," Hermione argued logically.


    Rubbing his forehead, Harry said, "But that wouldn''t have much meaning, right? You guys know I''m not the one who opened the Chamber of Secrets. This means there''s another Parseltongue at the school."


    "If I expose myself, that person will just go deeper into hiding."


    Harry didn''t want to reveal his secret, not only due to the bad reputation of Parseltongues but also because of a hidden resistance deep within him. During his first year sorting, the Sorting Hat had strongly invited him into Slytherin House.


    Did that signify something?


    Did the Sorting Hat see his true nature?


    Harry said to Hermione, "Moreover, we still can''t be sure if the monster is a snake, right? Maybe what I heard that day was just a passing snake''s muttering. Professor Snape even admitted that. You''ve been researching in the library for days, and you haven''t found any matching snake species, have you?"


    Hermione had no response. Among the information she found, the closest match was a creature called a "snake creature," with its gaze being lethal, but it couldn''t petrify people.


    Ron finallypromised, "Let''s just brew the Polyjuice Potion as soon as possible and ask Malfoy directly."


    "And that house-elf named Dobby is also quite strange."


    ...


    In the new week, Felix Harp not only soothed the emotions of young wizards in his sses but also gave them a particr warning: "Do not trust any magical creatures that can speak unless you can see where their minds are hidden."


    "Professor, are you talking about the Sorting Hat?" one of the twins, Fred, asked.


    "No, it has endured a thousand years of testing; we can trust it," Felix said gravely. "But there are other things, like items you might identally find in the library mezzanine or in abandoned broom cupboards. If you find you can converse with them, be extremely cautious."


    "They could be extremely dangerous dark magical creations."


    "I can cite hundreds of simr examples..."


    During the next half of the lesson, Felix, using real cases from various countries, continued to intimidate these unreliable young wizards. Judging from their expressions, he achieved his purpose.


    By evening, when the twins recounted the stories they had heard to everyone, they were all captivated.


    "I never realized Professor Harp was so knowledgeable," Fred and George said to Ron when they reached a corner of themon room.


    He winked, gesturing towards Ginny, who seemed upset. "Ginny, I have plenty more stories to tell. If you''re interested, I..."


    "No need!" Ginny said curtly.


    The twins exchanged nces and began to exaggerate their performance. They mimicked someone who had stumbled upon a Dark Magic book, making it seem like their eyes were glued to the pages.


    Ginny shivered.


    "Alright, you two, don''t scare Ginny," Hermione intervened, holding the young girl''s hand andforting her. "Professor will look after us, as long as we don''t let our curiosity get out of control..."


    Ginny nodded.


    The next day at noon, Ginny sneakily looked around and left the main group to reach a secluded spot. She took a ck book out of her bag and tossed it away forcefully.


    After the afternoon Potion ss, the trio quietly entered an abandoned restroom to brew the Polyjuice Potion.


    "Progress is going well," Hermione said, looking at the color of the potion, and announced happily.


    "Wait a moment," Harry said, looking towards a corner of the restroom where something seemed to be, but it was too dark for him to make out.


    Just as he was about to approach, footsteps sounded from outside the door.


    The three exchanged fearful nces¡ª"Who''s there?" Harry called out.


    The footsteps quickly moved away.


    Gritting his teeth, Harry opened the door and went after the source of the footsteps. After a while, he returned.


    "It was Malfoy!" he said through clenched teeth, "He must have followed us."


    "Did he find out..."


    "I''m not sure."


    "But this ce isn''t safe anymore."


    Harry, Ron, and Hermione unanimously agreed to change their location. This time, they chose an abandoned ssroom underground.


    "It''s quite remote here."


    The trio was satisfied with the new spot.


    In the evening, a young wizard sneaked into the ce where Harry and the others had been brewing potions before. After a moment''s hesitation, he walked into the girls'' restroom.


    After a while, he came out and quickly left, something hidden in his robes.


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 Chapter 46: A Guest Appearance by the Mind Healer

    Chapter 46: A Guest Appearance by the Mind Healer


    As the aftermath of the Crivey incident unfolded, the young witches and wizards of Hogwarts disyed an unexpectedly unreliable side. They exchanged amulets, protective charms, and other trinkets to guard themselves, all while keeping it hidden from the teachers.


    During this time, this trend quickly swept through the school. Ernie Macmin bought a foul-smelling giant onion, a sharp-pointed amethyst, and a decaying newt tail from Knockturn Alley.


    Resulting in Neville Longbottom, the other boys in Gryffindor House told him that he wasn''t actually in danger; he was of pure blood, and thus immune to attacks.


    "They went after Filch first," Neville said, his round face filled with fear. "Everyone knows I''m more like a squib."


    The professors had to repeatedly stress in ss that these items werepletely ineffective. Among them, Felix Harp, with his good reputation and gentle demeanor, gained a following among many young witches and wizards.


    There were even numerous lower-year students who came "by word of mouth" seeking psychological guidance.


    "Professor, could I, um, talk to you?" A curly-haired Hufflepuff boy intercepted him as he patrolled the corridors.


    "Of course," Felix Harp sighed inwardly. This was the fourth one this week, the weight of his reputation was truly felt.


    The two made their way to a nearby pir. The young wizard seemed somewhat uneasy, but Felix, with his high "approval rate" among the student body, quickly reassured him.


    "Professor, I''m facing some difficulties," Felix gestured for him to continue. "I''m Justin Finch-Fletchley, and Ie from a Muggle family..."


    Felix understood the situation.


    "...When I received my eptance letter, I wasn''t sure abouting to Hogwarts. But, well, you know, I was supposed to attend Eton College. My father graduated from there."


    Felix nodded in agreement. "I''ve heard of that school; it''s quite famous in the Muggle world."


    "Yes, exactly," Justin became more enthusiastic. "But I''m more curious about magic. I convinced them to let mee to Hogwarts. Professor McGonagall''s performance at my house terrified them."


    Felix Harp nodded; Hogwarts had a tradition of visiting Muggle-born new students'' families.


    Though thinking of the expression on a Muggle''s face upon seeing magic for the first time from a materialistic perspective would be quite interesting.


    Justin continued, "A lot has happened this year, the situation is tough... Everyone''s in a panic, and many people are writing letters home."


    "Your parents are worried about you too, aren''t they? Did they ask you to take a temporary break from school?" Felix asked.


    "No, no, Professor," Justin quickly replied. "I didn''t tell them. I believe Hogwarts will continue, Professor. I love magic! I''m just a bit afraid. There are rumors going around... Potter, Harry Potter, he''s the Heir of Slytherin!"


    "Most rumors are unreliable," Felix said calmly. "Do you believe in this theory?"


    "I''m not sure either. Logically, well, you know the word ''logic,'' right, Professor? That''s great. Logically, they''re just appearing in the wrong ces, but I don''t quite understand magic..."


    "Don''t worry, it''s not him. I can assure you of that. Professors have enough insight to distinguish fact from rumor."


    Justin visibly rxed.


    "Any other questions?"


    "One more, Professor. I heard you''re also Muggle-born? And you were sorted into Slytherin?"


    "That''s right."


    "Then you must have faced a lot of difficulties from others, right? Did you give them a good retort?"


    "Well, you could say that."


    Excitement flickered in Justin''s expression. "Professor, many young witches and wizards, especially those from Muggle families, admire you. You''re their idol!"


    "??"


    Am I really bing an idol for ordinary wizards?


    "Professor, everyone hopes to be as brave as you..."


    Seeing off this initially shy, then rapidly chatty young wizard, Felix Harp still felt somewhat surprised. After a while, he chuckled softly, this feeling... wasn''t too bad at all.


    Time rolled on to December, and under the tireless efforts of the professors, the young witches and wizards finally abandoned their unreliable charms and began searching for more practical gadgets, such as the Sneakoscope that could detect potential dangers in advance.


    Among the girls, the practice of carrying a small mirror and using it at every corner quickly fell out of favor, as few could keep it up.


    Felix Harp''s Devil''s Snare had also grown robust over time and could now be used.


    And then there were the branches of the Whomping Willow. After over a month of diligent magical nurturing, every inch of them was saturated with Felix Harp''s magic, making their surface shimmer and maintain their vigorous vitality.


    Felix Harp tested the effect. He drew his wand, "Reduce in size!" The seven to eight meters long branch quickly shrank, turning into a serpent-like shape in the blink of an eye.


    "A bit too thick still."


    He continued to cast spells, the branch bing smaller and smaller, yet the process grew more and more challenging. Thankfully, the branch had absorbed his magic and didn''t reject him. With the help of a few techniques from ancient books, he sessfully transformed it into a slim, flexible emerald green rope.


    Not bothering to rest, he quickly inscribed intricate magical runes on its surface, maintaining the magical effect.


    "It looks rather impressive!"


    However, his difficulties were just beginning.


    ording to his n, he intended to use the Whomping Willow rope as a framework and weave unicorn hair into it, creating something like a small pouch.


    But he got stuck at the first step¡ªhow to weave them together in the right way?


    "I know this, I learned how to knit from my mom!"


    In the end, it was his assistant who came to the rescue. Hermione provided seven different knitting patterns in session, earning Felix Harp''s admiration.


    Busy for three days, the young witch impressivelypleted her task. Even after getting Professor Harp''s permission, she used the leftover material to knit a small beaded bag for herself.


    The beads were ready-made, crafted by Hermione from practicing runic carving on chestnut wood blocks.


    The reason for using beads as decoration was due to the shortage of the original material, forcing her to make apromise.


    The final semi-finished products were Felix Harp''s refined gentleman''s wallet and Hermione''s beaded bag.


    "The remaining work involves engraving the magical runes, relocating the Devil''s Snare, making it think it''s still thriving... and some fine-tuning. It''ll probably take a week or two."


    "When danger arises, you can use magic to trigger the Devil''s Snare''s attack."


    "Of course," Felix Harp exined, "your beaded bag might not amodate many Devil''s Snare branches, as the material isn''t of the best quality."


    "That''ll be enough for me," Hermione said happily. "Professor, can I handle the construction of the magical runes myself?"


    "You''re not quite there yet, but you can help me with the groundwork."


    ...


    Thursday afternoon, a small group of people gathered around a bulletin board, reading the text freshly posted on a piece of parchment.


    The first few words at the top were shining brightly, constantly drawing people''s attention. They were¡ªDueling Club.


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 Chapter 47: The Pitiable Professor Snape

    Chapter 47: The Pitiable Professor Snape


    The Dueling Club!


    In a matter of mere hours, this phrase spread throughout Hogwarts. In these dire times, learning to defend oneself was a poignant concern for every young wizard.


    Aside from the first-year neers who remained innocent and ignorant, every wizard of any other year felt a pang of bitterness when confronted with this topic.


    Hogwarts was faltering, indeed!


    The course responsible for instructing young wizards in the art of defending against danger¡ªthe Defense Against the Dark Arts ss¡ªhad traditionally held its merit, although it contained its fair share of fluff. However, this year, it had be widely acknowledged as a ss in theatrical performance.


    Consequently, there was a fervent interest among the young wizards in the Dueling Club, a ce where they could enhance their own strength.


    Seamus Finnigan had a look of excitement on his face. "They''re finally thinking of starting a Dueling Club! It''s about time!"


    "Which professor is going to teach?" Ron squeezed through the crowded students, his gaze scanning the parchment as if hoping to spot a couple of professor names.


    A Ravenw girl beside him said, "It''s not written here, but I hope it''s Professor Flitwick. He was a dueling champion when he was young."


    "Professor Snape is even better," Ron quickly retorted. Since the Forbidden Forest trip that night, he had developed a strange confidence in Professor Snape''s abilities, believing he could take on Severus Snape. Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster, was harder to gauge, but at the very least, it could be a fifty-fifty chance.


    Harry instinctively wanted to nod in agreement, but when he caught sight of the girl who had spoken, he involuntarily stopped in his tracks.


    Cho Chang noticed Harry''s gaze and smiled kindly at him. Harry felt his breath catch.


    "What do you think, Harry?" Ron asked.


    "Huh?"


    Harry received an elbow nudge from Ron on his ribcage, but it didn''t hurt at all. He mumbled, "Oh, yeah, you''re right¡­"


    The young wizards continued their discussions, asking each other for opinions.


    "First gathering tonight. Mate, are you going?"


    "I don''t object to learning some dueling. Mighte in handy someday."


    "I think we could use it right now."


    "Do they think they''ll duel with Slytherin''s monsters?" Though Ron grumbled under his breath, he still seemed interested as he finished reading the notice. "Harry, what do you think?"


    "That girl does seem¡­ Wait, what did you say?" Harry suddenly realized.


    Ron looked at him skeptically.


    "Dueling, yes, of course, I''ll definitely go," Harry said, this time focusing on the text on the parchment.


    By dinnertime, most of the table buzzed with talk about the Dueling Club. Some were vehemently stating that at least three professors would oversee the entire club and that they would stage a high-profile, unrestricted duel.


    Rumors described it as wildly exciting.


    The name Felix Harp cropped up again in the conversations of many girls. His daring challenge against a pure-blood family in his fifth year had grown increasingly legendary, evolving from his original "cool andposed, self-assured" image to ater "heartbroken and determined, fighting to the end" persona. Professor Harp''s personal image shifted from a stern and mighty wizard to a tragic figure wielding his wand against a spinning windmill.


    Many young witchlings who hadn''t even crossed paths with Felix Harp held magical puppets in their arms, their eyes glistening with sympathetic tears, much like they were holding dolls.


    "They''ve gone too far with their spections," Ron grumbled discontentedly, jabbing his fork repeatedly into a potato. He was really undermining the formidable image of Professor Harp in his mind.


    He turned his head, seeking agreement, only to find Hermione''s eyes also misting up.


    "He really had it tough, in those times..." the young witch spoke with great emotion.


    "Who? Professor Harp?" Ron''s head was a question mark. Are we talking about the same person?


    Harry ate his dinner in silence, asionally ncing up, but otherwise remaining wordless throughout.


    "Harry, something''s off with you," Ron said.


    "I''m fine."


    "Something''s been off with you since you came back," Ron leaned closer and whispered, "Did you hear that voice again?"


    "No, I''m done eating. See you in themon room." Harry hurriedly left.


    Halfway there, he lightly tapped his head, wondering what was wrong with him.


    But he did hear her friend call her name, Cho Chang, it sounded so nice...


    After a while, Ron returned alone.


    "Where''s Hermione?"


    "Don''t know, she said she had something to do and left, asked us to wait for her in the Great Hall." Ron shrugged. "By the way, what do you think, if Professor Harp were to teach us, what do you think he would teach?"


    This topic caught Harry''s attention, and he quickly ran through scenes of Professor Harp casting spells. The most memorable one was undoubtedly the Forbidden Forest incident.


    He expressed his opinion to Ron.


    "Harry, that magic is way too advanced," Ron looked around and, a bit mysteriously, said, "I asked Fred about it¡ªno, I didn''t say it was Professor Harp," seeing Harry about to say something, he quickly added.


    They were both bound by Professor Harp''s request for secrecy, unable to reveal what had happened that night.


    "Disillusionment Charm is a rather dangerous magic, something we can only learn when we''re of age at the very least."


    "Disillusionment¡ªwhat?"


    "Disillusionment Charm. It lets you disappear from one ce and reappear in another."


    Harry quickly noted down the name of the spell. Professor Harp''s performance that night in the Forbidden Forest had deeply impressed him, but he had thought it was an exclusive spell of the professor''s.


    "Moreover, I did some sleuthing, and this spell is used for traveling at high speed. Very few people can use it in quick session, and a slight mishap can result in splitting."


    "Splitting?"


    "Like your head flying off and your body staying put." Ron somewhat exaggeratedly exined, "Not to mention, you have to cast the spell while moving. Honestly, when I talked to Fred about it, he thought I was joking."


    Harry ignored the danger Ron mentioned, his face full of daydreams.


    ...


    Ancient Runes ssroom.


    "You mean the Dueling Club?" Felix Harp asked with great interest.


    "Yes, the notices are all up. It''s in the Great Hall at eight tonight. Professor, you didn''t know?"


    Felix shook his head.


    Hermione''s expression was quite disappointed.


    She bid her farewell and took a few steps, then suddenly turned back, clenched her fist, and encouraged him with a flushed face, "Professor, we all think you''re a truly exceptional wizard. I read a line in a book: ''The hardships of youth are nothing, they only be the driving force for your progress. Life is long, keep going!''"


    As she trotted away, Felix was left with a puzzled expression.


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 Chapter 48: Farce

    Chapter 48: Farce


    At eight o''clock in the evening, the school''s Great Hall was bustling with activity.


    The long dining tables had vanished, reced by a temporary gilded square stage at the center of the hall, bordered by three tiers of wooden steps.


    Hundreds of candles floated in midair, adorning the center of the hall with their enchanting glow.


    Harry and Ron hurriedly returned to the Great Hall. Nearly all the students in the school had arrived, squeezing and jostling as they excitedly discussed. Squeezing through the crowd, Harry identally knocked off the frog-shaped sses of a first-year witch. He quickly apologized, "I''m sorry."


    The witch took her sses back, ced them on her forehead, and softly hummed a tune that Harry couldn''t quite catch.


    They reached the Gryffindor section where Seamus, Dean, and Neville were. "Hey, Harry, over here," they sighed with relief. "It''s getting really crowded."


    Neville Longbottom''s round face turned, taking in the scene. "Seems like everyone''s here. Looks like everyone''s curious about the dueling."


    At that moment, Hermione joined them from another direction, holding a newspaper in her hand.


    "You''re a bitte. Where were you?" Harry asked, craning his neck to look down the corridor.


    "I went to see Professor Hagrid first. On my way back, I bumped into Professor McGonagall."


    "Anything important?" Ron asked absentmindedly. Before Hermione could answer, he let out a heavy sigh, echoed by many other young wizards. They had caught sight of Professor Gilderoy Lockhart, dressed in splendid purple and crimson robes, striding into the hall.


    Walking beside him was the stern-faced Severus Snape. The contrast between the two was remarkable¡ªLockhart exuded exuberance, while Snape emanated somber gravitas; Lockhart''s attire was vibrant, whereas Snape''s was entirely dark.


    Harry groaned; his two least favorite professors were about to teach them dueling.


    With a peacock-like flourish, Lockhart started his speech. For the first ten minutes, he recounted how he had "persuaded Dumbledore to give everyone the opportunity to learn self-defense," inevitably weaving in familiar elements of self-promotion and book rmendations¡ªthey were quite immune to this spiel by now.


    In thest thirty seconds, Lockhart unusually introduced his "assistant" Snape.


    "Professor Snape himself possesses a fair knowledge of dueling, and he generously agreed to assist me with a small demonstration before the lesson¡ªbut don''t worry, I''ll return your Potions professor to you intact." Lockhart grinned widely.


    Snape curled his upper lip and managed a courteous smile. Watching Snape smile that way sent a shiver down Harry''s spine; if Snape ever smiled like that at him, he''d have fled in an instant.


    During this time, Madam Pomfrey, the school nurse, stood at the edge of the area, looking impatient. She carried a white medical kit with her. Felix Harp, also known as Professor Flitwick, quietly appeared in a corner of the hall.


    He was quite intrigued by this so-called "dueling lesson," harboring some ideas deep within him. He decided toe and observe.


    If Lockhart messed up, perhaps he could take over...


    Given what he knew about this professor, a blunder was a high probability event.


    This was his subconscious attempt to assess the mediocrity and chaos of the magical world and Hogwarts. But for the sake of caution, he chose to watch and wait for now.


    ...


    The Dueling ss had officially begun. In less than three minutes, Felix Harp watched as Gilderoy Lockhart was sent flying by a Disarming Charm, his eye twitching in the corner. Lockhart awkwardly got to his feet, his magnificent purple robe now sporting a long tear.


    Ipetent as ever, but could he at least acknowledge it?


    Assisted by a few young wizards, Lockhart struggled back to the center of the stage. "Alright, everyone saw that!" His wavy hair stood erect as a result of the spell''s effect, looking quite ridiculous. But what was even more amusing were his subsequent words.


    "This is the application of the Disarming Charm. I hope my recent demonstration left a deep impression on you all," he nced at Snape, "though, don''t take this the wrong way, but your intentions were quite clear just now. If I wanted to stop you, it wouldn''t take much effort..."


    "But young wizards need to broaden their horizons. Why not show them..." Lockhart''s words trailed off, as Snape stared at him with a murderous re.


    Lockhart wisely changed the subject, moving the lesson to the next stage. Without any specific teaching, he paired up several young wizards, having them stand in squares on the stage.


    "The demonstration phase ends here! Let''s see what you''ve learned. Professor Snape, if you''d be willing to assist me..."


    What followed was a mess. Lockhart aimed to avoid direct confrontation with Snape or actual magical instruction, so he shifted his focus to critique and guidance. However, he had overestimated the spellcasting level and discipline of the Hogwarts young wizards.


    Especially with Snape intentionally or unintentionally grouping his own house and the Gryffindors together¡ªof course, a fight was inevitable.


    Despite Lockhart''s repeated emphasis on only using the Disarming Charm, the young wizards were clueless¡ªexcluding Lockhart''s previous "demonstration." As a result, after several unsessful incantations, a variety of minor hexes popr among the student body were unleashed.


    From Felix''s perspective, only Harry and Malfoy''s group had a semnce of skill, but they hardly grasped the concept of dueling. It was a turn-based affair, with one uttering "Lethifold Lariat" while the other countered with "Tarantellegra," leaving the rest of the time spent in idle observation.


    The remaining young wizards fared worse¡ªNeville and Justiny fallen, gasping for breath. If Felix wasn''t mistaken, they hadn''t managed to cast a single spell throughout the ordeal. Ron was clinging to the ashen-faced Seamus, his wand still emitting a faint green smoke.


    As for his own assistant''s group... Their wands were long gone, and they were grappling with each other. The Slytherin girl''srger size gave her the upper hand, her arm locking Hermione''s head in ce, though Hermione had a handful of the opponent''s hair in a vice grip...


    "Oh my, oh my!" Lockhart screamed. But he was utterly ineffective in the chaos. Felix had to step through the crowd, waving his wand to cast several spells, separating the young wizards.


    "Professor Harp..." Lockhart sounded panicked and somewhat hesitant. But soon his attention was captured by the pitiable state of the young wizards. "Miss Fawcett, grip tightly¡ªyour bleeding will stop in an instant. Boot, your nose is broken, and Ernie..."


    Madam Pomfrey ascended the stage, pulling Lockhart away. The eminent school nurse quickly performed spells, administering various potions into the young wizards'' mouths. "Dumbledore should never have approved... absolutely absurd, downright ridiculous... wholly unfit..."


    Seamus took a sip of the shimmering green concoction, his face growing even greener. Finally, he let out a burp, emitting a puff of green smoke.


    "Subjecting young wizards to dangerous activities, making a mockery of the professors..." Madam Pomfrey muttered incessantly, but she soon resolved the trouble. In less than five minutes, the young wizards were back on their feet.


    Lockhart appeared somewhat bewildered. "Um, er..." He hesitated for a few seconds. "Let''s thank Madam Pomfrey for her efforts, she''s a valuable assistant in our Dueling ss... and of course, Professor Harp."


    He sneaked a nce at Felix, who stood on the stage with no intention of leaving.


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 Chapter 49: The Exhibition Match

    Chapter 49: The Exhibition Match


    "Well, next..." Professor Lockhart stammered slightly, "I believe it''s best to teach you how to counter unfriendly magic. Yes, unfriendly, just like I''ve written... as recounted in my personal experiences."


    "Would a willing paire forward¡ªLongbottom and Flitwick, how about you? Professors Harp and Snape, we should leave the stage to them..."


    Felix Harp idly toyed with his wand, "A fine suggestion, Professor Lockhart. But before that, I think it''s necessary to acquaint the young wizards with what a true duel is like, even if it''s more of a demonstration duel."


    Lockhart''s expression momentarily froze. He looked around, noticing that the young wizards in the audience were quite intrigued. He struggled to find words.


    "Professor Snape, what are your thoughts?" Felix inquired of Snape, who had remained silent all this time.


    The Potion Master regarded him with a deep, unexpected gaze. He parted his lips, forming a smile. "Are you challenging me to a duel, Felix?"


    "Merely an exhibition match."


    Neither of them had considered Lockhart.


    Snape gave him a profound look, saying little, and smoothly drew his wand.


    To the side, Lockhart suddenly found himself miraculously breaking free from the vortex of confusion. His face regained its enthusiastic demeanor. "It seems that our curriculum will have an impromptu addition¡ªa duel to wee our two professors!"


    This time, the apuse from the audience was fervent. Ron excitedly pestered Harry, "Honestly, I''ve been waiting for this day forever! Do you think Snape will end up in the hospital?"


    As a "Harp enthusiast," standing by Professor Harp''s side was only natural for him.


    "It''s just an exhibition match," Hermione emphasized, though she couldn''t help hopping up and down on her toes.


    Lockhart retreated to the edge of the stage and magically boosted his voice¡ªthanks to his practice with the Sign and Lecture Charm, he was quite skilled at it.


    "Now, I shall provide you all withmentary. Although this is merely an exhibition match, real dueling isn''t like this. It requires sharper anticipation of danger¡ªto learn more about this, please refer to my published works." Lockhart spoke confidently. "But¡ªthis will still be beneficial for you. Now, a bow..."


    However, the two on stage paid him no mind. Instead, they exchanged a few words.


    "Felix, what do you intend?"


    "Professor, I just happened to be passing by, and I thought I''d lend a hand."


    "Don''t lie to me!" They were very close, allowing their conversation to be only for each other''s ears.


    "Is it because Professor excels in Legilimency?" Felix quipped.


    Snape snorted. In his eyes, this former student had a strong sense of purpose in his actions. His current behavior, naturally, fell under the category of "Felix''s first step towards seizing power."


    They both bowed and took seven paces backward, turning to face each other with wands raised to their chests.


    "As you can see, the two professors are holding their wands in a standard dueling position," Lockhart fulfilled his role as amentator, "one of themon three positions. Next, I''ll count to three, and they''ll cast their first spells."


    The students below held their breath, the atmosphere entirely different from Lockhart''s previous "demonstration."


    "One... Two..."


    "Snape won''t be instantly defeated, will he?" Ron shouted excitedly.


    "I don''t think so, Merlin¡ª," Hermione started to say that Professor Harp held Snape in high regard, but she was swiftly stunned by the dazzling spectacle on stage.


    "Three!"


    Snape shouted, "Expelliarmus!" A dazzling red light shed, and the spell shot swiftly towards Felix Harp.


    Felix Harp swung his wand, smoothly conjuring a "Armor Charm." An invisible magical barrier formed before him, deflecting Snape''s spell. He then gently flicked his wrist, causing the barrier to emit a dazzling white light as it flew rapidly forward.


    Snape cast two consecutive spells to break through Felix''s Armor Charm, causing the magical barrier to quickly dissipate.


    However, the white light of the Armor Charm obscured Snape''s vision. Instinctively shifting his position¡ªyears of habit saved him. Three dim ck lights grazed past him, with the nearest one almost touching his nose.


    All this happened in the blink of an eye. From Snape''s initial advantage, to Felix''s defensive counterattack and the three stealthy spells released using the cover of the white light¡ªless than three seconds had passed.


    Lockhart: "..."


    Young wizards: "..."


    The duel continued. Snape didn''t dare to underestimate it. It had been nearly a decade since hest dueled physically. Despite not abandoning magical exploration, his main focus had been on potion improvement.


    Nevertheless, he was swiftly recalling hisbat experience. After narrowly averting danger a few times, he finally began to counterattack.


    Their spells flew in a chaotic dance, yet with an unspoken understanding, they avoided harming any students.


    Various defensive, offensive, and disarming spells cut through the air, emitting sharp whistles. The distance between the two alternated between closeness and distance, their feet constantly shifting.


    After a spell barely missed his hair, Lockhart wisely jumped off the stage. Still, he continued toment loudly, "The duel is getting intense... Can you see their footwork? Move, move, don''t just stand still!"


    Lockhart had some skills, at least when it came to eloquence. Through hismentary, many young wizards suddenly understood a bit more. He managed to salvage some of his reputation.


    However, Snape sneered at this. Agilely deflecting a spell, he seized the opportunity to counterattack. He felt that Felix''s spells were growing in potency, increasing the pressure on him.


    Damn it, the kid''s trying to rattle me!


    "Why does it feel like Professor Harp''s spells are getting stronger?" Even many young wizards had noticed this, but with their limited knowledge, they could only gauge spell strength based on appearance.


    Snape''s wand trembled violently. He cast an intensified version of "Protego" as two scorching red lights collided against it, emitting a "thud" sound. The magical barrier tore open a breach.


    Incredible magical prowess...


    Sweat was forming on Snape''s face.


    The young wizards in the audience were dazzled. For the first time, they realized that a duel wasn''t just about facing each other and casting spells blindly. Casting speed, timing, defensive strategies, footwork, awareness... there were so many nuances.


    What they didn''t know was that neither of them was using their full power.


    Felix easily sidestepped a red burst, capitalizing on the brief gap to cast a spell. He swiftly evaluated the limit of this Potions Master''s abilities.


    Snape''s skill shouldn''t be like this...


    The next second, a sudden alertness surged within Felix. He quickly cast three sessive Armor Charms, sending them flying far ahead to block the anticipated path.


    A powerful crimson spell sliced through the air, piercing through the first two barriers and then hurtling fiercely toward the third.


    The young wizards widened their eyes. While they might not gauge the strength of spells urately, Snape''s spell left a trail of burning light in the air and managed to prate the Armor Charm barrier. They saw it clearly.


    "Thud!"


    A resounding explosion echoed through the hall.


    Felix''s third Armor Charm proved effective, deflecting Snape''s unexpectedly potent curse.


    He sensed a taint of dark magic...


    Incorporating the characteristics of dark magic into the Disarming Charm, Professor, you truly exceeded my expectations.


    Do you have even stronger spells? Do you have an ace up your sleeve...


    Snape wasn''t finding this as easy as he had anticipated. He did have a few spells hidden away, but they were all dark magic, inappropriate for public use. And judging by Felix''s performance, even if he were to use them, their impact would be limited.


    He has surpassed me...


    Snape had never been so acutely aware of this fact.


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 Chapter 50: Revelation

    Chapter 50: Revtion


    The two of them stopped casting spells almost simultaneously, a perfect disy of synchronization.


    "Marvelous! A battle of equals!" Professor Lockhart''s voice chimed in at the right moment. "Did you see that? How perfectly in sync they are! I bet these two professors practice spells together often in private, two cunning fellows!"


    Snape''s face was dark and grim. He remained silent, stepping down from the stage. However, he didn''t leave; instead, he positioned himself in the shadows.


    Their exchange was less of a duel and more of a probing.


    Indeed, Snape still held a few dark spells in reserve, but those were learned from the Dark Lord, and he hadn''t used them since that time, as they held little meaning. And Felix... What about his ancient magic? His alchemical creations? Dark magic?


    In the midst of the duel, Felix''s magical prowess continued to grow stronger. Would that be his limit when the duel ended? Snape attempted to assess Felix''s strength, but he found himself unable to see clearly.


    Felix calmly descended from the stage, and the crowd automatically made way, gazes of awe shifting between Snape and Felix among the young wizards.


    From the perspective of these young wizards, the duel was a tie, with no clear winner. Although Professor Harp appeared incrediblyposed, didn''t Snape also pierce through two Irond Hexes with a single incantation?


    Those were, after all, the most formidable defensive spells most young wizards knew.


    "Snape is unexpectedly powerful!" Ron eximed, obviously taken aback.


    "Professor Harp holds Snape in high regard," Hermione whispered. She was somewhat worried, as toplete theplex potion, they''d likely have to break into Snape''s private stores. If they were caught...


    Harry remained silent. The recent duel had stirred his blood, making him wish he could take the ce of eitherbatant. However, he realized that while he might be able to see each spell clearly, if he were in their shoes, he might not be able to dodge even the first one.


    At this point, Professor Lockhart returned to the center of the stage, his spirits high as he delivered a speech. "It seems the demonstration went well. I''m sure you''re all eager¡ªmy goodness, I want to cast spells as smoothly as our three professors, but let''s not get ahead of ourselves. You''re still far from reaching that level!"


    Ron muttered something under his breath, and though Harry couldn''t hear, he had a strong suspicion it was a criticism of Professor Lockhart, as he felt much the same way.


    "Now, ording to the n, we''ll select two representatives to showcase their skills. How about Longbottom and Finchley?"


    "I find this choice inappropriate, Professor Lockhart," Snape regained hisposure and swiftly ascended the stairs, his robes swirling like a bat gracefully gliding across the stage.


    "Even using the simplest spells, Longbottom can cause unexpectedly profound damage. If he were to participate," Snape''s gaze turned icy, sweeping from Felix to the crowd, "we might end up fitting Finchley''s remains into a matchbox."


    Laughter erupted among Slytherin students.


    "What about Malfoy and Potter?"


    "Excellent!" Lockhart agreed swiftly, regardless of Snape''s suggestion; he would agree to it.


    He gestured for Harry and Malfoy to step into the center of the stage.


    Watching Snape and Malfoy converse in hushed tones, Harry first nced at Professor Harp on the other side, lost in thought. He then turned to Lockhart. "Professor, could you demonstrate the Disarming Charm again?"


    Lockhart hesitated for a moment, then leaned in closely to Harry. After a pause of around fifteen seconds, he straightened up and patted Harry''s shoulder. "Just do what I told you!"


    "What?" Harry asked, baffled. But he noticed Malfoy had already taken his position across from him.


    "On the count of three¡ªbegin!" Lockhart promptly shouted.


    "Kelpie Ascendant!" Malfoy shouted, and his wand exploded with a burst of magic. The smoke coalesced into a long, serpentine creature.


    With a "thud," the dark serpent crashed onto the floor, slithering its way closer to Harry.


    The young wizards near the stage screamed and retreated, leaving a space.


    Felix nced briefly, then lost interest; it was merely a minor hex. Snapezily withdrew his wand. "Stay still, Potter," he instructed. Seeing Harry''s expression, Snape found satisfaction. The gloomy mood Felix had cast seemed to improve miraculously.


    At this point, Lockhart saw an opportunity. He feltpelled to do something to regain control of the situation. Stepping forward, he announced loudly, "Allow me, I''ll handle this nuisance." Yet, he quickly realized Harry''s expression was growing even more terrified.


    Lockhart''s spellcasting typically equated to trouble, a simple awareness Harry had developed in a matter of months¡ªthe bones Lockhart had removed on the Quidditch pitch could attest to that.


    Indeed, Lockhart''s powerful incantation struck the serpent, resulting in a loud "bang" echoing through the hall. However, instead of vanishing, the serpent expanded rapidly, transforming into a massive python.


    Furthermore, the python, as though injected with hormones, grew increasingly agitated. It reared its head, baring venomous fangs and adopting an aggressive stance.


    Felix and Snape raised their wands in unison. But in the next second, a hair-raising sound echoed¡ªan eerie hissing reminiscent of snakes, yet even more terrifying, causing everyone''s skin to crawl involuntarily.


    Both turned their heads simultaneously, gazing at the young wizard who uttered these eerie words¡ªHarry Potter.


    The python writhed violently, contorting its body like a spasming muscle. It grew even more grotesque and threatening, but it suddenly copsed to the ground, creating arge pit in the floor. It narrowly missed Justin Finch-Fletchley.


    Although Harry wasn''t entirely sure of the situation, he knew he had thwarted the serpent''s attack. With a bright smile, he turned to Justin.


    However, he quickly realized something was amiss. The Great Hall fell into an unnerving silence.


    Everyone''s gazes fixed on him with a disconcerting intensity. Justin trembled, shouting, "What kind of trick are you ying?" He dashed out of the Great Hall like a startled rabbit.


    Snape stepped forward, transforming the prone serpent into a wisp of ck smoke. His gaze was just as intense, carrying so much beneath the surface that Harry couldn''t begin to understand.


    Whispers began to ripple through the crowd, apanied by pointing¡ªcertainly not a good sign. Harry felt a shiver run down his spine.


    Just then, he felt someone tugging at the back of his robes.


    "Come on," Ron whispered, "let''s go¡ªquickly."


    "But why¡ª"


    "Don''t ask, Harry. Let''s just go."


    Ron and Hermione practically dragged him out, leaving the Great Hall.


    The crowd naturally parted on both sides, and as they exited, a cacophony of discussions erupted behind them.


    Meanwhile, Felix stood still, the recent events ying back in his mind.


    Parseltongue...


    Harry Potter was a Parselmouth.


    All the inexplicable moments connected¡ªthe times Hermione had hesitated before asking him questions only other wizards couldn''t hear, her unusual interest in magical creatures of the snake variety after the attack...


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 Chapter 51: I Want to Learn Parseltongue

    Chapter 51: I Want to Learn Parseltongue


    The trio stepped out of the Great Hall and followed a stone path leading to an open area.


    It was after nine in the evening, and the night had fallenpletely, casting darkness all around.


    "What on earth is going on? Why are you acting so strangely?" Harry shook off the arms of hispanions and asked, annoyed.


    Ron nced at him and said, "Harry, you''ve been exposed."


    "What¡ª" Harry suddenly choked, a profound fear gripping his insides. "You mean, about speaking Parseltongue?"


    "We heard you talking to that big ck snake just now, using a differentnguage," Ron exined.


    Ron''s words made his heart sink further, and he desperately tried to find reasons for himself. "But I was trying to save Justin''s life! If I hadn''t told the snake not to attack him¡ª"


    "Was that what you meant at that moment?" Ron interrupted.


    "Of course! You were there too..."


    "Mate, your facial expression while speaking, it was kind of eerie... like you were giving it orders, encouraging it to attack continuously," Ron said.


    Hermione chimed in with a somewhat sad tone, "Harry, I think... a possible reason is that Parseltongue has an inherently sinister aura. Your voice at that moment was a hoarse hiss, apanied by a chilling echo, making it sound unsettling."


    "Professor Snape mentioned that Szar Slytherin also used Parseltongue without restraint to control snakes, making them serve him. That''s why in the eyes of others, he had the image of a dark wizard," she continued.


    Meanwhile, Felix Harp approached Dumbledoreter in the evening, and the two engaged in a lengthy conversation.


    "Felix... your keen observations surprised me. I will inform the portraits in the castle and the professors to work a bit harder for some time. During the Christmas break, most young wizards will go home, and by then, the castle will be rtively empty. We can conduct aprehensive search..."


    "Dumbledore, have you considered the issue of Parseltongue?"


    "Yes, Parseltongue might indeed be the key to unlocking the Chamber of Secrets. But I believe you''ll find a way, Felix."


    "Of course. However, regarding the Dueling Club..."


    Dumbledore neither agreed nor disagreed, saying, "If Professor Lockhart doesn''t object, I have no issue with it."


    Would Lockhart object? The Dueling Club was already under his purview.


    Felix rose with satisfaction, took a few steps, then suddenly halted. "Forgive me for being straightforward, Headmaster Dumbledore, but have you not considered simply telling Harry Potter? He and his friends have been following the Chamber''s clues."


    Dumbledore fell into silence. "I''m not yet certain, Felix. Harry''s Parseltongue ability has reminded me of certain things. I need to be certain..."


    ...


    That night, Harry tossed and turned, unable to sleep. He gazed through the curtain''s gap, watching snowkes drift past the castle windows, feeling utterly lost.


    Once again, he remembered the Sorting Hat''s advice.


    "I belong in Gryffindor," he emphasized to himself.


    Originally, Harry thought that this day would be the second most challenging of his school year (the first being the day Ron received a howler from Mrs. Weasley). But he was mistaken. The next morning, news had spread throughout Hogwarts, and everyone looked at him with odd nces.


    As if, at any moment, he might suddenly open a mouth full of fangs and snap their heads off.


    For most of the afternoon, Harry hid in an abandoned ssroom with Ron, watching Hermione concoct the Polyjuice Potion.


    While watching Hermione throw bundles ofcewing flies into the cauldron, an idea suddenly struck Harry. "Hermione, what did Professor McGonagall want when she talked to you yesterday?"


    Ron lifted his head, stopping his doze.


    Hermione''s expression lit up suddenly, and she announced excitedly, "My paper has finally been published."


    Harry had almost forgotten about it, and though he had been looking forward to it, three months had passed, and the paper hadpletely slipped his mind.


    "It took so long to publish, that''s quite odd," Ron remarked.


    "That''s because it took me over two months just to revise the paper, not to mention the time for review. They sent me an eptance letter along with a copy of the Daily Prophet and a sample issue of ''Who Determines Ancient Runes''¡ªhanded to me by Professor McGonagall."


    Her mood was cheerful as she poked a few leeches directly into the cauldron, stirring them in.


    "Why two different publications?" Ron asked, puzzled.


    "The main text of the paper is in ''Who Determines Ancient Runes,'' but the Daily Prophet also reported on it," Hermione exined with narrowed eyes, clearly satisfied with the oue.


    She decided to keep both the Daily Prophet and ''Who Determines Ancient Runes'' as collectibles and take them home over the summer.


    Having survived Friday, the weekend had finally arrived.


    On Saturday morning, the trio hid in a corner of themon room. Harry''s restlessness grew; he felt like every person passing by intentionally nced at him, and even the voices around them seemed to drop suddenly.


    Yet, the attitude of the Gryffindor students was not bad at all. If Harry were to walk out now, he could easily clear a corridor¡ªa presenceparable to that of Argus Filch, the castle caretaker.


    Mr. Filch had been employing a different strategytely, staying in the shadows and waiting for rule-breaking students toe to him, especially after his cat was petrified. Armed with his familiarity with the castle, he had caught three pairs of students viting rules by hiding for secret rendezvous, effectively spreading fear among the students of Hogwarts.


    Around noon, Professor McGonagall paid a visit, collecting a list of students staying at school for Christmas. She did this every second week of December.


    The trio found Draco Malfoy''s name on the list, and, without discussing it, they all decided to stay.


    After Professor McGonagall left, Harry and Ron yed a game of wizard chess to kill time, apanied by asional sighs.


    Just as Hermione was about to say something, an owl flew in andnded on her shoulder.


    Hermione untied the letter from the owl''s leg; it was a note.


    "It''s from Professor Snape," she said, looking at Harry and Ron with a somewhat peculiar expression. "He''s inviting Harry and me to his office tonight, says it''s something important."


    Harry was taken aback.


    Seven o''clock in the evening.


    The trio walked towards the Ancient Runes office. Ron suddenly grew a bit uneasy and asked, "Can Ie too? I mean, Professor Snape asked for Harry..."


    "You''ve asked that three times already. Professor Snape mentioned you as well, saying he would wee you if you were interested," Hermione said impatiently.


    At the office''s entrance, she knocked, then pushed the door open.


    Professor Snape was bent over his desk, looking at a book. A rare sardonic smile graced his face.


    This expression was notmon, and Hermione quickly nced at the title of the book: "Armando Dippet: A Master or a Fool?" by Rita Skeeter.


    The young witch noticed a copy of the Daily Prophet on the table too, with a photo of Headmaster Dumbledore on the front page and the headline reading, "Dumbledore''s Grand Blunder."


    Her curiosity piqued, but Professor Snape ced the book on top of the newspaper.


    Hermione: "..."


    "Good evening, Professor Snape," Harry greeted cautiously.


    "Come, the three of you, take a seat."


    Felix Harp sat on a sofa, facing the three young wizards.


    "Professor, did you need something from me?" Harry''s heart raced; please, don''t bring up Parseltongue, don''t mention Parseltongue.


    "Potter, you are a Parselmouth."


    Harry: "..."


    "Professor, I swear, it wasn''t me who opened the Chamber. There''s another Parselmouth in the castle who is the Heir of Slytherin!" Harry blurted out excitedly, nearly revealing the Polyjuice Potion and the Malfoy incident.


    "Calm down," Felix conjured three sses of orange juice with his wand. "No one said you opened the Chamber."


    "Then why did you summon me¡ª"


    Harry was puzzled, but Felix nodded towards the floating sses of orange juice. Harry took one and took a sip.


    Hermione and Ron followed suit, sipping from their sses.


    "I called you here for a simple reason. I want to learn your Parseltongue."


    "Splutter!"


    "Cough, cough!"


    "Cough!"


    "Professor, did you just say...?" Harry couldn''t believe it. If he could rid himself of the Parseltongue ability, he would pay any price. But now, someone was actively trying to learn it?


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 Chapter 52: Persuasion and Research

    Chapter 52: Persuasion and Research


    "The prejudices of the human heart are like great mountains, Harry."


    ...


    As Harry stumbled out of the Ancient Runes office, the words of Professor Harp echoed in his mind.


    Two hours prior, he had attempted to dispel the professor''s "terrifying" idea, but now, clutching a scroll of magical runes, he found himself contemting how to trante the sinisternguage of "Parseltongue."


    He even believed he might be benefiting the entire wizarding world.


    "Harry, I think Professor Harp has a valid point. A person''s innate abilities aren''t crucial; what matters is the path they choose," remarked Ron, who had been listening to the entire conversation.


    "Moreover," Ron added, his eyes gleaming with envy as he looked at the magical puppet in Harry''s hand, "Professor Harp''s gift is quitevish." The puppet had ice-blue hair and was one of Professor Harp''s most prized possessions.


    It was the price Professor Harp had paid for the exchange¡ªa puppet of the highest caliber from his personal collection. ording to him, this puppet could "easily defeat a seventh-year graduate."


    Harry''s thoughts rewound two hours...


    "Harry, we oftenbel others and unfamiliar things too easily, but once we gain some understanding, we realize this approach is quite one-sided. Take Albus Dumbledore, for example. He aplished much during his tenure, yet all people seem to remember are some absurd rumors, twisted by those with ulterior motives..."


    Professor Harp summoned the book "Albus Dumbledore: Genius or Fool?" from the table. It flipped open with a "swish" to a page in the middle, revealing its contents to the three.


    "Headmaster Dumbledore improved Hogwarts'' regtions, abolished most forms of punishment... Additionally, he declined the Dark Lord''s job offer, sparing Hogwarts'' students from his influence. This is the general view, but is it truly so? With the aim of uncovering the truth, the author delves into a different logic¡ªone hidden in obscured history, steeped in political intrigue..."


    Felix Harp calmly interjected, "This book, riddled with lies and distorted facts, has been on the bestseller list for quite some time."


    Harry felt a strong aversion towards the woman named "Rita Skeeter" and a shared empathy for Headmaster Dumbledore''s plight¡ªthey both were misunderstood, he just happened to be due to Parseltongue.


    Fueled by a sense of camaraderie, he swiftly agreed to Professor Harp''s proposal. Thus, Professor Harp handed him a dictionary and instructed him to trante ordingly.


    Ron and Hermione looked on with curiosity. After their initial shock, they became intensely interested in the matter at hand. In Ron''s words, "This is the process of unveiling Parseltongue; we''re witnessing history!"


    Yet, the process wasn''t easy. Harry opened the dictionary to the first page, hesitated for a while, and struggled to utter a single word.


    "Professor, I can''t do it."


    Felix considered for a moment. "Your Parseltongue isn''t proficient, perhaps itcks direct stimtion." He waved his wand, casting a Detect-Feedback spell on the magical dictionary.


    As a result, whenever someone read the book, they felt as though they were face to face with a snake.


    Now, Harry quickly got into the groove. Skipping the first two useless words, he emitted a hoarse, eerie sound that startled Ron and Hermione beside him.


    "That sound is wicked." Ron shivered, a chill running down his spine.


    "It''s serious magical research, Ron." Hermione was also quite shaken.


    "Which word is it?" Felix inquired.


    Harry pointed to the third word on the dictionary page, "It''s this one, ''away''."


    "How many sounds can you produce from this page?"


    Harry tried again, his finger moving on the dictionary, and the other three were able to gauge his progress.


    However, in the following moments, Harry was either struggling to speak, his face contorted, or his mouth produced ordinary English words. Ron had to remind him more than once, "Harry, you''re speaking humannguage," and "Harry, we can understand you."


    It wasn''t until thest word on this page that Harry finally spoke in Parseltongue, "This word is ''eat''," he eximed excitedly, "I''m familiar with this one, heard it on Halloween."


    Felix Harp rested his chin on his fingers, "So, on this page, more precisely, spanning both pages, there are 23 words, and only two can be converted into serpentnguage."


    "Professor, what does this mean?" Harry inquired.


    "Ah, thenguages of animals are always less borate than humans'', and they tend to be vague. For example, the concept of ''eat'' has a dozen simr terms for us, which is quite rare in thenguages of other intelligent creatures."


    Felix pondered for a moment, "Let''s pause for now; I need to modify the dictionary."


    The three followed Professor Harp to a workbench, an expansive concave table with a smooth wooden surface waxed to a shine.


    From Harry''s perspective, Professor Harp tapped and pointed his wand at the dictionary, creating a variety of colored lights. The professor alternated between silence and murmuring to himself, and after ten minutes, he stopped.


    "Professor?" Harry was about to ask what he had done, but he was left speechless.


    The words on the dictionary suddenly came to life.


    Quite literally, the pages took on a gentle yellow hue, rippling with concentric circles like water. The headings of each word began to twist and turn, as if gaining hands and feet. Then, they struggled out of the dictionary and materialized in a three-dimensional world.


    The dictionary then rapidly flipped its pages, "heading words" were flung out,nding on the workbench. Hollow ck lines wavered and danced, creating an animated scene. In less than a minute, there were thousands of them.


    This scene was incredibly awe-inspiring; two-dimensional objects had suddenly entered the real world.


    "Professor, am I dreaming?" Harry asked, bewildered.


    "This is magic," Felix Harp stated calmly.


    A strong gleam erupted in Hermione''s eyes; this was magic. She had always thought of magic as tangible things: spells, potions, or moving portraits. But Professor Harp showed her through action that magic was capable of far more than she had imagined.


    Magic was the unknown, a realm of endless possibilities.


    Felix Harp nced at the "army of words" before him with satisfaction. Temporarily activated, they floated in the air. He gave his wand a swift flourish, and a suitcase in the corner "pop" opened, releasing sheets of parchment.


    Felix raised his wand and drew a circle, connecting them. Under the influence of his magic, the sheets stuck together.


    Then, Felix Harp''s wand tapped the tabletop. The "word army" on the workbench merged into the parchment, forming distinct letters in an orderly arrangement.


    Once this was done, the long parchment, or rather, the parchment scroll, coiled itself up, transforming into a magical scroll.


    "Snap!"


    Itnded on the workbench.


    "Here you go, Harry. Fortunately, I''m familiar with some obscure magic," Felix Harp said with a smile.


    "How do I use this, Professor?"


    "It can store your Parseltongue pronunciation¡ªof course, before using it, you need to tap the corresponding content with your wand. Also, I''ve removed some English vocabry; you see, there are tens of thousands of words in the dictionary, but many are utterly useless."


    So, in the remaining time, Harry unrolled the scroll, tranting word by word¡ªthis time the progress was much faster.


    In the office, every few seconds, a hoarse, eerie sound would fill the air.


    Ron and Hermione transitioned from initial difort to getting used to it, and finally to numbness, all in less than an hour.


    At nine o''clock, Professor Harp escorted the three out. "Harry, you can find a private ce to record these, and if you encounter any issues, feel free toe to me."


    Then he turned to Hermione, "Tomorrow''s Magical Runes ss is temporarily canceled; I have some urgent matters to attend to."


    "I need to meet someone," the professor stated.


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 Chapter 53: Lies and Truth

    Chapter 53: Lies and Truth


    On the morning of the second day, a weekend morning, Harry and Ron stumbled out of their dormitory to find Hermione already seated in a chair in themon room.


    As they took their seats beside her, Hermione mmed a newspaper onto the table with a resounding "thwack."


    "I knew it!" the young witch eximed, her anger palpable.


    Harry and Ron immediately snapped to attention, exchanging a nce before Harry inquired, "What''s happened, Hermione?"


    "Do you remember the book the professor showed us? The one about Headmaster Dippet? There was a copy of ''The Daily Prophet'' on Snape''s desk that day, and something just didn''t sit right with me. So, this morning I collected the newspapers from the past few days... That woman, Rita Skeeter! She dared to defame Headmaster Dumbledore..." Hermione''s voice shook with rage.


    Harry quickly picked up the newspaper while Ron plopped down next to him, craning his neck to read.


    It was yesterday''s issue of ''The Daily Prophet,'' and the most prominent feature was a photo of Dumbledore with his mane of white hair looking upward, aged and stern in appearance. The headline red, "Dumbledore''s Grand Blunder."


    An ominous feeling gripped Harry as he began to read¡ª


    "Our special correspondent, Rita Skeeter, reports that the peculiar Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts School, has always been a controversial wizard."


    "As the acknowledged greatest wizard of the modern era, Dumbledore has resided within the walls of Hogwarts Castle since his defeat of the dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, rarely stepping into the public eye."


    "He is widely praised for safeguarding the hopes of the British wizarding world, tirelessly supplying magical talent of all kinds. But is this truly the reality?"


    "In recent times, the author has received letters from concerned parents of students iming rming incidents within the school, with the culprits still atrge. Mrs. Fawley of Topsham writes: ''My child lives in constant fear at school, dreading for their life. The professors seem powerless,pletely ineffective! I have no choice but to bring my child home for Christmas.''"


    "Interviewing this concerned parent with an agitated heart, I found the situation to be even graver than I imagined. Attacks are not a recent urrence, as they began over a month ago. Back then, the victim was a cat, but the information was meticulously sealed!"


    "To mitigate the consequences and avoid external scrutiny and criticism, the headmaster didn''t hesitate to concoct an oundish falsehood, attributing all these incidents to the fabled Chamber of Secrets within Hogwarts."


    "Ironically, he employed a simr tactic over fifty years ago, when he was still the Transfiguration professor. During that time, a hapless Ravenw witch lost her life. Although Hogwarts apprehended a suspect, Dumbledore''s influence over then-headmaster Armando Dippet led to the matter being swept under the rug, and the suspect was merely expelled."


    "As I pen this piece, it''s been two weeks since the second student attack, yet the outside world remains oblivious, and the assant still roams free. We can''t help but be concerned¡ªis the once-invincible Dumbledore truly showing his age?"


    "I shall pursue this story and present the truth to all. In our next issue, we will delve into the work of this headmaster, revealing a more authentic image of Dumbledore."


    The main text concluded at this point, but at the bottom of the page, a small line of text previewed the content of the next issue: "Dumbledore has always been willing to hire controversial instructors, like this year''s Gilderoy Lockhart and Felix Harp. But are these two individuals truly suitable? Stay tuned for more (Informants wee, contact: Rita Skeeter, Chief Editor of ''The Daily Prophet,'' author of twelve bestsellers, record holder for bestseller appearances)."


    "How can she speak of Dumbledore like this?" Harry eximed in anger. "And the Chamber of Secrets, we saw it with our own eyes. How could it be a lie?"


    "You can''t trust a single word from Rita Skeeter," Ron chimed in with a perceptive nod. "A few years back, she had a major public feud with Lockhart in the papers. Mum can''t stand her."


    "We''ve got this woman''s measure now," Hermione added with a sarcastic tone.


    Ron picked up the newspaper. "Did you notice, she''s nning a series of articles? The next one''s about Professor Lockhart and Professor Harp. How do you think she''ll spin them?"


    Hermione sighed. "If she''s painted Dumbledore as a schemer, I can only imagine what she''ll do to these two professors."


    "I don''t care about Lockhart; he''s nothing but a charade. What do you think, would Professor Harp storm into the ''Daily Prophet'' headquarters and hit that woman with a Bat Bogey Hex?"


    "Ron! That''s illegal, the professor wouldn''t do something like that!"


    The trio discussed the matter at length, but their conclusions were rather grim.


    Harry pointed at a line in the newspaper. "She mentioned that they caught a suspect fifty years ago. Who do you think she''s referring to?"


    "Oh,e on, Harry, you can''t believe a word that woman says?"


    "I certainly don''t, but¡ª" Harry''s gaze settled on Hermione.


    Her face went pale rapidly. "Fifty years ago, expelled... could the suspect she''s talking about be Hagrid?"


    Ron licked his lips uneasily.


    Harry spoke swiftly, "I believe in Dumbledore; Hagrid can''t be the culprit! But if he''s been named a suspect, he must know something!"


    The three of them prepared to brave the snow and head to Hagrid''s hut. Just as they exited the castle, they ran into a massive figure¡ªHagrid himself, his face covered in snow, his thick beard encrusted with ice, and a dead chicken clutched in his hand.


    "Hagrid, oh¡ª" Harry bumped directly into him.


    "Watch it! Little ones," Hagrid grumbled, his voice rough and hoarse. He waved the limp chicken, causing a few feathers to float in the air with his movements...


    Later that evening.


    Harry, Ron, and Hermione had just returned from the abandoned ssroom beneath the castle, where the progress on the Polyjuice Potion had gone smoothly.


    Harry had the magical scroll given to him by Professor Harp, and he was tranting the Parseltonguenguage word by word. In the echoing emptiness of the abandoned ssroom, the eerie, sinister voice could asionally be heard, sending shivers down Ron''s drowsy spine. In his half-awake state, he could see a witch brewing a potion akin to mud and a wizard hissing like a snake.


    Earlier that afternoon, they had finally heard firsthand about the Chamber of Secrets from Hagrid.


    Now, they were huddled together in a corner of themon room.


    "Almost everything lines up!" Hermione suddenly said.


    "What?"


    "The monster in the Chamber! Wait for it¡ª" Hermione seemed to be deep in thought, and she hurried back to their dormitory, returning with a piece of parchment.


    The three of them leaned in, examining the words written on it¡ªa terrifying magical creature named the "Basilisk."


    Once Harry and Ron had finished reading the material, Hermione began to connect the dots, sharing the clues she had gathered over the past few days. "The Basilisk can remain dormant for long periods, its gaze is lethal, it''s the mortal enemy of spiders, and it''s repelled by the crowing of a rooster... What do you guys think?"


    "So, the monster in the Chamber is the Basilisk?" Ron asked excitedly.


    "No doubt about it!" Harry eximed, pounding the table.


    The information they had received from Hagrid revolved around two key points: his chickens dying under mysterious circumstances and his history of raising Acromant spiders, creatures known to dread the monster within the Chamber, yet Hagrid hadn''t disclosed a single word.


    "It all matches up!" Hermione confirmed. "But there''s still one major problem¡ªthe Basilisk''s gaze doesn''t petrify people. I initially overlooked this, but now, the circumstantial evidence is quite substantial." Hermione spoke with meticulous care. "Perhaps I should consult Professor Harp to see if there''s a way to mitigate the Basilisk''s gaze..."


    She gave her head a frustrated thump. "It''s strange, I feel like something is right in front of us, but I just can''t see it..."


    Harry suddenly swallowed hard. "Hermione, I think I''ve figured it out."


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 Chapter 54: Rita Skeeter

    Chapter 54: Rita Skeeter


    Meanwhile, Felix Harp stood dressed neatly within the confines of the office firece. Sprinkling a handful of Floo Powder, he uttered the words "Diagon Alley" with rity and resonance. In an instant, he vanished from Hogwarts.


    Diagon Alley.


    Emerging from the public firece, Felix Harp dusted off the ash from his robes and pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket¡ªa address.


    The next moment, Felix Harp Apparated directly with a Patronus Charm.


    In the London outskirts, in front of a standalone house, a tall figure materialized abruptly.


    Felix Harp checked the door number, climbed the steps amidst the wind and snow, and rapped the door with his wand.


    After a brief moment, an elegant woman opened the door. Her gaze peered through a pair of jewel-studded sses, scrutinizing the stranger before her.


    Felix Harp introduced himself gently, "Felix Harp, currently serving as the Ancient Runes Professor at Hogwarts¡ªyou mentioned me in the newspaper, Mrs. Skeeter."


    "You are Felix Harp?" Rita Skeeter''s eyes lit up. In the blink of an eye, her fingers, adorned with vibrant red nails, grabbed hold of Felix Harp''s arm and dragged him inside, saying, "Please,e in!"


    The furniture in the living room was arranged meticulously, and the air was imbued with the scent of magical incense. On one side of the wall stood a massive floor-to-ceiling drinks cab, while on the other side was a square shelf filled with various books, trophies, and newspapers. On the shelf behind the door rested an alligator-skin handbag.


    "Those are my achievements... Felix, I''ve been quite interested in you. I''ve been wanting to interview you for a while," Rita Skeeter sat across from him. Her hair was done up in borate, stiff, and oddly-shaped curls, which, when paired with herrge-chinned face, looked rather peculiar.


    "Mrs. Skeeter..."


    Felix Harp was swiftly interrupted; this woman was intimidating in her assertiveness. She waved her wand, conjuring a Quick-Quotes Quill and a roll of parchment from the alligator-skin handbag.


    "Felix, I''m going to take notes with this Quick-Quotes Quill. You don''t mind, do you? This way, I can have my hands free to talk to you more naturally..."


    Without waiting for his response, the parchment spread out on its own, and the Quick-Quotes Quill hovered above it, its tip gently trembling.


    "Well, where should we begin... let''s start with the purpose of your visit today. I guess..." She suddenly burst intoughter, revealing three gold teeth. "You''re here on someone''smission, aren''t you?"


    The long, green Quick-Quotes Quill danced rapidly, pouring out a smooth stream of words:


    Thete-night visitor had a heart full of concerns. Faced with the journalist''s inquiry, he disyed a strong discontent, but not directed towards the journalist¡ªrather, it was aimed at the shadow lurking behind the entire event...


    Felix Harp chuckled softly. He nced at the clock on the wall¡ªit was just seven o''clock.


    Instead of responding, he took an interested look around the living room, where the floor-to-ceiling drinks cab upied a third of the wall, filled with various exquisitely crafted decanters and scattered ornaments.


    Rita Skeeter arched an eyebrow, her expression heavily outlined.


    "Are you apprehensive, Felix? Don''t worry, our readers adore those with rebellious spirits; they''ll stand by you."


    "A rebellious spirit?" Felix Harp repeated.


    "Yes, just like those who fear no authority, those who resist power... If you''re under threat, don''t fret; speak up, and we''ll ensure you''re treated fairly."


    The Quick-Quotes Quill continued to jot down, but Felix Harp had lost interest. He stood up, walking to the honor shelf opposite the drinks cab.


    The shelf was filled with Rita Skeeter''s personal des, including certificates for articles published over the years, best-selling books, and sales figures¡ªvarious odds and ends...


    For instance, he spotted the book "Amanto Depeart: Genius or Fool?" He sighed, "If even half of what''s in this book is true, it''d make for decent bathroom reading..."


    Rita Skeeter''s brows furrowed, her hefty fingers tightly gripping her wand, her inch-long crimson nails digging into her skin.


    She rose quickly, standing beside Felix Harp, gazing at him intently. "Felix, I know you. One of my colleagues warned me not to mess with you... Absurd ims. He only graduated a few years ago and got into the news system due to his family background." She alluded knowingly.


    "Let me tell you, our readers deserve to know the truth, like¡ª"


    "The truth?" Felix Harp interrupted.


    "Exactly, the truth!" She emphasized, "Let''s talk about you, your experiences, childhood... I believe it could help you find a clearer sense of self."


    "I believe there''s no need for that; I know who I am."


    However, Rita Skeeter persisted. The parchment and Quick-Quotes Quill flew in front of her on the table. "Felix, you came from a Muggle orphanage yet entered Slytherin House. You must have faced bullying, haven''t you? Interested in discussing it? I believe many readers would find it fascinating."


    "Rita, dear Rita, do you truly understand me?"


    "Of course!" Her gaze fixed upon him, as if he were a precious treasure. "Felix, you''re a known figure in the wizarding world, with manybels: Slytherin from a Muggle orphanage, faced threats during school, defeated the Shafiq family¡ªone of the 28 Sacred Twenty-Eight¡ªand a group of dark wizards with Dumbledore''s protection, became an expert in the Muggle realm after graduation, and now returned to Hogwarts to teach..."


    As Rita Skeeter spoke, the Quick-Quotes Quill raced to record her words. Observing Felix Harp''s indifferent demeanor, she enticed, "Your journey is nothing short of legendary. If you agree, I''m willing to write a biography about you, bringing endless Galleons and immense fame!"


    "However, thebel ''Muggle expert'' sounds rather feeble; our readers prefer strong-willed wizards, preferably with connections to celebrities... Let me think about how to handle this."


    Felix Harp chuckled, pointing at the books in front of him. "Like these kinds of biographies?"


    "Art requires a touch of imagination," she said slyly.


    Felix Harp grew impatient. He decided to settle the matter at hand and returned to his seat.


    This action misled Rita Skeeter into believing his acquiescence. She plopped down on the sofa, imperiouslymanding, "Let''s begin with your rtionship with Dumbledore."


    "Mrs. Skeeter, I need you to cease your false reporting. I''ve noticed you mentioned me in the Daily Prophet and intend to fabricate¡ª"


    "I''m not fabricating; at most, it''s a different perspective..."


    Felix Harp nodded. "Allow me to show you what a different perspective is." He lightly tapped the table with his finger.


    "Tap, tap," fingertip met tabletop, emitting a crisp sound.


    "What are you say¡ª" Rita Skeeter suddenly choked, realizing her world had shifted.


    Colors were rapidly fading: the exquisite violet teapot, the deep red robe, the golden trophies in the cab, the ck-brown alligator-skin handbag, the pale yellow parchment, the green Quick-Quotes Quill...


    All colors were fading away.


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 Chapter 55: Youre Blocking My Path...

    Chapter 55: You''re Blocking My Path...


    The entire world was left with only three shades: ck, white, and gray.


    Rita Skeeter''s body stiffened as she struggled to look at Felix Harp tapping his fingers on the tabletop, the fingers fair and slender, nails a healthy pale pink¡ªthe only color within her field of vision.


    With each tap of his fingers, concentric rings of ck and gray ripples bloomed from his fingertips, rippling through both their bodies and silently expanding in all directions.


    "You¡ª" the woman said haltingly, her wand in her hand, yet she couldn''t raise it even a fraction of an inch.


    "You see, asionally I adopt this perspective to observe the world, to observe magic. It''s quite fascinating," Felix exined, his demeanor unwavering from start to finish.


    However, Rita Skeeter didn''t share the same sentiment.


    "What you''re doing... it''s illegal... Azkaban..." she managed to say, each word a struggle.


    "Rita, dear Rita, you don''t think I''d do something unpleasant to you, do you?" Felix chuckled. "Just now I asked, do you truly understand me?"


    "Clearly, you don''t."


    "Did a colleague of yours advise you against crossing me? I bet it was a Slytherin."


    Rita Skeeter''s gaze remained locked onto him.


    Calmly, Felix continued, "When I was in fifth year, I took the holiday time to visit a few stubborn pure-blood families. After that, they never brought up any topics concerning me in public."


    "Do you know why?"


    Her eyes widened.


    "Did you think¡ªI needed to rely on someone''s influence to counter the threat of extreme pure-blood families? No, Rita," he whispered, "I merely showed them a possibility."


    As Felix''s emotions fluctuated, the world rapidly transformed from white and gray to an ink-like, oppressive darkness.


    Rita Skeeter''s body trembled lightly.


    "Yes, a possibility. If I were to be the Dark Lord..." he didn''t continue.


    The darkness quickly receded, returning to sharp ck and white, like an old faded photograph.


    "Think about it, I''m quite reasonable. As long as you don''t provoke me, I have no interest in bothering you. But sadly¡ª"


    "You''re blocking my path..."


    Ignoring her, Felix beckoned the parchment on the table, casually perusing its contents.


    Unbeknownst to him, the parchment had filled with content, stretching a foot long. This left him somewhat amused; if the young wizards at Hogwarts possessed this creative skill, they''d undoubtedly burst intoughter just dreaming about it.


    "Tsk, tsk!"


    "This part is a bit much."


    "Did I say that?"


    "Maintain a close rtionship with Dumbledore, who, me?" he shook his head.


    Colors gradually returned to the room, a magical transformation akin to a child finding a faded photograph in an old storage space and using crayons to color it in.


    The world once again teemed with vitality.


    Rita Skeeter discovered that she had regained her ability to move.


    She nced at the wand in her hand, then at Felix Harp, who was still reading the parchment. Her eyes kept darting around.


    But she quickly dismissed the foolish idea.


    "Have you made up your mind? Are you going to take action? Perhaps this is an opportunity. Capture me, and then the story that follows will be yours to weave," Felix looked up, his light blue eyes fixed on her.


    "You jest, Felix, no, Professor Harp, Sir¡ª" Rita Skeeter kept changing her address.


    "Heh."


    He lightly tossed the parchment in his hand, and it turned into ashes without a sound.


    "About the purpose of my visit¡ª"


    "I apologize! I will cease all false statements!" she quickly said, wearing a pleasing smile on her face.


    "Thank you, Rita."


    Felix stood up, gave a slight, polite bow, then pushed open the door, disappearing into the night.


    The sky waspletely dark now, and the north wind blew snowkes, causing his robe to rustle. Felix took two steps into the wind and snow, and in the next moment, he vanished from the spot.


    After a while, Rita Skeeter quietly opened the door, looked around, saw nothing outside, and quickly closed the door.


    A stream of malicious curses spewed from her mouth, almost using the harshest words she had ever known in her life to curse someone.


    "Felix Harp!" she shouted the name fiercely.


    "I''ll get back at him! Retribution... his secrets... yes, that''s right, that damned... he doesn''t even know I''m Animagus, maybe... no, too risky."


    After cursing for a long time, Rita Skeeter''s mouth felt dry, and she finally stopped.


    She went to the drinks cab, wanting to grab a bottle of alcohol to quench her thirst. However, as her fingers touched the handle, the exquisite silver piece turned to sand in her hand.


    Rita Skeeter froze in ce.


    She tentatively extended a sturdy finger and tapped a purple-necked jug¡ªit was her favorite decanter. But in the next second, the decanter rapidly disintegrated into sand, including the liquor it held.


    Her eyes turned fearful. Her body stumbled and bumped into a chair behind her. Then she noticed that the chair, too, was scattering into the ground, turning into a pile of sand.


    Rita Skeeter surveyed her surroundings. Her house¡ªevery inch of it was steadily transforming into sand, including her delicate picture frames and crocodile skin handbag.


    Even the floor couldn''t escape.


    "Ah, ah, ah!"


    In terror, she ran out of the house. Under her gaze, the entire standalone house teetered, a sand vortex rising from its base, slowly and resolutely swallowing it.


    "This is a lesson," a voice sounded very abruptly in Rita Skeeter''s mind.


    Her lips trembled, as if she wanted to say something, but this time, she quickly closed her mouth.


    At the edge of the Forbidden Forest.


    Felix''s figure suddenly appeared. Facing the wind and snow, step by step, he made his way toward the castle. December weather was bitterly cold, especially with gusts of wind carrying blizzards; each step was a severe test.


    As he glimpsed the outline of the castle, a thought was triggered. He shook his head; he really had a short memory.


    Felix pushed open the dark brown door, shook off the snowkes, and entered the warm castle.


    With a gentle wave of his wand, the door behind him closed with a "thud," shutting out the wind, snow, and darkness outside.


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 Chapter 56: Magical Linguistics Contest

    Chapter 56: Magical Linguistics Contest


    As the Christmas season drew near, the festive atmosphere grew stronger, but the enthusiasm for learning among many young wizards plummeted.


    Although the professors kept saying that students couldn''t ck off, they didn''t apply too much pressure, as evident in the amount of assignments given.


    However, this leniency didn''t apply to fifth and seventh years. They had to prepare for their Ordinary Wizarding Levels (OWLs) and Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests (NEWTs) respectively, which were the standard and advanced wizarding exams.


    Ancient Runes ss, fifth year.


    Felix Harp emphasized once again the importance of OWLs, "You have only six months left until your Ordinary Wizarding Levels. If you subtract holidays and weekends, how much time is left?"


    "Let me calcte for you. Six months, that''s about twenty-five weeks."


    In the puzzled expressions of the young wizards in the audience, the professor began calcting, "Two sses per week, one double periodsting two hours, and one single periodsting one hour, which adds up to..."


    "A total of seventy-five hours."


    "Do you have that much study time outside of ss? Even if I calcte, it''s still less than two hundred hours."


    Seeing Professor Harp''s regretful expression, the young wizards fell silent.


    But Felix Harp was in a good mood today. He decided to conduct a student survey.


    "What subject do you think you''re least skilled at?"


    A timid young witch spoke up, "Does Ancient Runes count?"


    "No!"


    "Then it''s History of Magic," said the Hufflepuff girl. "Professor Binns always makes us memorize a lot of content, and my memory isn''t that great."


    "He never emphasizes key points in ss, unlike other professors who give some hints," a disgruntled Ravenw said.


    Professor Binns belonged to the type that thought "everything I say is crucial, everything mentioned in ss is a potential question." Moreover, he was known for his monotonous and unvaried tone, sounding as though he were reciting scriptures.


    His lectures were supremely hypnotic.


    "History of Magic... Very well, Miss Salton, Mr. Pardis. Anyone else?"


    "I struggle with Astronomy; I always mix up the positions ofs."


    "The practical part of Herbology is fun, but I can''t remember the properties of magical nts."


    "Don''t you find Arithmancy tooplex?"


    "Divination is an absolute nightmare!"


    Immediately, someone retorted, "Nonsense! Divination is the easiest!"


    "Trwney is just a lunatic!"


    "Professor McGonagall is quite strict."


    "Kettleburn''s ss is always filled with dangerous magical creatures."


    "Professor Snape is terrifying."


    The young wizards engaged in fervent discussions, quickly deviating from the topic. Felix Harp promptly intervened, wondering how it had escted into criticizing various professors.


    He summarized the students'' viewpoints, "So, in theoretical and memory-intensive courses, your performance is generally less ster, such as Ancient Runes, History of Magic, and Astronomy."


    Felix Harp had a sudden idea and decided to try it out, "Let''s do this, we''ll y a game."


    "Two students, please... hmm, Miss Salton and Mr. Pardis, I need your cooperation."


    The two young wizards stepped forward curiously.


    The young wizards in the ssroom suddenly perked up.


    "Take out your wands."


    Salton and Pardis eagerly retrieved their wands, their eyes fixed on Felix Harp.


    Professor Harp''s teaching was always filled with various novel twists¡ªthis reputation had spread widely among other years, though it was rtively lesser known to the fifth and seventh years.


    "Let me think..." Felix Harp flicked his wand, and a nine-square grid appeared in front of each of them.


    In each square were nine runic vocabry words sparkling with magical fire.


    And above the heads of the two young wizards appeared two embossed golden names¡ªPetra Salton and Warren Pardis.


    "Professor, what''s this?"


    Curiously, Hufflepuff''s Petra Salton asked. A friend pointed to her head, making her notice her own name overhead. Strangely, next to the name was the number "0."


    "We''re having a Magical Linguistics contest. Next, I''ll provide definitions of runic words, and you need to quickly find the corresponding runes and touch the grid square with your wand."


    "You need to be faster than your opponent to earn a point."


    "The first to reach one hundred points wins."


    Felix Harp looked at the two, "Let''s give it a try."


    He uttered a string of definitions, "Light, illuminating the path ahead, also symbolizing the brilliance of knowledge."


    Petra Salton and Warren Pardis stared intently at the floating runes in mid-air. When Professor Harp reached the second sentence, Petra''s eyes brightened. She quickly tapped the bottom left corner of the grid with her wand.


    "I know, it''s Ken!"


    As her wand touched the rune, that area suddenly turned into a bright gold, and simultaneously, a "+1" symbol appeared above her head, disappearing after a two-second dy.


    Petra btedly looked at the top of her head¡ªwhere the initial "0" had be "1." She nced at the professor. "Did I win?"


    "In a sense," Felix Harp said. "I think you both understand the rules now?"


    Both of them nodded simultaneously; this game was indeed interesting. Warren, on the other side, couldn''t help but tighten his grip on his wand¡ªhe had been a bit slow just now.


    Felix Harp waved his wand, causing the first grid to disappear, and a second grid appeared in front of them.


    "The second word: reward, symbolizing victory, satisfaction¡ª"


    Warren quickly flicked his wand to the middle of the grid, watching that area turn into a dazzling gold. His face flushed with excitement. "It''s Wyn, Professor."


    "Correct answer," Felix Harp nodded, and a "+1" symbol appeared above Warren''s head, and his score became 1.


    The contest continued, "Poverty, hardship, also representing some form of misfortune."


    Without hesitation, Warren tapped his wand on the top left corner, but this time, the area quickly turned into a dismal gray.


    "Wrong answer, Mr. Pardis." Felix Harp waved his wand, and a "-1" symbol appeared above his head, resetting the score to zero.


    Warren frustratedly clenched his fist.


    By now, the young wizards had fully grasped the rules of the game¡ªcorrect answers gained points, wrong answers deducted points, and the first to reach one hundred would win.


    "Harvest, crops, or a growth cycle¡ª"


    Petra bit her lip, and Warren fidgeted with his fingers.


    "Peorth, Peorth." Some of the young wizards watching couldn''t resist and quietly provided the answer.


    Petra''s eyes brightened, and she tapped her wand on the correct answer.


    Felix Harp neither approved nor disapproved; he didn''t stop the whispers from the young wizards below, nor did he give the two additional points.


    He simply reced the grid with another.


    The two understood the professor''s intention: next, they would bepeting against the entire ss of young wizards.


    The two exchanged a nce, both looking a bit troubled.


    But the young wizards in the audience grew excited. In the following dozen or so grids, they collectively put their heads together, chirping and chattering incessantly. Meanwhile, the two on stage each only managed to earn one point.


    The bell for the end of ss rang, but no one moved.


    The score was stuck at 99:98.


    The young wizards fell silent, not uttering a word.


    Felix Harp quickly said, "The power of the sun, conquering demons and darkness¡ª"


    "Sigel." Petra''s wand tipnded in the center of the grid, causing golden light to sparkle.


    "I won, I won!"


    Amid her jubnt scream, Professor Harp waved his wand, causing brilliant fireworks to burst forth in the ssroom.


    "Thanks to both students for their splendid performance. Gryffindor gains ten points, Ravenw gains five."


    "Now, ss dismissed!"


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 Chapter 57: "Harry, Show Your Skills!"

    Chapter 57: "Harry, Show Your Skills!"


    The young wizards were fervently discussing, their excitement palpable. As fifth-year students, they rarely encountered such intriguing courses ¨C every professor was pushing them to explore their potentials to the fullest.


    Of course, to some extent, this was also a debt owed for the preceding four years.


    In the corridor, Warren Parldis was somewhat annoyed as he said to his friend, "I could have won, it''s just that luck wasn''t on my side."


    "You were too aggressive; you got at least ten questions wrong," his friend replied.


    The young wizards exited the ssroom in a bustling crowd, and Felix Harp rubbed his slightly sore fingers.


    The "visual effects" of this knowledgepetition were conjured up by his magic, one spell after another. From the nine-square grid to score changes, and even to the color feedback for correct and incorrect answers, he had orchestrated it all.


    "Miscalction, I should switch to a ten-point scale next time."


    During the afternoon''s two lessons, Felix attempted this in both the sixth and seventh years, with remarkably sessful results. Even the "trouble-prone students" in Ancient Runes were staying alert in ss.


    This rified his thoughts.


    "In the future, I can incorporate more of these game-like teaching methods, but only if I prepare thoroughly." In the evening cafeteria, Felix halfheartedly speared a potato dripping with ck sauce. After a whole day, he felt rather drained.


    Little by little, today''s spellcasting tally had clearly exceeded the limit.


    In themon room.


    The Weasley twins, Fred and George, were controlling magical puppets in a duel, havingpleted their second and third sets of practical runic scripts.


    Their duel was highly entertaining; every punch Fred''s magical puppet threw released a circle of crackling electricity, making "zapping" sounds. Lee Jordan was so close that his hair stood on end.


    George, on the other side, was not to be outdone. His magical puppet was the popr "Fire Boy," and each time he conjured the iconic "big fireball," it elicited waves of apuse.


    At this moment, Percy Weasley entered themon room from outside. He had just finished a patrol. Upon seeing him, Ron quickly turned his head away in the corner.


    The two of them were still at odds.


    "Ron, haven''t you two made up yet?" Hermione asked with concern.


    "Unless he apologizes to me," Ron stubbornly dered.


    Harry sighed. He didn''t have much to say, after all, Ron had shouldered the me for all three of them, losing face.


    "Hey! Percy, heard you got a perfect score from Professor Harp today?" a Gryffindor asked.


    Percy proudly puffed out his chest, making his Prefect badge more prominent. "Yes, Professor Harp tried a new teaching method. I have to admit, he''s quite wise."


    "And you beat Slytherin!"


    Percy modestly replied, "It was just apetition. Oh, by the way, on the ten-point scale, I was nine points ahead of my opponent."


    Another round of admiration swept through the Gryffindors. Percy truly deserved his reputation as the top student with twelve O.W.L.s.


    "Nine points ahead!" Ron repeated disdainfully.


    Harry quickly changed the subject, "Hermione, did you ask Professor Harp about the serpent creature?"


    Hermione shook her head. "I hardly see the professor from Monday to Friday." Unless she had papers to grade.


    "But waiting until the weekend is toote!" Harry protested, frustrated. "What if there''s another attack in between¡­"


    He mmed the table, startling two passing young wizards who looked at Harry fearfully and quickly moved past.


    "See, they all think I''m the culprit!"


    "Harry, how about we go see Professor Harp now?" Hermione cautiously suggested.


    Harry nced at the clock; it was already past nine in the evening. "Tomorrow." He slumped in his chair, deted like a punctured balloon.


    They were fairly certain that the monster in the Chamber was a serpent, and about Hermione''s puzzlement¡ªhow the serpent''s gaze was lethal¡ªdespite the two recent attacks only causing petrification, Harry had his own theory: the victims weren''t directly meeting the serpent''s gaze. Madam Pomfrey had seen through a reflection in water, and Colin Creevey had captured it through a camera lens.


    But whether this was correct remained to be confirmed, considering the scarcity of evidence.


    At this moment, Ron said to him, "Harry, is Professor Harp''s magic puppet in your bag?"


    "Yes." Harry replied weakly.


    He had practiced in secret a few times, but he stillcked some skills. Just now, he had managed to make the puppet walk normally.


    "How about we give it a try?" Ron nced at Percy in the crowd.


    "Here?" Harry was unsure.


    Hermione''s eyes lit up; she had been wanting to try it since the start of term during the public ss. She had a soft spot for its design.


    Ice-blue hair, an exquisitely cute face, it resonated perfectly with her heart.


    "Maybe... this isn''t the best choice..." Hermione said with a double meaning, but she didn''t stop Harry from taking out the magic puppet from his bag.


    "Hey! What are you doing?" Fred walked over, his arm around George''s shoulder.


    "Oh, just a magic puppet." Ron tried to sound nonchnt.


    Fred saw the puppet in Harry''s hand and was taken aback. "This is no ordinary puppet." Just from its appearance, there was noparison between the two.


    "Given by Professor Harp," Ron said.


    Fred picked up the magic puppet. "This thing...," he looked at George, "I can hardly sense its magical aura. It''s even more refined than a Diagon Alley haunted doll¡ªfar superior to anything we''ve dismantled."


    "You''ve dismantled¡ª"


    "Shush!" Fred raised a finger. "Lower your voice. This is our little secret with Professor Harp..."


    George took the puppet, casually saying, "Once we identally damaged a magical puppet we had."


    "It was ''identally'' damaged; we were really scared at the time¡ª" Fred said.


    "Worried about losing points, getting detention¡ª"


    "Or being hung up and whipped with a wet belt¡ª"


    "So we nervously apologized¡ª"


    "Then what happened? Did you receive any punishment?" Ron asked.


    "No, little Ronnie," Fred winked, a mischievous grin on his face, "Professor Harp said we had a knack for alchemy and awarded each of us ten points. However¡ª"


    George sighed, "When we presented the pieces of the second broken puppet to him, he had to restrain himself from deducting points."


    Hermione rolled her eyes.


    George studied the exquisitely detailed magic puppet, asionally uttering words of admiration. Finally, he handed it back to Harry. "Impressive work. What did you guys do?"


    "It''s¡ª" Ron was about to speak but was viciously stomped on the foot by Hermione.


    The twins exchanged a nce and shrugged.


    Fred said, "Want us to demonstrate for you? This puppet must have a lot of new functions. I don''t think you guys are quite proficient yet."


    "Who says! Harry, show us what you''ve got."


    Harry withdrew his wand and, with its guidance, the magic puppet stood up with a sway and a wobble.


    A few young wizards looked over from a distance.


    Harry struggled to control the magic puppet, but unfortunately, at best, it could only scatter a few ice-blue snowkes.


    "Harry, your control isn''t enough," Fred pointed out.


    Harry pointed his wand at the magic puppet, feeling like he had touched its core. So, he focused all his attention, attempting to awaken the dormant runic circuitry.


    His magic connected to a world of ice and snow. The sharpness and coldness were akin to gulping down ten ice pops in a breath, freezing his consciousness.


    Harry''s face turned purple from the cold, and he exhaled a breath of frost.


    "Harry, what''s wrong?" Ron stood up in a fluster. At this moment, anyone could tell something was off.


    However, in the next second¡ª


    "Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle!"


    The magic puppet suddenly lit up, and light blue ice crystals fell one after another. The temperature around dropped sharply. "She" raised her arm abruptly, and a series of ice-blue pirs shot up from the ground, cold air spreading out like rolling waves.


    The group watched in astonishment.


    In front of the palm-sized magic puppet, a row of half-height ice pirs extended seven or eight meters, thoroughly sealing the entrance to themon room.


    Cold mist filled the air, and the young wizards in themon room collectively sneezed.


    Meanwhile, in his office, Professor Harp was sipping tea with a contented smile, leafing through an ancient alchemy book.


    Beside him was that day''s edition of the "Daily Prophet." The headline read: "Good vs. Evil: Vast Discrepancy Between Two New Professors," authored by Rita Skeeter.


    Ahem! During the May Day holiday, everyone wants to go out and y (including the author). Therefore, there won''t be any additional updates this weekend. I''ll do my best to keep the updates stable at two chapters.


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 Chapter 58: Unexpected Developments

    Chapter 58: Unexpected Developments


    On Tuesday morning, the weather was unexpectedly clear, and the winter sun cast a golden glow upon Hogwarts, the ancient castle.


    Felix Harp slept until eight o''clock, waking up to theughter of young wizards engaged in a snowball fight.


    Throwing back the covers, his cotton pajamas automatically disentangled, and a finely woven cardigan slipped over his shoulders. He stretched his neck, adjusting the clothing forfort, and then, with the aid of magic, donned a pair of fleece-lined trousers.


    "Magic does make onezy," Felix couldn''t recall when he had read that line during one of his years at school, but he found it to be quite true.


    Finally donning a dark wizarding robe, Felix pushed open the window and looked down upon the snowyndscape.


    The weather had warmed considerably; Felix didn''t feel the cold. The courtyard and grounds of the castle were nketed in thickyers of white snow, and a few young wizards hurriedly made their way to the dining hall for breakfast.


    "Thank Merlin I don''t have sses in the morning. Happiness is truly rtive."


    Back in his office, he reviewed the tasks he had been dealing withtely:<ul><li>Discover the Chamber of Secrets and handle the serpent creature (agreed with Dumbledore to address during the Christmas break).</li><li>Identify the Dark Lord''s relics resembling Horcruxes (after advertising three times, still clueless; young wizards are unreliable, but one piece of evidence).</li><li>Practice Apparition skills (recently beenx, stuck at four consecutive jumps).</li><li>Acquire the rare Parseltongue skill (awaiting feedback, liaison: Harry Potter).</li><li>Keep up with the arrangement with Krayne (indefinitely postponed...).</li><li>Prepare for the next encounter with the extravagant Hagrid (meticulously nned).</li><li>Continue scouring the thousand-year-old books of Hogwarts (in progress).</li><li>Deal with the public rtions threat brought by Rita Skeeter (¡Ì).</li><li>Complete the Magical Runes binding vine (¡Ì).</li><li>Assist Hermione in her thesis (¡Ì).</li><li>Prepare Christmas gifts (¡Ì).</li><li>Undertake the Dueling Club proposal (¡Ì).</li><li>Draft the Ancient Runes curriculum reform proposal (¡Ì).</li><li>Befriend Lockhart (utterly absurd; this task is void).</li></ul>


    Felix pursed his lips. There didn''t seem to be anything particrly urgent. Christmas was less than a week away, and he was growing a bitzy.


    "I could pay Professor Snape a visit and finalize the details for the Dueling Club assistants."


    Felix descended the castle''s staircase, crossed the courtyard, and noticed several oddly shaped snowmen along the path¡ªclearly the work of younger students. Limited by their magical skills, they had to take matters into their own hands.


    After having breakfast, he made his way down to the castle''s underground area, familiarly navigating to the office of the Potions professor.


    Knocking on the door, Felix was met with Snape''s expressionless refusal to enter.


    "I believe I didn''t invite you to my office, Felix."


    However, Felix had long understood the professor''s character. Unless you wanted to provoke him, he preferred direct speech and getting to the point, especially about the topics that interested him most.


    So Felix spoke, "Professor Snape, I have obtained Headmaster Dumbledore''s approval to oversee the uing Dueling Club sessions. Regarding the teaching staff, I need to know your intentions..." He paused and locked eyes with Snape.


    Snape pressed his lips tightly together, his ck eyes staring unflinchingly at him. After a moment, he stepped aside. "Pleasee in, Felix."


    The Potions professor''s office was located underground, with dim lighting. Countless ss specimen jars lined the shelves against the walls. Beyond thosey Snape''s private chamber.


    Approaching one of the shelves, Felix carefully examined one of the jars. "Is this therge w of an Acromant? The ones that inhabit the Forbidden Forest?" he asked with genuine interest.


    Snape emerged from the inner room, trailing two cups of pumpkin juice. "No," he said coldly, handing Felix a cup.


    Their conversation turned to the matter at hand.


    "Felix, when did you snatch the Dueling Club from Lockhart''s grasp?"


    "Professor, I must remind you that Professor Lockhart''s daily duties were bing overwhelming, forcing him to make difficult choices."


    "I find that hard to believe," Snape sneered at the notion. "What''s so busy about teaching one performance-based ss?"


    "Of course, he''s busy replying to fans. From what I know, he spends at least an hour each day on this task," Felix Harp shed a mischievous smile. "I can understand Professor Lockhart quite well. After all, we''re both authors, and dealing with fans'' demands can be quite the ordeal. Besides, he''s even more prolific than I am."


    "The books he writes..." Snape didn''t finish the sentence, his expression conveying everything. "But do you also reply to fans? That truly surprises me. I thought you wouldn''t waste time on such trivial matters."


    "No choice," Felix sighed. "Most of them are officials from various magical ministries around the world. We discuss Muggle legition and how to interact with Muggles."


    Snape choked on his drink.


    He said, "Felix, don''t beat around the bush with me, state your purpose."


    "Professor, I wish to know if you''re still willing to participate in my Dueling Club course."


    "Your Dueling Club?" Snape elongated the word "your."


    "Yes, my Dueling Club," Felix looked at him calmly.


    There was a distinction to be made.


    Snape fell silent.


    Felix remainedposed. He wasn''t sure if Snape would agree, but the information he received from Lockhart indicated that Snape had volunteered to assist with the course.


    This indicated his interest in the Dueling Club.


    As for the reasons, Felix wasn''t sure and didn''t care.


    However, he had heard that Snape had been vying for a teaching position in Dark Arts Defense, but unfortunately, Dumbledore had never approved it. Was there a connection between these two matters?


    For instance, was Snape considering the Dueling Club as a substitute for the Dark Arts Defense ss? Felix spected in his mind.


    "I require involvement in the selection of the course content," Snape made a condition.


    "Of course, your experience is valuable," Felix smiled, saying this.


    Felix ced the cup of pumpkin juice back on the table and stood up. "Professor, the next Dueling Club session willmence after the Christmas break. I willmunicate the teaching content to you then. Farewell."


    "No need for pleasantries," Snape said with a stern face.


    Just as Felix was about to exit, he suddenly stopped. "By the way, Professor Snape, I''ve already prepared your Christmas gift in advance. I believe you''ll be pleased."


    Snape managed a small smile. "I''ll also prepare a gift for you, Felix."


    ...


    In the evening, Felix switched shifts with Professor Flitwick to oversee the routine patrols within the castle. There were always young wizards who, with various legitimate and less legitimate reasons, slipped away from the watchful eyes of professors and prefects to act on their own.


    What he didn''t expect was to encounter a breathless Miss Hermione Granger, who seemed to be in a hurry.


    "Professor Harp! Oh, thank Merlin, I finally found a professor!" the young witch eximed in excitement.


    "Miss Granger, what''s the matter?" Felix inquired.


    "The Chamber... the creature in the Chamber..." Hermione tried to speak, but after running quite a distance, she was gasping for air.


    "Another attack?" Felix''s expression grew serious. Could this really be happening again? Another attack just days before Christmas break?


    His assistant nodded at first, but then shook her head.


    "Indeed, there was an attack, but no one was hurt. However, Harry... he went after the serpent creature!"


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 Chapter 59: The Serpent and the Serpent Whispers

    Chapter 59: The Serpent and the Serpent Whispers


    "Calm yourself, Miss Granger!" Felix Harp inquired, "You need to tell me, how long has it been since youst saw Harry? Can you ascertain his current location? And by what means did he track the serpent?"


    Hermione quickly responded, "Not more than 5 minutes, Professor. We deduced that the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets is in Moaning Myrtle''s bathroom, so we arranged to meet there. Harry used Parseltongue to locate the serpent..."


    "Very well," Felix interrupted her, waving his wand. A silver light emanated from its tip, coalescing into a small, graceful bird with scythe-like wings that hovered in midair.


    Felix proimed, "Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster, Harry Potter is tracking the Chamber''s serpent on his own. Hasten to the abandoned bathroom of Moaning Myrtle; it is highly likely to be the location of the Chamber''s entrance."


    With his words spoken, the diminutive bird fluttered its wings and vanished into a streak of light.


    "Professor, what kind of magic is that?" Even in the urgency of the situation, the young witch couldn''t help but ask.


    "A Patronus Charm, it can shield you from Dementors or deliver a quick message," Felix exined.


    "Is it a kind of swallow?"


    "Yes, its speed is remarkable."


    "We should head to the bathroom," Felix said to Hermione. "On the way, you can brief me on the situation."


    As they neared Moaning Myrtle''s bathroom, Felix had a clear understanding of the situation.


    One hour earlier.


    Harry, Ron, and Hermione swiftly finished their dinner in the Great Hall, exchanged nces, and stealthily slipped away.


    "It''s 6:20 now," Hermione said to the two before they moved, "We have around forty minutes. As long as we''re back before seven to rejoin the others in themon room, no one will notice we''ve been out."


    They intended to confront Professor Snape, gain his trust, and then report the information about the Chamber of Secrets to Headmaster Dumbledore.


    But their n hit a snag halfway through¡ª


    "Rend you... want to kill... thirst for blood..."


    As they passed through a dim corridor, Harry suddenly heard this voice. He yelled, "It''s the serpent! It''s out!"


    "You heard it?" Ron nervously responded.


    Harry dashed forward, climbing a flight of stairs, ears straining. He caught faint scraping sounds, so he sprinted, Ron and Hermione close on his heels.


    However, the sound was elusive, sometimes disappearing, forcing Harry to climb up and down to determine its source.


    After running for quite some time, they were breathless and exhausted.


    "Did it go back? Maybe it just came out for a stroll?" Ron optimistically wondered.


    "Absolutely not!" Harry dered, "It wants to kill, it said it thirsts for blood!"


    "Rend you... target..."


    Suddenly, Harry raised his head, the voiceing from above.


    "It''s upstairs!"


    Harry raced upstairs, leaving Ron and Hermione far behind.


    Turning a corner, he saw Justin hurrying towards him from the other side of the corridor.


    "Emerging... to kill... tear into pieces..."


    Harry''s expression turned to one of extreme fear. Time was running out. He shouted loudly to Justin, "Quick, shut your eyes, Justin! Shut your eyes, the Chamber''s serpent is out!"


    Justin, who had been avoiding Harry for the past few days, looked bewildered and asked, "What?"


    Harry didn''t have time to exin; he heard the distinctive "click-ck" sound clearly. It had to be the serpent, about to emerge, about to kill!


    "Obstacle ahead!" Harry pulled out his wand. A Shield Charm sent Justin flying, his face a mix of surprise and fear.


    Harry pounced on Justin to drag him away. This proved to be no easy task¡ªonce Justin shook off the effects of the spell, he struggled vehemently, and the two wrestled in a tangle.


    "What are you doing? Harry, what are you doing?"


    "Shut up! I''m saving your life!" Harry delivered a firm punch to quiet him down. "Listen! The Chamber''s creature is out. Its eyes can kill, so close your eyes quickly."


    Rustling sounds approached, growing sharper in the corridor.


    Justin closed his eyes tightly, trembling uncontrobly. Harry, too, closed his eyes and used one hand to grope for his wand¡ªduring their brief scuffle, his wand had fallen to the ground.


    "Are we going to die, Harry? I don''t want to die. Harry, I''m sorry for misunderstanding you," Justin muttered incoherently.


    "Shut up!" Harry roared, his voice echoing down the corridor.


    He stumbled upon a small stick; it was his wand. But he couldn''t fight the serpent with his eyes closed!


    A door burst open. The "click-ck" sound grew nearer. Harry deduced the serpent was less than two meters away. Perhaps its head was right above him?


    He even caught a whiff of a foul stench.


    "Get away from here!" he yelled.


    "What?" Justin trembled, his voice shaky.


    "Not you, get away from here!"


    Justin only understood the first half of the sentence; the second half,ing from Harry''s mouth, sounded eerie, like a snake''s hiss, but much more terrifying.


    Parseltongue, he instantly realized.


    Harry continued to speak Parseltongue, ordering the serpent to "leave here" and "go back." It worked¡ªthe slithering sound of the serpent''s movement ceased.


    Yet, it hadn''t departed; instead, it responded, "Kill... master''smand... tear apart... rid of Muggles..."


    "Leave here!" Harrymanded in Parseltongue. "Imand you, leave this ce!" Fortunately, he had been practicing Parseltongue using a magical scroll for the past two days, which made him somewhat proficient.


    "Master''smand..."


    "My master and your master are the best of friends, we''re allies. Listen! You''re in grave danger right now, a powerful wizard ising! Leave this ce quickly!" Harry urged incessantly. He didn''t know if it would work, but Hermione had informed him from Professor Harp''s teachings that Parseltongue could control snakes.


    He didn''t know if it was true or not, but he could only hope it was.


    Finally, the serpent moved away. Harry held his breath, waiting for the verdict of fate. Thankfully, the sliding sounds of the serpent grew more distant until they vanished.


    "Cannot cease killings... next attack... soon... patience exhausted..." These were the words Harry heard from above, suggesting that the serpent had returned to the pipes.


    Justin sat trembling on the ground, looking shell-shocked.


    "It''s over." Harry opened his eyes.


    After several seconds, Hermione and Ron arrived breathlessly from behind. "Harry, what happened?" They had lost track and taken a detour.


    Harry said, still shaken, "The serpent was about to attack Justin. I stopped it."


    "What¡ªoh, dear!" Hermione pointed at the scratched marks on the ground. "This is..."


    "Yeah, I confronted it face to face."


    Note: In the following sequence, various plot threadse together. The protagonist''s direct involvement might seem limited (though not absent), but every step of the plot is a result of his participation, influence, and changes. Think of it as the butterfly effect, while also aiming to concentrate on showcasing the different traits of the trio¡ªboth the good and the bad. Reader discussions are wee. Once this sequence concludes, the focus will shift back to the protagonist.


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 Chapter 60: Divide and Conquer

    Chapter 60: Divide and Conquer


    Ron and Hermione''s expressions at this moment were truly captivating.


    Harry struggled to his feet, saying, "Thanks to your information, Hermione, it''s true that Parseltongue can control the snake creature."


    Hermione covered her mouth, "Harry, you nearly died, do you realize?"


    "Yes, I''m sorry!" Justin said from the ground, "He was trying to save me..."


    He got up, brushed his hands on his clothes, and extended his hand formally, "Harry, I''m really sorry, I''ve been misunderstanding you. I went to Professor Snape, and he assured me that you''re definitely not the culprit, but I was terrified during that duel lesson..."


    "It''s alright," Harry put on a casual demeanor, extending his hand as well, and they shook hands.


    "A satisfactory oue, isn''t it?" Ron chimed in, "I don''t want to interrupt this friendly atmosphere, but I think we should inform the professors as soon as possible..."


    "Wait," Harry walked to a slightly ajar wooden door in front of him.


    "This can''t be..." Hermione gasped, her hand covering her mouth.


    "It''s possible," Harry said, "but it should be gone by now."


    He pushed the door open and walked in, with Ron and Hermione following closely behind.


    It was a very narrow room, filled with dust, and a long trail dragged away, disappearing into a wall.


    "Do you think there''s an entrance to the Chamber of Secrets here?" Hermione asked.


    "We''ve discussed this, right?" Harry carefully examined the spot where the snake creature''s trail vanished, "There might only be one entrance to the Chamber, but for the convenience of the snake creature''s movement, Slytherin might have left more than one exit in the castle''swork of pipes."


    Using Parseltongue, Harry said, "Open." Justin, who had just entered, shivered.


    The wall showed no reaction, leaving him somewhat disappointed.


    Ron spected, "Harry, if this exit is indeed prepared by Slytherin for the snake creature, he must have set specific conditions¡ª"


    "On the contrary, that means the true entrance to the Chamber must not have these restrictions!" Hermione eximed excitedly.


    "What are we waiting for then?" Ron had a look of "the problem is finally solved," "We just need to notify a professor, anyone except Lockhart..."


    Harry said, "No, it''s you two who should notify the professors."


    The three of them looked at him, puzzled.


    "Listen, you go find someone¡ªHeadmaster Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape, and even Professor Sprout."


    "What about you, Harry?"


    "I''m going to stay and keep watch, to prevent the snake creature froming out again. From my conversation with it, it''s not exactly in a good mood, and if it decides to attack halfway..." Harry gave them a significant look, "We''ve figured out the real entrance to the Chamber, haven''t we? We''ll meet there!"


    Harry took a deep breath and hurriedly left.


    "Let''s go!" Ron and Hermione immediately moved.


    "Wait!" Justin got up, "I''ll help too."


    Hermione and Ron exchanged a nce, "Alright, if you find any professor, tell them to go to Moaning Myrtle''s usual abandoned girls'' bathroom. The monster in the Chamber is a snake creature. Make sure to warn the professor not to look into its eyes."


    The three of them went their separate ways.


    On the other side, Harry dashed towards the girls'' bathroom. Just as he was about to reach it, he collided heavily with another person at the corner.


    Harry''s sses were knocked off, and he was in quite a bit of pain. It reminded him of falling off a broomstick during a Quidditch match. He nced at the young wizard in front of him and recognized Draco Malfoy by his hair color.


    Malfoy was also not in great shape after the collision. His expression was wooden, as if he''d been stunned. A ck notebook was flung out from his arms.


    "Potter..." he said in a dazed tone, then finally snapped out of it, "Potter!"


    Harry picked up his sses from the ground and quickly stood up, saying, "Get out of my way, Malfoy!" He left immediately.


    Draco, still standing in ce, looked around somewhat bewilderedly. Suddenly, his expression turned to one of terror.


    "Whoosh... Whoosh..."


    Harry dashed all the way to the girls'' bathroom, finally arriving. He pushed the door open and entered, paying no attention to the standing water on the floor.


    He cautiously used Parseltongue, saying, "Are you there? The monster from the Chamber?" While remaining ready to close his eyes.


    After waiting a few seconds, just when he thought everything was safe, he heard rustling sounds.


    It was the snake creature!


    Harry followed the faint sounds, carefully moving his steps. He deduced that the snake creature had returned from another pipe. Based on their earlier analysis, while Hogwarts Castle had various pipes, the Chamber of Secrets couldn''t be hidden within them. So, they must have a unique connecting passage.


    This ce was the entrance to the Chamber.


    Their discussion had led them to believe that the entrance to the Chamber was most likely where Moaning Myrtle had been killed¡ªnow the abandoned girls'' bathroom. Myrtle had enthusiastically mentioned that on the day she died, she had heard a boy''s voice.


    This boy could only be the heir of the previous generation of the Chamber!


    Following the faint sounds, Harry reached the center of the bathroom. There was a row of circr sinks. He gently ced his backpack aside, disregarding the standing water on the floor. He crouched down and pressed his ear against the metal pipe of a sink.


    After a sound simr to a sticky hose sliding on the ground passed, the soundpletely disappeared.


    Waiting in silence for about ten seconds, Harry stood up and circled around the sinks, carefully inspecting the area. As expected, he found a small snake pattern on the side of a faucet.


    He could hardly contain his excitement. In a hushed Parseltongue, he said, "Open."


    Instantly, the faucet emitted a dazzling white light and began to spin rapidly. Then, the sinks themselves began to move. Harry watched as they slowly disappeared from view, revealing a significantlyrge pipe.


    Walking through the standing water, Harry approached it. He peered inside, inspecting, but it was pitch ck, seemingly leading straight into hell.


    Harry was hesitating whether or not to go down. Following his usual instincts, he would have thought twice and not just jump in. But after being punished by Professor Snape and having to write lines about reckless behavior for two days, he felt that he could be bold.


    "What are you doing?"


    A very mncholic voice appeared behind him, close enough that it sounded like it was right next to his skull.


    Startled, Harry slipped on the wet floor, falling into the passage and disappearing within.


    Thest thing he saw was a rather surprised expression on Moaning Myrtle''s face.


    My backpack...


    It contained Professor Snape''s magical puppet!


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 Chapter 61: Rons Adventure

    Chapter 61: Ron''s Adventure


    On the other side, Ron, Hermione, and Justin each searched for the professor''s trail. After seven o''clock, the young wizards returned to their respectivemon rooms under the guidance of their house prefects, leaving the entire castle empty.


    A few minutester, Ron encountered a professor first. He ran over in excitement, only to show a look of despair¡ªit was Lockhart.


    Lockhart was also one of the patrollers today.


    "Ha! Look what I''ve caught? A wandering young wizard out after hours! What''s your name?" Lockhart''s face lit up with surprise as he walked over, grabbing Ron''s arm. "Come along, child. You must be a Gryffindor, right? Professor McGonagall won''t be pleased... Anyway,e with me to my office."


    "No! Let go of me, Harry''s in danger, we''ve encountered a snake monster!" Ron struggled against his grip.


    "A snake monster?"


    "The creature in the Chamber of Secrets!" Ron roared, his anger ring.


    "The Chamber of Secrets... Snake monster..." Lockhart became nervous, wiping the sweat from his forehead with a magenta-colored handkerchief he pulled from his pocket. "What are you talking about? Don''t expect to deceive me with lies..."


    "I''m not lying!" Ron nearly lost his temper. He pushed hard and pulled a wand out of Lockhart''s chest pocket in the process.


    "Hey!" Lockhart tumbled to the ground. "My wand!"


    Their argument quickly attracted another free presence within the castle¡ªPeeves, who passed through a wall and witnessed Ron and Lockhart''s struggle.


    "Students and a professor fighting! Students and a professor fighting!" Peeves gleefully shouted.


    "ng, ng." The footsteps of Filch approached from a distance.


    Ron didn''t look back and ran off. In his panic, he found himself in a familiar corridor.


    The Moaning Myrtle''s girls''vatory¡ªwhere they had brewed Polyjuice Potion for a while, although they had since moved to the abandoned ssroom underground.


    Ron swallowed nervously, carefully turning the handle of thevatory door.


    Learning from Moaning Myrtle''s experience, he dreaded seeing a pair of yellow eyes behind the door.


    With his eyes shut, Ron pushed the door open. "Is anyone here? Harry?"


    "He''s not here. Oh, poor little thing!" a strangely peculiar voice said. Ron recognized it as Moaning Myrtle''s tone. He opened his eyes.


    A silver, translucent ghost floated in midair.


    "Harry was here, where is he?" Ron wanted to inquire further, but the scene before him widened his eyes. In the center of thevatory, the basin had vanished into thin air, reced by a deep ck hole.


    He approached, giving a rather disdainful look at the bottomless, grimy pipe, and asked, "Myrtle, did Harry jump in?"


    "Yeah, it was so sudden, I was just about to talk to him..." Moaning Myrtle said in a rather mournful tone. "His things are still here!"


    Only then did Ron notice that one of the sinks had Harry''s bag haphazardly piled on the ground beneath it.


    "Oh, Merlin!" Ron prayed inwardly. He opened Harry''s bag¡ªa magical puppet with ice-blue hairy quietly inside.


    Ron let out a cry of despair.


    "What''s wrong?" Moaning Myrtle floated over to his side and looked at the contents of the bag with keen interest. She pointed to the magical puppet and asked, "What''s this? A new trendy doll in the castle?"


    "Harry''s in danger..." Ron muttered softly.


    "What?"


    "I said, Harry''s in danger!" Ron took a deep breath and, gripping the magical puppet, walked a few steps toward the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets.


    A few secondster, he turned to Moaning Myrtle with a pitiful look and said, "Could you give me a little push?"


    Before she could respond, Ron jumped into the entrance, facing what he believed to be his demise.


    "Ah! Ah! Ah!" His exaggerated scream echoed from within the pipes.


    On the other side, Justin found Professor Snape, almost simultaneously, Hermione found Professor Harp.


    When Felix and Hermione arrived at the girls''vatory, they saw Peeves chasing a weeping Moaning Myrtle with a box of rotten bread.


    What''s going on?


    "Hit the stomach, ten points! Hit the head, fifty points! Very good, hahaha, hahaha!"


    In the smallvatory, theughter of Peeves echoed along with the tears of Moaning Myrtle.


    "Oh, dear, poor Moaning Myrtle, Peeves, stop it." Hermione looked on with sorrow.


    Felix waved his wand, freezing the airborne bread in midair.


    Only then did Peeves notice the two neers. "Professor, hello," he adjusted his hat, greeting.


    "Peeves, leave this ce," Felix said calmly.


    "As you wish." The figure of Peeves disappeared.


    "Professor, look!" Hermione pointed at the entrance to the Chamber.


    "I see." Felix turned to the other presence in the room, asking, "Moaning Myrtle, did Harry jump down?"


    Moaning Myrtle''s face was adorned with silvery tears, but she still answered, "Yes, and a red-haired boy too, with lots of freckles on his face."


    "It''s Ron!" Hermione eximed.


    "Indeed, you three were still here¡ª"


    "Shut up, Moaning Myrtle!" Hermione hurriedly stopped her words, not wanting Professor Harp to discover their secret of secretly brewing Polyjuice Potion. Then she cast a careful look at Felix.


    Moaning Myrtle whimpered and quickly flew into the innermost stall, noting out again.


    The young witch felt a bit ashamed, apologizing to the poor ghost in her heart.


    Just then, a clear chirp sounded. Felix looked in the direction of the sound, and the figure of Dumbledore appeared abruptly. He was wearing gray pajamas with polka dots, and his usually neatly kept beard was disheveled¡ªunlike how he usually tied it.


    Apparition or...? Felix''s gaze fell on the phoenix on Dumbledore''s shoulder.


    It was quite an odd sight¡ªa silver and translucent phoenix perched on Dumbledore''s shoulder, like a guardian.


    No, a guardian indeed!


    Except, within the silver and translucent guardian, nestled a tiny, palm-sized bird.


    This was the true phoenix...


    "Fawkes has just undergone rebirth not long ago. Its power is still weak, so I had to use a guardian to protect it," Dumbledore exined.


    So, a young phoenix wearing the cloak of a guardian?


    Felix nodded. "Headmaster Dumbledore, Potter, Weasley, and Granger encountered an attacking snake creature in the corridor. They saved Justin andter, Potter voluntarily guarded the entrance to the Chamber, while the other three sought help from professors."


    "However, for some reason, both Potter and Weasley went in."


    "At present, it''s unclear whether they''ve encountered any danger."


    "Very well, Felix." Dumbledore fell into thought. But within seconds, he lifted his head and addressed Fawkes on his shoulder, "Fawkes, you''ve done well."


    The phoenix, draped in a silver cloak (simr to this one), emitted a soft trill.


    "Remember, the snake creature''s greatest threat is its eyes."


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 Chapter 62: Into the Chamber of Secrets

    Chapter 62: Into the Chamber of Secrets


    The phoenix flew down the pipes.


    Facing Felix Harp''s puzzled gaze, Dumbledore exined, "Fawkes is too weak now, he can''t carry all three of us. If Harry is in danger and he sincerely seeks help, Fawkes will sense his location."


    At that moment, a cold voice came from the door, "Apologies, I think it''s four people." Professor Snape appeared, wearing a dark green robe, his hair disheveled, and he was slightly out of breath.


    "Severus," Dumbledore looked at him, "You''vee as well."


    "How could I note, Potter... a Hogwarts student''s life is threatened!" Snape''s temper wasn''t great, "What are we waiting for? nning a party here?"


    "Right you are, Severus." Dumbledore seemed to have a sudden realization, he nced at the four people present, "Miss Granger..."


    "I''m going down!" Hermione quickly said, "I won''t slow you down, I can, well..."


    She spotted her bag in the corner, her eyes lit up, she rushed over, rummaged inside, and finally pulled out a magical scroll.


    "Headmaster, Professor, this is Harry''s scroll. It contains some pronunciation of Parseltongue, I think it might be useful."


    "What is this?" Dumbledore''s expression showed surprise, he looked at Felix Harp.


    "We mentioned it..." Felix Harp said subtly, and the Headmaster understood.


    "Very well, Granger." Dumbledore praised.


    Hermione struggled not to show a smug look.


    Dumbledore touched her shoulder with his wand, and she felt herself bing weightless, rising slightly off the ground.


    Then, the three of them cast Levitation Charms on themselves, "Are you ready?" Dumbledore received affirmative responses. He waved his wand, and the four of them flew into the dark pipes like light soap bubbles.


    Next came a long underground slide, and Felix Harp couldn''t be sure if it was five kilometers or ten. The tunnel twisted and turned, and sometimes even spiraled downward.


    With the help of magical light, Felix Harp could see that the inner wall of the slide was sticky and damp, with many pipes branching out in all directions.


    Finally, the downward slide turned horizontal. They arrived in a circr clearing, covered in standing water, with countless pale rat skeletons floating on the water''s surface.


    At this moment, they stood atop a massive pile of skeletons.


    The tunnel was as silent as a tomb.


    Dumbledore looked around with a serious expression, this was a ce he had never known about. He whispered, "A massive undertaking... it seems Slytherin spent quite a lot of time on this."


    The four of them headed towards thergest tunnel entrance. In the distance, Felix Harp saw a coiled gigantic creature.


    "Close your eyes!" he quickly shouted.


    Hermione obediently shut her eyes, while Dumbledore and Snape, also with closed eyes, drew their wands.


    Following his intuition, Felix Harp cast a zing red light, and the thick spell struck the creature''s body with a deafening boom.


    Simultaneously, there was an extremely discreet gust of wind ¨C Snape''s spell.


    Dumbledore also took action, casting a shallow golden shield around the four of them.


    After waiting for a moment, the unexpected hissing and movements of the serpent creature came.


    Felix Harp opened his eyes. The massive creature had shattered into pieces, but there was not a hint of bloodstain in sight.


    He and Snape approached, only to find it was a massive snake skin, shining green, but covered in ayer of dust, making it appear grayish-green.


    "The serpent creature must be at least twenty feet long ¨C additionally," Felix Harp remarked, "an excellent Severing Charm, Professor Snape."


    Snape retorted, "You''re not bad either, Felix. Your ''Stupefy'' effects rival those of a sting Curse."


    Hermione and Dumbledore came closer, and Hermione carefully examined the remains of the snake''s shed skin. One-third had been sted into fragments ¨C the trace of Professor Harp''s magic. The remaining part had been sliced in half, the cut edges smooth and even, clearly a result of some powerful cutting spell.


    The young witch picked up a piece of the snake''s skin, stiff and hard like metal, leaving her amazed.


    Dumbledore examined the shed skin closely, "It''s been quite some time, likely left behind during thest opening of the Chamber."


    Just then, a clear phoenix song could be heard from a distance.


    "We need to pick up the pace," Dumbledore took the lead.


    They turned around one bend after another, stepping on damp standing water, creating a sshing sound. Hermione felt the stickiness under her feet, her nerves trembling ufortably, just wanting this to be over.


    Finally, they encountered a sturdy wall with a circr iron door embedded in it. This arrangement looked somewhat like the circr door of Gryffindor''smon room, but without any portrait on it. Instead, seven entwined snakes were coiled on it, each withrge, sparkling emerald eyes. The snake tails intersected while the snake heads spread out,pletely sealing the entrance.


    "Clearly, we need an entrancemand or to force it open," Felix Harp said.


    Snape waved his wand, an invisible Severing Charm in effect. The iron switch erupted in a dazzling green glow. When everything quieted down, the circr iron door remained intact.


    Dumbledore''s fingers touched the twisted snake on the door. He shook his head, "I could force it open, but that would take time." He looked at Felix Harp.


    Felix Harpprehended and pulled out a scroll, tossing it high in the air. The magical scroll quickly unfurled, extending to about seven or eight meters in length.


    His wand tapped the scroll, and he murmured, "Open." The writing on the magical scroll began to twist, distort, and rearrange. Soon, a whirlpool appeared at the center of the scroll.


    The four of them heard the magical scroll emit a strange, hissing sound.


    The next moment, the circr iron door moved. From the point where the snake tails intersected, a smaller snake slid out, circling around the door before a clicking sound signaled the door opening.


    "Professor, what''s this?" Hermione was curious; she wasn''t aware that a magical scroll could do this.


    "It can trante my speech into Parseltongue, of course, provided it holds sufficient snakenguage information."


    Dumbledore eximed, "This is the concept you mentioned during the interview, blending Muggle intellect with magic?"


    Snape and Hermione''s gazesnded on Felix Harp simultaneously.


    Calmly, Felix Harp said, "Just an experiment."


    "Felix," Dumbledore said, "Wizards with such open minds as yours are rare."


    Afterward, the group proceeded, passing through the circr iron door. Before themy a long, dimly lit space. The space was shaped like a hammer, with the handle being the broad passage before them. On either side of the passage stood many pirs carved with coiled serpents.


    These pirs towered, supporting the high and dark ceiling. In the shimmering green light, they cast long, eerie shadows.


    At the end of the space, there was an open area, resembling the square head of a hammer. Along the edge of this area was a statue, the same height as the room itself, pressed closely against the dark wall behind it.


    Felix Harp almost instantly recognized it as a Slytherin statue, simr objects he had seen in many books.


    His gazended on the open area where a fierce battle was unfolding.


    A blind serpent creature, thrashing wildly, was a full thirty feet long. With each swing of its body, it sent stones flying like rain, while a young wizard ¨C none other than Harry Potter ¨C was dodging it in a disheveled manner.


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 Chapter 63: The Observer

    Chapter 63: The Observer


    "Headmaster, we..." Felix Harp drew his wand.


    Dumbledore didn''t answer; instead, he seemed lost in thought, as if he had fallen asleep.


    "Headmaster Dumbledore!" Hermione stamped her foot impatiently.


    Dumbledore pondered for a few seconds, then waved his wand, casting a few Disillusionment Charms over them.


    Felix overheard the conversation between Dumbledore and Snape.


    "I don''t understand, Dumbledore..."


    "What is it, Severus?"


    "That child... Harry Potter, he''s about to die!"


    "I''m here," Dumbledore said briefly.


    The conversation ended there, and Felix couldn''t help but get lost in thought ¡ª


    Could Dumbledore be trying to nurture Potter? Between life and death lies the greatest wellspring of courage and potential for a person, especially when the old man stands by, controlling the whole situation.


    Or perhaps...


    Suddenly, he remembered Potter''s Parseltongue incident and his conversation with Dumbledore. The headmaster mentioned needing to confirm something. What could that be?


    The group approached the battlefield silently. As they drew closer, Felix noticed shattered ice crystals scattered across the clearing. Several palm-sized, bloodstained ck scales clung to a partially copsed ice wall.


    The four of them reached an area near a coiled snake-shaped pir. The effects of some of the Disillusionment Charms were lifted, allowing them to see each other''s positions.


    "Professor!" Hermione tugged at his sleeve. Behind the pir, a young wizardy on the ground, beside him a small bird the size of a hand.


    It was Ron and Fawkes.


    "Headmaster, we''ve found Weasley."


    Dumbledore nced at the scene. "Severus..."


    "I''m watching," Snape replied without turning his head. His gaze was fixed intently on Harry, his expression intriguing.


    Dumbledore and Felix crouched beside Ron. His clothes were covered in dust and scratches, but he seemed uninjured.


    The small phoenix at the side let out a soft chirp, seemingly iming credit.


    Clearly, it had healed Ron.


    "Thank you, Fawkes," Dumbledore said appreciatively to the phoenix.


    "Professor, Ron, he..." Hermione looked worriedly at Ron.


    "He''s fine," Felix said. He tapped a ring on his left hand with his wand, and a vial of potion flew out. He forcefully poured it into Ron''s mouth.


    Ron''s eyebrows twisted.


    On the open ground, Harry''s battle raged on ¡ª


    He hid behind arge boulder, wand in hand, conjuring spells. Fist-sized magical puppets released icy attacks mixed with crystalline shards. The blinded serpent creature could not locate "her" and onlyunched sweeping attacks, its snake tail still bearing traces of white frost.


    Harry agilely evaded a stone the size of a head. The boulder barrier in front of him shattered upon impact. He quickly ran away, but his footsteps caught the serpent''s attention. In the next moment, the thick tail swung toward him.


    Harry promptly directed the magical puppet to shield him, and a series of "hissing" sounds followed as a column of ice spikes materialized.


    The massive ck serpent tail struck, and after a teeth-grinding crunch, the ice spikes and the magical puppet shattered.


    Meanwhile, Harry took advantage of the moment to run farther, tiptoeing as he went.


    Huddled in the shadows, the three professors simultaneously lowered their wands. Felix Harp couldn''t help but nce sadly at the scattered puppet fragments on the ground. All that effort, wasted?


    "Professor, I want to help Harry!" Hermione said to him.


    Felix fell silent for a moment. "Are you sure?"


    "Yes."


    Felix lifted the Disillusionment Charm on Hermione while pulling a small beaded bag from his ring. He handed it to her. "I had nned to give this to you as a Christmas present, but you might need it now. You know how to use it, right?"


    "No need to exin, thank you, Professor!" Hermione said cheerfully.


    She wasn''t truly worried about Harry''s safety, given the two professors and the headmaster present. However, she didn''t want to see Harry facing the serpent alone.


    After all, they were the best of friends!


    Hermione carefully concealed herself in the shadows, stepping as lightly as possible.


    On the field, Harry struggled to evade the serpent''s tail and the flying debris. Without the magical puppets to assist him, he found himself at a severe disadvantage.


    Harry hissed through gritted teeth, "Stay quiet!"


    But the serpent had gone berserk. Blinded and on the brink of death, it seemed destined to either be killed or starve. And they had entered the Chamber of Secrets, too.


    "Kill... Kill..." The serpent hissed, its tail swiping toward Harry in response to his movements.


    "Whoosh!"


    A sharp whistle cut through the air. A verdant, wrist-thick vine shot up the serpent''s tail, forcibly halting its attack.


    Harry''s expression shifted from disbelief to astonishment.


    "Hermione!?"


    The young witch had wrapped the other end of Devil''s Snare around a pir, using it to counter the serpent''s terrifying strength. "Harry, run!"


    Harry didn''t have time to ponder why Hermione was here. He quickly retreated and stumbled for a moment, almost tripping over the Sorting Hat, the same one the silver bird had brought him earlier!


    Not too long ago, the serpent had spotted him, an intruder, and decided to kill both him and Ron. At this point, the Parseltongue wasn''t going to help; its "master''smand" was everything.


    At that critical moment, a majestic silver bird suddenly appeared. It not only blinded the serpent but also, upon reappearing, brought him the Sorting Hat.


    He didn''t know why, but he believed the Sorting Hat was useful in this situation.


    Picking up the tattered hat, he muttered softly, "Whatever it takes, please help me."


    No audible response came, but the hat tightened around his head as if an invisible hand was desperately clutching it.


    ng!


    Something heavy and hardnded on Harry''s head, nearly knocking him out. He realized it was a gleaming silver sword, adorned with a dazzling, egg-sized ruby on its hilt.


    Not far away, Felix''s gaze froze. That was... the Gryffindor Sword?


    The symbol of courage and conviction of the Hogwarts Four Founders? He turned his head, staring intently at Dumbledore. Is this what you wanted to confirm?


    Dumbledore didn''t pay attention to his gaze, his eyes through half-moon sses fixed on the serpent. His lips moved silently.


    This gave Felix an inkling of unease, a peculiar feeling. In his line of sight, three paces to the left, an immense source of magic burned as brightly as the sun ¨C Dumbledore. From his feet, a line of magic extended, connecting to the ground beneath the serpent.


    There, an enormous magical fluctuationy hidden. In his unique perspective, the ground appeared like rippling waves, undting and surging.


    What was this?


    Had Dumbledore intervened in secret?


    It appeared to be some kind of transfiguration, but Felix had never seen such an extravagant form of it before...


    Felix''s emotions were incrediblyplex at this moment.


    Unbeknownst to him, Dumbledore had already trapped the serpent inside a cage.


    At this point, Felix cared little for the ongoing battle; there was no need. The serpent was just a colossal pawn. Perhaps its only value was to y a part in Harry''s act, to make Dumbledore see something clearly.


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 Chapter 64: The Snake Slayer

    Chapter 64: The Snake yer


    On the other side, Ron woke up under the effects of the potion.


    "Ugh... Where am I? Harry! Hermione?" Ron sat up, a bit confused, and soon he saw Harry and Hermione battling the serpent.


    He quickly recalled what had happened.


    He had chased after Harry with the enchanted puppets, and they encountered the serpent. Harry had attempted to speak Parseltongue, but the serpent attacked immediately.


    They had to run for their lives, not daring to look back.


    And then, a majestic silver bird appeared. It pecked out the serpent''s eyes, only to be swatted away by the furious creature, leaving Ron in agonizing pain. He had almost thought he was done for.


    Ron''sst memory was of Harry supporting him and the once magnificent silver bird reduced to a pitiful tiny form, perched upon his shoulder.


    Was it weeping, mourning for me?


    Ron stood up, flexing his limbs, surprisingly unharmed.


    He drew out his wand, prepared to step forward, but the memory of being swatted by the serpent''s tail shed before his eyes, gripping him with immense fear.


    I''m going to die!


    He fixed his gaze on the scene before him. Harry held a foreign silver sword in his hand. Had Hermione brought it? But where were the professors, Dumbledore? Ron looked around, unable to find them.


    And those devilish vine-like things? Ron felt like he had woken up only to find the situation utterly iprehensible.


    By now, the serpent had broken free from its third devil''s snare. It seemed even angrier, spewing venom and baring long fangs as sharp as daggers.


    It coiled its body, tail smacking against the pirs, sending debris flying.


    In the midst of chaos, Harry scrambled onto the toes of the Szar Slytherin statue. The serpent lunged, its massive head creating a half-meter-deep pit upon impact.


    Hermione''s beaded bag had lost its effect. She emerged, casting several red curses at the serpent, but its scales deflected them easily.


    What should I do?


    Ron trembled all over, torn between conflicting emotions.


    Snape''s lips curled into a soundless smirk as he raised his wand.


    However, in the next moment¡ª


    Ron Weasley charged forward, picking up a stone and smashing it onto the serpent''s head.


    "Hey! I''m over here!" He exaggeratedly waved his arms, diverting the serpent''s attention.


    The serpent''s dark eye sockets turned toward Ron, making him swallow hard.


    Under the Invisibility Cloak, the professors had diverse thoughts.


    "Foolish lion," Snape''s perspective.


    "Brave Gryffindor..." Dumbledore''s eyes glistened with moisture.


    "Admirable courage," Felix said, though it would never be his choice.


    Ron paid the price for his recklessness. He scrambled and rolled to avoid the serpent''s sweeping tail, the stones on the ground causing him pain as his fingers suffered a small cut.


    The serpent''s gaping mouth with its deathly pale fangs was illuminated by the green light from the ceiling, truly terrifying.


    In his panic, Ron tossed his wand away. The wand, belonging to Lockhart, traced a graceful arc in the air, coincidentallynding in the serpent''s mouth¡ªbut to no effect.


    And in that moment, Harry had climbed the massive statue, his feet atop Szar Slytherin''s colossal head.


    Perched high, Harry watched the serpent''s frenzied assault, gripping tightly the gleaming sword of Gryffindor.


    With the serpent at the center, Harry, Ron, and Hermione found themselves strategically positioned at three different spots.


    As if connected by a shared understanding, their gazes passed over the serpent and met one another''s.


    Ron suddenly sprinted towards Harry with all his might, his mouth emitting a hissing sound. It was the only Parseltongue phrase he had learned from Harry¡ªoriginally intended for a certain Malfoy.


    "Idiot!"


    This word instantly captured the serpent''s full attention. Combined with Ron''s stumbling approach, it swiftly locked onto its new target.


    The serpent writhed, its scales scraping the ground as it swiftly closed in on Ron.


    Hermione followed suit, but her distance was a bit far, and she could only see the serpent''s back.


    Ron dashed beneath the statue of Szar Slytherin and bellowed, "Harry!" In that moment, time seemed to freeze¡ª


    The serpent reared its head, poised to strike. Hermione''s mouth hung open in astonishment. And Harry, he raised the Sword of Gryffindor high and leaped from the Szar Slytherin sculpture.


    The three professors outside the scene clenched their wands simultaneously, Snape inhaling sharply.


    Time seemed to slow down. Harry felt the rushing wind brush past his ears. The serpent moved sluggishly in his vision, slower than a snail. He even found himself able to adjust his falling posture mid-air with a certain amount of control.


    It was like a peculiar game of Quidditch...


    "Swish!"


    The gleaming Sword of Gryffindor''s surface erupted with watery radiance as it effortlessly pierced through the serpent''s skull. Harry harnessed his falling speed and body weight to thrust the swordpletely through, leaving only the hilt.


    Sensing the threat of death and searing pain, the serpent went berserk. It thrashed its head violently, its tail whipping like a long whip, sweeping debris across the ground. Harry held onto the hilt, his legs scratched, but he was oblivious to the pain.


    Instead, he relentlessly twisted the hilt, causing the Sword of Gryffindor to create a bloody hole in the serpent''s head.


    And suddenly, the serpent''s body went rigid. Felix Harp stared intently, not missing a single detail.


    In his field of view, the serpent was imprisoned by a tremendous magic below.


    It''s Dumbledore!


    In a split second, around five to six secondster, Harry was flung away, but Hermione arrived in time, waving her wand and casting a standard Levitation Charm to catch him.


    The serpent''s vitality proved tenacious. After its skull was pierced, it writhed for nearly a minute before copsing with a deafening thud.


    Ron hobbled over to them, sporting bruises and cuts, yet he smiled broadly, "We won, unbelievably, didn''t we?"


    Harry alsoughed, looking quite miserable himself. His arm had numerous scratches, and a long gash adorned his thigh¡ªa parting gift from the serpent''s final moments.


    He was about to say something, but his vision blurred suddenly.


    "Harry!"


    "Harry!"


    Ron and Hermione''s voices seemed distant, difficult to discern. Struggling to hear, Harry faintly caught Hermione mentioning something about snake venom being potent, that even the serpent''s venom was highly toxic.


    Am I going to die?


    Harry questioned himself, his lips moving, yet he wasn''t sure if he was speaking.


    "Harry!" Ron shouted loudly.


    Hermione called towards the location where Felix and the others stood, "Professors, Headmaster..." The Disillusionment Charm was lifted, and Dumbledore strode forth.


    "Headmaster, Harry''s dying," Ron mournfully said, not sparing a thought for how fortuitous Dumbledore''s arrival was.


    "He won''t die!" Dumbledore''s resolute tone brought immensefort to Ron and Hermione.


    With a wave of his hand, Fawkes the phoenix emitted a melodic cry and swooped down. Landing beside Harry,rge teardrops fell onto his wounds.


    The wounds swiftly closed, healed, and vanished.


    "Headmaster? Professor?" Harry opened his eyes, staring at Fawkes before looking at his wounds. "What''s happening? I''m not..."


    "Harry, phoenix tears can counteract poison and heal wounds."


    Harry gazed curiously at the small Fawkes. Was this really a phoenix? But it looked so ugly, and so small¡ªbarely the size of a palm.


    "What''s its name?"


    "Fawkes."


    Harry stared at the phoenix, gratitude in his eyes. "Thank you, Fawkes. It''s a pleasure to meet you. I''m Harry, Harry Potter."


    The tiny phoenix hopped onto his shoulder, nuzzling Harry''s cheek affectionately.


    Dumbledore introduced, "Phoenixes are truly captivating creatures. Unfortunately, Fawkes has just undergone a rebirth. In a short while, its entire body will be covered in wondrous red and gold feathers."


    "They can carry heavy loads, their tears counteract poison, and they''re particrly loyal pets."


    Afterward, they returned to the castle. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were taken to the infirmary.


    Ron and Hermione had suffered scrapes, with Ron''s injuries being more severe. Harry, on the other hand, had just been healed by Fawkes'' tears. Aside from some dirt, he waspletely unharmed.


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 Chapter 65: Telling the Tale

    Chapter 65: Telling the Tale


    Madam Pomfrey, the school nurse, used a few simple spells to heal the wounds, and then she gave the trio a bottle of cheering potion. "This will do you good!" Harry was taken aback by the strength of it.


    "Poppy, please give us a few minutes," Dumbledore said gently.


    Madam Pomfrey left the scene.


    Present were the trio, Dumbledore, and Felix Harp. Snape had been sent by the headmaster to find Professor McGonagall. Later, they would have to go to the Chamber of Secrets again to dispose of the basilisk''s remains.


    "I believe you have much to tell," Dumbledore''s gazended on a nearby table where the Sorting Hat rested, along with a silver sword adorned with a ruby.


    Harry began to recount the events exactly as they had unfolded. He spoke of hearing the disembodied, ghostly voice for the first time in Professor Lockhart''s office while he was in detention. Combining this information with what Hermione had learned from Professor Harp, he confirmed that he was a Parseltongue.


    "But due to the negative reputation associated with Parseltongue, I kept it a secret, and besides, there were no attacks at that time," Harry admitted, a hint of shame in his voice.


    "Everyone has their secrets, unwilling to be exposed," Dumbledore said sympathetically, easing some of Harry''s difort.


    He also spoke of the incidents that followed the first attack. They discovered that the castle''s spiders were fleeing, and from Moaning Myrtle, they learned that she had been the victim when the Chamber wasst opened fifty years ago. Harry specifically mentioned that on the day of Myrtle''s attack, he heard a male voice, which became their primary evidence for identifying the entrance to the Chamber.


    Dumbledore couldn''t help but apud lightly.


    "It was Hermione''s deduction," Harry deflected the credit, and Hermione modestly waved her hand.


    Then came the ount of the second attack. As Harry was summoning the courage to voice their suspicions about Malfoy, Snape and Professor McGonagall burst into the room. Seeing the disheveled state of the trio, McGonagall eximed, clutching her chest, "Oh my, what have you all been through? Professor Snape said you recklessly challenged the monster in the Chamber... If that''s true, I shall deduct points from¡ª"


    "Minerva," Dumbledore interrupted, "and Severus, you''ve arrived just in time. Let us hear the end of their adventure before passing final judgment."


    Thus, two more listeners joined the story session.


    Harry opened his mouth to speak, but ultimately held back his suspicions about Malfoy. He proceeded to share what he had learned from Hermione: that Parseltongues could control snakes¡ªsomething Szar Slytherin himself had done¡ªand that Hagrid had mentioned the existence of the giant spider Aragog, as well as its fear of the basilisk.


    "And those dead roosters!" Ron interjected.


    "Exactly. Many of Hagrid''s roosters died, and he thought it was the work of a fox," Harry added. "We pieced together the truth about the Chamber with these clues."


    "I''m more interested in knowing how tonight''s sequence of events unfolded," Dumbledore nodded in approval before inquiring further.


    And so, Harry continued, recounting their escape from the Great Hall and their n to find Professor Harp to exin the situation. Snape made a derisive sound, interrupting, but they heard the basilisk''s voice again, prompting them to rescue Justin. Harry entrusted others with seeking help from the professors while he kept watch on the basilisk to prevent it from attacking anyone else.


    "A noble act, Harry," Dumbledore whispered.


    "But what I saw was a reckless and arrogant adventure. Headmaster Dumbledore, you''ve granted them too many privileges," Snape retorted with a stern face, ying the role of a naysayer.


    Felix Harp observed with keen interest, Snape''s disdain for Harry Potter was tantly obvious, yet he was the first to step forward when Harry faced danger...


    Thinking about what he had once investigated, a faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.


    "We mustn''t jump to conclusions, Severus."


    Following that, Ron and Hermione each recounted their experiences. Hermione didn''t have much to say; she had wandered the empty castle for a few minutes and happened toe across Professor Harp.


    Ron''s story was far more exciting. Not only did he attack the professor (Lockhart), but he also disarmed him and, in his own embellished version of events, made a "heroic exit" by jumping down the chute when he realized Harry didn''t have a powerful puppet in hand, cleverly dodging responsibility.


    "By the way, Headmaster," Ron said somewhat hesitantly, "Professor Lockhart''s wand got swallowed by the basilisk. Should Ipensate him?" His own wand was only half intact.


    "That is indeed a problem. Gilderoy has been having a string of bad lucktely... I''ll have a word with him," Dumbledore said casually. "If luck is on our side, his wand might still be lying undamaged inside the basilisk."


    All three young wizards had finished recounting their respective experiences. Professor McGonagall weakly said, "What you all did tonight far exceeded your responsibilities. And I must add, you''ve broken over a hundred school rules along the way. But how did you defeat the basilisk?"


    Harry described meeting Ron near the shed skin and entering the Chamber together, encountering the basilisk soon after. As he spoke, Harry suddenly realized that he should have paused near the shed skin, but the thought hadn''t crossed his mind at the time.


    Am I truly the reckless, foolish lion Snape thinks I am?


    The story continued. Their unexpected visit triggered the basilisk''s aggression¡ªit relentlessly attacked Harry and Ron. Only when Fawkes blinded the basilisk''s eyes did they find the courage to stand up to it.


    "Professor Harp''s magical puppet was a great help," Harry gratefully nced at Felix. The professor simply smiled, saying nothing, his gaze fixed on the battered, dirty Sorting Hat. Harry continued, briefly ncing at Hermione in a peculiar way, not knowing when she had arrived.


    Finally, he recounted how, working together, they made their ultimate leap and defeated the basilisk. Thus, the tale concluded.


    Felix Harp pped his hands. "A thrilling adventure indeed. I believe your story is worthy of a book."


    "Felix," Snape drawled with a prolonged tone, using his signature emotionless voice, "perhaps you see a reflection of yourself in them..."


    "No, Professor Snape," Felix said light-heartedly, "I am quite different from them. They are exemry Gryffindors, whereas you and I," he looked at Snape, "are true Slytherins, aren''t we?"


    "The Sorting Hat can vouch for that."


    He casually picked up the Sorting Hat and ced it on his own head.


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 Chapter 66: Dumbledores Heir?

    Chapter 66: Dumbledore''s Heir?


    As the trio emerged from the hospital wing, their faces were lit up with radiant smiles. Just moments ago, Dumbledore had rewarded them each with two hundred points for their exceptional courage and had also bestowed upon them the Special Contribution Award of the school.


    Of course, some points had to be deducted as well¡ªpast transgressions against school rules were left unounted for. However, for their recent actions, each member of the trio had lost twenty points for defying orders to stay out, Ron had lost fifty points for his improper behavior towards Professor Lockhart, and on top of that, he was assigned a month of detention.


    Nheless, they had secured a staggering four hundred and ny points for their own house all at once.


    This essentially meant that Gryffindor had sealed the House Cup well in advance.


    "I reckon it was worth it!" Ron, even with a month''s detention ahead, had noints.


    If they managed to win the Quidditch Cup as well, this year would truly be perfect... Harry couldn''t help but think with a touch of greed. But there was still a chance!


    In their final conversation, Harry had a private exchange with Dumbledore. In this intimate dialogue, he mustered the courage to voice a lingering doubt¡ªwhether he had been sorted into the wrong house. After all, the Sorting Hat had strongly hinted that if he were in Slytherin, he could achieve great things.


    Dumbledore''s words, however, put his mind at ease. Pointing to Gryffindor''s sword on the table, he said, "Only a true Gryffindor could have pulled it out of the Hat."


    Harry had also learned the reason behind his Parseltongue ability. ording to the Headmaster, Voldemort had transferred a part of his own abilities into Harry''s body that fateful night.


    This left Harry utterly astonished.


    "Living by one''s choices is more meaningful than dwelling on an unchangeable past," Dumbledore told him.


    ...


    The night had fallenpletely, and the shadow that had hung over Hogwarts for two whole months had finally dissipated.


    Ron suddenly spoke up, "What do you reckon Professor Harp meant just now? About Gryffindor and Slytherin and all that..."


    Thinking of his own actions tonight, Harry responded thoughtfully, "I guess it might be about the values different houses emphasize. Like Gryffindor valuing courage, and Slytherin valuing cunning."


    "Y''know, I almost forgot that Professor Harp was a Slytherin," Ron muttered under his breath.


    Hermione remained silent, recalling her first private lesson in magical linguistics when Professor Harp had expressed particr interest in the Sorting Hat. His exact words were, "Perhaps I should find an opportunity to reintroduce myself to it."


    The young witch thought that the professor might just be looking for an excuse to try on the Sorting Hat again...


    Back in themon room, the three huddled in a corner, exchanging their newfound insights. Hermione''s words intrigued them the most; the three professors had been standing by from start to finish.


    "How could they just stand there?" Ronined indignantly, having felt at death''s door several times.


    "With them around, our lives aren''t in danger," Hermione analyzed rationally.


    "I wonder if Dumbledore might be testing us. Rememberst year?" Harry spoke thoughtfully, "Voldemort didn''t die; that''s what Dumbledore told me then. He said Voldemort would return someday."


    "Could it be that Dumbledore wants us to be heirs to resist the enigmatic figure?" Ron''s face flushed with excitement, as if the mere act of making this deduction thrilled him, "Dumbledore''s not exactly young anymore, you know? I mean, it''s about time he started considering this, right?"


    Dumbledore''s heir sounded far more appealing than Slytherin''s heir, far more perfect.


    The three of them found themselves breathing a bit faster in unison.


    The Chamber of Secrets.


    Dumbledore, Snape, Felix Harp, and Professor McGonagall stood beside the serpent''s lifeless body. It was McGonagall''s first time here, and she couldn''t help but gaze around.


    "It''s like a dim and eerieir," she whispered.


    Felix gently touched the serpent''s eye¡ªthe majority of it had been damaged by Fawkes, and ck blood had tainted much of its serpent visage. It had been quite a task to salvage a bit of clean material.


    He was particrly intrigued by the serpent''s "deadly stare" talent¡ª"stare and you die." This was one aspect of the serpent that he feared immensely, yet it was also just fear. He had numerous ways to avoid directly locking eyes with it.


    But he was curious. What would happen if Dumbledore and the serpent stared at each other?


    Would Dumbledore be killed by the serpent''s gaze? Upon witnessing the immense and somewhat terrifying wellspring of magical power within the headmaster, Felix''s conviction wavered.


    Against a wizard of this caliber, did the serpent''s "death stare" truly hold any power?


    Just like himself, he could easily withstand one or two Stunning Spells.


    Felix analyzed Dumbledore''s strength as he collected various materials from the serpent''s body. Severus Snape was engaged in the same activities.


    Be it snake venom, fangs, blood, or scales, nothing was rejected.


    Meanwhile, Dumbledore was engaged in a hushed conversation with Professor McGonagall.


    "Minerva, I believe we should take the initiative to publicize this, so that the world sees that we''ve resolved the Chamber of Secrets incident. This will prevent them from making unfounded spections," Professor McGonagall naturally had seen the previous reports and was irritated.


    "Minerva, I''m not against that idea, but we should wait a few days..."


    "Why?"


    "Lucius Malfoy has been very active in the school boardtely. It seems he views this as an opportunity to have me removed from the school," Dumbledore responded without confirming or denying.


    "How dare he!" Professor McGonagall angrily eximed.


    "From what I understand, Lucius has been exerting pressure on several board members. It''s likely that in theing days, he''ll challenge me..."


    "Dumbledore, what should we do then?"


    "We just need to wait." Dumbledore''s gaze seemed to pierce through the ceiling of the Chamber, seeing a far-off horizon.


    Felix and Snape, in a series of exchanges,id out a preliminary n for dividing up the serpent''s materials.


    Felix also found Lockhart''s wand. After cleansing it several times with the "Aguamenti" charm, aside from an unshakable strong odor, its appearance gave away nothing of its recent history.


    Hopefully Lockhart wouldn''t mind.


    Afterwards, they moved the serpent''s corpse into an abandoned ssroom and magically sealed the door¡ªonce the school made the announcement, they would disassemble the serpent.


    When Felix returned to his office, he realized it was nearly nine o''clock.


    Hogwarts was under curfew, with few people in the corridors, but it wouldn''t be long before the hustle and bustle of old returned.


    Sitting on his couch, Felix continued pondering about the Chamber.


    The Chamber was found, the serpent was defeated, but there still remained a Slytherin heir within the castle.


    Or more precisely, in Felix''s mind, a certain young wizard controlled by a piece of Voldemort''s soul.


    How could they expose them?


    And if they stirred up serious trouble, the thought of Hogwarts being closed for two months for a thorough inspection was uneptable.


    Felix contemted strategies for dealing with this quandary when a hurried knocking on the door interrupted his thoughts.


    He opened the door to find a rather unexpected young wizard¡ªDraco Malfoy.


    Strangely, Malfoy appeared quite pale, sweat beads forming on the tip of his nose. He clutched a long scarf with deep green stripes tightly in his hand¡ªon the other end of the scarf, about two meters away, trailed an ordinary ck book.


    It was evident that Malfoy was making every effort to keep his distance from that thing.


    "Pleasee in, Mr. Malfoy," Felix said, his intuition telling him that tonight would be quite eventful.


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 Chapter 67: Midnight Conversation

    Chapter 67: Midnight Conversation


    Draco Malfoy sat uneasily on the couch.


    Felix Harp sat across from him, first summoning a cup of hot cocoa for him. "Sweets can make one feel happy," he said, his blue eyes gentle. Then, he waved his wand, causing a ck notebook to float andnd on the small table between them.


    "Thud."


    Malfoy couldn''t help but shudder.


    "It seems your experiences have been quite extraordinary. Would you be willing to share?" Felix asked encouragingly.


    "The diary... Professor," Malfoy began, his voice hoarse. "I must request forgiveness... I think I inadvertently made a mistake."


    Felix''s pale blue eyes fixed on him. "Go on."


    "It''s... it''s Potter and his lot!" Malfoy''s breathing grew hurried. "A few weeks ago, I found them breaking the rules, more than once! So, I followed them secretly and discovered they were in Moaning Myrtle''s territory, the girls'' bathroom!"


    "Moaning Myrtle''s territory..." Felix repeated his words.


    "Exactly, Professor." Felix''s reaction gave Malfoy confidence; his nose slightly reddened. "They must be plotting something! Potter and his gang always do this, repeatedly viting school rules without facing any consequences..."


    It was clear he held deep resentment for this and kept ranting about Potter.


    "Everyone must be ountable for their actions," Felix agreed.


    "Yes, Professor Harp, you''re so fair... in my opinion, few see through his fa?ade. Potter is reckless and arrogant, always with that Weasley by his side, like a pair of¡ª"


    "Mr. Malfoy," Felix interrupted, "let''s return to our previous topic."


    "Of course, Professor. Potter spotted me, and I fled in a panic. When I went backter, they had already erased all traces, but I found this..." His gazended on the ck notebook.


    "What is it?"


    "A diary, a very ominous dark magic item!" Malfoy said quickly, his expression a mix of disgust and fear.


    "At first, I thought it was left by Potter and his gang, perhaps someone''s diary. But I found out it belonged to a person named Tom Riddle, a former Slytherin student. I could converse with him through it, and he taught me many things..."


    Tom Riddle, this name... Felix''s gaze became deep.


    "So, you concealed its existence? I believe the professors have emphasized not to trust things that keep their minds hidden."


    Malfoy lowered his head, his tinum blond hair easily visible to Felix.


    "Then what, Malfoy? ording to your ount, it started well, but something changed. Sometimes, I find myself in strange ces, and when I try to think, I subconsciously forget about it... and my robes, my bag, and even my cor were inexplicably covered in feathers. I never touched those things!"


    "Later today, I found myself in a remote corridor on the fourth floor of the castle. When I realized this, I saw Potter fleeing from beside me."


    "I believe," Malfoy''s voice dropped, as if his previous words were a preparation for this moment, "this is a trap set for me..."


    A quiet atmosphere enveloped the office.


    Felix idly yed with his wand, seemingly lost in thought. After a while, he leaned down and picked up the diary with his empty hand.


    He briefly flipped through it; except for the first page, which bore the inked name "Tom Riddle," the rest of the pages were nk.


    Turning to the back cover, the name of a newspaper vendor from Vauxhall Road in London was printed there.


    "Mr. Malfoy," Felix said, "are you suggesting that all of this was done by Potter and his friends?"


    "There''s a possibility, Professor..." he said slowly.


    "Then what is their purpose in doing this? Have you ever considered another possibility, like a connection between this diary and the recent Chamber of Secrets attack?"


    Draco Malfoy''s already pale cheeks grew even whiter. He stammered as Professor Felix Harp, with his light blue eyes, looked at him. It felt as though Felix had seen through his scheming thoughts.


    Subconsciously, he believed the diary was connected to the Chamber.


    He wanted to entrust the object to a reliable person''s hands, but didn''t want to invite trouble¡ªMerlin knew what he might have unconsciously done. This was something he couldn''t let his father know about. So, he deliberately avoided Professor Snape, who he trusted more but had closer ties to his family.


    As for whether it had something to do with Potter, he couldn''t be sure. However, causing a bit of trouble for Potter wasn''t abnormal, was it?


    "Professor... I''m not sure. I have no memory of that." He said slyly.


    "Regardless¡ª" Felix nced at him. "You''ve made a wise choice. Fifty points to Slytherin. This is the most I can do. Perhaps we should go together to see Headmaster Dumbledore..."


    "No, that''s not necessary, Professor." Malfoy hurriedly said, standing up. "I have only one request¡ªcan you keep this confidential?"


    "Confidential?"


    "I mean, until we uncover the truth, it''s better not to mention my involvement, and don''t tell my family. It would affect the reputation of the Malfoy family."


    Felix looked at him. "Agreed," he said.


    "Thank you, Professor. If there''s nothing else, I''ll take my leave."


    With Felix''s permission, he left quickly.


    In the office, Felix quietly looked at the diary, his fingers tapping the armrest of the chair.


    "Tap, tap."


    His perspective changed. In this ck and white world, a more concentrated and profound darknessy before him. He examined it closely, but apart from darkness itself, he found nothing.


    Felix went to his desk, pondered for a moment, and then took out a quill. He let a drop of ink fall onto the diary.


    A blot appeared on the page.


    He waited in silence, but nothing happened.


    Felix: "..." Is my approach wrong, or did Malfoy not exin clearly?


    He pulled out his wand and pointed it at the open page of the diary¡ª


    "Reveal secrets!"


    "Reveal immediately!"


    "Trace magic!"


    "Feedback status!"


    After a series of attempts, the diary didn''t respond at all. Ity quietly there, undisturbed.


    Felix: "..."


    What''s wrong with this thing? Or did Malfoy not exin it properly?


    Even he couldn''t figure it out in a moment.


    Did sixteen or seventeen-year-old Voldemort have this capability? If it were in the realm of Dark Magic, he dared not make hasty judgments, but magical creation...


    Why would he surpass me?


    Felix sank into deep thought, his fingers continuously tapping the desk. The quiet office filled with the sound of "tap, tap."


    After an unknown amount of time, he finally stopped.


    Felix''s light blue eyes became particrly bright. He thought of a possibility, a possibility that made him tremble all over¡ª


    Voldemort was the heir of Slytherin who opened the Chamber, and there was a high likelihood that he was a descendant of that person. That''s why Voldemort, during his time at Hogwarts, used Parseltongue to open the Chamber.


    What could be inside the Chamber?


    Would it merely be a millennia-old snake creature?


    That would be a terrible waste. But if viewed from a different angle, perhaps it was guarding something.


    For example, the top-secret research materials of Szar Slytherin?


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 Chapter 68: Enchantment

    Chapter 68: Enchantment


    Felix Harp attempted to deduce the scene from fifty years ago¡ª


    A clever and ambitious young wizard, upon entering Hogwarts, chanced upon the legend of Slytherin. So astute was he, that he must have noticed the shared magical talent between himself and Slytherin¡ªparseltongue¡ªalmost implying a factual blood connection between them.


    He must have been exhrated, with the same noble Slytherin blood coursing through his veins.


    Without a doubt, he would have endeavored to uncover the Chamber of Secrets left behind by his ancestors. This might have taken years, but with his intelligence, and perhaps with the help of some serpentine allies... in any case, he seeded.


    As a descendant of Slytherin, he became the new master of the Basilisk.


    He naturally inherited everything within it. For instance, a deeper hidden chamber filled with various forbidden materials of Slytherin''s.


    Slytherin excelled in bloodline research and possessed a good deal of powerful ancient magic. Crucially, during that era, dark magic was rampant, and Slytherin never shied away from studying and employing such dark arts...


    The young wizard received the bequests of his ancestors, secretly assimting it all, delving deeper into the realm of magic, his ambitions swelling in tandem. Until, after being rejected by Dumbledore, he formed an army of Death Eaters, bing the fearsome Dark Lord.


    ...


    "Could all this be true? Or is it just my conjecture?" Felix Harp''s gaze seemed to pierce through time, witnessing the rise of the second Dark Lord.


    He stared motionless at the diary, in the quiet of the night, like a serene painting.


    Research material of a masterful legendary wizard, bridging past and future¡ªwho wouldn''t want it?


    "Even a possibility alone is worth my attempt."


    "But if Voldemort were to take away or destroy these materials, that wouldplicate matters."


    Felix had a n forming in his mind.


    "The first step is to establish a connection, but the Horcrux seems dormant..."


    After contemting, Felix quickly constructed a short memory and emotional segment in his mind.


    In this new memory, he was still a young prodigious wizard with remarkable achievements at an early age. The difference was his extreme arrogance and pride, with no doubt in his ability to control this mysterious diary...


    "The art of lies is mixing nine truths with one falsehood. I just need to let him misjudge my character, make him believe I can be of use to him." Felix thought to himself.


    He opened the diary, dipped the quill in ink, and wrote fervently on its pages.


    "Malevolent presence, reveal your secrets, or I shall utterly obliterate you!"


    After contemting for a moment, his emotions aligned, yet the revealed information wasn''t enticing enough. So, he imitated the tone of Lockhart and added another passage¡ª


    "I, Felix Harp, the most outstanding graduate of Hogwarts in a century, author of three magical works, in correspondence with over a hundred renowned wizards¡ªbut I don''t unt these achievements; I didn''t secure Dumbledore''s invitation through powerful connections."


    He stopped writing, one second, two seconds...


    An extremely subtle Legilimens sweep urred¡ªa presence that didn''t forcibly breach his memories, nor brazenly delve into fabricated information, but rather subtly circted around the periphery, capturing his emotions.


    This actually impressed Felix, as it was a technique employed by many adept Legilimens. Rarely did they barge into others'' minds to sift through memories. Instead, they perceived the current emotions andbined them with their own experience, thereby imperceptibly gathering the desired information.


    Under Felix''s gaze, the ink on the diary''s pages was absorbed.


    He patiently waited, and sure enough, a line of text appeared on the diary.


    "Hello, Felix Harp."


    The line of text lingered for a few seconds before swiftly vanishing, reced by a new set of words¡ª


    "I am not some dark magical item. That young wizard misunderstood me. There is someone else entirely who can open the Chamber."


    Felix Harp''s lips curled into a slight smile as he simply wrote, "Who is it?"


    "I can show you."


    Dazzling white light surged from the diary, and Felix felt his body being pulled, as if he was about to fall in the next second.


    He quickly closed the diary.


    "Bang!"


    After a few seconds, he opened the diary once more.


    The soul within the diary seemed a bit taken aback, hesitating before forming a question mark.


    Felix wrote above, "Don''t think I''m some unreliable little wizard. I am the brilliant Slytherin, not easily fooled by you!"


    A pause of a dozen seconds followed before text reappeared on the diary.


    "You are cautious indeed, Felix Harp, but I truly am not a dark magical item. Like you, I graduated from Slytherin. In a way, I''m even your senior. Fifty years ago, it was I who caught the culprit behind the Chamber''s opening."


    Felix grinned in satisfaction. This was precisely the impression he wanted to create for the Horcrux¡ªa Slytherin image that was arrogant, yet astute.


    So, no use trying to bluff him with something mediocre.


    Over the next half-hour, the diary filled its pages, exining the events of fifty years ago in painstaking detail.


    As he watched the ink on the diary''s pages fading, Felix considerately added a few drops of ink.


    "The culprit who opened the Chamber was Rubeus Hagrid," the diary concluded.


    "But how do you exin controlling the young wizards in the school?" Felix posed a pointed question.


    Rapidly, a lengthy passage appeared on the diary''s page.


    "The Chamber was reopened..."


    "Rubeus Hagrid wasn''t sent to Azkaban. He remains at the school as the Keeper of the Forbidden Forest. The danger never abated, and as I expected, there''s finally trouble this year. I attempted to warn, but a wizard named Draco Malfoy wasn''t interested. In fact, he was more inclined to enjoy the spectacle. I had to manipte him, attempting to find evidence against Hagrid."


    The diary''s pages spoke with an emotive tone, "Even though I''m but a memory, my determination to protect Hogwarts remains unchanged. I''m still a part of Hogwarts, with the obligation to prevent all of this from happening."


    Felix wrote on the diary, "How do I know your words are true?"


    "Ie from a Muggle orphanage, unlike those pure-blood families. Their arrogance is practically in their bones. You can check the Trophy Room at Hogwarts, where you should find some of my awards."


    "Sounding rather convincing," Felix wrote, yet under the protection of lumency, he couldn''t help but silently curse, you''ve probed me seventeen times already, did you really think I wouldn''t notice?


    "Because it''s all true. You''re wee to investigate. But time is of the essence; the next attack could happen anytime. My suggestion is to secretly write to the Ministry of Magic, have them temporarily remove Rubeus Hagrid."


    "You want me to inform on him?" Felix "angrily" wrote.


    "No, just a test. Trust me, once he''s gone, the attacks will cease immediately. Once all is resolved, you can step forward and enjoy the deserved honor. I believe a medal from the Order of Merlin¡ªKnight, as the hero who ended the Chamber attacks, should be in order!"


    "However, please keep my existence a secret for now. There are those within the school who protect Hagrid. If he discovers my presence, he won''t hesitate to use me as a scapegoat. This is my only request. After everything is settled, you''re free to decide what to do."


    Felix paused for a moment, then wrote, "I will consider it."


    Subsequently, he retrieved an ornate box from the corner of his office, cing the diary inside.


    Intricate magical patterns shed and vanished.


    With the diary nowpletely cut off from the outside world, Felix sat back in his quiet office, pondering the recent exchange of words. Sincerely, he praised,


    "You sound as if it''s all true."


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 Chapter 69: Trouble at Hogwarts

    Chapter 69: Trouble at Hogwarts


    In the following two days, the campus remained calm on the surface, but beneath the surface, hidden currents were stirring.


    Rita Skeeter had focused all her firepower on Professor Lockhart, and after many years, the two of them were once again engaged in a battle of words in the newspapers.


    Both were renowned authors with massive reader bases, making their feud the hottest news of the moment.


    In the small print of the newspapers, sporadic doubts about Dumbledore''s inability to handle the Chamber of Secrets attack began to appear. Felix Harp sensed the scent of a conspiracy within it.


    Thinking back to the conversation between Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall in the Chamber, he almost understood what was going on.


    It was probably just a ploy by some pureblood families tounch a propaganda offensive, aiming to bring down Dumbledore. But it would all be in vain; the basilisk was already dead, though its demise hadn''t been disclosed.


    If Dumbledore wanted to fish for more, to permanently resolve the trouble, so be it; Felix wasn''t interested in the matter.


    In the final ss before the holidays, he held a piece of parchment given to him by Professor McGonagall, delivering some points to note.


    "Do not perform magic outside the school grounds, and do not bring your magical instruments home. You know what I mean."


    Laughter rippled among the young wizards below.


    At noon, as Felix entered the Great Hall, he unexpectedly spotted Lockhart standing by the doorway. He was about to pretend not to see him, but Lockhart grabbed his arm.


    "Professor Lockhart?" Felix had to halt his steps.


    Lockhart''s expression was uneasy as he said, "Professor Harp, we need to talk."


    The two of them walked into a shadowy corner of the entrance hall.


    "Professor Harp, given that we are colleagues, you must help me out. Skeeter is driving me mad!


    She''s spreading crazy rumors in the newspapers, desperately tarnishing my reputation. She even used me of fabricating my adventurous experiences. Good heavens! What an absurd notion!"


    Felix gazed at him with a peculiar expression.


    "Indeed, you find it outrageous, don''t you? Just because I have a splendid appearance doesn''t mean you should doubt me. I''m not the sort who banishes malevolent spirits with a smile!" He irritably cleared his throat.


    "Professor Lockhart," Felix interrupted his words, "please get to the point directly."


    "Oh, ah... Well, it''s like this¡ª" his tone became hesitant, "I believe that our public quarrel doesn''t need to consume public resources. Perhaps we couldmunicate privately... negotiate a resolution..."


    "But what does that have to do with me?"


    "Come on, Professor Harp. I understand what kind of person she is. She won''t let you off easily in her eyes; you''re an excellent source of news material for her!" Lockhart said shrewdly, "In my opinion, you must have contacted some influential figure to deal with her..."


    Felix thought, you''re quite the talent, toe up with this line of thinking.


    He declined, saying, "I''m not acquainted with her. However, I happened to hear Headmaster Dumbledore mention that the school will announce major news before and after the holidays. Some reporters will be invited, and she mighte as well."


    "Really?" Lockhart''s eyes lit up, "I need to talk to Dumbledore... Thank you very much, Professor Harp. If you ever need anything in the future, feel free toe to me. I''ve heard you''re well-versed in ancient magic; coincidentally, I possess some knowledge in that area."


    "We''ll see," Felix said, his enthusiasm waning.


    Lockhart didn''t notice Felix Harp''s demeanor. He cheerfully bid farewell, seemingly intent on heading directly to see Dumbledore.


    "Oh, by the way, Professor Lockhart, I''ve heard about your wand..." He wanted to inquire, when Dumbledore handed over the wand, whether he also cleaned off the smell from it.


    Felix was quite curious about it.


    "Ah, you''ve heard, haven''t you? Dreadful behavior, if you ask me. Locking him in solitary confinement for a month would be a light punishment... that reckless Weasley."


    Meanwhile, Ron stormed back into themon room, fuming.


    "You shouldn''t have stopped me, Harry¡ª" Ron said, having just had another argument with Percy.


    Harry didn''t feel great about it either. They had, after all, vanquished the basilisk in the Chamber, but at Dumbledore''s request, they had to endure a few more days to dy the honor until the new term began.


    This meant that his situation hadn''t improved significantly, and Ron was even facing a detention.


    Nevertheless, Harry tried to console Ron, saying, "Look on the bright side. If all goes well, after Christmas, we can see Malfoy get what he deserves. We''ll solve all the troubles at once!"


    His words eased Ron''s heart. "You''re right. I really hope Christmases quickly."


    He then eximed with excitement, "Harry, that''s the Special Services to the School Award. No one in our family has ever gotten one, not even Bill! When we get the trophy, I''m definitely smashing it in Percy''s face."


    On the other side of the table, Hermione had been writing and drawing on parchment, not participating in their discussion.


    "Hermione, what are you doing?"


    Hermione looked up from her parchment with a sigh. "I''m nning the reconstruction of the beadwork pouch. Oh, it''s so difficult."


    Harry asked her with interest, "Is that the pouch that releases the Devil''s Snare?"


    "Exactly. The basilisk in the Chamber caused some damage to it. I applied to Professor Harp for permission to independently repair it. But it''s much more troublesome than I imagined, even though I watched the professor make it from start to finish..."


    Harry couldn''t help but ask more, and the young witch enthusiastically provided them both with a basic introduction to ancient magical symbols. Harry and Ron found themselves a bit overwhelmed and mutually changed the subject.


    In the evening, Felix Harp took out his journal and began to write and sketch again.


    "Hagrid has been taken away. I don''t know if I did the right thing." Felix wrote, of course, this was just a diversion. In the afternoon, he had rechecked the prepared Christmas gifts, which included Hagrid''s gift.


    The journal disyed flowing, elegant handwriting, "You''re doing the right thing. Believe me, the attacks will stop, and you are the greatest hero."


    Felix remained "unmoved," saying, "I won''t easily believe your words. I''ll remain vignt!"


    "Of course, if another attack happens, you can always turn me in," the journal wrote.


    Felix changed his tone, "I''m curious, how were you created? Keep in mind that your vessel is just an ordinary book, yet it carries memories spanning half a century!"


    The journal wasn''t opposed to this question; in fact, it seemed quite weing. Let''s chat, and let your inner thoughts open up to me...


    The pages quickly filled with a cascade of eloquent words, "That involves incrediblyplex magic. If you''re interested, I''ll tell you everything I know."


    So, with one person and one journal, the exchange began in a harmonious and friendly atmosphere.


    Initially, they discussed rtively shallow topics, but after Felix pointed out errors a few times, the journal had to present more profound material. However, it was also quite clever, often excusing key points with "I didn''t infuse this information back then."


    That night, Felix acquired part of the technique to store memories on regr objects and some surface-level knowledge about bloodlines.


    At the end of the exchange, the journal strongly rmended a "mind-rxing technique" to him, assuring that it had an amplifying effect on magical powers...


    After locking the journal, Felix couldn''t help but mutter, "I don''t trust you for a second."


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 Chapter 70: Memories

    Chapter 70: Memories


    Finally, the term came to an end. The young wizards lined up to board the train back home, leaving Hogwarts partially empty.


    The tranquility of a morning after heavy snowfall settled over the castle, wrapping it in a profound silence.


    Felix Harp walked through the castle, asionally encountering a fellow young wizard. Yet, he found sce in this stillness, embracing the quietude.


    Near the frozen ck Lake, Felix chose a secluded spot and conjured afortable armchair with a flick of his wand. He snapped his fingers lightly, summoning a bright blue me that floated above his head.


    From a ring on his finger, Felix took out a book and began reading with keen interest.


    The book in his hand was "Ravenw Manuscripts (Volume Two)," aption of materials left behind by Rowena Ravenw. The contents were divided into twelve volumes, each focusing on different categories.


    The second volume contained Ravenw''s personal reflections and did not delve into specific magical knowledge. Through his eyes, it seemed to be filled with passages akin to poetic murmurs, shrouded in clouds of vague imagery.


    He randomly picked a passage¡ª


    "Stones turned into birds, chirping and singing. Crossing mountains andkes, it brought back daisies from the crimson fields."


    Felix: "..." He found it difficult to fathom Lady Ravenw''s state of mind at that time.


    Felix himself had received an education befitting a young aristocrat during Ravenw''s era, with a deep familial connection to learning. Thus, he had a special fondness for poetry.


    But were there any renowned poets from that age?


    Felix scratched his head, aware that Hogwarts'' four founders were active in the medieval period, yet it seemed that the poetry of that time was inseparable from religious hymns.


    He continued reading¡ª


    "The river speaks to me, Creator, you endowed me with thought but not form. One day, I shall merge into the ocean."


    Felix: "..." Upon reflection, it was quite artistic, at least enigmatic when read aloud.


    Rather than delving into its intricate meanings, he breezed through the text like a casual reader. In less than half an hour, he reached the end.


    "Tsk!" Felix clicked his tongue, unsure of what to make of it.


    Didcking literary appreciation mean one wasn''t qualified to study magic?


    He reclined in the armchair, gazing at the distantke covered in ice and snow, recollecting the knowledge he had gleaned from the diary over the past few days. With his discerning eyes, he could easily identify which parts were more valuable to him. Though the diary had concealed much from him and even attempted to convey false information, he was still dealing with a fledgling Dark Lord who hadn''t yet stepped out of school and whose every aspect remained quite immature.


    In this regard, Voldemort and his past self shared some simrities. Both had forcefully augmented their mastery in specific subjects through "external assistance," achieving levels far beyond their peers.


    But when it came to understanding and insight into magic, they were still quite shallow.


    Unless you reached a certain level of mastery, you wouldn''t possess the correspondingprehension.


    Felix felt a pang of understanding. Most wizards spent their entire lives studying others'' magic,cking the means to make any significant improvements¡ªnot due to ack of desire, but ack of ability.


    "Wait, I think I''ve figured something out!" Felix suddenly sat up, his eyes wide with realization. "Birds, rivers, Creator, magic, consciousness..."


    Felix swiftly opened "Ravenw Manuscripts (Volume Two)" to a particr page. He gazed at the familiar words¡ª


    "Stones turned into a little bird, chirping and chattering. Crossing mountains andkes, it brought back daisies from the crimson fields."


    If we regard this little poem as a true ount of Ravenw''s personal experiences, can it be logically exined?


    The first line is undoubtedly about Transfiguration. Perhaps Lady Rowena Ravenw, on a whimsical day, transformed a piece of stone into a lovely little bird.


    But what about the second line?


    Did Ravenw use magic to make it produce sounds? Felix Harp shook his head, connecting the contents of the following lines. This legendary little bird clearly traveled a considerable distance and brought back a daisy from the crimson fields.


    This was something beyond the scope of Transfiguration.


    Perhaps Ravenw endowed it with some sort of "essence," akin to life, soul, or something simr, allowing it to maintain a degree of autonomy even outside the range of the spell.


    He suddenly recalled his conversation with a part of the Sorting Hat that day¡ª


    "Sorting Hat, do you remember how you came into existence?" Felix mentally asked it.


    "Of course, oh, I have a vivid memory of it." It responded cleverly and then, the shabby, raggedy hat burst into song in his consciousness.


    "That was over a thousand years ago,


    I was just woven into form.


    Four eminent wizards there were,


    Swearing to nurture young wizards to be stars.


    These four great wizards,


    Valued different talents and ideas.


    Gryffindor came up with a way¡ª


    He took me off his head.


    All four poured their thoughts into me,


    From then on, I became the one to select and evaluate!"


    ...


    After gaining the thoughts of the four founders, the Sorting Hat had practically be an independent sentient being.


    And how simr it was to the little bird that flew over mountains andkes, bringing back a daisy from the crimson fields!


    The key here was autonomy. Both exhibited tremendous autonomy, akin to true life. Even outside the realm of magic, they could make independent decisions and performplex actions.


    How could this autonomy be achieved through magic?


    Setting aside the realms of "life" and "soul," which he couldn''t quite grasp, Felix swiftly thought of a method he could aplish¡ªinjecting memories.


    He had just acquired this knowledge from the diary.


    Felix waved his wand, causing a palm-sized pebble to fly in front of him. Then, he lightly tapped the stone with his wand, and it swiftly transformed into an exquisite, small swallow.


    However, upon closer inspection, one could see that the eyes of this swallow were remarkably lifeless, as though it were a puppet, every movement guided by the wand.


    Next, Felix simted a brief "memory" for the swallow in his mind. He touched his own forehead with his wand, drawing forth a thin silver, shimmering thread.


    Felix infused this fabricated memory into the swallow''s form, leveraging the knowledge from the diary to blend the two together.


    He simplified this process as much as possible, merely to test his theory.


    Under his gaze, the swallow''s eyes grew more vibrant. Without his control, it pped its wings and awkwardly took off.


    Yet, the next moment, it plummeted into the snow, leaving only its legs twitching.


    Felix pulled it out, and the swallow hopped and struggled through the snow, resembling a sparrow searching for food in the snow¡ªhis constructed memory was indeed of poor quality.


    However, he stared intently at the little creature before him.


    After about two to three minutes, faint threads of silver mist seeped from the swallow''s form¡ªthe fabricated memory dissipated.


    It returned to its lifeless state.


    Felix waved his wand, turning it back into a pebble, lost in thought.


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 Chapter 71: Christmas Presents

    Chapter 71: Christmas Presents


    "Felix Harp found the idea feasible." Through this simple attempt, Felix saw even more possibilities. He believed that with enough effort, he could achieve a level of enchantment akin to the slumbering guardian statues in the castle.


    However, he didn''t believe he could create something as intricate as the Sorting Hat or a magical diary.


    Thetter was different, of course, being a Horcrux that contained a fragment of Voldemort''s soul. But the Sorting Hat? Its predecessor was merely a hat of Godric Gryffindor, not specifically crafted for sorting students.


    In Felix''s imagination, perhaps during a shared afternoon tea, the four founders had questioned each other''s "talent selection methods." To resolve their disagreements, they decided to use a "wisdom-infused magical creation" for sorting.


    And thus, the Sorting Hat came into being. The Sorting Hat had endured for millennia, always present. It couldmunicate with people, possessed its own memories and personality, and in a sense, calling it a true lifeform wasn''t an exaggeration.


    This brought to mind magical portraits that could also interact with people.


    Some simple portraits, like Sir Cadogan within the castle, possessed limited intellect and couldn''t engage inplex, organized conversations.


    During his school days, Felix had experimented and found that the boastful knight could only provide seven distinct responses, such as bragging about his glorious feats or challenging to a duel.


    Yet some portraits exhibited a remarkable level of magic¡ªthey could interact intricately with the outside world and retained a considerable amount of memory.


    To his knowledge, this included the portraits of past headmasters within the Headmaster''s office at Hogwarts, as well as portraits of some ancient pure-blood family ancestors.


    This was because the portrait''s owner imbued them with significant memories and magic, allowing these portraits to retain a personality simr to their original selves. But only simr; they weren''t true life forms.


    The greatest distinctiony in the fact that the personality of the portrait wouldn''t change over time. It remained fixed at the moment of its creation, much like aplex interactive program.


    This was fundamentally different from the Sorting Hat...


    "The Sorting Hat undoubtedly conceals greater secrets!"


    ...


    Dawn of Christmas arrived. Felix Harp emerged from his room dressed neatly. Underneath a small Christmas tree in a corner of his office, a pile of variously shaped Christmas presents had umted.


    Roughly estimating, there were nearly a hundred of them.


    Moreover, there were several packages still on their way. During the time he was steeping his tea, three owls flew into his room through the window he deliberately left openst night. One of them had clearly flown a considerable distance, carrying a small, exquisite gift box in its beak. Itnded exhaustedly on his desk.


    Felix had to administer a few drops of potion to it before it recovered its vitality.


    After consuming a few pieces of biscuit, the brown owl hopped towards him and lightly pecked at his fingertip with its sharp beak. "Do you want me to open the package?" the owl seemed to inquire, tilting its head at him and extending a w, which held a small metal cylinder.


    Felix opened the cylinder and extracted a rolled-up parchment from inside¡ª


    "Dear Mr. Felix Harp, my Wolfsbane Potion has finally been perfected. Just as ''White Elegance'' arrived at your ce, I submitted the official form to the Ministry of Magic. Barring unforeseen events, I shall soon be awarded the Order of Merlin¡ªSecond ss, at the very least! I hope you''ll attend the ceremony. Enclosed with this letter is a bottle of mytest Wolfsbane Potion for your discerning pte."


    Signed, Damocles Belby.


    Felix Harp swiftly wrote on it, "It would be my honor. Kindly inform me of the proposed date, and I shall attend punctually. P.S.: Your Order of Merlin is well-deserved."


    He ced the note back into the metal cylinder. "You''ve done well, White Elegance." The owl drank a bit of water and then spread its wings to depart.


    Felix opened the exquisite gift box, revealing a vial of potion. He uncorked it and sniffed lightly, "Hmm, still as foul-smelling as ever. Couldn''t he consider adding a touch of sugar? Or is making potions unptable a quirk of all aplished potion-makers?"


    He ced the potion into the ring on his left hand, adorned with a green gemstone. Then, he enthusiastically began unwrapping his presents.


    A significant portion came from his book fans and pen pals, mainly in the form of greeting cards. Felix sorted through them and set them aside temporarily. The rest were gifts from Hogwarts professors and students.


    Dumbledore had gifted him a personal alchemical manuscript¡ªaption of his insights on alchemy. In return, Felix had given the headmaster a Muggle book titled "99 Inventions that Changed the World," along with a pair of knee-high wool socks embroidered with red lions.


    Professor McGonagall presented a book titled "Quidditch Teams of Britain and Irnd," introducing the Quidditch teams of the British Isles and their various achievements. The book also contained a plethora of Quidditch maneuver illustrations.


    It seemed she wanted to draw Felix into the realm of Quidditch enthusiasts.


    Hagrid had gifted him a homemade short dagger, quite rough in craftsmanship, but with a rather special material¡ªa unicorn horn.


    "Tsk." Felix clicked his tongue, unsure of what to say.


    Professor Flitwick gifted him materials on ancient magic and invited him to discuss rted topics whenever he had time. Felix readily sent a reply.


    Professor Snape''s gift was a transparent vial, norger than a thumb, containing around a milliliter of clear liquid.


    "A highly effective Veritaserum, you''ve truly outdone yourself, Professor," Felix said with amused delight. "I hope you''ll also appreciate my gift." Felix had given Snape a set of Muggle primary and secondary schoolboratory equipment, including measuring cups, scales, and droppers.


    He thoughtfully included a copy of "Code of Conduct for Chemical Experiments (Children''s Edition)," replete with illustrations, to ensure the professor wouldn''t find it iprehensible.


    Many of the young wizards at Hogwarts had also sent gifts. His assistant, Miss Granger, sent him a deep green knitted scarf. Harry Potter sent arge bag of choctes, and Ron Weasley sent a box of buzzing Honeydukes candies.


    The most amusing gift came from the Weasley twins. It was a pair of wooden figurines hugging each other¡ªa couple. They seemed rougher in texture than Hagrid''s short dagger, and their facial features were merely painted on. Following the instructions, Felix tapped the head of the male figurine, and it yelped, after which the two figures began to perform a shaky, awkward dance.


    Though the twins exined it as an African "Round Dance," Felix chose to outright ignore that.


    Aside from these, some lesser-known young wizards also sent gifts. Justin Finch-Fletchley, for instance, had sent a splendid feathered quill pen, equipped with multiple functions.


    Felix spent an hour toplete his letter-writing and gift-responding duties.


    He entered the Great Hall, where scattered young wizards upied four elongated tables.


    On the Christmas trees, adorned with silver frost, hung various fascinating trinkets. Magic-imbued mistletoe and holly gands dangled from the ceiling, releasing magical snow that drifted down.


    Professor McGonagall and a few other professors were busy decorating the Great Hall.


    "Need any help?" he asked.


    Professor McGonagall straightened up, "Oh, no need, we''re nearly done." She waved her wand, attaching a long ribbon of colorful fabric to the Christmas tree. Turning to him, she said, "I quite liked your gift, Felix."


    Felix smiled. He had given Professor McGonagall a half-human-sized magical puppet, intricately designed with a variety of circuits that allowed it to take on two forms¡ªbesides its humanoid form, it could transform into a majestic lion.


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 Chapter 72: Luna Lovegood

    Chapter 72: Luna Lovegood


    Felix Harp leisurely enjoyed his breakfast, and one by one, young wizards joined him in the Great Hall. Their faces were filled with cheerful smiles as they bantered and joked with each other.


    The entire hall was brimming with a lively atmosphere.


    Leaving the hall, Felix walked in the direction of the Forbidden Forest and ran into Hagrid on his way to the castle.


    "Hello, Professor Harp!" Hagrid greeted warmly.


    "Hello, Hagrid. I received your gift, and I quite like it," Felix said, particrly the material it was made of.


    "Hah, d you fancy it. By the way, that self-cleaning scrubber you gave me works like a charm. Cleans up the ce real nice," Hagrid said in his booming voice. "I don''t have to worry about a thing, and it even cleans itself up."


    After the pleasantries, Felix reached the edge of the Forbidden Forest. He intended to gather some chestnut wood branches as his supply was running low.


    However, halfway there, he furrowed his brow.


    On the snowy groundy a set of footprints leading straight toward the Forbidden Forest.


    Felix measured the size of the footprints¡ªit seemed to be a young wizard breaking the rules. He followed the footprints.


    Walking through the snow, Felix heard nothing but the soft crunching of snow and rustling of leaves underfoot. Unbeknownst to him, he had reached the edge of the Forbidden Forest.


    This area was quite secluded, situated in the northwest corner of the forest, and it was already quite close to the main entrance of Hogwarts¡ªthe path young wizards took to Hogsmeade vige on weekends.


    Felix halted his steps, and everything around him seemed to embrace a quiet atmosphere. Snowkes fell gently from the sky, and he looked up as if countless ice crystals wereing towards him.


    All was quiet, and the world felt as if it belonged to him alone.


    "Hiss-ting~"


    A creature that looked like a horse, but was entirely ck, emerged from the Forbidden Forest. It nced at Felix with silvery-white eyes, sneezed, then retreated back into the woods by pping itsrge, bat-like wings.


    "A Thestral," Felix eximed in surprise.


    These were rare magical creatures, often associated with the category of magical creatures known as "Invisible Beasts." Only those who had seen death, experienced death, and understood death could see them.


    This characteristic made them somewhat ill-reputed, as Thestrals were once thought to be omens of death,parable to the Grim, therge ck dog omen. However, they were actually quite gentle creatures.


    Even more intrigued, Felix ventured deeper into the Forbidden Forest. After about two minutes of walking, he arrived at a clearing.


    Amidst the falling snowkes, a young girl stood surrounded by a dozen emaciated Thestrals. In her hands, she held a bunch of hay, feeding the Thestral closest to her.


    He also heard her softly humming, appearing utterly content.


    Felix waited until she had fed thest bit of hay, then approached. The sound of his footsteps roused the young witch.


    The girl lifted her head. She had a mane of wildly tousled, waist-length golden hair, with both her eyebrows and eyes being a very light color.


    As he got close enough, he noticed that the young witch had her wand tucked behind her left ear. She wore a pair of spectrespecs sses and had a ne made of butterbeer corks hanging around her neck.


    At this moment, her eyes were fixed on the suddenly appearing figure.


    Felix Harp felt a peculiar emotion welling up within him¡ªthis quirky little wizard... could it be a Ravenw?


    "What''s your name and which house are you from, young wizard?" Felix asked.


    "Luna," she said with a voice that seemed like singing, "Luna Lovegood. That''s my name. I''ve seen your lectures, you''re a professor."


    "Yes, quite evident. Miss Lovegood, which house are you in?"


    "Ravenw once said that extraordinary wisdom is the greatest treasure of humankind."


    Felix understood, as expected... he chastised, "Why are you wandering alone into the Forbidden Forest? Don''t you know how dangerous it is?"


    "They''re not dangerous," Luna said dreamily, "Thestrals are very friendly. Would you like to feed them together?" She suddenly crouched down, brushed away the snow, and grabbed a handful of hay, half-green, half-yellow.


    Turning her pale eyes to him, Felix noticed that her voice was almost devoid of ups and downs, but coupled with her ethereal tone, it felt as if she was singing.


    "No, thank you," he replied.


    So, Luna turned away and nonchntly fed a handful of hay to a young Thestral. It seemed to have just learned to walk, its limbs a bit stiff as it crouched low, extending its tongue to lick Luna''s fingers.


    She hummed a strange tune softly, snowkesnding on her clothes, forming a thinyer.


    Felix''s mood became calmer, and he didn''t try to disrupt the atmosphere.


    "Have your spirits improved?" Luna asked.


    "What?"


    "You were just bothered by a Wrackspurt."


    "I¡ªwhat did you say?"


    "Wrackspurts... sometimes they float into your ears and befuddle your mind," she said. "I thought I heard one buzzing around here."


    Felix didn''t think such creatures existed, but he was interested and asked her, "Could you borate a bit about Wrackspurts?"


    Luna looked surprised, one hand holding up her spectrespecs as she peered at Felix from behind them.


    "Wrackspurts... well, they''re usually invisible, but when they want to do something to your brain, they emit a pink light in excitement."


    "So, you''ve seen them?"


    "Yes," she said with utmost certainty, as if stating a truth.


    For the first time, Felix felt a bit suspicious. He scanned the surroundings, but found nothing.


    After a while, the two returned to the castle together.


    As they walked, he asked Luna, "Didn''t you go home for Christmas?"


    She replied calmly, "Father''s on deadline for the ''Christmas Special'' issue. But we''ve made ns to search for the Crumple-Horned Snorkack during the summer break."


    Another unfamiliar name, "And your father is¡ª"


    "Xenophilius Lovegood. He''s the editor of ''The Quibbler.''"


    Felix didn''t say anything. He knew the reputation of that newspaper.


    Standing at the castle entrance, Felix said to her, "I won''t deduct any points this time. Go on, find your friends, and have a joyful Christmas."


    "I''m already quite joyful," Luna said with a happy smile. Then she looked thoughtful, "You''ve reminded me. I''ve encountered a new Gryffindor student before. She seemed friendly. Maybe we can be friends."


    "Really? You can give it a try," Felix encouraged nonchntly.


    "I remember she was carrying a rooster at the time," Luna said in a whimsical manner, "But then, who doesn''t have some peculiar quirks?"


    "What did you say?" Felix raised his voice, but quickly softened his tone, "Do you know her name?"


    Shaking her head, Luna''s two strands of hair above her forehead fluttered, "But her hair was very beautiful, like a bundle of dancing mes."


    And there''s one more chapter to go, probablyter.


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 Chapter 73: Christmas Feast

    Chapter 73: Christmas Feast


    Felix Harp couldn''t believe his unexpected stroke of luck.


    Piecing together what Malfoy had said, he realized that the diary wasn''t something Malfoy brought to the school himself¡ªhe was just an unlucky fellow who stumbled upon it after the second attack urred.


    Now, he finally had confirmation.


    Felix nodded and turned to leave when suddenly he heard Luna''s ethereal voice from behind.


    "Christmas present."


    He turned around to look at her. "What?"


    Luna said quite seriously, "I just realized that I haven''t prepared a Christmas present for you. We got to know each other in such a rush." She casually rummaged through her pockets, and amid Felix''s slightly perplexed gaze, she produced an oddly fashioned bracelet.


    With a hint of regret, she said, "I made it myself. I was nning to make a pair." She extended her hand and handed it to Felix.


    Felix wasn''t sure why he reached out to take it, but he did.


    Luna skipped away happily.


    As Felix returned to his office, he still held the bracelet in his hand. He leaned back in his chair, earnestly pondering how to reciprocate.


    He felt that a typical gift wouldn''t quite suit her unique demeanor...


    In the end, he retrieved a book titled "A Compendium of Worldly Jokes" from his collection. For some inexplicable reason, he thought it matched well with the young witch named Luna. As he watched his owl fly off into the distance, he refocused his attention on the new piece of information.


    Gryffindor, fiery hair, first-year student¡ªputting these pieces together, he was nearly certain that it was a Weasley child. Their family''s trademark red hair was quite renowned.


    And he vaguely recalled his assistant mentioning the youngest Weasley family member¡ªRon''s sister, starting school this year.


    So, in a convoluted way, how did this tie back to the trio again?


    He remembered encountering a few red-haired young witches earlier in sensitive locations¡ªeither near Hagrid''s hut or in the abandoned girls'' bathroom.


    Deep in thought, Felix considered this as another lead for investigation. He was eager to find out who brought the diary and if there were any more such artifacts in existence. The younger version of the Dark Lord was cautious, never mentioning his connection to himself and Slytherin, which posed challenges to some of Felix''s theories.


    As the evening grew darker, Felix arrived at the Great Hall. From a distance, he could see a beautifully adorned venue sparkling with vibrant colors. In addition to the decorations he had noticed in the morning,nterns were now drifting above, casting showers of colored sparks from the mouth-like openings.


    He spotted the trio''s figures, and Ron waved excitedly at him. Felix guessed it might be because of the gift he had given, but he didn''t have much time to ponder as Dumbledore gestured to him. He walked over.


    The headmaster was dressed formally and quite amusingly tonight. His long beard was tied up with ribbons of purple and red, forming the shape of a gourd. "Felix, happy holidays."


    "Likewise, Headmaster Dumbledore."


    Dumbledore blinked and whispered, "I received your gift; it''s quite unique. I haven''t had a chance to read the book yet, but just from the title, I can tell it''s worth a read."


    "I''m d you like it."


    Amidst a burst of crackling fireworks, the feast officially began.


    As the Headmaster, Dumbledore led everyone in singing a few cheerful Christmas carols. He then announced with a smile, "Eat to your heart''s content, fill your bellies."


    An array of creatively shaped dishes appeared abruptly: roast turkey, sausages, meat stews, pork chops, kidney pies, peas in butter, toasted crumpets, and more, an extravagant spread.


    Young wizards crowded together, their forks gliding across the tables, leaving behind trails.


    Felix Harp, casting aside his worries, indulged heartily.


    Hagrid rmended a Hogwarts special eggnog to him. Felix took a sip¡ªtangy and sweet, the alcohol content was mild. He went on to have a few more cups.


    Lockhart, on the other hand, swayed and trembled, his wavy hair waving in waves.


    Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore conversed in hushed tones, punctuated by soft "chuckles."


    After reaching afortable level of fullness, everyone finally had time to chat. A humming sound filled the hall as Felix skewered a piece of raisin pudding. He caught sight of his assistant leading two young wizards out of the hall, sneaking away.


    Interesting, were they nning something?


    On the other side, Hermione held up two pieces of chocte cake and announced her n, "I''ve put some ordinary sleeping draught in these cakes. All you need to do is ensure that Crabbe and Goyle find them¡ªthey''re bound to eat them. Once they''re asleep, you can pluck a few hairs from each of them and then hide them in the broom cupboard."


    Ron and Harry exchanged nces; they felt this n had its share of ws. Ron asked her, "And what about you, Hermione?"


    "I''ve already got mine! Remember the Dueling Club? Millicent and I were wrestling, and I was putting up a good fight... Long story short, I got some of her hair."


    Hermione left to check on the situation with the Polyjuice Potion, leaving Harry and Ron to execute the mission.


    "To be honest, I don''t think it''s very likely to work," Ron said with a troubled expression.


    Harry didn''t hold much hope either.


    Yet, they could do nothing but huddle in the shadows, their eyes fixed on the entrance.


    After a while, a slightly bored Harry whispered to Ron, "When do you n on asking Professor McGonagall for permission?"


    "Sooner is better," Ron replied without hesitation. "I can''t wait to have a new wand. Professor Harp is truly considerate!"


    Felix Harp had simply handed Ron seven Galleons and a note that read, "I''ve noticed your wand is damaged. I suggest you buy a new one; otherwise, you won''t be able to attend next term''s dueling sses. P.S.: Consider it a reward for your courage."


    Harry received a book titled "Dueling Compendium," one of the reference books Felix had used topile the dueling course materials.


    Consequently, both of them learned that Professor Harp had taken over Lockhart''s Dueling Club. They had privately discussed their high expectations for his courses.


    "I just hope the new dueling sses won''t have any trace of Snape," Harry said with hopeful anticipation.


    The feast had been ongoing for over an hour, and little by little, young wizards began to leave. Felix Harp, as a professor, concluded his first Christmas feast at Hogwarts amidst the lively atmosphere.


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 Chapter 74: Encounters

    Chapter 74: Encounters


    On the night of Christmas, as the bustle gave way to silence, the Hogwarts castle was enveloped in the cloak of night.


    In the office of Ancient Runes, Felix Harp habitually opened his diary and engaged in conversation with the young Dark Lord within.


    For the past couple of days, he had been trying to steer the conversation towards Szar Slytherin, but the topic had always been diverted.


    Tonight, Felix decided to employ a different strategy. He needed to delicately set a trap, allowing the young Dark Lord to step into it on his own.


    For this purpose, he revisited several psychology books.


    "Something rather sensational happened today," Felix wrote.


    "What is it?" the diary asked with evident interest. Lately, it had been quite troubled. After each interaction, this astute professor would lock it away, leaving itpletely cut off from external information.


    "The attack on the Chamber of Secrets was reported. People are talking fervently, some even suggesting the dissolution of Slytherin House and stripping Szar Slytherin of all honors."


    Felix felt like a grand spider, artfully weaving a web.


    The diary''s pages immediately disyed a hasty scrawl, "Ridiculous discourse, utterly absurd! Who is it? Dumbledore, perhaps! He''s always had biases against wizards from Slytherin lineage."


    Felix smirked slightly, wickedly penning, "No, not him. It''s a woman named Rita Skeeter, known for concocting rumors about celebrities."


    The name "Rita Skeeter" flickered on the diary''s pages, appearing chaotic and menacing¡ªshe seemed to want to etch that name firmly in her memory.


    Within the diary, the young Tom Riddle was indeed angered. He couldn''t help but wonder if the magical world had deteriorated to such a degree.


    After a long pause, the diary inquired, "And then? The Ministry surely wouldn''t entertain such a preposterous proposal!"


    "Of course not, but this matter has sparked extensive discussions within Hogwarts. Many young wizards have a rather negative opinion of Szar Slytherin¡ªwell, you could say it''s extremely unfavorable."


    The diary couldn''t help but write, "Szar Slytherin is the greatest among the Founders! Yet,ter generations merely judge him superficially, desperately smearing his reputation!"


    Felix thought of the immense face within the Chamber of Secrets: an aged, simian visage with thin, stringy facial hair that almost reached the hem of his robes.


    It had to be noted that it was Slytherin himself who had carved that. There was a possibility of self-glorification.


    He struggled to imagine what the real Slytherin was like, especially with all those serpents with their forked tongues constantly surrounding him.


    Felix offered a somewhat "objective" insight, "This illustrates the point quite well. You see, people tend to reject things they don''t understand, much like Slytherin''s serpentine ent."


    "I couldn''t agree more, Felix Harp. Your perspective is truly insightful," praised the diary.


    Felix Harp modestly exined, "I''ve read some of Ravenw''s manuscripts. Just through fragments of description, one can imagine the grandeur of that era." He sighed in his writing, "Four of the most talented wizards and witchesing together to shape a new era in the wizarding world."


    The diary echoed his sentiment, saying, "That''s indeed a history worth remembering." Its tone shifted to a more peaceful one.


    However, shortly after, Felix deliberately or unintentionallymented, "I just don''t understand why Szar Slytherin suddenly had a falling out with the others. Was it truly a sh of ideologies? You know, the pure-blood ideology wasn''t popr back then."


    "And he secretly constructed the Chamber of Secrets, leaving behind a terrifying monster. I believe¡ª" Felix wrote word by word, "he self-destructed his own creation; it''s a ssic trait of a dark wizard."


    Tom Riddle in the diary couldn''t help but counter, "Perhaps his chamber wasn''t meant to purge Muggle-born wizards."


    "Then what was it for, Tom? I must remind you that many of Slytherin''s studies were gruesome and cruel, which influenced his character."


    Tom Riddle continued to refute, "But he also cleared the fog of truth for the generations toe. Look at his subjects of study: fairies, giants, dwarves, centaurs... His achievements are enough to elevate wizards to supreme heights! It just requires a minor, inconsequential cost."


    "Tom, are you his fanatic?" Felix wrote.


    "No, of course not... It''s just that I partly agree with his ideology. Wizards and humanoid creatures are distinct concepts, right?" The diary strained for objectivity in its tone. "Moreover, any judgment detached from the context of the time is hypocritical and foolish. The moral standards of wizards back then were entirely different from now."


    "You make a valid point," Felix wrote, "but from what I understand, these precious magical records have not been passed down. Whether they''re truly ''great'' remains uncertain."


    "That truly is the ''greatest'' achievement," within the diary, the young Dark Lord seemed quite impassioned, trying to convince Felix.


    "How do you know?" Felix wore a triumphant smile.


    "I''m merely guessing..."


    "Don''t deceive me, Tom! Your knowledge of Szar Slytherin goes beyond my imagination, and your stance on him is overly protective," Felix began tightening the noose. "It makes me wonder if you opened the Chamber? Are you the true heir of Slytherin?"


    He wrote word by word, the force almost as if it would tear through the paper, "I need an exnation, or else, I''ll have no choice but to hand you over to Dumbledore."


    In the diary, Tom Riddle was noticeably nervous. He despised this feeling of being "exposed."


    After a long silence, the diary disyed a line of text, "Is that what you think? That I lied to you? I thought¡ªwe had established a sturdy friendship."


    Calmly, Felix wrote, "That''s why I''ve given you a chance to exin."


    From the perspective of the Dark Lord, as long as he didn''t reveal the truth about the Horcruxes, everything could still be discussed.


    The diary rapidly and hastily responded, "It''s certainly not me. I''m a Muggle-born, remember? I have no connection whatsoever with Szar Slytherin."


    Felix remained silent. He didn''t reply with any words, just exerted a gradual pressure.


    In the diary, Tom Riddle couldn''t endure any longer. He wrote again, "But... I must admit, I did stumble upon something during my school days. Yes, I acquired some advanced magical knowledge."


    "Was it from Szar Slytherin?" Felix held his breath and asked.


    "I guess so," the diary replied sinctly.


    "Tell me, Tom, where did you ce it?"


    The diary remained silent. The young Dark Lord was in quite a predicament. He desperately wanted to refuse, but this professor was far too perceptive. He was backed into a corner; if he denied, he would undoubtedly be considered the culprit who opened the Chamber¡ªthough he indeed was.


    His frustration with his own powerlessness grew, and he was on the brink of madness.


    But soon, he replied with polite,posednguage, "It was fifty years ago. I found a rather extraordinary room on the eighth floor of the castle..."


    This chapter features a game of wits between the main character and Tom, filled with deception and falsehoods. It''s rich in misleading elements and is intriguing to explore.


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 Chapter 75: The Deceiver

    Chapter 75: The Deceiver


    It took about twenty minutes to read through the diary, which told a tale of "youthful days and serendipitous encounters."


    During his time at school, he had stumbled upon a room on the eighth floor of the castle. It was a vast storage space filled with treasures collected by Hogwarts young wizards over centuries.


    "Iter inquired, and it was rumored they called this mysterious room the Room of Requirement or the Come and Go Room," the diary wrote, "It''s from here that I obtained that portion of information¡ªpossibly hidden by some young wizard before me."


    Felix Harp smirked, jotting down in the diary, "So, you didn''t find Slytherin''s Chamber of Secrets, but rather another hidden room? And it was in this Room of Requirement that you discovered Slytherin''s research materials?"


    The diary quickly responded with a few words, "Exactly so."


    Felix tapped his fingers on the table, pondering for a moment. He wrote in the diary, "So, those research materials are still in the Room of Requirement? You didn''t take them with you?"


    "I believe¡ªthey belong to Hogwarts. Before I graduated, I left them hidden behind a bubbly, seemingly acid-sshed cab. It''s easy to find, and I remember there''s a stinky quintaped inside the cab. Next to it is a rather ugly wizard statue," the diary noted.


    Felix pursed his lips, struggling not to burst intoughter.


    Interesting, truly fascinating.


    The dialogue between them resembled an intricate game, full of lies and misdirection, a battle of wits.


    Prior to this, Felix hadn''t dared to hope for information about the hidden room of Slytherin''s Chamber of Secrets from the diary. It would have been unrealistic, akin to revealing himself as the "Heir of Slytherin."


    His goal today was, in fact, to attempt to discover one or two hidden spots of extracurricr research materials, as one of his spections. However, the more significant likelihood was that Tom Riddle had already destroyed all records¡ªa result Felix hoped not to see.


    Thankfully, the diary directly revealed the eighth-floor room.


    His efforts had not been in vain.


    However, Felix had a hunch that since the diary chose to reveal this information, it probably wasn''t of utmost importance¡ªespecially not to the Dark Lord.


    Nheless, he replied to the diary with a contented tone, "Thank you, Tom. I will investigate. If I have misunderstood you, I''ll apologize."


    "Let''s hope not," the diary calmly replied.


    With a hint of regret, Felix added, "People are unaware of the splendid era that Slytherin''s research might have ushered in. That''s why he''s always portrayed as the embodiment of evil among wizards. Tom, you did the right thing."


    The diary remained silent, the essence of Tom Riddle within it almost seething.


    And Felix appended, "Slytherin and Gryffindor are truly pr opposites. Godric Gryffindor''s own virtues shine brightly¡ªfairness, bravery, justice..."


    The diary poured scorn into its words, "All just a fa?ade." It posed a pointed question, "Felix Harp, here''s a riddle for you: who caused more bloodshed, Slytherin or the lives fallen to the wand and sword of Gryffindor?"


    Felix''s expression froze.


    The diary seemed to anticipate his reaction, and a deliberately bolded sentence appeared on the page, its mocking tone evident from the words themselves, "Oh yes, indeed. History has always been twisted¡ªGryffindor is a butcher. The wizards who died at his hands outnumber those of the other three foundersbined."


    In the culmination of this conversation, the diary did not hold back its malice toward Gryffindor, "A sword in one hand, a wand in the other, trampling over a sea of corpses, earning the title of the era''s most remarkable duelist¡ªGodric Gryffindor!"


    ...


    Felix Harp closed the diary, his expression enigmatic.


    "Szar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor," he softly murmured the names of these former allies.


    Of course, Felix didn''t believe that the diary spoke theplete truth, but he also didn''t think that it would be all lies. From its tone and wording, there was some degree of credibility.


    "I need a guide, preferably someone who was there at the time," Felix suddenly thought of a name.


    The Grey Lady.


    The beautiful, yet often aloof, ghost of Ravenw House, who had another name¡ªHelena Ravenw.


    She was the daughter of one of the four Hogwarts founders, Rowena Ravenw¡ªa secret that Felix had stumbled upon through the idental circumstances of talking to the Bloody Baron.


    The entangled love and hate between these two could easily fill a sensational romance novel.


    Felix pondered. Even though he was a generation younger, she belonged to the same era as the Hogwarts Four, and surely knew many secrets from the early days of Hogwarts.


    On the other side, Harryy in his dormitory bed, tossing and turning.


    Whether it was the information extracted from Malfoy or the mishap with Hermione identally using a cat hair-infused Polyjuice Potion, sleep eluded him.


    As the clock passed midnight, Harry drifted into a restless sleep. Suddenly, he felt something pressing down on his stomach, making it difficult to breathe.


    Opening his eyes, he was met with the sight of a house-elf with two bat-like ears, its prominent green eyes almost as big as tennis balls.


    "Dobby!"


    Harry squeaked in a hushed voice, quickly checking his surroundings¡ªhis other roommates were still sound asleep.


    ...


    The next day, Harry and Ron arrived at the infirmary to visit Hermione.


    Last night, they had taken the Polyjuice Potion in an attempt to extract information from Malfoy¡ªthey suspected him of being the one who opened the Chamber of Secrets.


    However, things went awry when Hermione used cat hair that Millicent Bulstrode had brewed into a Polyjuice Potion. The consequences were severe.


    Her face was covered in ck fur, her eyes turned yellow, and two pointed, elongated ears jutted out from her hair.


    As Harry and Ron entered the ward, she was pleading with Madam Pomfrey to hang a curtain around her bed.


    "Did you get any cluesst night?" she whispered, mindful of Madam Pomfrey overhearing.


    "None," Harry replied in frustration.


    "I''m sure it''s Malfoy," Ron asserted, "He didn''t tell the truth. When we asked him about the Chamber, he got all defensive and warned us to shut up. I''m really curious about that."


    Hermione sighed, her long ears drooping.


    Harry nced around and whispered, "I did get something, though. Around midnightst night, that house-elf, Dobby, came to see me..."


    "Last night?" Ron asked.


    "Yeah, you were asleep at the time," Harry shrugged.


    "Harry," Ron furrowed his brow thoughtfully, "I have to remind you that house-elves are extremely loyal servants. Obedience to their master is almost ingrained in their very bones. I''ve never heard of one like you described, one that¡ª"


    He struggled to find the right words.


    "Seems peculiar?" Harry offered.


    Ron nodded, and Harry continued, "He is quite odd, but I think he respects me. Yes, respects. He told me that danger still hangs over Hogwarts."


    "And then?" Ron''s curiosity grew.


    "Then he started banging his head against the railing like crazy..." Harry said rather exasperatedly.


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 Chapter 76: The Next Legend

    Chapter 76: The Next Legend


    Early the next morning, Felix Harp received the research materials he had requested from the Room of Requirement.


    He easily located the cab Tom had mentioned, the one that was "bubbling on the surface, like it had been sshed with strong acid." Using the Levitation Charm, he moved the cab aside and discovered a dusty wooden box hidden behind it.


    With a careful wave of his wand andyers of protective enchantments shimmering around him, he used the Unlocking Charm to open the long-sealed box, revealing neatly trimmed parchment sheets stacked within.


    No curses, no dark magic, no traps.


    This left Felix Harp, fully armed and cautious, somewhat disappointed.


    Aside from the overpowering stench emanating from the half-opened cab, which forced him to cast a Bubble-Head Charm on himself, the entire process was surprisingly effortless.


    Back in his office, Felix Harp eagerly began perusing the contents of the documents.


    Honestly, the process was somewhat distressing; the materials contained numerous anatomical diagrams of magical creatures, along with Szar Slytherin''s personal annotations. As Felix brushed his hand over the parchment, he almost seemed to hear the cries of these creatures in their moments before death.


    It reminded him of his own experiences delving into dark magic, and it felt as though his heart was submerged in foul-smelling ck water, with invisible hands dragging him downward.


    Swiftly, Felix applied lumency to shield his mind. He endured the difort and read through the parchment once.


    About an hourter...


    "Phew~"


    Felix Harp let out a long sigh, his emotionsplex at the moment.


    From mere fragments of history in his own time, it was hard to grasp the weight of Szar Slytherin''s name. In a way, Felix even began to understand why Tom Riddle, at sixteen or seventeen, had been so fervent and reverent towards Slytherin.


    It wasn''t just about being a descendant of Slytherin.


    Looking at the parchment before him, it was more than a vessel of knowledge. Each piece of parchment contained Szar Slytherin''s thoughts and will when he wrote the materials. It was a kind of calm, even cold rationality, where every magical creature was merely material for study, devoid of any sympathy or pity.


    Yet, it was this absolute detachment that made Slytherin''s research process incredibly systematic. Each line of text, eachposition, held the utmost charm of magic.


    Even under the protection of lumency, Felix couldn''t help but be enchanted and daydream, his heart filled with the desire to follow in Slytherin''s footsteps.


    It wasn''t just the influence of magic; it was the powerful personal charisma radiated by a legendary wizard on the path of magic.


    Felix Harp resisted his reluctance and sealed away the materialspletely. "That''s not my path," he admonished himself.


    Before himy only three parchment sheets, carefully selected to match his needs.


    However, Felix didn''t immediately begin his study. He stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the view of Hogwarts in the distance.


    His mind was in turmoil.


    "Heh! Tom, is this your scheme? Even in the direst circumstances, you can find a way to counterattack," Felix mumbled to himself.


    Many books in the magical world carriedtent dangers, not everyone was qualified to read them. Just like the Restricted Section at Hogwarts, it contained numerous dangerous books¡ªnot only was the knowledge within perilous, but many required a painful price just for reading.


    And Tom Riddle''s intention was clear. By using the allure of Szar Slytherin''s own magical path, he aimed to influence and assimte Felix Harp''s thoughts.


    "I can''t defeat you, I can''t change you, but I can find a more formidable presence to alter your thoughts."


    The winter sunlight was warm without being harsh, the courtyard''s snow was white without being blinding, and the cold wind brushing against the towers was chilling without being biting.


    Gazing into the distance, he softly said, "Szar Slytherin..."


    "... In a sense, we are taking different paths to the same destination, both pursuing the pinnacle of magic. But I have my own way, and I won''t step into your realm just because you''ve gone farther."


    "People all start from being weak. Hundreds of years ago, didn''t you also experience confusion about your path, much like how I feel today?"


    "Now, in my eyes, you are a steep and treacherous mountain, an unattainable legend. But time is on my side, the future is on my side. One day, I will walk alongside you and eventually surpass you."


    Felix Harp remained standing by the window, watching the sun rise and reach its zenith. As its light spread across every corner of Hogwarts, his heart regained its determination.


    This morning, Felix didn''t ponder any magical questions, yet he felt he had taken a significant step forward in understanding "magic" itself. This "progress" wasprehensive, not embodied in any specific spell, but rather it gave him a sense of rity.


    He knew that the magical theory bottleneck he had been stuck in for so long was finally loosening.


    Years of umtion were now qualifying for a qualitative change in this moment.


    Felix Harp waved his wand, and a milky white light radiated from him, illuminating the courtyard below, the distant greenhouses, the snow-covered ground, and even the frozen ckke.


    The mottled patterns of swaying bare branches and the shadows of ck stones by thekeside disappeared in this moment.


    Beside the main tower of the castle, Dumbledore, with his disheveled beard, held a buzzing Honeydukes candy. Lifting his head, his deep blue eyes, framed by half-moon spectacles, sparkled with a bright light.


    "Truly remarkable," he said softly. "Isn''t that right, Fawkes?"


    A palm-sized phoenix, Fawkes, absentmindedly preened its feathers.


    At this very moment, within the walls of Hogwarts School, a myriad of scenes unfolded¡ª


    Gilderoy Lockhart slept soundly in his bed, savoring the leisure of the Christmas break;


    Professor McGonagall brewed a cup of coffee and perused students'' grade sheets;


    Professor Flitwick waved his wand, savoring the intricacies of "Charms Analysis";


    Professor Sprout tended to mischievous Mandrakes in the warm greenhouse;


    Professor Snape, his face twisted in distaste, fiddled with a measuring cup while an illustrated booklety nearby;


    Hermione Granger stared into the mirror, vexedly tugging at the cat ears on her head;


    Luna Lovegood sat in the Ravenwmon room, engrossed in reading a book of jokes;


    ...


    In the snowyndscape, two young wizards trekked through the snow.


    Harry suddenly felt a sh of white light before his eyes. He looked around, but found nothing.


    "Did you notice that?" he said to hispanion.


    "What?" Ron raised his head, distracted.


    "Just now, it seemed like a sh of light..."


    "Where?" Ron looked around, only to find nothing.


    The two continued walking through the snow in the courtyard, heading towards Professor McGonagall''s office.


    A gust of wind stirred, carrying a few falling leaves and their faint voices¡ª


    "Harry, do you think McGonagall will give me an excuse?"


    "Definitely, you''re doing something serious. You should''ve gotten a new wand ages ago."


    And by a window in a castle tower, Felix Harp calmly sheathed his wand, his eyes free from any confusion.


    "The next millennium, I shall be a legend."


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 Chapter 77: The New Wand

    Chapter 77: The New Wand


    "Bam bam bam!"


    Professor McGonagall pushed open the door and saw Harry and Ron bundled up tightly.


    She weed them in, and Harry and Ron took seats next to the firece.


    "Potter, Weasley, do you have something to tell me?" Professor McGonagall inquired.


    Ron took out a wretched-looking wand from his robes. It was broken in the middle, held together only by a single unicorn tail hair at the center.


    Ron said hesitantly, "Professor McGonagall, I''d like to request permission to buy a new wand."


    "Oh?" Professor McGonagall lowered her head and looked at the broken hawthorn wand, her tight bun meticulously in ce. "Weasley, you should''ve gotten a new wand a long time ago. No wonder you''ve been having mishaps in ss."


    Ron lowered his head, not saying a word.


    Harry chimed in, "Professor, we might need to use your firece to go to Diagon Alley."


    Professor McGonagall raised her head and nced at them. "Of course, that''s not a problem." She waved her wand, conjuring a silver cat that leaped out of the wand tip. The cat had patterns around its eyes simr to Professor McGonagall''s sses.


    "Weasley,e to my office," she said.


    The silver cat jumped out of the window and quickly disappeared from Harry and Ron''s sight.


    Harry was still gazing at the window, while Ron stuttered, "Professor McGonagall, we can go on our own..." He was met with a stern re from Professor McGonagall.


    "Don''t talk nonsense. I won''t let two second-year wizards go to Diagon Alley alone," the Transfiguration professor said.


    Ron''s face turned grim. Even though Professor McGonagall hadn''t mentioned a name, his not-so-brilliant brain could figure out that she wasn''t referring to the twins.


    Harry couldn''t help but sympathetically nce at Ron; their brotherly rtionship was clearly strained at the moment.


    "Professor, what was that magic just now?" he changed the topic.


    "Patronus Charm, Potter. You''ll have the chance to learn about it when you''re in higher years," she replied.


    After a quiet wait, Percy Weasley''s figure appeared in the office.


    Seeing his younger brother, he looked visibly surprised. "Professor McGonagall, did Ron do something wrong?"


    "No, Percy," Professor McGonagall said. "Ron needs to purchase a new wand from Diagon Alley, and I need an older student to apany him. No one is more suitable than you."


    Percy''s expression grew even more surprised as he looked at Ron, unable to resist asking him, "Where did you get the money?"


    "None of your business!" Ron snapped.


    "I''m your older brother! Let me warn you, if you dare to pull any¡ª"


    "Percy!" Harry interjected, turning to McGonagall and vaguely saying, "It was a gift from Professor Harp." He turned his head to look at Professor McGonagall and continued, "To honor the heroics of that night."


    Recognition dawned on Professor McGonagall''s face, but Percy Weasley was even more perplexed.


    "Ron Weasley, I''m proud of you. And you too, Potter," she said with an unusual touch of emotion.


    Percy was about to ask something, but Professor McGonagall added, "Off you go,e back soon."


    So the three of them stood by the firece, and within a burst of emerald mes, their figures disappeared.


    Half an hourter, they returned. Ron was carefully cradling a fourteen-inch wand in his hands, a look of happiness on his face.


    Percy had his arm draped over Ron''s shoulder, indicating that their rtionship had improved.


    As they left the office, Ron continued to chatter excitedly about his new wand. "Willow wood, unicorn tail hair core, it''s a perfectbination! Harry, look at its lines..."


    Back in themon room, Harry was pulled aside by Percy, who whispered, "Harry, can you tell me what you guys actually did?"


    On the way, Ron identally revealed that he, Harry, and Hermione had received a special award for their contributions to the school. But when Percy pressed for more details, the two of them remained tight-lipped.


    Harry vaguely said, "You''ll find out when the new term starts; he''s sure to surprise you."


    Meanwhile, Ron was busy showing off his new wand to the twins, and they ended up dragging him into a duel.


    Fred grinned mischievously. "Ron, you need to get acquainted with your new wand quickly."


    "Absolutely, yes. We''re at your service," George chimed in, patting his shoulder.


    Hearing the twins'' suggestion, Harry felt an instant spark of interest. He had seen a few simple spells in the Christmas gift "The Duellist''s Compendium" from Professor Harp.


    He was eager to give them a try.


    "Let''s go, Ron," he said.


    However, Percy wasn''t interested. So Harry, Ron, and the twins left the castle and arrived at an open area by the ck Lake.


    The four of them took turns being opponents, casting spells at each other.


    With the new wand, Ron''s spellcasting was definitely smoother, though he still rankedst in this game.


    He was knocked down three times in a row.


    As for Harry, he defeated Ron and narrowly triumphed over George. But when he was dueling Fred, he stumbled and was hit by a Petrification Curse, freezing him in ce.


    Ron grinned widely, "So, this is what it feels like when Hermione uses Petrificus Totalus on Neville in our first year?" He yfully poked Harry with his finger.


    When the spell was lifted, Harry retaliated immediately¡ªgrabbing a handful of snow from the ground and throwing it at Ron.


    Thus, due to irresistible forces, the duel game turned into a snowball fight midway. The four of them rolled around in the snow, having fun.


    After a sessful sneak attack using his agility, Harry found himself surrounded by the twins. He dashed away in a hurry until he saw the figure of Professor Harp.


    It was quite a bizarre scene.


    Outside the chilly castle, Professor Harpy on a rocking chair, leisurely reading a book.


    The chair creaked as it rocked back and forth.


    His head was adorned with blue mes that swayed freely, like ribbons.


    "Hello, Professor Harp," Harry greeted.


    Felix closed the book, sat up on the rocking chair, and a pleased expression crossed his face. "Hello, Potter."


    At that moment, Harry noticed that the book Professor Harp was reading was "A Collection of World Jokes," which was quite unlike a magical book.


    However, it had a translucent pearl-like quality, much like the gift he once saw Professor Harp give to Hagrid. An idea formed in Harry''s mind.


    Could this book also be a modified version by Professor Harp?


    "Harry¡ª"


    "Don''t run!"


    Ron and the twins caught up as well, and they too saw Professor Harp.


    "Are you having a snowball fight?" Felix asked.


    "We''re practicing dueling, taking a break now," Fred said. "Professor, could you give us some pointers? Your performance at the Dueling Club was outstanding!"


    "Ah, not today. I''ve decided not to think about anything rted to magic today," Felix blinked, "But don''t worry, once the term starts, I''ll restart the dueling lessons."


    "Oh, by the way," Felix nced around, "where''s Granger? Isn''t she with you guys?"


    "Uh, Professor," Harry stammered, "Hermione, she''s, she''s sick."


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 Chapter 78: Visiting

    Chapter 78: Visiting


    Hospital wing.


    "Madam Pomfrey, I''vee to check on Miss Hermione Granger," Felix Harp said.


    "Oh, her," Madam Pomfrey grumbled at him, "Young wizards these days are causing so much trouble, using magical potions recklessly, showing no respect... Given her condition, she''ll have to stay in the hospital for at least three weeks."


    Felix was quite intrigued as he inquired, "Can you determine the effects of the potion?"


    "It appears to be a concoction of mixed cat hair, utterly absurd. I have no idea where they found such magical ingredients," Madam Pomfrey remarked while pouring out half a cup of potion from arge bottle, "On Christmas night, those two young wizards brought her here, and I was taken aback. I almost thought it was irreversible magical harm."


    "Concoction of mixed cat hair..." Felix pondered on those words. After a few moments, he gently suggested to Madam Pomfrey, "Madam, I''m heading in that direction, shall I bring the potion to her?"


    Felix pushed the door open and entered the ward.


    There were seven or eight beds in the room, but only one was concealed behind a white curtain. As Felix approached, the curtain opened from the inside.


    "Madam Pomfrey? Have youe to deliver the potion?"


    A furry head poked out, and the voice was unmistakably his assistant.


    Hermione and Felix''s gazes met, and she froze instantly.


    "Ah!"


    The young witch let out a terrified scream, immediately retracting and pulling the curtain shut forcefully, causing the entire bed to tremble.


    But in that fleeting nce, he had already seen what his assistant looked like now.


    Her face was covered with deep brown cat fur, intermingled with her own hair. Several cat whiskers adorned her cheeks, and her eyes had turned ginger yellow. On top of her head were two upright pointed ears.


    "Miss Hermione Granger, I heard about your predicament from Potter and Weasley and came to visit you," Felix said with a tone that couldn''t help but carry a hint of amusement.


    He waited quietly for a few seconds, and a shaky voice came from behind the curtain, "Professor, hello."


    "I''ve brought your potion, and well..." Felix said, "If you don''t mind, I can take a look and see if I can be of any assistance."


    "Professor, you mean... you might be able to help me?" Hermione''s voice from behind the curtain was full of hope.


    Felix''s mind was reying her appearance, but he managed to maintain hisposure, "I can only say, let''s give it a try. Your situation is quite rare."


    Hermione slowly opened the curtain, briefly lifting her head to nce at him before burying her face in her hands.


    Felix ced the potion on the nearby table and carefully studied the young witch''s current appearance.


    This situation is truly quite rare. The preparation of the Concoction of Mixed Cat Hair is already difficult, and even the Potion Masters don''t have much stock of it. It wouldn''t be used lightly¡ªespecially with such a low chance of mishap.


    Hermione felt his probing gaze and asked softly, "Professor, do you have a solution? Madam Pomfrey said I''ll need at least three weeks to recover. Merlin, how many sses will I miss?"


    "Um, the misuse of the Concoction of Mixed Cat Hair, correct?" Felix Harp pondered seriously. This situation was indeed challenging.


    He extended his wand and lightly tapped Hermione''s forehead, causing a circle of golden light to emanate from the tip.


    The young witch''s face showed no change.


    "Hmm, Human Transfiguration isn''t working, possibly conflicting with the potion''s effects... Interesting, well, I mean, troublesome. Alright, let''s try a more obscure spell."


    In Hermione''s eyes, Professor Harp enthusiastically cast spell after spell, even taking out a piece of parchment to record the effects of various spells.


    "This one won''t do!"


    "This one has a slight effect, but it''s not very noticeable."


    "How about trying this?"


    Hermione stared at Felix Harp, her expression indicating, Are you doing this to help me? I see through you, Professor!


    Finally, a rather obscure spell began to work.


    Her brown fur rapidly shed and disappeared from her face, revealing skin that became fair and clean once again. Hermione sensed this change, first touching her face and then picking up a small mirror from beneath her pillow to examine carefully.


    "Oh, my goodness." Hermione covered her mouth.


    At this point, her appearance had greatly improved. Most of the thick, lush brown fur on her face had disappeared, although the cat whiskers and the pair of pointed ears on top of her head stubbornly remained.


    Yet even this effect was enough to fill Hermione with immense delight.


    Hermione happily looked at herself in the mirror.


    "Professor, what magic is this?"


    "A form of Minor Cosmetic Transfiguration, able to modify minor imperfections on the body. Of course, it''s temporary. The magic effect shouldst for about two hours," Felix exined.


    "Is it Human Transfiguration?" Hermione said with insight. She had intended to study that magic, but she couldn''t help but feel a little disappointed now, as Human Transfiguration was an exceedinglyplex magic.


    Difficult to the point that most adult wizards couldn''t master it.


    "You could say that, but its effects might not be as impressive as you imagine¡ªit can only modify specific areas. You see, this spell was actually invented by a vampire. Its original purpose was merely to conceal their fangs."


    "A vampire?" Hermione asked with keen interest. With most of her trouble resolved, even if only temporarily, her mood had improved significantly.


    "Yes, in the medieval era, vampires were quite despised. In order to blend in among humans, they devised this magic. But I must say, the effect is quite modest. It can''tpare to Human Transfiguration or Polyjuice Potion. Nowadays, hardly anyone uses it."


    "Professor, I heard that Polyjuice Potion canpletely change one''s appearance at will."


    "Yes, indeed. One of my younger schoolmates possesses that talent. It''s truly convenient." Felix nced at her. "That way, you wouldn''t have to risk consuming the Concoction of Mixed Cat Hair."


    Hermione lowered her head, and her pointed ears drooped.


    "Professor, I..."


    "You three brewed the Concoction of Mixed Cat Hair in secret, right? I''m referring to you, Potter, and Weasley."


    Hermione lifted her head, looking at Professor Harp with a surprised expression.


    "Yes," Felix yed with his wand, casually remarking, "That was quite easy to deduce, especially when I recalled that you had specifically asked me for information about unusual potions. I introduced a total of six potent potions, but you clearly showed more interest in the Concoction of Mixed Cat Hair."


    "The Concoction of Mixed Cat Hair can change a person''s appearance, which indeed could be used to gather information discreetly¡ª"


    "So, what I want to know is, who are your suspects?" Felix Harp gazed at Hermione.


    After a prolonged silence¡ª


    "Malfoy," Hermione whispered. "We suspect him of being the Heir of Slytherin."


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 Chapter 79: A New Approach to Learning Magic

    Chapter 79: A New Approach to Learning Magic


    "Um..."


    Felix Harp felt a mixture of amusement and irony. Did Malfoy open the Chamber of Secrets? He indeed did.


    As far as he knew, the Chamber had been opened four times this term.


    The first time was when Harry, in Professor Lockhart''s office, heard the eerie sounds from the ceiling. The second and third times resulted in the petrification of Mrs. Norris and Colin Creevey respectively. And as for the fourth time, it was when Harry rescued Justin.


    Malfoy had taken possession of the diary after Colin Creevey was attacked. From this perspective, he wasn''t entirely meless.


    However, he wasn''t the Heir of Slytherin, and the true culprit was currently sealed within a box by him.


    "Granger, I''ve had a rather in-depth conversation with Malfoy. I can confirm he''s not the Heir of Slytherin."


    "But, Professor..." the young witch protested somewhat reluctantly.


    Felix Harp said, "The Chamber''s location has been discovered, and the creature inside has been dealt with. The only thing to worry about is this so-called Heir of Slytherin, but he won''t be causing any more waves."


    "Please convey this to Potter and Weasley. As a professor, I believe your focus should be on your studies."


    Yet, Hermione keenly sensed something and couldn''t help but ask, "Professor, did you find any clues?"


    Felix Harp merely replied vaguely, "I''ve been keeping an eye on it. So, for you and the young wizards in the castle, the danger has ended, and the adventure should be over."


    Hermione held onto the professor''s words, then turned to ask another question, "Professor, about that lightweight Transfiguration spell you mentioned¡ªcan I learn it? Of course, I understand it might be challenging..."


    "You want to learn this spell?" Felix inquired.


    "Yes, Professor." Hermione''s expression turned serious. "There are only a few days left of the holidays, and I don''t want to miss sses."


    Without knowledge of this spell''s existence, Hermione would''ve reluctantly epted her fate, spending afortable three weeks in the infirmary. After all, she couldn''t possibly attend sses with a cat''s face, and that would be too embarrassing.


    But having witnessed Professor Harp''s "lightweight Transfiguration," her mind became animated.


    If she mastered this magic, she could easily attend sses wearing thick clothing and a hat. As for the cat whiskers on her face, she could just remove them. Compared to the pain of missing weeks of school, that little difort was negligible.


    However, Professor Harp shook his head. "Miss Granger, while the lightweight Transfiguration spell might not be as difficult as human Transfiguration, it''s still not something a second-year wizard can master."


    "But, Professor¡ª" Hermione persisted, "We''ve already learned animal Transfiguration, and I''m doing really well with it. Even Professor McGonagall is quite pleased."


    "That''s a different concept. The difficulty of regr animal Transfiguration and theplexity of performing Transfiguration on wizards are entirely distinct. Do you know why?" Felix Harp gently probed.


    "Because of the presence of magic?" Hermione pondered for a moment before answering.


    "Exactly, magic interferes with your spellcasting," Felix exined. "The same goes for Transfiguring magical creatures, which is equally challenging."


    "That''s truly unfortunate," Hermione sighed.


    Felix Harp spoke kindly, "Miss Granger, you''re one of the few young wizards I''ve encountered who possesses both talent and a strong work ethic. Magic may seem subjective, but it has a rigorous logic that requires climbing step by step. So¡ª"


    He suddenly paused, his gaze shifting restlessly. His wand drew small circles in his hand.


    Hermione looked at Felix Harp, recognizing this as his habit when deep in thought. A glimmer of hope arose within her.


    Perhaps, the professor coulde up with a solution?


    Felix Harp paid no attention to Hermione and took out a piece of parchment from his ring, quickly jotting down his thoughts.


    Hermione leaned forward, widening her eyes to read the contents above her.


    Professor Felix Harp began by writing "Lightweight Transfiguration" at the center of the parchment. From these words, he drew several lines, each corresponding to something she found either familiar or unfamiliar¡ª


    Casting technique, incantation, gestures, understanding of the spell, maniption and shaping of magical energy... levels of magical theory, she counted them meticulously; there were a total of seventeenponents.


    At this point, Hermione started to grasp the concept. Was he breaking down the factors affecting a spell? But what was the purpose?


    Felix Harp paused briefly, then beneath the "Casting technique" segment, he added a few lines in small script: "Required wand flicking and shaking skills, refer to first and second-year spellbooks; wand-waving required, angle diagram attached;"


    Hermione studied these contents. It was quite simr to what Professor Flitwick had taught in ss, except for one significant difference: Felix Harp mentioned far more influencing factors! Many of them she had never heard of before.


    Furthermore, he listed essential theoretical knowledge.


    For example, under the "Level of Magical Theory" segment, it read, "Prerequisite Theory: Basics of Transfiguration; Animal Transfiguration; Human Transfiguration theoretical elements (attached separately)," and so on¡ªa series ofplex matters.


    Each point was borated further on another piece of parchment.


    For almost the next half hour, he continued this process.


    Soon, two parchments weren''t enough, and the professor pulled out a third, then a fourth...


    It wasn''t until Felix Harp set down his quill that nine densely filled parchmentsy in front of her.


    Hermione wore an expression of disbelief. For just one spell, the professor had written more than she''d put into her own published paper.


    Meanwhile, Felix Harp was reflecting on the process he had justpleted¡ª


    In essence, he had meticulously broken down all the theoretical knowledge and spellcasting techniques required for a spell into multiple distinct dimensions. Each dimension had specific requirements and judgment criteria.


    In simple terms, he deconstructed a major goal into a multitude of assessable minor goals.


    Completing this step simplified the rest of the process. The young wizards would practice each minor goal individually until they met all of them. Eventually, they wouldbine these achievements to master theplete spell.


    During this process, any obstacles the young wizards encountered would cease to be insurmountable; they could follow the diagrams and address their individual shorings, effectivelypensating for them.


    For students with a strong foundation, like Hermione, she had already aplished part of the objectives in advance.


    In just nine pages of parchment, the professor had unveiled all the secrets of this spell.


    Of course, his approach wasn''t suitable for the "intuitive" type of wizard¡ªoften, they themselves didn''t know how they learned a spell.


    Satisfied, Felix Harp nodded. Besides himself, who had undergone one level-up experience after another, how many people in the current British wizarding world could dissect andpartmentalize a specific spell as if they were reciting cherished memories or carving up a piece of meat?


    He couldn''t forget the scene when he had achieved a breakthrough in his spell. After practicing the same spell a thousand times, he finally reached a certain limit, and all his memories of practicing that spell surged in his mind.


    Every wand movement, every maniption of magical energy, every test of potency, every validation of hypothesis...


    These seemingly insignificant insights erupted in his mind in an instant, countless sparks of inspiration twinkling like stars. Together, they formed a series of steps, elevating his spellcasting to an entirely new level.


    ...


    Felix Harp looked at Hermione. "Miss Granger, I believe I have found a method." He spoke gently and calmly.


    If his assistant could learn the Lightweight Transfiguration through this approach, then he hadplete confidence in teaching the uing Dueling ss.


    Felix Harp was eager to put this to the test.


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 Chapter 80: Conversation

    Chapter 80: Conversation


    The next day.


    When Harry and Ron arrived at the infirmary to visit Hermione, they found her no longer gloomy as she had been a few days prior. Instead, she sported a furry face, enthusiastically waving her wand, and asionally flipping through parchment on the table.


    "Hermione, what are you doing?" Ron inquired.


    "Naturally, I''m practicing magic. If all goes well, I might manage to learn it before the start of term."


    "Why rush before term starts?" Ron seemed puzzled.


    "Because it could help me solve a little problem," Hermione replied, squinting her eyes and speaking with a cheerful smile.


    And so, for half an hour in the hospital wing, Harry and Ron watched as Hermione repeated the same motion hundreds of times, asionally stopping to record something on a piece of parchment.


    ...


    Felix Harp closed the door to his office and stepped out, looking neat and put-together. Along the way, he felt a sense of mncholy.


    After revealing that he had sessfully obtained research material and once again resisted the temptation of the diary''s allure, the Tom within the diary had finally withdrawn. He hadpletely cut off hismunication with the outside world.


    No matter how much Felix tried, it seemed that the other side had made up its mind to let him handle things. Even when he pressed a cluster of pale fierce fire against the diary, there was no response.


    "Tom, I refuse to believe you''d give up on yourself like this," Felix contemted various thoughts. He even thought he might be waiting for an opportunity.


    So, he carefully sealed the diary once again, even inscribing warning runes on the box.


    Before going out, he ced his wallet (Bound Vine Edition) by the door, in case any unreliable young wizard decided to barge in and take the diary.


    "Perhaps it''s time to let you have your final act, Tom."


    In the castle corridor, Felix encountered Peeves, who was up to his usual mischief.


    Peeves held an iron bucket filled with mud and was currently smearingyer afteryer of thick mud onto armor.


    "Peeves, have you seen Professor Gray?" Felix asked him.


    Peeves looked at him, seemingly taken aback, then burst into a cacklingugh. "Oh, Professor, I haven''t seen... I don''t care about that nose-in-the-air woman."


    "I believe someone ''knows,'' that repulsive stalker," he floated in mid-air, snarling and wing.


    "Show some manners, Peeves," Felix said calmly. "Or perhaps you''d like to experience my magic again."


    "No, Felix Harp! You can''t..." Peeves'' face showed a fearful expression, and he quickly vanished through the wall.


    "ng!"


    The iron bucket Peeves was holding crashed to the ground, making a loud noise as the mud inside sshed out.


    Felix waved his wand, and an invisible barrier kept the mud at a distance of three feet.


    "Hmph, Peeves, it''s you again! I''ll definitely request Professor Dumbledore to kick you out of the castle..." a breathless, flushed man rushed down the corridor, swinging his fists and venting his anger hysterically.


    It was Filch, the caretaker of Hogwarts Castle.


    "Oh, um... Professor Harp, have you seen Peeves?" a furious Filch didn''t find his expected arch-nemesis but rather an impably dressed Felix.


    "Hello, Filch. Peeves just left," Felix waved his wand, making the mud on the floor and armor vanish. "By the way, have you seen Professor Grey today?"


    "You mean the Ravenw ghost?" Filch sniffed, "Let me think... I think I saw her... a tall ghost, doesn''t pay much attention to people, right? I saw one in the courtyard, not sure if it''s her."


    "Thank you, Filch."


    Felix made his way to the courtyard, scanning around. At the end of the courtyard railing, he spotted a tall ghost hovering in mid-air.


    She noticed Felix looking at her, raised an eyebrow in surprise, and then turned to float through the wall.


    "Wait, Professor Grey!"


    Felix crossed the railing and followed her down a secluded corridor.


    She finally came to a stop, suspended a few inches above the ground. She was strikingly beautiful, with waist-length hair and a silver robe trailing on the floor. But she also held her head high, exuding an air of arrogance and disdain.


    He hade across this ghost several times during his schooldays but had never spoken to her. He wouldn''t even have realized the presence of this low-profile Ravenw ghost had it not been for his idental encounter with the private conversation between the Bloody Baron and her. That''s when he realized the seemingly inconspicuous Ravenw ghost had a much bigger background.


    "Professor Grey, I am Felix Harp."


    She nodded but didn''t speak. Her gaze held no warmth.


    "I wanted to learn about the early days of Hogwarts, the stories of the four founders. The existing records are quite vague."


    "I''m afraid," she said, turning to leave, "I can''t help you."


    "Wait, Miss¡ª" seeing her drift farther away, Felix called out, "I know you''re Rowena Ravenw''s daughter."


    She halted and turned to look at him. "You know about my heritage? Did youe here specifically for me?"


    "Yes, I¡ª"


    "Hmph, another one!" she swirled in mid-air, her lips twisting into a cold smile.


    "Another what?" Felix inquired, but he quickly realized that he probably wasn''t the first to ask her about the secrets of Hogwarts.


    "Another ambitious person!" she said sharply, "Every few decades, there''s always one, trying every possible way to inquire, to gain my trust..."


    "You mean Voldemort?" Felix asked.


    She abruptly stopped talking, a surprised expression on her face. Then she felt offended, floating a couple of feet higher and looking down at him.


    "Yes, I guessed it, the Crown of Ravenw. Voldemort has always coveted the Founders'' relics, but I don''t care about those. What I really want to know¡ª"


    Felix''s words were cut off as the ghost, with anger and a hint of stutter, said, "The... the Crown of Ravenw can grant wisdom. You don''t understand its power! Countless people have coveted it! They want it so desperately!"


    "¡ªthe history of Gryffindor and Slytherin," Felix finished his sentence at the same time.


    Their words intertwined, and faint echoes reverberated in the empty corridor¡ª"You don''t understand its power!" "Gryffindor~" "History of Slytherin~"


    Lady Grey was taken aback, "You want to know about those?"


    "Of course."


    "Ah, well," she floated uncertainly, seeming a bit at a loss, "Gryffindor... Slytherin... What do you want to know?"


    Finally, she asked somewhat awkwardly.


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 Chapter 81: Millennia-old Events

    Chapter 81: Millennia-old Events


    "Quite a lot," Felix Harp remarked. "Many of the books I''ve read mention the four founders, but they''re either vague and contradictory or only contain bits and pieces with little reference value."


    He gave an example, "Take Szar Slytherin, for instance. Many people fear him, dread him, calling him a dark wizard... but what''s the truth behind it?"


    "The truth?" Ms. Grey countered, "What truth do you seek?"


    "Of course, the truth in your eyes," Felix replied, looking at her.


    The ghost seemed lost in reminiscence, pondering for a while before solemnly stating, "Szar Slytherin was an exceptionally skilled wizard, deeply in love with his wife..."


    "Felix: ???"


    Clearly, this wasn''t the information he was after, but it was a good starting point nevertheless. So, he continued along her topic, "There''s scarce information about his wife, indeed. However, many people mention that Slytherin''s appearance was grotesque, resembling that of a monkey."


    Thedy looked at him with a hint of pride, "That was a side effect of his magical studies. Slytherin''s original appearance was strikingly handsome, but as he delved deeper into those... dreadful areas, his appearance grew more and more intimidating."


    Felix suddenly understood; it was like a puzzle piece falling into ce. Slytherin had been transformed over time due to his studies.


    "His presence was often apanied by snakes. He wore dark or emerald green robes and emanated an ever-present aura of bloodthirstiness. His eyes also became... terribly terrifying."


    Felix spected that Slytherin might have integrated bloodlines from certain magical creatures.


    "¡ªHis temperament grew increasingly extreme, and his disagreements with others escted. There were more than a few explosive arguments, even his closest friend Gryffindor couldn''t endure. But I must rify, there was no outright conflict between them. He simply departed quietly, one tranquil morning, taking everything with him."


    "He left behind the Chamber," Felix reminded her.


    "Perhaps," she acknowledged, "but I''ve heard some rumors. Slytherin didn''t hesitate to teach various cruel dark magics, something vehemently opposed by the other three founders. So, there are whispers that he secretly taught these terrifying arts to select students he favored, in hidden ces."


    So, the Chamber was initially meant for instruction? Felix thought, uncovering yet another mystery. ording to his spection, as conflicts intensified, Slytherin might have also relocated some of his particrly gruesome research into the Chamber.


    Speaking of which, Felix had once secretly returned to the Chamber, using Harry''s Parseltongue ability scroll to carefully examine it. However, he found nothing except for the pit where the serpent usually rested.


    In conclusion, Ms. Grey summarized, "But at least during his time at Hogwarts, he still upheld his initial promise, safeguarding the lives of all the school''s staff and students, repelling various attacks. Unlike the past few centuries, Slytherin House has changedpletely..."


    "What attacks are you referring to?" Felix seized upon the key point.


    She drifted lightly, seemingly disdainful of Felix Harp''s ignorance yet excited to enlighten him. She countered, "Do you believe that Hogwarts was simply established without incident?"


    Felix didn''t react much, merely gesturing for her to continue.


    Ms. Grey exined, "By today''s standards, the majority of wizards during that time were dark wizards. They operated under an apprenticeship system, where a senior wizard would mentor a few juniors. They roamed viges, identifying potential talents and nurturing them while using them as theirckeys."


    "However, with the establishment of Hogwarts, especially after the four founders spread the magic of eptance and the Book of Admittance across the British Isles, these wizards suffered a fatal blow¡ªthey lost their source of apprentices forever."


    "The Book of Admittance, the magic of eptance..." Felix contemted these terms. He had heard rumors of these magical artifacts.


    It was said that every young wizard''s name who disyed magical potential would be recorded in the Book of Admittance. But the criteria for the Book of Admittance were stricter¡ªonly when these children exhibited undeniable proof of their magical abilities would their names be included in the Book.


    The sensitivity of the magic of eptancebined with the strictness of the Book of Admittance ensured that Hogwarts always selected qualified students, without fail, for thousands of years.


    "The establishment of a new order inevitably brings about the bacsh of the old forces," Felix sighed, now understanding how Tom''s bitterments about Gryffindor in the diary came to be.


    The story from a millennium ago continued¡ª


    "Some wizards recognized the efforts of the four founders and willingly sent their children to Hogwarts. But others¡ªthe particrly extreme dark wizards¡ªhid in the shadows. Whenever the professors and students were away or on vacation, they would repeatedlyunch attacks on Hogwarts, leaving their victims'' bodies in front of the castle." She shuddered.


    "Naturally, Hogwarts retaliated. Among them, Gryffindor''s response was the most intense. He wielded his sword and wand, defeating one notorious dark wizard after another of his time. He even openly dered that he was ready to face any challenges, whether through Muggle methods or wizardry."


    Felix listened with fascination. How could mere pieces of parchment capture the grandeur of that historical period?


    "What about the other three?"


    "They were doing the same, but Gryffindor''s fame overshadowed theirs. After a few years and the graduation of some students, their influence spread far and wide. Hogwarts'' reputation reached the world, and there were few who dared to provoke it."


    Ms. Grey concluded the story with a mix of pride and nostalgia.


    Felix gained profound insights and sincerely expressed his gratitude, "Thank you, Helena Ravenw."


    "NO! Call me by... this... name!" The ghost before him suddenly became excited. Her transparent cheeks seemed less transparent. Before he could react, she passed through the wall and disappeared.


    Felix: "..."


    Meanwhile, a low, raspy voice suddenly emerged, saying, "Do not utter that name. It''s her taboo."


    Felix turned around to find a gaunt, extremely pale ghost before him. The ghost wore an ancient wizard robe stained with silver blood marks and had a massive set of shackles on.


    "Long time no see, Barrow."


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 Chapter 82: Return from the Holidays

    Chapter 82: Return from the Holidays


    The Blood Baron is the ghost of Slytherin House, and even the young wizards of this esteemed institution keep their distance from him.


    His appearance is truly fearsome, and Peeves the Poltergeist is most afraid of him.


    "Long time no see, Baron," Felix Harp greeted.


    The Blood Baron remained still, hovering in ce, his vacant eyes fixed on the direction in which Professor Greengrass had departed.


    After a while, in his raspy voice, he finally spoke, "Hello, Harp."


    Felix looked at him, recalling an incident during a nighttime stroll at school when he inadvertently overheard a conversation between the Blood Baron and Professor Greengrass. The Baron was pleading for her forgiveness, while Professor Greengrass cursed him, ensuring he would never find redemption.


    It was also that night when he discovered the identity of Helena Ravenw. He pieced together the entanglement between the two. Helena had taken the diadem of Ravenw and had been too afraid to return home. As her admirer, the Blood Baron had been entrusted by Rowena Ravenw to bring her back.


    A fierce dispute arose between them, and tragically, the Blood Baron identally killed Helena. Consumed by remorse, he used the very weapon that had taken Helena''s life to end his own.


    "Baron, you said her name was her taboo. What does it mean?" Felix inquired.


    The Blood Baron didn''t answer directly. He simply said in a dry tone, "I see you haven''t fallen into the dark magic. In this, you are stronger than I."


    Felix''s expression turned solemn, and he spoke softly, "It was you who reminded me."


    "Even without me, you could have broken free on your own. I saw the records you kept..."


    "Oh," Felix also found a glimmer of humor, "that was a Muggle world psychological assessment form, a precaution I had prepared in advance to prevent myself from sinking deeper... but I must say, without you, I might have taken another month or two to realize the severity of the problem."


    The erosion of the mind by dark magic is subtle, and the data on assessment forms alwaysgs behind. By the time anomalies are detected, the danger might already have urred.


    The Blood Baron drifted away in silence.


    Felix gazed at his emaciated figure and shook his head in the end. The affairs between the two ghosts were beyond his involvement or mediation¡ªghosts'' inner conflicts were not easily unraveled.


    Ghosts were creations of death with lingering regrets and strong obsessions that kept them tethered to the realm of the living. Their existence hinged on these obsessions, and thus, their understanding remained rooted in the time when they were alive.


    In this aspect, they were somewhat akin to the portraits in the headmaster''s office, but ghosts could change over time.


    Though change didn''t necessarily guarantee favorable oues.


    ording to Felix''s estimation, if Hogwarts were to publicly dismiss Professor Binns, he might disappear on the spot¡ªsince Binns'' obsession was teaching.


    However, considering the humanity of such a method and the challenge of finding another knowledgeable schr to rece him, these two dilemmas rendered the suggestion unexplored.


    He returned to his office and opened three selected manuscripts from the Slytherin records, studying them carefully. This material bore the distinct mark of Slytherin himself¡ªhe put forth a conjecture about whether it was possible to transform the unique talents of magical creatures into wizarding spells.


    This line of thinking had existed for centuries, as seen in examples like the Disillusionment Charm and Animagus transformation, or the Invisibility Cloak and Disillusionment Charm. However, in reality, these developments in magical spells often urred serendipitously.


    Only when future generations looked back did they notice the striking simrities between certain wizarding spells and the innate talents of magical creatures.


    And Slytherin sought to discover a method to reliably transmute the unique talents of magical creatures into wizarding spells. But clearly, he abandoned this pathter on.


    Slytherin chose to relinquish this pursuit, and the young Tom also didn''t take it seriously, as evidenced by him stashing these materials in the Room of Requirement, using them for pranks.


    However, Felix Harp found this quite intriguing. Hemitted the fragmentary information to memory, perhaps to be used in a future moment.


    Over the next few days, Felix flipped through books, watched films, and lived in leisure andfort. He took the time to check on the progress of his assistant''s studies and offer appropriate advice. Time flowed by steadily.


    Finally, the Christmas holiday came to an end, and a new term began at Hogwarts.


    On that evening, the Hogwarts Express brought the students back, gathering them in the Great Hall, which instantly became lively.


    After the purification of the Christmas holiday, it seemed the students had forgotten the attacks of the previous term, now enthusiastically sharing their experiences.


    "My mom took me abroad to visit rtives, and I never thought I actually had a cousin at Ilvermorny!" a young wizard eximed with excitement. Others eagerly questioned for more details.


    "What''s Ilvermorny?"


    "A magic school, simr to Hogwarts, but it''s in the United States."


    "Really? I thought there was only one magic school in the whole world!" another young wizard sighed.


    At the Gryffindor table, Hermione was dressed inyers of clothes, a knitted hat on her head, and a massive mask covering her face.


    "Hermione, what''s the matter with you?" Katie Bell, a year older than her and a chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, asked puzzledly.


    "I caught a cold, cough cough!" she said briefly.


    "But I noticed the color of your eyes has changed too, a bit like a cat''s..." a young witch observed her closely.


    "Uh... probably due to magic," Hermione deflected the topic, "Katie, how did you spend your holidays?"


    Katie was indeed diverted, pouting. "Stayed home, really boring except for being safer. Do you think there''ll be more attacks? I read a lot of newspapers during the break..."


    "Don''t worry, Katie. There won''t be any more attacks," Hermione said confidently.


    "How do you know?"


    "Cough cough, you''ll understand in a bit," Hermione replied, and on the other side, Harry tugged at her sleeve.


    He whispered, "Hermione, isn''t your magic transformationplete yet? Honestly, your appearance is a bit odd."


    She sighed in frustration, "Not yet¡ªI can manage to use it, but the effect is quite poor, and I still have a lightyer of fur on my face. Maybe in another day or two, Professor Harp said my progress has been fast."


    Ron tapped an empty tall goblet with his fork. "But how are you going to eat?"


    "Not eating!" Hermione replied indignantly.


    Ding ding ding! At the teacher''s table, Dumbledore tapped a ss in front of him.


    The Great Hall gradually quieted down.


    Dumbledore stood up, his face radiant, and said, "Wee back, young wizards."


    A bit dyed, I apologize.


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 Chapter 83: Acclaimed

    Chapter 83: Acimed


    "Before indulging in the feast, you shall endure the ramblings of an old man," Dumbledore cleared his throat.


    "First and foremost, it warms my heart to see you all sprightly return to the school and joyously share your experiences with yourpanions. Yet, I must mention that in the previous term, we weathered through some difficult months¡­"


    The young wizards fixed their gazes upon Dumbledore''s face, eager to hear what he had to say.


    "...We faced two attacks, and one young wizard remains confined to a sickbed in the infirmary." Dumbledore paused, then suddenly raised his tone, "But thanks to a few individuals, through their diligence, they uncovered the truth and, most bravely, vanquished the beast within the Chamber of Secrets."


    "Aye, we must not forget their names¡ªHarry Potter! Ron Weasley! Hermione Granger!"


    All eyes zed upon the Gryffindor table, where they incredulously beheld the trio.


    "You''re joking!" one of the twins eximed, his voice reverberating through the hall, enlivening the solemn atmosphere.


    Dumbledore was tickled, and he chuckled, saying with a cheerful demeanor, "Of course not, Weasley. But speaking of jests, it reminds me of a rather amusing troll and dwarf joke¡ª"


    "Cough, cough!" Professor McGonagall beside him erupted into a fit of coughing.


    "Ahem, well, let us return to the matter at hand. Their valor has earned unanimous praise from several professors. For this, I shall reward each of them with two hundred points!" Dumbledore dered.


    Snape couldn''t help but emit a derisive snort.


    The Gryffindor table erupted into jubtion, their apuse thunderous. The Weasley twins dashed over to Harry and Ron, enveloping them in a hug. Percy, from a corner, loudly eximed, "That''s my brother! My brother! They''ll also share the trophy for Special Services to the School!"


    Hermione gazed at the awestruck Katie Bell and merrily remarked, "See? I told you there wouldn''t be any danger!"


    The hall resounded with chatter for several minutes before gradually subsiding.


    However, the majority of attention still fixated on the trio of Harry. On the Slytherin table, Draco Malfoy aggressively stabbed his te with a silver fork, emitting a grating sound.


    Potter! It''s always Potter, everything''s Potter!


    I''ve put in effort too... he glowered at Harry indignantly.


    "Headmaster Dumbledore," a seventh-year Gryffindor student stood up, "can you borate? Did Szar Slytherin truly release a monster in the Chamber to rid the school of those he deemed unworthy of magic?"


    The usation in this question was overt, and the Slytherin wizards directed their res at him, almost wishing to curse him on the spot. However, the expressions of the other three houses'' students turned silent andplex as they looked toward the Slytherin table.


    "I believe not, Mr. Xavier," Dumbledore''s expression grew serious as he spoke. He first cast a nce around the students, calming the turmoil, before continuing in aposed manner, "The creature in the Chamber¡ªthe basilisk¡ªhas existed for centuries, yet recorded attacks onlyprise two from this year and one fifty years ago."


    "Prior to these instances, it had been dormant for nearly a millennium. We have reason to infer that these attacks were not the intended actions of Szar Slytherin."


    Dumbledore swiftly moved on from the previous topic. "Tomorrow, I shall ce the basilisk within the courtyard of the castle, and I shall also invite some reporters to enter the school. Please adhere to decorum, you may observe, but do not attempt to approach it, and the professors shall employ protective magic."


    "Now, let us revel in this feast."


    Dumbledore settled back into his chair and with a wave of his wand, the table began to fill with an array of foods.


    However, the young wizards'' minds were not focused on this. Dumbledore''s speech carried a wealth of information, and they were all buzzing with discussion¡ªranging from Szar Slytherin''s character to the nature of the creature in the Chamber, and to how the Potter trio managed to defeat it.


    "What does the basilisk look like?" a Gryffindor young wizard asked Harry.


    "Um, it''s a massive serpent, and its gaze is deadly."


    "Awesome! How big is it? Is it bigger than when Lockhart conjured one during the Dueling Club?"


    Ron, his mouth stuffed and words muffled, interjected, "Hey mate, it''s way bigger than that."


    The young wizard gazed at Ron skeptically. "Did you really get involved too?"


    "Dean, my role was much more significant than you can imagine!" Despite his mouth being about to burst from being so full, Ron couldn''t resist defending himself.


    Hermione Granger sat quietly by, not saying a word.


    "Hermione, aren''t you hungry?" Katie beside her looked at the small witch wearing a mask curiously and inquired.


    "...Not hungry," Hermione stubbornly replied. However, she soon produced two parchment papers from her pocket and wrapped up the beef pie on her te.


    The girls stared at her dumbfounded, their forks hovering midair.


    The student tables buzzed with activity, and the teacher''s table was not calm either. Some professors, uninformed, were trying to glean the details.


    Felix Harp dealt with Lockhart''s incessant questioning, bypassing Professor Flitwick and approaching Dumbledore.


    "Headmaster, concerning the pressure from some pure-blood families..."


    "You mean this!" Dumbledore set down his utensils, quite interested. "I have been in contact with most of the Board of Governors these days, and they all believe that me retaining this position would be for the best."


    "And what about the Malfoy family?"


    "Lucius... regrettably, he''s currently facing quite a bit of trouble. The other governors are not pleased with his past threatening actions and are inclined to remove him from the Board. I''ve heard that he''s turned to Fudge."


    "The Minister of Magic?"


    "Yes, if all goes as expected, you''ll meet him tomorrow," Dumbledore foresaw with keen insight.


    Felix nodded knowingly.


    The evening banquet concluded swiftly. The Gryffindor young wizards surrounded the trio of Harry, eager to inquire about the specifics.


    Ron was on a roll in that department. He began to vividly recount the events.


    From Harry''s perspective, aside from the parts that required secrecy¡ªlike the professors'' involvement or the Gryffindor sword¡ªRon embellished nearly every other aspect to the maximum degree.


    Hermione quietly slipped away back to their dormitory and secretly devoured the two pies, returning with a satisfied look.


    "...So, that''s why I was given detention earlier. I didn''t expect Lockhart to fall so easily when I pushed him." Ron, spewing saliva, regretfullymented.


    Hermione, hidden amidst the crowd, happened to overhear a young wizard asking Ron, "So you don''t have detention anymore?"


    Ron''s mouth gaped open, resembling a deted balloon. Suddenly, he wore a crestfallen expression.


    Indeed, he had won honor for the house, but he couldn''t escape the punishment for attacking innocent professors.


    In truth, Professor McGonagall had already informed him of the content and duration of his detention. After a circuitous route, he unfortunately ended up in Lockhart''s hands.


    He had heard from Harry about the detention''s content¡ªwriting replies to Lockhart''s fans, which seemed light, but four hours of repetitivebor made one question the meaning of life.


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 Chapter 84: Professor Serpent

    Chapter 84: Professor Serpent


    In the first ss of the new term, Felix Harp sensed the inner restlessness of the young wizards. They were all eager for the ss to end so they could go to the courtyard to see the serpent creature.


    He cleared his throat, capturing the attention of the young wizards, and waved his wand gently, "Wulong ch¨±d¨°ng." Apanied by a cloud of ck smoke, a small snake with dark spots coiled around its bodynded on the lectern.


    It hissed, its slender body constantly twisting.


    The young wizards looked up one by one, craning their necks to get a clearer view.


    Felix''s wand glided across its scales, and the appearance of the small spotted snake underwent a dramatic transformation. Its smooth scales became thick and solid, giving off a metallic sheen; its color turned a vibrant green, emitting the distinctive radiance of venomous snakes.


    Even its body swelled quite a bit. It raised its t snake head, and a pair of yellow eyes looked cold and fierce.


    "Professor, is this... the serpent creature?" a student asked.


    "That''s right."


    "So, Potter and them defeated this little fellow?"


    The young wizards in the audience expressed some disappointment; it seemed too small, just about three or four feet.


    Especially with the serpent creature crouched on the lectern, it seemed even more inconspicuous.


    Many young wizards suddenly had a feeling of "I could handle this."


    But the appearance of the serpent creature was indeed quite intimidating, especially those yellow eyes, which looked truly chilling.


    Felix didn''tment on their reactions and continued to exin, "The greatest threat of serpent creatures lies in their eyes; they possess a deadly gaze. In other words, when you see them, you might have already lost the ability to fight back forever."


    The murmurs in the audience quieted down.


    "And furthermore¡ª"


    He waved his wand, and the small serpent creature crouched on the lectern suddenly leaped off the table, causing the young wizards in the front row to jerk their bodies backward in unison.


    And as it arched in a half-circle in mid-air andnded precisely in the center of the ssroom, the small serpent creature''s body rapidly expanded.


    In an instant, it erged by more than ten times. Before they could react, it had filled up more than half of the ssroom''s space.


    "Ah, ah, ah!" Many young wizards screamed, hastily dodging the enormous serpent creature that loomed over them. But soon, they realized that the creature''s body had turned from solid to a form of ck mist.


    A young wizard sitting on the floor summoned the courage to reach out; his hand went straight through the ck mist. He raised his head to see that many people had half their bodies immersed in the mist, and now they were frantically moving out, terrified.


    Felix said with a wicked grin, "Well, this is the true size of a serpent creature."


    After a while, the young wizards realized that this thing posed them no harm and began to calm down.


    Several students sheepishly got up from the floor. One of them, a young witch named Campbell Jin, used her wand to stir the scales of the misty serpent creature, turning the nearby scales back into a mass of ck mist.


    Many young wizards followed her curiosity. During this process, the misty serpent creature wandered around the small ssroom, its massive snake body passing through desks, chairs, books, and people.


    But by now, most of the young wizards were no longer afraid. They yfully poked at it with their wands, causing various colored sparks to flicker within the hazy mist.


    After a few minutes, the serpent creature shrank back to a size of about three or four feet, its body transforming back from mist to a radiant green solid.


    "Professor, is this the true form of the serpent creature in the Chamber?" a young wizard asked in an awe-filled tone.


    "You can interpret it that way." Felix conjured a chair and sat down, "Since you''re curious about the serpent creature, let it teach you today."


    The young wizards exchanged puzzled nces, but at that moment, a voice simr to that of Professor Harp came from the mouth of the serpent creature.


    "Open your books to page 79 now. We will study an excerpt from the manuscript tranted by the ancient runic expert, Cir Matthews, in 1842. This manuscript dates back approximately seven centuries."


    Many young wizards were startled, but having had the prior experience, they managed to stay seated without falling off their chairs again. They stared with wide eyes at the diminutive serpent creature standing on the lectern with its upper body raised.


    They blinked in confusion and then looked at Professor Harp, who sat calmly in a corner. Numerousplex thoughts raced through their minds.


    The small serpent creature opened its mouth, revealing thin, dagger-like teeth, "Indeed, it''s me, your Ancient Runes professor. So, what are you waiting for?" The creature suddenly approached the front row of young wizards, causing one of them to drop her quill.


    "Campbell, tell me, what did I just talk about?"


    "Pr-Professor, you just talked about the runic symbol Eoh, representing yew tree, symbolizing death and rebirth, and also signifying continuity and endurance," stammered Campbell Jin, a young witch.


    "Very well said, Ravenw ten points," hissed the serpent creature.


    Campbell breathed a sigh of relief and sat down, patting her chest.


    "So, why aren''t you writing it down?"


    The other young wizards began to furiously scribble.


    In the remaining ss, the young wizards gradually warmed up to this somewhat eerie "Professor Serpent." The serpent professor continuously roamed the aisles on both sides, asionally approaching inattentive students, ring at them with its yellow eyes, and loudly eximing, "Don''t look at me, look at your books!"


    Meanwhile, Professor Harp, sitting in the corner, wore a smile on his face from start to finish, his mood seeming quite delightful.


    As the ss approached its end, Felix Harp stood up. He waved his wand, and amidst the reluctant expressions of the young wizards, he transformed their serpent professor back into ck mist.


    "For your homework today, you are to recount the contents of this manuscript on a piece of parchment, using the knowledge you''ve gained in your third and fourth years."


    Just as the bell rang to signal the end of ss, the corridor filled with the sound of bustling footsteps and chatter¡ªthese young wizards were eager to rush out and head to the courtyard. Inside the fifth-year Ancient Runes ssroom, the young wizards absentmindedly packed up their belongings and left the room at a leisurely pace.


    "Hey! Campbell,e on, let''s go see the serpent creature!" Her friend called out to her, brimming with excitement, "I''ve been looking forward to this since myst Transfiguration ss."


    Campbell responded nonchntly, "You go ahead."


    "What about you?"


    "I suddenly lost interest in the serpent creature," Campbell replied.


    The young wizards walking out of the Ancient Runes ssroom with her nodded in agreement. They not only had a ss with the serpent creature but also received a lesson on studying Ancient Runes from it.


    ...


    In the courtyard, quite a few young wizards had gathered, huddled together in a blurry crowd.


    In the midst of the young wizards was a massive serpent creature, about forty feet long. Its body was as thick as an oak tree trunk, with scales the size of a hand''s palm, giving it a rough appearance that glistened with a cold, icy green light.


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 Chapter 85: Cornelius Fudge

    Chapter 85: Cornelius Fudge


    Upon the t, snake-like head of the serpent, arge hole pierced through its skull and upper jaw, leaving only two dark, empty cavities for its eyes.


    From the crowd, intermittent gasps of fear and astonishment could be heard.


    These wizards ranged from first and second years to sixth and seventh years, yet in the face of the deceased serpent, they couldn''t help but swallow nervously.


    One young wizard among them voiced the collective curiosity, "Potter and the others fought against this colossal creature? How did they manage?"


    No one answered his question.


    A Slytherin student couldn''t resist moving closer, extending his hand, but an invisible barrier repelled him.


    "As Dumbledore mentioned, Flint," a sharp voice interjected. The crowd parted to make way for Professor Flitwick.


    Despite his short stature, the young wizards of Hogwarts held great respect for him, for he taught with fervor and treated students from all four houses impartially.


    He approached the forefront, circling around the serpent. "A truly rare magical creature, I must say. I believe Hagrid would have adored it."


    ...


    After the ss ended, Felix Harp considered for a moment and then decided to go to the courtyard.


    Dumbledore had mentioned atst night''s banquet that Minister Cornelius Fudge of the Ministry of Magic would be visiting today. Felix intended to observe this person up close.


    Rumors painted him as Dumbledore''s puppet, devoid of his own opinions. However, Felix did not subscribe to this view. A person skilled in political maniption, when in a vulnerable position, could be more unscrupulous than the most aplished sycophant.


    He descended the stairs, preparing to cross the hall.


    Just then, a distantmotion reached his ears, and a group of seven or eight people approached him.


    "Minister Fudge, pleasee this way," Professor McGonagall led the procession.


    Following her was a stout, short middle-aged man. He had a rotund and somewhat anxious appearance, with disheveled gray hair and a worried expression on his face.


    His attire was a peculiar mishmash: pinstriped suit, bright red tie, ck long cloak, and pointed purple boots. He also held a dark green top hat under his arm.


    At a nce, Felix recognized him: Cornelius Fudge, the current Minister for Magic. Following closely behind him was a tall man dressed with a sense of arrogance, presumably one of Fudge''s subordinates.


    Behind them trailed a middle-aged man with tinum blonde hair, draped in a long ck traveling cloak. His face bore an icy, aloof expression that kept people at bay. He held something resembling a wand in his hand.


    Observing his distinctive hair color, Felix spected ¨C perhaps he belonged to the well-known pure-blood family, the Malfoys?


    Following the Malfoy was a woman. Felix had actually crossed paths with her before ¨C Rita Skeeter. She had heavily applied makeup and was energetically directing her two assistants, "Seize the moment, seize it! Understand? Take more photos."


    The two young men with magical cameras nodded obediently.


    Felix couldn''t help but chuckle, noting Rita''s remarkableposure as a media figure.


    Rita Skeeter carried a messenger bag and, after passing through the hall, began to carefully scan her surroundings.


    Coincidentally, her gaze locked onto Felix''s, and her pupils contracted suddenly. Her steps became hesitant and uncertain.


    Trailing behind her, Dumbledore walked slowly, bringing up the rear. He was the tallest among them all. At this moment, his azure eyes were fixed on the scene.


    Professor McGonagall noticed Felix ahead and halted, "Ah, Felix. Allow me to introduce you. This is Minister Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic." With a slight huff, she continued, "And these two are Lucius Malfoy and Rita Skeeter."


    Professor McGonagall spotted Felix Harp ahead and paused. "Oh, Felix. Allow me to introduce you. This is Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic." Afterward, she let out a light huff, reluctantly saying, "These two are Lucius Malfoy and Rita Skeeter."


    Fudge disyed enough enthusiasm, briskly advancing and extending both hands. "Felix Harp, I''ve heard so much about you. I''ve heard the French Minister of Magic mention your name on more than one asion."


    Felix discreetly withdrew his hand. "Just wrote a few books, that''s all." He kept his gaze on Fudge''s eyes, but didn''t perceive much enthusiasm there.


    He looked at Rita Skeeter and whispered softly, "Rita."


    This woman with her exaggerated curls greeted awkwardly, "Hello, Mr. Harp." She wasn''t sure if she should pretend not to know him. What if revealing this person''s secret led to trouble?


    But if Felix Harp hadn''t been mistaken, in that instant, both Fudge and Malfoy''s gazes subtly shifted.


    Truly perceptive... one might say a true yer in the world of fame and prestige?


    Felix Harp nodded at Malfoy; they had no significant interaction.


    However, Lucius Malfoy, with his gray eyes, gazed at him for two seconds, then conjured a reserved smile. He extended his right hand. "Hello, Mr. Harp."


    Felix Harp felt surprised. He also extended his hand. "Hello, Mr. Malfoy."


    After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Professor McGonagall resumed leading the way ahead. Felix had quietly maneuvered to the back of the group, walking alongside Dumbledore.


    The two remained at the rear, conversing in hushed tones.


    "Felix, abusing Legilimency is not proper," Dumbledore blinked, "It will deprive you of much enjoyment and may lead you to grow weary of this world."


    "Is this from your own experience?"


    "Everyone has their youthful days." Dumbledore didn''t provide a direct answer, yet Felix had understood the underlying implication ¨C young people often make mistakes.


    So Felix stated, "I am young now, Headmaster Dumbledore. Moreover, I only briefly sensed his true emotions. It aids in better understanding the other person, doesn''t it?"


    Dumbledore didn''t persist with the topic. He asked with genuine interest, "What did you sense?"


    "Are you interested in the Minister of Magic''s thoughts?" Felix Harp counter-questioned.


    "No, Felix. I can see through him perfectly well without Legilimency. Perhaps, this is the only thing I can master without needing to learn actively, even after living for a century."


    Felix felt a bit surprised. Shouldn''t Dumbledore not be discussing these things with him? When did their rtionship be this intimate?


    The two fell silent for a while.


    As they reached the courtyard, Professor McGonagall was already standing with Fudge and others before the serpent. Felix Harp and Dumbledore didn''t push forward; they remained on the outskirts of the crowd.


    Hagrid stood awkwardly in a corner. Felix Harp overheard some remarks from the young wizards and grasped the situation.


    Just earlier, Hagrid had been pleading with Professor Flitwick to undo the protective magic around the serpent. He wished to experience the charm of these creatures up close...


    Is this how magical creatures researchers generally think?


    So, Professor Kettleburn has a few seconds left to reach the scene? Felix Harp thought, a bit out of tune.


    Allow me to share something with everyone.


    Sometimes, the author revises chapters. If it''s just a few typos, it won''t affect thements for this section. However, if there are more substantial changes, like if I add a couple of sentences, it might affect thements for this part.


    I''ve encountered this situation before, so I wanted to rify.


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 Chapter 86: Unexpected Events

    Chapter 86: Unexpected Events


    At some point, Harry, Ron, and Hermione had also arrived. Hermione was still wearing that oversized mask and knitted hat, but her eyes had returned to their brown color.


    This meant her Disillusionment Charm was more proficient now ¨C though it could also be due to the effects of Madam Pomfrey''s potion.


    Ron held onto Harry and Hermione as they hid behind a pir. He peeked out and whispered, "Cornelius Fudge, Lucius Malfoy, and Rita Skeeter! What a day, having all three pests here at the same time!"


    Harry asked, "Who''s Cornelius Fudge?"


    "He''s the Minister of Magic and my dad''s boss. But he''s a big shot, looks down on my dad''s job, you know, dealing with Muggle stuff and all, never took it seriously¡­" Ron grumbled.


    Hermione''s eyes were fixed on Rita Skeeter, studying her from behind.


    "Is that woman Rita Skeeter? She has quite the dreadful taste," Hermione quipped about her attire.


    "I agree with you, I mean, even Lockhart has better fashion sense in that department, and she''s notcking in money... Merlin''s beard!" Ron suddenly groaned.


    "What''s wrong?"


    "There, look over there," Ron pointed in another direction, "Lockhart''s here too, all four nuisances gathered!"


    Sure enough, Harry looked up and saw Gilderoy Lockhart in a splendid robe, his face adorned with a charming smile. He walked past young wizards, greeting Fudge and Lucius.


    "He''s like a peacock with its tail unfurled," Ron''s expression was resistant ¨C he had to report to Lockhart''s officeter tonight.


    Lockhart gracefully bowed, his smile radiating, "Minister Fudge, Mr. Malfoy, a pleasure to see you both."


    Fudge hesitated for a moment, then extended his hands with a beaming smile, "Mr. Lockhart, hello, I''ve read all of your books, I must admit, quite enlightening¡­"


    Lockhart modestly replied, "I merely did what I should, Minister. I can''t simply turn a blind eye to unfortunate souls in trouble."


    Fudge had a contemtive expression, "There aren''t many responsible adventurers like you."


    Lockhart seemed about to say more, but Dumbledore stepped forward, his eyes twinkling, "Fudge, perhaps we should first inspect the creature in the Chamber." He waved his wand, dispelling the invisible protective barrier around the basilisk''s remains.


    "Oh, Dumbledore, yes, of course," Fudge adjusted his hat, turned to a tall, dark-skinned man by his side, and issued amand, "Kingsley, you do the check."


    The man called Kingsley took a few steps past the railings, approaching the basilisk. He wore dragon-hide gloves and meticulously examined the creature''s remains.


    Felix didn''t approach; he spotted a familiar figure ¨C Luna Lovegood, the Ravenw witch.


    He strolled over and stood beside her, "Luna."


    "I really like the gift you gave me, Professor Harp," her eyes were fixed on Rita Skeeter''s jewel-encrusted sses. She sang-song, "I think her memory isn''t very good."


    "Why do you say that?"


    "She regrets leaving some important things at home." Luna said.


    Felix watched Rita Skeeter, who was directing her assistants to take photos, remaining nomittal.


    "Have you be friends with the girl with the fiery hair?"


    Luna nced at him in surprise, "We''re already friends." She said thoughtfully, "I think the rooster doll I gave her yed a significant role."


    "Really?" Felix puckered his lips.


    Before long, Kingsley reported to Fudge, "Minister, it''s confirmed to be the basilisk, there''s no danger anymore."


    "Very well, Kingsley." Fudge prepared to step closer to examine the basilisk, but he was halted by the voice of Rita Skeeter.


    "Minister Fudge, I think we should take a photo together for tomorrow''s front page." Skeeter said with a smile.


    "Oh, of course, no problem."


    The adult wizards lined up, and Rita Skeeter rushed over, dragging Lockhart ¨C who had taken center stage ¨C aside, "This is your spot!"


    Reluctantly, Lockhart stood at the edge.


    "Professor Flitwick?"


    Flitwick waved his hand and stepped aside.


    "Snap!" The shutter clicked, capturing the moment.


    Fudge, Dumbledore, Malfoy, Professor McGonagall, and Kingsley stood together with the massive basilisk in the background.


    With today''s taskpleted, the group stood near the basilisk. Fudge took a few steps forward, belly protruding, as he carefully observed the creature, "This thing has been at Hogwarts for thousands of years. How did it manage to hide itself from discovery?"


    Professor McGonagall exined, "Through thework of pipes throughout Hogwarts ¨C the school has undergone several renovations, and the interior pipes are intricate and confusing. Very few can grasp the fullyout, and it has never been thoroughly investigated."


    Fudge didn''t speak; he whispered to Lucius by his side.


    Lockhart also approached, eyeing the basilisk, "Doesn''t seem that hard to deal with. I''ve encountered a water beast before; it could fill half ake." He tapped the basilisk''s fang with his wand, about to say something cheeky, but his wand immediately emitted a "sizzle" sound. "Oh, Merlin!" He frantically waved his wand.


    The young wizards watching nearby quickly retreated more than ten meters, as if fleeing a disaster.


    However, the Minister for Magic, who was looking down at the basilisk''s head, suffered the misfortune. A drop of saliva and venom mixture, apanied by a thread, sttered onto Fudge''s face. His piercing scream echoed through the air.


    Lucius Malfoy quickly erected a magical barrier and watched the spectacle with cold eyes. He retreated with magic, but after taking only two steps back, he was blocked by a ring of golden light.


    Felix, at some point, had raised his wand, "Young wizards, step back."


    Several professors were doing the same. Protective magic from Flitwick, McGonagall, and Dumbledore adorned the courtyard in a colorful disy.


    Hagrid extended his massive fan-like hand and lifted the fallen young wizards, then pushed them away.


    But Lucius, Fudge, and Lockhart were the closest. They were enveloped byyer uponyer of magic, and a droplet of salivaden venom struck his armor charm, producing a "sizzle" sound.


    His face paled as he eximed, "Stop, you fool!"


    Lockhart shook his wand a few times before realizing what he had done. He stood flustered in front of Fudge, desperately trying to do something, "Oh, Minister Fudge, I''m sorry!"


    But Fudge''s scream grew louder. His face turned pitch ck, and the spreading ck mark on his face visibly expanded.


    The scene was a tangled mess.


    "Silence!" Dumbledore shouted, dispersing the magic blocking his way. He took a few steps forward and ced his wand against Fudge''s face. Layer afteryer of golden light emanated from the wand, halting the expansion of the ck mark.


    Dumbledore examined it carefully, "Further treatment is needed, Fudge. I''ll take you to the infirmary."


    "No, take me to St. Mungo''s! My face is ruined! Gilderoy Lockhart, I''ll have you thrown into Azkaban #%&... #%&..." Fudge spat out a string of expletives.


    "Oh, dear," Professor McGonagall pressed her lips together, staring at the frantic Fudge, struggling to resist the urge to cast a Stunning Spell on him. Finally, the Transfiguration professor shouted at the young wizards around, "All of you, leave this area and go to ss!"


    The young wizards scattered like birds and beasts.


    Rita Skeeter eagerly seized her camera, pressing the shutter button like a maniac. Her mouth stretched wide, her two enormous gold teeth glistened in the sunlight.


    "Look at that woman, I can practically see her mrs!" Ron, hiding behind a courtyard pir, pointed at Rita Skeeter and said, "She''s got a big story today!"


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 Chapter 87: Is Everything a Curse?

    Chapter 87: Is Everything a Curse?


    "Absolutely thrilling! I never even dreamed of such a plot twist." Fred and George muttered to each other, taking a detour and hiding in the bushes, peeking through the gaps to catch themotion.


    Dumbledore held Fawkes'' hand, "Fear not, Fawkes. You''ll be alright."


    "You promise, Dumbledore?" half of his face turned pitch-ck.


    "I promise you, Fawkes."


    Fawkes'' expression gradually eased, and he drifted off to sleep.


    Dumbledore withdrew his radiant fingers and turned to Kingsley, "We need to take him to the infirmary."


    "But Minister Fawkes said..."


    "The basilisk venom needs to be dealt with swiftly," Dumbledore stated.


    The man named Kingsley quickly acquiesced, "I''ll follow your lead."


    Dumbledore turned to Flitwick and McGonagall, "Filius, Minerva, stay here, maintain order, and remove the basilisk." The two professors nodded in agreement.


    Hagrid volunteered to carry Fawkes, and with Dumbledore and Kingsley, he strode purposefully towards the direction of the infirmary.


    Lucius took advantage of the chaos to find his son, Draco Malfoy.


    "What''s the truth about the Chamber?" Lucius inquired.


    "Potter and his gang did it! Dad, Potter''s a Parseltongue, and that''s how he found the Chamber!" Draco said, his expression sour.


    "Parseltongue!" Lucius was genuinely taken aback; he had thought that it was his discarded diary given to the Weasley girl that had been discovered.


    "Have they found out who opened the Chamber?" Lucius asked vaguely.


    "No, not yet," Draco said, fearful, ncing at his father. He stuttered and didn''t mention his brief episode of being controlled by a dark magical item.


    "Is that so?" Lucius didn''t catch this minor detail. His expression became enigmatically profound.


    ...


    Rita Skeeter wanted to capture the Minister of Magic''s dire situation on film, but when she nced at the scene with Ludo Bagman, after some consideration, she quickly settled on her true target.


    Withrades like these, you had to mess with them!


    "Click!"


    "Click!"


    "Click!"


    "Click!"


    Ludo Bagman was at a loss, shielding his face, "Hey, stop it! Stop it now!"


    Yet, Rita Skeeter became even more enthusiastic in her photography. Her creative fervor was exploding, but sadly, due to her reservations, she had not brought her self-writing quill and parchment.


    She nced secretly at Felix, who was silently observing all of this.


    This reassured Rita Skeeter; it seemed ''he'' didn''t care about others. Next time she came to Hogwarts, she would be fully prepared.


    "Merlin''s beard, Professor McGonagall must be furious," Hermione said, hiding behind a massive column. Harry and Ron looked at their Transfiguration professor; her face was contorted almost beyond recognition.


    The situation had escted to Ludo Bagman rushing forward to wrestle the camera from Skeeter, but seemingly, relying solely on physical strength, Ludo Bagman wasn''t a match for her. Skeeter''s two-inch-long nails left several scratches on his face.


    "My handsome visage!" Ludo Bagman was close to losing his mind.


    Professor McGonagall had to step forward to separate the two, her lips trembling in anger. "Professor Lockhart, I urge you to leave this ce immediately! As for you..." She looked at Rita Skeeter with disdain.


    "Oh, you don''t need to worry about me, Professor McGonagall." Rita Skeeter brazenly spoke, "I''m just wandering around. It''s been many years since I returned to the school. Quite nostalgic."


    "Suit yourself," McGonagall couldn''t attend to her at the moment. She coordinated with Professor Flitwick to remove the basilisk.


    Felix Harp looked around and saw Lockhart fuming like an enraged bull. He had no interest in getting involved. He turned and headed in the direction of the infirmary.


    After a while, Lockhart had calmed downpletely. He suddenly realized that he was facing an unprecedented crisis. He tidied his disheveled hair and said to Rita Skeeter, "Skeeter, we need to talk, one on one."


    The woman nced at him arrogantly. She held her greatest treasure, the magical camera, and handed it to her two assistants. "Guard it, and keep your distance."


    Her assistants left, leaving only Lockhart and Skeeter in the open space.


    Unbeknownst to them, the twins and the trio watched, holding their breath.


    Rita Skeeter disdainfully cast a nce at Lockhart. She smirked, taking on the stance of a victor. "What do you want to talk to me about? I think there''s no need for that¡ª"


    "The renowned bestselling author!"


    Lockhart''s handsome face twisted, but he looked around and said in a low voice, "We don''t need to escte this to such a point. I can offer you a sum of Galleons aspensation, as long as you never mention this matter again."


    Rita Skeeter gave him a sidelong nce.


    "Two thousand Galleons!" Lockhart said painfully.


    No response.


    "Four thousand!"


    "Ten thousand Galleons! You greedy woman!"


    Rita Skeeter put on a stiff smile, but she still didn''t yield. She leaned in and said, "Lockhart, you might want to think about it first. Consider how much the reputation of a great author is truly worth."


    "And," she toyed with her nails, "also think about how to clear your name from attacking the Minister of Magic."


    "It was an ident!" Lockhart gritted his teeth as he stared at her, but she left satisfied.


    He clutched his wand and considered making a move several times, but in the end, he gave up. He returned despondently to his office.


    The lively courtyard once again regained its tranquility.


    The twins exchanged a nce and silently left. Behind a pir, Harry and his friends exchanged bewildered looks.


    "Dirty money dealings!" Hermione eximed indignantly.


    Ron shrugged, "That''s normal. My dad got wind of the Malfoy Manor search way before today. You think why?"


    Harry looked in the direction Lockhart had left, unable to help asking, "Do you think Lockhart might end up in prison?"


    Ron answered without hesitation, "Hard to say, but if I were Fudge, I mean, as the Minister of Magic, I can''t afford to lose that man."


    "Don''t you find it too coincidental?"


    "What?"


    "Everything that happened today was idental, wasn''t it? Considering that the basilisk has been dealt with, he could have smoothly sailed through a whole year, then write a book like ''My Year at Hogwarts'' and earn a fortune in Galleons."


    "You mean, the Curse of the Mysterious Figure?" Ron caught on.


    Hermione blinked, quite interested. "A rather intriguing notion, Harry. Maybe the curse''s true nature is to amplify the probabilities of various idents. We could investigate."


    Ron wore a pained expression, "Hermione, don''t you think you''re too busytely? Let me calcte: sses, assignments, weekends teaching Muggle Studies, grading papers, studying special Transfiguration, and now you want to research curses..."


    Hermione snorted and retorted, "Don''t you think unraveling mysteries is quite fulfilling, Ron?"


    ...


    Meanwhile, Rita Skeeter, who had initially been leisurely enjoying the scenery, doubled back after rounding a corner in the courtyard.


    Her gaze searched relentlessly. Lockhart had moved quickly, and she had lost sight of him. However, she soon spotted an opportunity¡ª


    "Hey, you three! Young wizards, stop for a moment."


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 Chapter 88: All is Forgotten

    Chapter 88: All is Forgotten


    Rita Skeeter hurriedly stopped three curious young wizards in their tracks. "Do you know where Professor Lockhart''s office is? I need to speak with him," she said, shing them a forced smile, her thoughts already far away.


    Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked at her somewhat puzzled. Why was this woman back again?


    Hermione didn''t respond, but she red at Rita Skeeter with frustration. However, when Ron noticed her gaze shift to Harry, he quickly spoke up, "Next to ssroom 2 in the basement."


    Satisfied, Rita Skeeter departed. As she walked along the corridor, a strange feeling lingered in her mind. The way that girl had looked at her wasn''t exactly friendly.


    But who cared! She wasn''t anyone of importance. Rita could easily weave her into an article if she pleased.


    "Ron!" Hermione''s voice was exasperated.


    "Listen to me, don''t let Harry get involved with that woman. She''ll dig up Harry''s entire family history," Ron exined.


    The young witch''s tension eased a bit. It was then that Harry realized he seemed to have taken a whirlwind journey ande out unscathed.


    ...


    In a dim underground corridor, Rita Skeeter''s figure disappeared for a few seconds. Then, a beetle flew out from the darkness, fluttering its wings as it skillfully made its way to the side of ssroom 2 in the basement.


    The beetle hovered in midair for a few seconds before staring intently at the doorte that read "Defensive Dark Arts¡ªGilderoy Lockhart." Silently, it slipped through the crack in the door.


    Lockhart paced around his office in circles, his expression frustrated. Even the row of portraits on the wall wore worried frowns.


    The beetlended on the edge of one of the portraits, looking down upon him.


    "Damn it, #%&..."


    Lockhart had lost his usual suave demeanor. He repeatedly ran his hands through his hair, his once-golden curls bing increasingly unruly.


    "Maybe I can do something about this, just like I used to. I''m quite adept at it, remarkably so..."


    Lockhart muttered to his full-length portrait. The portrait Lockhart gave him a thumbs-up, showing a mouthful of white teeth.


    "But what about the charge of attacking the Minister of Magic? Merlin''s beard, this is absurd! It was an ident, just an ident! I won''t let someone falsely use me, even if he is the Minister!"


    "I''m not someone to be trifled with either. I have a massive readership; they''ll support me."


    Lockhart pondered for a while, feeling a bit reassured that he wouldn''t end up in Azkaban. That lifted his spirits somewhat.


    "But if my readers find out I''ve been deceiving them..." He shivered involuntarily.


    Everything seemed to be back to square one. How was he going to deal with the trouble caused by Rita Skeeter?


    Lockhart''s irritability resurfaced. He regretted seeking higher book sales and agreeing to be the professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts for Dumbledore.


    "Old fraud!"


    After a while, Lockhart sat down in his chair and began scribbling on a piece of parchment.


    The beetle spread its wings and approached from another side,nding near a stack of published books. It crawled past a pristine velvet handkerchief and hid behind an exquisite narrow-necked goblet.


    From this vantage point, it had a clear view of what Lockhart was writing.


    "Ms. Rita Skeeter, with a calm heart..." After writing just a few words, Lockhart suddenly crumpled the parchment into a ball and fiercely hurled it away.


    The paper ball knocked over the delicate goblet on the table, revealing the beetle hiding behind it.


    For a brief moment, Lockhart and the beetle exchanged a gaze, a profound sense of absurdity filling their minds¡ªits markings were identical to the gem-studded sses of that woman, Rita Skeeter!


    "How could this disgusting thing be in my room?"


    Under his scrutiny, the beetle quickly made its escape.


    But Lockhart didn''t think much of it; he absentmindedly picked up a stack of student assignments and smacked it down.


    "Smack!"


    Yet the beetle remained unharmed, and in fact seemed to enjoy the game even more. It crawled to the edge of the table, took flight with a flutter of wings, and quickly distanced itself from Lockhart.


    "Hey, I don''t believe this!" Lockhart eximed, chasing after the pesky beetle.


    After dodging a few times, the beetle was suddenly swatted to the ground by Lockhart. He stomped on it with his foot¡ª


    Finally, it was dealt with, and his frustrated mood lightened considerably.


    Wait a moment, this sensation...


    Lockhart soon realized that something was amiss. A dazzling light began to radiate from the soles of his feet, and his feet were involuntarily lifted and pushed back. A woman''s head emerged, quickly followed by her limbs.


    His eyes widened as he stared, and an overwhelming sense of absurdity washed over him¡ª the patterns on her body were the exact same as the jewelry sses worn by Rita Skeeter, the detestable woman!


    "Rita Skeeter! You, you, you, you!" Lockhart was dumbfounded, his foot still on her shoulder. He retreated in fear, stumbling back and colliding solidly with the table.


    Rita Skeetery on the ground, her face expressing embarrassment. She hadn''t anticipated things would develop to this point.


    Lockhart, theplete imbecile, had stumbled upon the one-in-a-million chance, and what luck was this! After years of peering into countless secrets, she was now caught by an idiot? Did he perhaps hold some prejudice against beetles?!


    Meanwhile, Lockhart''s expression shifted between doubt and uncertainty. His hand was reaching for his wand behind him...


    He stalled for time, "Rita Skeeter! I never would''ve thought you were an Animagus! Merlin''s beard! An illegal Animagus, sneaking into my room to spy on me..." He reached for his wand in a quick motion!


    With his wand in hand, victory was already in his grasp.


    But when he turned around, Rita Skeeter was already charging at him, teeth bared.


    "Thud!"


    Skeeter''s plump body collided with Lockhart''s, prompting him to emit a pained cry. They wrestled together, and the figures in Lockhart''s portrait on the wall screamed in unison.


    "Get off me!" Lockhart struggled desperately.


    "Huff, huff!"


    Rita Skeeter gained the upper hand due to her size. With one hand restraining Lockhart, the other pulled a wand from her pocket. She pointed the tip of the wand fiercely at his forehead, reciting incantations like a madwoman.


    "All is forgotten!"


    After a moment, Lockhart''s expression grew vacant.


    When he snapped out of it, Lockhart found his thoughts jumbled. "Hmm, what was I thinking about? Right, that woman Rita Skeeter. I need to write her a letter, I have to agree to her demands, or my career and reputation will be ruined."


    "Merlin''s beard, one trouble after another. I never should''vee to Hogwarts!"


    Lockhart stood up, and his office was once again neat and orderly, though the figures in the portraits on the wall looked rather listless,cking vitality.


    ...


    On the other side, Felix Harp, along with Dumbledore and the others, pursued them to the infirmary. Dumbledore summoned Fawkes once more, the little phoenix ncing reproachfully at its master before begrudgingly using its tears to heal Fawkes.


    "At least there are nosting effects. If news of the Minister being attacked at Hogwarts were to spread..." Madame Pomfrey poured a vial of ck potion and administered it to Fawkes, whose cheeks took on a healthy hue.


    "Based on what I know of the Minister, he won''t divulge it," Kingsley said, "But that woman, Rita Skeeter, she''s a problem!"


    "Don''t worry, I''ll have a talk with her," Felix said calmly, studying Fawkes''plexion, and discreetly plucking a strand of its feathers.


    Not that he intended to do anything with it; it was just that the opportunity was too rare.


    Pluck it or not, who knew if it mighte in handyter...


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 Chapter 89: Philosophies

    Chapter 89: Philosophies


    Kingsley looked at Felix Harp, hesitating slightly, "I know your name, Felix Harp, but she''s not an easy person to deal with... That woman is as bold as theye. Even if it''s Minister Fudge himself, she might not listen."


    Felix remained silent.


    Dumbledore observed the scene, blinking his deep blue eyes. He connected this with Rita Skeeter''s attitude earlier, and he had some guesses forming.


    The old man bent down to carefully examine Fudge''s condition and said, "The Basilisk is indeed a dreadful creature. Even without considering its gaze, its venom is extremely rare."


    "Indeed," Kingsley nodded.


    "But even the most potent venom pales inparison to the desires of the human heart, just as Voldemort." Dumbledore said calmly, "As his power grew, so did his desires, crossing one boundary after another until he had no restraint left."


    "Voldemort has morized his actions. He once said, ''Magic is might.'' Felix, what''s your take on that?"


    Felix replied in a light, drifting manner, "Magic can bear many things ¨C ambition, dreams, power, authority, awe... But these are justndscapes on the journey. You can pause briefly, but ultimately, you must move forward."


    "Personally, I believe that magic is just magic, without the need or necessity to attach other essories." He lifted his head, meeting Dumbledore''s calm gaze.


    Kingsley listened with puzzlement to the conversation between the two. How did they transition from a Basilisk to a mysterious figure? Wasn''t he supposed to be dead long ago?


    "Knock, knock!"


    The infirmary''s door swung open, and Lucius Malfoy tapped on it with his wand. He raised his head slightly, keeping half his face in the shadows. "Dumbledore, I need to speak with you privately."


    "Ah, wee, Lucius, wee." Dumbledore stood up eagerly and walked out with him.


    Felix also took his leave at an opportune moment.


    Walking through the corridor that connected the Great Hall, Felix happened to catch a glimpse of Rita Skeeter''s figure. She seemed extremely flustered, her makeup smudged on her face.


    What was going on?


    "Rita." Felix emerged from the shadows, startling her.


    "Felix Harp! You, I..." Rita Skeeter stammered.


    Something was amiss...


    Felix looked into her eyes, his pale blue eyes faintly glowing.


    Nervous, fierce, relieved...


    What had she done?


    He hesitated whether to delve deeper ¨C there was a risk of being discovered. But Rita Skeeter lowered her head to avoid his gaze, "Apologies, Mr. Harp, I have something to attend to, a deadline to meet..." She hurriedly left.


    "Rita," Felix called after her, "regarding Minister Fudge''s injury, I hope it won''t cause too much turmoil."


    Rita Skeeter turned away from him, a cunning smile ying on her lips, "Mr. Harp, or should I say Felix, are you asking me to conceal the truth?"


    "As long as you don''t exaggerate or distort the facts, you know my stance."


    Once she was gone, Felix sighed. He should refocus his attention on magical linguistics research.


    However, there was also the matter of the Dueling ss that needed resolving.


    With the new term starting, he had to finalize the schedule and curriculum for the Dueling ss.


    After having lunch in the Great Hall, Felix descended into the castle''s underground, ready to discuss the teaching content with Professor Snape.


    Snape, d in his ck robes, weed him with an expressionless face.


    "Please, have a seat, Felix."


    Snape lifted the hem of his wizarding robe and sat across from Felix Harp. He waved his wand, causing a few pieces of parchment to float onto the table in front of them.


    "These are some of my..." Snape stared into Felix''s eyes, "...insights."


    Felix picked up the parchment and examined it carefully, yfully remarking, "Professor, didn''t you even offer a cup of tea?"


    Snape curled the corner of his mouth, "You''ve never drunk anything I personally handed you."


    Felix pursed his lips and fell silent.


    During his school days, Snape had frightened him with Veritaserum, and this Christmas, he had received a small bottle of highly concentrated Veritaserum. He didn''t dare to try any drink he received from him.


    He carefully read through the contents on the parchment.


    "Professor, are you suggesting that we learn one spell per ss?" Felix looked at Snape with some confusion.


    "Felix, many spells rted to duelinge with a certain level of danger. If you don''t slow down, they will bring you various unexpected surprises." Snape emphasized the word ''surprises.''


    Felix pondered for a moment, "So, one ss every two weeks. That means we''ll learn two spells per month."


    Snape said indifferently, "In one school year, you can learn more than a dozen spells. As long as they''re well-bnced, they can provideplete protection." He added with his usual sarcastic tone, "Some students graduate without even being able to perform a proper Shield Charm."


    Indeed, that was the reality of Hogwarts. Peace hadsted for too long, and young wizards were learning spells just to pass exams.


    Once the exams were over, obscure spells were left by the wayside.


    ording to the normal teaching order, fourth-year students should have mastered the Shield Charm. Unfortunately, this spell was taught in the Dark Arts Defense ss, and as for that ss at Hogwarts...


    It was aplex situation.


    Many fifth-year students reached the peak of their spellcasting abilities, as ording to the requirements of the Ordinary Wizarding Level (OWLs) exams, core subjects had to be examined, which naturally included Dark Arts Defense, Charms, Transfiguration, and other practical courses.


    However, after fifth year, students started choosing advanced sses based on their grades and career ns. Some less academically inclined students might only take one or two courses.


    If they happened to choose theory-heavy subjects, their spellcasting ability would plummet drastically, like a dive.


    By the time they graduated, they would likely have returned most of the spells they had learned to their professors.


    Felix brushed his ring on his left hand and pulled out a stack of parchment, saying, "Professor, this is my teaching n for the first spell. I''d appreciate any feedback."


    Snape took the parchment, casually flipping through two pages, but then his expression became serious.


    "This is..."


    Snape buried his head in the parchment, immersing himself in the magical skill tree that Felix had constructed. He asionally wielded his wand, making motions in the air.


    "Felix, is this how you understand the spell?"


    Felix replied gently, "It''s just my personal understanding of learning spells. There might be some gaps."


    Snape''s finger traced the parchment, swiftly reconstructing the spell in his mind.


    After a while, he waved his wand, emitting a dazzling red light that sent a chair three meters away flying, breaking it into pieces mid-air.


    "Professor Snape, what was that?" Felix asked him. The spell he just cast wasn''t too strong; in fact, it was too weak! It didn''t even match the Disarming Charm''s intensity when he defeated Lockhart.


    Snape contemted deeply within himself and then slowly opened his eyes. "I just suppressed my knowledge of the Disarming Charm and reconstructed it ording to your design."


    It suddenly dawned on Felix.


    Snape was not only a Potions Master but also had a profound understanding of spells.


    He had used memory magic to suppress his own understanding of the Disarming Charm and then relearned it ording to Felix''s n in an extremely short time.


    This wasn''t particrly difficult for Snape; he had all his umted magical knowledge, rted theories, and techniques. After some contemtion, he effortlessly cast the spell ording to Felix''s n.


    A different young wizard wouldn''t be able to do something simr.


    Snape''s action further validated the feasibility of Felix''s theory. The current sess rate remained astonishingly at one hundred percent.


    However, Felix''s focus shifted soon enough. He began to inquire about the practical techniques of memory magic from Snape...


    He had something to attend to in the morning, so Chapter Two would have to be moved to the afternoon.


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 Chapter 90: Classroom Clarifications

    Chapter 90: ssroom rifications


    Felix Harp remained in Professor Snape''s office until the conclusion of the first afternoon ss before hastily departing to teach the seventh-year wizards.


    Standing at the podium, he gazed down at the young wizards from all four houses.


    Less than twenty in total. "Tsk tsk! Truly too few."


    Since the beginning of the school year, Felix had already discussed with Professor McGonagall about "reasonably" rxing the students'' grades, allowing some of the ''Outstanding'' students to join his advanced ss.


    He did this with the thought that "every additional student counts." Perhaps he could use his strong charisma to convince one more young wizard to join the schrly family of ancient magical texts.


    However, this subject had been lukewarm before his arrival, with very little enthusiasm. Except for those aspiring to study ancient literature or aiming to work in the Department of Mysteries or the Ministry of Magic''s Archives, few others showed interest.


    In his seventh-year ss, there were either the top students who pursued perfection relentlessly, striving to select every avable option, or the underachievers who luckily snagged an ''eptable'' grade in Ancient Runes.


    For example, Marcus Flint was the epitome of an underachiever, having only chosen two courses in his seventh year: Care of Magical Creatures and Ancient Runes.


    It was only through a loophole created by Felix that Marcus even managed to get into the Ancient Runes ss; otherwise, he would have had just one course.


    As Felix knew, the seventh-year Care of Magical Creatures ss involved extensive knowledge about the care and breeding of rare magical creatures, requiring students to study and memorize a vast amount of material. Considering Marcus Flint''s brain, equivalent to a troll''s, Felix couldn''t fathom how he passed.


    From the podium, Felix waved his wand, causing a dozen rolls of parchment to flutter about andnd before the corresponding students.


    Hemented, "Overall, your performances are steadily improving. However, I must remind you that ording to the usual NEWT examination standards, you''ll need to trante an entire ancient manuscript."


    "This means that during the exam, you might encounter exceedingly obscure ancient runes that you won''t find covered in your five years of coursework."


    "Professor, how should we deal with that?" a Ravenw witch asked, sporting a pair of distinctive, thick sses.


    "Miss Ve, this involves a bit of exam strategy, such as inferring word meanings."


    "Inferring word meanings?" Ve pushed her sses up and asked with confusion.


    "In the sixth and seventh-year Ancient Runes curriculum, a considerable portion is dedicated to exining the evolution of ancient runes. Take Eoh, for instance; it underwent seven versions, each with slight differences in meaning and script."


    "However, if you understand its evolution logic, you''ll discover its core meaning hasn''t truly changed."


    Ve nodded, well-acquainted with this knowledge.


    And Professor Harp continued, "Hence, as long as you know one version of an ancient rune, based on its core meaning and the context, you can make reasonable inferences."


    "Even for runes you''ve never encountered, you can make logical inferences based on the word forms. This requires utilizing about 27mon evolutionary forms..."


    "Of course, magical runes that have unique powers aren''t included in this range; they require separate memorization, though their numbers are small."


    Beside her, Marcus had a look of despair, wondering what on earth they were talking about.


    Why do I recognize every word, yet when they''re strung together, it''s like reading gibberish?


    "I understand, Professor Harp," Ve said excitedly.


    In this ss, she was the only one with a genuine passion for ancient runes. She aspired to tread this path, with her research focus being on tranting ancient texts.


    This inclination was influenced by her family¡ªher grandfather was the Vice President of the Ancient Runes Association.


    When she returned home for the Christmas holiday and mentioned that the new Ancient Runes professor at Hogwarts was Felix Harp, her grandfather''s amused expression was truly entertaining.


    He simultaneously cursed Felix Harp as a "heretic who had strayed from the path," yet on the other hand, he bashfully admitted, "He does indeed possess genuine talent. You might reluctantly consider learning from him." This internal conflict elevated Professor Harp in her mind, cing him on the same level as her own grandfather.


    "Let''s continue¡ª" after addressing routine questions, Felix''s gaze fell upon Marcus, "Flint, your grades have been hovering around ''eptable,'' which worries me greatly."


    Marcus wore a mournful expression. He had indeed put in considerable effort into Ancient Runes, even keeping an Ancient Runes textbook in his bag while training on the Quidditch pitch¡ªeven if he had only opened it once.


    At least he showed the attitude, though he never cared this much about other subjects. Unfortunately, he wasn''t cut out for it. Marcus wanted to quit, but whenever he saw Felix, he trembled uncontrobly,cking the courage to act on his intention.


    "P-professor, I''ll work hard." Marcus stuttered.


    "Very well,e to me with any questions."


    Felix began the formal ss. In this rtively small ssroom, the top students and the underachievers were clearly demarcated. The top students grew more engaged as they listened, while the underachievers grew more bewildered. Marcus stood out as an anomaly¡ªhe was an underachiever, yet he forced himself to exude the appearance of a top student.


    The ss rushed by.


    With a stack of parchment in his hands, Felix left. It contained the seventh-year students'' assignments.


    Today, he received holiday assignments from three different years. Felix nned to fully harness the enthusiasm of his assistant, allowing her to excel by handling the third and fourth-year assignments.


    In the evening, Felix absentmindedly perused Professor Flitwick''s Christmas gift¡ªa manuscript on ancient magic.


    The parchment bore two types of handwriting. One was extremely ancient and distant ancient runes, while the other was Professor Flitwick''s additions and annotations, containing his research insights into the magic.


    Very insightful.


    However, as per Professor Flitwick''s admission, he didn''t possess any particr talent in ancient runes. Thus, this iplete ancient magic was a coborative effort between him and the previous Ancient Runes professor, Professor Babbling. When Professor Babbling left Hogwarts for a vacation, the research stagnated.


    Sending this manuscript to Felix also extended an invitation for coborative research.


    Felix waved his wand, and a faint blue light akin to a river of stars swept through the air andnded on a quill.


    This brown quill transformed into a toothpick, then rapidly expanded to the size of a wand. As Felix infused it with magic, the quill grew to around seven feet and remained stationary.


    "Hmm, the effect seems akin tobining the Shrinking Charm and the Engorgement Charm, yet fundamentallycks the high consumption, danger, and intensity of ancient magic."


    "Instead, it''s more akin to modern simplified magic, with both power and magical energy consumption having a limit."


    "Could it be thatpleting its parts is a simplification magic approach?"


    Felix wrote and drew on the parchment, preparing for a long battle. Reconstructing ancient magic wasn''t an easy task.


    "I truly wish I had a teacher." He pondered somewhat wistfully before going to sleep.


    And there''s the third installment. Working hard on typing more.


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 Chapter 91: Detention and Discovery

    Chapter 91: Detention and Discovery


    Just a few hours ago, Ron experienced a heart-pounding journey into detention.


    At eight in the evening, he nervously knocked on Professor Lockhart''s door, stuttering as he exined he was there for detention.


    "Is that so?" Lockhart appeared a bit under the weather. "Oh, right, of course! You little troublemaker..."


    He pulled Ron into the office and pushed him into a chair.


    "Hmm, as for your punishment... let me think. How can we make you sincerely repent and shed tears of gratitude, thanking the great Gilderoy Lockhart?"


    Ron stared at him in astonishment. Was Lockhart''s overconfidence getting even worse?


    "I''ve got it!" Lockhart eximed suddenly, pulling out a stack of bulging envelopes from a cab in the corner of the room.


    "Professor, what''s this?" Ron swallowed nervously, hoping against hope...


    "These are letters from enthusiastic fans. I''ve collected a few¡ªmy favorites! You need to copy them all out." Lockhart said triumphantly.


    Things were taking a turn for the worst.


    Ron felt that these lettersbined were thicker than the two hefty books Malfoy had to copy.


    He opened an envelope and took out the paper. The beginning read, "Dear Gilderoyo, I am your most adorable and faithful reader, Moriyaya. I fall asleep every day with your book in my arms, because it has your most charming photos. Oh, Gilderoyo, your curly hair tickles my heart, and I can''t wait to have a great adventure with you in my dreams..."


    "Ugh..." Ron nearly gagged.


    "Are you feeling sick?" Lockhart asked him.


    "N-no¡ª"


    "Alright then, start copying. This is your punishment for attacking a professor, no, it''s a reward¡ªallowing you the privilege of experiencing my greatness alongside my readers."


    Lockhart''s words today were surprisingly straightforward. Ron had thought he was more of a peacock, the kind that would hide its rear when opening its feathers.


    But he had no choice. Ron had to force himself not to think about what the nonsense he was copying even meant. However, after just writing two lines, he felt nauseous again.


    So, he shifted his focus to Lockhart, trying to distract himself, making his mind whirl to think about other things.


    Two seats away from him, Lockhart was also unfolding a piece of parchment. He dipped his quill into an inkwell and started writing borate, flowing letters. Muttering to himself, "Merlin, I''m terribly unlucky, I have to apologize to the foolish Fudge..."


    Ron spent the night in trepidation, for Lockhart seemed like a different person tonight. He didn''t hold back anything, revealing many secrets.


    Whether it wasining about Dumbledore deceiving him or resenting Professor Snape stealing his limelight.


    He even mentioned his school days, recalling a Valentine''s Day when he spent a fortune on a heap of cards for himself, only to have it go unnoticed, leading to two months of misery...


    Finally, midnight came, and Ron mustered the courage to ask if he could leave. Lockhart nced at the clock on the wall. "Is it really thiste already? Off you go, put the letters back in the cab, and continue tomorrow."


    Ron carried the stack of letters, "huffing and puffing," to therge cab. He tried pulling it open, but the door wouldn''t budge. "Professor Lockhart, the cab is locked!"


    Lockhart grumbled a few words, waved his wand, and after the third attempt, the cab door finally popped open with a loud thud, narrowly missing Ron''s nose.


    Ron opened the cab, finding several small drawers inside. He wasn''t sure where to put things, but he didn''t dare ask. He had to open each drawer one by one, searching for the right spot.


    As he was flipping through, he came across a piece of parchment clipped together. The top line of text caught his eye.


    "Records of a Visit to an Ancient Armenian Wizard (Note: Adventure with a Werewolf)."


    He skimmed through it¡ª


    "If you disregard the fact that the protagonist is an ugly, elderly Armenian wizard, the story itself is quite captivating."


    There was a short passage in the middle that seemed to record someone''s words. "Yes, the people in that vige are miserable. They are constantly threatened by werewolves. The initial reason was that they killed a young wolf pup that had attacked their livestock. It''s truly pathetic~"


    Ron''s heart started racing. He didn''t know why, but he discreetly pulled out a few pages from the middle of the document¡ª he didn''t dare take the one on top.


    Lockhart''s voice echoed from afar, "What are you dawdling for?"


    "J-just a moment, Professor Lockhart." Ron tucked the pages he had pulled out into his robes and then haphazardly scattered the fan letters into three different drawers before hastily closing the cab.


    "Pr-professor, I''m leaving now." Ron quickly exited Lockhart''s office.


    On his way back, his heart was still pounding heavily.


    Back in themon room, which was nearly deserted by now, he hid in a corner and carefully read the three pieces of parchment he had taken out.


    After reading for a while, he felt somewhat puzzled. Although the content of the story seemed somewhat familiar, it was just a regr interview.


    Did Lockhart also work as a journalist?


    Ron returned to his dormitory and saw Harry already asleep. He casually stuffed the parchment into a book and went to sleep.


    Over the next week, the atmosphere at Hogwarts was peaceful and serene.


    With no worries about attacks and no exam stress, young wizards and witches enjoyed a dream-like weekend.


    Hermione finally removed her mask, now only needing to wear a hat to cover her cat ears. She lookedpletely normal, and she breathed in the fresh air in deep gulps. Her cheeks were rosy from the cold, but she had no intention of putting on a scarf.


    "Lavender thought I had some terminal illness," Hermione said, taking deep breaths. She looked at Ron.


    "Who''s Lavender?" Ron asked.


    "She''s my roommate."


    Ron imagined for a moment and uncertainly asked, "Is she the one with freckles all over her face?"


    "Not her, Ron. I thought you''d remember the wizards in our year at Gryffindor." Hermione retorted sharply.


    "I remember, it''s just a face I can''t put to the name. Do you know Dean Thomas?" Ron asked in response.


    "Of course!"


    "Have you talked to him?"


    Hermione tightly shut her lips.


    That evening, Felix Harp guided Hermione through the process of enhancing a bead bag.


    Felix looked intrigued as he examined the parchment in his hand. "You intend to create extrapartments inside? For storage purposes? It''s a good attempt, but it also increases theplexity."


    "Professor, do you think I can manage it at my level?" Hermione asked.


    "Hmm... If you want to do it on your own, you''ll need at least¡ª" Felix thought for a moment, "You''ll need to study 21 practical magical scripts in a targeted manner, be proficient in crafting specific magical circuits, and also have a basic understanding of alchemical theories."


    "I canpile a reading list for you."


    Felix rapidly wrote down a series of reference books, and Hermione''s mouth suddenly turned bitter...


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 Chapter 92: Discovery

    Chapter 92: Discovery


    On Monday morning, as young wizards passed by the notice board, they suddenly noticed the updated content disyed there.


    A young wizard read aloud the parchment pinned to it:


    "Scheduled for this Thursday at 8 PM, the second Dueling ss of the semester will take ce. All grades of students are wee to attend."


    The signature was that of an elegant name, Felix Harp.


    "Why is it Professor Harp? Wasn''t it Professor Lockhart?"


    "Perhaps Professor Harp wrested control of the Dueling Club away from Professor Lockhart?"


    "That would be big news!"


    "Don''t jump to conclusions. It might be a coboration, just like Snape in thest ss ¨C he was invited by Lockhart."


    Whispers and discussions filled the air beneath the notice board.


    The trio stood not far away, Harry''s expression brimming with excitement. "It''s finally about to begin."


    Ron, equally eager, said, "I hope we learn some powerful spells. Honestly, I''ve been feeling sick all week..."


    Harry looked at him sympathetically. "Did he make you copy fan letters again?"


    "Yeah, non-stop." Ron made a disgusted face. "Especially from this woman named Moria. Her letters are the most and seem to be Lockhart''s favorite. I could recite some full paragraphs by now..."


    "Please don''t!" Harry quickly intervened.


    Ron grumbled, "I''ve learned quite a few secrets from those letters these days, Hermione. I know him better than you do now."


    "But it shouldn''t be like that. Why would he do this?" Hermione asked, puzzled.


    "I think he might be hitting rock bottom? He''s been writing an apology letter to Fudge every night." Ron spected, revealing that Cornelius Fudge hadn''t responded to him these days.


    ...


    When Harry and hispanions arrived at the Dark Arts Defense ssroom, Professor Lockhart stood by the door, his expression pensive. As they passed, he grabbed Ron''s arm. "Do you think I''ve changed quite a bittely?"


    Ron''s eyes widened with surprise, and he stammered, "N-no, I haven''t noticed, Professor."


    "Hmm... why do I feel something''s off?" Lockhart puzzledly let go of Ron''s arm, and the trio slipped into the ssroom.


    Seated at their desks, Harry said, "He''s realizing something''s not right; there''s definitely something going on."


    "Maybe he''s under the Confundus Charm? Many spells have simr effects." Hermione analyzed earnestly.


    "Possible. Every time I''m alone with him, I want to hex him." Ron grumbled with resentment.


    "Oh, those three pieces of parchment ¨C do you have any leads?" Harry suddenly remembered something and asked Ron.


    "Not really, just a regr interview."


    "What''s that?" Hermione asked with curiosity.


    Ron briefly exined their origin, and she was about to ask more when ss started.


    In the Dark Arts Defense ss, Lockhart continued his teaching performance. "I need a volunteer. Today''s scenario is the most crucial and thrilling part."


    Young wizards collectively lowered their heads.


    "Ron Weasley, it''s your turn!" Lockhart called Ron to the stage, thanks tost week''s detention, this time he finally didn''t get the name wrong.


    "That''s right, just like that, Ron. You''re an innocent viger gued by werewolves. You''re pleading for my help, yes! Make your expression even more bitter... excellent."


    With a pained expression, Ron yed his part as a prop in Lockhart''s story.


    "Nowes my inner monologue, a crucial part. Listen carefully, all of you."


    Lockhart shook his head and put on a concerned look, elongating his voice as he spoke, "Oh, the wretched souls! They face the constant threat of werewolves, all because of ying a young wolf cub that had attacked their livestock. What have they done wrong! It''s truly pitiable,mentable... My conscience cannot allow me to remain indifferent!"


    The performance continued, Lockhart puffing his chest out, seemingly basking in the vigers'' admiration. But Ron''s face turned pale as a sheet.


    Even until he returned to his seat, his expression remained one of dazed bewilderment.


    "What''s wrong with you?" Harry nudged him with his elbow. Was the impact too much? He''d yed a vampire for three straight weeks, after all.


    "Later, I''ll tell youter." Ron huddled in on himself, avoiding Lockhart''s gaze.


    On the other side, Felix Harp was teaching the fourth-year wizards.


    "Today, we''ll be learning the final set of practical runes. When the timees, your magical puppets will be able to utilize their full effects."


    The twins in the audience raised their hands eagerly. "Professor Harp, is there any advanced knowledge?"


    Felix smiled. "What would you like to learn?"


    "Like... more practical runes beyond these?" Fred asked.


    Felix blinked at the twins. They seemed to have a knack for ancient runes.


    He could tell from the Christmas presents they''d given him. Of course, they weren''t using runes but rather alchemical thinking.


    "If some of you have the capacity, I''d be willing to teach more." Felix promised.


    After ss, Felix called the twins over.


    "I''d like to know if you have clear ns for your future," Felix inquired.


    "We want to open a Weasleys'' Wizard Wheezes shop!" The twins said in unison.


    "Hmm... something like Zonko''s Joke Shop?" Felix asked.


    "Sort of... but Zonko''s ideas are still stuck in thest century. We want to create more novel and exciting things." Fred said.


    "Yes! We have plenty of great ideas, but due to our abilities, most of our designs can''t be realized." George looked quite regretful.


    "Great n. But I assume you don''t have professional guidance, do you?" Felix asked.


    "Well, we found some books around the house when we were little, methods for creating small gadgets and gags. And we''ve done a lot of research at the library. It''s been a huge help for us, Professor Harp." Fred said with a mischievous grin.


    Library? Or Restricted Section? Felix didn''t say anything, but the twins'' reputation was quite renowned in the teaching circles.


    He simply extended an invitation: "Next year, I''ll be starting my own Ancient Runes Club. Are you interested?"


    The twins exchanged delighted nces. "Absolutely, Professor!"


    George suggested, "Professor, can''t your Ancient Runes Club start a bit earlier?"


    Felix shook his head ruefully. "There''s less than half a year left in this school year, and my attention is divided due to various matters. So, I''ll have to postpone it until next year."


    "But if you have questions, you cane to me." Felix said.


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 Chapter 93: Dueling Class

    Chapter 93: Dueling ss


    "You''re saying Lockhart took credit for others'' achievements?" Hermione asked, her face filled with astonishment.


    "Keep your voice down!" Ron said.


    After dinner, the three of them huddled in a corner of themon room, discussing in hushed tones.


    Ron rummaged through his bag and pulled out three pieces of parchment. "Take a look, Hermione."


    The young witch immediately took them and began reading.


    After a while, she looked up, stuttering, "How is that even possible! I mean, how did Lockhart manage to get others to sell their stories to him?"


    Harry suddenly spoke up, "It might not be that they sold them willingly. He could have forcibly taken them."


    Ron and Hermione stared at him nkly. This spection held many hiddenyers.


    Time swiftly moved to Thursday.


    The Great Hall was redecorated, and around the central square gilded stage, young wizards packed in tightly.


    When Felix Harp and Snape appeared together, standing at the center of the stage, the young wizards had mixed feelings¡ªsurprise and regret intertwined.


    "Professor Snape?" Onstage, Felix nced at him.


    Snape shook his head with an expressionless face. In response, Felix took a step forward, tapping his own wand, "Quiet, young wizards¡ª"


    "Our ss is about to begin."


    Felix spun in ce, and wherever his gazended, the crowd hushed.


    "Before we begin, there are a few things that need to be exined."


    Felix''s gaze remained steady, his voice resonating in the ears of each young wizard, "First, Professor Lockhart, who was originally responsible for the Dueling course, has graciously entrusted me with the course due to personalmitments, making me fully responsible;"


    The young wizards exchanged whispers. "I don''t think so." Dean Thomas turned to Neville beside him, "Honestly, I think Lockhart''s been more scatterbrained this semester. He''s even forgetting lines during his performances."


    "I think it''s just stress getting to him these days. Sometimes I get like that too¡ªnervous and my mind goes nk," Neville whispered softly.


    "Speaking of which, I was quite surprised that Malfoy didn''t burst in and drag him away."


    After a brief pause, Felix continued, "Second, Professor Snape will serve as a guest instructor, providing guidance and suggestions for our Dueling course throughout;"


    The murmurs in the audience grew louder.


    "¡ªAnd thirdly, it concerns the Dueling course itself. After discussing with Professor Snape, we both agreed that the course''s schedule and format should be fixed. So, from now on, our sses will take ce every other week, on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month, at 8 o''clock in the evening."


    As the young wizards absorbed this information, Felix waved his wand. The ceiling of the Great Hall dimmed, while simultaneously, a milky-white light descended like an inverted bowl, enveloping the stage and the silhouettes of the young wizards.


    Some of the murmuring voices seemed to merge with the expanse of a wide wilderness, bing faint and indistinct.


    "Now, we shall begin in earnest."


    Felix extended his hand, inviting Snape.


    Amidst a solemn hush, Snape spoke with his characteristic monotone, "Wizard dueling is an ancient tradition that, over time, has been tamed into a refined art within the confines of certain rules that exclude much of the bloodshed and brutality. Dueling has be a means to showcase a wizard''s charm."


    Many young wizards noticed that in this environment, Professor Snape''s voice strangely held an added allure.


    Ron whispered, "I''ve always thought Snape had a talent for telling ghost stories."


    "What did you say?" Hermione cocked her head. But she soon discovered, to her surprise, that her voice turned faint and subdued.


    "It''s the effect of magic," Harry said, but the other two could only see his lip movements.


    "¡ªBut the foundation of dueling remains. Many spend their lives as clueless about dueling as a troll, clumsily waving their wands,peting in magical strength and the volume of their voices." At this point, Snape''s gaze fell upon the young wizards of Gryffindor House,den with sarcasm.


    "But dueling itself is a refined skill. If you''re willing to spend even a fraction of time, you''ll realize that the World Wizarding Dueling Championship publishes rted guidebooks every few years."


    Snape, today, rare as it was, exined his perspective on dueling. While his words left the young wizards somewhat bewildered, they sensed Snape''s reverence for dueling.


    Halfway through, Snape couldn''t resist his habit of subtly implying something about a certain professor. He said, "Though Hogwarts hasn''t focused on dueling andbat magic traditions as Durmstrang has, much of the rted content has been incorporated into one course."


    Snape lightly raised his wand, his eyes fixed ahead, and from between his teeth emerged a few words, "Indeed, Defense Against the Dark Arts."


    "But this course has never fulfilled its intended purpose over the years, which has led to some studentscking even the basic ability to assess danger."


    Amidst a solemn, suppressed atmosphere, many young wizards felt as if they were back in a Potions ss.


    This professor always possessed the ability to single-handedly manipte the surrounding atmosphere.


    Next, Felix pped his hands, drawing the young wizards'' attention back to him.


    "Today''s lesson is the Disarming Charm. We witnessed its effectiveness in the first Dueling ss¡ªit''s a highly useful spell."


    Felix enumerated some of the advantages of the Disarming Charm, "Simple and easy to learn, with significant impact. It''s low in danger, whether for daily practice or in formal dueling situations."


    "Who has mastered this spell?"


    Sparse arms went up, mostly from the older students. "Lower than I anticipated," Felix shook his head.


    He summoned a seventh-year Gryffindor student.


    "Professor Harp, my name is Albert Burke," the e-ridden student said excitedly. "I''m preparing to be an Auror at the Ministry of Magic; I''ve been preparing for this for two years."


    Felix understood in his heart.


    With Felix''s signal, Burke waved his wand, "Expelliarmus!" A red spell cut through the air, executing a standard Disarming Charm.


    Next, Felix borated on the learning methods for the Disarming Charm, using Burke as a "subject," having him repeatedly attempt the incantation, and pointing out crucial aspects.


    Under his demonstration, many young wizards gained a basic understanding of the spell.


    "Next¡ª"


    Felix waved his wand, and from a corner, hundreds of pieces of parchment flew out of a suitcase,nding urately in front of each young wizard.


    Harry deftly picked one up, looking at the dense descriptions and casting techniques; his scalp felt like it might explode.


    He looked up at the stage, where Professor Harp calmly said, "I don''t believe you can master a spell within these mere two hours. In fact, if there are ten sessful examples, I''d be surprised."


    "The content on this parchment is for your practice and reference after ss. I will exin its usage shortly."


    "Now, let us proceed with formal practice."


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 Chapter 94: Dueling Class

    Chapter 94: Dueling ss


    "Young wizards, I need you to stand in the four directions on the stage ording to your respective houses," Felix Harp waved his hand to lift the sound-restriction charm.


    The students in the audience were puzzled. Felix walked to one side of the square, gold-ted stage, and announced, "Slytherin, gather here!" Then, he moved to another side, "Ravenw, gather here!"


    "Gryffindor, gather here!"


    "Hufflepuff, gather here!"


    As Felix walked around the stage, the young wizards understood the professor''s instructions and quickly moved into position.


    "Ginny, over here!"


    Ron called out to his sister. Harry turned his head and saw Ginny standing hand in hand with a Ravenw girl, motionless in their spot.


    The girl wore a peculiar ne with bottle caps strung together, and her light, golden hair was tousled. Like Ginny, she remained still. Harry even thought that she might not have grasped the situation, as she stared wide-eyed at the young wizards passing by her.


    Ron pushed his way through, with Harry and Hermione following closely.


    "Ginny,e on. Um... who''s this?" Ron looked at the Ravenw girl in front of him.


    "I''m her new friend," the girl''s gaze slid over him, briefly paused in front of Harry, and then settled on Hermione.


    "I know you. Many say you should have been sorted into Ravenw," she stared intently at Hermione.


    "Is that so? I quite like Gryffindor," Hermione replied.


    Harry and Ron exchanged a nce. Harry cautiously said, "I think we should get moving..."


    Most of the young wizards had taken their positions, making this group quite conspicuous.


    Even Professor Harp looked over.


    Ron pulled Ginny along and the girl suddenly said, "Luna, Luna Lovegood. That''s my name."


    Harry, who wasgging behind, had to stop and introduce himself, "Uh, I''m Harry Potter."


    "I know you," the girl named Luna said.


    "Really?" Harry muttered. The scene before him was a bit awkward. He hastily added, "See you around!" Then he went to catch up with his friends.


    Luna casually made her way to the Ravenw group. She waved at Ginny on the other side.


    "Who''s that?" Ron asked Ginny.


    "My new friend," Ginny replied. Seeing Harry still looking at her, she blushed and lowered her head, "Our families actually live quite close to each other, but there''s a mountain in between."


    "White Ridge Mountain?" Harry asked with great interest. He had visited the Burrow this year and learned about this name from the twins. ording to Fred, one of their childhood dreams was to "ride toy broomsticks over White Ridge Mountain."


    Ginny quickly nced up at Harry and whispered, "A bit more north. Their house is on a mountaintop."


    Onstage, Felix Harp withdrew his gaze, muttering to himself, "Luna, the witch with red hair¡ªcould that be the youngest Weasley daughter?"


    As thest young wizard took their position, Felix spoke up, "Next, we''ll move on to group exercises. You can choose your own partners, preferably from the same year."


    The young wizards sprang into action again. Felix and Snape descended from the stage, tidying up the disorderly lines.


    "Pairs, with a five-meter gap."


    Like a silent, gliding bat, Snape drifted behind Harry and Ron, who were engrossed in conversation. Snape rolled up his sleeves, and with both hands, he smacked them firmly on their heads. "Pay attention, you two."


    Harry and Ron grimaced as they watched Snape''s departing figure. Ron puzzledly asked, "How does he manage to walk without making a sound?"


    Five minutester, the young wizards were neatly lined up in formation.


    "Watch me closely and recite the incantation with me," Felix Harp, who had returned to the stage, said. "Be careful not to aim your wands at your partners. Wave your wands in a small arc, then thrust quickly, like this¡ª"


    "Disarm!"


    Onstage, a brilliant red light shot out of Professor Harp''s wand like scorching lightning.


    The young wizards in the audience chanted in unison, "Disarm!"


    "Very good, continue."


    "Disarm!"


    "Pay attention to the angle of your wands. Keep going!"


    "Disarm!"


    "Excellent," Felix said. "Next, we''ll delve into the theoretical aspects of spells. I''ll cover only the most crucial..."


    After approximately twenty minutes, the young wizards were getting the hang of waving their wands, but no one had seeded yet.


    Felix and Snape exchanged a few quiet words. Then Felix said, "Young wizards, take out the parchment I provided you with."


    The young wizards looked puzzled as they retrieved the parchment.


    "I''ve had a discussion with Professor Snape, and your problems primarily center around these seven issues. I will go through each one, and you canpare them on your own."


    "Balk,e up to the stage. I need your assistance."


    After twenty minutes of exnation, Felix''s throat felt a bit dry. He knew, though, that his words would only impact some of the top students. For most young wizards, learning magic relied more on "feeling" and "repetition."


    So, for the next half-hour, he and Snape kept moving through the crowd, giving specific guidance.


    "Miss Pett, your thrustcks decisiveness. Think about my demonstration and then consult point seven on your parchment."


    "Mr. Warren, your incantation pronunciation is off. Yes, an incantation isn''t mandatory, but thates after you''ve mastered it."


    "Ah, you''re Nawi Longbottom, right? You''re too nervous. Confidence is key! Picture yourself sessfully casting the spell. Yes, I suggest you imagine it twenty times in your mind."


    Every ten minutes or so, they called up a few examples of mistakes for demonstration. Felix noticed that showing errors was more effective than demonstrating correctness¡ªafter augh, many young wizards realized they had made the same mistake.


    Of course, those who were teased received extra points aspensation.


    "Thank you, Nawi, your problem is quite representative. Also, Gryffindor gets five points."


    "And you, Miss Vira, your movements are too stiff. Everyone, noughing. If Miss Vira disys even a tenth of her talent for Ancient Runes, she''ll amaze you all. Ravenw, five points."


    "Marcus... well, let''s just say, don''t imitate him. We should appreciate his courage at least. Slytherin, five points."


    Felix wiped his brow. Guiding wasn''t the challenge; the challengey in preserving the young wizards'' self-esteem and praising them creatively.


    "I should prepare a list ofpliments, listing every possible reason. That way, I won''t need to think on the spot..."


    Finally, an hour and a half into the Dueling ss, a fifth-year young wizard seeded.


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 Chapter 95: Dueling Class 2

    Chapter 95: Dueling ss 2


    Felix Harp breathed a sigh of relief, finally achieving a sess.


    Stepping onto the stage, receiving praise and earning points¡ªgoing through the routine, Felix felt that even with just this one sessful example, the lesson was quite fulfilling.


    But soon, the second, third, and fourth young wizards stepped forward, demonstrating their Disarming Charms to the professor.


    "Absolutely splendid!" Felix Harp watched as a seventh-year wizard gracefully cast a delicate spell. He praised them against his inner reluctance.


    Felix Harp thought to himself, "They need encouragement, they need encouragement..."


    Severus Snape strolled over, his toneced with sarcasm. "Their sess stems from exposure to simr spellcasting techniques and theories in other sses. In fact, I''ve never anticipated students below fifth year mastering this spell in ss."


    "Professor, we shall see."


    Severus Snape smirked, "There''s only a quarter of an hour left..."


    Just then, a Disarming Charm caught the attention of both of them.


    "That''s... Hufflepuff, who is it?" Felix Harp turned around. Among the sessful four, there was no young wizard from Hufflepuff, making even him, who wanted to treat everyone equally, unable to do so.


    The Hufflepuff students automatically made way, enthusiastically shouting a name in unison, "Cedric! Cedric!"


    A tall and lean wizard walked to the front, his face slightly pale, his features handsome. He wore a Hufflepuff house robe.


    "Felicis, step forward and let''s apud for the fourth-year student who mastered the Disarming Charm! Hufflepuff gains twenty points." Felix Harp recognized the face¡ªCedric Diggory, the top student in the fourth year.


    Katie Bell, sitting beside Hermione, tiptoed and kept her gaze fixed on his figure.


    "Do you know him?" Hermione asked.


    "Of course! He''s the Hufflepuff Quidditch Seeker. Wood thinks highly of him, believing he might take over as captain next year. And don''t you think he''s rather handsome?" Katie Bell said.


    "Is that so?" Hermione nced at her.


    Ron whispered to Harry, "So, he''s yourpetition?"


    Harry nodded, looking at the red sparks on his wand, feeling a bit disheartened.


    "That guy is really popr," Ron observed, looking at the direction of the Hufflepuff house. The young wizards were enthusiastically apuding and cheering. He said somewhat enviously.


    On the gilded stage, Diggory stood beside Felix Harp. Felix Harp realized that Diggory was only half a head shorter than himself, standing at about five feet six inches tall.


    "Diggory, you haven''t learned the Disarming Charm before, have you?"


    "No, Professor Harp."


    "Tell us, how did you master this spell?" Felix Harp asked encouragingly.


    "Professor, I practiced for a few minutes each time,paring my issues with the notes on parchment. The part about the mindset of spellcasting mentioned there was very helpful for me."


    "The part about confidence?" Felix Harp inquired.


    "No, it''s the phrase ''Disarming, not Harmful'' that helped me," Cedric said.


    Felix Harp understood, "Correctly grasping the incantations is vital for our spell practice. At least in the early stages of learning magic, we need to channel our emotions effectively."


    In the following time, both Felix Harp and Severus Snape remained busy. However, even by thest five minutes of the ss, only seven young wizards had managed to master the Disarming Charm.


    It''s not surprising that the younger wizards below the fourth year level struggled, considering their various limitations. A mere two hours wouldn''t allow for significant leaps. Yet, even the sixth and seventh years, who were nearing graduation, showed rather average performances.


    Most of them merely produced bursts of red sparks from the tips of their wands.


    This, even some exceptional lower-year students could manage.


    Felix Harp quietly noted down a list of names: the twins, Autumn Zhang, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Alya Spi, Draco Malfoy, Eddie Carmichael, Anthony Goldstein, Padma Patil, Hannah Abbott.


    Though these were second to fourth-year students, they disyed exceptional magical talent, standing out as the cream of their respective houses.


    In the final five minutes, Felix Harp pressed the pause button, gathering the young wizards once more.


    He waved his wand, causing the ceiling of the hall to revert to its original state, and the milky light transformed into twinkling stars. Many young wizards felt as though they had experienced a vivid dream.


    "As we conclude our Dueling ss, I must remind you all¡ª" Felix Harp''s gaze swept across them, seemingly reaching every single one.


    "The time in ss is always limited. You must invest more effort into practicing spells. Don''tin about yourck of effort only when danger strikes."


    Felix Harp waved his wand, and from a corner, a suitcase flew out again, releasing hundreds of packets of information. Each packet was made up of four sheets of parchment stuck together.


    Harry opened the packet in front of him, finding densely packed writing.


    "¡ªThis is the detailed information on the Disarming Charm, epassing various spellcasting techniques and objectives. You can cross-reference each point during your free time, and if you encounter parts that are difficult to understand, seek the help of a professor or an older student."


    "There are also some forms in here that provide reference for assessing your spellcasting level. I''ll need you to hand these in before the next ss," Felix Harp blinked, emphasizing his point of concern.


    Given Felix Harp''s nature, teaching was not the only goal¡ªhe also aimed to gather research data.


    Certain data¡ªlike how a ''certain someone'' learned the Disarming Charm¡ªweren''t necessarily significant since theycked representativeness. However, when the number of students expanded to hundreds or thousands, with ample samples, the information that the data could reveal intrigued him.


    "Professor, do those of us who have already learned the Disarming Charm still need toplete this?" a seventh-year wizard said reluctantly.


    "Learned?" Felix Harp expressed confusion.


    "Yes, I''ve already learned the Disarming Charm. Look¡ªExpelliarmus!" He swung his wand, and a thin red light shot from the tip.


    Felix Harp and the young wizards watched as the red light traveled over ten meters before gradually disappearing in mid-air.


    The wizard looked at them rather smugly.


    Felix Harp pondered for a couple of seconds. Since the ss was over, there was no harm in delivering a mild blow to the students'' egos, right?


    So, he raised his head calmly and said, "I was nning to cover this part in the next ss, but since the opportunity is here¡ª"


    He suddenly swung his arm, his wand striking forward like a sword. A wrist-thick spell shot forth, spanning half the hall and directly striking the castle wall.


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 Chapter 96: Three Brooms

    Chapter 96: Three Brooms


    The light of the spells glowed like crimson dawn, casting a rosy hue on the faces of every young wizard.


    As if tangible curses were pronounced, crackling sounds echoed, refracting from the castle walls into a dozen twisting serpentine arcs of deep-red electricity.


    These "serpents" extended onto several nearby suits of armor, causing the wielded longswords to be relinquished one by one.


    "Whizzing sounds!"


    The des of the longswords traced arcs through the air, striking the makeshift golden-ted stage Felix Harp stood upon, leaving behind several deep craters.


    The wizard frowned with bewilderment, his expression lost as if wandering through a dream.


    Who am I? Where am I? What have I done?


    Why am I seeing this?


    Felix lowered his wand and addressed the now-silent students below, his tone casual, "The same spell cast by different wizards can have entirely different effects ¡ª I was nning to tell you this when you''ve gained a certain understanding of dueling and at a more appropriate time."


    "However, it seems that time isn''t quite now," he added.


    The young wizards felt as though they had swallowed a dozen ice mice candies, a chilly sensation running down their spines.


    Is this professor really not just discouraging students? Look at that wizard, he looks utterly befuddled...


    "Pr-Professor, how did you manage that?" asked Albert Burke, his confidence slightly shaken. Influenced by his family, he had always aspired to be an Auror, honing his skills in dueling spells from a young age.


    Even his Auror uncle had praised his talent, but now he found himself gued by self-doubt.


    Was his decision too hasty? The outside world might be even more dangerous than he''d imagined. He and Professor Harp were only three or four years apart, but he didn''t believe he could reach this level of Disarming Charm proficiency in three or four years.


    It''s a lost cause!


    What right does he have to be confident about bing an Auror, about battling dark wizards? Won''t he just get sted by a dark wizard in the end?


    Various thoughts swirled in his mind, but Professor Harp provided timely reassurance, saying, "Mr. Burke, you need to shift your perspective¡ª"


    "For ordinary spells, like everyday magic, mere proficiency is quite sufficient; but for protective spells, the ones that will keep you safe, you need to invest a lot of time and effort. It''s never too much to emphasize that."


    "As far as I know, aspiring Aurors undergo rigorous training. For instance, the Shield Charm might require them to practice it a thousand times or more," Felix looked at him, "But that''s something for after you be an Auror. At your age, your spellwork is already quite impressive."


    Burke fell into contemtion, recalling his sparring sessions with his uncle. He had always been just a little short, always feeling like he could defeat his uncle with just a bit more effort.


    Yet for the past two years, he had always fallen just "a bit short." It dawned on him suddenly that bing an Auror wasn''t as easy as he had thought.


    "Thank you, Professor Harp," Burke said to Felix.


    On the other side, Cedric Diggory raised his arm in inquiry, "Professor, can we achieve mastery through repeated practice like you?"


    Hope glinted in the eyes of many young wizards. Professor, if you say it''s possible, we''ll definitely work to enhance its power.


    Snape scoffed at the question, but he was equally curious about how Felix would respond.


    "Well... it''s not an easy question to answer. The power of spells involves many factors. Once you go back and carefully study the learning materials in your hands, you''ll begin to understand what I mean."


    "I''ve noticed that most people don''t set high demands on themselves, content as long as they can use the spell with some sess."


    "But beyond just ''being able to use'' it, there''s also skillful application, wandless and silent casting, adjusting based on personal habits..." Felix Harp shook his head. "There are too many techniques to delve into."


    Felix pped his hands. "Alright, I''ll delve into this topic in more detail in the next ss. Today''s lessones to an end."


    The young wizards left the hall as if in a daze. The impact of Professor Harp''s magic tonight was enormous; they could never have imagined that the same spell could yield such vastly different results when cast by different individuals.


    Professor Snape approached, somewhat surprised and reserved. "Felix, I didn''t expect you to be so selfless."


    Felix remained silent.


    Was he truly selfless? No, the contents on parchment were merely a guarantee of the minimum requirement for them to learn the spell, and it didn''t affect him at all.


    Even though he might select some exceptional students in the future to impart more advanced knowledge, how many would truly seed?


    Felix didn''t fear the emergence of prodigies. On the contrary, he looked forward to more brilliant young wizards appearing.


    His strength did not solely lie in a single spell.


    So, Felix quipped, "Professor, maybe I''m cultivating my own influence to win their favor!"


    Snape''s expression suddenly froze. He carefully observed Felix, trying to determine the truth behind these words.


    "Cough, don''t get nervous. I was just making a joke."


    ...


    Harry, Ron, and Hermione walked along the way back. Ron held the Disarming Charm material and said, "Is this thing really useful?"


    "Of course, I learned the Levitation Charm the same way," Hermione with her knitted hat remarked.


    Harry asked her, "Do we need to fill out various forms like you did back then?"


    Hermione had to exin, "That was to help us pinpoint our weaknesses and practice more purposefully. Harry, I think you''re close to mastering it."


    "Just sparks though," Harry said somewhat dejectedly.


    "Oh, Harry, that''s a sign that the Disarming Charm is about to work. It''s mentioned in the material. Maybe you''ll seed next time," Hermione assured him.


    Hermione''s words lifted Harry''s spirits. Perhaps he should put in a bit more effort once he gets back?


    The influence of the second Dueling ss on Friday morning was still rippling.


    However, many young wizards were already spreading the word that "Professor Harp sted a section of the hall wall with the Disarming Charm." This led Felix to notice, during lunchtime, that some students who hadn''t attended ss were looking at him strangely.


    Fortunately, the weekend arrived quickly.


    Felix epted Professor Flitwick and Professor McGonagall''s invitation to a gathering at the Three Broomsticks.


    Upon entering the pub, he was surprised to find Snape there.


    "Felix,e over here." Professor Flitwick stood on a chair, warmly weing him. "We were just discussing Damocles Belby."


    Felix took a seat and curiously asked, "Has the news been announced? I mean, about the Wolfsbane Potion."


    "You know about it too?" Upon receiving confirmation, Professor Flitwick said with a hint of nostalgia, "Belby was exceptional when he was in school. I actually rmended that he pursue the path of spells, although he ultimately chose the field of potions. At that time, he was a favorite of Professor Slughorn."


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 Chapter 97: Exchange

    Chapter 97: Exchange


    Observing Felix Harp''s pensive expression, Professor Flitwick exined, "Slughorn was the former head of Slytherin House, and like Professor McGonagall, he taught Potion-making."


    Felix nodded, though he hadn''t interacted with this Potion Master before; he''d only heard the name, and it didn''t quite click for him at the moment.


    Flitwick continued, "It''s said that he''s thoroughly enjoying his retirement. Of course, he had high standards for quality of life even when he taught at Hogwarts."


    "Professor Flitwick¡ª"


    "Felix, you can call me by my name." Professor Flitwick waved his hand. "We are colleagues now, aren''t we?"


    "Well... alright, Felius," Felix said.


    "Same here, Felix. We don''t need to be so formal in private," Professor McGonagall added.


    So, Felix addressed her, "Minerva," and the Transfiguration professor smiled warmly in response.


    Then, he turned to Snape. Snape stared back with an emotionless expression, his gaze as though fixed upon a stone.


    But Felix was most familiar with him. He drawled, "Ah, Severus..."


    Snape''s lips quivered in irritation.


    Flitwick suddenly found great interest in the view outside the window, while Professor McGonagall surveyed the room''s decor with intrigue.


    Amusement danced at the corners of their eyes.


    The awkward atmosphere didn''t linger for long. A graceful woman with a handsome face approached.


    "A small ss of Gorge Water¡ª"


    "Mine," Professor McGonagall''s voice dered.


    "A ss of Shimmering Berry Soda with ice and an umbre¡ª"


    "Ah, thank you, Rosmerta," Professor Flitwick smacked his lips.


    "A ss of still water¡ª"


    Snape silently took it.


    Ms. Rosmerta looked at the newly arrived Felix, "This guest, what will you have? Oh, wait, you''re Felix Harp?"


    Felix gazed at her with confusion.


    He had indeed visited the Three Broomsticks during his school days, but apart from ordering drinks, he''d never spoken to her.


    Rosmerta looked at him. "Mr. Harp, you have no idea how famous you were during your school years. Many people sat here discussing your exploits..."


    Felix self-deprecatingly quipped, "Let me guess, not in a ttering way?"


    "No, many people admired you." She didn''t borate, just smiled lightly. "After all, good and bad reputation are inseparablepanions¡ªinvite one, and the other tags along. What drink would you like?"


    "A ss of Butterbeer, that''s what I''m ustomed to."


    Flitwick extended an invitation, "Why not join us for a drink as well, madam, and sit with us?"


    Rosmerta looked at the scattered tables in the tavern. "Sure, thank you."


    In no time, she returned, handing Felix a ss of Butterbeer.


    Rosmerta settled in the empty seat next to him, with a ss of gin in front of her.


    Thisdy, graceful in her mannerisms, took a few sips and reminisced, "Running this pub all these years, my greatest joy has been eavesdropping on conversations. Of course, not eavesdropping in the sneaky way, but in these situations, they don''t discuss secrets..."


    "We understand your meaning."


    "Indeed, generations of young wizardse and go, and only the most outstanding ones leave behind names that are truly memorable. Let me think... in recent years, the most famous is certainly Mr. Harp, but there are a few others as well..."


    Rosmerta mentioned a name, "Bill Weasley, he should be from your year, right?" She looked at Felix Harp.


    "That''s right."


    "I remember, he got twelve O.W.L.s, and that was a topic of great conversation back then," Rosmerta said, "And his brother, seems he was the captain of the Quidditch team, then went off to work with dragons."


    Professor McGonagall''s face tightened; she had always been bothered by this fact. "He should have made it to the national team. Charlie had the potential."


    "But that wasn''t what he wanted, Minerva," Flitwick said. "As professors, we should be proud of him."


    "I do¡ª" McGonagall''s face flushed as she stammered, "I just feel regretful that there haven''t been promising talents for the national team these few years."


    She had always been a Quidditch enthusiast.


    "There''s also a girl named Tonks. Her Metamorphmagus skills are quite remarkable," Rosmerta continued, "Now that I think about it, many of them are Gryffindor students."


    Flitwick interjected a bit awkwardly, "Actually, Tonks is from Hufflepuff House, but what I want to say is... Ravenw also has many exceptional graduates."


    Rosmerta blinked, "Of course. They excel in various fields and are truly exemry."


    Snape huffed, "Ms. Rosmerta, I must remind you that Slytherin House has the fewest members and yet has won the most House Cups."


    "Severus! Last year''s House Cup went to Gryffindor, and it''s highly probable this year as well¡ª" McGonagall retorted with defiance.


    Snape made a low "tch" sound.


    Seeing that the Heads of Houses were about to argue, Rosmerta quickly changed the subject, "Each House has many outstanding students, that''s a fact. By the way, what were you all talking about just now?"


    Flitwick helped smooth things over, "We were discussing Damocles Belby. Severus, you''ve probably seen the form for the Wolfsbane Potion?"


    "I''ve seen it. Clever concept, though I don''t find researching such potions particrly useful."


    "At least it solves the problem of werewolves, doesn''t it?"


    "From a political perspective¡ªyes. It fills a gap," Snape said with his customary sarcastic expression, "But unless the price of the potion drops below seven Galleons, a simple chain is more practical."


    In the wizarding world, werewolves were practically synonymous with poverty, and nobody wanted to hire them. So werewolves either lived in seclusion or associated with the dark side.


    In other words, at the current cost, not many werewolves could afford it.


    "In terms of its current effects, the Wolfsbane Potion can only ease the pain of the transformation during a full moon, allowing the werewolf to retain their sanity. But it can''t cure them. And yes, it''s indeed costly," Felix said, recalling information he''d learned from his correspondence with Damocles Belby.


    McGonagall clicked her tongue, "But it''s still something. If back then¡ª" She nced at Snape and stopped mid-sentence.


    She thought of her former student, Remus Lupin. He too was a werewolf, but his rtionship with Snape was far from good¡ªit was actually quite terrible.


    Though curious, Rosmerta wisely didn''t press further. The conversation continued, and after a while, she got up to attend to other customers.


    For the next while, the professors discussed their respective sses.


    Felix spoke about the recently concluded Dueling lessons, expressing disappointment in the overall skill level of the young wizards. He said, "The Disarming Charm isn''t actually that difficult, but there are very few who have mastered it."


    After detailed inquiries from Flitwick, a different perspective emerged.


    "Felix, perhaps they simply haven''t grasped the concept of dueling. If you ask me, pick any senior student and you''ll be surprised at the number of minor hexes they know."


    Felix was taken aback for a moment; this perspective hadn''t urred to him. During his school days, he had no interest in insignificant hexes with little practical use.


    "Are you suggesting that they don''t use the Disarming Charm because they don''t know it?"


    "Or perhaps they don''t value it. After all, the effect of that spell doesn''t appeal much to young wizards," Flitwick, an experienced Charms professor, understood the mindset of young wizards well. "Only those hexes with exaggerated and amusing effects are their favorites."


    Flitwick counted on his fingers, "Trip Jinx, Jelly-Legs Jinx, Tickling Hex, Gum sting Hex, Booger Hex... there are too many to list. Despite school rules forbidding them, these hexes have been passed down from one generation of young witches and wizards to the next."


    Felix realized, "Maybe I should inform the young wizards about the distinction between dueling spells and minor hexes. Severus, what do you think?"


    Snape didn''t speak, but his silence indicated agreement.


    Subsequently, Flitwick asked Felix if he would join the next Dueling ss.


    "I was a Dueling champion in my youth as well." He said a bit sheepishly, "Don''t worry, it''s just one ss. I just want to share my experiences with the young wizards."


    Felix looked at Flitwick and happily said, "Of course, Felius."


    McGonagall couldn''t help but interject, "If you don''t mind, Felix, I''d also like to demonstrate the applications of Transfiguration in dueling to the young wizards."


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 Chapter 98: Confession and Aid

    Chapter 98: Confession and Aid


    As Felix Harp returned to the castle, a satisfied smile adorned his face.


    With several professors joining his ranks, his Dueling course was growing stronger by the day. Perhaps in the future, he could invite more professors to join in the fun?


    Especially that afternoon, when he received a message from the owl named ''Snowy'':


    "Dear Felix Harp, the ceremony for my award is scheduled for 4th February at ten in the morning (Saturday), located in Room 3 on the second floor of the Ministry of Magic (to the left of the Wizengamot Administration Services Office). I invite you to attend as a guest. -Damocles Belby"


    Felix wrote a reply, estimating the time and realizing he had about half a month.


    In the evening, after tutoring Hermione Granger in Ancient Runes, Felix handed the young witch a ss of pumpkin juice.


    Typically, after the Ancient Runes ss, his assistant would spend some time in the office, partly to unwind from the mental exhaustion of the Pensieve and partly to engage in interesting conversations or answer questions.


    Today, they brought up Gilderoy Lockhart.


    Hermione held the cup and asked, "Professor, what''s your view on Lockhart?"


    "How do I see him?" Felix raised an eyebrow. His assistant had been on the job for half a year, and he understood her conversational habits quite well. This was one of her ways of extracting information.


    "Your opinion of him as a person, his teaching, his books, and such."


    Felix nced at Hermione. "Professor Lockhart is a very talkative individual, quite the showman. That''s a trait we don''t share, even though we both don the mantle of authors."


    Hermione pressed further, "So, how do you evaluate his books? You must have read them, right?"


    "I have indeed," Felix said, "They''re not particrly useful for me, but for students, there''s quite a bit of value in the methods he offers for dealing with danger and discovering it."


    "Actually, I appreciate his approach of integrating knowledge into his stories. Maybe I''ll try that myself someday." Felix looked at Hermione with genuine interest, and her brow furrowed.


    "But," she hesitated, her voice faltering, "don''t you think there''s a stark contrast between the books he writes and his behavior in the ssroom? A strong sense of incongruity?"


    "Perhaps," Felix judged nomittally, "It''s evident that his books contain elements of fiction and ambiguity. But we can only fault his personal integrity. At the very least, he did research while writing."


    "But what if," Hermione nervously proposed, a thinyer of sweat forming on her forehead, "what if his stories were stolen from other people''s minds?"


    The office fell silent for a few moments.


    "That''s a very serious usation, Miss Granger. If your im holds true, the personmitting such an act would be sent to Azkaban," Felix said sternly.


    "Granger, I need evidence."


    Trembling, Hermione reached into her robe and pulled out a crumpled piece of parchment.


    "This... This is what we found in Professor Lockhart''s office." She struggled to speak, it was Ron who had done the deed, but she and Harry had mutually decided not toy all the me on Ron alone.


    Felix looked at her with a somewhat surprised expression. He now understood why his assistant had been sorted into Gryffindor ¨C she was a restless and fiery witch.


    The type who would barge into a professor''s office without a second thought.


    Upon reflection, Felix Harp realized that his practice of setting the Binding Vines at the door whenever he left his office was indeed quite prescient.


    As he perused the documents, one name caught his attention: "Old Wizard Visit to Armenia (Note: Werewolf Adventure)."


    "Why are there two different types of handwriting?" he muttered to himself, flipping through the pages. He soon noticed the discrepancy.


    There were a dozen or so pages of parchment, with most of them neatly written in Hermione''s handwriting. However, three pages bore a different style of handwriting.


    "We, I..." Hermione swallowed, finding it difficult to admit her vition of school rules.


    "Take your time, I''m listening," Felix said calmly.


    "Here''s what happened. Ron was in detention in Lockhart''s office, copying fan mail as a punishment. He stumbled upon some hidden information, realized something was off, and secretly took three pages with him. Based on the content of these pages, we suspect that Lockhart''s books might not be based on his own experiences but rather stolen stories from others."


    "We decided to gather evidence in secret and investigate the truth."


    Felix listened attentively.


    "In the following week, Ron kept taking portions of the information during his detention."


    Felix was impressed by their audacity. "And Lockhart didn''t notice?"


    "Lockhart hasn''t been doing welltely. His memory is poor, and he''s been quite scatterbrained. Also, after we got our hands on the pages, we would quickly transcribe them and return the originals the next day..."


    "These three original pages are what we consider important evidence of Lockhart stealing others'' stories!"


    Felix wasn''t sure whether to apud their careful nning or reprimand them. It seemed his words about focusing on their studies hadn''t quite sunk in.


    He pulled out the three original pages and immediately recognized the writing style ¨C it was the work of a professional Quick-Quotes Quill.


    These quills had a distinct trait; they would often record words ording to the owner''s intentions, even twisting, altering, and embellishing dialogues with vivid descriptions of gestures and expressions.


    Felix had witnessed the power of such quills at Rita Skeeter''s house.


    He studied the pages earnestly:


    Crooked Wizard: My head hurts, as if a spoon is constantly digging in my brain. What''s happening to me?


    Daring Adventurer: It''s quite normal. Here, have some juice. It''ll do you good.


    The Crooked Wizard painfully drank the juice spiked with an unknown potion.


    Daring Adventurer: Let''s continue talking about the werewolf story. You''ve been chatting about it in the pub these days. Forgot already? I treated you to quite a few drinks. But I want more details... By the way, can I take a look at your memoriester? After all, readers need an immersive experience.


    Crooked Wizard: I don''t know, something''s off, there''s a problem...


    Daring Adventurer: How could that be? Look at me, I can help you.


    The Adventurer raised their wand.


    Felix''s expression grew somber as he finished reading the three pages of parchment. The situation was more serious than he had anticipated.


    He outlined a rough logic: Lockhart spotted a target at the tavern, spent a few days getting to know them or, in other words, befriending the unfortunate individual. Then, either through an ambush or a potion, he managed to control the person.


    Afterward, Lockhart used memory magic or some sort of Veritaserum-like substance to extract the entire story.


    "What do you want me to do?" Felix asked calmly.


    "Expose his true nature, of course," Hermione answered without hesitation.


    "Usually, the content of a Quick-Quotes Quill can''t be used as evidence. However," Felix continued, "as long as we know what he''s done, the situation can be handled."


    "I will inform Headmaster Dumbledore. With his abilities, he''ll handle it properly. If need be, I can resort to less proper methods."


    Hermione hesitated.


    "Is there anything else?" Felix inquired.


    "Professor, it''s Ron''s trouble. We need your help."


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 Chapter 99: Handling

    Chapter 99: Handling


    Felix Harp became serious. "What''s happened?"


    He even suspected whether Ron had been discovered by Lockhart and taken away directly.


    Lockhart was, after all, an adult wizard, and being an adult wizard meant he had undergone a full seven years of magical education ¨C even if his current performance was ridiculously weak.


    But it couldn''t be ruled out that he had delved deeply into a certain branch of magic.


    Hermione''s words put him at ease. "Ron is fine for now and hasn''t been found out. But during Friday night''s detention, Lockhart acted very strangely."


    "Strangely?"


    "Yes, Lockhart suddenly jumped up and cursed Rita Skeeter in the evening. Ron said that the way he looked was something he had never seen before, and his expression was terrifying." Hermione repeated Ron''s description.


    In fact, Ron was almost scared out of his wits at that moment.


    Lockhart vented for over ten minutes, warned Ron not to talk about today''s events, and then sent him away.


    "Hmm..." Felix Harp pondered, connecting Lockhart''s recent odd behavior, his encounter with the flustered Rita Skeeter, and Lockhart''s intense hatred towards Skeeter disyed the previous night...


    On the second day after the Christmas holiday ended, Minister Fudge was injured during his visit to the serpent creature. He identally came across the frantic Rita Skeeter, who happened to be walking from the castle''s underground upwards, and that direction coincidentally led to Lockhart''s office.


    He seemed to have connected the dots.


    It was clear that she had done something to Lockhart.


    It was possible that their conversation had gone sour and then turned physical.


    Lockhart''s memory had been failingtely, he was irritable, and his speech was incoherent...


    So, could this be the aftermath of the Obliviation curse?


    Lockhart was hit with Obliviation?


    This would exin why over a week had passed and Rita Skeeter had not mentioned a single word about that day''s incident in the newspaper, even letting Lockhart, her arch-nemesis, off lightly.


    He had only hinted for her not to create a rhythm, distort the facts, but that didn''t prevent her from causing trouble for Lockhart.


    This wasn''t characteristic of that woman.


    "So, tonight, Weasley is going to the detention?" Felix Harp grasped the key point.


    Judging from Lockhart''s behavior, he had clearly regained his memory. If Ron rushed to confront him, it was hard to guarantee that something wouldn''t happen.


    "No, he said he had a stomachache and asked Professor McGonagall for leave." Hermione said.


    Felix Harp nodded; that was quite clever.


    Whether it was Lockhart discovering Ron stealing information or thinking that Ron had seen too many secrets, either scenario could lead to extreme actions.


    "I understand your point. I will talk to Professor McGonagall and take charge of Weasley''s uing detention."


    "Professor, is this appropriate?" Hermione inquired.


    "Of course, detentions don''t have strict guidelines on how to be carried out. As long as I provide a suitable reason, like needing some young wizards for testing my new teaching tools, I should be fine." Felix Harp winked.


    "Some young wizards?" Hermione had doubts about the phrase ''some''.


    Wasn''t the goal to solve Ron''s problem?


    "Yes, but I can''t make it too obvious. After all, the investigation will still take time. I n to gather all the young wizards who have been given detention recently."


    Felix Harp showed an expression of resignation.


    "Professor, the teaching tool you mentioned, could it be?" The young witch stared at him with wide eyes.


    "Oh, it''s the one you saw during the Christmas holiday. But if you don''t tell, and I don''t tell, who would know if it''s alreadypleted?" Felix Harp smiled gently.


    Hermione suddenly felt that Professor Harp was smiling quite cunningly.


    After she left, Felix Harp fell into deep thought.


    A momentter, he wrote down his spections on a piece of parchment and then waved his wand to summon his Patronus ¨C a swallow.


    "Dumbledore, I think you need to take a look at this."


    The silvery, small swallow held the rolled-up parchment in its beak and flew out of the window.


    Felix Harp leisurely tapped the table with his fingers, "Tap-tap, tap-tap." Just a few minutester, a phoenix with golden-red feathers all over its body abruptly appeared in his room.


    On its w was a tiny note that read:


    "Please hand over the information to Fawkes, and leave the rest to me."


    After seeing off Fawkes, Felix Harp curiously gazed at the spot where it had vanished.


    The phoenix truly deserved its reputation as a top-tier magical creature; its various magical talents made him eager to study it further.


    Early the next morning, Felix Harp found Professor McGonagall.


    When he mentioned that his research on the new teaching tool was at a critical point and that he needed some students'' assistance, Professor McGonagall was very supportive.


    "Do you need me to arrange for Gryffindor students to help?"


    "No, just hand over all the currently detained young wizards to me. It would be good to involve them in the process and let them learn something as well." Felix Harp presented his idea.


    With hardly any effort, Professor McGonagall agreed.


    She handed Felix Harp a list. "This is thetest list of students under detention, and all the names are on it."


    He thanked her politely and left.


    On his way, in a secluded spot among some bushes, Felix Harp encountered Percy Weasley; he had a vague recollection of Percy.


    "Professor Harp?" Percy looked somewhat guilty as he looked at Felix Harp, with a girl standing beside him.


    "Mr. Weasley, Miss Crevette. What are you doing here?"


    This ce was rather remote and notmonly visited.


    "Uh, Professor, Percy... I mean, Mr. Weasley, and I were patrolling. We were exercising our prefect authority." Percy stammered.


    "You two wouldn''t mind helping me out, would you?" Felix Harp looked at the young couple without giving away his suspicions.


    "Of course!" Percy answered.


    Felix Harp took out the list of students. "Could you inform the heads of houses for the corresponding houses about the names on this list? Ask them to change the detentions for tonight and afterward to my office."


    Percy nodded, and the two of them swiftly departed like co-conspirators.


    Gryffindor Common Room.


    Yesterday, Ron had stayed in the dormitory the whole time, pretending to be sick. To make the effect more convincing, he had boldly taken the enhanced version of ''Ice Mice,'' and his face turned a deep shade of blue.


    He looked as if he had been buried in icy snow for hours.


    In the end, he had indeed fallen ill and had spent the night in the infirmary. He had just returned.


    Ron was wrapped up tightly, sitting with Harry and Hermione at a table.


    Ron asked in a low voice, "Hermione, did Professor Harp really agree?"


    Hermione sighed in exasperation, "You''ve asked seven times already. To answer onest time: yes!"


    Ron said, "I really can''t figure it out ¨C what happened with Lockhart that night? He acted so... " He thought for a moment before uttering a word, "mad."


    Just as they were discussing, Percy walked in.


    Approaching the trio, he handed Ron a message from Professor Harp.


    "That''s great!"


    Ron jumped up excitedly, his troubles were finally over.


    Whether it was Lockhart himself or Lockhart''s supporters, he had finally rid himself of them all!


    Percy looked at his youngest brother in confusion, wondering if the twins had frozen Ron''s brain ¨C being in detention was all the same anyway!


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 Chapter 100: The Trial

    Chapter 100: The Trial


    On that evening at eight o''clock, a line of young wizards stood in the office of Ancient Runes.


    Felix Harp leaned against the desk, one hand stroking his chin. "Hmm¡­" he surveyed these mischievous troublemakers.


    There were quite a few familiar faces.


    A total of nine young wizards, and surprisingly, four of them had red hair ¨C Ron, the twins Fred and George, and Ginny.


    The other five were Luna, Graham Montague, Marcus Flint, Eddie Carmichael, and Stebbins.


    "Not a single house is missing," Felix spoke up.


    "Let me think, Fred, George, Graham, Marcus, you four were in a brawl on the Quidditch pitch;"


    "Luna Lovegood, Ginny Weasley, you snuck into the Forbidden Forest to feed creatures;"


    "Eddie Carmichael, you were caught selling banned potions;"


    "And Stebbins," Felix raised an eyebrow in surprise, "you wrote over a hundred love letters to the same girl;"


    "And of course, Ron Weasley, for improper behavior and pushing a professor."


    Felix approached them; each one was talented in their own way.


    "Professor, they attacked us first," Fred said.


    "You were spying on our team''s training!" Graham Montague eximed. He was in the same year as the twins and yed Seeker for Slytherin.


    "Didn''t you do the same? Don''t tell me Walden was just taking a stroll!"


    Some wizards watched the scene with interest, while others kept their heads down in silence. The two youngest girls, Luna, yed with her butterbeer cork ne while staring intently at the argument, and Ginny remained quiet, her head bowed.


    "Silence," Felix said. "Arguing won''t change the fact that you''re all standing before me."


    "I''ve called you here today for some testing work. I need you to uncover any potential issues with it," he nced at everyone, "I think this will be much more interesting than copying materials or dealing with weeds."


    Felix flicked his fingers, and nine pieces of parchment floated in front of the young wizards.


    Fred looked at the parchment in his hand. It was exquisitely crafted, emitting a faint magical glow. Apart from the intricate patterns engraved around the edges, the center was nk.


    "Oh, by the way, you''ll need some makeshift desks and chairs," Felix drew his wand, and the various odds and ends on the table transformed into small desks and chairs, hopping and shifting.


    At Professor Harp''s gesture, the nine young wizards took their seats. Marcus Flint, being thergest, looked like a giant sitting on the ground. Felix had to adjust the height of his desk and chair.


    Several of them stared at the nk parchment.


    "Professor, what are we supposed to do?" one asked.


    Felix exined, "The parchment before you is my new teaching tool, and your task is to answer the questions written on it. Of course, before you can use the tool, you need to activate it. To do so, ce your wand on the parchment and say, ''I enjoy Ancient Runes.''"


    The young wizards on the chairs gazed at Professor Harp as he spoke.


    The twins exchanged a nce, attempting to convey something through raised eyebrows and winks.


    Ron raised his hand. "Professor Harp, I haven''t studied Ancient Runes... and neither has Ginny and her friend."


    Felix Harp spoke gently, "No worries, what you have now are just prototypes. The questions about Ancient Runes on them are not too many, and many aremon knowledge in the magical world."


    Then, he looked at everyone, "You''ll find that all the questions are multiple-choice. You just need to use your wand to tap on the answer you believe is correct, and it will give you feedback."


    "This process will be quite enjoyable. Let''s begin, young wizards."


    Among the young wizards present, Luna had the least burden. She excitedly took out her wand and tapped the parchment, saying, "I enjoy Ancient Runes."


    Under the gazes of the other young wizards, a faint light emanated from the parchment. Shortly after, words appeared in the previously nk space.


    "Wee to the Answering Space."


    A few secondster, the writing vanished, and the first question appeared.


    ''Do you prefer leaves or thorns?''


    Luna cheerfully tapped the ''leaves'' option.


    ''Do you prefer exploring, protecting, or serving?''


    Luna''s wand tapped the ''exploring'' option.


    ''Do you prefer thinking, touching, or feeling?''


    Luna pondered for a moment, then chose the ''feeling'' option.


    The other young wizards quickly caught on, realizing that it wasn''t too difficult. They eagerly started attempting the questions.


    There was an incident in the midst of this. When Fred tapped his wand on the parchment, he unconsciously said, "I solemnly swear¡ª"


    He was promptly nudged by George.


    "¡ªoh, um, I enjoy Ancient Runes," Fred quickly amended.


    On the other side, Ron looked at him, slightly puzzled. Why are you so passionate about Ancient Runes? And why swear?


    Nevertheless, everyone began answering.


    Soon they discovered that the questions weren''t fixed. Some were easy¡ªasking about feelings or basic magical knowledge¡ªwhile others were more challenging, involving knowledge from various subjects.


    Additionally, the feedback from the parchment varied depending on the type of question.


    For instance, when faced with the question ''Encountering a snake-like creature, how would you respond?''


    Ron confidently chose the ''defeat it'' option and even showed it to Ginny. However, the parchment disyed several blood-red words¡ª


    "Your fate ismentable. If there''s a next time, run faster."


    Luna burst into a fit of night owl-likeughter at the spectacle. Sheughed so hard she was practically out of breath. Ginny patted her back to calm her down.


    Ron seemed a bit annoyed.


    Marcus Flint faced mostly questions rted to Ancient Runes knowledge. The earlier questions were rtively easy, and each time, the parchment praised him with "You''re amazing," "You''re the next runic expert," "Incredible victory."


    Then, he proceeded to answer seven consecutive questions incorrectly, causing the parchment''s evaluations to plummet: "Somewhat poor," "Did you really study?" "What''s in front of you, a giant maybe?"


    His face visibly darkened.


    However, the next question was about magical history: ''When was the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy signed into effect?''


    Marcus struggled for a while and chose the first answer, ''1637,'' purely a wild guess.


    The parchment disyed several exaggerated sketches of figures, depicting them ganging up on arge, monstrous-looking being.


    Apanying the images was exnatory text: ''The Statute was signed into effect in 1689. If you don''t want to be treated like a monster, remember this!''


    Marcus rolled his eyes. Who has time to remember that?


    Eddie Carmichael''s questions were mostly about the consequences of selling banned potions.


    "In 1927, Dark Wizard Campos sold subpar Babbling Beverage potions. What happenedter?"


    He looked at the options, ''When he bought supplies, another Dark Wizard killed him,'' ''He was sent to Azkaban and sentenced to ten years,'' ''He got away with it and retired peacefully.''


    Eddie Carmichael eagerly chose thest option.


    Sudden dark red writing appeared on the parchment, resembling dried blood.


    ''Campos was attacked by his partner while buying supplies,ter captured by Aurors, sentenced to ten years imprisonment.''


    Eddie swallowed hard. But it wasn''t over; the next line read, "Campos died after only seven years in Azkaban."


    Most of the other young wizards encountered simr questions rted to their own misdeeds, making them sweat profusely while answering.


    Behind his desk, Felix Harp leaned back in his chair, looking at the exquisite scroll in his hand, a wide grin on his face.


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 Chapter 101: Ginnys Testimony

    Chapter 101: Ginny''s Testimony


    After about half an hour, Felix Harp stood up from his chair and walked up to the young wizards.


    "Alright, young wizards, let''s pause for a moment," he said.


    Everyone looked up, a few with nervous sweat on their brows.


    Felix surveyed the group. "Now, let''s hear about your experiences."


    "I found it quite fascinating, except for a few odd questions in the middle," Luna said in her dreamy voice.


    "Are you referring to¡ª"


    "Yes, the questions about the Forbidden Forest," Luna pondered for a moment. "Like, ''You wandered into the Forbidden Forest out of curiosity and heard a cking sound. When you turned around, you saw arge creature with thick ck fur and pincers. What happens next?''"


    "Oh, and what''s your answer?" Felix asked. This question was one he had added on the spur of the moment.


    "I chose ''Greet it,'' like, ''Hey there, Mr. Eight-Eyes the Acromant.''"


    "Why didn''t you choose to run away?" Felix inquired.


    "But that''s the second thing to do," Luna earnestly replied. The other wizards looked at her in astonishment.


    Ron''s eyes were nearly popping out.


    "So, you believe," Felix said somewhat awkwardly, "that when encountering an Acromant in the Forbidden Forest, the first step is to greet it, and then turn around and run."


    Luna nodded and added, "Actually, these two things can be done simultaneously, depending on how fast it''s chasing you."


    "Very well, thank you for your response, Miss Lovegood. But I don''t rmend such actions. In fact, you shouldn''t have trespassed into the Forbidden Forest at all, especially not with another young wizard."


    His gaze shifted to Ginny, the young girl who seemed considerably more normal. She lowered her head sadly; it was her first detention since starting at the school.


    "Does anyone else have insights to share?"


    "Professor, George and I think that the parchment''s feedback could be more diverse. We just tested it, and there are only around twenty different types currently," said one of the twins.


    "Oh? Please continue," Felix asked with genuine interest.


    Fred seemed quite excited and eagerly continued, "Professor, apart from text and simple drawings, we could also incorporate some punishments. Like spraying dark mist, or maybe even some foul-smelling liquid..."


    "We could also add sound. If you answer incorrectly, you''d hear Professor Flitwick''s voice: ''We are wizards, not curly-haired baboons waving sticks!''"


    Thest line was Fred imitating Flitwick''s voice, causing a few less bright wizards, like Marcus and Ron, to shiver involuntarily.


    "Anything else?"


    "The textual feedback is too gentle, the tone could be stronger. Professor, George and I can help with that," Fred expressed keen interest in this matter, eagerly volunteering himself to Felix.


    "Hmm..." Felix imagined the scene with those suggestions added. The young wizards'' sanity might explode, wouldn''t it?


    "The suggestion about adding sound is quite good, it''s feasible," Felix chose the most practical suggestion.


    The atmosphere grew increasingly lively.


    "Professor, perhaps we could add a scoring element to the content so that we can visually assess our own levels," suggested Eddie Camirche, whose grades were always excellent, although he often liked to show off his cleverness.


    "That''s a valid point."


    "Professor Harp, can we include our names?" Ginny hesitated for a moment before speaking up.


    "Names?"


    "Like, in the beginning part, we could have something like ''Wee Ginny Weasley to the Quiz Space''¡­" Her voice grew quieter, seeming a bit embarrassed, her cheeks turning as red as her hair.


    "That''s a good suggestion."


    "Professor, could we add symbols for different houses?"


    "Professor, can we have a high score leaderboard? Apetition between different houses, like the House Cup?"


    "Professor, can we see how others are performing in the quizzes?"


    "Professor, can we categorize the questions? Like, Ancient Runes, History of Magic, Potions, Herbology, General Knowledge, and so on."


    ...


    The nine young wizards chimed in with their suggestions, and as things progressed, they started arguing among themselves about which feature was more important.


    Felix''s expression grew increasingly odd. All these features put together... weren''t they reminiscent of knowledge-based gaming apps from the future?


    Categories, quiz effects, leaderboards, friend options,petitive mechanics, custom skins...


    But I just wanted to create a study aid for Ancient Runes ss. Why do I need all these features? And they might not even be feasible...


    After some thought, Felix said, "Write down your ideas and refine them as best you can. I will selectively add them in. Mr. Ron Weasley,e with me for a moment."


    Ron pointed at himself, receiving a clear response. He followed Professor Harp to a corner of the office.


    "Weasley, tell me in detail about Lockhart''s behavior that night..."


    After about fifteen minutes, Ron finished recounting his experience.


    "Very well, I''ve conveyed the information to Headmaster Dumbledore. With the data you provided, Lockhart will receive the appropriate punishment soon."


    "But before that, I must remind you, just as I told Miss Granger, not to privately interact with Lockhart. If you sense danger, immediately seek out any professor you can find."


    "Is that clear enough?"


    Ron looked at Professor Harp''s stern expression, swallowed nervously, and nodded repeatedly.


    "Good, you may go now. And while you''re at it, please ask your sister toe here."


    "Ginny? What happened to her?" Ron asked with concern.


    "Just some minor issues," Felix brushed it off.


    Soon, Ginny Weasley came hesitantly before him.


    "Hello, Miss Weasley. We''ve met a few times before, but now we''re formally introduced."


    "Hello, Professor Harp."


    "Let''s get straight to the point. I''d like to know where you got that diary of yours."


    Ginny raised her head in shock, her eyes wide. "P-Professor, what are you saying?"


    Felix calmly looked into her eyes. "We''ve met several times before, like near Hagrid''s hut and near the girls''vatory. Do I need to exin further?"


    He didn''t mention the most critical evidence, which Luna had provided, to avoid affecting their friendship.


    Ginny''s lips quivered, as if she wanted to say something. Felix patiently waited.


    After about a minute...


    Tears swirled in her bright brown eyes, but she finally gathered the courage to admit, "Professor, I don''t know... I just wrote in it. That diary, does it... really have to do with the Chamber?"


    "You know nothing about this?"


    "I''m not sure. At first, I just wrote in it, and it responded to me. It was considerate, gave me advice. Later, I started losing chunks of memory, coincidentally when the attacks happened."


    "Later, professors emphasized in ss not to trust Dark Magic items. Fred and George said the same. So, I... I got rid of it."


    She tearfully recounted her experience.


    Felix nodded andforted Ginny, "Young wizards are often easy to deceive. In the future, when faced with simr problems, seek help from a professor you trust. It''s nothing to be ashamed of."


    "Believe me, the troubles that seem insurmountable to you often have simple solutions for us professors."


    Ginny nodded softly, then quickly said, "Thank you, Professor Harp."


    "So, let''s return to the initial question. Do you remember where you got the diary from?"


    "I... I''m not sure. I thought Mum gave it to me, but maybe not."


    "I suspect you noticed something unusual?"


    "The diary was tucked into the new book I bought. Mum wouldn''t do that."


    "The new book? Was it the day you went shopping in Diagon Alley?"


    "Yes, that day happened to be Lockhart''s book signing event. He gave Harry the whole set of new books, and Harry gave them to me. I found the diary that evening."


    Lockhart and Potter... perhaps it was a coincidence.


    Felix fell silent for a moment before continuing, "Do you remember what happened that day? Who might havee into contact with your bag?"


    "That day, our family went shopping in Diagon Alley, oh, and Harry was with us. He was staying at the Burrow for the holidays; his rtives aren''t very kind to him... We ran into the Granger family midway. We split up near the bank entrance. Mum took me to buy robes and a wand. Then we went to buy books, at Lockhart''s book signing event. Dad even got into a fight with Malfoy..."


    Felix stopped her, "Malfoy? Lucius Malfoy?"


    "Yes, he and Dad have a terrible rtionship." Ginny whispered.


    "Let''s delve into that part further," Felix said calmly.


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 Chapter 102: The Study Group

    Chapter 102: The Study Group


    After a long while¡ª


    Ginny, with tear-stained cheeks, spoke, "Professor, will I... will I be expelled?"


    "You need not worry about that. I assure you."


    ...


    When Ginny returned to her seat, her eyes red from crying, Ron and the twins stared at her.


    Ron wanted to say something, but Ginnypletely ignored him. She moved a small chair close to Luna''s side, where Luna softly hummed an odd little tune in her ear.


    For the rest of the time, the twins were somewhat fidgety, but fortunately, Professor Harp allowed them to hand in their suggestions and then dismissed them with a wave.


    "Ginny, what happened?" Not far from leaving the office, George couldn''t help but be concerned for his sister.


    Ginny shook her head.


    "Did Professor Harp scold you, Ginny? I mean, it was a bit risky going into the Forbidden Forest, right, Fred?"


    Fred immediately chimed in without hesitation, "Absolutely right. If you''re interested in the Forbidden Forest, I can show you around... though it''s not really that exciting, just trees, rocks, and flowers."


    She clenched her lips tightly, remaining silent.


    Luna and Ginny held hands, and in a sing-song voice, Luna said, "Professor Harp is quite reasonable, isn''t he? But yourplexion does seem a bit off. I suggest you visit the school nurse."


    "Thank you, Luna."


    "How did you kn¡ª"


    "Fred, George, and Ron, I''m fine. I just...," Ginny took a deep breath, "encountered some trouble earlier, and Professor Harp helped me out."


    Seeing her brothers about to ask more, she said sternly, "I won''t tell you." Then, Ginny grabbed Luna''s hand and briskly walked away.


    Watching her retreating figure, Fred remarked with a hint of nostalgia, "Ginny''s grown up, no longer just a little tag-along."


    George quipped, "So, you miss the old days, then?"


    "Well, don''t we usually yearn for things precisely because we can''t return?" Fred made a wry face.


    The two of them yfully bantered.


    In the following week, Hogwarts remained as calm as ever.


    Every evening, the nine young wizards reported to Professor Harp''s Ancient Runes office and carried out various testing tasks as per his instructions.


    In truth, most of their detentions were scheduled for weekends. Only Ron, due to his "particrly grave" behavior, coupled with a strong rmendation from Lockhart, found himself in continuous detention for a full thirty days.


    However, when Professor Harp promised them that subsequent detentions could be offset bypleting the current ones, the other young wizards scarcely struggled and willingly requested to finish their detentions under his supervision.


    The reason was simple: elsewhere, the tasks were monotonous and repetitive, while Professor Harp''s were the most intriguing.


    By the third or fourth day, they had already formed a study group across houses and earnestly discussed improvement ideas for the "Answering Space."


    This wasn''t just idle chatter; they were genuinely invested.


    Seeing their enthusiasm, Felix Harp was pleased and willing to provide guidance.


    Yet, as the sole technical consultant and referee, he had to veto one impractical idea after another, selecting only the most feasible aspects for enhancement.


    "Young wizards, even Professor Harp has limits. Not all your fanciful ideas can be amodated."


    This was Professor Harp''s response when the twins suggested adding a "video call" function to parchment.


    Finally, with Felix''s suggestion, the young wizards designed several different versions.


    The most basic and primitive version was simr to what they had seen that day, but with the addition of house crests and more feedback features.


    In this endeavor, the twins and Ron yed significant roles.


    The feedback on the parchment could be roughly categorized into two types: praise for correct answers and yful criticism for incorrect ones.


    The twins'' acerbic tongues impressed their fellow wizards, while Ron excelled in the realm of praise,ing up with all sorts of cheesypliments.


    "In truth, these are all just Lockhart fan quotes," Ron exined.


    And in the subsequent versions, they followed Professor Harp''s professional advice andpleted a step-by-step iterative n based on difficulty.


    The mor for a leaderboard was the loudest, and that was easily resolved¡ªFelix could use Synchronization Magic to consolidate all the information from the parchment onto an exquisite scroll in his possession.


    This device essentially yed the role of a server.


    However, it wasn''t quite as intelligent. After obtaining the data, one still needed to manually arrange it in order of high and low.


    As for the other features in different versions, such as online dueling, friend lists, and subject divisions, they weren''t something he could solve in the short term or something a piece of parchment could amodate. Felix postponed those to a distant future.


    By the end of the week, the twins, Graham Montague, and Marcus Flint hadpleted their detentions. Nheless, they chose to stay and finish this task.


    Ginny and Luna did the same.


    Upon identally learning of the study group, Hermione immediately applied to Felix and joined this ad hoc team.


    With Felix''s presence, no one dared openly mention the conflicts between houses. At most, there were mocking expressions, but at such times, Professor Harp''s gaze often followed in the wake of such expressions.


    "I never thought we''d be able to aplish something together, and my second partner would turn out to be a Slytherin!" One day, Fred whispered to George.


    "Hey, who would''ve guessed? This is even more unbelievable than us not causing too much trouble during finals." George shrugged.


    The twins'' gazended on the Slytherin Quidditch captain¡ª


    With Marcus''s intellect, he couldn''t contribute particrly insightful ideas. However, he essentially represented the lower limit of the young wizards. As a pure test subject, he repeatedly exposed bugs in the "Answering Space."


    Such situations as, "Professor, why did the writing on the parchment disappear?" and the response, "Oh, you took too long to think, it thought you fell asleep."


    Until the morning of the tenth day, Felix woke up early, preparing to go to the Room of Requirement toplete that day''s magical practice.


    He had only recently discovered this room''s function.


    In truth, he stumbled upon the Room of Requirement by ident during the first attack, but he always thought it was a mysterious chamber for hiding things.


    At most, the concealment magic applied to it was decent, worth studying. However, this matter was rtively low on his priority list.


    It wasn''t until the diary of Tom Riddle told him the true secret of this room that he regained interest.


    The Room of Requirement could adapt its internal environment flexibly based on the user''s desires, fulfilling their needs.


    This practically set his research desires aze in an instant. Yet, using his existing knowledge, Felix couldn''t decipher the room''s secrets at all. He could only catch faint glimpses of magical pathways crisscrossing the room from hidden vantage points.


    ''The magical supply of the Room of Requirement is rooted in Hogwarts'' thousand-year-old castle.''


    That was Felix''s conjecture.


    Although his research was hindered, he devised a new purpose: practicing spells within it.


    Here, he could wield his full power without reservation, including his Instant Kill technique. The benefits were clear¡ªnow, he didn''t need to spend an hour wandering deep into the Forbidden Forest for practice.


    ...


    As dawn broke, Felix walked along the empty corridor.


    Havingpleted today''s training and preparing to head downstairs to the kitchen for some food, he unexpectedly collided with Lockhart.


    Lockhart was dragging arge box and had two small ones floating behind him.


    "Professor Lockhart?"


    The sudden voice startled Lockhart, causing the two boxes he was struggling to control to crash to the ground with a thud.


    "Who''s there?" Lockhart whispered.


    Felix''s figure descended from the steps, as he sized up Lockhart, "Professor Lockhart, are you about to go out?"


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 Chapter 103: The Curtain Falls on Lockhart

    Chapter 103: The Curtain Falls on Lockhart


    Lockhart appeared extremely nervous, his delicate and elegant blonde hair sticking tightly to his head.


    "Professor Harp, I have a rather urgent matter that hase up suddenly, it''s about my new book... I must attend to it immediately."


    "Is that so? Oh, I believe your office isn''t connected to the Floo Network. Shall I call Professor McGonagall, or perhaps... Dumbledore?"


    Lockhart beamed a brilliant smile, "If that''s the case, it would be quite splendid, oh, Headmaster Dumbledore, what brings you here?"


    A dazzling green light shot forth from Lockhart''s hand, moving at incredible speed. Just as Lockhart''s victorious smile emerged, his spell came to a halt before Felix Harp.


    An invisible barrier stood before Felix, and the radiant beam of light seemed to be intercepted by the air itself.


    "Hmm, is this your most powerful magic? Seriously, Lockhart, you''ve certainly changed my perception of you," Felix even had the spare energy toment.


    "Felix Harp! Let me through!"


    "Apologies."


    "You know about it, don''t you? The Weasley''s secret? Are you trying to uphold justice? Spare me, Felix Harp. I''ve learned about your history from others; you''re not one to meddle in others'' affairs."


    "I indeed have no interest in your matters, but who let you bounce around under my nose?" Felix said, if Lockhart had been hopping around outside of Hogwarts, he wouldn''t have gotten involved.


    "Then let me leave this ce! I swear I''ll never appear before you again."


    "Let you leave? After knowing you''re a skilled duelist with expertise in Memory Charms?" Felix shook his head.


    The incantations of the two shed continuously. Felix intensified the output of his magical power; the previously invisible Shield Charm started to manifest in simple lines, outlining an armor seemingly out of thin air.


    Facing him, Lockhart surprisingly held his ground, emanating the demeanor of a powerful wizard. His spells were incredibly potent and were growing stronger by the moment.


    His incantation illuminated the entire corridor, casting an eerie and terrifying green glow on Lockhart''s face.


    "Felix Harp, my magic is mightier than you could imagine. I''ve inherited hidden legacies! I''m far from my limits now!"


    In this brief minute, his spell had rapidly escted from its initial state, even hinting at the formidable Disarming Charm that Felix had demonstrated in their second Dueling ss.


    Yet, Felixughed, "Lockhart, you''re only strong in this particr magic. It appears to be some form of ancient sorcery¡ªa truly admirable skill..."


    "But I must say, Lockhart, you''re not skilled in dueling."


    Felix Harp''s other hand made a slight gesture, and the broken stones in the corner of the wall transformed into sleek, oily rats.


    These rats emitted soft, rustling sounds as they scurried toward Lockhart.


    "What in Merlin''s name! Rats, so many rats!"


    Lockhart maintained his spell while shaking his body, but it was in vain. One of the rats bit into his arm, and in the throes of agony, his wand slipped from his hand.


    Under Lockhart''s horrified gaze and Felix Harp''sposed stare, the wand fell to the ground, bounced a few times, and came to a halt.


    Felix cast a silent Summoning Charm, and Lockhart''s wand flew into his grasp.


    The corridor grew dim once again.


    Lockhart''s face turned ashen. He pleaded, "Felix, I had no choice... I can give you all the money I have."


    Felix sighed, "Headmaster, I leave it to you to handle."


    Amid Lockhart''s terror-stricken expression, Dumbledore''s figure appeared slowly. Half his face was concealed in the darkness, his eyes reflecting a mixture of anger and sadness.


    "Dumbledore... Headmaster! I..."


    "Lockhart, I''ve watched you grow up."


    Dumbledore said calmly, restraining his emotions. A red light shed, and Lockhart fell unconscious.


    The Dark Arts Defense professor floated in midair, a golden thread winding around him.


    As Dumbledore departed, he told Felix, "Thank you, Felix."


    "I haven''t done much. With you watching, he couldn''t escape."


    All the portraits in the castle were the eyes of Hogwarts'' headmaster. Coupled with Dumbledore''s own magical expertise, no one could evade him.


    Felix even felt that this old man held too many secrets within, yet had never revealed them.


    This was also why he hadn''t employed stronger magic. If it had been a chance encounter outside of the school, he would have surely unleashed his full magical arsenal against Lockhart.


    "No, Felix, I must thank you. You spared me from shing with one of my students."


    Dumbledore departed.


    Felix stood in ce, pondered for a moment, then entered Lockhart''s office.


    ...


    During the day, the young wizards noticed Lockhart''s absence from ss and couldn''t help but discuss it. Soon, they realized that the other professors were equally vague.


    And so, a rumor began to spread¡ª


    "It must be Fudge''s doing! I knew it, he wouldn''t let Lockhart off the hook." Dean Thomas confidently dered to his fellow Gryffindors, who looked at him with a mixture of belief and doubt.


    "It''s true, Fudge is very petty. I read about it in the newspaper."


    That night, Felix announced the ''Enhancement of Teaching Tools Program'' as a resounding sess. Everyone could return to their respective homes.


    In truth, the confinement of the others had already ended, except for Ron.


    Felix''s initial intention had actually been to free Ron from Lockhart''s control in a reasonable manner. However, as things developed, the young wizards'' enthusiasm had be uncontroble, slipping from his grasp.


    But this was also the first time Felix had witnessed young wizards from all four houses working together for amon goal. He let things take their course, even participating and offering guidance.


    With the danger averted, the Teaching Tools Upgrade Program had reached its fourth version; it was time to conclude.


    But some rewards were still due.


    "Given that some of you have fulfilled your duties even after the confinement, excellentlypleting the tasks, each of you will receive extra points."


    Amid a chorus of cheers, Ron, summoning courage, asked, "What about me, Professor Harp?"


    "Weasley, your confinement was rather lengthy, and I can''t award you points for that. However, hmm..." Felix said, "I can discuss with Professor McGonagall and suggest reducing the number of times you were confined."


    Ron left the office with a contented heart.


    Felix''s mood was also quite pleasant. All the misceneous matters were resolved, and he didn''t need to calcte this and that.


    That night, he indulged in watching two episodes of an animated disk¡ªThe clumsy cat''s war against the clever mouse. It was simple and unburdened, a pure and carefree spectacle.


    Felix skimmed through his supplies. "Perhaps I should buy a few more?" he thought and drifted into a peaceful sleep.


    The next day in the Great Hall, Snape cornered Felix.


    "Did you have me help you secure the Defense Against the Dark Arts position?" he asked in surprise.


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 Chapter 104: New Teaching Tools

    Chapter 104: New Teaching Tools


    "It''s temporary," Snape stared into his eyes, "Felix, it''s January now, and there are a full five months left until the end of this school year. Do you know what that means?"


    Felix fell silent. It meant young wizards would go nearly half a year without Professor Harp''s Defense Against the Dark Arts sses.


    But then again, did it really matter?


    Even if the young wizards were left to self-study, it was probably better than when Lockhart was around. At least they would save time on dull assignments.


    "Professor, I''ve always been curious, why do you keep holding onto this ss? Aren''t you afraid of the Dark Lord''s curse?" Felix was genuinely puzzled.


    However, Snape didn''t answer in the way Felix expected.


    Felix thought for a moment and said, "I can ask Dumbledore about it."


    He wasn''t skilled with curses, andbined with the terrifying track record of this ss, he had never thought about taking over Defense Against the Dark Arts.


    However, he was genuinely curious about the "Dark Lord''s curse." Maybe he could learn something from Dumbledore.


    "Oh, Severus," Felix winked at Snape, "Don''t forget about tonight''s dueling ss."


    Snape gave him a disdainful look. "And how do you n to arrange it?"


    "One person speaks for a section, with demonstrations as the focus. After all, the professors are all gathering together, and I''ll invite them separately for the follow-up sessions," Felix exined somewhat helplessly.


    Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, himself, and Snape made up the four.


    Snape nodded and turned to leave.


    In that day''s seventh-year ss, Felix presented the new teaching tools for Ancient Runes to the young wizards.


    They watched as Professor Harp spoke confidently from the podium, "Do you see the parchment in front of you? It will y a significant role in your NEWT exams."


    A young wizard raised their hand. "Professor Harp, is this the legendary tool that Flitwick participated in creating?"


    The young wizards present turned their gaze to the tall and muscr Marcus Flint.


    There were less than twenty students in the seventh-year Ancient Runes ss, and they all knew each other well. At this moment, they all wore looks of skepticism.


    Marcus felt somewhat at a loss. He had just bragged a bit; why was he being called out on it?


    Felix nced at her and said, "Miss Vane, Flint did indeed participate in the testing of the new teaching tools. Not just him, there were ten young wizards in total, each contributing valuable suggestions. What you see is the result of their collective effort."


    "Now, let''s have a practical demonstration."


    Following the earlier exnation, the young wizards ced their wands on the parchment for answering questions and whispered, "Secrets of the Runes."


    The parchment emitted a soft light, and a line of text appeared:


    "Wee to the answer space. Pleaseplete the following tasks."


    After a ripple-like wave, the symbols of the four houses appeared on the parchment: serpent, badger, lion, and eagle.


    Their bodies wereposed of simple ink lines, vivid and lifelike. The Slytherin serpent swam sinuously in ce, the Hufflepuff badger stood up on its hind legs and looked around, the Gryffindor lion let out a silent roar, and the Ravenw eagle spread its wings as if about to take flight.


    Exmations of amazement echoed from the male and female wizards.


    Vane''s eyes lit up as she touched the eagle, and in an instant, the other three animals disappeared. The Ravenw eagle upied the center of the parchment, beating its wings as if ascending, surrounded by ink lines forming clouds.


    Finally, the eagle stopped and fixed its sharp gaze forward. A line of elegant handwriting emerged, "The wisdom that surpasses is humanity''s greatest treasure."


    In almost an instant, Vane fell in love with this thing. Her brown eyes sparkled beneath her thick sses.


    "Is this Professor Harp''s creation? Is this the application of Ancient Runes?"


    "This is Ancient Runes!"


    Unbeknownst to herself, her understanding of Ancient Runes had subtly shifted toward Felix''s perspective.


    A few secondster, the eagle''s image shrank again. Itnded on the pattern in the upper left corner of the parchment, preening its feathers with an air of authority, while in the center of the parchment, new text appeared: "Use your wand to infuse magic and write your name."


    Vane neatly wrote her name with her wand: Clemency Vane.


    Havingpleted this step, the parchment finally disyed the formal interface.


    In the upper left corner was the Ravenw eagle, below that was the name Clemency Vane, and the central position was divided into three sections: the OWLs module, the NEWTs module, and the Mistakes collection.


    Felix Harp nodded in satisfaction. In the final version, he had made some adjustments.


    For instance, the activationmand changed from the initial "I like Ancient Runes" to the more formal ''Secrets of the Runes''. He also added a section for information binding, which involvedbining names, houses, and magical recognition.


    The originally nned "leaderboard" function, he temporarily put aside. Firstly, the number of these parchment questionnaires was currently too few, and secondly, he had intentions of involving other professors.


    To achieve all this, time was needed for refinement.


    After about three to four minutes, the young wizards enthusiastically followed the instructions on the parchment andpleted this step.


    Moreover, many of them had begun topare.


    "Look at my lion, so majestic!"


    "The eagle looks even more beautiful."


    ...


    "Alright, young wizards," Felix pped his hands to capture their attention.


    Felix exined, "Currently, the parchment questionnaires are only used in fifth and seventh years. You need to select the NEWTs module. It contains past test questions for you to practice and study."


    "Of course, I''ve broken these down so that each test remains around twenty minutes. And in your free time, you can practice."


    "As for the Mistakes collection module, you can find the questions you got wrong there."


    The young wizards, experiencing this novelty for the first time, couldn''t resist wanting to try it out. Clemency Vane, suppressing her excitement, asked, "Professor Harp, can we try it now?"


    Felix, understanding their eagerness, said with a smile, "Certainly, the next twenty minutes are reserved for you."


    "Oh, by the way," he emphasized, "if you don''t like the feedback effects, you can tap on it with your wand and say ''Silence.''"


    Vane was a bit puzzled, but she tapped on the ''NEWTs module'' with her wand. Rapidly, a series of Rune questions appeared on the parchment.


    When shepleted the first question, golden text appeared on the parchment¡ª


    "Wise Choice."


    She began to understand Professor Harp''s words. Next, she witnessed a variety of effusivepliments.


    "Your answer scratched at my heart."


    "You''re the next Rune prodigy!"


    "A choice of genius!"


    These words left Vane with a mixed feeling, somewhat embarrassed but unable to resist the desire to see more praise. Time slipped away unnoticed.


    However, not everyone''s experience was as wonderful as hers. For most, thepliments were mixed with acerbic remarks, and Marcus Flint mostly faced borate taunts.


    He couldn''t help muttering two names, "Fred Weasley, George Weasley."


    They were the culprits behind this!


    In less than ten minutes, Clemency Vane became the first to finish the test.


    Arge ''O'' appeared on the parchment. The Ravenw eagle in the upper left corner kept circling, against a backdrop of sprawling fireworks.


    She excitedly raised her fist in the air.


    "Very well, Miss Vane, ten points to Ravenw!"


    As the ss ended, Felix assigned thetest homework: "Complete the test three times and, based on the questions you got wrong, write an essay analyzing your areas of weakness."


    ...


    As evening fell, the Great Hall transformed once again. A gilded dueling tform emerged from the ground, and the young wizards chatted in pairs and trios.


    The third dueling ss was about to begin.


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 Chapter 105: Four Professors

    Chapter 105: Four Professors


    In the heart of the Great Hall, hundreds of candles flickered, their glow casting the ceiling in a velvety ckness, devoid of stars.


    Harry, Ron, and Hermione stood among the Gryffindor crowd, whispering to each other in hushed tones.


    "Harry, have youpleted your assignment?" Hermione inquired.


    "Almost," Harry replied vaguely, truthfully having filled out only a third of the form.


    About half a month prior, after theirst Defense Against the Dark Arts ss, Hermione had told him that emitting sparks from the tip of his wand was a sign the Disarming Charm was about to seed. Unable to resist, he had dragged Ron into practicing with him for half an hour in themon room.


    Initially unsessful, a thoroughly exhausted Ron had suggested he imagine him as Malfoy, or even Snape.


    The result was that Harry had sessfully cast the Disarming Charm.


    Hermione, who had heard about it the next day, was quite envious. "Harry, you''re a genius! I dare say no one your age could aplish that."


    Harry, slightly embarrassed, said, "I have a special feeling for this spell."


    The young witch retrieved a piece of parchment from her bag. "Let''s go over the assessment criteria Professor Harp provided."


    Harry stood there sheepishly. "H-Hermione, I haven''t had a chance to look..."


    ...


    In the Great Hall,


    Ron couldn''t help but interject, "Harry''s got the Disarming Charm down pat. He seeds eight or nine times out of ten, unlike me..." He suddenly frowned. "I seed maybe once or twice out of ten."


    Hermione pulled out a piece of parchment from her robes, filled to the brim with data. Anxious, she said, "I can perform it, but these, and these, and these standards, I''ve only just met. What if I wake up one day and suddenly can''t do it anymore?"


    Neville, who had been listening, humbly turned to Hermione for advice. "Hermione, what if the parchment''s full, but I haven''t mastered the spell?"


    Hermione hesitated for a moment and then suggested, "Have you tried breaking it down into sections?"


    "Of course, but I''m failing on about two-thirds of the items..." Neville''s round face scrunched up sadly. He said, a touch dejectedly, "I''m just not good at it. Maybe Professor Snape is right."


    "Don''t be disheartened, Neville. I can help you go through the parts you''re struggling with," Hermione offered.


    "Th-Thank you, Hermione."


    Harry also reassured him, saying, "Neville, we can practice together."


    "Yeah, and don''t mind Snape''s words. You''re great in Herbology," Ron chimed in. "Neville, believe in yourself. You''re like an uncut gem that will one day shine brilliantly."


    To be honest, after surviving the trials of Hogwarts, he was now quick to offer kind words.


    Neville''s face quickly turned red, and he seemed pleasantly surprised.


    Bashfully and haltingly, he said, "I just like taking care of nts. My grandma has so many flowers, and I look after them during the holidays."


    "You see, that''s your strength," Harry encouraged.


    Meanwhile, Felix stood by the entrance of the Great Hall, waiting for the professors to arrive.


    Professor Flitwick arrived first. He had changed out of his usual wizarding robes and was wearing a well-fitted suit, his hair neatly groomed.


    "Felicius, you look splendid today," Felixplimented.


    Flitwick was in a good mood. "Thank you, Felix. This is the outfit I wore when I became the Dueling Champion."


    The two engaged in casual conversation.


    "Felix, have you made any progress with that magic?"


    "It''s somewhat usable, but honestly, it''s quite fragmented. I might even say it''s a simplified spell infused with ancient magical concepts..."


    "Cough cough! Felix, ancient magic rarely survives in its entirety."


    The two discussed the feasibility of re-creating ancient magic. However, without resources, their hands were tied ¨C they had too little information, and the magical worldcked an established research path.


    Felix, on the other hand, felt that if he could master a sufficient number of magical inscriptions, one day he would easily be able to reconstruct the magic.


    He just wasn''t sure how many years it would take.


    He had discreetly lowered the priority of this matter, opting to let it unfold naturally.


    Soon, Professors McGonagall and Snape arrived together. Perhaps Felix''s gaze had been too obvious, as Snape couldn''t resist taking a jab at him. "What''s going on in that mind of yours, Felix?"


    "Nothing much. I just thought you''d be counting the minutes toe over," he replied awkwardly.


    With all four professors present, Felix got to business. "My idea is to focus this Dueling ss on demonstrations. Each of us will present the most essential aspects of our perspectives on dueling."


    "In the subsequent lessons, I''ll invite different professors in stages so that you canprehensively present your ideas," he added.


    Flitwick was the first to respond. "Of course, no problem."


    The others had no objections either.


    So, when the four professors appeared simultaneously in the Great Hall and stepped onto the gilded tform, the young wizards'' faces registered shock.


    Ron groaned, "What kind of day is it today?"


    Excitement erupted below, with hundreds of students buzzing in discussions. Ravenw and Gryffindor students burst into thunderous apuse, weing their respective Heads of House.


    "Howe Professor Sprout isn''t here?" a second-year Hufflepuff wizard asked.


    "Well, Ernie, Professor Sprout doesn''t really care about this..." a senior student exined.


    The other three professors shared a knowing look and remained silent, simultaneously looking at Felix.


    Stepping forward, Felix cleared his throat and projected his voice, "It''s an honor to have Professors McGonagall and Flitwick join us today. They generously offer to showcase further possibilities in dueling. Apud, young wizards!"


    The apuse below was deafening, akin to a festive asion. Even Harry''s palms were red from pping.


    "Do you think Snape didn''t want to bother?" Ron quipped.


    "Though I think you''re overthinking it, that''s actually a great idea!"


    After some initial protest, Professor McGonagall remained on the tform while the other three stepped back.


    Flitwick conjured a handkerchief and transformed it into a raised tform. He climbed atop it.


    McGonagall''s hands were sped tightly together. With a serious expression, she surveyed the crowd, and gradually, silence descended.


    Everyone was curious about what she would say; after all, in their minds, Transfiguration and dueling weren''t closely rted.


    McGonagall cleared her throat and,posedly addressing all the students, began, "Transfiguration is a sophisticated magical discipline, capable of achieving many astounding feats. In this realm, the master of transformations was none other than your headmaster, Albus Dumbledore."


    "That''s a twist," Ron muttered. "Don''t tell me he defeated Voldemort with Transfiguration."


    "Of course not, that requires immense magical power. You lot would find it difficult to aplish," McGonagall said. "The significance of Transfiguration for you isn''t merely about strength; it''s about enriching your arsenal."


    "The essence of Transfiguration is change, bound only by your imagination."


    McGonagall produced her wand, lifted her arm straight, and a chair that had been stacked in a corner flew towards her.


    In mid-air, the chair transformed into arge ck cat, agile and graceful as itnded on the ground. Directed by McGonagall''s wand, therge cat circled around her with swiftness and grace.


    In the next second, it leapt into the air, its body swiftly expanding, transforming into a majestic lion with a golden mane that glistened with a delicate shine.


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 Chapter 106: Transfiguration and Spells

    Chapter 106: Transfiguration and Spells


    "Roar~"


    The lion let out a mighty roar, and the hair of the young witch in front of it flew backward.


    Luna blinked, and the several young wizards beside her took two steps back in astonishment.


    In the next moment, the lion began to sprint around the arena, transforming at times into a sleek leopard, then into a rhinoceros with a single horn, a wild boar, arge python...


    The young wizards stared in awe at Professor McGonagall. Wasn''t she much different during her lectures?


    From start to finish, Professor McGonagall had only waved her wand a few times, without uttering a single incantation.


    Dean Thomas couldn''t help but ask, "Is this one spell or multiple spells? I can''t make heads or tails of it."


    If one were to describe Professor McGonagall''s performance, the young wizards felt it was unbelievably fluid.


    In the midst of her run, transformations urred effortlessly.


    Professor McGonagall''s "disy of skill" went on for about two to three minutes. When a giant eagle soared over the hall, the students raised their heads, craning their necks to catch a glimpse.


    Finally, the giant eaglended on the tform, rolled over, and transformed back into a ck cat.


    "In theory, witches and wizards in their sixth and seventh years should be able to achieve this," Professor McGonagall said to the audience.


    "Wood, what about you?" Fred asked the captain of their house''s Quidditch team.


    "Cough...," Wood awkwardly covered his face.


    Not far away, Percy, responsible for maintaining order, approached a Ravenw girl. "I think I could do it, Penelope, although maybe not with the same fluency as Professor McGonagall..."


    "I can''t do it. My Transfiguration isn''t that good," the girl said, her robes also adorned with a Prefect badge.


    "I can guide you," Percy said.


    "Is that so?" The girl gave him a skeptical look.


    On the stage, Professor McGonagall had the ck cat stand before her.


    "I need an assistant. Albert Burke, you''ve been striving to be an Auror, let''s give it a try." Professor McGonagall chose a student from her own house.


    Albert Burke nervously stepped forward. After thest Dueling ss, he had gained a whole new appreciation for the professors'' abilities.


    The young wizards in the audience stared fixedly. It was evident that Professor McGonagall wasn''t nning to use any other spells; she was going to rely entirely on Transfiguration. This added a tremendous spectacle to their duel.


    The two of them were separated by about eight or nine meters.


    Felix Harp acted as the referee. "Bow to each other... One, two, duel begins."


    Burke agilely leaped to the side, casting a Disarming Charm.


    The ck cat in front of Professor McGonagall leaped to intercept the Disarming Charm.


    In midair, the ck cat''s form became somewhat unstable; one foot turned into a chair leg. But in the next second, it rolled on the ground and transformed into a nimble leopard.


    Burke cast another spell, this time blocked more easily.


    "Burke, you need to speed up your spellcasting," Professor McGonagall said. During this interval, she waved her wand, and two more chairs flew over, transforming into the shape of leopards as well.


    At that moment, three ck-spotted leopards stood before Professor McGonagall, guarding her safety.


    Gritting his teeth, Burke cast spells without hesitation, shedding his reservations.


    When it came to dueling, he did indeed rank among the top at Hogwarts, thanks in part to his uncle who worked at the Ministry of Magic as an Auror. He had received a few years of low-intensity training.


    However, Professor McGonagall effortlessly countered his attacks. "Transfiguration has a characteristic of restraining individual spells. Of course, achieving this requires exceptional vision."


    The three leopards coordinated with each other, handling the situation with ease.


    "zing Fire!" Burke''s incantation struck one of the leopards, causing its body to suddenly catch fire.


    Within the intense mes, Transfiguration lost its effect, and it transformed back into a burning chair.


    Professor McGonagall exined, "Transfiguration can also affect water and fire. So, you just need to slightly modify your incantation¡ª"


    The burning chair leaped into the air, transforming into a fiery lion, its mane dancing with bright mes.


    Burke instinctively took two steps back, but fortunately, Professor McGonagall had no intention of attacking him.


    Burke quickly thought of a clever solution. "Shatter into Pieces!" A red light shed, and the spell urately hit another leopard, causing it to shatter into several pieces in midair.


    However, the situation worsened. Each fragment transformed into small cats the size of palms. They agilely circled behind Burke, watching him closely from a distance.


    "At close range, or within the control range of Transfiguration, it''s more formidable than you imagine, Burke," Professor McGonagall said, her mood quite pleasant, no longer serious.


    Hearing Professor McGonagall''smentary, Burke grew anxious. He suddenly realized that the more he attacked, the more he found himself in a disadvantageous position.


    After a few seconds of standoff, a small cat ran to his feet. Burke couldn''t help but kick at it, but the small cat transformed into a vine, tightly wrapping around his legs.


    Fortunately, Professor McGonagall didn''t hold back. The vine didn''t continue to grow, and Burke''s arms remained free.


    In a state of panic, he cast spells at the closest small cat, "Shatter into Pieces! Bone-Crushing Shatter! Bone-Crushing Shatter!"


    The small cat didn''t evade. In Burke''s eyes, its body disintegrated in an instant, various fragments soaring into the air, transforming into small birds the size of fingers. These birds had long, pointed beaks.


    They hovered in midair, forming a wall with their sharp beaks aimed at Burke. It seemed they were about to dive at him in the next second.


    In the eyes of the young wizards, Burke waspletely surrounded: a wall of flying birds above, a group of palm-sized ck kittens behind, and in the distance, the fiery lion and the watchful leopard.


    Burke''s scalp tingled, and he hurriedly eximed, "I surrender, Professor McGonagall, I surrender."


    With a hint of regret, Professor McGonagall stopped. She had many more things to demonstrate.


    She transfigured the transformed creatures back into chairs and repaired them to their original state. Looking at the young wizards below, she said, "For most wizards, they wouldn''t be prepared for Transfiguration in a duel. If you can master a few forms, they can catch your opponents off guard."


    Felix Harp couldn''t help but apud; this approach waspletely in line with his strategy against Lohart.


    The second to step onto the tform was Professor Flitwick. He demonstrated a concept in dueling: thebination of spells.


    Despite his short stature, Professor Flitwick easily captured the attention of the young wizards, just as he did in the ssroom.


    "If you''ve mastered many spells, you might wonder, can I really use all of them?"


    "Perhaps specializing in one spell is better?"


    "These are two different choices. Today, I want to show you how different spells canplement each other."


    "They are all simple spells, let me think¡ª" Professor Flitwick eximed, "Flock of Flying Birds!"


    His wand produced a loud bang, akin to a gunshot, as a group of red-feathered birds fluttered out from it.


    A Hufflepuff muttered, "This spell isn''t simple; it''s covered in NEWTs."


    "Shut up," his friend said.


    Flitwick looked at the flying birds. "You can certainly use this tounch an attack; it works well. But if you add a Duplicating Charm¡ª" He waved his wand, and the birds rapidly split apart with a series of "bangs."


    "Add an Engorgement Charm¡ª"


    The palm-sized birds quickly erged.


    Flitwick looked up, surveying the hundreds of owl-like birds surrounding the gilded tform. They almostpletely concealed his figure.


    Before Flitwick''s small stature, many young wizards couldn''t help but feel a sense of awe.


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 Chapter 107: Snapes Advice

    Chapter 107: Snape''s Advice


    Young wizards stared entranced at the flock of birds soaring above the arena, creatures that existed only in the wizarding world''s imagination. Even this sight, a momentary marvel, would be etched into the memories of many, for these birds bore fiery crimson feathers and circled the gilded tform, creating a scene of mesmerizing beauty.


    Professor Flitwick waved his wand, dispelling the magic.


    "These spells are taught in ss and don''t require additional learning," Flitwick stated. "However, whenbined, their effects can be quite remarkable."


    A senior Ravenw witch couldn''t resist asking, "Professor Flitwick, I''m familiar with all three of these spells. Can I master thisbined magic?"


    "Miss Parma, the difficulty ofbined magic lies not in the spells themselves, but in how you weave them together and maintain their cohesion to create a stable whole," Flitwick exined. "So, you ask if you can master it? The answer is yes. But it will take time and practice, and it will test your mastery of incantations."


    "The examples I''ve given involve a certain level of proficiency on your part. The second one, however, is rtively simpler."


    "Ourmonly used dueling spells¡ªPetrificus Totalus, Expelliarmus, Stupefy, Protego, and the like¡ªare indeed useful. But bybining them with other spells, you can gain more advantages."


    "When dueling forces are evenly matched, it''s often these seemingly inconspicuous simple spells that be the key to tipping the bnce."


    Next, Professor Flitwick showcased his expertise in spells¡ª


    "For instance, the Sensory Enhancement Charm, which significantly heightens your awareness, making you more attuned to your surroundings and incantations;"


    "Or the Revival Hex, cast on yourself before a duel, which can effectively counteract Stunning Spells or mind-confounding charms¡ªthe effectiveness depends on the potency of your opponent''s curses, but it will have some effect nheless;"


    "Then there''s the ''Slipstream Leviosa'' incantation, which can smoothen the path before you;"


    "Or the Water-Fire Repelling Charm, which shields against water and fire damage¡ªthough it won''t work on dark magic mes, it''s highly effective against regr mes;"


    Flitwick listed a dozen or so spells, leaving the young wizards utterly astonished.


    Even Felix Harp wore a pensive expression, pondering the impact of Flitwick''s theories on his own abilities.


    In reality, his swift-killing technique was a product of this ''intery of spells'' theory: elerated thinking and shadow-shifting were its core, while the Stunning Spell, as an offensive measure, could be reced by other incantations¡ªdepending on his desired oue.


    In theory, the Stunning Spell could be fully substituted by Petrificus Totalus or Expelliarmus without significantly affecting this strategy.


    Flitwick''s approach of ''breaking a stalemate with simple spells'' aligned with Felix''s sh against Lohart.


    One could only say that Flitwick and Professors McGonagall approached from different angles, yet both found their way to perfection through Felix''s example.


    In conclusion, Flitwick remarked, "Spells possess a life of their own, with intricate rtionships¡ªsome opposing, someplementing each other. If dueling intrigues you, invest more time in revisiting the spells you''ve learned."


    "I believe you''ll have an entirely new understanding of them."


    Following this, Professor Flitwick summoned a few Ravenw students to demonstrate his theory to other young wizards.


    Like Professor McGonagall, he too set constraints on himself.


    Even when confronted by a three-way assault, he consistently found the most fitting methods, employing simple spells to thwart the attacks.


    "Watching Professor Flitwick duel is like witnessing a waltz," Justin Finch-Fletchley said in admiration.


    "What''s that?" inquired a neighboring young wizard.


    "Um... it''s a Muggle dance, incredibly graceful and charming," Justin exined.


    As a dueling champion, Flitwick''s foundation was exceptionally solid. His footwork transitions were particrly adept, often allowing him to either block spells or elegantly evade them.


    The young wizards watched in awe, their eyes glued to Professor Flitwick. When he effortlessly conjured a multitude of fireworks with his wand, obscuring his opponent''s vision, he earned a resounding apuse.


    Finally, Flitwick bowed with a smile and exited the stage.


    A never-ending wave of apuse followed him.


    The third to take the stage was Snape. Once he stood at the center of the arena, the previously restless young wizards fell silent in an instant.


    Severus Snape''s style was starkly different from the previous two professors. In his icy tone, he said, "What I wish to share is how you should handle the most dangerous Dark wizards, those wretches lurking in the shadows of the gutters¡ª"


    He gazed down at the young wizards, and after a prolonged pause, he continued, "¡ªand how to confront them."


    The young wizards were hushed; Snape''s description of the scenario startled them. However, Harry suddenly recalled his brief encounter in Knockturn Alley.


    Adjacent to Diagon Alley, Knockturn Alley was a grimy, narrowne with dim, eerie shops that all seemed connected to dark magic. ording to Hagrid, it harbored its fair share of Dark wizards.


    This year, due to a mishap with Floo Powder, he found himself in Knockturn Alley. Back then, a seemingly terrifying old witch initiated a conversation with him. She held something that resembled dead fingernails on a te. If it hadn''t been for Hagrid''s timely intervention, he didn''t know what might have happened.


    Snape continued in his deliberate manner, "You need to recognize danger, differentiate between forms of danger."


    "You need to prepare different strategies for different situations: how to handle yful antics within the school? How to handle conflicts with strangers? What about when facing malevolent Dark wizards? And how to deal with dangerous creatures and nts..."


    "To be frank, I don''t believe your tricks would be of much use when confronted with Dark wizards... Running away should always be your first choice; seeking help, the second. When you''re left with no other option but to fight... strike first, with any spell you can think of."


    Snape''s ck eyes remained unblinking, like two stones set in his head. He continued at his measured pace, "In a duel, striking first is always the best strategy. Surrendering initiative means putting yourself at a disadvantage."


    A deathly silence nketed the audience.


    "Severus..." Professor McGonagall sounded uneasy, "...I think the young wizards needn''t be exposed to these matters."


    Snape''s lips curved into a sardonic smile, yet he didn''t pursue the subject further.


    "When facing danger, use what you''re most skilled at, not necessarily the most powerful spells. Speed, angle, timing, sess rate¡ªthese matter far more than the sheer power of a spell."


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 Chapter 108: Levels of Spells?

    Chapter 108: Levels of Spells?


    "Professors, how can we determine our most proficient spells?" a Slytherin student asked.


    Snape replied icily, "The ones you learn quickly and use effectively. Besides that¡ª"


    "If you can invent a spell yourself, it naturally bes your most proficient," he said, finishing his sentence as he swung his robes and strode off the stage.


    Below the stage, Ron and Hermione both looked at Harry, their expressions conveying slightly different meanings:


    Hermione: So, your most proficient spell is the Disarming Charm?


    Ron: Just that? Shouldn''t it be a more advanced spell?


    As Felix Harp stood on the stage, young wizards and witches were still immersed in the atmosphere Snape had created. Though he hadn''t performed any specific magic, it was still quite impressive.


    Felix decided to share some valuable insights.


    "At the end of thest ss, we mentioned a viewpoint: even with the same spell, different wizards'' results can vary greatly."


    "This is especially evident in dueling. After all, it''s hard to imagine a wizard spending a lot of time and effort researching a spell like ''Evanesco''."


    "The same applies to most everyday spells. We don''t use them to explore the mysteries of magic or to knock our opponents'' teeth out." Felix cracked a joke.


    Laughter rippled through the young wizards in the audience.


    "For wizards skilled in dueling, they have remarkable expertise in certain spells or maybe just one."


    His gaze swept the wizards below the stage. "Take the Disarming Charm, for example¡ª"


    Felix waved his wand, and a slender red light shed and vanished.


    "This is the basic mastery level."


    Harry watched attentively; this was precisely the level he could currently cast.


    Many young wizards who had mastered the Disarming Charm performed the same action. Theparative result was that most were at this level.


    "¡ªThis stage belongs to the beginner''s level, where spellcasting can still fail." At this point, Felix seemed slightly troubled. "For the sake of understanding andparison, let''s call it a Level One spell."


    "At this stage, factors influencing spell sess include your casting motion, incantation, confidence, and basic magical skills. I won''t go into detail;st ss''s material provides aprehensive description."


    "And as you practice more, practice makes perfect, and there''s hardly a chance of spell failure, like this¡ª"


    Felix swung his wand, a distinct red light tracing a path across the hall.


    Harry heard his older student, Albert Burke, who had just been called up for demonstration, excitedly exim, "That''s my spell!"


    "For the sake of rity, we can call it a Level Two spell."


    Felix, with a serene demeanor, drew arcs in the air with his wand, as if conducting a symphony.


    "Building upon this, you invest more time and effort into studying the spell¡ªideally with a teacher''s guidance¡ªand its power will be appropriately enhanced."


    Felix waved his wand, and a finger-thick red beam shot forth, spanning half the hall in an instant.


    "This is a Level Three Disarming Charm... to provide ateral analogy, it''s somewhat akin to the professional threshold in the magical world, much like newly trained healers at St. Mungo''s or junior Aurors."


    All the young wizards were now fixedly gazing at Professor Harp, hanging on his every word. They had an intuitive sense that today''s lesson was exceptionally important.


    Even the expressions of a few professors had turned serious. Snape was curious about whether Felix Harp would ssify the spell into which level?


    Spell grading, huh? That''s something he would do.


    Meanwhile, on the stage, Felix Harp continued his narration in his usual unhurried manner. "As your understanding of spells deepens, you be more adept. You can even make slight modifications to spells themselves to suit your individual habits¡ª"


    A beam of light shot from the tip of his wand, this time the incantation was even more focused, the color infused with white light, leaving a distinct arc in mid-air.


    "The power doesn''t differ greatly from a Level Three spell, but it offers better control, winning through subtleties. We can call it a Level Four spell," Felix Harp said. "And just to add, this is also the level of those talented Aurors and St. Mungo''s healers, the spells they excel in after a few years of work."


    Felix Harp nodded slightly. From this point onward, not everyone could achieve this. Natural talent, perseverance, guidance¡ªeach was essential.


    Harry gazed at Professor Harp on the stage, feeling as if he couldn''t catch his breath. After a while, he realized that the emotions surging within him were that of longing.


    After a prolonged pause, the young wizards stared at Professor Harp expectantly.


    Is there more? Can he continue?


    Level Five spell? Level Six? Seven, eight, nine? It''s truly intriguing!


    And Professor Harp didn''t disappoint. He continued, "Above this, if you''re a seasoned Auror, someone who has spent nearly half a lifetime dealing with various Dark wizards, then your most adept spell might be something like this¡ª"


    The scene reyed, a spell as thick as a wrist shot forth, spanning over half the hall and striking the castle wall directly.


    The red, thunderous arc of magical light continuously twisted and extended.


    Until Felix Harp withdrew his wand, the hall-glow of red light that had bathed half the room finally dissipated.


    "This could perhaps be termed a Level Five spell."


    The young wizards in the audience watched in silence, even though it was the second time, it was still quite astonishing.


    Felix Harp contemted, much like Lohart''s ''Obliviate.'' But theparison couldn''t hold, as Lohart was fortunate to have been gifted ancient magic.


    Ancient magic was inherently powerful, but discussing power was meaningless, for you never knew if the spell might suddenly spiral out of control due to insufficient mastery the next time you used it.


    The young wizards below remained still, like a flock of quails swept over by a gust. Judging by their expressions, it seemed as if someone had knocked on their heads and stuffed them with a jumble of thoughts, rendering them incapable of coherent thinking.


    After a dozen seconds, Felix Harp pped his hands. "Of course, the spell levels I mentioned are merely for your understanding. In reality, there''s no such division as Level One or Level Two spells."


    "Magic is unconstrained. Many of the wondrous spells wouldn''t make sense to be graded."


    "And I must remind you that even in duels, solely pursuing the power of spells isn''t the best choice. If you aim to be an Auror, you need to master many things¡ªthey''re equally important."


    "Moving on¡ª"


    But his words fell on deaf ears. The hall seemed to explode with excitement; the young wizards eagerly raised their hands. It was evident they had plenty of questions.


    "Professor, what''s a Level Six spell?" Finally, someone couldn''t hold back and shouted from the audience.


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 Chapter 109: The End of the Diary

    Chapter 109: The End of the Diary


    Felix Harp remained nomittal and said, "That''s quite distant from what you''re all discussing, and I''m still researching it myself¡­" He steered clear of the topic of Level Six Spells, for, truth be told, he had never encountered simr spells in others.


    This led him to wonder if the so-called Level Six Spells were unique to him alone.


    After all, in his fourth year, he had nearly merged his entire mind and belief to master two Level Six Spells¡ª''Armour Charm'' and ''Stunning Spell''.


    When he seeded, he underwent a transformation beyond imagination; his magical power and will were elevated.


    Mind you, he was merely fifteen that year.


    And in the following six years, despite advancements in magical theory, even today he possessed fewer than ten Level Six Spells.


    Of course, that was partly because he had shifted most of his focus to the study of ancient magical scripts.


    ...


    A student raised their hand and asked, "Professor Harp, do you support specializing in just one magic?"


    Felix shook his head, exining, "For beginners, specializing in one or two spells is necessary. It will propel your progress rapidly, helping you stand out and acquire the ability to protect yourself. However, for aplished wizards, they need to learn more to address various troubles."


    "Professor Harp, if I start now and only practice one spell, how long would it take to reach the level of a third or fourth-year spell?" This was a question from Albert Burke.


    "Mr. Burke, I don''t rmend such an approach. If your performance is satisfactory, you have a good chance of bing an Auror," Felix remarked.


    "Professor, will you include this aspect in the uing dueling sses?"


    "Of course, without a doubt."


    "Professor, I want to elevate all my spells to the level of third-year spells. Any advice?"


    Felix replied in a tone tinged with amusement, "Mr. Paldes, you might want to invest more effort in magical theory. But as I said, it''s not necessary."


    The three professors exchanged different expressions upon observing Felix. Honestly, in their respective domains of expertise, they considered themselves no less than what Felix referred to as "Level Five Spells." But the crux of the matter was¡ª


    How did he define Level Six Spells?


    This was the most intriguing aspect for the professors.


    "Professor McGonagall, how do you view his theory?" Snape asked in a low voice.


    Professor McGonagall said, "This method isn''t suited for Transfiguration, but for spells, personally, I find it rather reasonable. Phileas, what''s your take?"


    Flitwick offered his perspective, "At least in the realm of dueling magic, it''s quite applicable. He analyzed some ssic duel cases for me, providing fresh insights. Of course, just as he mentioned, this theory won''t epass all magic."


    In the subsequent questions, the young wizards seemed to ept his notion of spell levels, continuously raising various queries.


    After about fifteen minutes, the crowd gradually quieted down.


    Felix Harp stated, "Alright then! Let''s move on to the next step. There are forty minutes left until the end of ss, and we''ll use the remaining time to assess and guide you through the Disarming Charm."


    The four professors weaved through the crowd, pairing up young wizards and guiding them in performing the Disarming Charm.


    However, many young wizards were still somewhat uneasy¡ª


    "Professor Harp definitely has mastered Level Six Spells!" Ron said with conviction.


    "I share the same opinion. He didn''t deny it," Dean Thomas added.


    But Professor Harp just won''t say, and that''s truly vexing!


    Unconsciously, most of the young wizards began to ept this ssification.


    "What do you think Level Six Spells are?" Ron asked.


    "Could the incantations berger and brighter?" Neville asked with a hopeful expression.


    "Are you suggesting spells the size of a water barrel?"


    "Could that be possible?"


    Meanwhile, Felix spoke to a Hufflepuff young wizard, "Very good, Diego, your incantation is quite impressive."


    Cedric spoke somewhat hesitantly, "I''ve practiced for a long time too, Professor Harp. The materials you provided were very helpful."


    Felix nodded satisfactorily, ready to offer some praise, but he abruptly stopped.


    Cedric noticed that Professor Harp''s expression suddenly turned serious. He couldn''t help but ask, "Professor, what''s going on?"


    But Professor Harp didn''t answer him; his gaze was fixed in one direction, his pale blue eyes seemingly piercing the hall.


    "Diego, I have an urgent matter to attend to. Please inform the other professors," the young professor hurriedly left.


    He made his way straight to the castle tower and, within a few minutes, stood at his office door.


    Felix cast various protective spells on himself, and the protective items beneath his wizard''s robe shimmered with a magical aura. Fully prepared, he calmly waved his wand, and the door opened soundlessly.


    The scene before him surprised him greatly.


    At the entrance, seven or eight deep green Devil''s Snare vines were tightly entwined around a house-elf. The green branches shimmered with a verdant light, seemingly pulsating as if breathing.


    Felix scrutinized the unexpected intruder, noticing that it seemed to have fallen unconscious.


    He cast a Reviving Charm and entered his office.


    After meticulously examining the surroundings both inside and out and confirming there was no danger, he opened the corner''s suitcase and took out an exquisite box. Felix''s fingers brushed the surface of the box, andyers of magical patterns illuminated upon it.


    No signs of being breached.


    He let out a sigh of relief, opened the box, and the diaryy quietly inside.


    Only then did he have the mental capacity to consider the origin of this unfamiliar house-elf.


    After a moment''s thought, he retrieved a thumb-sized transparent vial from his ring. It contained about a milliliter of clear liquid.


    It was a Christmas gift from Snape.


    Felix carefully dripped two drops of the potion into the house-elf''s mouth and revived him with a Reviving Charm.


    About five minutester, he pieced together the entire sequence of events.


    Felix''s emotions were quiteplex.


    He gazed at the diary. After a prolonged silence, he whispered, "I''m sorry, Tom."


    A considerable amount of dark fire shot out from his wand, congregating above the office and forming rolling clouds like those on overcast days. Under Felix''s control, these clouds converged and condensed into a solid, shimmering white sword.


    The diary sensed danger; its pages rustled, releasing copious amounts of ck mist. However, upon contact with the solid white sword, the mist dissipated instantly.


    From within the diary, a much younger voice of Tom emerged, "No, I can tell you the secret of conquering death¡ª"


    "Shhh!"


    The sword pierced the diary, passing through the delicate box, the long table¡ª


    The voice abruptly ceased.


    Felix waved his wand, causing the solid white sword to disperse.


    "Understanding the essence, reshaping the form, that''s Level Six magic..." his voice echoed in the office.


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 Chapter 110: Dobbys Defiance

    Chapter 110: Dobby''s Defiance


    Under the watchful gaze of Felix Harp, the diary suddenly oozed a copious amount of inky ck fluid, dripping onto the ground with a steady rhythm, causing the floor to emit wisps of dark smoke.


    "Clean as new!" The ink vanished.


    The diary was utterly destroyed.


    As a Horcrux, it had a tremendous resistance to conventional spells, yet it couldn''t withstand the scorching mes of Fiendfyre. Especially Felix''s Fiendfyre-infused sword, which was arguably his most destructive magic.


    However, under his deliberate protection, it didn''t burn to ashes. The Fiendfyre sword only burned a fist-sized hole through the diary¡ªstill useful remains for Felix.


    Felix''s gaze fell upon the house-elf named Dobby.


    With the help of magical elixirs, he had pieced together the sequence of events¡ª


    As a servant of the Malfoy family, Dobby had overheard many of Lucius Malfoy''s secrets. When he learned that his master had used Ginny Weasley to bring the Dark Lord''s relic into Hogwarts, he felt a deep debt to the benefactor of his kind¡ªthe one called Harry Potter. This led him to act repeatedly in secret, trying to protect Harry.


    This included but was not limited to intercepting Harry Potter''s letters, obstructing his way to the train, controlling a rogue Bludger on the Quidditch pitch to harm Harry...


    Of course, it also included today''s attempt to slip into the office and steal the diary while Felix was in ss.


    The effects of the elixir were wearing off, and the elf''s eyelids twitched, indicating he might awaken at any moment.


    Dobby slowly opened his eyes.


    He dragged his slender body off the ground, repeatedly inspecting his long fingers with a perplexed expression on his face.


    "Where is Dobby? Dobby remembers. Dobby defied Master''s will and sneaked in while that person was in ss..." He spoke while observing his surroundings. Soon, his gaze met Felix, who was sitting on the couch¡ª


    He let out a yelp, stumbled back a few steps, and fearfully covered his face with his hands.


    Through the gaps between his bony fingers, Dobby''srge eyes were brimming with terror. "F-F-Felix Harp!"


    The house-elf instinctively tried to escape; his diminutive figure blurred, but in the next moment, he froze in ce.


    Felix lowered his wand, his somewhat nostalgic voice reaching Dobby''s ears. "Impressive talent, house-elves truly are magical creatures, but s, their magic is too feeble."


    Dobby''s magic was hardly a tenth of that possessed by a normal adult wizard.


    Extraordinary potential, meager magic, such were the characteristics of house-elves. During his time at school, Felix had devoted considerable time to studying the vulnerabilities of various magical creatures, house-elves included.


    In one-on-one encounters over a short period, house-elves could leverage their natural gifts to surprise wizards, gaining an upper hand in a fight; however, with focused training for a month or two, they became no match for wizards.


    The panicked house-elf struggled desperately, attempting to break free from invisible bonds. But when Felix uttered a name, Dobby''s body petrified,pletely immobilized.


    "Lucius Malfoy."


    Dobby''s expression grew even more fearful, as if Felix''s words had stirred some primal instinct within him. Trembling all over, he eximed, "Bad Dobby! Bad Dobby!" He suddenly jumped up, his body involuntarily moving toward the nearest cab.


    Felix waved his wand, guiding him to a seat opposite him. He spoke calmly, "Dobby, I hold no desire for the Dark Lord''s relic, and you needn''t worry about me engaging in any dangerous deeds."


    "Dobby doesn''t believe!" he screamed, "That is... that is the darkest magic creation. It will influence you, make you as terrifying as the one whose name can''t be mentioned..."


    "snap!"


    An old, tattered diarynded on the small table between the two, sporting a sizable hole at its center. The edges of the hole were remarkably neat, as if it had always been that way.


    Dobby''s voice seemed caught in his throat, unable to utter a single word. After a long while¡ª


    "This is..." Dobby clumsily got to his feet, his expression a mix of confusion and bewilderment. Taking cautious steps, he approached the table, then hopped onto it, crouching to examine the damaged diary.


    His tennis-ball-like eyes widened in amazement. "Unbelievable! Inconceivable... Mr. Harry Potter is safe!" Tears rolled down his sharp, elongated nose.


    He wiped his tears with the ragged pillowcase he wore, mumbling softly in between. But soon, he realized something and shouted, "Bad Dobby! Very bad, very bad Dobby!" He searched around, seemingly trying to find something to punish himself with.


    Felix shook his head; house-elves had once been in conflict with wizards and were bound by extremely stringent magical contracts after their defeat. This obedience to their masters''mands had be an intrinsic instinct passed down through generations.


    Examples like Dobby, who dared to intrude on powerful wizards'' territories without their permission, were quite exceptional among house-elves.


    Felix tapped the armrest of the couch with his fingers, as if striking a chime. Dobby reacted as if struck, regaining hisposure.


    "Let''s have a proper talk, Dobby."


    Dobby cautiously regarded him. "What would you like to know, noble and powerful Mr. Harp?"


    Though Felix already understood the situation, he remained curious about a few aspects. He inquired, "I wish to understand why the diary passed through the hands of three individuals: Ginny Weasley, Draco Malfoy, and myself. But why did you choose to steal it precisely while it was in my possession?"


    Three holders, two young wizards, and one formidable professor; why choose the most difficult one?


    Dobby''s expression grew quite cautious; he hunched his body and spoke softly, "Because I couldn''t, sir. My body prevented me. One is a young master, and the other is of high status... I couldn''t, couldn''t..." He let out a sharp cry.


    Felix pondered; ''not moving the young master'' was understandable as a reason, but what did ''high-status Ginny'' mean? Could it be tied to the honor of a pure-blood family...


    So, am I really not pure-blood? Or is it that house-elves also make judgments based on external information?


    Felix shook his head; he didn''t care about the answer to that question.


    "How did you manage to ovee your body''s instincts to perform these actions? I assume Lucius Malfoy didn''t allow you to act on your own?"


    This question seemed to startle Dobby; he sobbed softly.


    "Dobby, Dobby is willing to do anything to save Mr. Harry Potter. Dobby had to punish himself, banging his head against the wall, burning his hands with a hot iron..." He reached a point where his tennis-ball-like eyes grew immense. "But it''s all worth it, for the safety of Mr. Harry Potter! If it''s not expressly forbidden by the master, Dobby can do it, even though Dobby''s actions displease the master. Dobby must punish himself. Merlin''s beard! Bad Dobby! Very bad, very bad Dobby!"


    He fiercely tugged at his own ears.


    Hmm... Felix observed him. Indeed, another remarkable talent among house-elves, seizing on these loopholes in the rules.


    Felix nced at the clock on the wall; around twenty minutes had passed. He decided to temporarily conclude this conversation.


    Communication with the author, to be published on the 31st of this month, requires diligently umting drafts.


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 Chapter 111: Perfect Conclusion of the Dueling Class

    Chapter 111: Perfect Conclusion of the Dueling ss


    "Dobby, can you stay here? We can talkter."


    "No, Dobby must go back. Dobby escaped while Master was visiting friends." Dobby emphasized, "Very close friends! Master didn''t let Dobbye along."


    "Well, ording to your time, I have something important to discuss with you. No, not now. I need time to prepare, and you can notify me in advance." Felix Harp waved his hand, and a round brass metal disc flew from the workbench to him.


    It was a Brass Knut.


    He tossed the coin to Dobby, who caught it in his hand and examined it carefully. "No, no, Dobby cannot take. Dobby shouldn''t have any money," he said anxiously. From the look on his face, it seemed as if he was holding some malicious dark magic object.


    Felix Harp sighed, "It''s for notifying me. You inject magic beforehand, and I''ll receive the message."


    This item was a magical pair as well, somewhat akin to a two-way mirror, but far less functional.


    It was merely a pair of Copper Knuts enchanted with ''Synchronization Magic,'' so that if one was infused with magic, the other would heat up.


    ''Heating Knuts'' were derivative creations of Felix Harp, a product of brainstorming by young wizards with minimal technical substance of their own.


    Felix absentmindedly fiddled with it; he had given each member of his research group a pair as well.


    The Weasley twins were particrly interested in it, and Felix felt that it wouldn''t be long before they showed him the remains of their ''Heating Knuts''...


    Upon hearing Felix''s words, Dobby finally rxed. He carefully examined the coin in his hand, his eyes seemingly gleaming.


    "Is this a gift for Dobby?" he tilted his head, holding the Copper Knut in his hands.


    "¡ªYou could say that." Felix had no intention of taking it back.


    "Mr. Harp is so generous. This is the first time Dobby has received a gift!" The house-elf was moved, tears welling up in his eyes.


    Felix: "..." If you''re happy with this, I have plenty of simr items.


    Under his gaze, Dobby bowed to him and then snapped his fingers lightly, causing his figure to disappear.


    "Truly fascinating talent," Felix marveled.


    Domesticated house-elves were truly remarkable creatures. They possessed many ''wizard-like'' abilities, such as the technique Dobby had just used to vanish¡ªvery much like a wizard''s Disillusionment Charm¡ªbut the principles behind the two werepletely different.


    At least, as far as Felix knew, Hogwarts had cast numerous anti-Disillusionment Charms, but these spells didn''t work on certain magical creatures¡ªlike phoenixes and domesticated house-elves.


    Furthermore, domesticated house-elves could manipte various small objects, making them very convenient for chores and tidying up rooms. They also possessed a not insignificant level ofbat ability, though this skill was heavily constrained by magical contracts.


    But all of these were not the magic familiar to wizards; they were merely innate talents of these magical beings, much like how birds and snakes could naturally erge and shrink their bodies ording to their surroundings.


    ...


    As Felix returned to the Great Hall, the three professors were still carefully guiding the young wizards.


    It had been two weeks since thest Dueling ss, and many senior students were barely able to cast the Disarming Charm.


    This gave their practice duels a faint shadow of actual dueling.


    But it was only a shadow.


    Felix Harp observed as two young wizards exchanged nces, loudly reciting incantations but awkwardly producing sparks from the tips of their wands. Then, almost inadvertently, they unexpectedly unleashed a genuine Disarming Charm, which came straight at him.


    "Miss Burstead, mind your incantation," Felix Harp redirected the spell, addressing the robust-looking witch. He gave her a thorough once-over. If he wasn''t mistaken, his assistant had obtained cat hair from her for that knitted hat he''d been wearing for three weeks.


    "Oh, sorry, Professor," Mirison Burstead said, flustered.


    "You need to watch the angle of your wand and put strength into your swing, as if you''re thrusting forward. And... conviction is essential. Don''t be yful; it will seriously impede your progress."


    After offering guidance to several young wizards, Felix approached Professor McGonagall, forming a small circle around her.


    She stood excitedly before a pair of young wizards, praising loudly, "Potter, an excellent Disarming Charm." She wiped away a tear from her eye.


    When Felix nced over, a red light shot from Harry''s wand, urately hitting his opponent¡ªHermione Granger.


    Her wand flew from her hand, tracing an arc through the air, before Harry deftly caught it.


    The young witch seemed rather disgruntled.


    Harry sheepishly handed her the wand, just about to say something, when his next opponent stepped forward.


    Felix Harp was surprised to see, across from Harry, a line forming, not a short one at that, with several young wizards surrounding them, looking at Harry with admiration.


    What was going on here?


    When Hermione caught sight of Felix, she discreetly approached him. "Professor Harp."


    "What''s happening?"


    "Well, Ron mentioned that the reason he learned the Disarming Charm was from practicing with Harry, getting hit by spells so many times." She said with her head lowered.


    Felix looked at Ron, who was on the sidelines cheering and exining, and found the situation quite absurd.


    But... was there a possibility? Even he couldn''t be certain.


    It really was a far-fetched idea, something his straightforward thinking couldn''t entirely fathom.


    He looked at his assistant. "So, you believe it too?"


    Hermione looked somewhat embarrassed. "At first, I didn''t believe... but more and more young wizards who came to request practice sessions with Harry have made me unsure."


    She deftly changed the subject, "Professor, everyone is saying you''ve mastered Level 6 spells." Hermione fixed her gaze on Felix''s face, trying to discern something.


    "Is that so?"


    "Yes!" Hermione emphasized, "Professor, what are your thoughts?" She was genuinely curious.


    "My thought is, Miss Granger, we''ll have to work overtime this weekend."


    "Huh? What for?"


    "Grading the homework from thest Dueling ss."


    Hermione stared at him dumbfoundedly. She couldn''t help but look around at the hundreds of young wizards in the Great Hall, practicing their spells with such enthusiasm.


    To them, it was a fascinating and enjoyable game.


    asionally, when spells went awry or bursts of dazzling sparks erupted,ughter filled the hall.


    But amidst the joyous atmosphere, she suddenly lost that happiness, feeling somewhat unsettled.


    After seven or eight minutes, Felix Harp concluded the ss.


    "I''ve witnessed your progress, young wizards," he praised generously. "I hope to see your outstanding performances in the next ss."


    "Each house''s Prefect should collect the homework from the previous ss; I''ll find time to offer feedback¡ªone by one, provided your data isn''t fabricated."


    Many hung their heads in shame.


    But as the young wizards left the hall, their faces were adorned with radiant smiles.


    "Hermione, you don''t look so well," Ron said.


    His mood was quite good. In fact, due to his special contribution award, Ron had been quite poprtely. Especially after resolving the trouble with Lohart, his detention had beenrgely lifted by Professor McGonagall.


    "Really?" Hermione held her head high and walked away.


    "Harry, I think it''s your fault. Your Disarming Charm is just better than hers, and she''s feeling embarrassed." Ron said to Harry.


    Harry couldn''t help but scratch his head.


    The next morning, a piece of news descended upon Hogwarts, overshadowing all other headlines.


    "Gilderoy Lockhart: A False Adventurer! Facing Multiple Trials." A young wizard held up the same-day newspaper delivered by an owl, loudly reading the headline from the front page.


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 Chapter 112: Dumbledores Afternoon Tea

    Chapter 112: Dumbledore''s Afternoon Tea


    In the Great Hall, young wizards and witches whispered over breakfast.


    Hermione borrowed a newspaper from the neighboring seat and pointed to the text, saying, "Look here, ''Lohart tampered with wizarding memories, gained their stories, and used Obliviate to make them forget everything. Currently, only seven victims have been identified, and their memories have suffered permanent damage.''"


    Ron''s chicken leg suddenly lost its appeal. "So, you''re saying I could have lost my memories forever?"


    He couldn''t fathom it ¨C how Lohart, with his usual magical prowess, could repeatedly seed in ambush.


    Harry, still shaken, added, "You might not even know you lost your memories. Who would have thought he''s a true master of the Obliviate charm?"


    "Terrifying! I spent a week in the same office with someone like that," Ron gulped down arge mouthful of pumpkin juice.


    "Who caught Lohart then?"


    "Wasn''t it Proudfoot from the Ministry? That''s what Dean said."


    "It can''t be. I asked the Fat Lady, and she said no outsider came that day," Hermione interjected casually.


    "How does she know?" Ron looked shocked, "She''s just a portrait."


    "Ron, portraits retain their personalities too. The Fat Lady loves opera and gossip; she often sneaks into other portraits when no one''s around," Hermione squinted, "If you praise her singing, she''ll be more than happy to share some gossip with you."


    "And to be fair, her singing isn''t bad."


    ...


    In the afternoon, in the headmaster''s office, Felix Harp and Dumbledore sat face-to-face, discussing the aftermath of Lohart''s capture.


    Several tes of pastries and biscuits were on the table, along with two cups of pumpkin juice.


    "Unfortunately, the number of affected individuals may exceed our initial estimates," Dumbledore said softly.


    "More than his adventurous stories?"


    "Yes, he can''t guarantee that every story he encounters will be enticing enough."


    Felix perused a few newspapers on the table, "Why haven''t I seen a report from Rita Skeeter? That''s unlike her."


    Could she be afraid her attack on Lohart would be exposed? But memories are hard to use as evidence, especially when the perpetrator is a master of memory magic. Even if Lohart pointed out Rita Skeeter in court, it wouldn''t hold much meaning.


    "She''s gotten herself into some trouble," Dumbledore speared a piece of cake with a small fork, "Tastes quite good, Felix. I highly rmend it."


    Felix took a piece and tasted it, "Would she really get herself into trouble? She''s quite clever."


    Dumbledore nced at him, "Clever people make mistakes too, and they''re more likely to find loopholes in rules, so their mistakes can be greater."


    "So, her trouble is¡ª"


    "From what I''ve heard, she went to great lengths to find out about Lohart''s arrest, then hurriedly went to the Ministry on the same day to register Animagus."


    "Animagus." Felix swallowed his cake, repeating, "Yes, Animagus, illegal Animagus..."


    He finally understood why Rita Skeeter targeted Lohart.


    "I assume her Animagus form must be some small creature," Felix spoke with certainty.


    "A beetle," Dumbledore said calmly, "If our assumptions are correct, her years of being well-informed suddenly make sense. Based on your previous assessment, Lohart had been hit by the Obliviate curse, but he had broken free from its effects. That put her in a very awkward position."


    Memories can be fabricated, but magic doesn''t deceive. If Lohart truly used Rita Skeeter of being an illegal Animagus, the Ministry would surely have an interest in investigating.


    In these past years, Rita Skeeter had acted recklessly, probably making enemies she couldn''t count.


    "I don''t think she''ll have an easy time of it," Felix said.


    After a moment of silence, Felix continued, "Headmaster Dumbledore, there are five months until the next school year. What should we do about the Dark Arts Defense ss?"


    Dumbledore''s expression turned troubled too; he couldn''t help but sigh, "This course really does wear out its professors quickly."


    "So, the curse of the Dark Lord is real?"


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 Chapter 113: A Little Stove Kindling

    Chapter 113: A Little Stove Kindling


    Later that day, Felix Harp and Snape mentioned their conversation with Dumbledore; the professor left in silence.


    Perhaps he didn''t hold much hope... Felix watched his retreating figure, lost in thought.


    Time skipped to Saturday, and Felix Harp finally had a substantial amount of leisure time.


    He pulled out the Memory Charms material he had copied from Professor Lockhart''s office and began to study it meticulously. It was evident that Lockhart attached great importance to this material; it was filled with seemingly profound personal annotations, some of the ink still fresh, no older than two weeks.


    "Lockhart hasn''t been entirely idle these past few months."


    ording to Felix''s guess, Lockhart might never have truly cared about teaching, holding a mindset to just scrape through the year. After a year, he''d leave, having sold a fair number of books, made some progress in Memory Magic, and most importantly, he could write a book like "Cursed Professors" or "My Year at Hogwarts."


    For Lockhart, this was an effortless task. He could even tweak and modify abandoned stories from the past and use them directly.


    At least from the interview manuscripts transcribed by the trio, Felix saw a considerable portion dedicated to the crooked old wizard''s experiences in dealing with cursed magical items. Yet, this content wasn''t included in his "Wandering with Werewolves."


    If Lockhart intentionally connected this content with Hogwarts'' curses, packaging himself as a master of curse-breaking, it would be entirely usible.


    Felix disregarded Lockhart''s own annotations in the material and diligently read through the original manuscript ¨C although "manuscript" wasn''t quite the right term, as the entire material was copied by Lockhart. This was the most regrettable aspect for Felix.


    However, amidst the lines and words, he still sensed a familiar tone.


    "Who exactly did Lockhart inherit this legacy from? Could it be a master of Memory Magic?"


    Felix thought of the thousands of magical books in the Room of Requirement, and he started to feel a headacheing on. Identifying this person based on simr styles would be an immense undertaking...


    As evening approached, Felix Harp breathed a sigh of relief and set aside the material.


    His gains were substantial.


    Aside from Lockhart''s signature spell, "Obliviate" (Ancient Magic version), he had also acquired various scattered tricks rted to Memory Magic.


    Bybining insights from Lockhart, the diary, Snape, and himself regarding Memory Magic, perhaps after some time and effort, he could create a new sixth-level spell.


    Should it be the Mind-Enclosing Charm or Obliviate? For Felix Harp, the choice was truly difficult.


    "And with two versions of the Obliviate Charm, I have the opportunity to deduce a simplified path to modern magic, tracing it back to its ancient roots."


    Much like the partial Ancient Magic that Professor Flitwick had given him, it was highly likely that it was the precursor to both the Shrinking Charm and the Engorgement Charm.


    This was yet another long-term project, but for Felix Harp, it was a venture with countless rewards.


    Felix Harp pondered continuously, feeling that this was his greatest achievement since returning to Hogwarts ¨C apart from his growing collection of practical Ancient Magical texts.


    He even drew parallels and found several intriguing ideas in this material that could help resolve the confusion stemming from the diary.


    "Lockhart truly is a treasure of a wizard. It''s a pity he''s heading to Azkaban."


    ...


    Later in the evening, his little assistant arrived promptly on schedule.


    Felix Harp packed away the Memory Charms material and took out a stack of parchment two feet thick from the corner.


    These were the assignments submitted by the young wizards in their Dueling ss.


    "Ah... we have our roles clearly defined. I''ll provide the evaluations, and you''ll record them," Felix Harp said, feeling that his assistant had shown some weakness during her practice duel with Harry.


    However, she was the most determined among the young wizards learning the Disarming Charm using his "breaking down" method.


    A bit of extra guidance was necessary.


    "Starting with this one..." Felix picked up the first piece of parchment, looking at the data on the form. "Tsk tsk!" He didn''t say much and handed it to Hermione.


    "Professor, what should I write?" the young witch asked, holding a quill in her hand.


    "Give him a question mark, but make it a bit exaggerated," Felix Harp advised.


    Hermione: "???"


    "The data is fabricated," Professor Harp replied sinctly.


    "Professor Harp, how did you figure that out?"


    "His data looks impressive, but I''ve observed him in Dueling ss. He hasn''t mastered the Disarming Charm, and he''s even got issues with the most basic wand movements... Probably copied the data from a top student."


    Hermione nodded and wrote a question mark on the parchment.


    "Moving on to the second one, let me see..." Felix circled several lines of data. "His issue is a weak foundation. I suggest reviewing specific chapters in the spellbook that the material covers in detail. Miss Granger, please mark the relevant sections for me."


    "Of course." She swiftly wrote, "Focus on studying the content mentioned in Key Learning Point 5 of the Disarming Charm material" ¨C she had the Disarming Charm study material memorized down to a tee.


    After Hermione finished marking, she looked at the data Felix had circled and suddenly understood.


    This student, named Errol Buz, had most of his issues concentrated under the category of ''Proper Procedure'', with other categories like ''Essential Theory'', ''Casting Attitude'', ''Magical Comprehension'', and so on, barely touched.


    As time flowed, Hermione diligently transcribed Professor Harp''s advice onto the parchment. Professor Harp wasn''t idle either; he marked crucial data to help her understand better.


    With each question she encountered, her understanding of the Disarming Charm grew clearer.


    Many of Felix''s suggestions, when cross-referenced with the key data he pointed out, became quiteprehensible.


    This was an issue of proper procedure, that was a mindset problem... it was evident even in his self-assessment.


    Felix Harp also offered various small tips. For instance, in the section about the casting attitude, his method was, "Imagine a tall person with a fierce attitude wielding a broomstick attacking you, and then use your intent to send the broomstick flying out of their hand."


    She noted Professor Harp''s exnation: "The mindset for casting the Disarming Charm is a self-defense mindset. You must firmly intend to neutralize the enemy''s ability to harm you."


    Hermione couldn''t help but ask, "Professor, do we need to maintain this mindset while casting the charm?"


    "After bing proficient, it won''t be necessary. Some skilled Aurors can even release the Disarming Charm in their sleep. But when you haven''t yet mastered the incantation, adopting the correct mindset will elerate your learning."


    Hermione nodded in understanding.


    Midway through the grading, Hermione yawned rather unceremoniously.


    "Let''s continue tomorrow evening. I suggest you spend more time practicing the Disarming Charm during the day; there might be some surprises in store for you," Felix Harp advised his assistant.


    The next evening ¨C


    "I''ve truly made progress!" Hermione excitedly told Felix Harp.


    She hadn''t waited for the daylight; as soon as she returnedst night, she began practicing on her own.


    It was a peculiar sensation. The moment she waved her wand, she could sense where her execution fell short.


    The suggestions and tips she had written down kept reying in her mind.


    Throughout the day, she dedicated a considerable amount of time to practice, and her progress was almost visibly rapid.


    Felix Harp smiled, "Once we finish grading today, I believe you''ll have a remarkable understanding of the Disarming Charm."


    ...


    The following week passed quickly, with the parchment used for answers in the fifth and seventh years appearing in Ancient Runes sses of other grades.


    Discussion about this new teaching tool spread among the young wizards.


    In the Great Hall one day, Professor McGonagall inquired about the answer parchment from Felix, and he dly provided her with the information.


    Professor McGonagall stood there, deep in thought.


    A whileter, after much revising, this chapter took quite a bit of time, and it still feels a bit unsatisfactory.


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 Chapter 114: The Ministry of Magic

    Chapter 114: The Ministry of Magic


    On the 4th of February, a Saturday, at half-past nine in the morning.


    Felix Harp was impably dressed, standing by the firece, his figure disappearing into a burst of bright green mes as he stepped into the office.


    When Felix emerged from the public firece, he found himself in Diagon Alley.


    Diagon Alley was the most famous magicalmercial district in the British wizarding world. It was home to numerous renowned shops, pubs, offices, andrge enterprises.


    Gringotts Wizarding Bank, the Leaky Cauldron, the Daily Prophet Headquarters, and stores closely rted to young wizards like Ollivanders, Madam Malkin''s Robes for All asions, Flourish and Blotts, and the Apothecary, among others, were all located here.


    But Felix was merely passing through. He brushed off the dust from his robe with his hat and, in the next moment, he apparated using the Disapparition spell to a dim, narrow alley.


    As Felix exited the alley, he found himself standing on a seemingly deste street. There were a few shabby low-rise office buildings, a small tavern, and a dusty vintage car.


    He walked a distance and arrived at a red telephone booth against the wall. It looked quite dpidated, withrge patches of red paint peeling off and several shards of broken ss. Only someone slightly more daring than normal would consider stepping inside to investigate.


    But Felix entered. He picked up the crooked receiver hanging off the hook and dialed the number "62442," waiting quietly.


    After a few seconds, the voice of an indifferent woman echoed within the telephone booth.


    "Wee to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and the nature of your visit."


    Felix calmly stated, "Felix Harp, invited to attend themendation ceremony of Damocles Belby."


    "Thank you," the woman''s cold voice responded, "Guest, please pick up the badge and wear it on your clothing."


    A square silver badge slid out of the coin slot, bearing the inscription: Felix Harp, invited visitor.


    "As a guest of the Ministry, you are required to undergo security checks at the checkpoint and register your wand. The checkpoint is located at the end of the Atrium."


    Felix pinned the badge to his robe. At this moment, he wondered, is this woman truly real?


    But the floor of the telephone booth suddenly trembled, and he slowly sank into the ground. After about a minute, the booth came to a stop.


    "The Ministry of Magic hopes you have a pleasant day," the woman''s voice said.


    The door swung open abruptly, and Felix stepped out, facing a magnificent golden hall.


    He walked on the polished dark floor, with a row of gilded fireces inset on both sides of the walls. This was the official means ofmuting for members of the Ministry of Magic.


    Perhaps due to the weekend, the crowd was not too dense, but there were still a few wizards bustling about in groups of twos and threes. A young man with a face full of e walked past him, clutching a stack of precarious parchment in his arms.


    Felix gazed at his back, wondering if he knew the person just now?


    He shook his head, passing the central fountain in the hallway, and approached a desk. Behind the desk sat a wizard in a peacock-blue robe, his unshaven beard showing hisck of concern for grooming.


    A sign above his head read "Security Check."


    Felix tapped the table with his fingernail. "Good morning, sir. I''vee to register my wand." The wizard lifted his head and put down his copy of the Daily Prophet.


    "Come over here," the wizard said in ackluster tone.


    Felix approached him, and the wizard raised a long golden rod, thin like a car antenna. He swept it from top to bottom across Felix''s front and back.


    "Wand," the security wizard muttered, extending his hand.


    Felix flicked his wrist, and a wand popped out from his sleeve.


    The wizard blinked, "I''ve seen quite a few Aurors hide their wands that way. Are you a new Auror?"


    "I work at Hogwarts," Felix replied briefly.


    "Oh, goodness, that''s a great job..." The wizard''s demeanor became much more enthusiastic. "I''m Eric Munch, in charge of security checks most of the time, and asionally doing some guard duty."


    "Felix, you can call me that."


    Eric tossed the wand onto a brass contraption that looked like a scale. The contraption started vibrating slightly.


    The wizard was in the midst of conversation, "What do you teach? I heard Professor Kettleburn is retiring, is he still there? His sses are really terrible. When I was in school..."


    "Mr. Munch," Felix interrupted, "Professor Kettleburn is still teaching young wizards. I''m responsible for Ancient Runes."


    As far as he knew, Professor Kettleburn was indeed retiring, but his sessor was ready¡ªRubeus Hagrid.


    Dumbledore was actively working on exonerating Hagrid and restoring his reputation. However, it seemed to be progressing less smoothly, as the culprit of the Chamber of Secrets had not been caught yet. Felix was nning to discreetly get rid of the diary at the right time.


    But this matter had toe after Dobby. If there were any mishaps in between, he might not get to meet the clumsy little house-elf.


    In truth, restoring Hagrid''s reputation and appointing professors were things Dumbledore could handle himself. He just needed to casually mention it at some evening gathering. However, for Hagrid to be allowed to use a wand openly, the approval of the Ministry of Magic was required.


    And the Ministry of Magic was known for its stubbornness.


    "Beep, beep!" A narrow piece of parchment swiftly ejected from the opening at the base of the brass contraption. Eric tore the paper off and read the words on it.


    "Thirteen inches, ckthorn wood, dragon heartstring core, ten years of use. Is that correct?"


    "Very urate," Felix said calmly.


    "I''ll keep this," the wizard said, sticking the strip of parchment onto a small brass nail. "You take this back." He reached out and grabbed the wand.


    "Thank you."


    "Wait a moment," Eric''s hand, suspended mid-air, stopped. Across the table, he carefully inspected the badge on Felix''s chest.


    He said slowly, "I remember you mentioned earlier, your name is Felix, Felix Harp? The one who contributed to the ''87 Dueling Agreement..."


    Eric Munch''s nose turned slightly rosy, his nostrils ring excitedly, as if he had just spotted something remarkable.


    "Could you share more about it? I mean, that''s one of the 28 Pure-bloods! Though I''m not a fan of them¡ªI''m a half-blood¡ªstill, they''ve been around for centuries, and they have some merit. But now one of them has permanently left Britain. It''s such a pity..." He went on and on.


    Felix calmly extended his hand. The ebony-like wand in the wizard''s hand flew into his own hand with a whoosh. "I''m pressed for time. We can chat another time." He nodded at Eric Munch and turned to leave.


    Felix took the elevator to the second floor and followed the room numbers as instructed. He passed by the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office, Improper Use of Magic Office, Fraudulent and Counterfeit Spell Products Investigative Office, and finally found the office of Wizengamot Affairs.


    On the left side of the office were tworge oak doors swung open inward, looking quite heavy. A conspicuous sign hung on the door¡ªChamber 3.


    As Felix approached, a very familiar voice with drawn-out tones came from inside: "The smell of potions is not important. My personal preference is to increase the dose of monkshood..."


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 Chapter 115: Awarding of Honors

    Chapter 115: Awarding of Honors


    Felix Harp quirked a smile as he entered the reception room.


    The room had been subtly erged with the Undetectable Extension Charm. It appeared modest from the outside, but inside, it resembled a scaled-down version of the Great Hall at Hogwarts.


    Dark, glossy ck wooden boards covered the floor, while the ceiling, painted blue, was adorned with twinkling golden symbols that moved and shifted incessantly.


    Two rows of torches were affixed to each of the four walls, their red mes burning quietly.


    Around twenty people were scattered across the room, forming seven or eight small groups.


    Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic, was surrounded by thergest crowd. He seemed exceptionally animated, his face beaming with smiles, his belly protruding with confidence¡ªa stark contrast to his days at Hogwarts.


    Not far from the entrance, Severus Snape engaged in conversation with a tall, thin middle-aged wizard with brown curly hair.


    "Severus, you''re here too," Felix Harp walked up to the two.


    Snape looked at him in surprise, his eyes fixed on Felix. He murmured, "I didn''t expect them to invite you. I don''t recall you achieving any remarkable feats in the field of potions."


    Felix chuckled. "Belby and I are friends. We correspond quite often."


    Snape pursed his lips without saying a word.


    Felix turned to the wizard. "Damocles, it''s been a while."


    The wizard before him was none other than the master potion-maker who had invented the Wolfsbane Potion¡ªDamocles Belby.


    Belby shook his hand warmly. "Felix, I''m delighted to share my joy with you."


    Leaning in conspiratorially, he added, "I recently watched a Muggle performance, quite entertaining. If you haven''t seen it, I highly rmend it."


    "What''s it about?" Felix inquired.


    "A story of a gathering of cats?" he replied with some uncertainty. "Honestly, I''ve always thought it was an opera, but Muggles call it a musical. I can''t quite grasp the distinction."


    "Hmm¡­" Felix pondered.


    Snape stood nearby, surprised by the conversation between them. Even Professor Caridy Babajee, who taught Muggle Studies at Hogwarts, wouldn''t delve so deeply into Muggle life.


    Interestingly enough, Felix had led Belby down this rabbit hole.


    Their initial acquaintance had been marked by Belby writing a letter rebutting some of Felix''s ims in a book. His tone was fiery, asserting that Felix had exaggerated. At the time, Felix had regarded him as a muddled pure-blood and responded with a creative array of mockery,plete with various data.


    Surprisingly, Belby had taken it seriously, and he eventually wrote back acknowledging his mistakes.


    Their correspondence had flourished, and Felix had even visited him a few times.


    The master potion-maker was introverted and socially awkward, but beneath his exterior, he was sensitive and had a knack for the finer things. He had expressed his frustration in letters about how his obsession with potion-making had strained his rtionships with his family.


    Felix had advised him to findmon ground with his family, to seek shared interests between his own hobbies and theirs.


    Belby''s choice had been opera.


    From what Felixter learned, Belby had invited his family to watch a highly renowned magical opera during a family gathering. They had been perplexed but had willingly attended.


    Later, Felix had casually mentioned that the Muggle world had its fair share of excellent operas...


    In the midst of their conversation, Belby pulled someone over. "This is my brother, Cleaster, Cleaster Belby."


    Felix looked at the shorter man with matching hair color. "Hello, Cleaster."


    "Hello, Mr. Harp," the man said enthusiastically. "I''ve heard Damocles mention you. He holds you in high regard, he''s bought a hundred copies of your books¡­"


    "Cough, cough!" his brother interjected awkwardly.


    Felix: "¡­"


    Soon enough, other wizards in the vicinity noticed Felix and approached him, striking up conversations.


    "Harp, long time no see. Heard you''ve taken up a position at Hogwarts."


    "That''s right. I''m in charge of Ancient Magical Scripts. Ogden, has things been busy with the Weasongamot recently?"


    "Not much going on, I hardly bother with those things," the wizard grumbled.


    Midway through, Fudge also came over to greet everyone. He hinted at an uing private gathering, but Felix Harp feigned not understanding, wishing him the best in his endeavors.


    During this time, more people arrived in the room. Most of them were experts in the field of potions and members of the Weasongamot. There were also a few Ministry of Magic employees and a couple of reporters.


    Amotion at the entrance drew Felix''s attention. He looked up to see a short, plump witch dressed entirely in pink.


    As she walked by, a strong scent of perfume wafted in the air.


    The witch headed straight to Fudge and engaged in conversation with him in a high-pitched voice.


    Belby frowned. "She''s the host for today, and it''s the one thing I''m not pleased about."


    "That''s¡ª"


    "Dolores Umbridge, head of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office and, of course, a member of the Weasongamot. Her reputation at the Ministry isn''t great; she''s a rather stringent person¡­"


    The witch suddenly burst into giggles, causing Belby to tightly close his mouth.


    Soon, the ceremony officially began.


    Umbridge stood on a raised tform, facing the thirty-odd guests below, her sweet smile on disy.


    "As a member of the Weasongamot, I''m honored to stand here and preside over this award ceremony. I''d like to express special thanks to Minister Cornelius Fudge for his trust in me. Without his sagacious leadership¡­"


    At first, Felix Harp listened attentively, but after ten minutes had passed, he began to drift off. While he was ustomed to exchanging pleasantries with strangers, he had never experienced such a lengthy discourse.


    When she reached the twenty-minute mark, the murmuring from below grew louder. Umbridge had to retrieve her wand from her pocket, tapping the wooden tform before her to hush the crowd.


    Felix''s gaze wandered from the pink bow on her hair to the wand in her hand¡ªa birch wand about eight inches long.


    After three or four more minutes, when themotion resumed, Umbridge finally got to the point.


    "Let us wee today''s protagonist¡ªDamocles Belby, for his outstanding contribution in inventing the Wolfsbane Potion. He is awarded the Order of Merlin, Second ss!"


    Belby ascended the tform with an expressionless face.


    "¡ªAnd the guests of honor, Augusta Longbottom and Minister Cornelius Fudge."


    The head of the Weasongamot Affairs Office, an elderly wizard, handed Belby a gilded certificate, then was promptly ushered away.


    Umbridge then handed a box to Fudge, who eagerly opened it, revealing a golden medal with a purple ribbon inside.


    Fudge hung the Order of Merlin around Belby''s neck, shaking his hand warmly.


    Felix noticed that Belby''s smile appeared rather forced.


    shes of white light and the sound of "clicks" filled the room as photographs were taken.


    Next, Fudge delivered an enthusiastic speech, praising "Belby''s exceptional contribution, which eradicated the centuries-old threat of werewolves, marking a historic milestone."


    Felix invoked his "earplugs charm" around him and turned to Snape, speaking in a low voice.


    "Why haven''t I seen Dumbledore?"


    Snape squeezed out a sentence between his teeth. "He rarely participates in such events unless he deems them truly necessary."


    "He''s the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, isn''t he?" Felix asked.


    "That''s an honor, Felix. The Wizengamot, aside from presiding over the trials of Dark Wizards at the end of the war, spends most of its time on trivial matters. Do you think Dumbledore would engage in that?"


    With Snape''s exnation, Felix Harp gained a new understanding of the organization.


    The Wizengamot had a grand reputation as the wizarding world''s highest court, functioning as abination of a court and a parliament. However, in practice, their jurisdiction often ovepped significantly with other departments of the Ministry.


    Wizengamot members could be divided into two categories: those renowned in various fields who were invited to join, and those who formed the Wizengamot Affairs Office, responsible for routine management and paperwork.


    Yet, they fell under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Magic.


    Ordinaryw-breaking cases were tried by this department. Only in cases of significant controversy were all members of the Wizengamot invited to serve as a jury and cast votes.


    Even so, the Ministry often appointed judges directly.


    ...


    As they exited the reception room, Felix inquired of Belby, "Do you have any nstely?"


    Belby let out a long breath. "I n to take a break and explore new things¡ªwasn''t that your suggestion?"


    A thought suddenly struck Felix Harp. He sized up Belby and, just as the potion master appeared somewhat flustered, he finally spoke¡ª


    "Damocles, are you interested in experiencing some campus life?"


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 Chapter 116: Invitation

    Chapter 116: Invitation


    Belper stared at him, puzzled. "Are you nning to send me back to the furnace for reconstruction?"


    "Let''s find a ce to sit and talk. How about the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade?" suggested Felix Harp.


    "No problem." Belper exchanged a few words with his younger brother and quickly walked over.


    With Snape gone, the two of them used Apparition to arrive directly at the entrance of the Three Broomsticks Inn.


    "What an amazing experience, Felix. I didn''t even feel ufortable," marveled Belper. "I usually prefer traveling on my own, unless absolutely necessary¡­"


    Felix and Belper entered the inn. It was a weekend, and scattered throughout were young wizards from Hogwarts, many of them couples. They looked surprised as they watched Professor Harp and a stranger walk in.


    "Is that Professor Harp''s friend?" thought Clemmy Weasley, her curiosity piqued. The girl next to her stared at the two neers with interest.


    Felix chose a spot in a corner, and Madam Rosmerta came over to take their orders. In less than a minute, their drinks arrived.


    "A ss of low-alcohol honey mead."


    "A ss of pear and lemon cider."


    She swayed away.


    Felix tapped the table, and the surrounding noise immediately subsided.


    "Felix, who is this?"


    "It''s best not to let the young wizards overhear our conversation," Felix pointed discreetly to a few young wizards who were craning their necks to listen. He even recognized a few familiar faces among them.


    Next, Felix recounted the challenges of taking over the Defense Against the Dark Arts position.


    "So, that''s how it is... I hadn''t paid much attention to this matter," Belper said.


    "There''s something I must remind you of¡ªabout the rumors of a curse on this course from the outside world¡­" Felix omitted Voldemort''s existence and used a powerful wizard to represent the source of the curse.


    "Hmm..." Belper hesitated. "ording to what you''re saying, I only need to teach for about half a year, and the curse won''t affect me?"


    "Based on the experiences of the past few decades, that seems to be the case. Most wizards who have taught Defense Against the Dark Arts have lived well, with only a few exceptions¡ª"


    "But they all had their reasons, Democles. You''re an exceptional wizard, and your substitute teaching period is even shorter. This danger is almost negligible."


    Felix earnestly said, "Hogwarts has thergest collection of books in the world. I believe it could be quite useful for you at this stage."


    Because they were friends, he offered this suggestion. He knew how passionate Democles was about potions, and how rich the library of Hogwarts was.


    In a way, they were of the same kind, both climbing the peaks of magic.


    Belper''s eyes brightened. "Indeed... I''ve spent over a decade researching Wolfsbane Potion, and theck of simr research materials has been the most frustrating part."


    Potion masters tended to be rather reclusive wizards; they had less time for socializing, which was influenced by the nature of potion-making¡ªeach potion required one or two months of brewing, and if improvements were desired, it would require hundreds of trials.


    His mind became active; perhaps he could recharge himself in this half a year¡ªa term he picked up from the Muggle world.


    Moreover, Hogwarts had a potion master he could exchange ideas with; coupled with the temptation of the Forbidden Forest and Professor Sprout''s greenhouse...


    "If I agree to teach, do you have any suggestions, Felix?" Belper asked, his interest clearly piqued.


    Felix pondered for a moment. "I suggest you prepare a few defensive magical items¡ªI can provide you with them. No need to be nervous, I''m just ustomed to proactively addressing problems." He looked at Belper''s expression and added.


    "Secondly, when youmunicate with Dumbledore, try to learn more about the course, especially from those who have previously taught Defense Against the Dark Arts¡ªhow are they doing now? You might even visit some of them."


    "Lastly, prepare your lessons in advance. The proficiency of Hogwarts young wizards might surprise you."


    Belper smiled. "I graduated from Hogwarts as well, Felix. I know what my level was back then."


    ...


    On that day, Felix Harp informed Dumbledore about the matter.


    "So, does this mean we will soon be weing an exceptional professor?" Dumbledore''s face lit up with delight. "To be honest, I was about to send out recruitment advertisements."


    "Headmaster Dumbledore, Belper is just considering it for now. He still needs to have a detailed conversation with you. I won''t be involved in that aspect. But¡ªhe''s one of the few friends I can get along with, and I hope you can ensure his safety."


    Dumbledore''s azure eyes gazed at Felix, and he smiled gently. "Of course."


    In the following days, Felix didn''t pay much attention to this matter. He taught his sses, answered questions, and immersed himself in magical research.


    This rhythmic life made him lose track of time.


    A week quickly passed.


    On a sunny afternoon, the castle''s umted snow began to melt, and snowwater dripped from the eaves.


    The Weasley twins cornered him after ss.


    yfully, they produced two coins. Felix took them, half-suspecting that they had somehow tampered with the "Fevered Knut."


    However, to his surprise, the coins were intact, and there was something extra.


    Felix fingered the copper Knuts in his hand, looking at the twins, who returned his gaze with mischievous smiles.


    "Are you testing me?"


    He sensed the magic within and, after about fifteen seconds, he gripped one of the coins, infusing it with magic. The other copper Knut quickly became scorching hot, its surface bing uneven.


    Felix studied it closely. Several abbreviated letters appeared on the coin, and he tried to puzzle it out. The most fitting sentence he coulde up with was¡ª


    "''Fercules is here, make a run for it!''"


    Felix: "... Is this your nighttime prank prop?"


    "Well, Professor Harp," Fred said, "Don''t you think this could be a great emergency item¡ªuseful for a surprise attack on the magical ck market, like plugging gaps in defenses and such?"


    "Or for passing secret messages between couples; the words on it are just random," George added.


    Heh heh.


    Felix wasn''t about to believe that they initially invented this thing for night-time escapades.


    And what magical ck market... I feel like you''re implying something about me.


    However, their thinking was quite broad. Just as they mentioned, both scenarios had some feasibility.


    "So, what''s your purpose ining to me?" he asked.


    "Professor Harp, we''ve encountered a few problems¡ªlike the words on the coin are fixed, and we can''t change them."


    "The coin itself is too small to write much."


    "Yeah, we''re hoping to develop a two-waymunication gadget, something like a two-way mirror, but, of course¡ª"


    "¡ªlower cost!"


    "¡ªeasier to make!"


    They looked at Professor Harp with eagerness, hoping he could help resolve their confusion.


    Over the past few years, the twins had independently developed some prank items, but many ideas remained unrealized and were relegated to the back shelf.


    Fortunately, Professor Harp had promised them that they could always seek his help.


    After the twins finished speaking, Felix fell into deep thought, standing motionless in ce.


    After a few minutes passed¡ª


    They exchanged a nce, and Fred said somewhat hesitantly, "You just need to give us a little hint..."


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 Chapter 117: The House Elves

    Chapter 117: The House Elves


    Felix Harp snapped back to reality.


    "Oh, I''ve been contemting quite deeply," he mused. He had just connected the twins'' thoughts to the future concept of mobile phones, causing his mind to delve into the intricacies within his thought chamber.


    The "short message" function, akin to text messaging, was something he could easily replicate. After all, the countless alchemical books in the library weren''t just for show.


    However, beyond this, aplishing moreplex functions wouldn''t be so straightforward.


    After all, wizards from centuries and millennia past didn''t possess such vast imaginations. There were numerous things that required his independent research and experimentation.


    But then again¡­ why bother? Why undertake everything on his own?


    He stared at the twins. While previously he''d considered them as potentially talented young wizards, his current perspective shifted towards how to nurture them without squandering their innate gifts.


    Perhaps in the future, he could witness the rise of magical smartphones?


    Felix had always been a highly goal-oriented individual, yet he didn''t shy away from contributing to the improvement of the magical world.


    Especially when it didn''t require too much effort.


    He addressed the twins, "Of course, I could simply give you the answers or even execute your ideas directly. However, I''d much prefer to foster your abilities."


    Felix pulled out a piece of parchment, swiftly scribbling down a list of book titles and marking the pages.


    "This is a reference book list, containing everything you desire¡ªtwo of them are stored in the Restricted Section, and I''ll provide you with a special permission slip."


    "Thank you so much, Professor Harp!" The twins eximed dramatically. From their excited expressions, it seemed they were on the verge of rushing forward for an embrace.


    Felix quickly waved them off.


    "Also, regarding materials, consider the substances used for the wand cores."


    "Professor, do you have any rmendations?"


    "From a personal sensory perspective, I quite fancy ebony, simr to jet. However, reason tells me that choosing chestnut is a wiser option. Its nature is very gentle, without specific biases," Felix said, showing them his own wand, which rested in his hand.


    The twins left in high spirits.


    After finishing his second afternoon ss, Felix made his way straight to the Great Hall. On the way, he noticed a group of young wizards gathered together, and in the midst stood Professor McGonagall. Her lips were pursed tightly, her expression exceedingly serious.


    Which young wizard had caused trouble this time?


    As Felix approached, he realized there were three creatures in front of Professor McGonagall. They were so short that they werergely obscured by the young wizards surrounding them.


    House-elves, Felix realized with great curiosity.


    These creatures had deep green skin and typically stood no taller than a meter. They possessed rough, fierce faces, even when expressionless, an underlying sense of darkness emanating from them.


    Seeing the house-elves, Felix was reminded of someone¡ªPhineas Sparrow, the former Minister for Magic. He had achieved two remarkable records: first, bing Minister for Magic at the age of 109; second, holding the office for an unprecedented 38 years.


    After him, nearly a century had passed, and yet no one had broken these records.


    One of his peculiar actions was delivering a tasteless joke during the "Wizards and Various Magical Beings'' Friendly Convention." The joke was about a "centaur, a ghost, and a house-elf walking into a bar," which offended centaurs and led to an attempted assassination.


    ...


    Felix Harp stood on the outskirts of the circle, engaged in an argument with Professor McGonagall. The most somber-faced of the house-elves seemed to be their leader, carrying a tattered bundle on his back and gesturing animatedly.


    "Madam, we received an invitation, and you can''t cancel it!"


    Impatiently, Professor McGonagall responded, "I''ve said it three times already. It was Lohart who invited you, but he''s about to face the Wizengamot for trial."


    "But¡­ but¡­ we have many talents, let me show you."


    The elf opened the ragged bundle behind him, taking out a pair of golden wings and affixing them to his back. He also retrieved a petite harp.


    The other two house-elves maintained a dark expression, tapping out a rhythm and performing stiff dance movements.


    And so, the young wizards watched in astonishment as the sullen-faced "Cupid" with golden wings and a harp burst into song:


    "Ah-lee~"


    "We are messengers of love~"


    "Kicking little legs all the way, without hesitating~"


    "Delivering confessions of love~"


    Felix suddenly froze. He rarely felt nervous around others, but this particr house-elf managed to evoke that feeling without a doubt.


    He stepped forward, wand in hand, and silently cast a spell, "Muffliato."


    The elf opened his mouth, yet no sound emerged. He frantically touched his throat, unable to utter a single word.


    "Professor McGonagall, what''s happening?"


    With an exasperated expression, McGonagall exined, "Gidley Lohart prepared a special act for Valentine''s Day¡ªan ensemble of house-elves dressed as cupids to deliver student confessions of love."


    Felix remarked, "He certainly thinks ahead. It''s been nearly half a month since his arrest."


    McGonagall added, "In fact, he booked this event a month ago. ording to them," she snorted at the house-elves, "they''ve been quite popr."


    Clearing her throat, she turned to the elf, "Since you haven''t entered into a contract with Hogwarts, I regretfully¡ª" She trailed off.


    The house-elves were now in tears, creating a peculiar scene: their stern, somber faces were now silently weeping, leaving the observing young wizards with mixed emotions¡ªneitherughter nor sympathy could urately capture the sentiment.


    "We''re willing to offer a discount¡­" the lead elf said. "It''s just too tough; our team won''t have enough to eat."


    Finally, Professor McGonagall escorted them away, leaving the problem for Dumbledore to worry about.


    Not long after, thetest news arrived¡ª


    Dumbledore agreed to allow the house-elf group to perform during the Valentine''s Day feast, but declined their offer to help students deliver love letters and promations free of charge.


    In themon room, an older student provided more urate information: "Rumor has it, Dumbledore''s decision is a way to wee the newly appointed Dark Arts Defense professor on that very day."


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 Chapter 118: Discussions

    Chapter 118: Discussions


    On the day before Valentine''s Day, a restless youthful energy pervaded Hogwarts, bringing the entire school to life.


    Among the young wizardingmunity, various techniques for confession were being passed around. From the preferred methods of confession, like beneath the mistletoe, to what attire to wear during confessions, aprehensive set of advice waspiled.


    There was even a sudden influx of low-quality love potions, prompting several professors to firmly shut down a few students and thus put an end to this trend.


    As a result, the focus of the young wizards shifted to the star students of each house. They began discussing which wizard was the most dashing and which witch was the most beautiful...


    Some particrly popr individuals even gained devoted admirers, like Cedric Diggory from Hufflepuff. He was already quite popr, and his talents disyed in several dueling sses quickly spread his fame to other years and houses.


    Harry had been feeling a bit troubled recently. With thebined aura of a savior and the recognition of his special contributions to the school, his fame remained consistently high. Especially after disying the corpse of the serpent during school, the fear of the serpent transformed into a deep respect for Harry, Ron, and Hermione.


    However, this reverence was even more noticeable with Harry. He was the only one who exhibited such remarkablebat talent, his Disarming Charm even surpassing that of many older students.


    This earned him a group of admirers.


    "Harry, a few girls over there are looking at you again. Can''t you do something about it?" Hermione said irritably.


    Harry looked at a bunch of younger witch students in a corner of the library, feeling quite helpless. Their behavior was quite audacious as they stared at him directly. Whenever he nced their way, they hid their faces behind books and giggled.


    Ginny, not far away, was working on her homework, asionally stealing nces at Harry while flipping through her book.


    It didn''t take long for Harry''s problem to be resolved on its own. Madam Pince, the librarian, waved her wand and chased away these disruptive young witches.


    He heaved a sigh of relief.


    Ron, on the other hand, was somewhat envious. The ones who loved hearing his stories were all boys, and the enthusiasm for his tales was gradually waning.


    As the three exited the library, they began discussing the new professor.


    "I wonder what the new professor is like. Hopefully not someone like Lockhart or Quirrell..." Ron said with a shudder, clearly haunted by the memories those two left him.


    "I''ve learned a lot from the dueling sses," Harry said nonchntly. His favorite ss this year was undoubtedly Defense Against the Dark Arts, though it was a pity that it only happened twice a month.


    "Harry, Dueling ss is different from Defense Against the Dark Arts. Thetter teaches you to resist danger, while dueling is just one way of doing so," Hermione said. "Actually, Snape''s theories align quite well with the requirements of Defense Against the Dark Arts."


    Ron stared at her in shock, as if she had just uttered something astonishingly unconventional.


    "Oh,e on, I''m just giving an objective assessment," Hermione said.


    Harry remained silent. His objection wasn''t to Snape''s view on dueling, but to Snape himself.


    On this point, the two of them understood each other quite well. He didn''t like Snape, and Snape didn''t like him either.


    So, he changed the subject, saying, "Any rumors about the new professor? Let''s avoid the topic of the dwarves..."


    As they spoke, a disgruntled dwarf passed by them with a scowl on his face. Ever since Dumbledore approved the dwarves'' Valentine''s Day performance, they had brought the entire team to Hogwarts ¨C twelve in total.


    These green-skinned dwarves moved around the school, bing the unique sight of February this year.


    Harry was quite relieved that they didn''t have the habit of wearing golden wings and ying harps in their everyday attire.


    The trio watched as the dwarves disappeared from view. Hermione responded to Harry''s previous question, "The new professor''s name is Damocles Belby. He''s a potions master and has just been awarded the Order of Merlin, Second ss, for inventing the Wolfsbane Potion."


    "Potions master? Wolfsbane Potion?" Harry asked, perplexed.


    "Order of Merlin? That thing Lockhart bragged about?" Ron added with disgust.


    The young witch first addressed Harry, "The Wolfsbane Potion is a newly invented potion this year. It allows werewolves to maintain their sanity during a full moon transformation." Then she turned to Ron, "Professor Belby received a Second ss Order, which is quite different from Lockhart''s."


    Harry nodded in understanding.


    "How do you know all this?" Ron asked curiously.


    "I heard from Professor Harp. He''s good friends with the new professor and even rmended him to Dumbledore," the young witch exined.


    Ron muttered, "Why would he rmend his own friend? I mean... the curse?"


    Hermione shook her head; even she couldn''t fathom Professor Harp''s actions.


    Privately, she thought Professor Harp''s judgment might have been wed. But she countered Ron, saying, "The new professor is only covering half the term''s sses. I suppose he may not see it as too dangerous." She wasn''t entirely confident in her response.


    Ron grumbled, "Still sounds dangerous."


    It wasn''t until the evening, during a break in themon room, that they received some semnce of an answer to their questions.


    Ginny spoke somewhat awkwardly, "Luna''s mother died in a magical ident. She told me that if you want to research something new, you''re bound to encounter all sorts of dangers..."


    "...unless you do nothing at all."


    Ancient Runes ssroom.


    Felix Harp was sorting through his findings. Over the weekend, he had shared the serpent creature''s materials with Snape.


    The other professors were not particrly interested, except for Professor Burbage and Hagrid, who hade to see a few times.


    Professor Burbage''s reaction was the most genuine. She looked regretful and said, "If only we could have kept it alive... I mean, prepared better."


    Given this professor''s exaggerated history, Felix was quite skeptical.


    Hagrid''s attitude was moreplex. Hisrge hand touched the scales of the serpent creature, and he said with a hint of sadness, "I was expelled because of it, not long after my dad passed away. He loved me so much... those were dark days."


    He wiped his tears with a dirty handkerchief, sharing his sorrow with Felix.


    However, before Felix could findforting words, Hagrid adjusted his tone on his own. He looked at the serpent creature''s venomous fangs and its empty eyes and said, "Charming creatures, aren''t they?"


    ...


    Laid out before Felix were shimmering green serpent skin and the scales separated from it, along with a dozen venomous fangs.


    These were the results of his processing. Originally, the scales on the serpent skin couldn''t be peeled off, just like with most snakes. What was referred to as scales were actually the snake''s superficial skin and umted keratin.


    Yet, under the influence of magic, nothing was impossible. Felix easily separated the scales from the skin.


    Serpent creatures had extremely high magical resistance,parable to that of a Hungarian Horntail dragon. Even if a spell hit their thick scales, it might only leave a shallow dent.


    He was considering using the serpent skin to craft a close-fitting armor. That way, ordinary spells wouldn''t affect him at all.


    As for the scales, Felix hadn''t decided how to handle them yet ¨C magical inertness posed a challenge.


    He could only hope that Professor Snape would discover a use for serpent creature scales, preferably transforming them into rare potion ingredients.


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 Chapter 119: Valentines Day

    Chapter 119: Valentine''s Day


    Felix Harp gazed at the gleaming green snake skin before him, pondering the methods of its creation.


    "Firstly, impurities need to be dealt with. This step could take inspiration from the process of handling the Bindweed, but the characteristics of the serpent and the Striking Willow''s branches are entirely different..."


    ...


    February 14th, Valentine''s Day.


    When the young wizards and witches rose early to the Great Hall for breakfast, they discovered that the walls were covered withrge, dazzling pink flowers. Heart-shaped multicolored paper confetti continuously floated down from the pale blue ceiling.


    Even the usually mundane corridors were adorned with holly and mistletoe gands.


    Many young wizards and witches chuckled foolishly as they dined.


    On this day, the professors would turn a blind eye to minor misdeeds ¨C though don''t expect them to greet you with smiles either.


    "I bet Percy would''ve been sour at the sight of this," Ron remarked, pointing towards a couple of pairs holding hands in the distance ¨C he and Percy had reconciled, but he couldn''t resist his habitual sarcasm.


    But all of this was none of their concern. After Harry, Ron, and Hermione finished breakfast, they hurried off to their sses.


    Evening arrived.


    They entered the Great Hall with weary bodies, and the long tables were already filled with numerous young wizards.


    As expected, they spotted little dwarves dressed as Cupids, but these dwarves stood solemnly on a makeshift tform, ying harps with a sullen expression ¨C not too bad, at least not enough to make people flee.


    Two of the smallest dwarves seemed to have yet to master this art; they stood about two or three meters from the entrance, reaching into their pockets to retrieve handfuls of colorful confetti. Any group of two or more young wizards passing by them would be met with a light shower of confetti.


    Harry and his friends saw Dean and Lavender leading the way, showered in the rain of colored confetti. Lavender stood awkwardly in ce, while Dean muttered something iprehensible and quickly moved away.


    Laughter erupted from the long tables.


    Lavender scratched her head and joined in theughter, her round face turning slightly rosy.


    Harry, Ron, and Hermione promptly maneuvered along the walls to avoid the mischievous dwarves.


    Soon enough, one unsuspecting pair after another fell prey to the confetti showers. If they were a young couple, they would smile generously, not feeling embarrassed. However, if they were just friends, the expressions on their faces were enough to make the nearby young wizardsugh for quite a while.


    At the teachers'' table.


    Professor Binns looked at the lively scene and said, somewhat surprised, "I never thought Hogwarts would celebrate Valentine''s Day now. You see, back in my time, we were quite secretive about such matters."


    Felix Harp chimed in, "Perhaps it''s to wee you."


    "Don''t be absurd, Felix," the middle-aged wizard replied, ncing around, "Why haven''t I seen Professor Snape?"


    "He probably doesn''t appreciate this scene. He might arrive a bitter."


    "True, he does have quite the serious demeanor. Bellby," Professor Binns said, "ourst encounter was rather brief, and we didn''t get a chance to talk much. He has some insightful thoughts..."


    "About the Wolfsbane Potion, perhaps?"


    "Indeed, he seems to have ideas for improving the Wolfsbane Potion. I hope we can coborate. I am willing to provide the initial research materials."


    "Did you not consider inviting others before?" Felix Harp curiously asked.


    "I did, but... there wasn''t much interest," Bellby regretfully replied. "Professor Slughorn did offer some suggestions, but he declined to participate."


    "Slughorn?" Felix Harp wasn''t hearing this name for the first time.


    "Yes, he used to be my Potions professor. But he''s retired now, and his whereabouts are uncertain. It''s hard to reach him."


    After about fifteen minutes, the other professors arrived one by one.


    Professor Flitwick took the empty seat next to Felix Harp, and Professor McGonagall sat right next to Flitwick.


    Snape chose a spot from afar.


    Just as Harry was getting quite bored listening to the dwarves y the same tune for the seventh time, the banquet finallymenced.


    Dumbledore tapped his ss to quiet the young wizards. With a smile on his face, he introduced their new professor to everyone.


    "It is with great pleasure that I introduce to you Damocles Bellby. He has kindly agreed to fill the vacancy for Defense Against the Dark Arts in thetter half of this school year."


    The apuse from the young wizards was sparse ¨C the previous professors had already exhausted their enthusiasm.


    Bellby stood up, bowed to the crowd, and spoke, "I am honored to return to Hogwarts after many years. Although I will only be here for the first half of the year, I will do my best to fulfill my duties..."


    Bellby''s words were sincere. His appearance and attire weren''t as dazzling as Lockhart''s, who seemed to want to catch everyone''s eye. This directly earned him some limited goodwill from the young wizards.


    The most evident sign of this was that as he sat down, the young wizards'' apuse was orderly and quite loud.


    Seated next to Felix Harp, Professor Flitwick engaged in a hushed conversation with him.


    "Felix, I heard you''re using a new kind of teaching tool in your sses?"


    "Yes, Philius, I call it the Answering Parchment."


    Professor McGonagall, a seat away, subtly slowed her chewing.


    "I don''t mean to say this to offend you ¨C I''ve seen it from the students. I found it quite useful even for spell theory."


    "Are you thinking of using the Answering Parchment in your spell sses?"


    Flitwick stumbled over his words, "With the Wizarding Level Exams only a few months away, the theoretical scores of some young wizards are worrisome."


    He looked at Felix Harp, "If there''s anything you need help with..."


    Felix Harp chuckled lightly, "Philius, I have no objections to that. However, I''vee across some challenges ¨C if we were to add more subjects, we''d have to make improvements upon the existing setup. It''s not something I can tackle alone. I''m thinking of inviting you to join me in this research."


    "I would be delighted," Flitwick readily agreed.


    McGonagall found her moment to interject, "I can also lend a hand."


    "Filius, I''ve envisioned including all Hogwarts subjects. But it would require a respected professor to facilitate this."


    McGonagall pondered for a moment, "I will look into others'' thoughts on this. It''s a good idea. But how would you consolidate so many subjects onto a single piece of parchment?"


    "By utilizing Synchronous Magic," Felix Harp exined. "The parchment in the young wizards'' hands merely acts as a simple magical receptacle for information, with rtively basic magical inscriptions and alchemical means. I also have a scroll made of dragonhide, storing the past few years'' Wizarding Level Exam questions."


    "But this would mean the young wizards can only use the Answering Parchment at Hogwarts."


    "Well, teaching one-to-many...," Flitwick mused, "I believe I''ve heard someone mention this approach before."


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 Chapter 120: Verdict

    Chapter 120: Verdict


    "Is it a Two-Faced Mirror?" Felix Harp inquired with interest.


    "No, Felix, I don''t think so," Flitwick pondered.


    Professor McGonagall offered her own spection, "Perhaps it''s a magical newspaper?"


    "A newspaper?" Felix looked at her, the idea hadn''t crossed his mind before.


    "Exactly, I remember the Daily Prophet had a simr technique. If news changed, the content of the newspaper changed as well," Professor McGonagall added, "Although this situation is quite rare now; they prefer to move such things to the evening edition of the day."


    She reminisced, "During the times of war, the Ministry of Magic used the Daily Prophet for emergency notifications..."


    Felix was somewhat surprised. In his impression, the Daily Prophet wasn''t particrly known for journalistic integrity; they were probably more concerned with their cirction.


    Hence the separation between the daily and evening editions, as well as the Sunday edition, "The Sunday Prophet."


    The overall viewpoint of the Daily Prophet leaned towards the Ministry of Magic, so... was this cooperation established a long time ago?


    "Did they use synchronous magic as well?" He wanted to know more.


    "I believe so¡ªthere might be various charms used on the newspaper. It''s their exclusive technology not seen in other publications," Professor McGonagall replied.


    Felix contemted; so, they were somewhat simr to his answering parchment, perhaps even more sophisticated. Their newspapers covered the entirety of Britain.


    Except for theck of interactivity.


    "Not exactly," Flitwick said, somewhat puzzled, "Odd, I shouldn''t have forgotten...".


    Professor McGonagall widened her eyes, stuttering as she interrupted him, "C-could it possibly be that person''s mark, Felix?"


    "Oh, heavens, no, of course not!" Flitwick''s voice turned sharp.


    Felix listened quietly, were they talking about the Dark Mark?


    He hadn''t studied it, but from what he remembered, it was a kind of patterned magical contract, with abilities for tracking and summoning. Maybe Voldemort added his personal touch?


    Bellby, who had been silent on the side, suddenly spoke up, "Speaking of which, I''ve seen something simr in the Muggle world..."


    "Exactly, that''s it!"


    Bellby''s words sparked an idea in Flitwick; he eximed with surprise, "I remember now, I heard about it from Professor Cuthbert Binns."


    Cuthbert Binns?


    The History of Muggle Studies professor?


    Felix recalled; he hadn''t met this professor many times, she seemed to reside mostly off-campus.


    "Cuthbert showed me pictures of it, all square and neat. I can''t recall its name," Flitwick looked at Bellby, hoping for a response¡ª


    "Oh, I remember, it''s called a mobile phone," Bellby said, "I saw someone using it at a Muggle theater. I asked them about it; I said I''m from the countryside."


    He grinned at Felix; this was a passage Felix had mentioned in his work, "Interacting with Muggles: A Guide."


    Flitwick gave Bellby an affirmative look, "That''s the thing¡ªmobile...phone? They say Muggles can have conversations across vast distances. Cuthbertined to me that her paper on it got outright ignored; they thought it was some sort of fantasy¡ªjust a bunch of old-fashioned notions."


    Professor McGonagall wasn''t well-versed in Muggle artifacts; she asked in puzzlement, "Has the Muggle world really advanced this much? What do they rely on for long-distancemunication?"


    Now, Flitwick and Bellby couldn''te up with an answer; their knowledge in this area was quite limited.


    Felix let out a gentle sigh.


    Felix Harp knew what kind of book he should write this year¡ªa guide to Muggle world technology. However, Professor Binns'' experience provided him a good counterexample; if he presented something beyond wizards'' imagination right from the start, it might not make much of a ssh.


    His previous two books had covered the development history and thought processes of ordinary people, which wizards could understand. Moreover, he intentionally included numerous examples of social interactions, making them quite practical¡ªuseful for public officials who needed guidance in dealing with Muggles.


    This was why his books received professional recognition.


    It also allowed him to sneak in some of his genuine personal viewpoints...


    How should he structure the new book? Felix contemted.


    "It has to be simple, clear, and straightforward. Not too much, just enough," he thought.


    Some basic mechanicalponents, prototypes of energy utilization, even simple and repeatable physical experiments...


    He suddenly recalled his conversation with Miss Granger about Lockhart, where he mentioned that he admired how Lockhart incorporated knowledge into his stories. "Maybe I''ll imitate that in the future!" he had told his assistant.


    Now, it seemed like he could write a fairy tale version of "Adventures of a Young Wizard"?


    "Felix?" Flitwick looked at him.


    "Just thinking about some interesting things," Felix said.


    He added visiting Professor Binns to his schedule.


    As for improving the answering parchment, he had many brainstormed ideas from young wizards that he hadn''t yet tapped into. Along with the Two-Faced Mirror, magical newspapers, Dark Marks, and mobile phones, these things were sparking his inspiration and direction.


    Midway through, several professors finalized their coboration ns. Bellby felt somewhat regretful, as he wasn''t skilled in this area at all.


    After the dinner, the young wizards left in pairs, their understanding unspoken. Some male and female wizards quietly vanished from the main group, seeking secluded spots for their rendezvous.


    ''I wonder how many couples Fleur Dcour will catch tonight?'' Felix''s mind entertained random thoughts.


    Back in his office, he perused the evening edition of the Daily Prophet. The front-page headline caught his attention¡ª


    "Gilderoy Lockhart Faces Seven-Year Imprisonment; Fans Criticize the Ministry."


    This intrigued Felix. ording to the newspaper, Lockhart deeply regretted his actions and was willing to heal andpensate those he had harmed¡ªhoping to avoid severe punishment.


    He had also donated a substantial 20,000 Galleons to various reputable magical organizations. Yet, Wizengamot still sentenced him to seven years¡ªthe way Felix saw it, this punishment was noticeably lenient.


    Moreover, the Dementors that ordinary wizards dreaded weren''t as fearsome for a Memory Charmer like Lockhart.


    But for Lockhart, losing his brilliant reputation and future seemed to be the most dreadful punishment, right?


    However, that wasn''t the most surprising news of the day. In a corner, he found a seemingly insignificant piece¡ª


    "Former Chief Editor of the Daily Prophet, Rita Skeeter, Faces Long-Term Charges of Concealing Animagus Status and Illegally Gaining Others'' Secrets for Personal Gain. However, recently, the Ministry abruptly revoked all charges, instead sentencing her to a fine of two thousand Galleons. It''s been reported that more than one high-ranking Ministry official stated there was no direct evidence of Rita Skeeter''s guilt..."


    Felix suddenly chuckled, "Rita, oh Rita..." He truly felt enlightened.


    Gilderoy Lockhart and Rita Skeeter were, in a way, remarkably simr¡ªthey both achieved fame through illicit means as prominent male and female wizards.


    Lockhart even obtained a prestigious Order of Merlin, Third ss badge as a symbol of honor.


    Nevertheless, when their wrongdoings came to light, their fates were entirely different¡ªLockhart received leniency but still went to prison, while Skeeter''s punishment was virtually inconsequential.


    Felix''s light blue eyes reflected the Hogwarts night scene as he wondered, "Just how many secrets of the high and mighty do you know, Rita Skeeter?"


    A string of controversial names of high-ranking Ministry officials flickered through his mind¡ª


    Cornelius Fudge, Barty Crouch, Ludovic Bagman, Dolores Umbridge, Pius Thicknesse...


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 Chapter 121: Defense Against the Dark Arts Class

    Chapter 121: Defense Against the Dark Arts ss


    A new day dawned, and Damocles Belby had his breakfast, heading to his first ss with a cheerful disposition.


    Following Felix Harp''s advice and after a discussion with Dumbledore, he had visited twelve wizards who had previously taught the Defense Against the Dark Arts ss. This gave him firsthand information about the rumored curse.


    ording to these predecessors, the curse''s effects were exceedingly subtle, almost imperceptible. However, after about six months, hidden things started to influence them, often encountering seemingly coincidental idents.


    As time went on, these idents would multiply.


    Their advice to Belby was, "When one day, while brewing a potion, you encounter a failure that shouldn''t happen, it''s time to start preparing to leave."


    Belby held onto these words dearly in his heart.


    In the remaining days, he began earnestly preparing his lesson.


    ...


    "Today''s lesson is for the second-year students. They should already possess the skills to handle Red Caps. Nevertheless, I better be cautious," he thought. It was his first ss, and Belby''s heart raced with excitement and anxiety.


    As he arrived at the ssroom door, the chattering young wizards focused their gaze upon him.


    The professor appeared rather ordinary, tall and lean, seeming somewhat delicate. Yet, he used magic to levitate tworge cages draped in cloth, sparking a hint of anticipation among the students.


    Under the circumstances, their expectations were already quite low.


    The professor stood at the door and beckoned, "Follow me, young wizards. Today is a practical lesson, and I need to assess yourbat proficiency." Hemanded the floating cages to vanish into the doorway. "Oh, and don''t forget your wands."


    The young wizards hurriedly gathered their belongings, exchanging amazed nces.


    It had been quite a while since they had a practical ss on Defense Against the Dark Arts, unless one counted that memorable lesson from this year. During that ss, Gilderoy Lockhart had brought a cage of Cornish Pixies, throwing the ssroom into chaos.


    "Do you know what this reminds me of?" Ron asked suggestively.


    "Those little blue-faced creatures certainly won''t be this quiet," Harry wryly responded.


    In fact, that practical lesson was the aftermath they, along with Hermione, had dealt with ¨C recapturing the Cornish Pixies. Hermione''s Freezing Charm had been a tremendous help.


    They walked through the corridors and entered a quiet, empty ssroom.


    Belby ced the metallic cage in a corner, emitting a faint, "Squeak, squeak" sound from within. Neville, who was walking in front, involuntarily shrunk back a little, fearing that something inside might grab his ear and take off to the ceiling.


    "What do you think it might be?" Harry wondered aloud.


    "From the sound, it''s somewhat like a Kneazle," Ron spected.


    "But Kneazles should appear in Care of Magical Creatures sses. They''re not dangerous," Hermione pointed out.


    "I just hope it''s not an Acromant," Ron said hopefully, thinking of Hagrid''s collection of giant spiders in the Forbidden Forest. He often wondered about Hagrid''s thought process.


    This piece of information about Hagrid''s collection of creatures came from their investigation into the Chamber of Secrets monster. When heter saw the photos and information that Hermione had found about Acromants, Ron couldn''t help but feel bothered by it.


    "He even gave it a name¡ªAragog!"


    Belby looked sentimentally at the ssroom, reminiscing about his own school days¡ªa period that wasn''t particrly rosy because he didn''t quite fit in back then.


    He reintroduced himself, "Many of you might not be familiar with me. I am Damocles Belby. While I have a certain expertise in potion-making, I am also fully qualified to teach you Defense Against the Dark Arts."


    "To some extent, I have an advantage. I''ve looked through the second-year curriculum, and you need to learn some counter-curses and how to handle low-risk magical creatures properly. Interestingly enough, my extensive knowledge of potion-making coincides with them..."


    He told a dry joke, and by its effect, the young wizards indeed seemed frozen.


    Ron whispered to Harry, "I guess Hagrid won''t be fond of him." But he suddenly had a thought¡ªhe really wanted to introduce Aragog to this new professor.


    Harry agreed; anyone who dared to treat Hagrid''s "darlings" as potion ingredients would surely drive Hagrid mad.


    After finishing his introduction, Belby called out names from his list, remembering each young wizard''s name.


    "Mirison Berstede."


    "Navi Longbottom."


    ...


    "Ronald Weasley."


    After calling out all the names, the young wizards raised their hands curiously, having received various true and false rumors beforehand:


    "Professor, did you receive the Order of Merlin?"


    "Yes, just this month."


    "Are you a Master Potioneer?"


    "That''s how others have described me."


    "What''s Wolfsbane Potion?"


    "A potion that alleviates the symptoms of lycanthropy during a full moon."


    "Who''s stronger, you or Professor Snape?" This was a Gryffindor asking, while the Slytherins gave him hostile stares.


    "Well... our research focuses are different, so there''s no meaningfulparison."


    After a few minutes, Belby realized he couldn''t let these wandering young minds keep bombarding him with questions. They seemed to want him to challenge Snape to a duel, fighting for the title of Hogwarts'' top Potion Master.


    Clearing his throat, Belby said, "Today, we''ll review what you''ve learned so far. Red Caps. I''ll ask a few questions, and if you answer correctly, you''ll earn points¡ª"


    "Professor!"


    A young wizard interrupted him, "What''s a Red Cap?"


    Belby was momentarily taken aback, "Um... a Red Cap is a magical creature simr to gnomes. They''re found in the Northern European region, and, uh..." He looked at the puzzled expressions below, "You haven''t learned about Red Caps?"


    In response, there was a synchronized shaking of heads and sighs.


    Belby halted, sensing something amiss. He called on a student, "What have you all been studying?"


    Seamus Finnigan stood up, uttering bewildering words, "Professor, we''ve been learning to y vampires." He unbuttoned his outer robe and draped it over himself like a cloak, baring his teeth and striking an aristocratic pose.


    Many of the young wizards burst intoughter.


    "That''s amusing, but it''s not the answer I was looking for."


    Finally, Hermione raised her hand to exin their year''s curriculum to this bewildered new professor.


    "So, apart from the first ss with the Cornish Pixies, you''ve had no practical lessons?" Belby was thoroughly dumbfounded.


    He had indeed inquired about the course and prepared himself mentally, but nobody had told him that the illustrious Defense Against the Dark Arts ss had no practicalponent?


    After about half a minute, he managed to gather his thoughts, "Alright then, we, um... let''s learn about Red Caps today."


    He waved his wand, unveiling the cage''s curtain.


    The creature in the cage startled them¡ªit was a small, emaciated creature with ayer of red fur on its head, the rest of its exposed skin giving off a dirty, tawny color.


    "You cane closer to observe," Belby said.


    The young wizards cautiously approached, observing the intimidating creature¡ª


    Curled within the cage, the Red Caps bared their teeth, one of them suddenly striking the magically reinforced metal cage with its w.


    "Boom!" The bars of the cage emitted a loud noise but remained unscathed.


    The young wizards were still taken aback.


    Harry clearly saw that the creature''s ws were disproportionately exaggeratedpared to its body, its nails measuring at least an inch and a half.


    Belby''s exnatory voice reached them, "Have you noticed their ws? I believe someone has. Their forelimbs are incredibly agile, allowing them to use rudimentary tools like twigs, sticks, and stones."


    "Red Caps are attracted to blood. Apart from their normal hunting, if they encounter lone Muggles or young wizards in the wild, they ambush from behind. Today, we''ll learn how to deal with them¡ª"


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 Chapter 123: The Scarlet Hat

    Chapter 123: The Scarlet Hat


    ----


    "You want us to deal with this thing? What if we get hurt?" said a young wizard with tinum blonde hair.


    "And who might you be?"


    "Draco, Draco Malfoy," he drawled, emphasizing hisst name.


    Bellby just nodded. "I''ve heard of the Malfoy family. Don''t worry, I''ll be watching from the sidelines." He added, "And if you do get injured, don''t fret, the injuries caused by the Scarlet Hat are quite manageable."


    He nced at the small wizards below who were silent as mice. "I''ve brewed a batch of healing potions specifically, rare gems in the market...¡±


    Draco looked at the new professor with a pallid face, clearly ufortable with Bellby''s somewhat calcting expression.


    "The Scarlet Hat is swift in its hunting, it changes direction abruptly, rolls to avoid the prey''s counterattacks. We can use Expulsion Hex against it. Simrly, Petrification Curse, Freezing Charm, Leg-Locking Curse, Jelly-Legs Jinx, Tickling Hex, and Disarming Charm are all effective. Apart from Dark Magic, I have no specific requests."


    "Young wizards, show me your skills!" Bellby said passionately.


    "Professor, can we use the Disarming Charm?" a young wizard asked.


    Bellby looked at him strangely. "If you know how, certainly. But that''s not a spell you should be mastering at your age..."


    "Professor, I learned it in dueling ss," the wizard with light brown hair said confidently.


    Other wizards took a couple of steps back. Nawi Longbottom and Siemo Finigan, also known as the two great ident-makers in the ssroom, were renowned for idents in Potions and Charms sses respectively¡ªwhat bizarre mistakes his spells might produce was a mystery, even Professor Flitwick couldn''t unravel.


    "Very well, and you are Siemo Finigan, I presume? Step forward."


    Bellby opened the cage, subtly using a Softening Charm to soften the Scarlet Hat''s nails.


    Amidst the eager anticipation of the young wizards, Siemo loudly pronounced the incantation of the Disarming Charm¡ª


    "Deprive of thy weapon!"


    "Hiss!"


    Siemo''s wand emitted a muffled sound, like the distant rumble of winter thunder. A series of sparks shot out from the tip of his wand, apanied by ck smoke, spraying wildly.


    The young wizards quickly huddled in the corner, and Siemo''s wand came to a stop, but his sparks had ignited the red hair on the Scarlet Hat''s head.


    Bellby quickly shouted, "Clear waters like springs," extinguishing the mes. He turned to Siemo. "Uh... not quite a sessful attempt, your Disarming Charm isn''t proficient¡ª in actualbat, you''ll find using unfamiliar spells against danger is quite foolish. Can you do any other spells? The Leg-Locking Curse? Excellent, but try it on the table first..."


    This time, fortunately, no problems arose, and Siemo sessfully repelled the Scarlet Hat using the Leg-Locking Curse.


    Of course, this might be because the Scarlet Hat dared note close, with most of its red fur burned.


    Bellby wiped his brow on the side.


    Next, the young wizards formed a queue and, guided by Bellby, took turns challenging.


    As Bellby didn''t forbid them from using self-learned minor curses, the collective strength of the young wizards took a step forward. Those at the forefront stumbled and fumbled through the task...


    Deane Thomas''s Jelly-Legs Jinx caused the Scarlet Hat to stumble and copse, rendering itpletely limp;


    Draco Malfoy''s Tickling Hex made the Scarlet Hat burst into uncontrobleughter;


    Pansy Parkinson''s Expulsion Hex forced the Scarlet Hat to retreat repeatedly, unable to approach;


    Hermione Granger''s Freezing Charm froze the Scarlet Hat in ce, only its small eyes darting around;


    Ron''s Petrification Curse immobilized the Scarlet Hat''s legs, turning it into a stone-like form on the ground;


    Harry''s Disarming Charm sent the Scarlet Hat flying far away, unable to recover for a while;


    Midway through, the two Scarlet Hats seemed unwilling to attack anymore. However, when Bellby produced a vial of deep red, blood-like potion and pointed at the young wizards, they became excited.


    Subsequently, the young wizards were hit hard¡ª


    The Scarlet Hats disyed remarkable aggression and adept hunting techniques in the subsequent tests. They agilely changed directions with their forelimbs, emitting threatening noises with their mouths, causing hesitation in the young wizards facing them.


    For the young wizards, once they hesitated or became timid, their performance faltered.


    For instance, Neville Longbottom, after several failed attempts at spellcasting, began to run around the ssroom, earningughter from Slytherin students. Soon, he was cornered, and the Scarlet Hat used its softened nails to continuously scratch his thighs¡ª


    "Counterattack! Neville Longbottom, you need to counterattack, in whatever way you can," Professor Bellby shouted loudly from the side.


    Summoning courage, Neville grabbed the Scarlet Hat''s w and flung it away.


    The young wizards watched as the small Scarlet Hat flew through the air, traversing half the ssroom, only to be caught by Bellby using a Levitation Charm.


    Neville seemed to have opened up new possibilities for them.


    "Very good! Do you see? The Scarlet Hat isn''t that formidable... When you''re cornered, instead of fearing and retreating, it''s better to fight back with all your might."


    Crabbe, who was big and burly, wanted to replicate this process. He attempted a direct punch, hoping to knock down the Scarlet Hat decisively. However, the Scarlet Hat skillfully evaded and ended up tripping him from behind¡ª


    The Scarlet Hat leaped onto Crabbe''s chest, attempting to w at his face and eyes.


    "What did I say? Don''t cower, summon your courage... Scarlet Hats aren''t superior in physical endurance; their strength lies in surprise attacks and agility," Professor Bellby encouraged.


    But Crabbe let out an exaggerated scream until Bellby used a spell to pull the Scarlet Hat away, at which point Crabbe continued to shout.


    Draco couldn''t help but pat him and said, "Don''t talk nonsense, you don''t have any injuries on your face!"


    ...


    When the lesson came to an end, Bellby breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, he had foreseen the situation and preemptively cast a spell to soften the Scarlet Hat''s nails. Otherwise, half of the young wizards might have been knocked down.


    Although he could indeed heal them, it wouldn''t sound good if he knocked down a bunch of students in the first lesson.


    Addressing the young wizards, he summed up the ss: "How many of you noticed that the Scarlet Hat''s nails were softened with a spell?"


    A few hands were raised.


    "That shouldn''t be, really shouldn''t be..." Bellby shook his head. "All the young wizards after Longbottom should have realized it; he doesn''t have a single scratch on him!"


    The young wizards began to feel embarrassed, but at the time, they genuinely hadn''t noticed.


    "Observation of details, assessment of the situation¡ªthese are things you need to think seriously about... Well, for your assignment, write a paper of at least eight inches discussing your gains and losses from this ss."


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 Chapter 124: Professors

    Chapter 124: Professors


    This lesson also made the new professor, Berby, realize a part of reality ¨C that times have truly changed.


    The "average level" he had in mind and the "average level" disyed by young wizards differed drastically, making him doubt life itself.


    "Perhaps it''s just this particr year that''s below par?" Berby thought with unrealistic hope.


    The young wizards streaming out of the ssroom seemed particrly pleased with the new professor.


    "Today''s ss was absolutely fantastic."


    "Did you see me use the Leg-Locker Curse?"


    "I totally exceeded my own abilities!"


    "Crabbe looked utterly foolish."


    ...


    After all the sses for the day concluded, Berby finally gained a clear understanding of the magical aplishments of the young wizards. He no longer held onto any shred of luck ¨C he was even leaning towards the opposite extreme.


    "They seem tock a sense of danger and only know how to stand still and chant spells," Berbyined to Felix Harp during dinner.


    Felix chuckled heartily. "I told you, Damocles, to get to know their level in advance."


    "But this ispletely different from when I was in school," Berby remarked.


    "In truth, the older years have a decent level; they''ve at least mastered quite a few useful spells, but theyck the skill to apply them flexibly. However, in recent years, the professors for this course haven''t been very reliable, leading to apleteck of awareness in the younger students about guarding against danger," Felix exined.


    He suggested:


    "Dark Arts Defense and Dueling are closely rted; we can have them interact."


    "Interact?"


    "You also know that many dueling spells are equally applicable in Dark Arts Defense. Spells like the Irond Curse or the Entrapment Hex."


    Berby looked pensive.


    Dark Arts Defense, a ss teaching students how to use magic to protect themselves from dark creatures and dark magic, involved learning offensive and defensive spells to fend off danger.


    But the content of the course extended far beyond ¨C danger had multiple sources: dark wizards, dark magic, dangerous magical creatures, magical nts, handling minor curses, and responding tomon dangerous situations...


    Rather than just defense against dark magic, it was more like defense against potential danger.


    Identifying danger, perceiving danger, responding to danger, as well as assessing the strength of opponents, finding weaknesses...


    These were the core principles behind the Dark Arts Defense course.


    Therefore, Berby shouldn''t and couldn''t invest a lot of time in having young wizards focus solely on one or two sources of danger.


    From this perspective, Dueling could naturally be considered a supplement and practical part of the Dark Arts Defense course ¨C this was also one of the reasons why Lockhart easily gained approval for the Dueling Club.


    ...


    In the following period, Felix Harp put all his energy into upgrading the "Answering Parchment."


    Professor McGonagall exercised her authority as Deputy Headmistress and gathered almost all the corresponding subject professors for a professorial meeting.


    The professors raised their hands to express their willingness to participate in this n.


    Aside from a few courses ¨C like the practical Flying ss and Divination, known as requiring "rarefied vision" to learn, along with some elective sses (like Illusion Shapeshifting and Career Counseling) ¨C the professors of other subjects eagerly agreed to join in.


    Professor Kettleburn had aplex expression as he spoke, "I''ve always hoped to do something meaningful before formal retirement. I had ns to organize an opera and invite my giant friends..."


    Felix Harp was quite relieved he abandoned that idea.


    As for the History of Magic professor ¨C the ghost Cuthbert Binns ¨C his translucent silver-white form took on a peculiarly luminescent and pale state, raising concerns that he might feel his existence was being reced, thus vanishing forever.


    But fortunately, he was just somewhat excited, "This is good; I believe the young wizards'' grades in the History of Magic will improve."


    ...


    From an observer''s standpoint, a room full of professorsing together would reveal many interesting things.


    For instance, Professors Flitwick and Sprout rarely made direct eye contact, yet they didn''t exhibit any bodilynguage of resistance toward each other;


    Or, Snape''s demeanor toward Berby was cold, but he didn''t refuse to discuss potion knowledge with him;


    Felix also met the Divination professor for the first time since joining, Sibyll Trwney.


    Three years hadn''t changed her appearance: Trwney appeared very thin, high cheekbones, herrge sses reflected firelight, making her expression difficult to discern, like arge beetleing forward.


    Only when you got closer could you make out her eyes, magnified several times. She draped a thin, transparent, shimmering shawl over herself, heavy nes and beads hung from her slender neck, bracelets and rings adorned her arms and hands.


    ''Perhaps she''s the professor at Hogwarts who understands self-presentation the most, cloaked in an air of mystery,'' Felix thought.


    He didn''t have good feelings about this Divination professor because she had repeatedly hinted during Felix''s time as a student that he would meet with misfortune...


    And when Felix realized he had no aptitude for Divination, he promptly dropped the ss.


    This left his Divination grades perpetually in a dismal state.


    "Oh, Felix, I remember you... In the eyes of ordinary folk, you were a wizard with remarkable potential, but in my sight," Trwney pointed to her own eyes, staring straight at him, "I saw vast murkiness and darkness."


    "Felix, I believe it''s because you haven''t yet emerged from a state of inebriation," Professor McGonagall interjected without mincing words, also not holding any fondness for this vague and mystical professor.


    Trwney blushed and said, "Inner Eye does not change due to external influences, whether I''ve been drinking or not!"


    She huffily took a seat in an empty chair.


    During this meeting, Felix also took the opportunity to have a tentative conversation with the Muggle Studies professor, Caridy Babajee, which left him somewhat disappointed.


    This professor wasn''t entirely unfamiliar with Muggle society; ording to her, she resided in a Muggle neighborhood. However, Babajee approached problems from a wizard''s perspective; at least, she had never considered understanding the principles of technology ¨C not even at the level of elementary school crafts.


    "Felix, I believe this is enough. I visit bookstores twice a year to select the most popr books," Babajee politely stated.


    Felix inquired, "What book have you been studying recently?"


    "Mendel''s Legacy: Father of Gics," Babajee said with great interest. "It has provided me with much inspiration..."


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 Chapter 125: Students

    Chapter 125: Students


    The weather at Hogwarts had turned mild, with the snow melting into the earth and tender shoots poking their heads out. Young wizards and witches were particrly fond of lounging on the grass by the ck Lake,zily soaking up the sun.


    On Saturday, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Luna, and others sat by theke, watching as Harry and Neville engaged in back-and-forth dueling.


    After two more Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons, Harry and his friends had learned two new spells. One was a defensive spell - the Iron Armor Charm; the other was a small hex invented by Snape himself, aimed at looking after younger wizards - the Tongue-Lock Hex.


    Harry''s behavior had sparked some controversy, but Snape had dismissed all suchments.


    "Even dark wizards typically utter spells during duels, usingnguage to channel emotions and thereby enhance the power of their spells," Snape said mockingly. "Hence, silencing an opponent''s speech is quite necessary."


    In fact, Felix Harp had once privately suggested to Snape to switch to non-verbal spells, but his proposal was rejected.


    "The Tongue-Lock Hex attaches the tongue to the roof of the mouth; it''s not as gentle as non-verbal spells, and that''s precisely what I intended," Snape said. He had developed this spell independently during his school days, and judging by its practical results, he was quite satisfied with it.


    On the other hand, the Iron Armor Charm, taught by Professor Lupin, was much more advanced, beyond the grasp of many younger students.


    Even Harry and Hermione hadn''t seeded once.


    But it was a spell capable of deflecting various curses and, more uniquely...


    Professor Lupin had said, "The Iron Armor Charm can ward off both magical and physical attacks. Perhaps this is the most practical defensive spell you''ll encounter during your schooling."


    The new Dark Arts Defense professor, Damocles Belby, also taught a highly useful spell in ss - the Sensory Enhancement Charm. This spell heightened students'' senses, something Flitwick had mentioned during the dueling lessons.


    "You can use it to sense danger approaching, especially in perilous environments."


    He conjured a patch of ck mist with magic. "Let''s assume it''ste at night - that''s when Red Caps and other magical creatures prefer tounch attacks. If you were out in the wilderness, do you remember what to do?"


    The young wizards began discussing animatedly.


    Belby nodded and added, "Maintain vignce... all-around protection... thief''s perception... it''s best to add a Muggle-repelling charm as well. Of course, you might not be able to do all of this now, but it doesn''t hurt to remember this knowledge."


    He then had the young wizards step into the mist one by one, attempting to evade the Red Caps'' attacks.


    "I''ve scattered some leaves and branches on the ground. Stay focused, and you''ll sense danger beforehand."


    However, the reality was that only a few could sense the Red Caps and counterattack in advance. Most young wizards were pushed out of the mist by rubber wands.


    Thankfully, though somewhat disheveled, none of the young wizards were harmed.


    Harry had always been curious about why these two Red Caps worked so well together. Later, Professor Belby exined that he had fed them numerous nutrient potions. "They enjoy the taste of blood, especially that of magical creatures, and I happen to have plenty of it..." Now, these two Red Caps could barely be considered his assistants.


    Unbeknownst to them, Dueling and the new Dark Arts Defense ss had seamlessly integrated into the lives of young wizards, subtly reshaping the entire school. The most visible manifestation of this was the fact that many students enjoyed ying dueling games in the corridors after ss.


    However, the fate of these students wasn''t very pleasant¡ªFilch caught arge number of them.


    For a few days, the gemstones of the Gryffindor House Cup fell ttering to the ground, and Professor McGonagall''s expression nearly scared the Gryffindors to death.


    It wasn''t just Gryffindor; students from the other three houses were also caught.


    During this period, there was an abundance of students engaged in detention tasks. Snape took a group to handle potion ingredients, Professor Sprout took some to tend to nts, Hagrid even approached Professor McGonagall and enlisted a few young witchlings to care for the soon-to-be-born unicorns.


    Even Professor McGonagall couldn''t escape the trend. She had the remaining students participate in testing an improved version of the ''Answering Parchment.''


    After the painful lessons, the young wizards of Hogwarts finally realized that casting spells in the corridors was incredibly foolish. They chose to use abandoned ssrooms, the edge of the ck Lake, the courtyards, and hidden corners...


    Just like now, Harry was coaching Neville on the Disarming Charm.


    Neville''s face turned red as he struggled to cast the spell. Eventually, after countless attempts, a very delicate red light shot out of his wand.


    "Brilliant! You did it, Neville!" Harry eximed.


    Hermione and the others sitting on the grass apuded, and in the distance, a few Gryffindor whistles could be heard.


    Neville''s face flushed with red, and he wanted to say something, but all he managed was scratching his head and smiling happily.


    Back on the open ground, the group started chatting.


    Ron mentioned news he had gotten from the twins, "The new version of the ''Answering Parchment'' is almostplete, and many of the features we discussed are in it."


    Among the six present, four had participated in the initial testing¡ªexcept for Harry and Neville. They were all very interested in the topic, as it was rumored that the new educational tool would be applied to seventh-year students.


    "What new features does it have?" Harry asked with curiosity.


    "The most significant is probably the leaderboard," Ron replied without hesitation. "I hope to see Gryffindor above Slytherin, ideally in first ce, but that''s not very realistic. The Ravenw bookworms will definitely have the upper hand..."


    "Ron!" Ginny scolded him, ring. She herself was a Ravenw.


    "Uh..." Ron muttered, "Sorry."


    Luna, with an expressionless face, pulled out a very exquisite wand from her pocket. She pointed it at Ron''s face dramatically.


    "Oh, Luna," Harry intervened, thinking Luna was about to cast a hex on Ron.


    But in the next moment, Luna''s wand emitted a piercing screech and transformed into arge rubber mouse.


    Ron''s expression became quiteical; one eyebrow furrowed deeply while the other seemed like it was about to fly off his forehead.


    Luna burst into exaggeratedughter, pointing at his face, and even Ginny and Hermione burst into giggles, copsing onto the grass.


    Neville struggled to suppress hisughter, but he couldn''t hold it in, emitting a series of muffled chuckles.


    "Well, that''s quite amusing," Ron grumbled, watching Luna pound the ground with her fist.


    Hermione held the tail of the rubber mouse, looking at it in amazement as it transformed back into a wand. "What is this?"


    Ginny got up from the ground, wiping away tears ofughter. "It''s a prank item Fred and George created, they call it the ''False Wand.'' But, they must have developed it recently... How did you get hold of this?" She looked at her friend.


    "I... Haha! Bought it from them... ten silver sickles," Luna gasped for breath as she spoke.


    "How do you use this thing?" Harry asked with interest.


    "Infuse... infuse it with magic."


    Harry took the False Wand and attempted to infuse it with magic. Amidst the screech, it transformed back into a rubber mouse.


    Ron poked it with his finger, saying with some distaste, "It''s nowhere near as good as Scabbers."


    Harry gazed at the ck Lake where arge dark tentacle of an unknown creature asionally emerged. A gentle breeze ruffled his hair, and he felt remarkably at ease.


    The events of the Chamber of Secrets and the battle with the serpent seemed like a distant memory.


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 Chapter 126: The Enchanting Quill

    Chapter 126: The Enchanting Quill


    In the afternoon, Harry followed the team to the Quidditch pitch for training.


    During the short Christmas break, Wood had devised three targeted tactics to counter the new characteristics and strategies exhibited by other houses this year.


    The others returned to the castle to do their homework.


    As evening approached, the Ancient Runes office.


    Felix Harp was inspecting Hermione''s progress in her studies. Lately, she had been dedicating herself to refining and upgrading the spellwork for the bead pouch.


    "You''ve mastered all the enchantments needed to upgrade the bead pouch. The next step is crucial¡ªlearning how to construct magical circuits," Felix exined.


    "Professor, where does the difference lie?" Hermione inquired.


    "Individually inscribing enchantments is rtively simple, but when connecting them into a circuit, you must consider the overall stability and bnce of the runes. This truly tests yourmand over magic," Felix said, his fingers flicking through the air to form a string of letters. These letters were arranged in three rows, with subtle differences in brightness and size for each row.


    "If these were enchantments youpleted at different times, the brightness represents the amount of magic you infused," he continued.


    Hermione observed the letters. Then, under Professor Harp''s control, they rearranged themselves into a line.


    The realigned letters appeared disorderly, with bright and dim,rge and small runes mixed together, creating a chaotic and awkward appearance.


    In an instant, she understood what Professor Harp meant by "stability and bnce" ¡ª each rune within the circuit required consistent magical energy.


    "Even slight discrepancies in magical energy can render the circuit ineffective," Felix exined.


    "Professor, what should I do then?"


    "There are two approaches. The first is to write the enchantments all at once, in one go. Your magical energy will tend to be more consistent, but of course, it still requires a lot of practice."


    "But with this method, you need to adjust the structure of the runes actively, performing subtle deformations... which isn''t something you''re capable of doing at this point."


    "But wouldn''t doing that make the enchantments themselves malfunction?" Hermione asked in surprise. All the information she had encountered emphasized writing enchantments in a strict and unchanging manner.


    "That''s the intriguing part of it," Felix provided an example. "This process is somewhat like transitioning from individual letters to forming words. When we learn letters, we strive for standards and norms, but when it''s time tobine letters into words, we make subtle adjustments to ensure the writing is fluid and aesthetically pleasing."


    "This method challenges your understanding of runes," Felix added subtly.


    To put it inly, if you don''t deeply understand runes, it''s best not to dabble in these tricks.


    Hermione nodded with a mixture of understanding and uncertainty.


    "There are some techniques involved here as well, but we''ll discuss thoseter. The second method involvespleting individual runes and then extracting magical lines from them, connecting them one by one to form a closed and stable circuit."


    This method was something Hermione had seen a few times before, so it wasn''t unfamiliar to her.


    "Let''s give it a try¡ª"


    Felix and Hermione approached the workbench, taking out several pieces of chestnut wood.


    He opened a delicate tool box, inside of which were arranged seven different-sized engraving knives made of various materials - metal, wood, and some whose material couldn''t be discerned.


    "Are these professional magical tools? Where can one buy them?" The young witch couldn''t help but ask.


    In her mind, these engraving knives had already be as synonymous with magic as wands, essential tools for her to study Ancient Runes.


    As a result, Professor Harp, with a slightly amused expression, said, "These are ones I crafted myself, well... except for the metal one."


    He didn''t rush to continue the previous topic, instead cing each knife in front of her one by one.


    "First, I must remind you that engraving runes doesn''t have specific tool requirements. Engraving knives, wands, or even fingers can be used. What''s important is magic and your understanding of runes. But¡ª"


    "If there are more convenient tools avable, why refuse them?" Hermione nodded, understanding. Just like some wizards skilled in wandless magic, they never refused to use wands. Tools could assist them in achieving finer operations.


    Laid out before her were a total of seven engraving knives.


    The first was a metal engraving knife. Its silver-white de had a streamlined shape with a noticeable curve at the grip, and the tip of the knife seemed to be made of a different metal.


    Felix said, "I purchased this one from a micro-carver merchant. Afterparing various options, I found this metal material to be the least resistant to magic."


    Hermione took the engraving knife; it seemed somewhat heavy, but surprisingly light.


    "As I''ve told you, there''s no single form for engraving runes. You can use writing to leave runes on the surface of objects, or you can use carving to leave marks on materials."


    He picked up a piece of chestnut wood, infused magic into the metal engraving knife, and the tip of the metal engraving knife emitted a small but hot red light, leaving a rune on the chestnut wood.


    "Look, its surface isn''t t."


    Hermione touched the surface of the rune with her fingertip and could distinctly feel the indentation on the chestnut wood - this was the mark left by the metal engraving knife.


    "This method is especially suitable for inert magical materials, like Muggle items, ordinary stones, or even the scales of some magical creatures."


    Hermione began to understand. For inert magical materials, maintaining magical energy wasn''t easy; thus, leaving marks through carving could strengthen the form of the runes.


    "In fact," Felix added, "this process is separate - carving and infusing magic. I''ve just be very skilled atbining these two steps, but when you practice, you should do them separately."


    One of his hidden cards, the ''Felix''s Wisdom Tooth,'' was aplished in this way.


    Hermione nodded.


    Felix then produced five wooden engraving knives in session. They looked somewhat like alternative wands. Hermione had seen twin imitation wands during the day and was quite impressed.


    "These knives are made from the same materials as wands, and their inherent qualities are simr to when they were crafted into wands." Felix pointed to each one in turn -


    "Yew Wood Engraving Knife, not easy for beginners to handle. It''s extremely sensitive to magic, maybe overly so. But once you master it, it will quickly adapt to the owner''s magic, bing extremely personalized, and no one else will be able to use it;"


    "ckthorn Wood Engraving Knife, excels in engraving offensive runes. Of course, mastering it isn''t easy; it will harmonize well with an owner who has the courage to be themselves and not follow the crowd;"


    "Red Oak Wood Engraving Knife, personally, I believe it has a certain level of memory. Once you''re skilled, it will guide you proactively inpleting runes;"


    "Chestnut Wood Engraving Knife, a favorite of beginners, no particr preference, of course, no additional attributes either;"


    "Laurel Wood Engraving Knife, well, I''m not very fond of this type. You have to use it regrly, or else, after a long time, it might unleash a lightning attack at you when you infuse it with magic..."


    After Felix finished exining, Hermione curiously picked up these knives, looking at them repeatedly. The more she looked, the more she liked them. She cheerfully said, "Professor, when can I have a knife like this? I mean... I''m willing to pay, of course..."


    "You don''t need to worry about these for now. The chestnut wood engraving knife is here for you to practice with." Felix said, "Wait a few years; you''ll need to think about getting a dedicated engraving knife then."


    "Oh, by the way, what material is your wand made of?" Felix asked.


    "It''s vine wood," Hermione said, "with a dragon heartstring core, twelve and three-fourths inches."


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 Chapter 127: Wands and Wizards

    Chapter 127: Wands and Wizards


    "Fir vine wood?" Felix Harp repeated, and the young witch noticed that Professor Harp''s expression seemed to momentarily freeze.


    "Not bad," he offered in a brief assessment.


    Felix exined, "From my personal experience, a wand-carving knife is simr to a wand itself. So, aside from using chestnut wood for the knife, it''s best to select a knife that matches the material of your own wand."


    "Like me, I find ebony wood carving knife mostfortable."


    Hermione''s face lit up with realization. She quietly thought to herself, vine wood, the top choice for her personal carving knife.


    However, this also piqued her curiosity. When purchasing a wand, Ollivander had said that the wand chooses the wizard, not the other way around. And now, Professor Harp was giving simr advice. Was there a secret behind all this?


    She voiced her question to Professor Harp.


    Felix pondered and replied, "There''s truth in that statement. Ollivanders never makes custom wands, which means young wizards must adapt to the traits of their wands."


    "So, the wands we have are only roughly matched to us?" Hermione grasped the essence of his message.


    "You could interpret it that way, but don''t worry. For the vast majority of wizards, there''s no need to consider such subtle differences," Felix said. "It''s an interesting question though. You can go to the library, research and see what your friends'' wands are like and what traits they represent."


    Hermione was genuinely intrigued. This blend of satisfying her thirst for knowledge and indulging in a bit of gossip was utterly irresistible.


    "Professor, do you have any book rmendations?" the young witch inquired. She had grown ustomed to asking Professor Harp for reading lists; each time, she received precise suggestions.


    As expected¡ª


    "Hmm¡­ I remember the library has a book called ''Wands and Wizards.'' It covers over a hundred renowned wizards and their wands," Felix said.


    Hermione murmured to herself and jotted down the title.


    "Alright, moving on to the seventh carving knife," Felix redirected the conversation back on track.


    The young witch gazed at the final carving knife. It was thin, almost dagger-like, a chilling pale color that resembled the teeth of some creature. Astonished, she said, "This is¡­ a snake creature''s fang?"


    "Correct, I stumbled upon the idea of using parts of magical creatures to craft wand-carving knives under unusual circumstances," Felix chuckled. "It was just an experiment."


    Hermione felt that the material was rather sinister. Could the runic carvings carry snake venom or curses by themselves?


    So, she asked Felix, "What are its effects?"


    Felix made a thoughtful sound and offered vague remarks like "opening up new avenues" and "I might try a unicorn horn next time." Wisely, Hermione didn''t press for more details.


    After spending some time exining the concept of ''wand-carving knives,'' a concept Professor Harp had developed, the two of them finally returned to the initial topic¡ªthe distinction between individual runes and runic circuits.


    Felix gathered the other knives and left only the ebony and chestnut wood carving knives. He handed the chestnut wood knife to Hermione.


    Hermione carefully examined the knife in her hand, realizing that this carving knife would apany her for a long time.


    Its color resembled a light coffee shade, with an even and tight texture, adorned by straight, slender lines that looked much like the patterns on rainstone.


    Then she turned her gaze to the knife in Felix''s hand¡ª


    Professor Harp''s ebony wood carving knife was meticulously selected, much like his wand, free from any impurities.


    It was a pure, profound ck, its surface gleaming with a subdued sheen, conveying an extremely weighty and unyielding texture.


    Felix Harp picked up a thin slice of chestnut wood and said to Hermione, "Whether it''s a wand-material carving knife or a piece of chestnut wood, they are both quite friendly to magic. So, engraving runes is more like writing an essay."


    He delicately held the knife and smoothly inscribed a string of runes. A red glow radiated from the ck de''s tip, and when Felix lifted the knife, the fiery runes had quietly extinguished, leaving behind ck marks.


    "There are two ways to write runic circuits: in one go, or step by step," he exined.


    "This is the first way."


    He then took another piece of chestnut wood, writing down individual runes one by one and showed it to Hermione. Carefully, he drew lines, connecting the runes together.


    Hermione held both pieces of chestnut wood,paring them.


    To her, the former resembled cursive writing, elegant and flowing, though it sacrificed the distinctiveness of individual letters. Thetter appeared more like orderly printed text, except mischievous children had connected the letters with crayons. Compared to the pleasing aesthetics of the former, it resembled subpar scribbles, causing her to furrow her brow involuntarily.


    But Felix told her, "You need to master this one." He pointed to thebination he referred to as ''printed text + scribbles.''


    "Your beaded bag requires three sets of runic circuits. I will exin how they are connected."


    Felix snapped his fingers lightly, and their consciousness entered a mental space.


    Since the beginning of term, he had grown increasingly adept at this magic.


    This seemed to align with Snape''s theory¡ªthat self-invented magic naturally bes more powerful.


    ...


    On Sunday morning, Harry yawned as he left the dormitory. He saw Ginny and Ron sitting next to Hermione, engrossed in something.


    "Morning," he greeted. He had practiced Quidditch untilte the previous night, so he was a bit sleep-deprived.


    Harry pulled out his Potions homework from his bag, but his thoughts were scattered.


    A few minutester, he finally noticed the oddity of the three across from him. "What are you all up to?"


    Hermione was intently writing on a thin wooden board¡ªHarry had initially mistaken it for parchment and double-checked.


    The tool in her hand was peculiar too, somewhat like a quill but resembled a miniature wand.


    But Hermione clearly didn''t have time to answer him. Harry looked to Ron.


    Ron whispered to him, "It''s magical looping."


    Ginny contradicted him, "No, it''s runic circuits."


    Ron shrugged, "Close enough," he exined to Harry, "You know, for fixing her beaded bag."


    He looked over to the other side of the table. Hermione was sketching an oddly-shaped pattern on the thin board; from his angle, it vaguely resembled a giant squid in the ck Lake.


    A red light flowed continuously from the ''quill tip,'' she was writing slowly, and the initial strokes had already cooled into ck.


    "Phew," Hermione exhaled deeply, wiping the sweat off her face.


    "How''s it going? Did you seed?" Harry asked, very interested, although he still wasn''t quite sure what she was working on.


    But Harry figured he might end up taking Ancient Runes next year.


    Hermione visibly rxed,zily saying, "I can never consistently infuse magic. The differences between individual runes are just too substantial."


    "I remember you saying your sess rate was around ny percent?" Harry inquired.


    "That''s for individual runes. Runic circuits are much more challenging..." She sighed.


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 Chapter 128: The Empty Castle

    Chapter 128: The Empty Castle


    A new week had begun, and young wizards found themselves surprised by the changes in their ssrooms.


    Charms ss.


    Professor Flitwick took out a stack of parchment and stood upon a pile of thick books. "Young wizards, today you will be introduced to a new instructional tool, and I believe many of you have heard of it..."


    Potions ss.


    In the fifth-year ssroom, Snape calmly gazed at the young wizards below. "For the sake of your OWLs scores, I need you to pay more attention to theory. I''ve said this many times."


    The young wizards resembled quails, not daring to utter a word.


    He suddenly raised his wand, and dozens of parchment sheets flew out like swift swords,nding before the young wizards one by one. Magical sparks danced upon the parchment, creating a spectacle.


    The well-informed young wizards couldn''t wait and pressed their wands against the parchment, eximing, "Secrets of Magical Script."


    Yet, the parchment remained still.


    Snape said in a deliberate tone, "Very well, Miss Campbell has given us an incorrect demonstration."


    Transfiguration ss.


    Professor McGonagall''s sharp gaze swept the room. "Several professors have put in significant effort. I hope you take this seriously."


    "Now, take out your wands and repeat after me: Magic''s mysteries, forever in my heart."


    The young wizards began chanting...


    Ancient Runes ss, sixth year.


    Felix Harp had a smile on his face. "You will find that the new version of the ''Answer Parchment'' has more functions."


    "Including the leaderboard you''ve all been eagerly anticipating."


    The young wizards couldn''t wait to try it out. Apart from the activation phrase departing from the realm of ''Ancient Runes,'' the scene also changed¡ª


    Across rolling mountain tops, a castle emerged and quickly advanced: the Great Hall, spiraling staircases, courtyards, towers, the library, the Forbidden Forest...


    It seemed to be the perspective of a neer entering Hogwarts, with simple lines outlining the most familiar scenes.


    This tableau froze upon Hogwarts Castle, with the banners of the four houses fluttering at the main gate¡ªthe serpent, the badger, the lion, and the eagle vividly depicted.


    When their gaze rested upon them, they''d notice the corresponding creatures moving¡ªslithering, standing tall, roaring, or soaring.


    The young wizards who had chosen Ancient Runes ss had longpleted their bindings, and now they looked at thetest interface.


    It was a top-down view of Hogwarts, with symbols twinkling amidst the clouds, each representing a different subject.


    For Ancient Runes, the symbol was a line of runic script, embodying the original incantation¡ª"Secrets of Magical Script."


    Representing Transfiguration was a fiery lion, its form in constant flux.


    For Potions, a boiling cauldron emitted hot steam ceaselessly churning...


    Apart from these symbols, the young wizards were most interested in the leaderboard feature.


    They carefully scanned, and to the right of their names on the parchment, a new symbol appeared¡ªa simple sketch of a magical scroll.


    With practiced motions, the young wizards tapped their wands on the scroll. A jackdaw with scythe-like wings swooped down, carrying the magical scroll to the center. It began to erge and slowly unfurl...


    At the top, a row of words appeared¡ªHouse, Year, Name (Codename), Subject, Challenge Level, Points¡ªin a total of six categories.


    Besides that, it remained empty above.


    Felix Harp looked at the group and exined, "There are a few points that you need to pay attention to."


    "The rankings on the leaderboard do not reflect your grades; they measure your umtion in this course. Several professors, including myself, believe this will help you find your interests early and benefit your future employment prospects."


    "In the leaderboard''s challenge section, corresponding subcategories can be found for each subject. Inside, you''ll find questions set by professors based on their expertise, with new content added at regr intervals."


    "I believe some of you have noticed that the leaderboard can be used with codenames and the option to hide your rank. This is designed for those who prefer not to stand out."


    The young wizards listened attentively.


    "Besides the leaderboard, there are two more areas you need to pay attention to: the section for incorrect answers is split into different subject categories, and you can preview or review subjects from other years, highlighting content marked by professors."


    "Now, as an example, let''s explore the specific functions with Ancient Runes..."


    ...


    As the weather grew warmer, Hogwarts enjoyed increasingly sunny days.


    Even after a day''s sses, the sun stubbornly held on to the horizon.


    In the castle corridors, Ron kept muttering under his breath, "Crazy, everyone''s gone crazy, not a single person..."


    Harry cast a sympathetic nce at him; Ron seemed just as out of sorts.


    With a parchment in his hand, he had been fixated on the rankings all the way¡ª


    On the second-year leaderboard, Hermione Granger held the first ce in all subjects. The highest level achieved in Charms was at level 37. Apart from this, he saw many familiar names: Cedric Diggory, Cho Chang, Percy Weasley, Penelope Clearwater...


    The castle was sparsely popted¡ªa mere smattering of people. Everyone was holed up in the library ormon rooms, engrossed in challenge games.


    Even they couldn''t stand the atmosphere of themon room; they came out to stroll around.


    Ron grumbled, "I can''t wrap my head around how ''challenge'' and ''game'' are connected."


    Harry said, "Give it a few days; people wille to their senses."


    Ron said something Harry fully agreed with, "Hermione definitely won''t. She''spletely absorbed."


    Harry and Ron had no intention of returning to themon room. They wandered the castle and soon bumped into familiar figures¡ª


    "Fred, George!"


    "Oh, it''s you two," said one of the twins.


    "Why are you out here? Shouldn''t you be in themon room ying the challenge game?"


    "That''s not for us," the twins grinned, "Today is a rare sight, so of course we want to remember it."


    "So, you''re night roaming? It''s way too early for this time..." Ron questioned curiously.


    "No, Percy''s confident he''ll take the top spot in sixth year, so we''re preparing some Butterbeer and Honeydukes candies," Fred said.


    "Exactly, whether it''s a sess or failure, it''s worth celebrating," George said, grinning mischievously.


    "So¡ªdo you n on sneaking out, using the secret passage to Hogsmeade? Can you take us along?" Ron asked, somewhat excitedly.


    Harry couldn''t help holding his breath.


    "George, we might''ve spilled the beans," Fred said.


    "It was you who spilled the beans," George retorted.


    "I agree, but we still need to do something about it," Fred winked.


    "Like... Obliviate?" George suggested knowingly.


    Instantly, the twins'' gazended on Ron.


    Ron swallowed hard and took two steps back.


    But the twins dashed away quickly. As they disappeared from their view, Harry and Ron could still hear theirughter.


    On the other end, Felix Harp also strolled through the castle. He entered the courtyard and saw a ghost floating quietly in the air, gazing at the verdant nts, lost in thought.


    "Lady Grey."


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 Chapter 129: Memories

    Chapter 129: Memories


    The ghost also caught sight of Felix Harp. She immediately seemed inclined to depart, but then, as if reconsidering something, she abruptly stayed put, though her expression took on a haughty demeanor.


    Felix stood by her side, saying, "Rarely does the castle offer such quietude."


    She arched an eyebrow in surprise, but quickly regained herposure. Following Felix''s gaze, she lifted her head, and her eyes reflected the reddish hues of the sunset glow.


    Neither of them spoke, silently gazing at the radiant orange hues that painted the horizon as the sun descended.


    Its radiance grew fainter and paler, fading gradually until thest gleam vanished, and dusk settled in.


    The ghost''s silver-white transparent form also dimmed, and Ms. Grey looked over, her expression softening.


    "I apologize for my rudenessst time," Felix said.


    She strove to maintain a calm tone, saying, "No, I was overly sensitive... I often lose my temper over trivial matters."


    The two conversed for several minutes, with Felix avoiding any discussions about Hogwarts history, Helena, Rowena Ravenw, or the Bloody Baron. They simply chatted about the weather, culture, and world events.


    "...The Magical Congress of the United States - simr to the Ministry of Magic here - has relocated at least five times for the sole purpose of evading Muggle scrutiny," Felix said.


    "Is that so? That organization didn''t exist in my time..."


    "Because the Magical Congress of the United States was founded just three centuries ago. Their wizards operate in utmost secrecy, and theirws are stringent, making them quite unfriendly to outsiders," Felix exined. "I believe it''s due to their history of nearly exposing the entire magical world on several asions."


    "The most controversial among these instances was the enactment of the Rappaport''s Law in thete 18th century. Thisw mandatedplete segregation between wizards and Muggles, sternly prohibiting any social interactions or marriages between them."


    Ms. Grey was intrigued and inquired for more details.


    "The clich¨¦d story of a witch falling for a handsome Muggle; however, sadly, he was a descendant of a witch-hunter, and the love was a conspiracy from the start..."


    Hogwarts gradually darkened, shrouding Felix Harp and Ms. Grey''s figures in darkness.


    "...Until the end, the Magical Congress of the United States couldn''t ensure the obliteration of all rted memories. To prevent such urrences, thisw came into being."


    Felix''s tale came to an end.


    Ms. Grey drifted away, seemingly captivated, leaving the scene.


    ...


    Felix returned to his office, reorganizing recent pressing matters:


    Conversations with Dobby once again;


    Discarding the diary, restoring Hagrid''s honor;


    Remaining tasks were less important orcked time constraints, likeposing a new book, researching ancient magic, investigating the Room of Requirement, crafting snake-skin armor, learning Memory Charms, and more.


    And Memory Charms...


    Felix Harp suddenly became intrigued, ready to attempt once more the operation he had oncepleted.


    He pointed his wand at the cup with intricate silver patterns before him, and in a twist of distortion, it swiftly transformed into a small squirrel.


    "Um..."


    Subsequently, he constructed a memory fragment in his own mind, the tip of his wand touching his forehead, extracting delicate silver threads.


    Silver threads floated above his palm, emitting silver light akin to starlight.


    Carefully, Felix integrated the memory fragment into the small squirrel¡ª


    Its expression became animated, the squirrel lifted its head, its tiny ck eyes fixated on him.


    "Do you have anything to say?" Felix asked in a hushed tone.


    He knew it wouldn''t speak, as the memory contained non-verbal information. Yet, it was a sort of signal, and the squirrel began to act. It scampered around on the table, swiftly returning with a feathered quill in its mouth.


    Felix rapped the table again; it dashed to the other side of the table, this time bringing back a piece of parchment.


    "Very well."


    He nodded, then quietly observed. Apart from infusing this memory with twomands, he also incorporated some of what he understood about the squirrel''s behavior.


    For instance, at this moment, the squirrel concealed itself within its fluffy tail, cautiously peeking out with its ck eyes fixed on him.


    After about seven or eight minutes, its expression lost its vivacity.


    Felix waved his wand, returning it to a cup adorned with silver patterns.


    He plunged into contemtion, the office bing profoundly quiet.


    After a while, a new inspiration struck him¡ª


    Felix softly uttered, "Herald''s Guard."


    A small, silver swiftlet emerged from his wand, circling around the office. Its speed was remarkable, leaving faint traces of silver in its wake visible only to its master.


    The dim silver glow made the room exquisite, and finally, itnded lightly before Felix.


    "What if I infuse a portion of memory into the guardian? What effect might that produce?"


    Felix thought this way, and he acted ordingly, blending a memory of the same hue into the swiftlet''s form.


    In his anticipatory gaze, the guardian quietly shattered.


    This was entirely unexpected, why did it happen?


    He soon remembered the description of the guardian: a reflection of one''s most positive emotions. Spellcasters must concentrate on the happiest memories they could recall. And practically, the stronger the joy memory brought, the more potent the spell''s effect.


    The key word here was ''memory''.


    The guardian wasposed of pure, joyful memories, and Felix had just injected a new memory¡ªakin to impurities. Consequently, the magic dispersed instantly.


    Felix shook his head, "I thought I could utilize the guardian, along with the newly injected memory, to achieve a more stable transformation structure."


    ording to his notion, the guardian could serve as a means ofmunication, capable of distance from the wizard. If it was given sufficiently flexible memories, could it function as an ''alternate self'' roaming the outside world?


    This bore resemnce to what he had seen in Rowena Ravenw''s manuscript.


    Whether the guardian magic itself or the infused memory fragments, both depended entirely on the wizard. There was no need to worry about it spiraling out of control.


    In fact, ording to his idea, the ultimate form of this magic could directly carry his consciousness, allowing him to remain at the school while his guardian moved in the wizarding world, aplishing simple tasks.


    Such as gathering information, querying messages...


    Felix already had certain ns for this aspect, involving magical contracts, utilizing the Room of Requirement, although there was currently no trace of sess. Nheless, he could strive in that direction.


    Yet, everything was halted at the first step¡ª


    One was pure and joyous memories, the other, emotionless memory fragments; these two were inherently conflicting.


    How to solve this problem, after all?


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 Chapter 130: The Chamber of Ravenclaw

    Chapter 130: The Chamber of Ravenw


    Felix Harp continued pondering over the question well into the next day.


    He had just returned from the Room of Requirement, that ce where wishes came true. In this hidden chamber, he had attempted various methods to reconcile these two unrted memories, but all his efforts had met with failure.


    And so, Felix turned his attention to studying the Room of Requirement itself. He paced back and forth across from the tapestry of the ''Giant Club Bashes Simpleton Babanba'' on the eighth floor, silently invoking various needs in his mind.


    He had previously researched this enigmatic room, but always with his own needs in mind. Besides truly oundish requests, most conventional and magically usible demands were met.


    Thus, he decided to approach the Room of Requirement from someone else''s perspective.


    Starting with a simple notion of ''hiding things,'' he explored various possibilities, even bringing the professors into the mix.


    For instance¡ª


    "I want to enter the ce where Severus Snape hides things¡­"


    Naturally, there was no response.


    It seemed that Professor Snape during his student days did not have a habit of carrying contraband around, Felix thought with a hint of amusement.


    Felix found delight in this ''game''¡ªit gave him a sense of temporal dislocation, like conversing with a younger acquaintance. He tirelessly experimented, this time anchoring his thoughts on the headmaster of Hogwarts¡ª


    "The room where Albus Dumbledore hides things."


    "The room where Albus Dumbledore practices magic."


    "The luxurious bedroom Albus Dumbledore slept in."


    "Thevatory Albus Dumbledore used."


    Felix was about to move on to the next topic when, quite abruptly, a door materialized on the wall.


    This double-door, ornately decorated with various golden reliefs and designs, appeared quite grand.


    "What did I just say?" Felix momentarily puzzled, then promptly pushed the doors open and walked in.


    Inside was an exceedingly opulentvatory, adorned with a variety of exquisite and luxurious chamber pots.


    Felix silently retreated.


    He hesitated whether to continue, but at that moment, amotion sounded nearby. In his line of sight, Terry Boot appeared around the corner, dragging a box.


    The box emitted a tinkling sound of clinking ss, quite distinct in the corridor.


    Terry wasn''t adorned with those mysterious trinkets this time; instead, she wore a crumpled nightgown and her hair was haphazardly tied up, giving her a disheveled look.


    She spotted Felix too.


    Terry''s expression shifted from confusion to sudden rm, yet she struggled to maintain a calm tone. "It''s good to see you here, Felix. Destiny has brought us together on this morning."


    "So, you made no preparations and disapprove of fate''s arrangement?" Felix gestured towards her attire.


    Defiantly, Terry retorted, "Don''t talk nonsense about destiny!"


    "Alright, aside from destiny bringing us together, do you n on doing something else?" His gaze settled on the box, which held seven or eight bottles of sherry.


    "Oh! I, I thought I could¡­ perhaps store some unused items on the side."


    A silence descended upon them.


    Felix felt she was quite eager to escape, and he had no desire to linger either, but there was still one question to address.


    "Do you know about the Room of Requirement?"


    "What? Oh, right," she casually remarked, "I use it to store things. Honestly, my office is a bit cramped, and my sry hasn''t seen an increase these past years..."


    Felix Harp promptly took his leave.


    After leaving the eighth floor, Felix hurried to the Great Hall for breakfast, then managed his time to reach the Ancient Runes ssroom.


    Along the way, his thoughts swirled¡ªsometimes pondering memory magic, other times the Room of Requirement.


    "Hey, watch out, Miss Lovegood."


    From the corner of his eye, he glimpsed a figure approaching. He sidestepped to make way.


    It was Luna Lovegood, holding a piece of parchment, intently focused on it. But Felix noticed that the parchment was upside down in her hands.


    "It''s you, Professor Harp." She looked up, her eyes wide as she gazed at him. "I''m pleased to see you."


    "Likewise, Miss Lovegood," Felix answered helplessly; this was the second time today he''d heard this phrase from someone familiar.


    She waved the parchment in her hand. "I''m looking at the leaderboard, and I won''t run into anyone, don''t worry," she said.


    Felix was taken aback. He had been about to remind this young girl, and now he had to shift topics. "Anything interesting?"


    "Indeed, quite interesting..." Luna disyed the parchment to him¡ªstill upside down¡ªand chirped, "From this angle, here," her finger traced an arc on the paper, "connecting the letters of Ravenw''s name, doesn''t it look like an eagle?"


    "Hmm..." Felix carefully examined it, taking a good half-minute before he said, "It certainly does."


    Luna''s face lit up with a smile.


    ''A girl with an unusual way of thinking, truly fitting of Ravenw.''


    Felix watched her as she walked away, lost in thought.


    ...


    As he stood at the podium, looking at the fourth-year young wizards, getting ready to begin the lesson, a spark of insight suddenly shed¡ª


    He had harbored a question all along: Who created the Room of Requirement?


    Even he couldn''t fathom the entire room''s construction, could an ordinary wizard achieve that? But Hogwarts had existed for a millennium, fostering numerous exceptional wizards; he couldn''t say for sure if such an individual existed.


    So, this doubt had once been set aside.


    But now, he suddenly zeroed in on someone¡ªRowena Ravenw.


    Could it have been her who established the Room of Requirement?


    Looking from this perspective, many things fell into ce¡ª


    The magical supply of the Room of Requirement was directly linked to Hogwarts, and Rowena Ravenw was one of the founders, naturally having that authority;


    The Room of Requirement had no fixed form, constantly changing to suit the needs of the seeker, surely involving powerful memory and transfiguration magic;


    And from the manuscripts Felix had seen, Rowena Ravenw indeed fit this criterion.


    Moreover, for a millennium, the legends of the hidden chambers were most famous among Slytherin and Ravenw. The Slytherin''s Chamber had already been found, but what about Ravenw''s?


    The young wizards in the audience saw Professor Harp, smiling as if he were about to start ss, but he suddenly fell silent.


    "Professor Harp?" a brave young wizard dared to ask.


    "Oh?" Felix snapped back to reality, suppressing his doubts. He addressed the young wizards, saying, "Now, let''s begin today''s lesson..."


    "Please turn to page 147 of your textbooks."


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 Chapter 131: Helena Ravenclaw

    Chapter 131: Helena Ravenw


    After finishing today''s lesson, Felix Harp set aside ample time for questions.


    "Professor, how do we pass the seventh challenge of Ancient Runes?" a Slytherin wizard raised his hand to ask.


    "Monty, I remember I marked hints on the level?" Felix blinked.


    "But Professor, you just wrote down a book title," he said somewhat aggrieved, "and it''s a book we haven''t read."


    Other young wizards chimed in with their discussions.


    "Ahem!" Felix cleared his throat and, as they looked his way, conjured a piece of parchment like a magician. "In fact, you were supposed to have read it."


    "This book, ''Simplified Ancient Runes,'' appeared three times in yourst year''s paper reference lists... Should I remind you which ones?"


    The young wizards stared at him like statues, their discussion silenced.


    "Pr-Professor, you weren''t herest year?"


    Felix casually replied, "Professor Babbling and I corresponded through letters. She told me about the archive of past materials." He looked somewhat nostalgic, gazing at the students below. "She truly is a dedicated professor, isn''t she?"


    ...


    That night, Felix stood in front of the Room of Requirement.


    During the day, he had suddenlye up with a conjecture: that the Room of Requirement was the chamber of Rowena Ravenw. But whether this idea was correct needed to be verified.


    Behind him hung a massive tapestry of a Bandon Banshee attempting to teach a troll ballet. One troll had halted its brutal ballet instructor and was now turning its head to observe Felix.


    A bug crawled up the troll''s foot and into its nostril, prompting a soundless roar. The troll''s club soared high into the air and crashed onto the head of another troll.


    But all this had nothing to do with Felix. In his mind, he silently repeated, "I must enter the chamber of Rowena Ravenw... I must enter the chamber of Rowena Ravenw..."


    He walked past this spot three times, his heartbeat uncontrobly quickening. Then, he looked up¡ªthe ordinary white wall still stretched ahead.


    Felix fell silent. "Right, I don''t actually know what''s inside, do I?"


    Though the password for the Room of Requirement was simple, it wasn''t something you could easily finesse.


    He pondered for a moment, then repeated silently, "I must enter the Room of Requirement in its original form... I must enter the Room of Requirement in its original form..."


    Still, there was no change.


    Next, Felix thought about how Slytherin''s chamber was originally used for teaching. So, he tried, "I must enter the ce where Rowena Ravenw secretly educated students...¡± Or perhaps, "I must enter Rowena Ravenw''sboratory."


    Yet, no doorway appeared.


    With a sigh, Felix had no choice but to leave. But over the next few days, he kept trying to link the Room of Requirement with Rowena Ravenw. He exhausted almost every possibility, but gained nothing.


    Just as he was about to give up, on a Friday evening in the courtyard, he bumped into Lady Gray for the third time this week. They chatted casually, watching the sunset together.


    In his heart, Lady Gray was a somewhat proud, dignified woman with a kind heart. Setting aside some minor scheming, chatting with her was very enjoyable.


    "So beautiful," Lady Gray said.


    "You rarely look up at the sunset, do you?" Felix Harp interjected.


    "Rarely," she hesitated for a moment, but they were already quite familiar with each other. She continued, "It reminds me of some sad things..."


    Felix didn''t inquire further; he simply sealed his lips shut.


    Both of them gazed at the dazzling red sky, where several rays of light pierced through the clouds, lining the edges with a golden hue.


    "Can you keep a secret for me?" she suddenly said.


    "Yes, I can." He didn''t make a promise, but calmly replied.


    Lady Gray believed him, and as she opened up, she said with a touch of mncholy, "I died amidst a scene like this."


    With her first words said with difficulty, it seemed like a dam had broken, and she continued, "It was around this time, but in a deste ce in the Albanian forest. I thought... my mother couldn''t reach me there."


    Felix listened silently. He knew what woulde next.


    It was a tragedy, a tragedy that shaped the Hogwarts Lady Gray and the Blood Baron.


    "I was exceptionally gifted from a young age, part of the top tier. I grew up amidst people''s praise, year after year, I lost my headpletely... but when I grew older, I realized no matter how hard I tried, I couldn''t surpass my mother. So¡ª"


    "I stole my mother''s diadem because it bestowed wisdom. I fantasized that with the diadem, I could surpass her."


    Her transparent form started to tremble.


    "They said," she choked up, "my mother never acknowledged the diadem was missing. She always pretended it was still there. She even hid her loss from the other Hogwarts founders, concealed my shameful betrayal."


    "Later, my mother fell ill¡ªvery ill. Even though I had done something ungrateful and unjust, she still desperately wanted to see me one more time. She sent a man to find me. But I refused him, I thought he was deceiving me, conspiring with my mother to deceive me. She had already taken that step, how could she fall ill?"


    Felix calmly stated, "It was the Blood Baron."


    "Yes, him. I wouldn''t go back with him, and he became furious¡ªjust like he always did. Dark magic had consumed him entirely."


    Felix listened quietly.


    "We had a fierce confrontation, and no one could have foreseen the consequences... he stabbed me with a sword. I fell to the ground, and all I saw was this twilight scene..."


    She lifted her head, watching thest rays of light descend.


    After a long silence¡ª


    Felix asked, "Do you hate him, the Blood Baron?"


    "Do I hate him?! He ruined me, my magic, my life, everything!" she angrily eximed.


    Helena Ravenw took a deep breath, raised her head, her expression unreadable.


    "And," she said softly, "just before I died, I asked him if what he said was true. About my mother..."


    "He told me everything was true, that my mother was truly gravely ill. He deprived me of the chance to see my mother onest time, the only chance I had for redemption! You ask if I hate him? My answer is, of course, I do!" She suddenly lost control and shouted.


    She was about to float away, but her hand was caught. Helena Ravenw turned around in astonishment, her furious expression softening a bit.


    Felix''s hand was enveloped in a faint bluish cold light, gripping hers tightly.


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 Chapter 132: Choices

    Chapter 132: Choices


    "Hermione... What kind of magic is this?" Helena''s expression was truly remarkable.


    "It''s a form of Memory Magic," exined Felix Harp, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "Can it stay for a while? Honestly, I''m not yet adept at this magic."


    She paused.


    Felix''s head was spinning a bit. He had just conjured a vast amount of memories in an instant, then brought them forth all at once, leaving his mind quite heavy.


    Helena looked at him with concern.


    Felix took a few deep breaths, feeling much better. He said to Helena, "We''re friends, aren''t we?"


    "Of course."


    "Forgive my audacity, madam. From your story, it seems that more than hating others, you... hate yourself."


    Her expression turned suddenly solemn, and she slightly turned, half her face cast in shadow.


    Felix carefully continued, "Why did you be a ghost? Was it out of fear of death? From what I''ve gathered in our interactions, I don''t believe that''s the case. What truly troubles you is the guilt you can''t release, the guilt you carry toward your mother."


    With a deeply serious expression, he added, "The Bloody Baron has carried his chains for a thousand years. In a way, aren''t you shackled too? I hope you can try to forgive yourself..."


    Night draped the castle, following a long silence¡ª


    "Those who could forgive me have long disappeared, by the third day of my transformation into a ghost," Helena said icily and turned, drifting away.


    This time, Felix didn''t intervene.


    ...


    The birth of a ghost is rooted in obsessions, and the thoughts at the moment of death are the most brilliant and intense. Therefore, the obsessions of most ghosts stem from a fear of death and a desire to escape it.


    Cases like Helena, the Bloody Baron, and Professor Binns are rare.


    For Helena, her obsession is filled with regret and remorse¡ªregret for her ignorance leading to a grave mistake, regret for not believing the Bloody Baron''s words, the guilt of not seeing her mother onest time, not apologizing in person...


    That evening, he stood before the white walls of the Room of Requirement.


    Through his conversation with Helena Ravenw, he suddenly considered an angle he had never thought of before.


    He silently repeated to himself, "I need to find the room Rowena Ravenw left for her daughter, Helena Ravenw... I need to find the room Rowena Ravenw left for her daughter, Helena Ravenw... I need to find the room Rowena Ravenw left for her daughter, Helena Ravenw..."


    Would it work? In theory, there shouldn''t be such a loophole...


    Felix slowly opened his eyes. A in blue door materialized before him, its outline drawn on the white wall.


    On the door, a silvery-white handle jutted out.


    Felix ced his hand on the doorknob, but at that moment, he hesitated.


    After a pause, he firmly pushed the door open.


    Inside was a quite simple room, notrge, with a few basic tables and chairs, several potted nts, books¡ªa ce untouched by dust, exuding a sense of tranquility and warmth.


    "Is someone here?" he inquired.


    A long while passed without any response. He tapped his forehead with his finger, shifting his perspective.


    Colors rapidly faded, ripples extending from him like a center, spreading continuously.


    Felix saw the tangible source of magic and something like silken strands nestled deepest within, a dozen magical channels resembling chains extending into the air.


    ''This is the true heart of the Room of Requirement,'' a thought arose in his mind.


    ...


    In the following days, Felix Harp remained indecisive, struggling to make a decision.


    He hade to realize that the core of the Room of Requirement was that very room.


    And the substance deep within the magic, something resembling silk, he had a hunch, was likely memories left behind by Lady Rowena Ravenw.


    He wasn''t sure why he could enter; perhaps mentioning the name Helena Ravenw had something to do with it. And it was only the slumbering memories left by Lady Ravenw that had allowed him this discovery.


    By all ounts, he should inform Helena of this matter right away. It would benefit both parties¡ªHelena could find reconciliation with her mother, and he could take the chance to inquire about the mysteries of magic, even potentially essing Ravenw''s legacy.


    However, he found himself not particrly hopeful about this matter.


    For ghosts, "moving on" meant release, but for someone who had formed a friendship with a ghost in the real world, what did it signify?


    Felix felt puzzled. His past experiences weren''t providing much guidance, so he decided to seek advice from someone wiser.


    "Dumbledore, how do you view ''death''?"


    "Um... Felix, why this question out of the blue?" Dumbledore looked at him somewhat puzzled.


    "Because of some recent events that got me thinking."


    Realizing that Felix didn''t want to exin, Dumbledore didn''t press further. He thought for a moment, then pursed his lips and said, "Everyone has a different view of death¡ªfear, evasion, distaste... But for some, like myself, it''s approached with a sense of wee."


    "Wee?" Felix doubted if he had misheard.


    "Felix, for an elderly individual, there isn''t much left to fear in the world. Death bes an unknown, a novel and interesting concept, almost like a ticket to a grand adventure."


    Felix shook his head, as this perspective differed from his own. He might not fear death, but he certainly didn''t anticipate its arrival.


    He asked the question that concerned him most, "What do you think the existence of ghosts signifies?"


    "Ghosts? They linger in the material realm due to strong attachments..."


    "No, Professor Dumbledore," he interjected, "please pardon me if I didn''t exin clearly..."


    Understandingly, Dumbledore looked at him, allowing Felix time to rephrase. This time, he carefully asked, "Ghosts exist due to their attachments, and they can be freed by those same attachments. Isn''t that right?"


    "Correct." Dumbledore blinked in agreement.


    "So, what does this liberation really mean? Is it another form of death? Especially for someone like her, who has friends in the real world¡ªI mean, it''s a perpetual separation, no different from death."


    "Her?" Dumbledore inquired.


    Felix fell silent, not answering.


    Dumbledore pondered for a moment before saying, "Different people might have varying interpretations. I can only share my own thoughts for your consideration."


    "That''s precisely why I''vee, to use your wisdom to help me see things more clearly," Felix said.


    "For ghosts, ''moving on'' undoubtedly represents liberation. Staying tethered to the material world doesn''t bring them happiness. In fact, while they can still talk and move around, they can''t truly experience anything, and they remain bound by their attachments¡ªvery few choose to continue existing in this most meager manner."


    "And what about the living? The friends of the ghosts?"


    "Only blessings." Dumbledore said calmly, "Perhaps having experienced much, I tend to see things quite clearly. To some extent..." He said gently, "perhaps even a bit unemotionally."


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 Chapter 133: Helenas Decision

    Chapter 133: Helena''s Decision


    Felix Harp bid his polite farewell and left.


    During the afternoon ss, he found himself unusually distracted.


    "Please turn to page 147 of your books. Let''s take a look at how ancient wizards perceived the concept of ''existence''," the professor announced.


    "Professor? We covered this part in the previous lesson..." a young wizard raised his hand.


    Felix Harp disyed a surprised expression as he nced at his textbook. "Indeed, that was my mistake, and I must apologize. This also goes to show that professors are human and can make errors..."


    "Alright, let''s turn to page 152. Today, we''ll be discussing ancient runic inscriptions rted to ''hope''," he continued.


    Down in the audience, the Weasley twins exchanged a nce, and Fred winked at George: ''Professor Harp making a mistake in ss, that''s quite rare.''


    George mouthed silently: ''We''re witnessing history.''


    Fred pinched George''s thigh to stifle hisughter.


    After the ss ended, the twins gathered around Felix Harp.


    After answering a few questions, Fred curiously asked, "Professor, is there anything we could help with?"


    "What?"


    "Oh, Professor," George said yfully, "we thought you might be facing a slight predicament, something you can surely handle, but maybe we could lend a hand."


    Felix Harp smiled and responded, "Mr. Weasley, I don''t really... well," he looked at the two of them, then asked thoughtfully, "Could you get a hold of a magical camera?"


    He knew that young wizards had a kind of undergroundwork simr to a flea market, where various intriguing little items could be found.


    "Professor, would a Muggle camera and developing potion do the trick? The effect is the same," Fred suggested.


    "Exactly," George exined, "A first-year named Creevey bought developing potion from usst year. Though he had his own camera."


    Felix Harp pondered for a moment and then said, "That will do."


    In less than two days, he received the camera, film, and developing potion.


    He readily paid the remaining bnce.


    Over the next week, as Felix Harp chatted with Helena, they deliberately avoided mentioning the conflict from that night.


    Felix Harp shared interesting stories from the outside world, even including his secret travels during that year.


    "You really got caught by Dementors in the American magical ck market?" she asked in astonishment.


    "I wouldn''t put it that way. It was more of a fortunate coincidence that I crossed paths with them. I had nned to slip away with the crowd¡ªsince we were all wearing disguises, Disapparating once outside was easy."


    "And then?" she inquired, intrigued.


    "Seven Dementors fixated on me, pursuing me..." Felix Harp said with a regretful expression, "I had no choice but to take them down."


    It was his first realbat situation using his lightning-fast strategy. To enhance his cognitive speed, he had taken a dose of a particr potion, which had given him a week-long headache as a side effect.


    "Such a pity..."


    "What''s a pity?" Felix Harp asked.


    "It''s a pity I can''t use magic, and I''ve lost most of my memories rted to performing magic. I only have particrly vivid memories concerning my death..." she said with sorrow, "Being a ghost isn''tplete; I have either vague or no resonance with other memories. It''s like experiencing a stranger''s life..."


    At that moment, he finally made up his mind.


    Felix Harp said, "Helena, there''s something I need to tell you."


    "What is it?"


    Felix Harp hesitated for a moment, then took out the camera. "May I take a photo of you?"


    Helena looked at him in surprise, hesitated for a moment with modesty, then agreed with delight.


    Felix Harp took several solo shots of Helena and, finally, a picture of the two of them together.


    "It might take a day or two for the developing potion to take effect," he exined.


    Felix Harp gazed at the smile on Helena''s face, his heart churned. She noticed his expression and gradually calmed herself. "You''re not talking about this, are you? This thing that''s troubling you, Felix?"


    "Do you know about the Room of Requirement?"


    "Uh, well..." she nervously smoothed her hair, "I know. It''s an experimental chamber my mother created. I used to go there often as a child, though my mother preferred not to be disturbed. But I always defied her."


    "Have you been there after, let''s say..." he paused, "bing a ghost?"


    "No, never," she said tersely.


    Felix Harp understood; perhaps out of guilt or self-punishment, she intentionally avoided that ce.


    He spoke softly, "Inside, I found something left by Lady Ravenw. It might be about you."


    "What¡ªwhat are you saying?" She flew over quickly, her eyes locked onto his, as if discerning whether this was some cruel joke.


    Felix Harp looked into her eyes calmly, his demeanorpletely serious.


    Helena believed him.


    She asked urgently, "What is it? What did she leave behind?" Her translucent, pearl-white form hovered in mid-air, her hands reaching for Felix Harp''s shoulders, only to pass right through.


    An icy chill that seemed to pierce his bones caused Felix Harp to shiver involuntarily.


    "It''s a memory," he said softly.


    ...


    In the following days, Helena avoided him.


    Felix Harp understood her feelings well; the uncertainty was ufortable. Who could guarantee that Lady Ravenw''s memories were specifically meant for Helena?


    Could memories be awakened in a ghost?


    Once awakened, would the ghost remain rational?


    And if rational, would the desired oue be achieved?


    Despite the high probability of these questions being answered with a ''yes,'' no one could be sure until the truth was revealed.


    During this time, Felix Harp developed seven photographs. Through the influence of the developing potion and his magical adjustments, Helena appeared lifelike in the pictures¡ªbeautiful, elegant, with a faint smile.


    Finally, on a weekend morning, she sought out Felix Harp.


    "Take me there," she said calmly.


    "You''ve decided?"


    She nodded solemnly, ready to ept whatever the oue might be.


    In front of the Room of Requirement on the eighth floor, Felix Harp and Helena stood in silence.


    Arge blue door materialized slowly. Helena looked at him, and Felix Harp, holding the handle, pushed the door open.


    Felix Harp entered the room once more, this time with Helena by his side¡ªor rather, he was the guest now.


    As Helena stepped into the Room of Requirement, the entire space became vibrant.


    Tiny voices emerged from all directions. Even without changing perspective, Felix Harp could sense an immense magic awakening.


    The furnishings in the room disappeared one by one, the space expanded, until it turned into a boundless, pristine world.


    Sky and earth seemed to lose their boundaries, leaving only Felix Harp and Helena in existence.


    Not far from Helena, magic surged and formed the silhouette of a woman.


    From illusion to reality, she emerged from nothingness.


    After a thousand years, Rowena Ravenw opened her eyes.


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 Chapter 134: Rowena Ravenclaw

    Chapter 134: Rowena Ravenw


    Here we meet Rowena Ravenw, a beautiful yet stern-faced witch who appears more like a living being than a memory. If Felix hadn''t witnessed her solidify from an ethereal presence, he might have thought that Ravenw had lived to the present day!


    The witch''s gaze seems unfocused, but when sheys eyes on Helena, her expression bes delicate, her eyes gradually sharpening. She is Rowena Ravenw, one of the four founders of Hogwarts from a thousand years past, a legendary sorceress.


    "Helena, wee home," she says.


    "Mother," Helena chokes up, silvery transparent tears falling softly.


    Ravenw''s sharp gaze scans her form, then turns to look at Felix standing quietly nearby.


    "Can you tell me how much time has passed, sir?"


    "You can call me Felix, Felix Harp," Felix slightly bows, "It has been a thousand years, ma''am."


    "A thousand years..." Ravenw contemtes the word, walks over to Helena, and gently wipes away the tears from her face.


    "To see you again after a thousand years, what more could I desire?" Ravenw says tenderly.


    "Mother, it''s all my fault! I shouldn''t have stolen your diadem, shouldn''t have run away, and shouldn''t have ignored Barro... I didn''t even get to see you onest time..." Helena weeps sorrowfully.


    "You''re my child, how could that be considered theft?" Ravenw says affectionately, she lifts Helena''s cloak slightly and looks at the ck wound on her chest, asking, "Does it hurt?"


    "It hurts, Helena is in pain, day and night," Helena holds her mother''s arm, speaking with a slightly yful tone.


    Ravenw lifts her daughter''s hand, doesn''t appear to do anything, but Helena''s transparent fingers quickly turn fair and full, then extend upwards. In less than a minute, Helena transforms from a ghostly state to a solid one.


    Her clothes change into a deep blue gown.


    It''s only then that Felix notices, Helena''s hair is a vibrant wine-red.


    "Mother?" Helena looks at Ravenw in surprise, suddenly falls from about two inches above the ground, staggers two steps, nearly falls, and is caught by Ravenw ¨C time has passed too long, she has forgotten how a normal person walks.


    She takes a tentative step, then another, and topples over directly onto the ground.


    Lady Ravenw steps forward and helps her up, Helena leans most of her body against her.


    "Try again, you haven''t even put on your shoes yet, and you''re falling like this!"


    "But I haven''t walked in a long time."


    Felix observes all of this without any intention of intervening. All of this is like a fleeting reflection in a mirror, and at least he doesn''t believe that Lady Rowena Ravenw has the power to resurrect the dead.


    Besides, she''s just a memory.


    Apart from this, he can see clearly that Helena''s smile is bing brighter and her eyes are crescent-shaped, a sign that her emotional knots are unraveling.


    ''Isn''t everything going just as you expected, Felix? You should have been mentally prepared for this.''


    Helena and Lady Ravenw are joyfully engaged in the game of ''helping each other walk,'' bothpletely ignoring Felix on the side.


    After about half an hour, the twodies stop and tidy their slightly disheveled hair.


    A soft, gentle white light radiates from Helena, making her look like a princess.


    "Mother, have you forgiven me?" she nervously asks.


    "I''ve never med you," Lady Ravenw smiles and says.


    Helenaughs through her tears, a sacred and pure light blossoming on her face.


    After a moment, Helena leaned in to whisper something in her mother''s ear, and their gazes turned towards Felix Harp not far away.


    The two approached, arms linked together.


    "Mr. Harp?" Lady Rowena Ravenw said.


    "Lady Ravenw, Helena, congrattions," Felix said.


    "Thanks to you, Felix. Otherwise, I might have remained lonely forever," Helena said with a smile, gently tugging her mother''s sleeve.


    Lady Rowena Ravenw looked at him with a gentle gaze. "Thank you very much, Mr. Harp. You saved my daughter."


    "Helena and I are friends, and Barro too. I hope they can all find peace..."


    "Barro? He''s not dead?" Lady Rowena Ravenw''s expression froze, her gaze sharper than ever before, awe-inspiring.


    Helena said with a touch of glee, "That annoying ghost has also be a spirit, but he''s not having a good time either. He''s been carrying the burden of blood-stained chains. You don''t need to trouble yourself with him."


    "Is that so?" Lady Rowena Ravenw''s gaze turned distant.


    Felix sensed the magic surging within Lady Rowena Ravenw, as if she were doing something he couldn''t quite grasp.


    Outside the Room of Requirement, extremely secretive magical patterns illuminated one by one. Starting from the eighth floor, they extended outward, floor by floor, down to the first floor...


    Tower, seventh floor, sixth floor, continuing downward and outward...


    In the Headmaster''s office, Dumbledore set down his quill, his expression filled with confusion. He seemed to have been deprived of some of his authority as the headmaster?


    No, not deprived, but temporarily borrowed. It was just that the borrower was quite overbearing and hadn''t consulted him, the master of the ce.


    Who had this kind of authority? Dumbledore stood up with a serious expression.


    The rotating stairs within the castle began to twist violently, and some suits of armor emitted creaking sounds.


    In the underground spaces of Hogwarts, in a secluded and abandoned ssroom, the Bloody Baron floated expressionlessly in mid-air.


    A gust of wind blew, awakening the desated Baron. His expression vacant, he scanned the surroundings, finding nothing.


    Inside the Room of Requirement, Lady Rowena Ravenw let out a sigh.


    "It''s my fault, I shouldn''t have let hime find you."


    "Everything''s in the past now," Helena whispered softly.


    Felix let out a sigh of relief. Thankfully, nothing had happened. He was worried that Rowena Ravenw might want to avenge her daughter and make Baron disappear directly.


    Although both would result in a disappearance, the concept of self-liberation and being turned into a mist were entirely different.


    "But... I seem to have found something familiar," Lady Rowena Ravenw said. Amid the somewhat puzzled looks of Felix and Helena, a worn-out crown abruptly materialized from the air, dropping onto the white floor.


    "Is this your crown?" Helena eximed in surprise. "How did it end up here?"


    Lady Rowena Ravenw stared at the crown. "You''re clueless, and how would I know? I found it in a pile of rubbish... What do these young wizards think myboratory is?"


    Felix''s gaze remained fixed on the crown. He shifted his perspective just as he did with the diary. Profoundly dark magic, eerily silent.


    This was a Horcrux!


    "It''s containing a fragment of a soul... the despicable magic left behind by Szar Slytherin?" Lady Rowena Ravenw''s brows furrowed. "I believe it''s called a Horcrux?"


    "You know about this?" Felix asked.


    "Of course, Szar was famous in my time as well. Many of his spells, which could be considered wicked, have been widely circted. But a Horcrux is indeed quite rare."


    Lady Rowena Ravenw turned her gaze towards Helena. "Who did you give the crown to?"


    There will be one more chapter. I''ll try to finish this part today.


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 Chapter 135: Crowns and Questions

    Chapter 135: Crowns and Questions


    Helena averted her gaze with a hint of guilt. "About fifty years ago, I was deceived by a student into revealing the location where the crown was hidden."


    Felix Harp chimed in from the side, "From what I know, Voldemort, oh, that''s the name heter changed, Voldemort indeed excelled in toying with people''s hearts, and more importantly, his ambition was immense. He created more than one Horcrux."


    As for how evil Voldemort was and what he did in the wizarding world, it didn''t matter at all to Rowena Ravenw. She retrieved a tattered diary from her ring and handed it to Ms. Ravenw.


    She caressed the neat scorch marks on the diary. "The Fiendfyre curse, a very skilled Fiendfyre curse." She didn''t mention anything about dark magic. In her time, the Fiendfyre curse wasn''t umon due to its powerful and counter-curse nature.


    "I''ve also seen traces of magic that belong to me..." Ms. Ravenw looked up at him.


    A thought sparked in Felix''s mind, and he provided a crucial piece of information, "Voldemort is a descendant of Szar Slytherin; he inherited Slytherin''s magical legacy."


    "Is that so? I did indeed exchange memories magic with Szar..." Ms. Ravenw mumbled softly.


    Just then, a sh of insight struck Felix. He retrieved Lockhart''s magical manuscript and tentatively spoke, "These manuscriptse from a professor who graduated from Ravenw. He imed to have obtained a hidden legacy¡ª"


    Ravenw took them and casually flipped through them, "These are my belongings, although they''ve been copied. Who is this person? How did he be a professor at the school? His annotations are full of various shoddy errors and fantasies."


    "He has paid the price," Felix said briefly, not wanting to waste time exining Lockhart''s actions. The radiance emanating from Helena grew stronger and stronger. "Do you remember where you put these materials?" Felix inquired.


    Ravenw nced at him. "They should be in the lounge bookcase. I set up some hidden magic, waiting for future generations to discover..."


    At this point, she waved the manuscript with some confusion, "Is that really a Ravenw student? My magic shouldn''tst too long; has it expired? But I designed it to automatically draw on the residual magic from Hogwarts..."


    When discussing magic, thisdy didn''t seem as formidable as she appeared, Felix thought.


    His gaze shifted to the crown. "Lady Ravenw, if you don''t mind, I must take it and find a chance to destroy it."


    "With your Fiendfyre curse?" Lady Ravenw asked.


    "It''s quite effective."


    "But the crown will be utterly destroyed." Lady Ravenw cast a disdainful look at the gaping hole in the diary and thought for a moment. "Or perhaps I should do it." She reached out, letting the crown float in front of her, examined it carefully for a moment, and then tossed it away.


    In the pure white space, magic surged continuously, forming twinkling multicolored lights that converged behind Lady Ravenw, resembling a gxy draped over her.


    "Go," Lady Ravenw said. The starlight rushed past like a tide, forming an exaggerated vortex of magic in mid-air, engulfing the crown.


    Within the vortex, icy blue and bronze magic started to coil and tear at the crown incessantly. Wisps of ck mist seeped from the crown and were subsequently shattered by the surrounding magic.


    A mournful sound echoed, but Lady Ravenw pointed her finger, and the sound immediately vanished.


    "What is this?" Felix asked in astonishment. If he wasn''t mistaken, this rough approach was¡ª


    "I tapped into the castle''s magic, creating a vortex to draw out the souls inside and grind them away bit by bit," Rowena Ravenw said casually.


    Felix Harp responded with a bemused expression, "Magic is truly remarkable."


    He phrased his concern gently, "Wouldn''t this damage your crown?" The crown that could grant wisdom intrigued him. Although he intended to study it, his initial n was to resolve the Horcrux without causing harm to the artifact.


    "It has already been destroyed. The evil souls tainted all the wisdom within the crown. I merely wanted to preserve its material," Lady Ravenw said.


    Felix looked at the crown constantly emitting ck smoke in mid-air, lost for words.


    Helena, who had been holding Lady Ravenw, interjected, "Felix, you have many questions without answers, don''t you? Here stands a master of magic." She winked at Felix, silently mouthing, ''You''re wee.''


    Ravenw smiled as she observed the interaction between Helena and Felix. "Feel free to ask any questions you may have. Time might be short." She looked at Helena, whose radiance was bing more difficult to conceal.


    Once Helena was released, her mission would beplete.


    After all, she was merely a fragment of memory.


    Lady Ravenw held Helena''s hand in her own, striving to dy this process. Helena offered her a beautiful smile.


    With limited time, Felix didn''t hesitate and hurriedly inquired about what concerned him the most¡ª


    "Lady Ravenw, my first question is: What are memories?"


    Ravenw regarded him. "You are your memories. Except for the thinyer of ''now,'' everything in our lives is a memory."


    Felix spoke solemnly, "So, whether it''s a person, a soul, or an animal, the most important thing is memories?"


    Ravenw didn''t confirm or deny, "How do you view the ''now''? Is it the result of the past or the beginning of the future?"


    This question left Felix scratching his head. He wanted to ask about magic, not engage in philosophical discourse.


    He shared his viewpoint, "In my opinion, the ''now'' is something I can absolutely grasp. It''s my power, a manifestation of my will. To put it simply¡ªthe ''now'' is ''choice.''"


    The past can''t be undone, the future is yet toe, and the key to it all is seizing the ''now.''


    Ravenw nodded and smiled, neither endorsing nor challenging his stance.


    Felix waited for a moment, seeing that she didn''t speak, he straightforwardly asked his most pressing question, "Madam, I wish to imnt a fictional memory into a Patronus, but the two conflict intensely. Furthermore, I want to transfer a portion of my consciousness into the Patronus..."


    He waved his wand, summoning his Patronus.


    Lady Ravenw smiled and beckoned, allowing the silvery swallow to alight on her hand.


    Felix, taking the hint, relinquished control over the Patronus. He knew Lady Ravenw was about to demonstrate.


    Her fingers brushed against its feathers, and the swallow began to chirp.


    "You need to extract memories correctly," she said gently, exining, "Imagine it like reaching into a bird-filled aviary and grabbing a specific one. It might seem challenging, but if each bird''s leg has a string tied to it, and you pull the string outside the aviary, aplishing everything bes easy."


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 Chapter 136: Conclusion

    Chapter 136: Conclusion


    "Birdhouses, ropes, threads," Felix Harp repeated.


    He suddenly noticed a trait of Ravenw, she was very, very fond of inspiring others¡ªregardless of whether the person wanted to be inspired or not.


    "Mother, can''t you be more straightforward?" Helena said on the side.


    Lady Ravenw nced at her, reluctantly revealing the solution to the riddle, "Don''t forcefully cram memories into anything. You need to shape the memories."


    Felix seemed to grasp something, but it was like looking through a frosted window, hazy and unclear.


    "Shaping memories, or rather, solidifying the structure of memories."


    The rain swallow in Ravenw''s hand turned into a silver mist, then reformed into a proud and towering eagle, covered with countless tiny dots of light.


    The eaglended on the ground, exuding amanding presence.


    "These are?" Felix''s breath seemed to stall. He activated his mind''s eleration, desperately memorizing the structure of these light points.


    Ravenw stated calmly, "Soul nodes? Memory nodes? Call them what you will. I simply discovered structures that stabilize memories."


    "So, you also are..." constructed like this?


    "Yes, I am just a segment of memory of ''Rowena Ravenw.'' Not a real person, not a ghost, nor even a living being. Only emotions remain true and unfeigned."


    "As for transferring consciousness, you can refer to Contract Magic," she said quickly.


    Felix could only take note, and he timely brought up the final question, "Madam, I wish to know, what heights did the four founders truly push magic to?"


    Ravenw looked at him approvingly, "Saying too much would only disturb you. What I can tell you is that we ourselves can be considered magical creatures."


    She nced at the crown, constantly eroded by vast magic, shattered into pieces by the surging darkness.


    "It''s almost time," Lady Ravenw said softly. Her form slowly faded, but she still gazed tenderly at Helena.


    The radiance on Helena grew brighter and holier, a profound joy emanating from within.


    The temporarily constructed body formed by magic had disappeared, and she transformed back into her ghostly form.


    "May I embrace you once more?" she asked.


    Lady Ravenw opened her arms, and two somewhat ethereal figures pressed together, remaining embraced for a long time.


    From the vortex of magic, a blurry face burst out of the crown, but immediately and silently shattered.


    Lady Ravenw seized the crown¡ªa cleansing had left it spotless, as if brand new, shimmering brightly.


    "I will reconstruct the crown as your reward," she said to Felix.


    "Lady Ravenw, you need not..." he hesitated.


    "It''s not as brilliant as you imagine. What can be bestowed is not true wisdom," Lady Ravenw said, her figure fading further, while the crown grew increasingly luminous.


    She turned her head and looked at Helena.


    "It''s a bit regrettable that I can''t apany you further," Lady Ravenw said. She was merely a memory, and today she had fulfilled her mission and was about to dissipate.


    Helena smiled and replied, "I''ve already found the courage to continue."


    Lady Ravenw gazed at her. After three minutes, maybe five, or perhaps ten, she finally vanished.


    "ng!"


    The crown fell to the ground, rolling a couple of times.


    "Take it, it''s yours," Helena said.


    The radiance on Helena intensified. The restrictions left on her by Lady Ravenw had disappeared.


    Felix didn''t even nce at the crown. He kept his eyes on Helena and said with a hint of bitterness, "Today, I''m losing another friend."


    She floated in front of him, her palm reaching for his cheek, but her fingers passed through.


    "It seems you''ve also experienced sorrow," she said.


    Felix remained silent for a moment. "Let''s go outside." He extended his hand, allowing the crown, along with the diary, to fly over and be tucked into the ring.


    The two walked out of the Room of Requirement. Helena''s radiance quickly spread, casting a gentle glow that illuminated the entire eighth-floor corridor.


    "We might be running out of time. There''s someone I need to talk to," Helena said.


    "Do you need assistance?" Felix asked. He knew who she meant by ''someone.''


    "Of course," she replied with a smile. "We''re friends, aren''t we?"


    Felix''s wand emitted a loud crack, and a window suddenly disappeared. Holding Helena, he leaped out of the eighth-floor window andnded gracefully in the courtyard.


    In the next moment, Felix''s voice resonated throughout the castle¡ª


    "Baron,e to the courtyard. Helena has something to tell you."


    The young wizards and witches in the castle looked up in surprise, startled by the booming voice.


    What''s happening?


    "Let''s go see," Harry said to Ron and Hermione, and the three of them started running.


    Others, brimming with curiosity, also followed suit.


    It was a weekend, after all, and everyone had plenty of free time.


    They all unconsciously ran towards the courtyard.


    However, Dumbledore arrived first, appearing suddenly in front of Felix and Helena. He seemed puzzled, but his azure eyes widened dramatically when he saw the pure white light enveloping Helena.


    He turned to Felix, who nodded subtly.


    After another ten seconds or so, a silver figure passed through walls one after another, appearing in the courtyard.


    It was the Bloody Baron.


    He was as menacing as ever, covered in silver bloodstains, and carrying a massive chain around his shoulders. However, his expression at this moment was one of unprecedented nervousness and anxiety.


    The Bloody Baron stared at Helena, bathed in light. His mouth opened and closed, and he stammered, "Congrattions, Helena."


    Shortly after, young wizards, professors, and even other ghosts arrived from a distance. Observing the scene in the courtyard, they stopped in their tracks.


    The young wizards were puzzled, but the professors and ghosts, having seen more, recognized Helena''s state.


    Nearly Headless Nick, almost decapitated in shock, covered his mouth, "Oh, heavens."


    Other ghosts also anxiously watched the central courtyard.


    "Sir Baron, I am about to depart," Helena said. "Someone once told me to learn to forgive oneself... I offer you these words."


    "And what about you?" the Baron asked, his body trembling. "Will you forgive me?"


    "I''ve hated you, but I''ll try to forgive you. Let''s start from this moment," Helena Ravenw said.


    Her radiance exploded into a long, white staircase of phantom light. Helena gazed around onest time and finally lingered briefly on Felix before resolutely stepping onto the staircase.


    Her figure vanished.


    Felix felt a profound loss.


    "Felix, thank you. I know she meant you," the Baron said, his body also enveloped in a pure white light.


    "I haven''t done much," Felix shook his head.


    In the distance, the ghosts erupted in a murmur. What day was it today? Two bound ghosts breaking free, one after the other!


    Only those who knew the millennia-old enmity between these two ghosts couldn''t help but be deeply moved.


    The Baron didn''t resist the surging white light. Amidst a solemn atmosphere, his figure disappeared.


    The young wizards stared at the scene in a daze. They didn''t know what had happened, but they understood that the ghosts of Ravenw and Slytherin houses had vanished forever on this day.


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 Chapter 137: The Aftermath

    Chapter 137: The Aftermath


    The young wizards were dismissed by the professors.


    Professor McGonagall directed the Heads of Houses to lead their respective students away. They went wherever they pleased, and in truth, her own feelings were quiteplex.


    Startled by Felix Harp''s sudden shout, she had thought something urgent had urred. She rushed over in haste, even using an Animagus Transfiguration halfway.


    Not just one young wizard saw a cat deftly navigate through the flowerbeds, a blurry silhouette darting by. They thought that Lady Rosalind, who had been petrified by the basilisk, had been restored.


    But even though things were different from what she had imagined, it was still considered ''urgent.'' She had witnessed the two ghosts that had existed at Hogwarts for a millennium dissipate into nothingness.


    This was a good thing, yet her mind was still filled with questions¡ªwhat exactly had transpired?


    Most of the professors and ghosts remained. They gazed at Felix, seemingly intending to hear his story.


    Severus Snape, by the courtyard columns, had an inscrutable expression. His thoughts at this moment were, how many times this year had there been incidents that could bebeled as ''idents''?


    It seemed almost every one of them was connected to Felix Harp...


    Professor Flitwick stood to the side, his lips moving, wanting to say something. He knew the true identity of Lady Grey, had respected her for decades, and he was most eager for the truth.


    Dumbledore was deeply moved. He had been watching the spot where the two ghosts disappeared, murmuring softly. His silver beard trembled, but no one could fathom the thoughts of this centenarian.


    "Felix," Dumbledore said softly, "it seems something incredible has happened to you."


    Felix''s expression seemed somewhat ''downcast.'' His gaze swept over the professors on the field¡ªSnape, McGonagall, Burbage, Flitwick, Sprout, Madam Hooch...


    And the ghosts of Hogwarts¡ªthe Nearly Headless Nick, Friar Fat, Professor Binns, and a few whose names he couldn''t recall.


    Nearly everyone who could attend was here.


    His tone was even, "Indeed, it''s a long story. But it involves the privacy of two dignified ghosts, and considering my ownplex emotions right now, I don''t have the mood to tell it."


    "Dumbledore, please forgive me for temporarily leaving. When my emotions have settled, I will reveal the truth to preserve the honor of our two friends."


    Dumbledore''s gaze discreetly swept across the others. He said with understanding, "Of course, Felix. I believe among everyone present, no one has endured more sorrow than you."


    Felix and Dumbledore left in session. The professors looked at each other, the ghosts nearby also shared simr feelings. They were all a bit anxious, but they knew they could only wait. After a few exchanged words, they dispersed.


    Ancient Runes office.


    Felix sat in the chair behind the desk, taking out a stack of parchment and writing swiftly. He transcribed the entire conversation with Lady Ravenw, intending for them to gradually take shape in the Pensieve. The manuscript before Felix turned into ashes silently.


    Uponpleting this task, Felix leaned back in his chair. A journal and a fresh tiaray before him as he delved into contemtion.


    His mood was indeed somewhat mncholic andplex. But the main reason was that he couldn''t tell the story wlessly while concealing certain crucial information.


    Such as Lady Ravenw''s millennium-long memories, the tiara, the Horcrux...


    These were things he didn''t want too many people to know.


    Many secrets, once revealed to a second person, could no longer be called secrets.


    But as for the matter of the Horcrux, he didn''t want to keep it from Dumbledore either. After all, he held twoplete pieces¡ªthough he found it strange how things had developed to this point.


    The troubles of Voldemort could be left for the Headmaster to worry about.


    Moreover, the most critical thing was that he seemed to be able to seamlessly incorporate the journal into the story...


    This includes Ginny, includes Draco Malfoy, includes the House-Elf Dobby¡ªthese clues he had sporadically gathered could also be passed on to Dumbledore in one go.


    Putting an end to the Chamber of Secrets incident, once Dobby''s troubles were resolved, would allow Hagrid to regain his honor.


    Speaking of which, why hadn''t Dobby been in touch with him all this time? Had something unexpected happened, or had the natural instincts of a house-elf taken precedence?


    In the office, there wasn''t a sound to be heard.


    Elsewhere in Hogwarts, numerous young wizards were sharing their opinions on the shocking events of the day.


    But what Harry cared about the most was, what had truly transpired with the two ghosts?


    At this moment, the Trio followed the rest back to Gryffindormon room under the guidance of their Head of House. The usually quiet Gryffindors erupted with enthusiasm, nearly overturning the ceiling.


    Hermione gave Harry and Ron a nce, and they picked a couch with partitions and red curtains, then sat down. On the other side of the partition were several Gryffindor prefects.


    They too were discussing the events that had just unfolded.


    "It''s the redemption of the ghosts!" Percy said with great certainty. "I''ve read descriptions like this in books, it''s an extremely rare urrence."


    A fifth-year female prefect looked puzzled. "I think I''ve heard about it at home, but isn''t that just a fairy tale?"


    "Haha, have you heard the story of ''The Disappearance of Sir Barnabas the Ghost''?" a male student''s voice rang out.


    On the other side of the partition, Hermione mouthed, ''Have you heard this story?''


    Ron shook his head.


    The discussion continued¡ª


    The female prefect said, "I''ve always thought it was fake, but I never thought I''d see it with my own eyes today."


    "What do you all think happened?"


    "What''s the rtionship between Lady Grey and the Bloody Baron?"


    "Could they be a couple?"


    "Oh, impossible, Lady Grey used the word ''forgiveness.''"


    "Did you hear that? We were too far away, I couldn''t hear clearly, Professor McGonagall didn''t let us get closer!"


    "I saw her mouth moving..."


    "In that case, they''re enemies. Honestly, I think that possibility is higher. Like, maybe he murdered Lady Grey..."


    A new, excited female voice chimed in, "Could it be... the Bloody Baron was an assassin, he killed many people and was sentenced, but even at the brink of death, he wanted to strike back... so he turned into a ghost." She built up a whole inner monologue and dramatically concluded.


    The Trio shifted to a more secluded corner.


    "What do you guys think?" Harry asked.


    "Other than the information about ghosts redeeming themselves, nothing else seems reliable," Ron remarked. "Especially that sharp-voiced girl, she''s trying to turn everything into a tale of love and hatred."


    "They''re overlooking Professor Harp. He''s the one who summoned the Bloody Baron," Harry spected. "Hermione, what are your thoughts?"


    "I also think it''s rted to Professor Harp. He seemed somewhat sad, and I know he was friends with Lady Grey," Hermione shared what she knew.


    Among the discussions, the Gryffindors'' wasn''t the most fervent. Of the four houses, the response from Ravenw was the strongest.


    Though Lady Grey had always given an impression of aloofness, she had never hesitated to offer guidance to young wizards, especially those from her own house.


    Her departure left the Ravenws quite saddened.


    ...


    In the evening, Felix Harp left the school and arrived in London''s old city district.


    He walked down a pitch-ck road and entered a cemetery. The gatekeeper paid him no attention.


    After about three or four minutes, Felix stood before a tombstone.


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 Chapter 138: The Tale

    Chapter 138: The Tale


    Upon the ck marble, the white inscriptions were easier to discern in the dim light, shimmering in the darkness.


    Locke Averin


    Born December 12, 1966, Departed May 3, 1980


    Caring for 12panions during the flu outbreak, he tragically fell ill and passed away.


    "Locke Averin..." murmured Felix Harp. He recalled that year when he was nine, lying in a sickbed, the scene of someone tending to him during his weakest moments.


    Three days before recovery, Averin''s presence vanished. He had beseeched the Headmaster to tell him, only receiving a heavy sigh in return.


    That was the first time he deeplyprehended death.


    Felix stood quietly before the tombstone, resembling a silent statue. After nearly an hour, his figure faded away.


    At eight in the evening, Felix returned to his office. Earlier, he had used Patronusmunication to inform his assistant, canceling this weekend''s magical text revisions.


    With slight preparations, he knocked on the Headmaster''s office door.


    Inside, it was rather dim. Dumbledore lifted his head from the desk, gazing at him through his half-moon sses. "Felix... please have a seat. One moment, the lighting in the office is rather dim."


    He raised something resembling a silver lighter, pressed it a few times, and tiny spheres of light flew out, instantly brightening the office.


    "What''s this?" Felix asked with interest.


    "A little contraption of my own making. I call it the Lumosiphon. It absorbs and releases light sources," Dumbledore exined.


    Felix sat across from him, bringing out his notebook and a brand-new cor.


    Dumbledore''s gaze immediately fell upon the cor. He stood up abruptly, bending over to examine it carefully. "This is... if I''m not mistaken..."


    "Correct, Lady Ravenw''s cor."


    Dumbledore looked at Felix, keenly noting his use of ''Lady,'' a phrasing not often used.


    He quickly thought of the brief borrowing of his own Headmaster privileges, and the spection that sprouted made him somewhat taken aback, but he swiftly dismissed the possibility.


    His attention shifted to the notebook; it didn''t possess the same allure, appearing tattered with a hole in the middle.


    Dumbledore stared at it for a longer time, his fingers exploring the tear. "A powerful Fiendfyre curse," he frowned, refraining from immediatementary. Then, for a brief moment, his vibrant blue eyes widened. "I see... indeed, that''s how it is..."


    After a while, his gaze finally moved away. Dumbledore softly eximed, "Truly astonishing. I thought nothing would surprise this old man anymore, but it seems your story is about to broaden my horizons."


    Felix began to recount his ''adventure,'' starting from a very early time. "On the night the Chamber ordeal concluded, Draco Malfoy found me. He appeared anxious yet clever, bringing along a malevolent Dark magical item..." He nodded towards the notebook on the table.


    He spoke of how he suspected a connection between the notebook and the Chamber''s opening, attempting tomunicate with it, yet receiving no response.


    "This doesn''t quite align with Mr. Malfoy''s experience. I''ve decided to observe it for a while and have cast intricate protective spells around it," Felix shared.


    Dumbledore inteced his fingers, resting them under his chin, silently listening.


    "It wasn''t until Dueling ss that I realized the enchantments I''d cast were broken. I hurried back and discovered a unconscious house-elf named Dobby. Administering a potion to it, I unexpectedly gained insight into the truth of the Chamber incident," Felix continued.


    "So¡ª"


    "The Diary was a relic of Voldemort''s, for uncertain reasons, he entrusted his diary to Lucius Malfoy, who, taking advantage of the incident outside Flourish and Blotts, concealed the diary within the book of Ginny Weasley, the youngest daughter of the Weasleys."


    Dumbledore sighed, "This aligns with some of my conjectures. From what I know, during that time, the Ministry of Magic conducted searches on several pure-blood families under the pretense of investigating dark magical items. Lucius might have grown anxious and wanted to rid himself of this trouble."


    "Dobby felt immense gratitude towards Potter. Despite defying his master''s orders, he protected Potter in his own way, even though..." Felix Harp disyed a slight smile, "it might have caused some disturbance to Potter himself."


    "Ah, these pure emotions often exceed our imagination," Dumbledore mused.


    "In any case, I realized the danger and intended to vanquish the diary. Conventional magic was futile, so I resorted to the Fiendfyre," Felix straightforwardly mentioned, not shying away from the fact of using Dark magic.


    Dumbledore didn''t say much, "Perhaps... it indeed is a good approach."


    Next, Felix exined that during his investigation of the Chamber, he had unintentionally stumbled upon a mysterious room. "I find its magic quite intriguing and n to study it during my spare time."


    "On the eighth floor of the castle, on the tapestry of the club-wielding giant and the tiny babbling Bandon Banshee?" Dumbledore repeated, a thoughtful expression on his face. He smiled, saying, "Your words have solved a long-standing mystery for me."


    "You know about it too?" Felix asked knowingly, unable to say he''d used various odd probes with Dumbledore''s name.


    "Oh, it''s a delightful experience indeed. However, I might have underestimated its purpose at the time..."


    Felix didn''t press further; he nodded and then continued about the matter of the two ghosts. He and Barro had known each other since their school days, and he had inadvertently overheard their conversation.


    Somewhat sheepishly, he said, "Initially, I had utilitarian motives¡ªI came across Lady Ravenw''s manuscript in the library and became curious about the era a thousand years ago. I deliberately befriended Helena."


    Dumbledore reassured him, "In my youth, I too held utilitarian motives, deliberately befriended many famous wizards. There''s no need to feel ashamed."


    "You''re always so understanding, Dumbledore." Felix said, "At the time, I had another intention. As a friend of Barro''s, I hoped to alleviate the resentment Helena held towards him."


    "But upon deeper interaction, I found Helena to be an exceptionaldy. Conversations with her were quite delightful; I relished the process," Felix''s voice grew quieter.


    Moving on, Felix minimized his description of Helena. He didn''t want to mention her name amid a pile of lies.


    "...I realized that the Room of Requirement might be Ravenw''s hidden chamber. With her, I entered and witnessed the memories left behind by Rowena Ravenw herself a thousand years ago."


    Dumbledore''s hand, which was stroking his silver beard, paused. He listened intently, not wanting to miss a word.


    "...Lady Ravenw discovered the cor. She mentioned that within ity a piece of evil soul, supposedly a magic originating from a renowned Dark wizard of ancient Greece¡ªignoble Herpo."


    Dumbledore''s expression turned solemn. He uttered a word, "Horcrux."


    "Exactly, that magic. I thought of the diary and showed it to Lady Ravenw. After her confirmation, it was revealed that the diary was one of the Horcruxes as well."


    "Very perceptive, Felix," Dumbledore remarked.


    "Afterward, Lady Ravenw used the immense magic of Hogwarts to destroy it, and before her mission wasplete, she recreated the cor."


    Felix finished his story.


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 Chapter 139: Two Memories

    Chapter 139: Two Memories


    The office was filled with silence.


    Exquisite silverware on the corner of the desk spun around, emitting wisps of smoke and making a "tick-tock" sound.


    "Your testimony has been incredibly helpful, Felix," Dumbledore said, his eyes beneath his thick silver eyebrows fixed thoughtfully on a journal. "He''s even more insane than I imagined."


    "You mean Voldemort?"


    "I prefer to call him Tom, Tom Riddle, his original name. He never shied away from it during his school days. Professors wouldn''t refer to hisst name ''Riddle''; instead, they would kindly call him Tom," Dumbledore exined.


    Felix contemted, it seemed Voldemort had a more indulgent time at school than he thought.


    "Is it because he created more than one Horcrux?" Felix asked.


    "Exactly, Felix. This magic is even more sinister than you can imagine ¨C attaining immortality by splitting one''s soul¡ª"


    "Headmaster Dumbledore, I''m not interested in that," Felix interrupted, "Do you have any other questions?"


    Dumbledore blinked and smiled contentedly, "Felix, you understand the art of restraint better than a younger me... I do have one more question."


    His hands interlocked on the table, "I''d like to know more about the information regarding the destruction of Horcruxes."


    Felix had anticipated this and coincidentally had two things he wanted Dumbledore to know. So he turned to look at the ck cab behind him, "Why don''t you take a look for yourself, Dumbledore?"


    Turning back, he caught Dumbledore''s surprised gaze.


    "You mean, the Pensieve? Many wizards shy away from that..." This was a reaction he hadn''t expected at all.


    "Yes, I saw it thest time I was here. The cab was open then," Felix exined, "As for shying away, I do, but personally, I believe that since Voldemort hasn''t died, one day he''ll return, and you are the one he fears the most."


    Dumbledore shook his head, his aged face already lined with wrinkles, "Felix, I have grown old." He waved his hand, and the ck cab door swung open, revealing a shallow stone basin that floated steadily out andnded on the table in front of the two.


    Felix carefully examined the Pensieve, this magical creation was ancient and rare. The rim was carved with peculiar and mysterious letters and symbols.


    He could recognize some, but most were within the realm of his ignorance.


    Inside the Pensieve was a pool of silvery substance, somewhat like bright silver but constantly shifting. Felix pulled out his wand and lightly tapped the surface, causing the silver light to swirl gently.


    Then he pressed his wand against his forehead. Dumbledore spoke softly, "Felix, I must thank you for your trust."


    Felix gave a mischievous smile, "Oh, Headmaster Dumbledore, I''ll only show you the most crucial memories. I''ll keep private matters well hidden. Even if you put your nose against someone''s face, you won''t gain anything."


    Tonight, for the first time, Dumbledore broke into heartyughter.


    A shimmering strand of silver thread was drawn out and joined into the Pensieve. Felix stirred it with his wand, blending the thread into the silver light.


    Both of them extended their hands, and as their fingertips touched the silver light in the basin, a powerful attraction pulled them in. They didn''t resist, and they fell into the depths of the Pensieve.


    The first memory was exceedingly brief¡ª


    A house-elfy on the ground as "Felix" summoned the Sword of Gryffindor, pointing it directly at the diary.


    The Horcrux let out a dying cry, "No, I can tell you the secret to conquering death¡ª"


    But ''Felix'' hesitated not for a moment. He controlled the sword and thrust it through the Horcrux, silencing the voice abruptly.


    This memory came to an end.


    The two figures reappeared in the office once again. Dumbledore''s expression wasplex, carrying an inexplicable sense of relief.


    He looked at Felix, "I am proud of your choice. During the time of war, many renowned wizards were easily seduced by him, let alone the secret of defying death."


    Dumbledore didn''t even mention how Felix managed to master the Killing Curse to this extent.


    At other times, he might have advised Felix not to get too entangled, but now,pared to resisting the lure of Horcruxes, these concerns were trivial.


    And that was exactly the first thing Felix wanted to tell Dumbledore.


    Next came the second memory¡ª


    In a realm of pure white, magic of ice-blue and bronze intertwined into a massive whirlpool. They continuously tore at a crown. Threads of ck mist emanated from the crown.


    Dumbledore stared at something not far away with a strange expression. Opposite ''Felix'' was a beautiful and solemn witch, Helena, who stood beside him. They were saying something, but Dumbledore couldn''t hear a thing, not even their faces were clear.


    "So, this is what you call privacy?"


    "We''re discussing my magical path," Felix said sinctly.


    Dumbledore tightly shut his mouth. Matters like these were the secrets of powerful wizards. He turned to look at the vortex suspended in midair and let out an amazed sigh.


    After a while, a blurred face burst out of the crown, only to bepletely shattered by the whirlpool right away.


    Dumbledore sighed with a tinge of mncholy. But he realized that they hadn''t left the memory. After a moment, he heard the sole sentence from the entire memory.


    It was Lady Rowena Ravenw speaking to Felix, "I shall remake the crown as your reward."


    This sentence echoed endlessly in the empty white space.


    Dumbledore looked at Felix wordlessly. Felix nodded in agreement. The next second, the memory ended.


    The atmosphere in the office was calm and quiet, neither of them spoke first.


    After a while, Dumbledore said helplessly, "I understand your intentions. The crown is yours, and no one can take it away. If anyone objects, I will testify on your behalf."


    Felix beamed a radiant smile, "Thank you so much, Headmaster Dumbledore. I''ve always worried that some narrow-minded Board of Governors or Ministry official might give me trouble."


    As he spoke, Felix deftly used his wand to extract his memories, causing them to dissipate entirely.


    Dumbledore suddenly felt a pang of heartache. He waved his hand, "You can keep the crown."


    Felix courteously bid farewell and turned to leave.


    Walking out of the office, a satisfied smile appeared on his face. His anticipated goals had all been achieved.


    His three main goals were as follows: First, how to incorporate the diary into his version of the story; second, how to dispel any doubts Dumbledore might have¡ªwhat if Felix became interested in Horcruxes? And third, the ownership of the crown. He wasn''t willing topromise on that.


    So, after telling the story, he cleverly presented two memories, corresponding to the second and third goals. Among them, the second goal was the most crucial.


    He was so cautious because he knew that Dumbledore had once held concerns about him, fearing he might tread the path of darkness and be the next Dark Lord.


    What''s even more frightening was that Dumbledore was over a hundred years old. He couldn''t bear the cost of a misjudgment. But Felix? He was only 22, far from his prime.


    Based on his past actions, Felix fully understood this concern.


    So, he had no choice but to put in more effort, engaging in a battle of wits with the old headmaster to dispel his doubts.


    "I truly am a considerate person."


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 Chapter 140: The Wind

    Chapter 140: The Wind


    Felix Harp returned to his office. The night had grown deep, and the windows rattled with the sound of the wind.


    Sitting in his chair, Felix''s gaze slid across a corner of the desk, where a stack of photographs rested.


    Felix casually picked up a photograph, leaning back in his chair as he gazed quietly. Among the seven images, most were solo shots of Helena. She always smiled quietly, though from different angles.


    Only in the photo of them together did she show a humorous expression in response to something he had said. She covered her mouth with her hand in the picture.


    Felix''s fingers brushed over the photo, causing her hair to turn a deep wine-red. He then slipped the photo into a ring.


    "May your journey be smooth, Helena."


    ...


    The next morning, a strong wind swept through Hogwarts. Felix was awoken early, dressed in his pajamas as he stepped out of his bedroom. The office was dimly lit, and outside was pitch ck.


    The windows groaned under the assault of the fierce wind.


    Felix snapped his fingers, and the windows seemed to transform into a solid structure, reducing the noise considerably. However, he couldn''t do much about the sound of the raging wind hitting the castle walls.


    Through the window, he could vaguely see the branches of distant trees swaying ceaselessly.


    "I have no desire to think in weather like this," he muttered, slumpingzily on the couch.


    Felix beckoned with a finger, causing the suitcase in the corner to pop open. Boxes of film negatives floated through the air before him. "Tsk! Seems like I''ve seen them all."


    "I remember there''s a very famous film series. I wonder if it''s released yet. What''s it called?"


    "The Legend of Nagini?"


    Felix shook his head and conjured forth from a cab beside the wall a children''s fairy tale book titled "Kampa''s Adventure"¡ªone of the gifts he had received at Christmas.


    The protagonist of the story was named Roning Kampa, a ten-year-old aspiring young wizard.


    His parents were both Ministry of Magic employees, often too busy to look after him, leaving him in the care of neighbors. But he didn''t like the cats owned by his neighbors, so he secretly sneaked out.


    Kampa had intended to visit Diagon Alley, but instead stumbled into Knockturn Alley, where he was abducted by a dark witch using an illusion.


    However, clever Kampa employed a cunning n to deceive the witch, sessfully escaping. From there, the story continued with his evasion of the witch''s pursuit and his befriending of variouspanions as he made his way back home.


    Felix realized that if one didn''t think too deeply about the logic¡ªsuch as why the witch''s minions were three cats named ''Night'', ''Marsh'', and ''Morey'', and why they always found Kampa before the witch, only to be driven away by Kampa''s newly-acquired magical animal friends¡ªit was actually quite entertaining.


    He read with relish, finishing the book in less than an hour.


    "I wonder if books like these are popr among young wizards. I should investigate. If the response is positive, I could use it as inspiration for my new book."


    "As for the plot..." He nced at the nearby "Kampa''s Adventure". "A ten-year-old aspiring wizard, sent by his busy wizard parents to a Muggle school, and the story of his life, studies, and friendships in an unfamiliar environment."


    "Yeah, this young wizard grew up in a magical household, unfamiliar with the world outside. Through his eyes, readers could discover many fascinating things."


    "It might be even better with some animated photos."


    Felix absentmindedly wove the plot together as the dawn finally broke.


    Harry awoke to the sound of wind whistling and howling. He fumbled for his sses and looked carefully out of the window.


    "It''s windy. Well, it is March after all," he murmured softly.


    Ron was still asleep. Today was Sunday, and Harry didn''t wake him. He got dressed, picked up his bag, and headed to themon room.


    There was a pile of Quidditch training to do in the afternoon, so he had to make good progress on his homework.


    When he arrived at themon room, it was empty, with only a few people around. But he wasn''t surprised to see Hermione there.


    She was holding a carving knife, etching magical runes. From Harry''s angle, it looked quite impressive. The tip of the light brown carving knife exuded a fiery magic, leaving burning symbols on the chestnut wood.


    "How''s iting along?" Harry asked when she paused.


    Hermione gave him a somewhat ambiguous answer. "Not too bad, though I haven''t seeded yet."


    "Really?" Harry didn''t quite grasp her words. "Looks quite intimidating, actually. Has that mysterious wizard vibe from fairy tales."


    "Harry, you are a wizard, you know."


    "I meant wizards from the Muggle world," Harry rified. As for Hogwarts, he thought of himself working feverishly on assignments and found it hard to muster interest in the matter of whether things were mysterious or not.


    While working on his Herbology essay, the howling outside the tower hadn''t ceased, disrupting his thoughts several times. This left him rather irritated. He suddenly looked up with anticipation. "Hermione, do you think if the weather''s like this on Monday, our Herbology ss might get canceled?"


    Hermione responded, "I think you might be better off hoping for today''s training to be canceled. And I''m curious how the Mandrakes ended up in someone else''s flowerpot. Professor Sprout said it would be around these days. I wouldn''t want to miss it."


    During the final Herbology ss of the previous week, a few Mandrakes had thrown a lively and noisy party in the Third Greenhouse. Professor Sprout had been quite pleased about it.


    "When they want to move into someone else''s flowerpot, we''ll know they''re fully mature," Professor Sprout had said emotionally. "Then we can bring back that poor young wizard in the hospital wing and bring Filch''s cat back to life."


    Harry grumbled, "Wood won''t cancel training for sure. I''m confident about that."


    When Ron woke up, the three of them packed up and went to the Great Hall for breakfast.


    Ron pointed to the Ravenw table and said, "They don''t seem too thrilled."


    Harry said uncertainly, "Maybe their house ghost disappeared?" He thought for a moment. Despite not having enjoyed himself at Nick''s 500th Deathday Party, he would be sad if Nearly Headless Nick suddenly vanished.


    Just then, a silver figure dashed into the Great Hall, holding a stack of chalk and throwing them at Slytherin students.


    Heughed heartily and disappeared suddenly before anyone could react.


    The three of them stared, dumbfounded. After a long while, Ron said, "Merlin, Peeves has no one to control him now?"


    Everyone knew that only Bloody Baron and Dumbledore could control Peeves. Even when faced with professors, he only maintained a limited level of respect.


    "But, I actually think it''s not too bad," Ron said, looking at the disheveled Slytherin students, especially when there was Malfoy among them. He happily picked up a piece of bacon.


    Hermione said worriedly, "But now Peeves is targeting Slytherin. Who knows who''ll be next?"


    "That''s just Slytherin''s bad luck," Ron optimistically remarked.


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 Chapter 141: Peeves the Poltergeist

    Chapter 141: Peeves the Poltergeist


    Felix Harp remained in his office until noon before heading to the Great Hall with a rumbling stomach to have his meal.


    Instead of taking a seat at the teacher''s table, he casually chose a student''s long table where a few young wizards were discussing the events of the morning not far away.


    "In just one morning, Peeves the Poltergeist attacked Slytherin students in the Great Hall, knocked down statues in the corridors, smeared mud on suits of armor, and scribbled all over the ceiling¡­" a student recounted Peeves'' misdeeds, counting them on his fingers.


    "I think he must have spent all of yesterday nning his mischief, which is why he''s so efficient today."


    Felix listened nearby. Just then, a group of irate Slytherin students stormed in, their angry voices echoing clearly through the room even from seven or eight seats away.


    "...Absolutely outrageous! He actually ran into themon room and caused a ruckus! We must inform Professor Snape..."


    Their voices gradually faded as they moved away.


    Exiting the Great Hall, Felix intended to pay a visit to Bellby, but he found his office door tightly locked.


    Just as he was about to leave, he came face-to-face with Bellby, the tall and slender figure looking rather cheerful.


    "Dermocles."


    "Oh, Felix, are you here to see me? I went to Professor Snape''s office, and the progress on the Wolfsbane Potion is quite promising..." Bellby eximed enthusiastically.


    The two exchanged pleasantries, and Bellby suggested, "How about a drink?"


    Felix readily agreed.


    "Please wait a moment, I need to tidy up a bit¡­" Bellby said vaguely. The two entered the Defense Against the Dark Arts office, which had a distinctly different style from when Lockhart was there.


    It was more akin to Snape''s office¡ªseveralrge cabs lined the walls, each filled with various bottles and jars. On a long table sat a row of ss cups and cauldrons.


    One of the cauldrons was simmering a potion; beneath it, an orange me flickered, and heat emanated from the pot''s mouth.


    Felix nced around. Inside the cauldron was a creamy substance, except its color was a diforting shade of emerald green.


    "Is this some kind of salve?"


    "Yes, indeed. It''s highly effective forrge boils caused by Pimple Jinx. I discussed it with Madam Pomfrey. Oh, she''s a veritable treasure trove when ites to remedies for minor injuries and illnesses," Bellby said, beaming.


    Felix agreed, "I wholeheartedly concur, Dermocles." He had noticed this during his school years.


    Bellby pulled back a corner of a curtain in the corner, revealing two metal cages with two red-capped creatures peacefully napping inside.


    But as he brought out two thumb-sized ss bottles, they immediately opened their eyes and began to chirp incessantly, their tiny ws gripping the bars of their cages.


    Felix could almost sense their ''yearning'' from their thin faces.


    Bellby made a sound, and the red-capped creatures immediately quieted down, pressing their heads against the cage bars, mouths wide open.


    He poured the bright red liquid from the ss bottles into their mouths. The red-capped creatures seemed to revel in it, swaying and staggering as if they were intoxicated.


    Then, Bellby covered the curtain, joining Felix once more. He ced two green leaves into the cauldron and tapped the edge of the cauldron twice with his wand. The inky green substance inside began to swirl.


    "All done. Shall we go?" Bellby said.


    As they descended the stairs to the ground, they saw a group of younger Slytherin students running clumsily not far away, hiding their heads under their cloak hoods to shield themselves from the ubiquitous chalk projectiles.


    "Oh, splendid, absolutely splendid! A hundred points!" a dwarf-like figure, who looked remarkably like a gnome, flipped and tumbled through the air, chasing after them. His two stubby hands waved incessantly.


    "Peeves."


    Peeves halted, observing the two professors nearby. "Oh, I didn''t see you there~ These poor little souls caught all of my attention..." He stared with his malevolent eyes, awkwardly tugging on his pointed hat.


    Felix Harp waved his hand, causing Peeves'' pointed hat to fly into his grasp. "I presume this isn''t yours, Peeves?"


    A Slytherin student stepped forward and whispered, "It''s, it''s mine, Professor."


    Peeves shot him a fierce re. "Peeves the Poltergeist shall remember you, my dear sir!"


    The Slytherin wizard was taken aback, his hand that was reaching out to take the hat hesitated, his expression filled with uncertainty.


    Felix brandished his wand, a silvery light struck Peeves, and his gaze became unfocused. He became weightless, his mouth incessantly muttering, "No, I hate sses!"


    "Don''t pull my hair..."


    "I despise History of Magic!"


    "Why does he get the top marks!"


    The nearby Slytherin students gazed at Felix in awe, even Bellby''s expression was somewhat stunned ¨C dealing with Peeves was one thing, but achieving this effect was a bit hair-raising.


    Peeves seemed to have suddenly split into numerous thoughts, each one from a different person.


    "Don''t look at me like that. It''s just a simple Confundus Charm, making it think it''s just been born," Felix said.


    "Any exnation for this?" Bellby inquired, although he didn''t believe it was just a simple Confundus Charm.


    "Peeves is a unique kind of ghost, or rather, a poltergeist would be a more fitting term. He was born with the founding of Hogwarts, but it wasn''t until the school began admitting arge number of students, harnessing their yful emotions and dispersing magical energy, that he took on a tangible form."


    The students who had just been chased were listening quietly, exchanging excited nces.


    "He won''t be like this forever, right?" Bellby asked.


    "No, he''ll recover in about a week, but the process isn''t particrly pleasant... I thought he''d remember this feeling though," Felix said regretfully.


    "P-Professor, is there any way to...?" the student who had his hat stolen began, but it seemed Felix didn''t hear, his face showing evident puzzlement as he turned to Bellby. "What do you think, should we tell the young wizards that the Tongue-Tying Curse can also work on ghosts?"


    "That might not be a good idea. It could cause distress to some ghosts," Bellby agreed, ying along.


    "All the ghosts in the castle are friendly. If any young wizard dares to use the curse on a ghost, they could be locked in confinement for a whole year," Felix said with a smile.


    Bellby''s eye twitched slightly, are you serious?


    The Slytherin students took a startle and said cautiously, "Professor, we''ll be on our way."


    "Your hat." Felix tossed the pointed hat back to the student.


    "T-Thank you, Professor!" The young wizard thanked him and was promptly dragged away by hispanion.


    As they left, they couldn''t help discussing the words of the two professors. Felix faintly heard phrases like "Tongue-Tying Curse" and "taught in the Dueling ss..."


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 Chapter 142: A Small Gathering

    Chapter 142: A Small Gathering


    Three broomsticks.


    Madam Rosmerta brought two cups of mead. "The finest oak-aged mead, low in alcohol content, you''ll surely enjoy."


    "Thank you, madam."


    She smiled, nodding, then turned to attend to other guests.


    Berlby surveyed the ambiance of the tavern. Apart from a few young wizards and witches, there were also seven or eight adult wizards engaged in hushed conversations.


    "I feel like this ce is doing much better business than the Hog''s Head," he remarked.


    "The Hog''s Head specializes in strong spirits, not frequented by young wizards," Felix Harp exined. "Also, the appeal of the proprietor and the interior environment there is worlds apart."


    Berlby cast a nce at the graceful figure of Madam Rosmerta and then thought of the wrinkles on the Hog''s Head owner''s face and the dirty sses, particrly the grimy and decaying aura inside the bar...


    "Well, you''re right. If I were in your ce, I wouldn''t have anypelling reason to go there either."


    Felix took a sip of the mead, its taste exquisite. The sweetness of honey and the fragrance of oak intertwined on his lips, almost masking the taste of alcohol. Yet, as the liquid slid down his throat, a gentle wave of warmth surged into his heart, leaving him pleasantly cozy all over.


    "How does it feel to be back at school, Damocles? It''s been nearly a month, hasn''t it?"


    "Quite rxing, actually. I feel younger again," Berlby said with a chuckle. "But sometimes, I really do wish I could knock on some students'' heads to see if they''re filled with bubotuber pus."


    Felix looked at him wordlessly. Indeed, you''re quite the Potions Master, toe up with such a fresh analogy.


    Bubotuber pus was an extremely unsightly substance from a nt, and its pus wasn''t any less repugnant. It was a viscous, yellow-green liquid with a pungent odor of petroleum.


    But it wasn''t entirely his fault; the challenges posed by students struggling in his sses surpassed Felix in all aspects. This was because Dark Arts Defense was a mandatory course, and before the sixth year, every young wizard had to take it.


    As everyone knew, the quality of instruction for this course had always been subpar.


    Felix remarked, "There must be some good students, though."


    "That''s true," Berlby reflected for a moment. "I might have been lecturing a bit too quickly. You see, topensate for previous shorings. Take second years, for instance. They''ve barely encountered any low-risk magical creatures, let alone handling minor curses."


    "Is that what your potions are for?"


    "Exactly. I''vepiled a list of minor curses they''ve learned and made a special topic out of it, teaching them how to deal with these spells."


    "Sounds quite nice, Damocles. You''ve got a knack for teaching."


    "No, Felix, your ''Answering Parchment'' has been a huge help to me."


    Felix looked at him in puzzlement.


    Berlby exined, "I''ve converted the research I''ve gathered into test questions and put them on the Answering Parchment for them toplete after ss. It''s part of their homework."


    This is... online assignments?


    Theprehensive version of the Answering Parchment had been avable for a while. Each professor received a dragonhide scroll that allowed them to modify and add questions rted to their subjects¡ªFelix had opened up this functionality.


    But most professors seemed to focus more on fifth and seventh years. They transferred the questions from recent years'' OWL and NEWT exams. As for the other years, they probably only provided key areas and corresponding chapters.


    Seemingly, nobody had yet realized this innovative use for the parchment...


    Felix Harp looked at him, and Berlby seemed somewhat embarrassed as he said, "Although I only intended to substitute teach for half a year, I still hope to make an impact. Honestly, I don''t want young witches and wizards to tell the new professor next year how awful I was."


    "Don''t worry, in the past decade, there''s probably been no better Defense Against the Dark Arts professor than you," Felix Harp said empathetically. He had encountered most of the Defense Against the Dark Arts professors in thest ten years during his own schooling, and the remaining few had average reputations at best.


    Not to mention the past two years ¨C one was a dark wizard and the other, a chatan.


    As this gathering came to an end, Berlby discussed histest teaching ns. "Apart from the topic on minor curses, I also want to create a topic about Forbidden Forest creatures. There are many dangerous magical creatures there as well."


    He formally extended an invitation to Felix Harp to join him in exploring the Forbidden Forest.


    Seeing his slightly hesitant tone, Felix understood that Berlby was concerned about the influence of curses and wanted a partner to look out for each other in case of danger, to avoid being isted and helpless in case of an ident.


    Like encountering a st-Ended Skrewt, perhaps?


    After a moment of thought, Felix agreed. He was also nning to thoroughly explore the Forbidden Forest and gather some magical ingredients.


    Every time he looked at his snake-toothed carving knife, he felt like it was mocking him.


    Felix had even considered converting the unicorn dagger Hagrid had given him into a magical carving knife.


    Back at the school, the two went their separate ways.


    On his way back to his office, Felix Harp saw a few young witches and wizards with evident awe and gratitude in their expressions, which left him puzzled.


    Has the story about Peeves spread? I hope it''s not some oundish rumor again.


    It wasn''t until he encountered the third group of young witches and wizards that he saw the same kind of look. Unable to contain his curiosity, Felix called out to one of them, "Justin, what''s been happening in the castletely?"


    Justin Finch-Fletchley looked at him with admiration and said, "Professor Harp, it''s about Peeves."


    Felix Harp thought to himself, Just as I suspected. I hope it''s not a rumor that ims I got rid of Peeves?


    He gently asked, "Tell me more."


    Justin was somewhat excited as he continued, "A few Slytherin students said you couldn''t stand Peeves'' pranks and used magic to teach him a lesson."


    So far, so good, Felix Harp thought.


    "Go on."


    "¡­Everyone noticed that Peeves has be rather peculiar. He seems to be mimicking the speech of different students and acting silly and dazed."


    Still no issues up to this point.


    "And then?" He wanted to know where the information dissemination went awry.


    "Then, Fred and George Weasley noticed Peeves'' odd behavior. They conjured arge fan and paraded Peeves around the castle, showcasing him everywhere."


    Felix Harp raised an eyebrow. "¡­ Quite a creative idea. Did they get into any trouble?"


    "Does attracting a bunch of ghosts count?"


    "Ghosts?"


    "Yes, they were pping and cheering on the side, especially a short and chubby one with big sses. She was absolutely thrilled," Justin Finch-Fletchley exined.


    Weeping Myrtle, perhaps? Felix Harp spected.


    "Where are they now?" He intended to go and see.


    "Oh, they were originally in the courtyard¡ªnning an impromptu gathering, but then Professor McGonagall took them away."


    "She didn''t seem too pleased," Justin added.


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 Chapter 143: The Trial of the Crown

    Chapter 143: The Trial of the Crown


    Felix Harp dismissed Justin and returned to his office.


    He had never imagined he woulde to know individuals like the Weasley twins. They seemed to devote all their passion to pranks and mischief. No wonder Professor McGonagall''s expression turned so sour whenever the twins were mentioned.


    "I wonder how their magical mobile phones areing along?" Felix pondered. Although the wizarding world generally shunned Muggle technology, its influence could still be faintly seen.


    For instance, the Hogwarts Express, the Knight Bus, magical radios... these were recognized by the Ministry of Magic, legal for use, though they required proper regtion.


    The Ministry had a specialized department - the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office - responsible for handling rted matters.


    The word "misuse" really spoke volumes.


    Most vitors tampered with Muggle items to infuse them with magic, only to have these enchanted objects find their way back into the hands of Muggles, causing various magical mishaps.


    As for Felix, altering existing mobile phones wasn''t difficult if he wanted to. The simplest method was to inscribe magical runes on them, blocking Hogwarts'' interference, just as he had done with the small movie projector.


    But what would that achieve?


    He yearned to witness the wizarding world embrace more possibilities, more benign developmental changes, rather than convincing wizards to carry around mobile phones.


    If there was hope in his heart for the twins, that was indeed an undeniable truth.


    These scattered thoughts flitted through his mind before fading away.


    Felix waved his wand, securing the doors and windows, and cast a magical thief-detection spell. When someone entered the enchanted range, the spell caster would be alerted.


    He took the crown from his ring. Lady Ravenw had repaired it, transforming it from a worn and corroded shape into a gem-encrusted, shining diadem.


    The crown took the form of an eagle, with a sky-blue gemstone set on its chest. Two outspread wings were symmetrically adorned with meticulously arranged pearls.


    Felix donned the crown.


    "Nothing seems to have changed..."


    He silently contemted for two minutes, jotting down notes on a piece of parchment:


    -No apparent change when worn;


    Next, Felix picked up a stack of parchment, information he had obtained from Lohart. However, what he referred to as the "Hidden Legacy" was actually a "surprise" left by Lady Ravenw for the students of her house.


    Felix forced himself to momentarily forget the crown''s presence and studied the magical content on it carefully. He had memorized this information long ago, and he even had a shaky grasp on the ancient magic contained within.


    But this time, he felt a difference.


    His thoughts became more agile, like countless tiny bubbles rising to the surface of simmering water. essing existing knowledge became much easier.


    Digesting new information was essentially an ongoing process of internalization ¨C connecting unfamiliar things to one''s existing cognitive framework.


    And this process required continually mobilizing what one already knew to understand the unknown.


    The crown significantly elerated this process.


    As Felix Harp delved into the study of Memory Magic, the associated memories were unmistakably activated. They brimmed with an extreme vivacity, seemingly calling out to him: "I can connect with this; take a look at me!"


    Felix Harp jotted down on parchment¡ª


    -Easier to ess simr types of knowledge while wearing it;


    After some thought, he added, "Heavily influenced by one''s own reservoir of knowledge, cannot directly provide knowledge."


    To verify this conclusion, Felix Harp perused his collection and retrieved a copy of "The Political Attributes of Power." This book was once among the alternate Christmas presents for Professor Snape. He chose it because the text was small and dense, and its content was so mind-numbingly dry that it could nearly cause one to go bald from sheer boredom.


    He persevered through a dozen pages, feeling his stomach churning.


    He wrote a line on the parchment¡ª


    -Limited assistance forpletely unfamiliar fields, knowledge gaps.


    Then, he proceeded to conduct seven or eight more tests, continuously recording them on parchment.


    Unbeknownst to him, the day had gradually turned dark.


    Felix Harp surveyed the entries on the parchment,paring them in his mind to the Room of Requirement, the Thought elerator, and Baruffio''s Brain Elixir.


    Of the three, the Thought elerator emphasized enhancing reaction speed, effectively a dueling magic;


    The other two, the Room of Requirement boosted thought-processing speed, creating the illusion of extended time. In essence, it allowed you to aplish conclusions that would take three hours in reality in just one hour;


    However, it didn''t connect to the real world; after all, one couldn''t improve practical skills through mere "thought."


    As for Baruffio''s Brain Elixir, it was less demanding. It significantly boosted intellectual capacity, and being a potion used in the real world, it was effective for both memorization and magical practice. Yet, it leaned more towards memory retention, and many young wizards hoped to cram with it before exams.


    "Indeed, the crown is more useful." Just the ability to activate specific areas of knowledge and elerate the absorption of new knowledge of the same type was enough to make it highly desirable.


    Moreover, since he began his research until now, roughly six or seven hours had passed, and Felix Harp felt nothing more than a bit hungry as a residual effect.


    Taking precautions, Felix Harp retrieved the ''Psychometric Chart'' that he hadn''t used in a long time. He made modifications and prepared to record data for a month.


    He wasn''t concerned about Lady Ravenw''s potential harm, but rather the fear of any unknown effects.


    Felix Harp removed the crown, gazing at it thoughtfully. "Aside from having a slightly feminine design, there are no obvious drawbacks."


    "In reality, upon closer inspection, it''s simply delicate and elegant; not necessarily exclusive to women. After all, Lady Ravenw was quite formidable..."


    After ten o''clock in the evening, Felix Harp was getting ready to rest when a copper Knut in his pocket suddenly grew scorching.


    "At longst."


    Felix Harp tightly grasped the heated Knut¡ªa match for the one he gave to Dobby¡ªand infused it with magic, offering a response.


    Then he waited quietly, for about a minute¡ª


    An unmistakably incongruous house-elf d in an old pillowcase materialized in his office. The office immediately emitted a "wailing" sound, which Felix Harp promptly silenced.


    This was a defensive spell he casually cast before beginning his research.


    Dobby the house-elf appeared slightly surprised, but he didn''t inquire further, respectfully greeting, "Dobby greets Mr. Harp. Dobby is so delighted to see you again."


    "As am I, Dobby." Felix Harp replied, "I''ve been waiting for you quite a while."


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 Chapter 144: Practical Lesson?

    Chapter 144: Practical Lesson?


    The small elf shook his body uneasily, and his tennis-ball-sized green eyes stood out even more. "Dobby thinks that since Mr. Harry Potter is already safe... Dobby has no reason to appear again, especially for himself..."


    Felix Harp continued his words, "We were just chatting. Who says house-elves can''t have wizard friends?"


    "Is it true? Dobby¡ªis Dobby allowed to be friends with such a great wizard like you?" The small elf made a praying gesture, and his body leaned forward involuntarily.


    "Of course, Dobby."


    "This, this is truly an honor, Dobby! Dobby is Mr. Harp''s friend!" The small elf bowed deeply, and his long nose touched the floor.


    "Alright, Dobby, let''s get to business. Please have a seat."


    Dobby sat down at the edge of the couch. "Is there anything you''d like to ask?"


    "Dobby, does Lucius Malfoy know about the diary being destroyed?"


    Seeing Dobby''s expression quickly deteriorate and a tendency to hit the wall again, Felix Harp quickly interjected, "Actually, I''ve known for a while. He''spletely unaware of the diary being destroyed."


    "How did you know?" Dobby asked curiously.


    Through your reaction... but Felix answered, "I have my sources."


    Dobby had no doubt about this and instead nodded in agreement.


    Felix continued, "Does Malfoy have any uing travel ns? I''d really like to have a private chat with him."


    He was preparing to corner someone.


    All he needed was a Confundus Charm to make him believe Dobby wasn''t performing well in his duties, leading him to punish Dobby by ''expelling'' him. Simple and direct.


    For other house-elves, being expelled by their masters was a pitiful matter, and they would repeatedly beg for forgiveness. But Dobby was different; he yearned for freedom.


    As long as Lucius exhibited this behavior, Dobby would happily leave Malfoy Manor.


    Of course, all of this had to be kept hidden from Dobby, to avoid strong resistance triggered by the ingrained obedience instinct and prevent things from spiraling out of control.


    But Dobby hesitated and said, "Dobby, Dobby doesn''t know Master''s whereabouts, and Dobby shouldn''t reveal..."


    Felix felt a bit of a headache. He couldn''t tail Lucius, could he? Or break into Malfoy Manor?


    He used a familiar technique, speaking with a confident tone, "Dobby, I actually know. I don''t need to go searching. Malfoy wille to us..."


    "How does Mr. Harp know that Master wille to Hogwarts?" Dobby asked in astonishment.


    So, he wille to Hogwarts? What for? To find Dumbledore?


    "I do know. He muste, on that day..." Felix lowered his voice and said softly.


    "Yes, the young master wrote a letter saying he would definitely win the Quidditch Cup, defeating Potter. But Dobby believes this is unlikely," the small elf said with a biased tone.


    So it''s the day of the Quidditch Cup, Gryffindor against Slytherin? Having obtained the information he wanted, Felix smoothly changed the topic, "I share the same belief. Potter possesses extraordinary talent in Quidditch."


    "Exactly!" Dobby responded excitedly, "Mr. Potter is truly outstanding. If it weren''t for Dobby enchanting the bludger..."


    His mood sank.


    "Nevertheless, I recall that Potter still caught the Golden Snitch," Felix Harp said calmly.


    "For your own protection as well, I suggest you find a moment to apologize to Potter and rify things."


    ...


    A new week began.


    Ancient Runes ssroom.


    With a cheerful expression, Felix Harp addressed the sixth-year students, "Congrattions to all of you forpleting this year''s curriculum ahead of schedule. Truly impressive achievements!"


    The witches and wizards in the audience began to apud.


    Their sentiments were genuine; the pace of learning this year had indeed quickened significantly. Professor Harp introduced various novel and engaging learning methods: magical puppets, ssroompetitions, parchment quizzes, runicpositions, ''forged'' spell scrolls, and thetest addition, the leaderboard.


    Sixth year was a special period. Having just experienced a rigorous year of study and with a wealth of knowledge, they were free from the stress of exams. This allowed Felix to experiment with various fresh approaches in the advanced ss.


    As it turned out, his methods were well-received. Even after the OWLs exams, many students continued with Ancient Runes. Except for a few who had no other options, most genuinely enjoyed the subject.


    Felix looked at them, "We have about three and a half months left until the end of this academic year. We will be introducing a new form of ss: practical lessons."


    Practical lessons in Ancient Runes? That was certainly a novel concept.


    Before Professor Harp arrived, the course had always been treated as theoretical. It was only under his guidance that everyone realized Ancient Runes had practical applications beyond the theoretical realm.


    However, Professor Harp had also mentioned that practical Ancient Runes were meant to "enhance student interest" and wouldn''t be the main focus of the curriculum.


    "Professor, are you suggesting we''ll be working on creating magical puppets?" a witch with long curly hair raised her hand to ask.


    "Miss Crivett, have youpleted repairing your magical puppet?" Felix arched an eyebrow.


    "Not yet, Professor."


    "And that''s the point. When I speak of practicality, I''m referring to the most vivid and intriguing aspects that might appear in your future careers."


    The thirty-odd students in the ssroom exchanged nces, Felix''s words touching upon their gaps in knowledge.


    "Take your wands and satchels and follow me."


    Felix led them to a closed-off ssroom. His fingers touched the door handle, and several runic patterns sparkled in the air, then quickly disappeared.


    "Click!" The door cracked open.


    "Cleverly adding a few runes to a Locking Charm can effectively resist conventional unlocking spells," Felix shared a small tip. "Of course, brute force will still ovee it."


    He pushed open the door, and the students who followed him peered inside.


    The room was pitch-ck, seemingly consuming all light. Just as they were about to scrutinize it, a cold wind swept out from within, causing them to shiver.


    Amidst the gust of wind, faint cawing of crows could be heard.


    "Professor, is this..." a male wizard asked with a touch of fear, "Could this ce be...?"


    Facing a dark wizard''sir across from them?


    Professor Harp''s calm voice exined, "In 1842, the Ministry of Magic discovered an ancient wizard''s hidden dwelling in a swamp. Due to the passage of time, the enchantments had faded, and the house revealed itself."


    "At that time, the Ministry sent a team to explore the secret dwelling and its surroundings, ultimately recovering numerous magical manuscripts."


    The students listened quietly, and then they heard Professor Harp say with evident pride, "I conducted extensive research, and through descriptions and photographs, recreated the scene from that time."


    "Our practical lessons will take ce here. I hope you will enjoy it."


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 Chapter 145: Practical Lesson

    Chapter 145: Practical Lesson


    The ordinary ssroom door seemed to separate two worlds.


    On one side, there was the warm and tranquil school, while on the other sidey an unknown world, dark and asionally swept by chilling drafts.


    The students gazed hesitantly at Professor Harp''s face, as if trying to read something from it, but Felix just looked at them with encouraging eyes.


    Penelope couldn''t help swallowing nervously. Her voice was clear as she spoke. Percy, who sat two seats away, asked, "Professor, there won''t be any danger, will there?"


    "What? Oh, of course not... Why would you think that?" Felix looked at him in surprise, his gaze sweeping across the faces of the others.


    "... I understand. Don''t worry. Well, I have indeed added some interesting surprises that might startle you, but our lesson is always about ancient magical texts, not dark magic defense."


    "Off you go, I''ll be thest one in."


    The male and female wizards entered the room one by one, with Felix following behind and closing the ssroom door.


    "Bang!"


    ...


    In this mysterious space, the light was quite dim, making it difficult for them to determine the exact size of the space.


    Some faint sounds reached their ears: the sound of wind, the calls of crows, the chirping of insects, and some strange and rustling ancient sybles.


    Over thirty students huddled together like quails, standing in ce, unsure of what to do, seemingly awaiting the professor''s instructions. Only seven or eight of them raised their wands, casting a shimmering glow, using the magic''s light to survey their surroundings.


    Felix shook his head, and in the next moment, his voice came from above, as if from the ceiling¡ª


    "Young wizards, you are now employees of the Ministry of Magic from a hundred and fifty years ago, skilled in magical texts. Your task is to inspect the surrounding area, eliminate dangers, and retrieve valuable manuscripts."


    "You must be cautious and thorough, like professionals, not missing even the tiniest clue. Magical manuscripts won''t just be lying around at the doorstep; the carriers of knowledge are not singr. Trust me, there are many things here worth exploring."


    "Now, take out your wands, and when necessary, take out parchment to record. I''ll be watching you closely."


    Afterwards, the voice disappeared.


    Following a brief silence...


    "Cough, cough!" Percy cleared his throat and raised his wand, getting the attention of the others. "I believe this is a test from the professor. We should submit satisfactory answers. As a Prefect, I''m willing to lead the way..."


    "There''s more than one Prefect here!" A Slytherin student countered, amidst the cacophony of voices. Amidst the chaos, the students quickly divided into four groups based on their houses.


    Twelve Ravenws, seven Gryffindors, five Slytherins, and nine Hufflepuffs.


    Each house had a Prefect, and Hufflepuff also selected a respected male wizard. They gathered around a nearby stone, discussing how to proceed.


    "We should explore the boundaries of this ce. It''s quite evident the professor cast an Untraceable Extension Charm; this ce can''t be too big."


    "With all due respect, I think we should find the safe haven the professor mentioned and obtain the manuscript as soon as possible. I don''t want to stay here for even a second longer!"


    "Are you suggesting we split up?"


    "Is that not permissible?"


    "Everyone, no matter what we do, it''s best to act together."


    ...


    Percy advocated exploring the surrounding area first, and clearly defining roles and responsibilities. The Slytherin Prefect, on the other hand, opposed this approach, insisting on quickly locating the safe haven. "That''s the key information the professor provided!"


    In the other two houses, Penelope supported Percy, while Hufflepuff suggested sticking together.


    Ten minutes slipped by quietly.


    But opinions remained divided. In the end, they decided to act as houses and leave one person behind. Every ten breaths, they would release a burst of red sparks into the sky. After ten bursts, they would release green sparks. Everyone would then swiftly return and share their findings.


    Gryffindor and Ravenw walked together, and Slytherin and Hufflepuff teamed up to maintain bnce in numbers.


    "Everyone, repeat after me: Lumos!" Percy said.


    Beams of light emanated from the darkness. Not far away, stars twinkled in response. Both sides felt somewhat reassured.


    They picked a direction at random and advanced cautiously. Originally, they proceeded with caution, but the asional cawing of crows overhead sent shivers down their spines.


    Unconsciously, their pace quickened.


    Percy''s voice, tinged with trembling, came through, "We''re still students. We''re not likely to encounter dangers beyond the ordinary. At most, there might be some minor traps..."


    Penelope''s calm voice chimed in, "We''re just participating in a special practical lesson. It won''tst more than two hours."


    The mood of the young wizards eased slightly.


    "Wait! What''s that over there?" Quidditch Captain Wood pointed ahead.


    "Is it a pile of stones?" Percy squinted into the distance.


    "No, it''s... it''s tombstones!" Wood''s words stumbled.


    Faintly in the shadows, rows of tombstones stood, even darker than the night.


    After a brief moment of panic, five of them gathered and decided to investigate.


    "Don''t worry, there won''t be danger." Percy tried to sound convincing.


    The group of five cautiously approached the tombstones. They stepped on the soft soil, asionally snapping twigs underfoot. In the silence, Percy suddenly spoke, "Penelope, you should stay behind."


    "I''m a Prefect!" Penelope retorted.


    "But..."


    "Oh,e on, you two," the burly Wood turned around. "Can you at least pick a better time for your lover''s quarrel? We''re kind of busy here."


    "Who... who said we''re lovers?" Both of them stared at him dumbfoundedly.


    "I''m not that daft..." Wood muttered to himself.


    Percy and Penelope instantly fell silent. Even the sudden croaking of a frog didn''t sound as eerie anymore.


    In the slightly awkward atmosphere, they entered the area with tombstones.


    "Look here!" Wood pointed at a tombstone. "There are runic inscriptions on it, seems to be¡ª"


    "What?" Percy raised his wand to take a look.


    "I, it''s a skeleton!" Wood''s voice trembled.


    "What?" Percy raised his wand to take a closer look.


    "We, we''re waiting for you here..." Wood swallowed nervously.


    "Gulp!"


    At that moment, they heard a strange noise. Something emerged from the soil in front of Wood''s tombstone.


    Percy''s eyes widened¡ªit was a hand!


    "Run, Wood!" He raised his wand and cast a Disintegration Hex.


    Wood agilely jumped back. With a crisp sound, he saw that the bony arm had shattered.


    "Ah, ah, ah!" Penelope let out a scream. Something had grabbed her ankle. She struggled to free herself and found a pale hand hanging from her ankle.


    "Penelope!"


    Percy shouted. Then he stood in disbelief as he watched Penelope take a few steps back, and with gritted teeth, she released a barrage of spells in one direction: "Reducing Charm!" "Inferno mes!" Intense mes illuminated a corner of the tombstone area. Under the magic''s influence, a sizable pit was created in the ground.


    About thirty secondster¡ª


    A group of people arrived, panting. They looked around in confusion: Percy and Penelope were embracing each other, while two other wizards looked awkwardly into the distance. Wood kicked a skeletal frame with one arm missing disdainfully away from him.


    The skeletal frame was quite odd-looking, about half the height of a person, with short limbs and an unusuallyrge head that almost upied half of its body.


    The big-headed skeleton''s mouth exaggeratedly opened and emitted a quasi-human "Wu lu~ wu lu~" sound, clumsily trying to get up from the ground.


    There should be more updates, but let the author have a meal.


    By the way, seeking votes~ Use your votes to hit me.


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 Chapter 146: Practical Lesson Two

    Chapter 146: Practical Lesson Two


    A faint flush spread across Penelope''s face, while Percy stood beside her, grinning foolishly.


    The Gryffindors cheered enthusiastically, while a few Ravenws shot unfriendly nces at Percy, as if he had snatched some precious treasure. A couple of girls whispered among themselves.


    "Wood, what is this?" a Gryffindor student pointed at the wobbling, struggling little skeleton on the ground. It was anything but menacing.


    "The ''surprise'' Professor Harp mentioned," Wood replied, somewhat frustrated. He had been thoroughly frightened just now.


    The freckled wizard next to him added, "They don''t have any attacking power. They''re just a bit unsettling in the way they appear..."


    As they spoke, a Ravenw girl looked down and saw a pallid hand bone brushing against her shoe. "Aaaah!" she let out an exaggerated scream. Wood stepped forward and crushed the bone with his foot, then shrugged, addressing the others, "See, it''s just this sort of thing."


    He then looked at the girl, "You''re standing a bit close to the edge there, seems that spot hasn''t been cleared."


    Blushing, the girl thanked him.


    "Besides these amusing little skeletons, have you discovered anything else?" someone asked.


    "Tombstones," Percy stated, feigning calmness, "the tombstones have magical inscriptions. I believe they''re important clues."


    "Shall we decipher the magical inscriptions here?" a suggestion was made.


    "Good idea!"


    Several young wizards spread out, each responsible for two or three tombstones. They took parchment from their bags and copied down the inscriptions.


    During this time, the buried skeletons sensed the presence of the living and reached out from the earth, attempting to intimidate them. However, this time the students were mentally prepared and easily evaded their attacks.


    A few bold ones even let the skeletons crawl out, letting them use their delicate bone fingers to scratch at their legs, while they focused on transcribing the tombstone inscriptions.


    Throughout this process, every minute or so, a spark of bright red light would rise in the distance.


    Percy, Penelope, and the others finished their task early, examining each other''s transcribed texts andparing them to the patterns on the tombstones.


    "Look here¡ª" Penelope pointed to the numbers on two adjacent ck stone tombstones, one in front of the other. "These two have consecutive numbers. The first one says, ''Visitors discover a safe house protected by four powerful magical barriers.'' And this one says, ''To the south lies a multitude of shadowy corpses.''"


    Excitedly, she continued, "Shadowy corpses correspond to the tombstones in our group. All we have to do is head north, and we''ll find the safe house!"


    "Penelope, you''re always so clever," Percy praised.


    Penelope hummed, "It seems Professor Harp has taken aplete story and split it among each tombstone. Our task is to piece them together."


    "Hey, folks! Don''t forget to copy down the tombstone numbers, they''ll be useful." Percy turned around and shouted.


    Finally, after a while, a green spark appeared in the distance.


    "We''re retracing our steps now. Have you all finished transcribing?" Getting affirmative responses, they hurried back.


    This time, they returned to their starting point in about two minutes.


    The wizard who had stayed behind looked somewhat pale, "You finally came back. I''ve felt like someone''s been breathing down my neck the whole time..."


    "Thank you for holding down the fort, Dilys."


    Half a minuteter, students from Slytherin and Hufflepuff returned. The Slytherin prefect stood tall, "We''ve found the safe house. If not for the time limit, we would have unraveled the magic on top..."


    "We''ve made important discoveries too," Percy argued.


    "But those are inconsequential, aren''t they?"


    Percy''s face turned red, about to retort, but Penelope quickly held him back. Percy said angrily, "Look at what he''s saying!"


    Wood motioned a Hufflepuff student over, "Glover, what happened?"


    Glover lowered his voice, "We found the safe house in about three minutes, but it''s blocked by a magical puzzle on the wall."


    "What kind of puzzle?"


    "A jigsaw puzzle!" Glover said, "The Slytherin students were staring at it,pletely clueless about how to y."


    So the group relocated to a new location, arriving at the safe house¡ª


    It was a somewhat peculiar square hut, painted in a dark brownish-ck color. From afar, it resembled arge stone, easily overlooked. However, the most crucial aspect was that the hut had no door.


    Wizards and witches from Gryffindor and Ravenw approached, drawing a nine-square grid on each of the hut''s four walls. The final position was left empty.


    "As long as you point your wands at it, like this, the square will move," Glover exined to the others. "Each square contains a runic inscription. It seems we have to arrange them in the correct order to form a sentence."


    "Isn''t that quite simple, just eight runes in total?" Percymented.


    "No, Percy, take a look for yourself." The Hufflepuff student responded.


    Percy scrutinized them, only to realize that he didn''t recognize any of them...


    For a moment, he felt dazed¡ªWho am I? Where am I? And these runes I don''t recognize?


    One could be understandable, but not a single one of them?


    Wood muttered under his breath, "Isn''t it just guessing? Look at this one, I bet it has something to do with ''radiance''."


    The bright students present reconsidered, "Right, this difficulty is beyond our capability in the first ce. The professor must want us to identify and deduce the meanings of the words."


    Having grasped the true purpose of the puzzle, the students exchanged nces. "Each house is responsible for one wall?"


    Percy nced at the Slytherin prefect, "Sounds good."


    Twenty minutes passed...


    The young wizards huddled together, looking frustrated. "This isn''t working! It''s too hard!"


    "Let''s cooperate, Jeffrey," Penelope said calmly, looking at the Slytherin prefect. "This is what the professor intended."


    The Slytherin prefect grumbled something, too indistinct for others to hear, and everyone took it as agreement.


    Students from all four houses sat beneath the nine-square puzzle, staring at the runic inscriptions and engaging in fervent discussions¡ª


    "Doesn''t the first word look a bit like ''Peorth''?" a wizard suggested.


    "I actually think the shape is more like ''Wyn,'' see the angles at its edges?"


    "Wait, I feel like I''ve seen simr runes somewhere before, very much like..." an excited Hufflepuff witch eximed, "Yes, in our fourth-year textbook, there''s a mention of this rune in a reference book, and I just happened to have notes."


    "Found it!" She quickly flipped through her notes, then raised her head, dramatically dering in front of everyone''s gaze, "This word is quite ancient, it''s a representation of ''wisdom''."


    Even though they had only decoded one eighth of the first nine-square grid, they couldn''t help but feel excited.


    Following simr lines of thought, they sessively deciphered all eight runes¡ª


    Penelope counted on her fingers, "Wisdom, excellence unmatched, equivalent or simr, extreme and ultimate, exaggeration, richness or abundance, possession or restraint, gathering or assembly."


    She looked up, "What do you all think?"


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 Chapter 147: Practical Lesson 3

    Chapter 147: Practical Lesson 3


    Laughter filled the air as all the students of Ravenw gathered together.


    Without hesitation, one of the girls spoke, "The wisdom that surpasses others is humanity''s greatest treasure."


    Swiftly, they arranged themselves in the correct sequence. Amidst a radiant glow, the magical inscription on the wall vanished, reced by a dazzling and elegant line of English words that shimmered, "Wit beyond measure is man''s greatest treasure."


    "Yes! That''s it! This wall clearly represents Ravenw. And the other three walls..." Percy eximed with excitement.


    "Represent the other three houses!"


    Everyone had already reached this conclusion.


    Guided by this line of thought, they proceeded to decipher the magical inscriptions on the other three walls one by one:


    "Courage and daring are my best friends." These were the words of Godric Gryffindor.


    "Hard work, honesty, fairness, loyalty." This was how people described Hufflepuff.


    "Surrounded by honor, andpanions of strength." These were the words of a famous Slytherin wizard from history.


    On all four walls, the four lines of text gleamed brightly, causing everyone to unconsciously hold their breath. And as expected, the writing on the walls disappeared.


    In the darkness, the light emitted by their wands served as their only source of illumination. These subdued lights illuminated their excited faces.


    An ordinary-looking door appeared as if it had always been there, and the students entered.


    Inside, there was only a table with a manuscript on it, titled: "An Important Manuscript."


    Jeffery opened the first page, where it read, "Collect four keys to exit this ce." Other than that, the page was nk.


    He scoffed, "Do we really need keys? Can''t we just open the door and leave..." He abruptly stopped, seemingly choked by his own words. Ayer of cold sweat quickly formed on his face. "C-can we still find the door to the ssroom?"


    In a state of mutual bewilderment, Percy addressed the air, "Professor Harp... are you there, Professor Harp?"


    No response came.


    "It seems we must indeed collect the keys," Wood scratched his head, "but where are they?"


    "Of course, they are in the four cardinal directions: east, south, west, and north. Do you remember the magical inscriptions we saw in the graveyard?" Percy exined to Penelope.


    "You mean... that story!"


    "Exactly." Percy said loudly, a hint of excitement making his nose slightly red. "The inscriptions on the gravestones held information about this ce, but there was also something else, namely one of the keys."


    So, the students of Gryffindor and Ravenw took out the parchment they had previously recorded and rearranged them as needed.


    "I have 3-1 here, who has 3-2?"


    "I''m right ahead of you. I have 1-7."


    They stuck the parchments to the wall in order and examined them carefully. "It''s clear that there are ten in each set, and there are four sets in total."


    "The first set introduces the background of the operation in 1842, much like what Professor Harp mentioned..."


    "That''s not important," Jeffery interjected.


    Rolling his eyes, Percy continued, "The second set describes the topography of this ce¡ªbasic directions, north, south, east, west¡ªplus the central safehouse."


    "The third and fourth sets talk about the troubles the Ministry employees faced at the time. Oh, even though the Concealment Charms failed, other protective measures were still active. Look here, one of the defenses involved a horde of dark creatures, the same little skeletons we encountered..."


    "That''s truly wicked! Why didn''t the Ministry capture him?"


    "Well, I suppose it might be because they hadn''t yet established the Ministry at that point..."


    ...


    "What are the other defensive measures?"


    "Boggarts, magical stone statues, and Devil''s Snare," Percy pointed at the text above.


    "Very well~ It seems we''ll be dealing with simr creatures," Wood said, "The boggarts correspond to the little skeletons. It appears that there are substitutes elsewhere as well. But my question is, what''s a Boggart?"


    "A rather rare magical creature. It resembles a ck cloak, gliding close to the ground, hunting during the night. Some say they''re distant rtives of Dementors. Besides their visual simrities, both are susceptible to Patronus spells," Percy exined.


    "Is there anyone here who can cast a Patronus?"


    No one raised their hand.


    Percy revealed a partial truth, "That''s not part of the exam, Wood. Nobody would go to such lengths, spending a lot of time learning a powerful spell that''s not often used."


    Penelope recalled, "Headmaster Flitwick mentioned that spell in ss. I tried a few times, only got a bit of mist. With some guidance..."


    "But Boggarts are quite dangerous creatures. The professors wouldn''t have us deal with them. I guess we''ll end up at the nest of crows?" Percy spected, fairly certain.


    "Enough chatter, where do we start?" Jeffery said.


    "The graveyard. We''re most familiar with that ce, which will save us time."


    "Sounds good."


    They exited the safehouse, Percy held his wand level in his palm and softly whispered to it, "Show me the way."


    The wand spun around, indicating his right side, which was north.


    "So, we need to go in the opposite direction, which will take us back to the graveyard," Percy informed everyone.


    They returned to the graveyard once again, Slytherin and Hufflepuff students pointing and discussing the dark stone gravestones, marveling at them.


    "Look, the skeletal bones have turned into stones," Wood reminded.


    Gryffindor and Ravenw students discovered that the scattered little skeletons had all transformed into piles of broken stones.


    "Quite clever Transfiguration. We never realized it then," a wizard picked up a stone, examining it closely.


    A Ravenw girl said wistfully, "I used to hold this, thinking it was cute."


    Percy gave her a strange look, whispering to Penelope, "Is she always like this?"


    "She''s a fanatic for magical artifacts," Penelope exined.


    "Alright, let''s split up and search. It shouldn''t be too difficult..."


    After seven or eight minutes, a Hufflepuff student found a golden key inside a piece of stone.


    "Where did you find it?"


    Groves pointed to a shattered piece of stone nearby. Wood''s eyes widened, "That''s the little skeleton that attacked me. I kept it intentionally! Who would''ve thought the key was hidden in its skull."


    "Excellent, we''vepleted a quarter of the task. Let''s keep up the momentum..." Percy was about to encourage them when Slytherin Prefect Jeffery approached holding a box.


    "What''s this?"


    "A treasure map," Jeffery said.


    "How did thise about?" Percy''s mind was a bit scrambled. The students gathered around, examining the map inside the box.


    The markings on it were simple. In the southeast direction from the safehouse was a drawing of a bottle, with magical inscriptions symbolizing wealth nearby.


    Just then, a thunderous voice echoed from the sky ¡ª


    "It seems you''re having a jolly time... but I regret to inform you that this unexpected journey is temporarily concluding. Gather your belongings and follow the guide to leave this ce."


    An arrow appeared at their feet.


    After a dozen minutes, they found themselves back in the Ancient Runes ssroom, wearing expressions of confusion and daze.


    "Is it ending like this? We haven''t collected all the keys yet."


    At the front of the ssroom, Felix Harp smiled at them, "ss will be over in a few minutes. To ensure you''re notte, I must interrupt this adventure. But don''t worry¡ª"


    "For the rest of this school year, you''ll be engaged there. In addition to the task of collecting the four keys, you''ll encounter plenty of quirky and delightfully simple tasks..."


    "Like that treasure map?"


    "Exactly, Jeffery," Felix said, "The assignment for this ss is to decipher the runes you''ve encountered andplete a paper no less than a foot in length."


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 Chapter 148: A Few Matters

    Chapter 148: A Few Matters


    As the students left the ssroom in small groups, they tirelessly discussed the intriguing and fascinating experience they had just undergone.


    For instance, a pair of Ravenw girls¡ª


    "To be honest, at first, I really wanted to leave. It was so gloomy there. But now, I''m starting to miss it."


    "Me too! That little skull was so adorable!"


    "...When''s the next ss on magical literature?"


    "Let me check... It''s on Friday."


    "Do we really have to wait that long?"


    "Well, I actually think we''re quite lucky. Just sixth-year students get practical lessons..."


    "Haha, who made us have an abundance of time and knowledge? I must tell students from other years!"


    Their voices gradually faded away.


    Percy and Penelope, avoiding the crowd, had mixed expressions on their faces as their once-hidden romance was now exposed. Especially Percy, who kept furrowing his brows.


    "If it''s discovered, then it''s discovered. What''s the big deal?" Penelope said, looking at him.


    "Penelope, with three younger brothers and a sister at school, any gossip spreads to our parents'' ears," Percy said, "Especially Fred and George, they''d be more than happy to assist with this."


    Percy seemed quite vexed. While he did write letters ofint often, he believed they were justified, like the recent one, "Mom, Fred and George were using fans to make the school ghosts parade. They lost fifty points each and got three weeks of detention..."


    He could imagine how the twin brothers would grin and speak to him¡ª


    "Oh, Percy~ Our model student has finally lightened up~"


    "We must inform Mum of this good news!"


    "And then there''s Bill and Charlie, you''ve surpassed them."


    "How could we forget little Ron and Ginny?"


    Penelope wore an expression of shock and stammered, "Your... your parents will know?"


    "No need to worry," Percy muttered, "At most, they''ll prepare gifts for you during the holidays and invite you over..."


    Penelope''s eyes widened.


    During lunch in the Great Hall, Felix Harp chatted with Nearly Headless Nick and Professor Kettleburn, exchanging conversations that helped rify misunderstandings. They all imed friendship with each other and thus finalized the consensus on the "Ghost Redemption Incident."


    Before long, these words would spread throughout Hogwarts. Eventually, the fervor would die down, and fewer people would pay attention, everything fading like receding tides.


    The truth of the matter would submerge in time, asionally resurfacing like a simr flower.


    The following time passed swiftly, Hogwarts moving forward like a well-ordered machine. Professors and students wereponents of this colossal entity, pushed forward without any unexpected disruptions.


    It was only until the Easter break that a few matters managed to leave an impression in Felix Harp''s mind¡ª


    He hinted to Dumbledore about Dobby''s awkward situation, and the old man understood his implied message. He didn''t rush to clear Hagrid''s name. The diary, still emanating a strong dark aura, remained locked in the Headmaster''s office.


    "Felix, you''re doing the right thing," the old man said, though he was unaware of Felix''s n to Confund Lucius.


    His assistant hadpleted the first set of runic circuits but was still struggling to restore the bead pouch.


    The snake-skin from the Basilisk was continuously treated with magic to tan it. The process was extremely slow, but Felix wasn''t willing topromise. He nned to use both the Basilisk skin and dragonhide to craft a magical cloak along with an undeyer.


    Finally, Peeves had returned to normal. Others told Felix because he hadn''t encountered Peeves recently.


    Aside from these matters, Berby mentioned during a casual conversation that he and Professor Snape hadpleted the first round of improvements to the Wolfsbane Potion, reducing the cost to a third of its original, albeit at the expense of a significantly worse taste.


    "Sounds good. Perhaps you two might share a Merlin''s Order of Valor," Felix suggested.


    "I don''t think so. Just look at the recent newspapers! All this talk about ''Lycanthrope''s Blessing'' and ''Lycanthrope Registry Amendment.'' Only registered and supervised werewolves have the right to buy Wolfsbane. The Ministry is using my potion to control scattered werewolves..."


    "It might not be all bad, as long as their list..."


    "Hmph! Leaks have happened more than once. Many werewolves would rather hide their identities than use the potion, not to mention they can''t afford it."


    Berby was quite dissatisfied with the Ministry''s approach.


    ...


    In thetest Dueling ss, young wizards learned a new spell, "Petrificus Totalus," which tightly bound their opponent''s arms and legs, leaving them stiff and rigid, fallen like a nk of wood.


    Felix exined, "The Full Body-Bind Curse is in the book ''Curses and Counter-Curses''¡ªWonderful."


    "The spell is quite simple, even younger students can learn it..."


    At this point, Harry and Ron looked at Hermione; she had used this spell to petrify Neville back in their first year.


    "Of course, personally, its effect is not as immediate as Stupefy, nor is its power as strong. For instance, at your level, if you point your wand at me and cast this spell, I might just stiffen slightly. However... it''s sufficient for handling school troubles. Completely adequate."


    Felix and Snape coborated to conjure hundreds of cushions in the Great Hall, ensuring the students'' safety while practicing.


    "Ron! You''re supposed to fall onto the cushion!" Hermione scolded Ron, whonded rigidly on the floor.


    After the spell wore off, Ron grimaced, "Easy for you to say. Can you adjust yournding when you''re hit?"


    Hermione nervously changed the topic.


    Felix and Snape watched the young wizards practice, discussing with each other.


    "Tsk tsk, even with such a simple spell, half of the students haven''t mastered it," Snape muttered, radiating a sense of low pressure.


    "But they''re improving quickly, aren''t they? Seeing clumsy students excel under your guidance, Severus, doesn''t that give you a sense of aplishment?"


    Snape shot him a harsh re.


    Felix counted on his fingers, "Disarming, Protego, Silencio, Petrificus Totalus. Berby also taught them the heightened senses charm and the banishing charm in Dark Arts Defense ss."


    "Combined with the prank spells they already know, that''s quite a repertoire."


    Snape''s gaze rested on him, "Are you suggesting¡ª"


    "Emphasizing other aspects, like footwork and situational assessment, especially realbat."


    "I have no objections, Felix." Snape''s voice was faint, his expression elusive.


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 Chapter 149: Forbidden Forest

    Chapter 149: Forbidden Forest


    The Easter holidaysted about two weeks, and during this time, Hogwarts had transitioned into summer. The school was adorned with lush bushes and evergreen shrubs.


    However, the students didn''t feel the leisure of the holiday at all. Professors had assigned a significant amount of homework, making the Easter break much less fun than the Christmas holidays.


    Especially under Professor Burbage''s guidance, the professors (led by Professor McGonagall) had discovered new uses for the parchment quizzes, continuously updating them with various questions.


    In themon room, Ron stared at the parchment, crafting a simple dice from it to choose answers based on the results of his rolls.


    To his surprise, he rolled three sixes in a row.


    He tapped the parchment with the tip of his wand, eximing in frustration, "Look here, there are only five possible answers at most. If you give me a non-existent option again..."


    Impatiently, Hermione lifted her head. "Can''t you just focus and do the work properly?"


    Ron slumped onto the table with a despairing look. "What can I do? Every professor left so much homework."


    "You simply piled up all your assignments till thest minute! For the first three days, you went to watch Harry train every day!"


    Amidst the bickering, Harry returned with a tired body. He looked quite exhausted.


    "Harry, are you alright?" Hermione asked with concern. "You don''t look too good."


    "I''m fine," Harry said, noticing his voice was unusually hoarse. He cleared his throat and exined, "Spent too much time discussing tactics with Wood..."


    "We''re currently in the lead, Slytherin''s second, and the points are close," Harry continued.


    "How big is the gap?" Ron asked with interest, stuffing the parchment quiz into his backpack absentmindedly.


    "Thirty points."


    "That''s a dangerous number."


    "Wood said the same. They''re getting more proficient with the new brooms and have earned quite a few points in the recent matches."


    "When''s the next game?"


    "The first Saturday after the holiday ends."


    Harry took out his parchment and started working on his assignments. He noticed Hermione using different-colored inks to draw squares.


    "What''s that?" he asked.


    Hermione didn''t look up. "Revision schedule."


    Ron''s mouth dropped open. "Hermione, aren''t you thinking way too ahead?"


    "I have to remind you," Hermione raised her head, looking at them with a serious expression. "We''re only six weeks away from exams."


    ...


    In the heart of the Forbidden Forest,


    Felix Harp and Bellby trudged through knee-high grass, making their wayboriously. There were no paths left here; everywhere they looked were towering trees, low shrubs, and rampant herbaceous nts.


    A thinyer of mist painted the Forbidden Forest with an ethereal hue.


    During the Easter break, Felix and Bellby had decided to explore the Forbidden Forest together. Bellby aimed to gather materials for his Dark Magic Defense ss on Forbidden Forest creatures, while Felix simply wanted to encounter some intriguing new flora and fauna and gather some materials for his experiments.


    "Damocles, wait up!"


    Felix crouched down, parting a clump of shrubbery, carefully uprooting a magical nt with ck roots and white flowers.


    Bellby nced at it and said excitedly, "Is that ckroot? It''s quite rare. What are you nning to do with it?"


    "Prepare a potion, a recipe I found in the library. It can neutralize the chilling properties of magical creature materials."


    Bellby pondered, "I''m not sure about that. I just know that consuming ckroot helps resist the harm of Dark Magic."


    "Is the effect that impressive?" Felix looked at the ck nt in his hand with surprise.


    "I would say it has some effect... though brewing it into a potion would be better. It works wonders against various harms caused by Dark Magic." Bellby was an authority on this subject.


    Felix transnted the ckroot into a copper vessel, and Bellby took out a thumb-sized transparent ss vial from his robes, carefully adding two drops of liquid onto it. "Alright, it should survive the transnting period¡ªif you intend to keep it."


    "I need its flowers. Which part do you need?" Felix inquired.


    "The roots," Bellby replied without hesitation.


    They exchanged a knowing smile, the result of three days of adventuring in the Forbidden Forest. They hade to understand each other''s attitudes and habits well.


    A heavy footstep sounded in the distance¡ª


    Both of them aimed their wands in that direction simultaneously.


    The shrubbery ahead rustled vigorously. In the dim light, Bellby tensely called out, "Who''s there?"


    The Forbidden Forest was also known as the Dark Forest due to its dense, towering trees that blocked out the sunlight.


    "Woof! Woof!" A massive ck hound emerged from the thick leaves, followed by a burly man.


    His imposing height made him seem like a giant. His tangled ck hair and beard covered much of his face.


    "Hello, Hagrid," Felix greeted.


    Hagrid carried arge bucket and cast a wary look at Bellby before spotting Felix behind him. His expression eased. "Hello, Felix."


    Hagrid asked gruffly, "What''re you lot doin'' here?"


    "Finding some magical materials," Felix indicated the copper vessel in his hand. Then, he discreetly stowed the ckroot into a specificpartment of his ring.


    Bellby said politely, "I''m here to learn about Forbidden Forest creatures, pick some for my lessons with young wizards."


    "Is that so?" Hagrid asked with interest. "Got any targets?"


    "Some of the more dangerous ones," Bellby said, "Regr magical creatures aren''t part of Dark Magic Defense."


    Suddenly, Felix spoke up, "Hagrid, I heard Professor Kettleburn has officially retired. He rmended you to Dumbledore."


    Hagrid''s face reddened. "Yeah, I didn''t bring it up with anyone else, felt a bit... uncertain ''bout it. But Dumbledore promised to sort out my identity issue. He''s a man of his word."


    Next, Hagrid led them around the vicinity, always easily spotting traces left by various magical creatures. Pointing to an indentation on the ground, he said, "Looks a bit like a porcupine''s footprint, maybe a Skrewt. Seen a few of ''em before..."


    They walked on for a while, and Hagrid said, "Up ahead is the unicorns'' territory. They just had foals, so they''re extra vignt."


    Hagrid ced therge bucket on an open patch of ground, took a step back, and whistled.


    Two to three minutester, a majestic, agile male unicorn walked out, its fur as white as snow. It watched Felix and Bellby warily.


    "Lupin, they''re my friends," Hagrid shouted from a distance. He then turned to the two of them and exined, "I''ve brought ''em some nourishment, good for the female unicorns after giving birth. In a while, I''ll be able to get closer. Right now, they''re at their most vignt."


    The unicorn nodded at Hagrid and carried the bucket away.


    Bellby asked with great interest, "Are they always this proud?"


    Hagrid replied in his booming voice, "Not really, take humans, for instance. To some creatures, we''re quite peculiar too, don''t even eat raw meat. It''s all about habits, isn''t it?"


    "A fascinating perspective, Hagrid." Felix added.


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 Chapter 150: Fantastic Beasts

    Chapter 150: Fantastic Beasts


    Not long after, the male unicorn returned. It walked elegantly before the three, bowing its head and setting down an empty bucket.


    Up close, Felix Harp noticed its mane shimmering with a glow as white as pearls. Even the shadowy depths of the Forbidden Forest couldn''t hide the dancing light that emanated from its form.


    On a high, brown slope, a slender unicorn gazed at them from a distance. Beside it stood a small unicorn with golden fur.


    "Look, look," Hagrid couldn''t contain his excitement, rubbing his hands together,pletely enchanted. "That''s your child, isn''t it, Ruby?"


    The unicorn named "Ruby" affectionately nuzzled Hagrid''s hand.


    Soon, with a few bounds, Ruby and its family ascended the slope and disappeared into the distance.


    The mottled silver-white light followed their figures until they werepletely gone.


    "I''ll show you around," Hagrid said. "I don''t really have much else to do."


    He looked at the ck dog. "Fang, you can head back home."


    Fang bared his teeth, emitting a soft growl.


    "Go on, don''t worry, I''ll be backter." Hagrid''srge hand patted Fang''s head.


    Only after Fang''s form vanished did Hagrid realize he was still holding a bucket.


    "I should have had Fang take the bucket back," he muttered in frustration.


    Felix tapped his wand on it, transforming it into a silver staff.


    Hagrid waved it excitedly a couple of times, and the staff produced an imprable silver light, emitting a "whoosh" sound that nearly hit Belby''s head.


    "Careful, Hagrid!"


    "Uh, sorry, got a bit carried away there. Did I hear right, your name is Belby?"


    "Belby, Damocles Belby."


    "Oh, um, alright then, Professor Belby."


    In the dense jungle, Hagrid led the way while Felix Harp and Professor Belby followed behind him.


    As they walked, they engaged in conversation.


    "Hagrid, I''ve heard there are werewolves and giants in the Forbidden Forest, is that true?" Felix asked with interest. He was skeptical, as he had never encountered them during his night wanderings using the Disillusionment Charmst semester.


    "You''re talking about that, huh?" Hagrid grumbled. "It''s true, but they''re on the other side of the forest, far from us."


    Due to his involvement in brewing wolfsbane potion, Professor Belby had delved into the subject of werewolves. He couldn''t help but ask, "Why would werewolves live in the Forbidden Forest?"


    Hagrid widened his eyes, paused for a moment, and then waved his hand, saying, "Don''t ask me, I''m not sure either. Most werewolves prefer to live apart from others. I even know of some living with wolf packs. I reckon they might be feeling quite heartbroken..."


    They quickly moved on from this topic, and Felix asked, "Hagrid, are there any interesting magical creatures in the Forbidden Forest?"


    This question yed right into Hagrid''s hands. He listed off a string of names, each one familiar to Felix: "Acromant, Hippogriffs, Billywig, Thestrals, Cerberus, Flobberworm, Bowtruckle, Knarl, Sphinx..."


    Professor Belby quickly took note, realizing that some of the names sounded quite dangerous.


    "There are quite a few humanoid creatures too. Apart from Centaurs, Giants, and Werewolves, I remembering across a group of Flower Fairies." Hagrid said, "Of course, they just look human-like with wings, you know."


    Felix was familiar with these creatures, also known as flower fairies. They were generally 1 to 5 inches in height and closely resembled humans¡ªexcept for the pair of insect-like wings on their backs.


    They were divided into different tribes based on their wing types, ranging from transparent to vividly colored.


    Unlike the wise and intelligent fairy depicted in Muggle tales, these creatures generally had low intelligence, liked to argue, and couldn''t speak humannguages.


    But Felix''s focus wasn''t on this part¡ª


    "Fluffy, the three-headed dog? I feel like I''ve heard that name somewhere."


    Cough, cough! Hagrid coughed suddenly, scrambling to exin, "Must have misheard, have I ever mentioned that to you?"


    Felix Harp gazed at him with a calm expression. Somehow, Hagrid felt his gaze was reminiscent of Dumbledore''s. He nervously scratched his cheek, "Alright, I admit it. I did keep Fluffy in the Forbidden Forest. It''s a three-headed dog I raised, the situation is quiteplicated..."


    "Hagrid," Felix spoke softly, "As far as I know, a three-headed dog is more dangerous than a lone giant."


    "Oh, uh, well..." Hagrid stammered for a while before finally drooping his head, disheartened. "You''re right, Felix. So I moved it deep into the Forbidden Forest, even farther from the school. I visit it once a month, poor Fluffy, it''s still so small..."


    He sniffled sadly, tears glistening in his eyes.


    Felix and Belby remained silent, unspoken. Adult three-headed dogs were at least three to four meters tall, highly dangerous magical creatures capable of taking on giants one-on-one without a disadvantage.


    ...


    With Hagrid''s guidance, Professor Belbypleted his objective swiftly, and Felix Harp also collected various odds and ends.


    They encountered the Bowtruckle, small creatures covered in bumps that resembled brown twigs. These little ones clung to wand trees, peering down with curiosity;


    They saw the eagle-headed, horse-bodied, winged creatures that matched their own name perfectly: Hippogriffs. Their bright orange eyes were especially striking;


    They even stumbled upon the Jobberknoll, a blue bird-like creature near a body of water, upying an area with its presence...


    Felix even found one of the giant spider''srge pincers in a rocky, winding path.


    As the sky gradually darkened, the dwindling light within the Forbidden Forest quickly faded, and the trees seemed to turn ck. They prepared to return to the castle.


    "The way is long; we might not make it back in time for dinner," Hagrid raised his arm, using his silver staff and the other arm to part the dense branches above. He looked at the sky tinged with hues of sunset.


    With his gesture, golden light spilled, forming a radiant circle near the trio.


    Felix squinted, adjusting to the sudden brightness.


    "I have a better way, Hagrid."


    He extended his hands, cing one on Professor Belby''s shoulder and the other on Hagrid''s waist.


    "What?" Hagrid asked, somewhat astonished.


    The next moment, their bodies twisted rapidly and vanished from their original spots.


    The branches, now unsupported, snapped back suddenly, and a few leaves fluttered down.


    At the edge of the Forbidden Forest, not far from Hagrid''s hut, the three figures reappeared abruptly.


    Hagrid surveyed the surroundings. After spotting his hut, he eximed with excitement, "This is Apparition! Truly convenient! Honestly, I''ve never experienced this magic before..."


    "I''ve heard former wizards at the pub talk about it. They thought using a Portkey or Apparating for travel were the acts of fools¡ªyou''d at least take half a day to get used to that nauseating feeling, but it''s not as bad as they make it sound."


    Felix shook his head. Apparating with Hagrid was much more challenging than doing it alone.


    After dinner in the Great Hall, Felix returned to his office.


    He took out today''s haul from his ring: a pile of magical nts stacked in the corner. He nned to visit Professor Sprout to inquire about transnting and cultivating. They didn''t need meticulous care, just enough to sustain them until he was ready to use them.


    There were also materials from magical creatures, such as the giant pincer of the Acromant, feathers from the Hippogriffs, and stingers from the Billywig. He intended to experiment with their magical properties one by one.


    Just past eight o''clock, he heard a knock on the door. Opening it, he found his assistant standing outside.


    "Professor, I have some questions I''d like to consult you about, regarding course selection."


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 Chapter 151: Course Selection

    Chapter 151: Course Selection


    "Pleasee in," Felix Harp said.


    The two sat across from each other on the sofa, tes of assorted treats and two cups of pumpkin juice floated onto the small table.


    "Oh, thank you," Hermione said. "Professor Harp, I haven''t properly thanked you for the beautiful Easter eggs you sent."


    She didn''t have many friends, and her Easter chocte eggs were usually limited to her parents, roommates, Harry, and Ron.


    "It''s nothing, I''m d you liked them," Felix replied courteously. He had ordered a batch from a candy shop and had given them to close acquaintances like Hogwarts professors, students, and pen pals he was closely connected with.


    In his view, it was a matter of social courtesy.


    Aside from attaching handwritten cards, he hadn''t put much thought into it¡ªafter all, one couldn''t expect cafeteria staff to be skilled in making Easter eggs.


    "Miss Granger, do you have any questions about your third-year course selection? And shouldn''t you be consulting Professor McGonagall about this?"


    "I''ll be talking to Professor McGonagall tomorrow," Hermione nodded, took a deep breath, and continued, "In fact, I''ve checked off all the courses, even though some people say there might be scheduling conflicts. But from what I know, Percy, Ron''s brother, he took all the courses in his third year..."


    "Percy Weasley?" Felix blinked. "He did excel in Ancient Runes."


    "I don''t want to give up on any subject. What I mean is¡ª" she said slowly, "since someone can do it, why can''t I?"


    Felix understood her mindset. "So, you want to know the secrets behind it from me?"


    "Yes, Professor, if you''re willing to reveal."


    "Hmm, it''s a semi-public secret among professors, but they do their best not to share it with other students and go to great lengths to conceal it... Of course, some bright individuals can surely pick up on the anomalies."


    "Are you one of them, too? Or perhaps you''re a firsthand witness to this secret, like Percy?" Hermione''s breath slowed as she looked at Felix with hopeful eyes.


    "Unfortunately, I also learned about itter. During my school days, I didn''t choose Muggle Studies and Arithmancy, which led me to miss out on a valuable opportunity," he said with a somewhat mncholic expression.


    "You didn''t take Muggle Studies?" Hermione looked at Felix in disbelief.


    "Yes, at the time I thought that ss was a waste of time. No one could have foreseen that I wouldter be an expert in Muggle-rted issues."


    Hermione thought to herself that she couldn''tprehend it either; it was truly absurd. However, considering Professor Harp''s Muggle background, it wasn''t entirely unfamiliar.


    "So, this secret is¡ª"


    "Using a Time-Turner, which allows you to go back a few hours."


    "Go back in time?" Hermione stared at him in shock. "But, Professor, that''s impossible!"


    "Otherwise, why would students choose two conflicting sses?" Felix retorted.


    Hermione was left speechless.


    She heard Professor Harp continue, "I haven''t studied the intricate details of this magical creation, so I don''t know its exact mechanics. But from publicly avable information, the Ministry of Magic strictly regtes the use of Time-Turners, enacting hundreds ofws and imposing the severest penalties for misuse."


    "But then why would students¡ª"


    "Strict guarantees and scrutiny are needed, Miss Granger. In ces unseen by you, sessive Hogwarts headmasters¡ªcurrently Dumbledore¡ªact as guarantors, while Professor McGonagall must write various letters attesting that the user is an exemry student, ensuring it won''t be used for purposes outside of learning."


    Hermione suddenly thought of a nickname for Percy¡ªExemry Percy.


    "So, if you were to apply, Professor McGonagall shouldn''t refuse," Felix Harp reassured her.


    If his assistant obtained a Time-Turner, perhaps he''d have a chance to conduct research? However, Felix cautiously approached this sudden idea, as he mostly saw dangerous cases of Time-Turner misuse in the scarce information avable.


    Using a Time-Turner wasn''t dangerous; the dangery in arrogantly manipting time.


    Hermione left with contentment.


    As she left, Professor Harp warned her, "Don''t reveal the existence of the Time-Turner to anyone. It would greatly trouble Professor McGonagall and pose a significant threat to the user."


    ...


    Other second-year wizards were also worrying about course selection, as it would directly impact their futures¡ªafter this course selection, the subjects for OWLs and NEWTs exams would be essentially determined.


    Each young wizard had their own methods¡ª


    Students from wizarding families would discuss this matter in detail with their families, but sometimes, this could have a reverse effect. For example, Neville''s rtives had all written him conflicting advice, leaving him bewildered and unsure.


    "Do you think that Arithmancy sounds harder than Ancient Runes?" When Hermione returned, she saw Neville asking Harry for his opinion in themon room.


    "Um... maybe?" Harry mumbled, looking at a course selection form and course materials.


    Ron patted Neville''s shoulder. "Mate, obviously you should choose Ancient Runes!"


    Neville hesitated. "My memory isn''t great, and Professor Snape said¡ª"


    "Oh, don''t listen to him. He doesn''t have a kind word to say about anyone," Ron whispered mysteriously. "Let me tell you a secret¡ªProfessor Harp is the strongest among all the teachers. Once you be his student, Snape won''t dare to bully you anymore."


    "But... Professor Harp was Snape''s student too~"


    Ron was left speechless and stammered, "Maybe they don''t get along, you know?" He saw Hermione entering and immediately sought her support. "Hermione, you must know, right?"


    "I haven''t seen any evidence that the two professors don''t get along!"


    Ron sulked as he sat back down.


    Harry looked up and asked Hermione, "Did you get any advice from Professor Harp?"


    "I didn''t inquire about course details, just resolved a question..." She thought of Felix''s warning to her and brushed over the topic vaguely.


    Percy was more than willing to offer advice to younger students. He was surrounded by a group of them, their voices carrying to Harry and the others. "This is rted to your future ns. If you enjoy outdoor activities, feel free to choose Care of Magical Creatures; if you''re into calctions and puzzles, you can go for Arithmancy; I personally highly rmend Ancient Runes. Professor Harp has given this course an entirely new significance."


    The young wizards left thoughtfully, envying the magical puppets that dotted the school grounds.


    "...Some might tell you that Muggle Studies is foolish, but personally, I believe wizards should have aprehensive understanding of the non-magical world, especially since you can''t guarantee whether you''ll be involved in work closely rted to Muggles. Just a side note, Professor Harp is an expert in this field too!"


    "As for Divination, I also rmend you choose it. The reasoning is quite simple. If you have the gift of prophecy, this course will change your life; even if you don''t, Divination is one of the easiest subjects to pass."


    The young wizards left, pondering their choices.


    Harry also had something to consider¡ªwhat would he do in the future?


    If he considered what he was best at, undoubtedly it was Quidditch. But he wasn''t sure if he would be a professional Quidditch yer.


    In the end, after discussing with Ron, he chose a few of the same new courses¡ªCare of Magical Creatures, Divination, and Ancient Runes.


    He felt that if these courses were challenging, at least he had someone friendly who would help him.


    Dean, who had also grown up in the Muggle world, said to the two, "Except for Ancient Runes, I picked everything blindly."


    Due to various influences from Felix, other students leaned towards cing Ancient Runes as their top choice.


    At the beginning of the new school year, enormous surprises awaited them.


    And Felix knew nothing about it.


    The plot of this school year was entering its final countdown. The author was preparing to wrap things up, encountering a bit of writer''s block.


    Wishing all the students sess in their exams, not wasting their youthful prime. Keep it up!


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 Chapter 152: Metamorphosis

    Chapter 152: Metamorphosis


    With less than a week remaining in the Easter holiday, Felix Harp suddenly abandoned all other activities, taking refuge in the Room of Requirement to practice Memory Charms and Patronus Charms. He had a premonition that his magic was on the brink of a transformation.


    It was a peculiar sensation, as both fluency and awkwardness manifested within him simultaneously.


    As the days went by, even students who happened to cross paths with him in the corridors noticed that something was off about Felix.


    "Professor? Are you feeling unwell?" Hermione looked at his eyes shimmering with silver light and cautiously inquired.


    When Professor Harp looked her way, she felt as though her thoughts were easilyid bare.


    Felix turned his head gently and said, "No worries, it''s just some magic progressing. It''ll pass in a while."


    On the final day of the Easter holiday, within the Room of Requirement¡ª


    At this moment, he sat in a broad bronze armchair, leaning forward, his long fingers supporting his chin, lost in perpetual thought.


    Ripples spread through Felix''s heart, memories of casting the Patronus Charm flooding his mind:


    From sessfully conjuring his Patronus form in his fifth year;


    To itspanionship during the Forbidden Forest night stroll;


    To the battle against a Dementor during his graduation journey;


    And the countless days of practice...


    With each wand flick, each thought and insight, each moment of joy, each time it soared across the sky...


    These memories from the past surged in an eruption like a volcano.


    However, Felix was no longer as helpless as he was in his fourth year. With his umted experience and the breakthrough he had recently made in Memory Charms, he began to sort through the chaotic thoughts.


    The Thinking Room expanded as if under the influence of an Unseen Expansion Charm, books inside rustling and flipping like leaves caught in a fierce wind. A dazzling array of magical symbols burst forth in radiant light.


    Countless silver wings appeared in his mind, filling his entire mentalndscape, and then, in a singr instant, these swallows converged toward the center.


    Their speed reached its apex!


    Silver figures collided, erupting into vast silvery mists. Countless swallows followed one after another, converging at the center where the silvery mist churned ceaselessly, seemingly brewing something.


    Within the Room of Requirement, Felix''s eyes grew brighter and brighter, and his light blue pupils emitted a dazzling silver radiance.


    At the peak of the brilliance, Felix drew his wand and swiftly thrust it forward¡ª


    "Guardian Protection!"


    A burst of silver light erupted, rapidly expanding and engulfing Felix''s figure entirely. It swiftly spread across nearly half the room, and after a brief moment of suspension, the silver light swiftly contracted and condensed into a silver swallow.


    This was Felix''s new Patronus.


    This swallow was significantlyrger than the usual form, akin to the size of an owl. Its body was covered in countless tiny points of light.


    These points of light were interconnected by nearly imperceptible threads, resembling the skeleton and veins of the Patronus.


    As the final strand of silver light merged into the Patronus, the points of light and threads vanished from sight.


    Before Felix stood a brand new, corporeal Patronus.


    A sixth-level Patronus Charm!


    He locked eyes with the silver swallow, seemingly able to sense its thoughts. It unfurled its scythe-like wings and darted around the room like a lightning bolt, leaving a continuous trail of silver in its wake.


    "Your speed has improved once again," Felix marveled and said.


    Abruptly, the silver swallow appeared before him, floating in mid-air, emitting a short, joyful chirp to express its inner delight to Felix Harp.


    Felix extended his index finger and gently touched its head. The sensation was solid; if one ignored the silver glow, others might mistake it for a mutated bird.


    The swallow nudged his finger, transmitting a sense of joy.


    Felix returned the gesture with a satisfied smile. As the eve of Easter drew near, he had finally turned his recent period of umtion into reality¡ª


    lumency¡ªsix transformations!


    Legilimency¡ªsix transformations!


    Obliviate¡ªall void¡ªsix transformations!


    Patronus Charm¡ªsix transformations!


    Breakthroughs in the other three spells naturally urred; they were already at the pinnacle of fifth-level proficiency. In less than a year since his return to Hogwarts, his magical prowess had deepened due to various experiences¡ª


    From the formation and practice of the Thinking Room spell to his exchange of Memory Charms with Snape, and to Lohart''s magical notes... until, within the Room of Requirement, Rowena Ravenw''s millennia-old memories disyed the utmost in Memory Magic.


    With Crown''s help, everything fell into ce, causing his Memory Magic to naturally undergo a qualitative change.


    And with the transformation of Memory Magic, the breakthrough in the Patronus Charm was a matter of course.


    After all, he faced no barriers. Lady Ravenw had directly informed him of the existence and location of memory nodes, saving him countless hours. It was just that due to the limited control over Memory Magic, it seemed somewhat arduous...


    The silver swallow perched on his shoulder, gently pecking at his ear.


    Felix''s thoughts raced as he pondered a question that had troubled him for a long time¡ªthe "Golden Finger."


    What exactly was his "Golden Finger"? Or perhaps, did the "Golden Finger" truly exist?


    No interface, no hints, no sudden intrusion of others'' thoughts...


    All there was, was tireless practice and seamless transformation, and Felix, following the number of transformations, named his own magic as Level One, Level Two...


    Perhaps this was the essence of his "Golden Finger"¡ª


    An inherent magical talent?


    The magical world was never short of talented individuals¡ªlike Parseltongue, metamorphmagi...


    Or talents specialized in a certain field, like flying, advanced transfiguration, potions, or even just possessing an extraordinary intensity in a single spell...


    Such examples weremon throughout history. But how many could truly push their innate talents to the extreme?


    Felix had achieved it.


    His own determination, wisdom, and unique magical talent hadbined to shape his present self.


    "So, is the importance of the ''Golden Finger'' really paramount?"


    Felix smiled, looking at the silver swallow on his shoulder, and stepped out of the Room of Requirement.


    Before a window, Felix lightly tapped the Patronus on its head. "Go, bring me a dewdrop flower from the Forbidden Forest."


    The swallow spread its wings, transforming into a silver streak that swiftly vanished into the night sky.


    Watching the silver trail it left behind, Felix suddenly recalled an ancient poem he had seen in the Ravenw manuscripts¡ª


    "Stones turned into little birds, chirping cheerfully. Crossing mountains andkes, it brought back daisies from the Red in."


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 Chapter 153: Approaching Examinations

    Chapter 153: Approaching Examinations


    The Easter break hade to an end, but for the fifth and seventh year students, it only meant that the footsteps of the Wizarding Levels exams were drawing closer.


    Professor McGonagall took the opportunity to convene a teachers'' meeting, reminding the professors of each subject about the preparations leading up to the exams.


    "Particr attention should be paid to the young wizards'' state of mind. Every time before an exam, there are always some students who suddenly experience emotional breakdowns and do all sorts of bewildering things. In addition, this is also the peak period for the cirction of subpar potions, protective amulets, and cheating paraphernalia. As professors, we must be on high alert..."


    Felix Harppared the situation he saw with his own eyes. He wasn''t entirely sure whether the sudden increase in e on Miss Clemy Wibber''s face was due to seasonal changes or, as Professor McGonagall put it, a state of mind issue before the exams.


    "...The ordinary exams are scheduled for June 1st. Theye earlier than the Wizarding Levels exams, but that doesn''t mean we can afford to becent..."


    As they walked out of the teachers'' staff room, the two new professors gathered to share their insights.


    "I never knew professors had to prepare so much in advance. I was dizzy from all sorts of exams when I was a student," Bellby said with an astonished tone.


    "I only realized this recently too, Damocles. How is your Forbidden Forest creatures topic going?"


    "Everything is going smoothly!" Bellby said enthusiastically. "I really want you to see the surprised expressions on their faces. I believe that¡ªat least for a few years¡ªmy sses will be unforgettable for the students."


    "Perhaps yearster, I''ll receive cards from young wizards too."


    Felix smiled and congratted him, and Bellby mysteriously added, "And it''s true, Felix, the Hogwarts library is so rich in resources. I had no idea when I was a student."


    ...


    Felix''s fifth-year ss showed varying degrees of pre-exam syndrome, most pronounced in the fifth and seventh years. This was unrted to their grades; rather, it was a result of umting stress.


    Warren Pardis from the fifth year handed in a nk test paper during one exam, iming his mind had gonepletely nk. He suspected he had been hit with the Obliviate charm, but with Felix''s professional eye, he could tell Warren was actually in good condition.


    "Mr. Pardis," Felix said, "the former Defense Against the Dark Arts professor was sent to Azkaban for misuse of memory charms, so are you still sticking to that im?"


    Pardis quickly found an excuse to leave.


    Other students imed they had been cursed by Dark magical items, causing their minds to regress to a year ago. They demanded professors take care of their special circumstances, only to have Professor McGonagall put one of them in detention for three days.


    The sixth-year students, on the other hand, had very stable mindsets. They often smiled and watched students from other years walk by in a hurry while they themselves enjoyed breakfast leisurely, adopting a more elegant andposed demeanor.


    In the most recent ss, Felix criticized this bystander mentality.


    "I won''t stop you from sharing experiences from practical lessons; to some extent, it''s a reward forpleting your assignments ahead of time. However¡ª"


    "Showing off to the seventh years can easily have uncontroble consequences, and I''m looking at you, Miss Rye."


    Amidstughter, Emily Rye sheepishly said, "Professor Harp, I wasn''t showing off to her. She''s my cousin, and during the OWLs examsst year, she kept teasing me for being messy, like a Hufflepuff dog."


    Laughter erupted even louder.


    Felix was also amused. "Well then, let''s continue with the new lesson. You''ve already covered parts about the Tombstone Cluster and the Dark Roost¡ª"


    "Actually, it''s the Little Skulls and ck Ravens..." someone muttered from the audience.


    "¡ª" Felix continued, "and you''ve also discovered a lot of hidden Easter egg content that I''ve put in. Now, let''s review the various challenges you''ve encountered."


    ...


    As the Ancient Runes ss for fourth-year students concluded, the Weasley twins brought out palm-sized square wooden pieces to show to him.


    "Professor, currently, we can only achieve one-on-onemunication, but we''ve achieved the intended effect."


    Each of the twins held a square wooden piece, demonstrating. "We call it the Lover''s Mirror. Of course, it''s a temporary name for initial promotion. We took inspiration from the design of a two-sided mirror, and the material is chestnut wood as you suggested."


    They pointed and gestured on the piece. "Just like this, if you want to send a message, you need to infuse a bit of magic, and the other side will be warm. It utilizes the principle of thermal nativity."


    "There''s ayer of silver powder on top,bined with synchronous magic and Transfiguration, allowing it to transform into different writings."


    Fred tapped it with his wand, and George pretended to be a serious student.


    "Oh, a new message has arrived." He took out the Lover''s Mirror from his pocket, almost getting burned, but he still pretended, "Let me see who''s interrupting my revision."


    "Turns out it''s Fred!" He infused a bit of magic into the chestnut piece, and ayer of silver coating revealed ck writing: ''Percy is having a rendezvous in the abandoned ssroom on the second floor.''


    George raised his head, looking surprised at Fred. "Is that true? Howe I don''t know?"


    Fred grinned, "I saw it when I went to the loo."


    After the demonstration, the twins handed the Lover''s Mirror to Felix Harp, nervously awaiting his evaluation.


    Felix Harp carefully examined it for a moment. "Very well done. I didn''t even think of the idea with the silver coating." He looked up, "I need to take it back for further study. I''ll give you an answer in a day or two."


    "Of course, Professor Harp."


    The twins exchanged a nce, their expressions hesitant, while Felix Harp quietly waited.


    "Professor, as you know, we n to open a joke shop in the future..."


    Felix Harp nodded.


    "George and I discussed it, and you''ll have a fifty-percent share in the joke shop''s profits."


    "Fred," Felix Harp interrupted, "you don''t need to consider my share. I simply offered some advice."


    "Professor Harp, George and I are very clear that your help to us has gone far beyond the duties of a professor. Not just the Lover''s Mirror, but also our other impractical ideas. No one has ever encouraged us, not even Mum and Dad... We''re deeply grateful," Fred said with a deep breath, speaking earnestly, "This is all we can offer."


    George nodded in serious agreement.


    Felix Harp''s gaze shifted between them, and after about a minute, he responded nomittally, "I''m looking forward to seeing how your products will change the wizarding world in the future."


    "We definitely will!" The twins chorused in unison.


    ...


    Amidst the hustle and bustle, the time came for the first weekend after the Easter break.


    The Quidditch match was approaching.


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 Chapter 154: Quidditch

    Chapter 154: Quidditch


    At ten in the morning, the Quidditch pitch buzzed with excitement.


    Felix Harp entered the bustling arena and ascended the nearest elevated tform for spectators. A thunderous cheer erupted from the crowd as a blurry figure in crimson robes sent a Bludger hurtling into the goalpost.


    Commentator Lee Jordan eximed, "A splendid goal! Gryffindor scores a point back. Currently, Slytherin leads temporarily at sixty to thirty. Their top-notch broomsticks are proving invaluable."


    "I mustmend Wood; without him, Gryffindor''s score would be far more disparate!"


    Felix''s gaze swept across the other tforms where spectators were seated. Soon, amid the emerald-patterned Slytherin section, he spotted a middle-aged man with tinum blond hair¡ªLucius Malfoy.


    Beside him stood a timid domesticated house-elf.


    Lucius''s gaze remained fixed on his son, Draco Malfoy. At that moment, he was engaged in a contest of aerial prowess with Harry, showcasing superior speed. Draco executed a swift halt in mid-air and turned back, taunting, "Slow reflexes, Scarhead?"


    Harry held his breath, verbally ignoring Draco. His eyes scanned incessantly, whether it was during the Easter break or the past week. Whenever there was a spare moment, Wood would have them training relentlessly.


    "We stand at the pinnacle of history!" Wood had rallied the yers before the match.


    Harry agreed; this was the closest they hade to the championship. He ascended and descended, turned and spun, soared and plummeted, traced a zigzag pattern in the sky.


    Draco followed closely behind him, too upied to provoke Harry.


    The intense chase continued for two or three minutes, leaving Harry somewhat dizzy by the end, prompting him to halt.


    Soon, Slytherin scored another goal.


    Harry''s anxiety grew. Following Wood''s pre-match strategies, the ideal scenario was to catch the Golden Snitch quickly, denying Slytherin the chance to widen their lead.


    However, Slytherin''s strategy was contrary. They aimed to prolong the match, exhausting their opponents over two or three hours. Then, relying on their broomstick advantage, they would seize control.


    This was why Draco had been persistently harassing Harry.


    On the elevated tform, Felix calmly observed the match. Enhanced by the effects of elerated thinking and heightened senses, he remained acutely aware. He sensed every change brought by the breeze or the clouds.


    What was once a blurred shadow became distinct; he could even discern the fleeting expressions on the yers'' faces.


    Fourteen individuals on the field were part of his calctions. Felix attempted to predict their trajectories.


    Like engaging in a high-stakes duel.


    For the first time, he felt the allure of Quidditch, though his reasons were different from others''.


    "Indeed, stubbornness doesn''t suit anyone," Felix pondered inwardly.


    When the score settled at 110 to 60, Harry caught a glimpse of a faint golden shadow. Simultaneously, Felix''s gaze locked onto this petite figure.


    Harry made a mental calction and intentionally veered in the opposite direction. As anticipated, Draco followed. Just as Draco prepared to mock Potter again by turning around, he realized Harry had vanished from sight, leaving him far behind.


    "He''s beneath the tform!" a Slytherin yer shouted at him from below.


    Lee Jordan also noticed this scene, eximing, "Look! Harry has tricked Malfoy and is after the Golden Snitch! We can''t see it, but Harry must be inside the Wronski Feint!"


    The stadium fell silent as everyone held their breath.


    Even the yers from both sides hovered in mid-air, awaiting the oue.


    Wood, standing by the goalposts, shouted in frustration, "Don''t stop, Angelina, Katie, keep attacking!"


    However, just a dozen secondster, before they could organize their next assault, Harry shot out clutching the Golden Snitch, circling the pitch repeatedly, weing the roar of the crowd.


    "A spectacr scene! Harry caught the Snitch, and the match ends! Gryffindor wins with a final score of 110 to 210!"


    Lucius Malfoy stood up, expressionless, raised his head, gave Draco a small nod, kicked his foot at Dobby, and descended from the tform.


    After a moment, Felix Harp also stood up. Keeping a distance, he followed Lucius, who paused at the edge of the field, waiting for Draco. Young wizards started leaving the pitch in groups of twos and threes, passionately discussing the match.


    Felix pointed his wand at himself, and his blue robes gradually faded until they blended with the surroundings.


    He brushed shoulders with Lucius as they passed.


    As Harry was escorted by his Gryffindor teammates off the pitch, he caught a glimpse of Lucius, who was now lecturing Draco with a bowed head. Draco wore a pained expression, remaining silent.


    This added to Harry''s joy. Despite a few more matches remaining, he believed Gryffindor would ultimately lift the Quidditch Cup.


    Walking a distance, Harry suddenly noticed the domesticated house-elf by Lucius''s side.


    His eyes widened in an instant. "It''s Dobby!"


    Dobby, the Malfoy family''s house-elf?! Harry stared at Dobby in disbelief. Dobby also noticed his gaze and met his eyes with hisrge tennis-ball-sized orbs. Dobby waved at Harry.


    But Lucius had finished reprimanding his son and strode away. The house-elf followed, trailing behind, and just before disappearing from sight, he cast a pitiful look at Harry.


    ...


    Evening, the Great Hall.


    "What did you say? Dobby belongs to the Malfoys?" Ron looked at Harry, astonished, with a chicken leg suspended in mid-air.


    "Hush! Keep it down," Harry looked around cautiously. Seeing no one was paying attention, he whispered to Ron and Hermione, "I saw it with my own eyes, just as we were leaving the pitch."


    Hermione spoke cautiously, "Harry, what are you thinking? Is all of this a Malfoy scheme, or is it just Dobby''s doing?"


    Harry couldn''t be certain. He could sense Dobby''s respect for him, yet he couldn''t ignore the tradition that bound house-elves to their masters.


    After leaving the Great Hall, they walked in the garden, engaged in a heated discussion.


    "I think we can trust Dobby, Harry," Hermione analyzed. "His warning referred to the Chamber, the one we''ve been discussing. If it''s all part of the Malfoy scheme, they wouldn''t need to add moreplications."


    Harry leaned towards that opinion, while Ron remained neutral. "Though what you say makes sense, I''ve never heard of a house-elf defying its master''s orders."


    During their evening magical writing ss, Hermione posed a question, "Can a house-elf defy its master''s orders?"


    Professor Harp''s response carried weight, "Generally, no. But a binding contract cannot control one''s free will."


    Due to final adjustments, the author needs to review the previous content, ensuring all details are aligned. This process takes time, so please understand the shortness of the chapter. The updates will soar again after this period...


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 Chapter 155: The Truth Brought by Dobby

    Chapter 155: The Truth Brought by Dobby


    On that night, Harryy in bed, tossing and turning, listening to the snores of his roommates, unable to sleep.


    He was still thinking about the events of the day¡ªwhether it was the resounding victory against Slytherin in the Quidditch match or seeing his rival Draco Malfoy being scolded by his father, both of which brought him immense joy.


    But suddenly, a wave of loneliness swept over him. He also wanted to know what it felt like to be scolded by his parents.


    Everyone was looking forward to the uing summer break, but he resisted. He even considered staying back to keep Hagridpany, or spending time at the Burrow.


    "Harry Potter!"


    A barely audible call sounded, and Harry was not unfamiliar with this voice. He quickly put on his sses and looked at the slender figure standing at the door¡ª


    He had a pair of enormous brown eyes and a nose that was shaped and sized like arge tomato.


    "D-Dobby, is it really you?"


    Harry nced around quickly. Everyone was sleeping soundly, even Ron''s pet¡ªa gray, plump rat named Scabbers¡ªwasfortably snoozing on its owner''s pillow.


    He gently lifted the covers, slid out of bed, looked at the wand on the bedside table, hesitated for a moment, then grabbed it.


    "Lumos."


    With Dobby, Harry arrived at themon room. The light here was dim, and he chose a chair with a cushion to sit on.


    "Please, sit down, Dobby. You have something to tell me, don''t you?"


    Getting closer, he noticed that Dobby had changed his attire¡ªor rather, not changed, he was still wearing that old pillowcase, but he had somehow added two sleeves and something that looked like pant legs.


    "You''re wearing new clo¡ªno, wait! Dobby, you, you¡­" he pointed at Dobby, unable to find the words. He had learned from Ron that house-elves weren''t supposed to wear regr clothes, so there was only one possibility¡ª


    "Yes, Master Potter, Dobby is free!" The elf''s big eyes were filled with tears as he eximed joyfully.


    "How could¡ªoh, I mean, congrattions, Dobby." Harry said, "But during the day, you were still following Lucius Malfoy, weren''t you?"


    "Dobby isn''t sure, maybe it was because the young master''s failures during the day made him upset. When he returned at night, he scolded Dobby harshly... Dobby is used to it, but he didn''t expect him to want to get rid of Dobby!"


    Harry opened his mouth to say something, but Dobby continued excitedly, "Dobby never thought... this was what Dobby had always dreamed of¡­"


    He released his fingers, and a magnificent buttony quietly on his delicate palm.


    "Master, no, Lucius Malfoy gave Dobby a button, he tore it off himself... he angrily told Dobby to leave Malfoy Manor forever."


    "So now you''re free, not belonging to anyone." Harry said.


    "Yes, Dobby is a free elf now." Dobby blinked hisrge eyes, "All thanks to you, great Harry Potter, for defeating Draco Malfoy on the Quidditch field!"


    Harry felt the unpredictability of life. The fact that he had defeated Slytherin had an unexpectedly huge impact on Dobby.


    "I didn''t expect it either, of course, I feel honored." Harry humbly said, "By the way, Dobby, you shouldn''t be bound by your status anymore, right? I have many questions to ask you."


    "Feel free to ask, Potter, Dobby will do his best."


    "Well, then, is the Chamber of Secrets incident really Lucius Malfoy''s plot?" Harry brought up the doubts discussed by the trio during the day.


    "Yes, he brought the Dark Lord''s heirloom: a cursed diary, to Hogwarts, using Ginny Weasley''s hand."


    "Wait a minute! Ginny?"


    "...Yes, at Flourish and Blotts."


    A spark of insight awakened Harry, and he said with certainty, "Back then, he had a fight with Mr. Weasley, and I remember he picked up Ginny''s textbook at the end and mocked her harshly! Lucius must have secretly slipped the diary inside, right?"


    "Exactly right, Mr. Potter." Dobby bent over and said.


    "Did you stop me from returning to school and attack me on the Quidditch field because of that artifact, because it opened the Chamber of Secrets?"


    Dobby lowered his head and whispered, "You''re right about all of it. Dobby identally overheard Malfoy''s words, Mr. Potter. You don''t know how dark the days were for house-elves during the Dark Lord''s reign. Things are much better now..."


    Harry found it difficult to imagine what life was like for house-elves during those times.


    Heforted, "You''vee a long way since then, haven''t you?" But suddenly, something struck Harry, almost making him jump. He trembled as he said, "So now, the diary, is it still with Ginny?"


    "Is she in danger?"


    Dobby whispered, "No, the diary changed hands among three people. It started with Miss Weasley, then somehow ended up with Draco Malfoy, and finally, it fell into the hands of the equally great Felix Harp."


    "Professor Harp?" Harry''s eyes widened in astonishment.


    "Yes, but Mr. Harp realized the evil of the diary. He destroyed itpletely, utterly destroyed it! Right before Dobby''s eyes..."


    Harry felt like his brain wasn''t sufficient. The news bombshells of the night left him bewildered, and he wore a bewildered expression on his face.


    ...


    Early the next morning.


    "So, you mean, all of this originated from Lucius Malfoy? He hid the diary in Ginny''s textbook. Ginny, under its influence, opened the Chamber, releasing the basilisk, which petrified Mrs. Norris and Colin Creevey! Later, the diary ended up in his son''s possession. Merlin''s beard, he really brought it upon himself! But the most absurd part is, Professor Harp has destroyed the diary now!"


    Ron had never spoken so much in one breath. He guzzled down several gulps of pumpkin juice.


    "That''s right." Harry nodded. He had a thought and recounted his idental encounter with Draco when saving Justin. "He looked bewildered then, but I didn''t have time to think much about it. There were so many things happening afterward that Ipletely forgot about this detail."


    "This is... Professor Harp didn''t let slip a word!" Ron eximed, a mixture ofint and admiration in his tone.


    Hermione immersed herself in thought and added, "Remember when I was in the hospital? Professor Harp told me the danger was over, not to investigate further. I think he might have had the diary by then, and perhaps he had already destroyed it."


    "Moreover," the young witch began counting on her fingers, "Professor Harp definitely told Dumbledore, and Dumbledore might have informed your parents, Ron." She paused, a bit disheartened. "Although he didn''t tell us."


    "Cool~ Turns out the grown-ups were up to so much behind our backs." Ron remarked.


    "So, what are Dobby''s ns now?" Hermione asked.


    "I''m not sure, but I guess he might go visit friends?" Harry replied uncertainly.


    Ron hurriedly finished his breakfast and left in a rush.


    "Where are you going, Ron?"


    "I want to ask Ginny. I just thought, what if the diary had some effect on her¡ª"


    "You''re right!"


    ...


    Through Ginny''s stuttering ount, they pieced together more information.


    "You threw the diary in the abandoned bathroom?" Harry stared at Ginny''s eyes, shocked.


    Ginny blushed and lowered her head. A bright red hue colored her face. "Y-yes, Fred and George talked about a lot of scary examples. I realized it wasn''t right."


    "Exactly! Malfoy was tailing us, but we moved the potion somewhere else in a hurry. He missed that, but he found the diary." Harry said.


    He couldn''t help but break into a cold sweat. The vague shadow he had seen then was likely the diary Ginny had dropped. But because he had noticed Malfoy, he hadn''t paid it much attention.


    What if Malfoy had picked it up, been controlled by it, and caught while trying to open the Chamber? That would be airtight evidence. And remember, he was still mistakenly used by everyone for his Parseltonguements at the time.


    "Ginny, have you felt any difort?" Ron asked.


    Ginny shook her head. "I followed Luna''s advice and went to the infirmary. Apart from being a bit weak, there was no other issue. Madam Pomfrey gave me a couple of potions, and I recovered quickly."


    "Right, she mentioned a boy with simr symptoms too..."


    The three exchanged nces and said in unison, "Draco Malfoy!"


    It took them almost half of Sunday, but they managed to piece together theplete truth¡ª


    From Lucius''s revenge, to Ginny being controlled to open the Chamber causing two attacks, then discarding the diary in the bathroom only for Draco Malfoy to pick it up, Draco being confronted by Harry while trying to open the Chamber, the heroic act of killing the basilisk, and finally, the diarynding in Professor Harp''s hands and being thoroughly destroyed, the Chamber of Secrets incident finally concluded.


    "It''s strange how strongly Professor Harp was involved in this whole affair."


    "This indicates that he truly unraveled the entire truth."


    Harry, Ron, and Hermione satzily by the edge of the ck Lake, feeling the satisfaction of finally unraveling a long-standing mystery.


    They also relieved themselves of a heavy burden and focused on preparing for exams.


    A month passed in a sh, and the rainy season arrived along with the exam season.


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 Chapter 156: The Examination

    Chapter 156: The Examination


    Early June


    Felix Harp was awakened by the sound of raindrops tapping against the window. Outside, a grey mist lingered, and a brilliant sh of lightning streaked across the sky followed by the rumbling of distant thunder.


    The final exams had been ongoing for three days, but the Ancient Runes exam was scheduled towards the middle and end of all subjects. For Felix, today marked the first day of the final exams.


    Fortunately, the Ancient Runes ss he taught was an elective, and aside from overseeing the fifth and seventh years preparing for their wizarding level exams, he only had to invigte the remaining three years.


    All the professors of mandatory courses had to invest more effort and engage in intellectual battles with young wizards. Bellby, who was in charge of Dark Arts Defense, hadined to him more than once¡ª


    "Imagine this, students harboring thoughts of luck. Can you believe it? During the pre-exam check, I discovered a dozen cheating quills!"


    Felix had consulted Professor Flitwick specifically about this issue, and Flitwick advised him, "You can prepare anti-cheating quills for the students in advance; it will save you a lot of trouble."


    He had dly taken this advice.


    In the Ancient Runes ssroom, the long rows of seats had been reced with individual desks and chairs. Felix waved his wand, causing a multitude of papers and quills to uratelynd on the small tables in front of the fourth-year students.


    "I must remind you that both the exam papers and quills have been enchanted against cheating, and the consequences of cheating are severe."


    The exam began, and Felix walked up and down the aisles between the seats, announcing the time every half an hour.


    By the time he made his second announcement, some students had alreadypleted their papers.


    "Very well, Mr. Andrews, you may choose to continue reviewing or step outside for some fresh air."


    ...


    After invigting the fourth years, Felix managed to grade all the papers on the same day. "A total of 7 Outstanding and 22 Exceeds Expectations. Compared to previous years, this is very impressive."


    The former represented excellence, while thetter indicated satisfactory performance¡ªthere were many who passed.


    "Furthermore, the practical bonus points for magical golems might allow me to break the record for the best Ancient Runes ss in the past decade." Felix thought with delight. This mood reflected in his demeanor as he continued the next set of exams, smiling all the while.


    Finally, at the end of the first week of June, the final exams came to a close. Students from other years were thoroughly liberated, though a handful of anxious young wizards worried about their results for another two or three days. However, the majority celebrated to their heart''s content.


    Laughter and cheers echoed throughout the school. Only the fifth and seventh years remained engrossed in their intense preparation for the wizarding level exams.


    Their emotions were fraught with anxiety, and as a professor, Felix confiscated all sorts of entricities.


    "Miss Selden, could you tell me where you acquired this onion-scented amulet?"


    Petra Selden looked close to tears, fidgeting but saying nothing.


    "Very well, I won''t deduct points this time. Have a dose of Elixir of Euphoria instead; your spirits are far too low."


    After consuming the elixir, Selden''s demeanor transformed; she became much brighter and cheerfully thanked the professor before departing with a light step.


    Felix was quite satisfied with his approach. However, he soon noticed that more and more students were rushing to the infirmary. Arge group of fifth and seventh years were approaching Madam Pomfrey, expressing their low spirits and requesting the uplifting effect of the Elixir of Euphoria.


    "Inventory is clearly running low, Professor Harp. And we''ve encountered subpar Elixirs of Euphoria as well. I''ve had seven or eight students who can''t stopughing," Madam Pomfreyined.


    In addition to the Elixir of Euphoria, the Cheering Charm had a simr effect. Furthermore, this spell was part of the third-year curriculum, making it quite a simple magic for students preparing for their wizarding level exams.


    However, atst, the wizarding level exams arrived, chasing at the heels of the end-of-term exams results.


    On a day in mid-June, Felix Harp spotted several quite elderly wizards in the school. They were the examiners for this year''s wizarding level exams¡ª a man with a growth protruding from his face, a plump and short witch, a man with thinning hair wearing sses, and of course, the head of the Wizarding Examinations Authority¡ª Griselda Marchbanks.


    Marchbanks was a short, hunched-over witch with a face full of wrinkles, resembling a spider''s web. But she was in high spirits, her voice booming. A few years prior, it had been her who had overseen Felix''s Transfiguration and Charms exams for both the OWLs and NEWTs.


    And incredibly, she had once been an examiner for Albus Dumbledore himself. She was the oldest wizard Felix had ever seen, still actively engaged in the magical world.


    "Oh, Felix, is that you? Delighted to see your presence around the school," the diminutive Marchbanks eximed loudly from a distance, apanied by Professor McGonagall.


    "Professor Marchbanks, it''s been a while." Felix subtly amplified his voice using his wand''s spell.


    "Not that long, time flies, doesn''t it? My overseeing Dumbledore''s exams feels like just yesterday. It was an honor to examine him." The somewhat hard-of-hearing Marchbanks spoke loudly. "I can''t forget that scene for my whole life! To invigte him was my privilege."


    Marchbanks was in good spirits, looking at Felix. "You as well, but you left me in awe in Charms. Heard you''re a Muggle Studies expert now? Teaching Muggle Studies?"


    "It''s Ancient Runes, Professor Marchbanks. That''s my field of study."


    Marchbanks leaned in, then spoke loudly again. "I hope you don''t neglect your magical research, especially in Charms¡ª the incredible power of it!"


    Felix smiled and nodded. While her attention shifted, he turned to the man with thinning hair. "Long time no see, Tofty. I''ve just met Ogden recently..."


    "He mentioned it to me, was it at the Ministry''s award ceremony?" Tofty replied.


    Tofty had been one of Felix''s examiners as well, though they hadn''t stayed in touch during their school years. After graduating, Felix had paid him a visit¡ªTofty was also an Ancient Runes expert, more inclined towards theory, but he had provided Felix with considerable assistance.


    "Indeed, he seemed to be in good health."


    "Yeah, that old fellow! When he told me, I couldn''t believe it at first. Never thought you''d really return to Hogwarts."


    "I enjoy the atmosphere of the school." Felix casually remarked.


    "That''s one of the reasons I stay at the Examinations Authority. They are the hope of the British magical world¡ªthough most of the time these young folks are quite a headache." The old man rambled on for a while. "And old Viridian, as soon as I mentioned you, he got all worked up, yet I distinctly saw your books on his desk..."


    Suppressing hisughter, Felix remained silent. Viridian was one of Felix''s students, Clemence Viridian''s grandfather, a rather stubborn old man.


    He was also the Deputy Head of the Ancient Runes Association and often had strong opinions about Felix''s "Practical Ancient Runes" approach.


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 Chapter 157: Intriguing Studies

    Chapter 157: Intriguing Studies


    The courtyard was filled with young wizards, their eyes brimming with awe, watching from a distance as this group of examiners gathered.


    A couple of seventh-year students caught sight of the wrinkled face of Marcius Brumbage and eximed directly,


    "She''s here again!"


    "It''s almost the same group asst time."


    "To be honest, every time Ie, I feel like I''m being observed like a giant creature." muttered Tofty.


    Felix Harp smiled and said, "These people are eager to catch a glimpse of their Nornian goddess."


    "I''m not a goddess of fate; we are wizards."


    This was destined to be a long day, especially for the fifth and seventh-year students. But Felix had done what he could, and the rest was up to them.


    At nine-thirty the next morning, the Wizarding Levels examination officially began.


    The spacious hall had been transformed into an examination room for theoretical tests, while several smaller rooms adjacent to it had been prepared for practical assessments.


    Theory in the morning, practical in the afternoon, the entire processsted two weeks.


    In between his sses for other years, Felix took a moment to nce. The entire hall was tranquil, the only sounds being the scratching of quills on parchment and the gentle hiss of sand trickling in the hoursses. He turned to head for his ss of sixth-year young wizards.


    Carrying a stack of parchment, Felix strode into the ssroom.


    "Today, we shall reveal the end-of-term results."


    The academic stars, led by Percy, Penelope, and Geoffrey, held their breaths as if awaiting the decree of fate.


    "A total of 33 papers, 12 Outstanding, 17 Exceeds Expectations, 4 eptable." Felix announced the overall results, "Congrattions!" as he passed out the papers.


    The male and female wizards below erupted into a hearty apuse, whispering excitedly to each other, brimming with joy.


    "Of course, I must add a little note¡ª"


    The students quieted down, gazing at Professor Harp on the podium.


    "These scores exclude the practical bonus points. If we include those extra points... I believe I need to correct myself: 15 Outstanding, 18 Exceeds Expectations."


    On their papers, a new line of handwriting appeared, the practical section''s extra credit, assessing the application of ''Practical Magical Writing''. The grading on the papers ordingly changed.


    The male and female wizards were overjoyed, and the ssroom burst into a tremendous celebration.


    "For this lesson, we''ll go over the papers. Next lesson will continue with practical work."


    ...


    With two year levels'' sses off his schedule, Felix found himself with more leisure time. He dedicated this free time to the library.


    It wasn''t until a Saturday morning that he caught sight of his assistant.


    She was diligently working on a paper.


    "Is there any professor so cruel? Assigning homework after the end of term..." Felix observed the busy figure, pondering in his heart.


    Less than two weeks remained until the end of the school year. For lower-year students, professors usually waived homework.


    In the evening, he solved this puzzle.


    The young witch looked at him with excitement, "Professor, didn''t you suggest that I look into the connection between wands and wizards? You even rmended the book ''Wizards and Wands'' to me?"


    "Indeed," Felix Harp replied.


    "I briefly skimmed through it before and found it quite interesting. In fact, I became fascinated by it. It wasn''t until after the end-of-term exams that I finally had ample time."


    Hermione told him, "I want to write a rted paper, not for publication¡ªjust as a pastime."


    Felix Harp asked with interest, "Have you finished it?"


    "It''s only a part; much of it is notes I''ve transcribed, not yet formed intoplete thoughts." She pulled out a stack of parchment from her bag and handed it to Felix. "There are my scribbles and annotations on it, along with scattered ideas and such. It might be a bit messy..."


    "That''s alright."


    Felix said, "You can do something else first, like watching a movie." He picked up this ''half-paper'' to read.


    Beside him, Hermione adeptly opened a small projector, rummaging through a little box, selecting the film she liked.


    Hesitating between "Wuthering Heights" and "Tom and Jerry," Hermione ultimately decided on something light-hearted; the former was too heavy for her.


    Felix cast a sonorus charm on himself and leisurely started reading. He quickly realized that this was indeed a paper for leisure, containing data about some friends'' wands.


    For instance, Harry Potter''s wand¡ªeleven inches, holly wood, phoenix feather core, supple and flexible.


    The young witch''s annotation read: ''Holly wood, a rare wand material. Commonly believed to possess defensive attributes, representing resilience and endurance. Also symbolizes death and rebirth, suitable for those who need to ovee irritability and impulsive emotions.''


    ''Phoenix feather core, extremely difficult to tame.''


    She drew two lines under ''ovee irritability and impulsive emotions.'';


    ''However, holly wood wands often choose wizards who jointly experience danger and possess strong spiritual pursuits. Their specific manifestations will align with the wand core.''


    ''Holly woodbined with phoenix feather creates an exceedingly challenging wand to craft; due to their differing natures, they can produce tremendous conflicts. But once thisbination is established, nothing can stand in its way.''


    Hermione underlined thest sentence and put a question mark, perhaps indicating disagreement or doubts.


    Next, there was Ron Weasley''s wand¡ªfourteen inches, willow wood, unicorn hair core.


    The young witch''s notes stated: ''Willow wood, equally rare material, possesses healing powers (?), suitable for nonverbal spells.''


    ''Unicorn hair core: strongly repels dark magic, highly loyal, typically mostpatible with the first owner.''


    She underlined ''highly loyal'' and ''typically mostpatible with the first owner,'' adding a small note on the side, ''Coincides with Ron and Neville''s cases. Ron''s old wand was Charlie''s, and Neville''s old wand came from his father; both wand cores are unicorn hair.''


    Seeing this, Felix was somewhat surprised. Besides Ron Weasley, were there others using old wands these days?


    Or did theye from two distinct and renowned wizarding families?


    What did their parents think?


    The surname Longbottom wasn''t an ordinary one; though not representative of purebloods, they had produced quite a few outstanding wizards, and their reputation was consistently good.


    The paper also had Hermione''s own wand introduction: fourteen inches, vine wood, with a dragon heartstring core.


    Beneath it were somewhat hasty annotations: ''Vine wood wands often choose wizards with lofty goals and foresight. They often do things that shock their friends who think they know them well.''


    Felix chuckled softly. It seemed Miss Granger wasn''t very calm when writing that part.


    He flipped further down; there were examples of her ssmates as well as excerpts transcribed from the book "Wizards and Wands."


    Somewhat surprisingly, he also saw Hermione''s spection about her own wand: Professor Harp, between twelve to fourteen inches, ebony wood, core unknown, possibly phoenix feather or dragon heartstring.


    Beside it were very small abbreviations. Felix deduced they meant dark magic. She had read a part of dark magic books in the Room of Requirement, so did she eliminate the unicorn hair option for that reason?


    ''Ebony wood wands have an impressive appearance. Ebony wands are excellent for offensive magic and transfiguration, typically choosing courageous individuals who are nonconformist, stand out from the crowd, or are immersed in an outsider''s state. Their owners often disregard external pressures and have unwavering beliefs.''


    She heavily marked ''disregard external pressures, have unwavering beliefs.''


    This chapter cited some references, which in my personal opinion, were quite significant, given their prophetic and exnatory nature.


    It also served as a bit of a primer for readers unfamiliar with the original work.


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 Chapter 158: End of the School Year

    Chapter 158: End of the School Year


    Unbeknownst to Felix Harp, he had finished reading all the content.


    "Professor?" Hermione looked over.


    She paused the screen''s projection and turned to discuss some questions about her paper.


    "I read in the book ''Wands and Wizards'' that there''s a recurring notion: ''Wands have a life of their own.'' How should I interpret this?"


    "Well... I''m not deeply versed in that area, but I can give you a general idea."


    "Of course." Hermione blinked, speaking in a rxed tone.


    "Every wand is unique. Even if the materials and dimensions used to create them are identical, the effects they disy in different hands arepletely distinct."


    "Is it because of the wand''s owner?" Hermione guessed.


    Indeed, I believe that. Personally, I think the wands disyed in shops are just semi-finished products, eager to achieve their full potential."


    Hermione looked up, locking her gaze onto Felix. This was a fresh perspective.


    Felix exined, "The characteristics of the wand''s wood,bined with the nature of the magical creature the wand corees from, make wands highly versatile. But there''s one more factor that can''t be overlooked¡ª the wand''s owner."


    "Rather than saying wands have a life, I prefer to believe that thebination of the wand''s body, core, and owner''s characteristics makes the wandplete, unleashing its true power."


    "So, this supports the theory of ''wands choosing wizards''? To be whole themselves, when the body and core are fixed, wands prefer to select the ideal owner who resonates with them?" Hermione followed his line of thought.


    "That''s a way to put it." Felix modestly replied, then added,


    "Furthermore, for young wizards, obtaining the right wand is just the first step. Wands and their owners be partners, learning from each other, aiding each other, constantly nurturing this synergy in the days toe."


    "We can understand it like this: Each wand''s journey is unique."


    "But, Professor, I''ve heard that some wands can betray their owners?" Hermione cautiously inquired.


    Felix''s expression turned serious, "Such cases are quite rare. Even wands with a bad reputation, or ones that are a bit rebellious, won''t sever ties with their owners after just a failure or two. The conflicts at the school won''t escte to that level."


    "But it does happen, doesn''t it?" Hermione pressed.


    Indeed. I believe there are various reasons: some stems from a poor rtionship between the owner and the wand; some wands are inherently sensitive and admire the strong; others have had their ''failures'' deeply affect their owners, deepening the rift."


    "However, when ites to the core material, unicorn hair is indeed more loyal, while dragon heartstring can be overly active. They might ''temporarily'' yield to a powerful enemy."


    "Temporarily?"


    "For example, if such a wand is forcibly taken by an enemy, if you retrieve it in time, you can still use it as usual."


    "This, this is..." The young witch was somewhat astonished.


    "Miss Granger, what we''re discussing is quite distant from your world." Felix concluded that topic.


    In fact, Felix believed that the conditions for a wand''s change of allegiance were extremely stringent, including at least a ''devastating defeat in a malicious confrontation,'' a conclusion he reached from observing some dark wizards.


    Felix''s collection of spare wands came from such circumstances.


    Yet, even so, these wands could, at best, serve as temporary solutions¡ªwands not truly one''s own would inevitably have various limitations when it came to spellcasting.


    And looking at examples like Ron and Neville, there might indeed be cases of ''willing transfers,'' but Felix had never experienced it personally.


    "Granger, let''s discuss your modifications to the beaded bag. I originally thought you would finish that in the next school year."


    ...


    Felix Harp had a new book on his agenda. In order to broaden his influence, he decided toplete two books simultaneously. One targeted young, aspiring wizards, filled with dynamic images and apanied by lively and interesting storylines.


    The other was aimed at adult wizards, dealing with educational topics. He used the most rigorous logic andnguage to exin the most basic Muggle technology.


    Afterpleting part of the manuscripts, Felix had the sensation of exining addition and subtraction to someone with learning disabilities, which made him contemte giving up.


    However, some of the readers he selected provided rather positive feedback:


    Bertie looked at the manuscript. The first image depicted a boiling kettle, steam billowing from its spout; the second image showed a pipe extending from the kettle, and steam flowing through it to turn a windmill on the other end; the third image portrayed the windmill spinning rapidly under the influence of steam.


    The following hand-drawn image was somewhat abstract: a train was mounted with a huge kettle, connected to the wheels by pipes, setting the train in motion...


    To make the process more straightforward, Felix intentionally highlighted the color of the steam, making it appear as if a train was carrying a fearsome, frothing kettle creature, continuously spewing venom.


    "So, this is the Muggles'' steam engine? They use this to power trains?" Bertie eximed excitedly. "You know so much, Felix!"


    Three days before the end of the school year, Felix received an invitation letter, signed by the "International Confederation of Wizards" ¡ª an organization simr to the United Nations, butprised of magical departments from various countries.


    "Why would they be reaching out to me?"


    Felix opened the letter, then lifted his head after a moment. "Turns out it''s a sumittee of the International Confederation of Wizards inviting me to a conference in Paris. A research group focused on Muggle issues? Hmm, I''ve never heard of them before. I hope they''re not something newly established in recent years..."


    From the somewhat formal wording of the invitation letter, Felix deduced that this research group employed a "casting a wide, reeling in many fish" strategy. It wouldn''t be surprising if well-known Muggle studies experts were also invited.


    The next day, he seized the chance to inquire with Professor Burbage, and her feedback matched his expectations: she had also received an invitation.


    "You too?" Professor Burbage widened her eyes at him. "Oh, of course you''re qualified. I mean, you''re just so young, I hadn''t considered it."


    "Professor Burbage, do you know the origins of this so-called research group?" Felix asked.


    "I do know a bit," Professor Burbage said, "Seems it''s a topic put forth by the American magical government, to address crises or such. It''s all old hat, you know, they''re always sensitive about Muggle issues."


    Felix nodded thoughtfully.


    The two of them agreed to meet in Paris, then went their separate ways.


    He was curious to see how experts from other countries viewed Muggle issues.


    Over the next two days, Felix dealt with various matters: assigning holiday homework to young wizards, bidding farewell to Professor Burbage, requesting permission from Dumbledore to stay at the school, attending the school''s banquet...


    At the station, young wizards excitedly boarded the train, while Felix silently watched from a corner.


    Most noticeable was the tall figure of Marcus Flint. Since the exams were over, he had been avoiding Felix;


    Next was Clementi Vane, who wore oversized sses. Right after the exams, she found Felix, hoping to maintain correspondence after graduation and receive his guidance on ancient magical texts;


    A few other graduates also expressed simr wishes, and Felix didn''t refuse.


    Apart from these, the young wizards who had left an impression on him throughout the year appeared one by one:


    Albert Burke, Percy, Penelope, Geoffrey, Peter Selwyn, Warren Partis, the twins, Cedric, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Luna Lovegood...


    He also caught sight of a somewhat dejected Draco Malfoy. Felix knew Lucius had struggled on several fronts; he was eventually expelled from the school''s board of governors, and his son couldn''t help but be affected.


    Felix watched as the Hogwarts Express sped away.


    As the train''s shadow vanished from his sight, he turned and left the tform.


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 Chapter 159: The Beginning of the Holidays

    Chapter 159: The Beginning of the Holidays


    During the holidays, Hogwarts was quiet, and the courtyard was lush with nts, resembling a richly colored oil painting.


    However, without the chattering students clutching their books, the scene feltcking in vitality.


    This made the ghosts, who were originally quite inconspicuous, suddenly more noticeable. Felix Harp could always catch a glimpse of the silver-white translucent figure darting past out of the corner of his eye on his way to the library.


    Apart from the ghosts that resided at Hogwarts, some professors had also stayed behind. Professors McGonagall and Flitwick were among them, as well as Sybill Trwney.


    The empty school led to increased interactions among the professors. During a small gathering, the tipsy Trwney insisted on giving Felix a prophecy:


    "Darkness, I see darkness..."


    Felix watched her quietly. Trwney stared wide-eyed, her gaze fixed on a bottle of sherry, studying it intently.


    "Sybill, you''re drunk," Professor McGonagall said, her cheeks slightly flushed from having had a bit of wine herself.


    "No, I''m not! I see... arge ck dog! With a vast army of darkness that shrouds everything. It envelops youpletely." Trwney rested one arm on McGonagall''s shoulder and pointed at Felix''s chest with the other, huping as she said, "This is a turning point in your life. For... for more details, just three Galleons."


    McGonagall mouthed, "She used to be a fortune teller before she became a professor." She waved her wand and levitated Trwney onto the couch, then conjured a small nket to cover her.


    Arge ck dog? Felix pondered. Was it Fang, or perhaps the three-headed dog, Fluffy?


    He did entertain the idea of going to see the three-headed dog with Hagrid, but he hadn''t mentioned it to anyone.


    Professor Flitwick, on the side, was using magic to transform sses into various small animals. Soon enough, Professors McGonagall and Felix joined in. They engaged in a game of tabletop Quidditch with their wands.


    As they exited, a breeze carrying the fragrant scent of summer and autumn rustled through, swiftly clearing Felix''s gaze.


    It had been a week since the holidays began. He had returned to his London cottage a few days ago, paid visits to some Muggle friends, and then promptly came back to Hogwarts.


    Now, he stood atop the spiral staircase on the western side of the castle, at the entrance to the Ravenwmon room.


    A bronze eagle doorknocker barred his way. Besides that, there was no doorknob, no keyhole.


    This was a distinctive feature of Ravenw House¡ªthe entrance to themon room wasn''t protected by a password. Instead, a riddle was presented by the doorknocker. If you answered the question correctly, it would open and wee you inside.


    Felix lightly knocked on the doorknocker. The eagle''s beak immediately opened, not with a screech, but with a gentle, melodic voice: "Tomorrow and unexpectedness, which arrives first?"


    Felix earnestly replied, "That depends on how much preparation you''ve done ''today.''"


    "Valid point." The voice finished speaking, and the door swung open.


    The Ravenwmon room was empty. Felix surveyed the circr room, adorned with a fairytale style¡ªpredominantly blue and bronze tones, a domed ceiling and a deep blue carpet adorned with stars, elegant arched windows draped with colorful silk.


    He approached a window. The view from here was magnificent, allowing him to look down upon the school''s ck Lake and the Forbidden Forest. In the distance, the surrounding mountains stretched out.


    The room held tables, chairs, and bookshelves. In a niche across from the door stood a tall white marble statue.


    It was a statue of Rowena Ravenw, and after gazing at it for a moment, Felix''s gaze fell upon a shelf.


    On a shelf within was a one-foot-tall sculpture of a slender woman. She tilted her head slightly, looking calm and serene.


    The sculpture was a bit rough, even the face of the figure was quite blurry. Fortunately, in front of her, there was a gilded namete with an inscription: "In Memory of the Ravenw House Ghost¡ªLady Grey, March 7th, 1993. A souvenir from the students."


    Felix couldn''t help but smile.


    After a moment, he snapped out of his reverie and remembered the purpose of his visit. He began examining the magical traces on the shelves. Within the Room of Requirement, Lady Ravenw''s memories mentioned that she had left some hidden magical legacies in the Ravenwmon room for future seekers to discover.


    Felix Harp approached this with a trial-and-error attitude, hoping to find something interesting.


    His interaction with Lady Ravenw had been all too brief; he couldn''t help but feel it was a missed opportunity.


    Felix ran his fingers over the patterns on the shelves, but to no avail. He moved to other shelves, inspecting them carefully. Finally, on the third shelf, he sensed a very concealed magical fluctuation.


    With a probing touch of magic, he attempted to interact with the enchantment. He found no danger. Yet, it seemed to be woven into the air, and Felix had to exert significant effort to extract it.


    A milky light bloomed in the air. The next second, his vision blurred, then everything returned to normal.


    He still stood within the Ravenwmon room, as if the burst of light had been a mere illusion.


    However, the books on the shelves suddenly held a deadly allure for him, and a voice in his mind told him: "I want to read every book on these shelves, I can do it."


    This notion and emotion hade out of nowhere, as if they had been imnted in his mind.


    "What is this?"


    As a newly minted Master of Memory Magic, Felix quickly dampened his strong desire. He carefully analyzed and pondered over this magic.


    "It''s very much like my Room of Thought, pulling someone into a realm of thought. However, Lady Ravenw''s approach is much more sophisticated than mine, extending time proportions longer and with fewer side effects..."


    He casually flipped through the ordinary books on the shelf, finding nothing profound. He shifted his focus to the illusory Ravenwmon room he was in.


    He couldn''t detect a single w.


    "Quite fascinating, I never thought I''d be pulled into someone else''s Room of Thought." Felix chuckled softly. His fingers danced swiftly, and arcane symbols materialized in the air.


    "Hmm, Lady Ravenw had deep knowledge of ancient runes as well; that''s understandable. Her time was one of transition between eras."


    Ten, a hundred... soon, the number reached five hundred, and they kept increasing steadily¡ªthis was Felix''s year of achievement in the Hogwarts library.


    Then, Felix extended his hand. Guided by his thoughts, dozens to hundreds of runic symbols instantly flew to his hand, forming a mysterious pattern. zing mes erupted from his fingertips.


    Suddenly, the entire world shook violently.


    Felix withdrew the ancient magic, waving his hand to disperse all the runic symbols. "That was close. I almost damaged this ce."


    Carefully and cautiously, he proceeded to test the magical treasures left behind by Lady Ravenw.


    Time passed bit by bit.


    After an indeterminate amount of time, he was ejected by the magical restraint.


    Felix looked out the window; it was already evening. "I might have been inside for several days, yet I''m not particrly tired..."


    "Excellent, it''s shown me the way forward for my Room of Thought."


    "And this method of abruptly pulling someone is truly sophisticated; I didn''t even notice. Memory magic, memory magic..."


    "There''s so much potential."


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 Chapter 160: Gathering Information

    Chapter 160: Gathering Information


    Felix Harp suddenly recalled a campus legend at Hogwarts. There was a Ravenw student who had read all the books in themon room overnight, considered an inexplicable miracle.


    Perhaps, this was the effect of magic.


    He carefully sensed it and found that the magic seemed to havepletely vanished, leaving no trace. After a moment''s thought, he decisively shifted his perspective.


    In the pale and ck world, he could barely see faint magical stars gathering. He pressed his nose into the air and vaguely saw a magical vortex.


    "Magic is slowly recovering."


    "I wonder who the next fortunate Ravenw student will be?"


    Felix left this ce.


    The day had turned dark, and he returned to his office, where a small domestic elf stood at the entrance.


    "Dobby?"


    The elf looked up, eyes widening in surprise. "Mr. Harp!"


    In the office, Felix handed him a bottle of butterbeer. "There''s no more pumpkin juice or fruit juice, but this one''s not bad. It''s not very alcoholic."


    Dobby hurriedly thanked him.


    Felix looked at Dobby''s new attire. "So, you managed to escape from Malfoy?"


    "Yes, Mr. Harp, you can''t imagine the luck Dobby had..." He began to recount his magical journey.


    Felix listened with a smile.


    "You''ve had quite the stroke of luck, Dobby."


    Dobby beamed. "All thanks to the great Harry Potter! He saved Dobby!"


    "Do you have any nstely?"


    "ns? Dobby wants to earn a bit more money, to save up for a birthday gift for Mr. Potter, even though it''s quite difficult..." Dobby took out a small box the size of his palm from his pocket. "This is for Dobby''s friend, Mr. Felix Harp''s gift."


    Felix took it with interest and unexpectedly found it wasn''t some shoddy item.


    "It looks quite delicate, though I can''t quite make out what it is."


    "A music box, sir." The elf looked at him timidly. "Didn''t cost much... Dobby earned it working at the Leaky Cauldron. The owner there is very kind, pays two silver Sickles a week."


    Soon, Dobby took his leave, also praising the butterbeer. "It tastes great, Dobby really likes it. I''ll rmend it to my friends."


    Felix watched his disappearing figure, contemting the fact that two silver Sickles a week might be affordable for him too.


    Next time, he would inquire if Dobby was interested.


    Time swiftly moved on to July 14th. Felix''s figure appeared on a concealed street corner in Paris, France. He walked into a narrow, dim alley.


    A man with a hood was leaning against the wall, his right hand in his pocket. He nced at Felix, whose face became blurry and twisted, a pair of silver eyes faintly shining.


    The man instinctively averted his gaze and spoke in French, "What brings you here?"


    "It''s none of your concern. Just remember, I''m not your enemy." Felix pulled out a brown wand from his robes, the silver glow in his eyes intensifying.


    "Alright, just remember not to cause trouble. I doubt anyone would willingly provoke you."


    The man nervously stepped aside, revealing an empty stretch of wall behind him.


    Felix''s lips curved into a smirk as he walked straight towards the wall, creating ripples upon impact¡ªthe ripples expanding in circles¡ªuntil his figure vanished.


    The man stared at Felix''s fading silhouette before turning his head to continue watching the alleyway outside.


    ...


    Felix Harp observed the scene within¡ªthis was a makeshift bar with variousrge and small wooden crates haphazardly put together by magic, serving as tables and chairs.


    Not far from him, two wizards with hoods were loudly arguing, a silver artifact ced before them.


    "Ten Galleons!"


    "No, it''s at least twelve!"


    The same scene was unfolding in this small space, though most wizards concealed their appearances with hoods.


    This was a magical ck market sh bar in Paris, France.


    Felix stood at the forefront, regardless of the discreet nces from others. His gaze swept over every person present. When his eyes, glowing with silver light, met theirs, these wizards either met his gaze fearlessly or nervously averted their eyes, muttering curses under their breath.


    In the context of the ck market, disying power was a wise move¡ªa clever way for strangers to integrate into this ce.


    Felix quickly spotted his target. Behind a makeshift bar constructed from wooden crates, a disheveled wizard with dirty hair was guzzling down cheap beer.


    "ddin, it''s been a while." He spoke with a hoarse voice.


    The wizard raised his head. His cheeks were rough, and he was one of the few who hadn''t hidden his face. "Oh, it''s you. Want a drink?"


    "No thanks. Anything interesting happening in Paristely?"


    "A lot of foreigners visiting, does that count?"


    "Tell me more."


    "Two Galleons."


    "Chink~" Two golden coins dropped onto the box before him, making a crisp sound.


    ddin grinned as he collected the coins. Then he suddenly shouted to the surroundings, "What are you looking at? None of your business!"


    Others quickly averted their gazes.


    "Recently, a lot of foreigners have beening, all iming to be Muggle researchers. It seems they''re attending a conference, and the Ministry of Magic is responsible for security."


    "That''s not particrly intriguing, ddin." Felix fixed his gaze on him.


    "Hey! Stop staring like that. You wanna hear about the time I wet my pants as a kid?" ddin rudely retorted, turning his head. "Alright, it''s just that I can''t beat you. Otherwise..."


    "There''s been a minor issue. They encountered an attack..." he revealed.


    "What kind of attack, and were there any casualties?" Felix pressed.


    "No casualties. That bunch of Muggle experts is useless. Two or three people barged into the conference, and within a minute, they knocked over a dozen folks." ddin said disdainfully.


    "And what about the French Ministry of Magic''s Aurors?"


    "They were stationed outside. The woman from the United States who''s supposedly in charge of the conference security is said to be extremely arrogant. She''s the head honcho this time." ddin shrugged. "I guess the attack was bait to lure them."


    "Why do you say that?"


    ddin nced around and lowered his voice. "You really wanna know? Want to get your hands on some inside info? I paid quite a price for it."


    "Ching ching~."


    Four gold Galleonsnded on the box, and ddin''s eyes lit up.


    "If the information doesn''t satisfy me..."


    "Don''t worry! It''ll be worth it."


    Then, he revealed a secret. "Word has it that the attackers were audacious. They left a warning for that woman¡ªa bloodstained badge."


    "What kind of badge?"


    "Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."


    Felix fell silent.


    "Quite audacious, right? There are over a thousand students there. Now they''re in turmoil. Six out of seven Americans left the same day."


    "No casualties, right?"


    "None. That''s why I said they were audacious. Their purpose ining seemed more like a promation."


    Exiting the magical ck market, Felix looked at the bright sky. People in the distance were leisurely chatting, a young couple pushing a baby carriage, strolling under the sycamore trees.


    "Something just doesn''t feel right about this trip."


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 Chapter 161: The Contemplation of a Magician

    Chapter 161: The Contemtion of a Magician


    Felix Harp strolled along the streets of Paris, with the Seine River''s southern bank just a few hundred meters ahead. The shoreline was adorned with various meticulously decorated shops, many exuding an exotic ir.


    Among them was a paper-cutting shop, its entrance adorned with all sorts of paper decorations. From colorful animals to intricate indoor ornaments, it was a dazzling sight.


    The shopkeeper, a youngdy with colorful headgear, warmly engaged Felix as he stepped inside.


    In the end, Felix chose a colorful handheld windmill.


    With a week remaining before the conference officiallymenced, Felix spent two days enjoying himself to the fullest. From the Mus¨¦e d''Orsay to the Louvre, and even the world-renowned Notre Dame Cathedral, he immersed himself as a pure tourist, relishing in the local culture and exquisite cuisine of Paris.


    After all, his scheduled itinerary for the French Ministry of Magic was to arrive in Paris three dayster.


    On a grand and splendid avenue, a crowd surged with tourists from various nations converging. Upon looking up, thendmark of Paris''s 7th arrondissement, the Eiffel Tower, stood tall against the sky.


    A young couple, each holding a child and half an ice cream in hand, caught Felix''s attention.


    "Mommy, mommy, I want flowers, I want flowers," the young boy pointed excitedly to a spot not far away.


    The couple followed his gaze, about ten meters away, where several children with their families encircled a young man. He appeared quite handsome, with a tall and slender figure and a gentle smile adorning his face.


    His ck hair and light blue eyes, reminiscent of a clear sky, emanated a sense of purity.


    Felix raised his left hand behind his back and gently snapped his fingers. A bright yellow tulip suddenly materialized in his hand, which he handed to one of the children in front of him.


    "He''s a street magician," the child''s father remarked.


    "Seems quite impressive," the child''s mother remarked, scrutinizing Felix''s hand without detecting any trickery.


    The couple, along with their child, moved closer to the spectacle. Felix showcased his empty hands to the crowd, except for a green gemstone ring adorning his left hand.


    Amidst curious gazes, he sped his hands together and made a praying gesture, producing a chorus of "chirps and tweets" from within his closed palms.


    "Wow!"


    Several children widened their eyes in exaggeration, even their parents wore expressions of incredulity.


    Felix slowly opened his palms, revealing a small bird with colorful feathers. The bird turned its head agilely, curiously observing its surroundings. Its small ck eyes emitted an irresistible charm.


    As the bird preened its feathers, it took flight at the approach of a child attempting to touch it.


    All eyes followed its flight, tracing its path until it vanished into the sky.


    Felix bowed in acknowledgment, declined some coins and bills with a light-hearted smile, and departed gracefully.


    ...


    In the heart of Paris, Felix Harp wandered amidst the picturesque grounds of France''s renowned institute of higher learning. The scenery was idyllic, with many students of his age leisurely sitting on the grass, engaged in carefree conversations.


    Two young girls observed him with curiosity. One, with grape-purple hair, leaned in to whisper to her friend, "Look, that person is remarkably handsome. Which college do you think he''s from?"


    Her friend responded affirmatively, "Definitely not from our school."


    "So, he''s probably from another school or perhaps a tourist?"


    "Why not ask him yourself?"


    "Sure, why not?" The girl with the purple hair stood up and approached Felix''s side. In somewhat casual French, she greeted him, "Hello, I''m Amandine Zo¨¦."


    Felix turned to her and spoke kindly, "Hello, Miss Zo¨¦. You can call me Felix, Felix Harp."


    Amandine paused for a moment, then replied, "Your eyes are quite beautiful, and by the way, you can call me Amandine."


    "Very well, Amandine."


    The girl named Amandine was extremely talkative, exuding warmth and cheerfulness. She assumed the role of a guide, introducing Felix Harp to her university.


    "Here is the history lecture hall... This is the humanities section... Oh, I remember now, there''s a very famous public lecture by a philosophy professor today!"


    Amandine widened her eyes, her expression hesitant, as if she was weighing between Felix and the public lecture.


    "May I go and take a look?" Felix said with a smile.


    "Of course! I thought you wouldn''t be interested in philosophy," she said with a sigh of relief.


    "I indeed don''t know much about it, but asionally listening in can be quite enjoyable."


    Amandine led Felix into a spacious lecture hall. Out of the corner of his eye, Felix noticed her friend looking at her with irritation. She chuckled awkwardly and guided Felix to take a seat.


    The public lecture began soon after. The light in the lecture hall dimmed, leaving a single beam of light illuminating the center.


    A formally dressed middle-aged man stood at the podium, his gaze profound, his tone measured, "What is existence? What is the meaning of human existence?"


    "Before you were born, we experienced an age of crisis of faith. In Nietzsche''s words, it was a time when we came to realize, like never before, that ''God is dead.''"


    "We underwent a shift in thought, as wars made us contemte the meaning of life. From Kierkegaard and Dostoevsky to the peak of Sartre and Camus after WWII, and to their quiet decline up to the present day."


    "Some coined the term ''existentialism,'' but it can''t be considered a systematic philosophical category; there''s no academic discipline of existentialist philosophy, at most it''s abel."


    "Let me share somemon reflections on ''existence'' with you¡ª"


    "For instance, you are the result of your choices."


    "Or, for example, time is the sole measure of existence."


    ...


    "Many believe that existentialism was born in the Left Bank caf¨¦s of Paris, the concoction of a group of decadents. However, this is a gross oversimplification. Many silently practicemendable existentialist viewpoints in their lives."


    "Suffering and adversity breed despair, which in turn prompts contemtion of the meaning of existence, leading to rejuvenation."


    Unbeknownst to them, two hours had passed.


    A student raised their hand to ask, "Under normal circumstances, we wouldn''t contemte the ''meaning of existence.'' This thought only emerges in times of pessimism and despair. Does this indicate that existentialism is inherently pessimistic?"


    "Are we studying existentialism just to prevent others from studying it?"


    The professor responded with humor, "Interesting perspective. You can sign up for my graduate program."


    "I must emphasize that existentialism is an optimism supported by reason and logic. Imagine your life plunged into darkness, wars, famine, the substitution of technology... In short, you can''t find the meaning of existence."


    "At this point, existentialism would tell you that despite the tragedy in your life, we must still strive to live, to choose our own meaning in life. You''ll discover that your existence itself introduces variables to the world, both good and bad, constantly fluctuating."


    Many hands shot up.


    The professor pointed to Felix.


    Felix stood up, "Professor, I''m Felix Harp. Among the viewpoints you mentioned in your speech, you propose that existence is about seeing, perceiving, and experiencing. But what about things distant or even those that may never appear in reality, like magic in movies? How can we perceive and experience them?"


    His question elicited suppressedughter from some studentsbining rational philosophical discourse with irrational magical topics seemed to challenge the ssroom''s decorum.


    One or two students even whistled, expressing their agreement with Felix''s ''audacity.''


    The professor chuckled, then replied thoughtfully, "Magic is a product of our imagination, existing currently only in imaginative mediums like films and novels. So, do they truly exist? Or are they merely products of thought, with our brains tricking us into believing they exist?"


    "But what if, someday, magic were to truly manifest in reality?" Felix pressed on.


    The professor was amused, "That''s an intriguing hypothesis. Whether magic truly exists? Many philosophers have expressed their views, directly or indirectly. However, delving into each exnation would be quiteplex. We can discuss this outside of ss¡ªalongside the student who just expressed a pessimistic perspective."


    "But I mean, if you''ll forgive me, let''s say we make a hypothetical scenario: there''s a group of wizards who conceal their existence using various magical means, but one day, you discover them¡ª"


    Felix paused briefly, "What would you do?"


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 Chapter 162: Uncle and Nephew

    Chapter 162: Uncle and Nephew


    Felix Harp was indeed very curious, especially about the viewpoints of a philosophical professor.


    In therge ssroom, a murmur of discussion arose as they all tried to immerse themselves in the scenarios he had set, collectively pondering a question they had never seriously considered before:


    "If magic truly exists, how should we confront it?"


    The professor observed the reactions of others and felt it was necessary to address this question seriously.


    He turned to Felix and inquired, "In your hypothesis, are there enough wizards?"


    "Not many, but they can''t be ignored either."


    "Do they fall under the conventional definition of evil, from a collective perspective?"


    "Disregarding proportions when discussing groups leads to facies, Professor. My view is that they''re equivalent to ordinary people."


    The professor and Felix engaged in a back-and-forth, avoiding sensitive topics like ''the overall power of wizards'' with vague responses, iming they hadn''t thought it through yet.


    Other students were drawn to the tug-of-war questioning between the two, alternating their gaze between the professor and Felix.


    Among the crowd, a young student with brown curly hair was sweating profusely, looking at Felix with a terrified expression.


    The professor''s expression turned gratified. "It seems you''ve given this question a thorough thought, which will aid us in our uing discussions."


    Felix''s exnation followed: "I n to write a magical work, much like ''The Chronicles of Narnia''."


    In order toplete his new book, he had deliberately collected a batch of fairy tales during the holidays, and was surprised to find that this series had been published as early as the 1950s.


    "Is that so..." The professor pondered earnestly for a moment, then looked up and said, "Leaving aside the philosophical aspect, as a schr, my viewpoint ismunication."


    "Communication?" Felix repeated, dissatisfied with this answer. "Professor, I want to write a ''realistic'' novel, one where the content can withstand scrutiny."


    "My answer remains the same. Regardless of the eventual oue, the first step between two unfamiliar groups must be to deepen mutual understanding."


    The public ss came to an end, and the students filed out.


    The young student with brown curly hair rushed into the restroom, identally bumping into someone on the way.


    Meanwhile, Felix politely bid farewell.


    Amadine shrugged with an air of nonchnce. "Alright, if you ever get the chance toe to France in the future, you can find me here. I''ll show you around Paris."


    As Felix walked out of this renowned institution, pondering beneath a row of ne trees, he keenly sensed someone had been watching him all along.


    He turned the corner of the street and entered a narrow alleyway.


    The young man with brown curly hair and a middle-aged man with a bearded face suddenly appeared, following directly into the alley. After taking two turns, they realized the path ended at a wall.


    The middle-aged man abruptly turned around, raised his wand with an imposing air, but in the next second, his wand slipped out of his hand like a short stick.


    A man with ck hair and light blue eyes calmly stared at him, toying with a wand made of ck walnut in his hand.


    Maxwell Colbert opened his mouth, watching his own oak wand obediently float in front of the young man opposite him.


    The unexpected happened too quickly, and without a sound. He didn''t even have time to react.


    "Uncle, he vanished. Did he use Apparition?" The young man with curly hair stared at the empty wall in a daze. Seeing no response from his uncle, he turned around btedly.


    "It was him, it was him! He''s the one who exposed the magical world!" The young man spoke rapidly in a muddled mix ofnguages.


    Felix Harp looked at him with amusement. "I''m sure I know the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy better than you do. So, which use have I vited?"


    The curly-haired young man appeared very unconvinced. "I saw it with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears. Don''t think you can deny it. Oh, Uncle, why is your wand on the opposite side?"


    Maxwell Colbert, his bearded face stern, reprimanded, "Be quiet, Camy."


    He looked at Felix. "I believe there''s a misunderstanding here. You''re the Muggle Studies expert attending the conference, right?"


    "A misunderstanding?"


    "Yes, indeed. I am Maxime Colbert, an Auror from the French Ministry of Magic, responsible for the security of this conference. My nephew is studying at Sorbonne in Paris, he must have been mistaken."


    "I apologize. I might have misunderstood." Camy mumbled slowly while reaching for the wand concealed behind his back.


    Felix raised an eyebrow and flicked his finger lightly, causing the young Camy''s wand to fly out of his hand.


    Withrge and small faces looking at each other, the man across them spoke with satisfaction, "Now we can have a proper conversation."


    ...


    A restaurant on the street in Paris''s Fifth District.


    Felix received the menu handed over by the waiter. "One sd, a French fish soup, a te of escargot in salt, the main course will be braised beef in red wine... um, dessertter. That''s all."


    He handed the menu to the uncle and nephew across the table. "What about you?"


    Maxwell was still hesitating, but Camy, his nephew, had already taken the menu. "Uncle, what do you want? How about this blue cheese?"


    Maxwell pointed at Felix and said to the waiter, "Same as his."


    Camy ordered various odd dishes.


    "I rmend pairing with a light white wine." The waiter suggested.


    Felix had no objection, but the other two had no clue.


    The waiter took note of the names and swiftly left.


    Maxwell Colbert lookedplex. "I''m starting to believe you''re a Muggle Studies expert, given your reputation. What''s your name?"


    "Although it''s a bitte, allow me to introduce myself. I''m Felix Harp, author of two books on Muggle Studies."


    Maxwell fell silent. After a while, he spoke, "Considering your reputation, I temporarily believe you don''t have an intention to expose the magical world, but I will still verify. As for attacking an Auror¡ª"


    "What Auror? I was facing a wizard with an unclear identity. Just after learning about the attack targeting Muggle Studies experts, it''s quite normal to be a bit on edge, don''t you think?"


    Maxwell''s expression turned serious. "You know about the attack? How did you find out?"


    "Emmerson Kane, Alice Alpha, Gorsworth Moore..." Felix listed a string of names, and Maxwell Colbert''s expression grew darker and darker.


    These were the names of officials in the French Ministry of Magic.


    "I have a broadwork of information," Felix said as he picked up his cutlery, shing a gentle smile. "Perhaps I could rmend one or two of them to you?"


    Throughout the meal, Maxwell Colbert appeared downcast, eating in silence, unable to taste the vor.


    Camy quickly became familiar with Felix.


    "You''re studying at Sorbonne? What''s going on?" Felix brought up a topic he was curious about.


    Camy exined, "It was arranged by my mother¡ªoh, I''m a half-blood¡ªjust an auditor, without a certificate."


    Felix understood.


    Exiting the restaurant, Camy was sent away, and using Apparition, Felix brought Maxwell to the Fontenbourg Square in Paris.


    This was the location of the French Ministry of Magic.


    In the center of the square, four ancient trees guarded a bronze statue. As they entered the range of the ancient trees, their figures magically disappeared, while those around paid no attention.


    Standing beside the statue, the roots of the four ancient trees suddenly came to life, intertwining to form a birdcage-shaped elevator. Felix felt a slight tremor under his feet, and the elevator started descending.


    He nced at Maxwell and returned his wand to him.


    "Thank you," Maxwell said sincerely.


    He didn''t want anyone to know what happened today. He nned to keep these embarrassing experiences to himself forever.


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 Chapter 163: Eavesdropping

    Chapter 163: Eavesdropping


    The elevator descended rapidly, and after a brief darkness, Felix Harp caught a glimpse of the growing light beneath his feet.


    A cacophony of noises reached his ears as they arrived at a vast underground structure.


    Felix surveyed the patterns and murals on the arched ceiling.


    Maxwell noticed his gaze. "We''ve adopted a new style ¨C constetion patterns and some historical events. Have you seen that big sphere up there?" He pointed to the silver-white sphere hanging in the dome above, emitting a soft light that bathed the entire entrance hall as if it were daytime.


    "It wasn''t here before, thanks to the former Minister."


    As the elevator reached the ground, Felix stepped out of the ''birdcage.'' He looked around the circr hall, divided into two levels. He stood on the lower one, and in the center of the open space were several long desks, most of which were upied. People hurriedly moved about, going to and fro.


    The upper level was supported by columns and featured a railing along its edge. Felix saw someone standing by the balustrade, looking down from a height.


    "The architecture here isid out horizontally?" Felix inquired.


    "What? Oh, yes, it is. Simr to a spider''s web, and we''re standing at the center of the web." Maxwell exined. "Quite different from the British Ministry of Magic. I heard you''ve bored through more than ten levels downward?"


    "To my knowledge, it''s ten levels," Felix replied.


    Next, Maxwell led Felix out of the entrance hall and down a wide corridor to a small office. A piece of paper was affixed above it ¨C Temporary Registration Point No. 2.


    "I brought you here directly to save you from queuing at the front desk. It''s always a long line," Maxwell pushed the door open. "Good afternoon, Willie. I''m bringing a friend for registration, attending the Muggle Studies conference."


    A wizard with light-colored hair raised his head. "Of course... so many neers recently, I don''t even have leisure time." He suddenly looked at Felix. "Do you enjoy Exploding Snap?"


    Impatiently interrupting him, Maxwell said, "Willie, we''re short on time. We still need to go to the hotelter. Just the thought of that American woman gets on my nerves."


    "Ha! But you follow her orders, don''t you?" The wizard named Willie registered Felix''s wand while handing over a form. "Just fill it out casually. Mainly name, country, and purpose of visit."


    Maxwell''s stubble twitched. "I follow the Minister''s orders."


    Felix quickly filled in the basic information on the form, ignoring the section about magical expertise. When he handed it to Willie, the wizard didn''t even look at it before tucking it into a drawer. He then turned to Maxwell with a gleeful grin. "But you do obey her, don''t you? Has that woman had you doing servant''s work?"


    Maxwell responded with a rude gesture.


    As they left the office, Maxwell exined, "This conference was applied for by the American Magical Congress to the International Confederation of Wizards. After themittee''s unanimous approval, we were assigned to host it."


    "Why not hold it in the United States?"


    "They insisted on it. Who knows what they''re thinking?" Maxwell clearly didn''t want to delve further into the topic. Felix spected that it might have to do with the woman he referred to.


    The two arrived at a firece. "We''ll travel through the Floo Network, a temporarily set-up connection. Bursley''s Hotel, remember? Please, after you."


    Felix grabbed a handful of Floo Powder, and amidst the emerald mes, he called out clearly, "Bursley''s Hotel." His figure vanished.


    Stepping out of the firece, Felix found the hotel''s interior adorned predominantly in red and gold. The most conspicuous elements were the red carpets and the golden pirs, which reminded Felix of Gryffindor House at Hogwarts.


    He couldn''t help but chuckle softly.


    Soon, Maxwell appeared from the firece, ushering Felix Harp into a room before hastily departing.


    Felix pushed the door open. The furnishings inside were simple. After casting protective charms, he began to explore the hotel.


    The hotel had a total of seven floors. Felix strolled to the first floor, exchanged a few words with the front desk attendant, and quickly surmised that it was a Muggle hotel, located in quite a remote area.


    "Your travel group is quite peculiar. Visitors flock here in autumn for the flowers and scenery. Now, everything around is bare..."


    "And once you''re in, they don''t allow us to clean the rooms and have all sorts of odd demands."


    Felix made a few casual responses. He didn''t know the details of the negotiations with the French Ministry of Magic and didn''t wish to borate further.


    Two men stood by the entrance, one hand casually resting in their pockets. Their demeanor was quite simr to Maxwell''s, and Felix guessed they were Ministry guards.


    Felix inquired with the attendant whether a guest named "Caridy Bubaji" had arrived. After checking the guest list, the attendant replied, "No, her room is 203, and it''s still vacant. We cleaned it just this morning."


    After a polite thank-you, Felix began ascending from the first floor, inspecting for traces of dark magic.


    He encountered several wizards from different countries along the way, all invited experts. Felix exchanged a few words with them. Despite thenguage barrier with some, most were friendly.


    On the fourth floor, he discovered a massive auditorium with hundreds of seats.


    "It seems the conference will be held here."


    The fifth and sixth floors were empty, but Felix went through them one by one until he reached the seventh floor, where he heard some noise.


    "Have I really stumbled upon something? Or is it just hotel staff?"


    Felix''s figure gradually melded into the surroundings. His footsteps were nearly inaudible. Finally, at the door of room 705, he stopped.


    The voices inside were soft, but Felix used a charm to make the wall softer where his wand touched it. He could hear the conversation clearly ¨C


    "Still no luck with the list?" It was a woman''s voice.


    "No, he''s stubborn." A deep male voice responded.


    "Can''t you just¡ª?" The woman''s voice suddenly halted, as if silenced by a spell.


    "You''ve recognized the problem too. We can''t use force, at least I refuse to."


    The woman muttered something under her breath.


    After a pause that felt quite prolonged, just as Felix thought the conversation was over, the man said despondently, "This is an utter disaster."


    Footsteps followed. Felix swiftly withdrew.


    Inside the room, he pondered the incidental information he had acquired.


    It seemed that one of the attackers from the previous incident had been caught. Based on their conversation, the attacker''s identity was still quite special, which made them cautious.


    Was it a rtive of some official?


    Felix suddenly felt that the Galleons he had spent weren''t worth it ¨C the information he gained was less valuable than what he had overheard standing by the door.


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 Chapter 164: Ambush

    Chapter 164: Ambush


    As the evening descended, peculiarly dressed wizards emerged in various corners of the hotel. Felix Harp stood in the hotel garden, observing a group of wizards climbing a small hill.


    From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Maxwell and a stern-looking woman engaged in conversation, the former appearing quite impatient.


    "This is France, C¨¦lestine! Not America. You can''tmand me in the name of your legiture!"


    The woman called C¨¦lestine had an exquisite and serious countenance, meticulously dressed from head to toe, without a hint of imperfection. She seemed like a capable government official who had just rushed over from a Muggle government building kilometers away to attend a charity event in the slums.


    Especially notable were the several wizards standing beside her in pleated robes and cote hats, solemnly gesturing and pointing at an automated sprinkler, further adding to the persuasiveness of her identity.


    In this moment, mes seemed to flicker in her gray eyes, and though she pursed her lips, restraining herself from saying anything hurtful, her response remained steadfast: "Thew is an invible boundary; we must take action."


    "We will handle it," Maxwell retorted stiffly. He emphasized the word ''we,'' seemingly reminding the woman across from him that their understanding of the term greatly differed.


    The two soon parted ways.


    Felix walked over, the anger of the French Auror still apparent on her face.


    "She''s far too arrogant, thinking I''m her subordinate!"


    "Who is she?" Felix inquired.


    "A formidable woman, No?l C¨¦lestine, the foremost figure of the American Wizarding Congress."


    "What does she want?"


    "To have American Aurors dispatched here, under the pretense of assisting in apprehending potential criminals," Maxwell said with a stern expression.


    Felix clicked his tongue, genuinely surprised by such a demand. He almost wanted to outright point at the French Ministry of Magic and berate, "You''re utterly rubbish; I don''t trust you. I''ll send my own people."


    "If she''s so distrustful, why didn''t she just hold the meeting in America from the start?" Felix asked, raising a simr question he had posed earlier.


    "Factional struggles? Hidden agendas? Well, from what I gather, many oppose her..."


    Sensitively, Felix asked, "Who opposes her?"


    "Uh... I didn''t remember," Maxwell revealed an embarrassed expression, muttering under his breath, "The department prepared some documents for me, including various clippings, left in my room, but I didn''t look closely... Do you want to see?"


    "If it''s convenient, thank you, Maxwell."


    "Ha, I suppose we''re practically acquainted now. And you have a taste in food that resonates with mine; I love that dish of red wine-stewed beef." Maxwell joked.


    The lingering resentment dissolved in that moment.


    The next day, on the eve of the official start of the conference, more wizards arrived, their numbers exceeding a hundred by a rough count.


    One consequence of this was the odd looks the hotel staff gave them.


    "Tell me, are you part of some peculiar organization, like ''entric dress fetishists'' or something?" The hotel receptionist chatted with Felix. Among these individuals, only a few were dressed normally, and among them, Felix was the youngest and most handsome.


    "You could say that," he replied, so you don''t really figure it out and end up getting hit with an Obliviate charm.


    Soon, he spotted the figure of Professor Bobage. He went to meet her, taking the small box from her hand. "You arrived a bitter than I anticipated."


    Bobage sighed, "I revised my presentation for the conference; I''ve been preupied these past few days."


    Felix apanied Professor Bobage to her room, and the two chatted along the way¡ª


    "Do you propose marriages between wizards and werewolves?" Felix Harp asked in astonishment.


    "Not only werewolves," Professor Bobage corrected, "I see the advantages of crossbreeding. I suggest unions between pure-bloods and half-bloods, Muggles, and even some humanoid magical beings."


    Felix''s expression grew rigid. He leaned against the door for a while before speaking, "Do you have any theoretical basis for this?"


    Professor Bobage said, "It''s an inspiration I gathered from Muggle literature. Although that Muggle named Mendel used peas for his experiments. But... I''ve also researched a lot of wizarding data, and it''s true that half-blood wizards have achieved more in the past century."


    Felix felt a headacheing on. He didn''t know how to advise his colleague.


    Once her theory was thrown out, it was akin to detonating a nuclear bomb.


    Moreover, the theory''s correctness was still questionable, but it would undoubtedly face frenzied resistance from pure-blood families all over the world.


    "Professor Bobage," Felix said tactfully, "given the current sentiment in the magical world, most wizards are not mentally prepared to ept this theory. Perhaps we can modify the topic slightly, approaching it from a safer angle."


    Professor Bobage looked at him and softly asked, "What''s your suggestion?"


    "With the current tendency of the magical world to iste itself, advocate for various magical governments to focus on the outside world¡ªMuggle technology, novel theories, and even limited cooperation with Muggle governments. Or, start from the perspective of ordinary wizards, encouraging young graduates to engage in practical experience in the Muggle world. At least they can umte work experience..."


    "Most wizards have long disconnected from society."


    Felix used Carroway as an example, "After graduation, he entered a Muggle institution of higher learning. Perhaps in a few years, he''ll be an authority on Muggle issues in the French wizarding world."


    Professor Bobage pondered.


    Felix persuaded, "This aligns with the theme of the current conference, and once the snowball starts rolling, even the most stubborn pure-blood families will be swept along by the tide of the times."


    "But..." Professor Bobage wasn''t entirely satisfied with this perspective. Although she was a Muggle Studies professor, she didn''t believe that the two worlds could cooperate or that cooperation was necessary.


    She merely saw the irrationality of the pure-blood ideology in the wizarding world and proposed her solution.


    ...


    The next day, July 20th, the conference officially began.


    No?l C¨¦lestine, as the representative of the International Confederation of Wizards and the initiator of the conference, presided over the entire event. However, she seemed distracted.


    She kept looking in one direction, where a tall, weathered-looking man stood. Every few minutes, he would step out and return, making a gesture towards her when he did.


    Delegates from each country took the stage to speak, and Felix Harp found himself growing drowsy.


    It was hard to imagine that these outdated notions wereing from the mouths of the most renowned group of Muggle issue researchers.


    The only amusement came when a wizard proposed the "Muggle threat theory," and a German wizard berated him as a "Grindelwald sympathizer," throwing a shoe at him.


    Perhaps Bobage''s perspective would be drowned out in this flood of verbose speeches... Felix thought.


    "Professor Bobage, what''s your speaking order?"


    "I have two wizards ahead of me."


    Soon, Professor Bobage stood on the tform. She cleared her throat, her face disying a poignant expression. Felix knew she hadn''t heeded his advice.


    But at that moment, the weathered man rushed in, shouting, "Attack!!!"


    "Boom!"


    A massive explosion rang out behind him.


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 Chapter 165: Clash of Wands

    Chapter 165: sh of Wands


    The solid wooden doors of the Great Hall shattered into countless pieces, amidst a swirl of smoke and dust, as crimson beams of light, reminiscent ofser-like streaks, swept through the entire room.


    Felix Harp casually flicked a spell away¡ªa Stunning Charm.


    "Weak magic," he mused with surprise.


    But in the next second, a red beam of light came straight at him, colliding against an invisible barrier, producing a deep rumble.


    Felix smirked, his lips curling. "Now, that''s more like it."


    He pulled Professor Burbage along as he gracefully side-stepped, the Professor frantically pushing aside her ginger hair that had fallen in front of her face. "What''s happening? What''s going on?"


    Felix didn''t reply. Thebined effects of the Sensory Charm and Memory eleration had slowed everything around him.


    Burbage''s questions seemed drawn out, and the swift arc of spells in flight appeared slightly sluggish.


    Before a dozen spells could reach him, he was already prepared, conjuring a Shield Charm to ward them off.


    "Tch!"


    With a soft sound, Felix used a Disillusionment Charm to transport himself and Professor Burbage to the seventh floor of the hotel. "Professor Burbage, I''ve checked before¡ªnobody resides on the sixth and seventh floors. They aren''t likely the attackers'' target. Find a room to hide in."


    This was confirmed based on his previous investigations. Earlier, Celestina and that weathered-faced wizard had sought a quiet ce to discuss private matters.


    "Alright, alright." Burbage nervously swallowed, still shaken by the intense scene. She had never witnessed so many spells all at once before.


    Felix''s earlier advice echoed in her mind.


    Felix''s form twisted and vanished, leaving behind a faint trail of ck smoke. The next instant, he emerged from the air of the Great Hall, appearing on the balcony of the second level.


    After narrowly dodging a misaimed red arrow, he stood elevated, looking down below.


    The room had turned into a mess¡ªdoors blown open, tables and chairs scattered, scorch marks everywhere. The attack hade suddenly, and most of the Muggle studies experts were sprawled on the ground, but from their condition, they seemed only unconscious.


    "Huh, these attackers show some restraint, don''t they?"


    His gaze rapidly scanned the scene, his mind working at lightning speed to process every detail in the room.


    This was the initial requirement of swift-assault tactics¡ªto read the battlefield and gather useful information.


    The opposing sides consisted of three factions: Celestina, the weathered-faced man hiding behind the lectern¡ªthey belonged to the American magical government faction;


    Maxwell and two unfamiliar young Aurors stood near the stone pirs, probably guards assigned by the French Ministry of Magic;


    The remaining dozen Muggle experts from different countries were sporadically positioned around, struggling to defend themselves.


    The other side consisted of the attackers, all dressed in ck robes adorned with white star decorations, wearing masks. There were twenty-seven of them, and more were continuously pouring in.


    "Norwell Celestina! Show yourself!"


    One of the attackers shouted. As they spoke, the windows of the fourth-floor hall shattered, and seven or eight ck-robed wizards on broomsticks burst in, soaring above the ceiling and casting spells downward.


    Felix swiftly swung his wand, knocking two wizards attempting to hex him out of the air, sending the rest of them veering away in fright.


    Celestina was hiding behind the lectern. Fierce as a lion, she retorted, "It was abolished in 1965!"


    "Do you know what you''ve done? Defying the Magical Congress!"


    She seemed to be exining something, but it only further ignited the attackers'' rage.


    "Liar!"


    "This is deception!"


    These attackers were organized with distinct roles, forming four squads¡ªfront, back, left, and right. Within each squad, some were in charge of offense, others of defense, mutually supporting and advancing, seizing over half of the Great Hall and almost cornering the Ministry of Magic team against the wall.


    What was even more dreadful was the constant influx of ck-robed wizards into the room. The enemy''s numbers seemed boundless, which made Maxwell feel a sense of despair.


    Last time, there were only five attackers. This time, it looked like that number had multiplied tenfold. The French Ministry of Magic had already exercised great caution, sending out a total of twelve Aurors, forming twobat teams. That strength would have sufficed to sweep through a ck market. However, this time, they were suffering a brutal defeat, with seven being taken down with a single blow.


    There was only one reason¡ªthere were simply too many of them on the opposing side! Spells wereing from all directions, leaving no room for evasion.


    Maxwell gritted his teeth and nced at hisrades beside him. Including himself, there were only three left. The remaining nine had fallen into the hands of the enemy.


    He could only pray that the Ministry would soon discover the anomaly and send reinforcements.


    ...


    Felix Harp was getting somewhat confused. The attackers had a straightforward objective¡ªto capture Norwell Celestina. And it seemed Celestina knew she was their target, even who they were.


    Because, from behind two stone pirs, she was shouting to Maxwell, "Do not use lethal spells!"


    But the battlefield was not something she could control. And in the midst of a battle, showing mercy was not a good idea. A red light struck Maxwell, causing his body to stiffen, followed by seven or eight more red lights.


    Amid his shocked expression, the spells sent him flying and mmed him into a pir behind him.


    "Maxwell!"


    A young Auror''s eyes went red. He gritted his teeth and cast a ck spell, conjuring a sharp dagger from the swirling ck mist in the air. With unstoppable momentum, the dagger pierced into the chest of an attacker on the other side, blood spurting from his chest instantly.


    "Bethany!" a mournful cry came from the opposition, followed by a sharp esction in their spellcasting.


    Though notpletely understanding the situation, Felix felt he needed to intervene¡ªbefore things became irreparable.


    Raising his hand, he unleashed a Bursting Hex. The spell hit the chandelier on the ceiling, causing it to shatter along with half of the ceiling itself. Dust and debris rained down.


    The crimson lights in the air weakened considerably.


    Felix''s figure suddenly appeared conspicuously in the center of the hall. Calmly and precisely, he swished his wand, sending Stunners streaming like water from its tip. The smoke cleared, leaving seven or eight attackers lying on the ground.


    "All hexes end!"


    Felix reversed his wand, plunging it into the ground. A wave of red light surged out like a tidal wave, emanating from him. Attackers, Muggle experts, Aurors, and officials from the American magical government were sent flying like straws. The spells they were about to cast fell into silence.


    Everyone''s gaze turned to this suddenly appearing figure, watching as he slowly rose, holding his wand expressionlessly.


    The hall was so silent that you could hear every breath. Several seconds passed¡ª


    "Take him down!" Aposed voice among the attackers spoke.


    But a dozen spells struck only the ck smoke he had left behind. Then, everyone present witnessed a scene they would never forget¡ªFelix''s figure kept flickering, every appearance apanied by a dazzling red light.


    The most astonishing moment was when they simultaneously saw seven shadows of Felix.


    Pushing through the attacker squad that had managed to advance closer to the front of the hall, they were almost instantaneously scattered within one or two seconds. The other three squads crumbled into chaos.


    "So weak," Felix thought, his puzzlement deepening. Despite their organized formations, their individual skills were terriblycking. Theycked the essential self-defense awareness even within the protection of their team, akin to bullying children...


    Felix didn''t feel the exhration of spellcasting; instead, his confusion grew. If he had topare, some of them didn''t even measure up to Percy Weasley in terms of spell power.


    "The disparity in individual strength among the members is huge, they aren''t ustomed to using killing curses and dark magic, theirbat experience iscking, and their spell power is weak..."


    "Where did these attackers suddenly appear from?"


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 Chapter 166: Unleashing Waters

    Chapter 166: Unleashing Waters


    Felix Harp pondered ceaselessly about the origin of this group of attackers.


    Suddenly, he recalled the intelligence from the dark wizard ddin: "It is said that these attackers are extremely audacious. They warned that woman and left behind a blood-stained emblem."


    "What emblem?"


    "Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."


    ...


    Was that emblem truly a warning, or an identally lost item?


    At this moment, Felix had disrupted the formations of the attackers, leaving only five or six individuals who could still rise from the ground. Among them, the leading squad had been reduced to just one lucky diminutive wizard.


    However, luck was thest thing the diminutive one acknowledged. He wished he had lost consciousness, for less than two meters away stood a figure that resembled a devil, calmly observing him.


    Felix advanced step by step towards the short wizard before him. His pace was deliberate and steady, a strategy to ease the dizziness brought on by the sessive illusions of Disapparition. To others, his footsteps seemed like a leisurely stroll, his gaze seemingly gentle, yet it was akin to a released dragon, bristling with menacing spikes.


    The air seemed to solidify, freezing the struggling attackers, the young and proud Aro, Ss trying to maintain hisposure, and the man who appeared world-weary. They all appeared as if a pause button had been pressed.


    The short one''s eyes brimmed with fear. He instinctively turned to flee, only to be tripped by his unconsciousrade''s body, his forehead hitting the gravel, blood seeping slowly.


    By the time he managed to get up, Felix was already standing before him.


    "Let me see who you truly are."


    Felix extended a hand towards the mask.


    In the eyes of the short wizard, that open hand seemed to contain magical wonders, rendering him immobile. He desperately urged himself to run, but in the end, he became akin to a cold statue, his spirits plummeting. His lips trembled¡ª


    "Don''t..."


    "Don''t!"


    Two voices ovepped, thetter unexpectedly from the mouth of No?l C¨¦leste, her gray eyes reflecting an uncharacteristic panic.


    Yet, Felix did not halt; resolutely, he lifted the mask.


    For an instant, Felix froze; the hand grasping the mask remained suspended in mid-air.


    He had assumed a witch would be beneath the mask, not only due to the individual''s diminutive stature but also the high-pitched voice. All these characteristics led him to associate the figure with a female identity.


    However, beneath the mask was the blood-stained face of an overly young boy¡ªa mere fifteen or sixteen at most, appearing even younger than Percy Weasley.


    The short one gazed nkly at him. Suddenly, the expression on the other''s face grew enigmatic, impossible to fathom.


    Summoning his courage, the boy snatched the mask, stumbling backward.


    Felix remained in ce, refraining from pursuit.


    "Thud! Thud! Thud!"


    A dozen more ck-robed wizards stormed into the hall. Among them, one excitedly eximed, "Someone''s been rescued; we can withdraw now! Did Ss C¨¦leste, that old hag, get captured?"


    However, the scene on the field wasn''t what they had anticipated. The neers hesitated, their gaze falling on Felix, who had just lowered his wand¡ªsurrounding him were a dozen or sopanions.


    Less than a third were awake, with a few having been just awakened by magic, sporting bewildered expressions.


    "Run, quickly," the short male wizard croaked.


    "What?"


    "Run, quickly!"


    But the leading wizard was unwilling to leave these individuals behind. He raised his wand, and the others chose to follow suit.


    Several beams of red light surged toward Felix Harp. The neers were clearly elites; their scorching spells resembledsers. However, all of them were blocked before Felix, forming a faintly visible ring-shaped barrier.


    Air was painted with intricate interweaving lines of silver and gold. As the incantations striking it grew stronger, the barrier''s form became clearer¡ª


    It was an erged half-body armor, illusory yet vibrant with magical mes.


    The armor, constructed by the Irond Charm, encased him entirely, rendering him impervious to these assaults.


    The ck-robed wizardsunched attack after futile attack, their spirits inevitably sinking into despair.


    "Leave this ce before I change my mind," Felix dered.


    After a brief silence, the attackers spoke:


    "He, he''s trapped by his own magic. Hurry, take the unconscious ones away!"


    The leading wizard fabricated reasons haphazardly, but whatever the rationale, it seemed this formidable adversary had no intentions of continuing the onught.


    Others caught on, using Levitation Charms and Transfiguration to carry away their fallenrades, rapidly retreating from this perilous location.


    During this short yet prolonged minute, no one spoke. Ss C¨¦leste, the weathered male wizard, the French Ministry Aurore, even the Muggle researchers¡ªall unusually remained silent, implicitly endorsing Felix''s actions.


    Felix''s gaze settled on the few who remained, running while casting nces back at him, their eyes full of inquiry.


    "Don''t stare, hurry!" one of the ck-robed wizards said.


    The attackers departed, leaving the hotel in ruins.


    ...


    Three or four Muggle experts on the field gazed around, as if they had experienced a bizarre dream.


    From a tranquil meeting to an unexpected attack, and then a battle concluded by a powerful young man in less than thirty seconds¡ªwasn''t this all a dream?


    Felix approached Maxwell beside him, carefully assessing his condition¡ªunconscious, his face covered in clusters of small bumps.


    "This... sir? Is he alright?" the young Aurore asked cautiously.


    "Not too serious, hit by too many Stunners, with a nasty hex mixed in," Felix remarked, a hint of exasperation in his voice. The hex seemed to mock everyone present.


    Ss C¨¦leste emerged, disheveled and covered in dust, apanied by the weathered male wizard.


    "You..." she hesitated.


    "What exactly are the attackers'' identities?" Felix asked straightforwardly, already having a guess.


    "I''m not certain. They might be remnants of the Purifiers or Grindelwald''s devotees," Ss replied.


    "I believe you''re trying to deceive me, Madam C¨¦leste." Felix took a step forward, silvery radiance nowpletely consuming his formerly light blue irises. "Look into my eyes."


    Her expression immediately froze. Rapid shes of scenes swept by¡ª


    "Confidential reports indicate that minors have joined the Innovators. Our magical society is further divided because of that damnedw!"


    "Cecil, we can''tpromise; giving in now means yielding ten or a hundred steps."


    "But even wizards born into Muggle families are part of us, and ourws are hurting them! Since 1965, more and more feel deceived, Ss. This patience has reached its limit, hence the birth of the Innovators, an organization that humiliates us all. Our gentlemen in Congress sit atop a giant magical firework, sipping red wine with smug satisfaction."


    "...The council families won''t support it."


    "So you''re just covering it up, Ss? We''re a legitive body; we should be responsible for thews of the American wizarding world!"


    "What should I say, esteemed Mr. Representatives? Because of our utterly foolishws, Ilvermorny students and alumni have conspired to establish the Innovators, preparing to resist the American magical Congress?"


    "I must remind you, Ss, that this is already a fact."


    "I can''t appear like a fool in front of the Representatives... at least, I need a list."


    "How do you n to do that?"


    "...Patience, Cecil. By summer break, I''ll set a seemingly harmless yet alluring trap. Catch one or two people, and we can unravel a string of names."


    "Ss, you yourself are a brilliant bait. They''ve set their sights on you."


    "Thank you, Cecil."


    "I''m not praising you!"


    "Cecil, when the timees, remember to have The New York Ghost spread the news..."


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 Chapter 167: Healing

    Chapter 167: Healing


    Sisley''s eyes trembled uncontrobly as she resisted Felix''s intrusion into her memories, while Cecil hesitated, wand at the ready.


    Felix''s previous actions had been too dramatic; he had no certainty in this situation.


    But Felix had already obtained what he wanted and spoke softly, "Ilvermorny... Ilvermorny students, just like this. But why? What kind ofws have led to this discontent?"


    Sisley''s face turned pale, and she tightly shut her mouth.


    However, Felix had a knowing look, "Yes, the Rapaport Law... but I remember thatw was already abolished. Is that what you mentioned just now?"


    In the heat of battle, Sisley had angrily eximed, "It was abolished in 1965!" Her outburst was met with scorn and insults,beling her a "liar." This seemed to be the crux of the issue.


    The wizard named Cecil muttered, "Only a small portion of it was abolished."


    Felix''s gaze shifted, and Cecil turned aside, exining in a low voice, "The remaining uses were merged into otherws, especially those regarding intermingling with No-Majs. Restrictions are still stringent¡ªwizards born to No-Maj parents and first-generation half-bloods must report their rtionships and undergo regr inspections by specialized Ministry of Magic personnel. We even have a dedicated Memory Modification Team ready to erase ''superfluous and dangerous'' memories at any time."


    Sisley murmured quietly, "To prevent the exposure of the wizarding world."


    "How many students fall into this category?" Felix asked Cecil.


    "It depends on your perspective, but most are certainly of mixed blood. But which way do you think they lean?"


    "So, you''re fighting a losing battle, aren''t you?"


    The wizard closed his eyes in anguish.


    Felix didn''t say anything further; this was not his concern. He was just feeling a bit irritated all of a sudden.


    As his gaze swept over a pile of rubble, his expression suddenly changed. He waved his wand, and bricks, dust, and broken tables and chairs floated into the air, leaving others puzzled.


    At the edge of the rubble, the silhouette of a wizard in ck robes emerged, blood staining his chest.


    "Who is that?" Sisley screamed in fear, muttering under her breath, "Please don''t let it be a student, please don''t let it be a student..."


    The young Auror who had been looking after Maxwell appeared dazed. Could this be the magic he had used?


    Felix strode forward and crouched down. He removed the ck mask to reveal a pale-faced witch who appeared to be of a simr age.


    Others anxiously huddled around, and her face was devoid of color. Her chest no longer rose and fell, and the blood mixed with dust on the ground made her look like a freshly unearthed corpse.


    "I... I killed someone? Or a student?" the young Auror muttered in confusion.


    "It''s all over, everything''s over!" Sisley copsed on the ground.


    A few Muggle studies experts wore solemn expressions, and one of them removed her Iris hat.


    Felix remained silent, carefully examining the young witch. He touched her wound gently, and a ck mist spread along his fingertips, quickly staining his fingertip ck.


    "Is this a curse, dark magic?" Felix asked the young Auror.


    "Y-yes."


    Felix nodded, taking various vials and bottles from his ring.


    "Is there any hope for her?" the young Auror asked with hope in his eyes, looking at Felix as if he were a devout believer. "Can you bring her back to life?"


    Everyone present looked at Felix with hopeful anticipation, yearning to hear a positive response from him. In this moment, they hoped for a miracle.


    "No, I can''t," Felix said cruelly, but in the next moment, he changed the direction of his words, "But she hasn''t died."


    He picked up a small ck bottle and dripped the potion onto the witch''s chest. The wound sizzled and emitted thin wisps of ck mist.


    Then, Felix took out a small white bottle and dropped its transparent contents onto the wound, which quickly began to heal.


    "She... she''sing back to life?" Sisley stammered.


    Felix waited quietly, and after about half a minute, the witch''s chest moved slightly. He breathed a long sigh of relief.


    "You did it! You did it! From now on, you''re my most admired person!" the young Auror eximed in an excited and incoherent manner.


    Felix smiled and said, filled with emotion, "You have to thank my friend, a master in potions. He was a great help. Of course, you should also thank me for apanying him on this adventure."


    The main ingredient in the ck potion in the small bottle was the ckroot he and Democles Belby had discovered during their expedition in the Forbidden Forest.


    At that time, Belby had told him that potions made from ckroot were remarkably effective in healing dark magical injuries. Upon their return, he had given some of the materials to Belby, and Belby had returned the favor with a small bottle of the potion half a monthter.


    ...


    "Sir, your, um, finger?" the young Auror said.


    "Oh, right, I almost forgot about this." Felix looked at his ckened index finger, gently flicked it, and extinguished a wisp of ck mist with his fingertips.


    "Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!"


    Figures appeared, reinforcements from the French Ministry of Magic.


    "Mr. Moore," Felix greeted one of them.


    "Mr. Hepburn? It''s good to see you. Please wait; I need to attend to some official business first, and then we can catch upter," the middle-aged man with golden curls said.


    He turned to his subordinates and ordered, "Inform the medical team and Memory Modification Team to check the nearby No-Majs. And what about Colbert? Have hime see me!"


    Maxwell, who had just awakened and been pulled aside to exin, angrily berated Sisley. His calm French was punctuated with various expletives.


    Sisley stood by with a dark expression.


    Ten minutes passed, and Gauzelot Moore, the Director of the Magical Law Enforcement Office, strode over. He warmly shook Felix''s hands and said, "Thank you very much for everything, Felix! Our young man can be impulsive at times, but it''s not entirely his fault," he added, ncing awkwardly at Sisley and Cecil. "If it weren''t for some people''s antics, we wouldn''t have been in the dark from start to finish."


    "I''ll provide a detailed report to the International Confederation of Wizards about this matter. I''m certain Dumbledore won''t tolerate such incidents," Moore continued.


    "We are trying tobat criminals, Mr. Moore," Sisley said, taking a deep breath, exining herself.


    Moore stared at her with amber eyes and loudly demanded, "Are you calling students criminals? Do not think you can deceive me; I know more than you might think! Secret meetings, recruitment, distributing pamphlets, running private newspapers, and sending anonymous letters... Perhaps you''ve thrown all those letters in the trash without even a nce. That''s why we''re in this situation today, isn''t it?"


    Felix had no interest in their argument. He bid them farewell, and Moore readily agreed. They arranged to meetter.


    The next moment, he appeared on the seventh floor of the hotel.


    "Professor Bubaji?" he called out in the corridor.


    After a short pause, a door opened, and Bubaji peeked out. When she saw it was Felix, she smiled, "Thank goodness you''re finally back."


    "The attack is over," Felix said gently.


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 Chapter 168: The Mastermind Behind the Plan

    Chapter 168: The Mastermind Behind the n


    "Have the attackers been caught? Are there any casualties?" Professor Bubaji asked urgently,pletely unaware of the events outside as she had been under protection from the very beginning.


    "We''ve got some leads," Felix Harp''s eyes flickered with an odd light. "Professor Bubaji, I might need to temporarily depart..."


    In the next moment, his figure twisted and vanished, reappearing in a patch of woods outside the Bursley''s Inn.


    "Reveal the footprints."


    Felix waved his wand lightly, and from its tip emanatedrge wisps of golden mist. Chaotic golden footprints appeared on the ground, pointing diagonally in a specific direction.


    Though the area covered by the golden mist was not vast, it was enough to indicate the direction.


    Besides this...


    Felix retrieved a few strands of brown hair, sourced from the boy whose mask he had lifted.


    He murmured softly, "Reveal your trail, owner of the hair."


    Then, he crushed a strand of hair between his fingertips, turning it into a burst of golden light that blended into the mist, forming the illusion of a flustered young boy.


    He witnessed a brief scene:


    "Wait for me, Euriah!" the boy shouted.


    "Put on your mask, Byrns!" a stern voice admonished the boy.


    The illusion disappeared after, leaving Felix in a pensive state. "Byrns... is that the boy''s name? And who is Euriah? From behind, he somewhat resembles the student leader who led the organization''s retreat."


    Felix hastened his pace, piecing together the puzzle of the entire incident¡ª


    Why did the initial attack scene leave behind an emblem of the International Confederation of Wizards? Was it truly the threat spoken of by the ck-market information dealer ddin?


    Why did the head of the American Legitive Council, Sylester, repeatedly request reinforcements for defense?


    And why were there both strong and weak assants, even including underage children?


    All of these now had exnations.


    The root of it ally in the convoluted legal system of the American wizarding society¡ªa system that was severely restrictive to prevent exposure of the magical world. The original Rappaport''s Law strictly prohibited all forms of interaction, including friendships, marriages, and even the need to conceal one''s wizarding identity from the closest of people.


    By 1965, thisw was officially repealed, but its legacy endured, with many of Rappaport''s provisions absorbed into otherws.


    This left many wizard families with mundane backgrounds and first-generation half-bloods disillusioned, feeling deceived by the Magical Congress of the United States.


    As time went on, this gave rise to a resistance organization¡ªthe Renewal Society.


    The Renewal Society was a rtively moderate secret group, but its members strongly opposed the Magical Congress of the United States'' practice of closely scrutinizing the friends and rtives of wizards to keep the magical world hidden.


    ...


    In Felix''s estimation, the Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was likely the headquarters of the Renewal Society, continually supplying fresh recruits. How many years had the Renewal Society been growing? And how many members had quietly infiltrated various professions?


    For instance, were there members of the Renewal Society within the American Magical Congress? An intriguing question indeed.


    This was why Felix had told Sylester, the leader of the Legitive Council, that they were fighting a destined-to-fail war.


    One representing the present, the other representing the future¡ªhow could victory be achieved?


    Felix pondered the role he should y. He didn''t intend to lead the fledgling Renewal Society in a counterattack against the Magical Congress of the United States, even though with a few years'' effort, he could extend his influence throughout the magical world.


    But what purpose would that serve?


    Cresting a hill, Felix heard heated arguments. Silently, he cast a Disillusionment Charm upon himself and blended into the crowd.


    Before him were only a dozen or so ck-robed wizards, which struck him as odd. Had they divided themselves into groups?


    Had they set up more than one hiding ce?


    Felix became even more convinced that the Renewal Society was not merely a pastime of Ilvermorny students; at least, adult wizards simr to stor Moody were involved.


    ...


    "It''s not over yet!"


    "Bethany stayed at the scene. Eurya, you''re closest to her. What do you suggest we do?" said the short boy whose mask had been lifted by Felix Harp, Byrns.


    Felix was less than a meter away from him, and it was through his hair that Felix had found this group of attackers. Felix scrutinized Byrns'' young face. It was marked with bloodstains, his brown hair turned blood-red.


    Student leader Euriah surveyed his downcastpanions, his voiceden with difficulty. "We can''t go back. That person, that gentleman... he''s too powerful. We don''t stand a chance. Your sister..." He couldn''t continue, his eyes filled with sorrow.


    Felix listened in silence. So, the girl who was severely injured by dark magic¡ªBethany¡ªand Byrns were siblings?


    Hmm... First, he revealed Byrns'' face, exposing himpletely, and then he healed Byrns'' gravely injured sister, Bethany.


    Felix was at a loss trying toprehend their rtionship.


    Others chimed in, trying to console the tall boy.


    "Byrns, Euriah is in a tight spot too. If that gentleman hadn''t refrained at the end¡ª"


    "None of us can run away." Someone interrupted.


    "At this point, the American Aurors from the Bureau of Magical Law Enforcement are surely here," a student said impatiently, removing his mask to reveal a round face.


    "Can we contact Daniel?" someone suggested. "He must know something."


    Euriah shook his head. "Hismunication is restricted. Before the operation, I only told him the timing and the hiding spot."


    Felix keenly noted the new name, "Daniel." Combining the context of their conversation, it was likely that this Daniel was an official of the American Magical Congress and quite possibly an Auror.


    However, he had heard Maxwell mention that they had explicitly denied entry to American Aurors. So, did this Daniel sneak into France?


    Byrns wiped away a tear of faint red and trembled as he said, "My sister, she''s hurt badly. Will they treat her, Eurya? I''m worried about her. I don''t even know if she''s alive..."


    Others removed their masks too, revealing faces etched with worry.


    Byrns continued, his lips quivering, "Her, her injuries... Will they take care of her, Eurya? I''m so worried about her. I don''t even know if she''s... alive."


    As everyone''s faces reflected concern, Euriah bit his lip. "It''s all my fault¡ª"


    Just then, an unfamiliar voice interrupted, "Eurya, you''ve been reckless with this operation!"


    The group turned their heads, expressions lighting up with surprise. "Daniel!" they eximed in delight.


    Two adult wizards appeared in the hollow¡ªa tall figure with fiery red hair and a slender build, and a sturdy, short wizard with deep brown hair.


    Everyone surrounded the two wizards, asking questions left and right.


    "Daniel, do you know how Bethany is? She''s my sister. I''m very worried about her safety!" Byrns spoke.


    "Yeah, has she received treatment?"


    At Daniel''s fiery red hair, his expression turned grim. "I''m not entirely sure of the situation. ording to the n, we pretended to be led away by you and even spread false information to others. We never went to the Bursley''s Inn at all."


    "But Bethany... as long as she''s alive, nothing bad will happen to her. Sylester won''t be able to bear that cost!"


    Byrns eased slightly, then had a thought. "Can you guys check on my sister''s condition now? Officially, you''re Sylester''s bodyguards, right?"


    American Auror Daniel appeared apologetic. "Byrns, our entire team snuck in. We can''t show up before the French Ministry of Magic."


    "It''s all the fault of those pure-blood Aurors in your team. It''s because of one of them that Matt was caught!"


    "Absurd!" Daniel reprimanded. "Matt dared to attack a high-ranking official of the Magical Congress and got caught. And he''s ming someone else?"


    The crowd lowered their heads in silence.


    Felix''s mind stirred. Matt? Was that the member of the Renewal Society Sylester mentioned was captured? He had indeed heard these people mention during their retreat, "The person has been rescued, we can withdraw."


    So, this Auror had provided the information. No wonder they could quickly determine where Matt was being held.


    On the other side, Daniel, an adult and an Auror, spoke more gently now. He looked at Euriah. "At that time, the situation was urgent, andmunication wasn''t smooth. I didn''t have time to inquire in detail. How did you manage to create such a big scene? I don''t remember passing any information to you. Was it from others in the Renewal Society? Fury? Herman? Kelly?"


    Others looked to student leader Euriah, who had initiated the operation.


    "It was from ''The New York Specter,'' Daniel," Euriah confessed. "Matt saw from there that Sylester was attending a meeting in Paris, and he privately contacted a few people, all graduates. We thought we were strong enough and didn''t tell anyone..."


    "We nned to abduct her and get evidence of her crimes and some intelligence on high-ranking Congress members from her."


    Daniel looked at him with an appraising gaze.


    Euriah continued candidly, "It went smoothly at first. We found the perfect opportunity to strike. Sylester and her entourage were no match, let alone those Muggle Studies experts. But then, two Congress Aurors suddenly appeared, and they were strong. We retreated, but they pursued relentlessly. Matt was caught in his effort to give us a chance to escape..."


    As Auror Daniel spoke from his perspective, Euriah listened with fascination. He only knew that Matt was captured and that he had rallied everyone to rescue him. He had no idea there were so many twists and turns.


    Reading tip: Recently introduced characters in the past few chapters:


    Bethany (heavily injured, treated by Felix Harp, the catalyst for the events).


    Euriah (student leader).


    Daniel (American Auror, a member of the Renewal Society, secretly passing information).


    Byrns (Bethany''s brother, whose mask was lifted by Felix).


    Matt (heard in eavesdropped conversations, a captured attacker).


    Others are temporary characters.


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 Chapter 169: Perspectives and Decisions

    Chapter 169: Perspectives and Decisions


    Daniel continued to exin,


    "At this point, Celeste began to make mistakes."


    "Her first mistake was underestimating that the French Ministry of Magic would not agree to send reinforcements to assist in defense, which meant that our seven American Aurors couldn''t openly appear. Thus, even though the French side sent extra manpower, there were vulnerabilities in her own power and information channels."


    "But she had a n to make up for it. First, she dispatched Cecil ¨C or, as you know him, Celeste''s sidekick ¨C tomunicate with us seven and establish a link. Second, she arranged for us to hide in the shadows, taking turns to monitor the hotel''s activities, especially on the day of the meeting ¨C today."


    "However, her second mistake followed." Daniel chuckled, "She didn''t realize that Felix Harp and I were present, which gave us the opportunity to make a move."


    "In truth, we did only three things, and fortunately, they all seeded. First, we discovered where Matt was being held captive ¨C in the basement of the hotel. Second, we managed to establish contact with Uria, but we encountered a problem simr to Celeste''s ¨Cmunication barriers that were even worse than hers."


    He nced at Uria and continued, "Otherwise, I would have advised you to cancel the second assault and find another opportunity."


    "Nevertheless, we shared the most crucial information with you: including our watch from 2 to 5 PM today and Matt''s confinement location!"


    "The third thing was that Felix Harp and I pretended to have spotted your tracks at the agreed-upon time, taking away other individuals with us, providing you with time for action. It was only five minutes, but those five minutes were crucial."


    "As for Celeste''s third mistake," Daniel''s expression turned serious, "this one is also your mistake, Uria! As a student leader, you should have been more level-headed, but there''s fault on both sides. She clearly underestimated the recklessness in you."


    "She never expected that you would organize a rescue team of more than fifty people. Uria, this is something you need to deeply reflect upon. Most of the individuals following your lead are still students. Have you thought about how irrational your actions were?"


    "Have you considered the consequences if there were casualties?" he said sternly.


    Uria lowered his head in shame. As the leader of the Progressive Society, he indeed should have considered more.


    Beside them, Byers stubbornly interjected, "We were prepared long ago! Besides, they''re going to erase my parents'' memories, aren''t they?"


    Daniel looked at the tears welling up in Byers'' eyes, torn between saying something and holding back.


    Uria tugged at Daniel''s arm, "It truly is my fault. I shouldn''t have involved you all, and I certainly shouldn''t have acted without thorough investigation. If it weren''t for the mercy of that man, we would have suffered a total defeat."


    Curiously, Daniel inquired, "Are there experts among the French Aurors?"


    Uria replied with bitterness, "No, it''s a Muggle studies expert. He''s... I can''t even describe how powerful he is."


    Daniel found himself intrigued by Uria''s mention of a Muggle studies expert ¨C were there specialists in that field as well? But he knew this wasn''t the right time to inquire.


    The others listened to the entire ount with a somewhat dazed expression. Theplexity exceeded their expectations.


    "Brother Daniel, did youe directly to our side?" Uria asked.


    "You provided me with three concealed addresses; I''ve already been to the other two. Matt is fine; he told me he didn''t reveal a single word," Daniel said with a smile.


    "Nicely done, Matt!"


    "Well done!"


    These young students praised theirpanion''s heroic feat with passionate words.


    "Brother Daniel," Uria asked with concern, "now that Matt''s exposed, do you think Celeste will go after him?"


    Daniel pondered for a moment, "I don''t think so, but he''ll definitely be under surveince. You shouldn''t try to contact him for a while."


    The group exchanged nces, their previously excited hearts now dimmed.


    Uria remained silent, lost in thought. This series of events had caused him to grow significantly.


    After a while, he suddenly lifted his head and addressed the group, "I''m going to turn myself in."


    "What!"


    "No, Uria!"


    "Think about what we''re fighting for!"


    They started to mor and discuss among themselves. A burly wizard angrily shouted, "Why don''t we gather everyone and charge right back at them?"


    Two adult wizards exchanged nces, and Daniel cautiously said, "If you want to confirm Bethany''s condition, it''s not urgent at the moment. There''s no need to put yourself in harm''s way..."


    "No, Daniel," Uria said calmly. He looked around at everyone and spoke when they all fell silent, "Companions, this might be an opportunity."


    Uria raised his voice, "Think about it, Celeste went to great lengths to hide her intentions. She saw our Progressive Society growing stronger and tried to secretly capture and get a list of our members. But her two traps were foiled thanks to Brother Daniel''s advance notice. She panicked! This time, she was prepared, and in a way, she seeded."


    "She captured Matt!"


    The others'' gaze fixed on him, following his pacing form.


    "But she also failed, as Daniel said. She may have anticipated a rescue attempt, but she never expected so many people toe, nor that among the French Aurors assigned to her, we''d have ourrades!"


    Uria continued to organize his thoughts, sincerely addressing everyone, "So, this is an opportunity, a chance to escte matterspletely!"


    "You''ll write to the ''French Wizarding Gazette'' and the ''Specter Observer.'' I''ll turn myself in."


    "If I''m guilty, let thew judge me. Let my actions be remembered by the world!"


    In the end, everyone was convinced. They left their hiding ce and began to act ording to the n.


    In the sheltered mountain hollow, the figure of Felix Harp gradually materialized. He pped his hands and admired, "A bold and imaginative n, Uria. You''ve left asting impression on me."


    The gains he took away from this meeting weren''t about acquainting himself with Muggle studies experts but witnessing a group of vibrant young individuals. He liked their radiantmitment to ideals.


    Though their paths diverged, Felix acknowledged Uria''s choice.


    He whispered, "If you''re imprisoned for this, I''ll save you once."


    In the next moment, his figure abruptly vanished, leaving no trace behind.


    ...


    Felix was tidying up his manuscripts in the room. He suspected that the meeting wouldn''t continue ¨C a minority of Muggle studies experts had vanished the instant the attack urred. The unfortunate ones left were either sent to hospitals or, upon awakening, were demanding exnations. The French Ministry of Magic was undoubtedly in a frenzy and still hadn''t found peace.


    Moreover, half of the hotel had copsed. How could the meeting proceed? Luckily, no one had died.


    Celeste''s troubles were even greater. Although she managed to avoid the worst oue ¨C the girl named Bethany''s death ¨C this matter couldn''t be suppressed any longer. She was likely to face ountability from the public, the French Ministry of Magic, the American Wizarding Congress, and the International Confederation of Wizards ¨C fourfold ountability.


    Felix picked up a stack of clippings from his bedside. Maxwell had given them to him. Most of them were about Celeste herself ¨C her political views, public statements, and formtedws, a myriad of information...


    Especially in one headline, she held her wand aloft, delivering an impassioned speech. The title featured her words ¨C "Thew is the cornerstone of order, and we are the cornerstone of thew."


    Felix tossed the clippings into the air, watching them turn to ashes, a sardonic smile on his lips.


    A suddenmotion echoed from outside: panicked shouts, running footsteps, the sounds unusually distinct.


    Felix''s expression turned into one of amusement. He stepped out of the room and descended to the lobby. Officials from the French Ministry of Magic wore expressions of incredulity.


    Felix caught the arm of a young Auror. "What''s happened?"


    "Mr. Harp," he stammered, "something significant has urred!"


    "Reporters have arrived, along with Muggle studies experts from various countries who are watching..."


    "Watching who?"


    "The attackers! Or rather, two students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang!"


    "Ah, intriguing,"


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 Chapter 170: The Snowball of Time

    Chapter 170: The Snowball of Time


    The situation had truly escted as per Eurya''s n.


    Felix Harp emerged from the hotel, the shes of magical cameras dazzlingly flickering, emitting wisps of purple smoke. The journalists from the French wizarding world were as excited as if they had ingested a dose of wild elixir, their cheeks and necks flushed abnormally.


    Two ck-robed wizards stood in the courtyard, an open space around them. People seemed to have conflicting feelings¡ªwanting to get closer for a look yet harboring a sense of unease, resulting in a rather awkward positioning.


    Their masks had been removed, revealing two young faces. One was the student leader Eurya, and the other was Berny''s younger brother, Byrce.


    "Byrce, you didn''t have toe," Eurya whispered.


    "I''ve already been seen anyway, what''s there to fear? I just hope I can catch a glimpse of Berny before they lock us up," Byrce said nonchntly.


    "You might regret it."


    "At least not yet. Why haven''t they arrested us yet? The reporters have been snapping photos for quite a while now, to be honest, the shes are making me dizzy."


    Eurya spoke rationally, "The longer they dy, the better. See there? Celestia is dumbfounded."


    Indeed, Celestia was dumbfounded. She was using amanding tone to warn Moor, who was incessantly wiping his sweat, "Mr. Director, you can''t let the reporters in like this; it involves diplomatic rtions between two countries."


    Moor let out a string of vague French words, "I can''t control them, reporters have that right."


    "At least take these two students away?"


    "I can''t decide, it involves the diplomacy of both nations," Moor retorted with the same phrase. "I''ve informed the Minister, I won''t do anything until he arrives. Maybe you can take matters into your own hands."


    Celestia certainly wouldn''t be foolish enough to act on her own. Didn''t she see that the reporters outside were about to explode with excitement? Was she trying to add fuel to the fire?


    What would her reputation be like tomorrow?


    Celestia felt once again that she was losing control. She walked over to Cecil''s side and squeezed out a sentence through her clenched teeth, "What about our people?"


    "Taken away by the members of the Reformist Society. When they came back, the attack had already ended. They''re out trying their luck now, looking for the targets. No news yet," Cecil said.


    "Summon those fools back! What''s the point of going after them now? They''ve practically delivered themselves to us." Celestia said in frustration, feeling like her chair in the Woolworths Building office had grown legs, and her hat had sprouted wings¡ªeverything seemed to be slipping away from her.


    "Sorry, I can''t get in touch," Cecil shrugged.


    "Quick, look outside! More people areing!" a short journalist eximed.


    "The Minister?" asked a journalist next to him.


    "...It''s more members of the ck Robes Army!" The short journalist had eagerly attached new names to Eurya and hispanions, ready for tomorrow''s front-page headline.


    No, it''s tonight''s headline!


    Dozens of journalists rushed out carrying their ck cameras. Amid their excited expressions, dozens of ck-robed wizards appeared at the Brassares Hotel. They wore masks on their faces, walked in silence, their footsteps perfectly synchronized, a disy that drew the reporters'' attention.


    Maxwell inquired, "Director, what should we do?"


    Moor looked up at the sky, engrossed in studying the shape of a cloud, as if it held some great revtion. Thus, under the gaze of the French Ministry of Magic staff, the students of Ifa Mooney walked into the courtyard without any hindrance.


    Eurya and Byrce stared nkly at their audaciouspanions until they stood before them, still not having fully recovered.


    "Why did youe? Weren''t you supposed to leave? Just write a letter..."


    "Hey, Eurya, we''vepleted the mission already, but before we left, we calcted and felt that we shouldn''t miss thismotion." A passionate voice spoke up.


    "Matteo..." Eurya whispered.


    "It''s me." The speaking wizard removed his mask, revealing a bright smile.


    "And me, Eurya." A witch with a ponytail removed her mask and winked at him.


    "Ha-ha, we can''t just leave like that." A hearty wizardughed as he took off his mask.


    "That''s right, he''s right. I''m not content to leave like this either."


    "Coincidentally, I feel the same way."


    ...


    One by one, the ck-robed wizards removed their masks. They were of different genders, heights, sizes, but all radiated youthful energy.


    Seeing this scene, Celestia was utterly dumbfounded, her lips moving silently, her expression stunned.


    It wasn''t just her; Moor, Cecil, Maxwell, Bubaji, the reporters, and the Muggle researchers¡ªall present were captivated by this sight.


    After a brief pause, the hotel''s courtyard erupted into a frenzy. The shutters of magical cameras clicked in unison, creating a cacophony that buzzed like bees.


    Overhead in Paris, owls glided across the sky.


    Faced with this situation, a mere Director of Law Enforcement was utterly powerless.


    The French Minister of Magic was the first to arrive, but even he found it perplexing. Hesitating between arresting or not, at that moment, figures started to appear through Apparition.


    "Americans!"


    The French Minister of Magic eximed in surprise.


    A woman strode forward, "Greetings, Minister. I''m here on behalf of the President. He''ll be a littlete due to appeasing our Congress, as you know..."


    "Have you received the news?"


    The woman said helplessly, "That''s one of the matters we need to discuss. My, my, they do possess quite some connections."


    "We''re the first batch¡ªusing reserve Portkeys and Apparition. There might be more wizards closely watching this situationing after..."


    Her words were somewhat conservative; it was definitely not just "some" enthusiastic people.


    A few hourster, people who had received the news had filled up half of the valley.


    The French Minister of Magic urgently dispatched a third of his staff to take over security around the hotel.


    Vacations were canceled, cking off was prohibited, and overtime was mandated. All kinds of concealment and protective spells were cast, causing the Brassares Hotel to temporarily vanish from the eyes of ordinary people.


    Felix Harp stood silently in a corner, observing. He didn''t know how this would ultimately unfold. But that girl named Berny, and these young leaders, were likely to be recorded in history.


    Even though he was merely an outsider, he couldn''t help but anticipate the course of events, especially after witnessing how these students made their decision.


    Prominent figures continued to arrive.


    The President of the American Wizarding Congress, the Headmistress of Ifa Mooney School, a member of the International Confederation of Wizards, and a familiar figure¡ªAlbus Dumbledore, who was the President of the International Confederation of Wizards.


    "Dumbledore, you''vee too." The President of the American Wizarding Congress, Marcus, walked up briskly.


    "Marcus, I had toe. Themotion has reached my not-so-sharp ears, so you can imagine the extent of its impact."


    "No one anticipated... the senators are furious, they want to severely punish these students."


    "What should we do? Lock them up in prison?" Dumbledore''s expression was very serious, his silver-white beard trembled slightly, "Forgive me for speaking bluntly, Marcus, but any action you take now will influence the future of the next few years, or even decades. Eventually, it will directly reflect back onto you; no one will escape."


    "Yes, I just got updated on the situation. They didmit a crime, but it''s not particrly grave. The most critical issue is¡ªthe significant impact. If not handled well, by next Monday at thetest, these people outside will storm Woolworths Building and overturn the entire Wizarding Congress!"


    "Look, Dumbledore, there are nearly a thousand people outside."


    Felix didn''t pay much attention; he walked out of the hotel, looking at the crowd that was still converging, with over half being visitors from the United States.


    With these enthusiastic individuals here, the hotel wouldn''te to a conclusion unless the big shots emerged.


    A French staff member in charge of maintaining order grumbled, "In fact, they could all be considered illegal immigrants... it''s just that given the current situation, no one''s bothering."


    "But I hope they get fined heavily afterward, those bunch of Americans!"


    ...


    Felix stood on a small hill, gazing from a distance at the hotel. From this angle, the surging crowd had a peculiar sense of detachment, which inclined his thoughts toward rationality.


    Ministry of Magic... ordinary wizards... students...


    Eurya''s actions had given him apletely new understanding of the organizational structure of the wizarding world.


    Someone beside him struck up a conversation, "Never thought I''d live to see such a scene."


    Felix had already noticed someone approaching. He turned around and saw an elderly man shakily making his way over. His face was very pale, as if it had been coated with ayer of white paint. It was hard to say whether his hair was whiter or hisplexion.


    Felix hurried over and grabbed his arm.


    "Ouch." The old man let out a painful cry.


    "Um, I apologize?" Felix looked at him puzzled.


    "It''s alright, I''m getting old, and my bones are a bit brittle."


    Felix gave him a strange look, wondering if he should suggest he take some calcium tablets.


    Speaking of which, do wizards benefit from taking calcium tablets?


    This scene is almost concluded; its main purpose was to expand the world-building and won''t involve politics in the future. Back to school tomorrow.


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 Chapter 171: Nicolas Flamel?

    Chapter 171: Nics mel?


    The old man spoke a few words and then took a moment to catch his breath, his nostrils emitting a faint humming sound.


    "You don''t look too well, yet you''vee to join the festivities?" Felix Harp cast a nce at him, tinged with admiration.


    "I live nearby, otherwise I wouldn''t havee. Can''t stand the torment of Apparition," the old man waved his hand, his arm emitting a crisp ''click'' sound.


    Felix suddenly felt a pang of jealousy, he pouted and instinctively stretched his own arm.


    In the distance, amotion arose as an irritable wizard set off fireworks inside the hotel. His actions triggered a flurry of imitations.


    Both of them wore expressions of keen interest.


    "Quite amusing, isn''t it?" the old man said cheerfully.


    "Indeed, I like the pattern of that Thunderbird. I guess it might be from Ilvermorny''s Thunderbird House," Felix said, "The one founded by Isolt Sayre and James Steward."


    The old man''s gaze followed the firework that resembled a hawk and said somewhat nostalgically, "I haven''t moved around much in the outside world these years, but now I feel the urge to explore."


    "There''s always so much novelty outside."


    The old man agreed at first, then shook his head, saying, "People may be different, but events tend to repeat themselves."


    "Is that so? I tend to believe that everything I experience is unique," Felix replied.


    The old man chuckled heartily, "The vigor that belongs exclusively to the young¡ªthe habit of defining the world with your own eyes. But as one grows older, rules be more like bonds, embedding oneself into a particr ce in the world."


    "Rules?"


    "Basically, it''s a set of self-imposed principles. After experiencing certain things and meeting certain people, you tell yourself what you can or cannot do, and you adhere strictly to that. It''s a bit like signing a magical contract, but the recipient is your future self."


    "What''s the point of that?" Felix inquired.


    "I''m not sure," the old man replied, "but it at least keeps my spirits uplifted."


    "By restricting oneself?"


    "This is the philosophy of survival I''ve gained from a long life," the old man said.


    Felix didn''t quite endorse this approach. He disliked being confined and constrained, especially by self-imposed limits.


    The old man fumbled through his pockets, and after about half a minute, he pulled out a copper pocket watch.


    "Click." The pocket watch opened, one side disying the time, the other side showcasing a photograph.


    The photograph depicted a young couple.


    The old man murmured, "She''s Perenelle, my wife. We met back at Beauxbatons, both students. A fine young woman, three years my senior. I can still vividly recall the first time Iid eyes on her. It was amidst a sea of flowers, and she stood out..."


    Felix blinked, "It''s evident that your marriage has been a happy one."


    "Yes, indeed..." his voice barely audible.


    For a while, neither of them spoke. The distant fireworks disy had already been halted by Ministry of Magic personnel.


    "Do you think they''ll reach an agreement?" Felix changed the subject.


    "To be honest, I find it difficult. I''ve dealt with these people before... The American wizarding world suffered greatly under the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy. They won''tpromise easily," the old man said, "They''re quite stubborn in this regard."


    Felix chimed in optimistically, "Someone will eventuallypel them to change their minds. If not this time, then the next. Their adversaries are still young."


    "You''re right. These youngsters have a natural advantage."


    ...


    "I''m about to leave."


    After a while, the elderly man said, just before parting, he gave Felix Harp a small gift.


    "This is... a Sneakoscope?"


    "Yes, indeed, an intriguing little gadget. I''ve been sending out many gifts these days, perhaps due to my dwindling time," the old man chuckled.


    "Wizards can achieve longevity, you know. I know a witch, she should be around a hundred and thirty or forty years old ¡ª maybe even more ¡ª but her health is still robust," Felixforted the old man.


    He was referring to Professor Griselda Marchbanks from the Wizarding Examinations Authority. She had invigted Dumbledore''s NEWTs examination.


    The old man smiled, "Maybe it''s not suitable for me... It''s been a pleasure chatting with you, Felix Harp."


    "You know me?" Felix looked at him in surprise.


    "Ha, a friend of mine rmended your book to me. Quite interesting. The magical world needs a pair of eyes that look outward."


    The old man waved his hand and left, trembling.


    ...


    Felix returned to the hotel. The previously dpidated hall and scorch marks had all vanished, the hotel unscathed, as if the attack had never happened.


    He noticed a Muggle studies specialist gazing absentmindedly at the statue in front of the hotel ¡ª its head had been smashed t.


    Felix encountered no trouble from the staff and smoothly found Maximilien Marchand, the French Minister for Magic. Right now, he was like a guardian at the entrance, nked by three other French Aurors.


    "Are they still inside?"


    "More urately, still arguing," Marchand said.


    "Seems pretty quiet."


    "Just wait," he said with experience, "Three, two, one... Here ites!"


    A burst of exaggerated roaring came from the hall, "Marcus! As the President of MACUSA, aren''t you supposed to be responsible for the actions of your subordinates? Look at the mess they''ve made! I''m embarrassed for you!


    "See, I told you," Marchand gave Felix a satisfied look. "I love the Minister. He''s been berating that American fellow for half an hour."


    Felix stared at him, somewhat speechless.


    After the jest, Marchand got to the point, "The meeting has been canceled. The other participants in the hotel have been informed to leave. This ce will serve as the temporary meeting point to discuss the current series of troubles."


    "Meaning, I need to pack up and leave?"


    "No, no. It''s your colleague. She left first and asked me to pass on the message. Lucky fellow, you''ve gained the friendship of both the French and American magicalmunities. Although thetter isn''t much use... but at least, no one can drive you away. You could even request to observe the entire negotiation process."


    Felix guessed that Celestia hadn''t mentioned his memory probing. But even if she did, it wasn''t a big deal, and he had plenty of reasons to defend himself.


    On the surface, he was the hero who prevented the attack, preventing things from spiraling into irreparable disaster. He also saved the life of a current student at Ilvermorny. From this perspective, from the President of MACUSA to the Headmistress of Ilvermorny, they all owed him gratitude.


    The French Ministry of Magic was no different. Felix had been invited to the meeting and unfortunately ended up as part of the unfortunate group attacked. However, he single-handedly turned the tide, and he couldn''t ask for more.


    "Forget about it," Felix declined with a single word. He wasn''t interested in this, it was quite chaotic inside, and he was starting to sympathize with Dumbledore.


    "What about the students?"


    "They''re being watched by two professors from Ilvermorny."


    ...


    Felix didn''t want to linger, waiting for concrete results could be grinding, and it might not even conclude before the end of the summer. He prepared to go back to his room and pack, there was a pile of matters to attend to at Hogwarts.


    But as he was clearing his room, he suddenly thought of something.


    "What is it?"


    He quickly recollected. He rewound today''s experiences from ''now,'' starting with his conversation with Marchand, to the Muggle studies specialist in front of the statue, and then the encounter with the intriguing old man...


    "Perenelle, I feel like I''ve heard this name somewhere."


    Felix pondered, "No, the focus isn''t on that, the name is quitemon, but I sense something peculiar."


    Hey on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Scenes from his conversation with the old man kept reying in his mind.


    After a while, he suddenly sat up and, in an uncertain tone, said, "Nics mel?"


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 Chapter 172: Jest of the Mirror

    Chapter 172: Jest of the Mirror


    In the glow of themplight, Felix Harp carefully examined the mirror on the table. It resembled a spinning top, turning leisurely.


    As one of the mostmonly used magical surveince devices, if there were any suspicious individuals nearby, it would light up and spin rapidly. Certain special mirrors would even emit piercing rm sounds.


    In truth, Felix was no stranger to this alchemical creation. The very first book he saw upon his return to Hogwarts, "Secrets of Ancient Alchemy," introduced the crafting methods of seven types of mirrors.


    Functioning as detectors, they contained detailed instructions on crafting mirrors specifically for detecting dark magic, lies, and even particr groups of people.


    At this moment, what puzzled him was whether this pocket-sized mirror was just a casual gift from Nics mel or if it held some deeper meaning.


    "Should I dismantle this thing?"


    He twiddled the slowly spinning top, his mind filled with questions:


    Nics mel clearly recognized him and mentioned having read his books through a friend''s rmendation. Who could that friend be?


    Dumbledore? Or some other old acquaintance?


    Did the friend only read his Muggle studies work, or also his "Explorations of Ancient Magical Texts"?


    Did mel find him by chance, or was it intentional? Could it be some sort of covert assessment?


    Felix believed that if Nics mel was entertaining the idea of finding an heir, he fit the bill perfectly. Alchemical creations and magical text creations had deep connections, and as the most famous alchemist, mel could surely discern this connection.


    In fact, Felix even suspected that mel might possess a far greater understanding of practical ancient magical texts than he did.


    With these thoughts, Felix felt a twinge of excitement.


    Yet, mel simply departed without saying much, leaving behind only a mirror. What did it mean?


    Could it be that the mirror glowed during their conversation?


    Felix: "..."


    After some hesitation, he finally made up his mind. Half an hourter¡ª


    He stared at theponents on the table, lost in thought. There was no hidden magic, no concealed note¡ªnothing at all.


    ''Did I guess wrong? Is he just an ordinary, frail old wizard?''


    Now, he had only one way to confirm: if the old wizard was Nics mel, there was one person who would definitely know something.


    In the evening hours, Felix intercepted Dumbledore as he exited the Great Hall, appearing somewhat weary.


    Felix inquired, "Headmaster Dumbledore, any progress in the discussions?"


    "You could almost consider this thing nonexistent."


    Descending the steps, they arrived in the courtyard, gazing at the stars above. Dumbledore continued, "All I''ve heard these past few days areints and excuses. There are too few who can truly shoulder the responsibility."


    Felix wasn''t entirely understanding. "Where''s the problem? In theory, the goals of the Reform Society are quite clear, whether to amend thews or not. If amendments are needed, which specific sections, and to what extent? There shouldn''t be no progress at all."


    Dumbledore patiently exined, "You''re oversimplifying things, Felix. Everyone has different demands, and the matters up for discussion are equally diverse. Whether to modify thews, whether the Reform Society should face consequences, whether the American Magical Congress should offerpensation..."


    "Even Fudge wrote from miles away, implying I should aid the French Ministry, seeking greater advantages."


    Surprised, Felix remarked, "What''s it to do with him? He can''t even scrape together a single Knut."


    "He has you and Credence," Dumbledore wisely pointed out. "Furthermore, money isn''t always the most important factor. Throughout recorded history, officialmunication between the magical worlds of America and Europe has been nearly nonexistent. They hope to break America''s current magical status quo."


    Felix asked, "How will they do that?"


    "Starting small, like student exchanges or co-hosting major events; looking at the bigger picture, it''s about radiating influence beyond our own country and gaining various benefits..."


    Felix Harp shook his head. That was certainly beyond his thoughts.


    "I''m quite hopeful about that student named Euriah," he changed the subject.


    "Ah, he does have a lot of courage," Dumbledore said. "I will do my best to seek clemency for him."


    Felix curved his lips into a smile.


    After hesitating for a moment, he asked, "Headmaster Dumbledore, I think I saw Nics mel today..."


    Dumbledore looked at him, his gaze calm. "I mentioned you to him. In recent months, his interest in you has clearly risen."


    "Why would he be interested in me?" Felix''s heart suddenly raced.


    "I believe," Dumbledore blinked and offered a smile, "it might be rted to exchanging knowledge about alchemy with you."


    "Really? But he didn''t leave any contact information."


    "That''s to be expected. Nics rarely goes out; most of his time is spent in his safe house. There are only a few who can contact him." Dumbledore retrieved a photograph from his pocket and handed it to Felix. "He left this for you. You canmunicate through pictures of Nics."


    Felix took it, finding it nk.


    "He''s not currently present," Dumbledore exined.


    At the end of the conversation, Felix couldn''t help but ask, "Dumbledore, do you know what it means to give someone a mirror as a parting gift?"


    Dumbledore chuckled, "Perhaps, it''s just that he had nothing else in his pockets to give?"


    Felix returned to his room with a dark expression. He nced at the mirror parts on the table, almost tempted to cast a smashing spell on it.


    "But I won''t!"


    Through gritted teeth, he said, "One day, I''ll give you a mirror too, and let you guess my intentions."


    "Oh? That''s quite a good idea, a mirror... It''s a magical creation with a very low minimum and a very high maximum. There''s a lot of subpar junk on the market, but even Gringotts wouldn''t refuse to use high-quality mirrors."


    "Mirrors are somewhat simr to magical puppets in certain aspects. They could supplement courses or be part of the curriculum for the Magical Texts Club."


    Felix''s thoughts started to branch out. By the time the new school year began, in addition to regr sses, he would also have the Dueling Club and the Magical Texts Club to manage. It seemed like his te was getting fuller.


    "I should invite another professor to teach the Defense Against the Dark Arts ss full-time. It''s usually just me and Severus. After the school year begins, the pressure will be substantial."


    "Who should I invite?"


    "Flitwick? McGonagall? Or perhaps the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor? I haven''t heard Dumbledore''s choice yet."


    Early the next day, Felix bid farewell to everyone. It was his first time meeting the President of MACUSA and the Minister of Magic from France. They exchanged polite pleasantries, and the French Minister even hinted at rmending him to join the Order of Merlin, which he politely declined.


    Felix Apparated directly.


    As Hagrid''s cabin appeared in the distance, he felt a long-lost sense of calm and joy.


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 Chapter 173: The Miniaturized Wand Tree

    Chapter 173: The Miniaturized Wand Tree


    The July breeze brushed through the Forbidden Forest of Hogwarts, and the green leaves swayed, forming a gentle luby. Felix Harp felt as though his mind was being caressed by a pair of hands, and his entire being rxed.


    Passing by the Whomping Willow, he briskly made his way to Hagrid''s hut. "Fang," he called out, and the ck hound happily wagged his tail, barking enthusiastically at him.


    Hagrid swung open the door, hisrge hand propped on the doorframe, a smear of red sauce on his lips. "Felix? Er, I''m having a bite...e on in, it''s a bit of a mess..."


    He hurriedly wiped his mouth, his face turning a shade redder.


    ...


    In the evening, in his office, the nk photograph on the worktable flickered. Felix looked at the sudden appearance of an elderly man in the photo and gently greeted, "Hello, Sir Nichs de Mimsy-Porpington."


    ...


    Late July.


    Felix gazed at his reflection in the mirror. Beneath his blue casual suit, he wore a light checkered waistcoat, covered by a dark double-breasted overcoat, left loosely unbuttoned.


    He lightly touched his chest, and the overcoat shimmered with sparkling magical light.


    "The coat made from dragon-hide mixed with serpent-skin is quitefortable, and the snake-skin waistcoat as well." Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating his raven-ck hair, enhancing the brilliance of his attire.


    ...


    End of July.


    Felix reviewed the data on young wizards'' magical studies, attempting to derive some useful conclusions.


    "Knock knock!"


    Professor McGonagall brought the course enrollment list over, and when he saw the densely packed names, he froze in ce.


    "Milliwa, is there some mistake?"


    Professor McGonagall chuckled as she handed him the list. "You should be pleased, Felix. The students are fond of you."


    ...


    On a day in August.


    Felix counted the magical symbols in the Room of Thought, not once, not twice, but thrice. Finally, he confirmed an urate number.


    "One thousand three hundred."


    In the span of a year, with the help of Hogwarts'' vast library, he had increased the count of ancient magical symbols by nearly a thousand. And in the foreseeable years, this rate of progress would only elerate.


    As he mastered more magical symbols, his understanding of ancient magic was no longer at a distance. Often, he experienced shes of insight.


    The most striking example was when he made significant progress while studying the fragmentary ancient magic gifted to him by Flitwick. Hagrid could attest to this¡ª


    Under Hagrid''s astonished gaze, the branches of a wand tree vigorously shook, rapidly shrinking from a height of seventeen to eighteen meters. Ten meters, seven meters, three meters... It left behind a brown crater on the ground, and over a hundred Bowtruckles fell to the earth, showing their teeth and grimacing at the two.


    Without a hero charging ahead, these little beings hopped and climbed onto the adjacent wand tree, gesturing their displeasure.


    "Where''s the tree? Such a big tree, where is it?" Hagrid reached out, outlining the shape of a tree in mid-air.


    Felix extended his hand, "The wand tree''s here." A one-foot-tall sapling flew out from the unsightly pit, caught in his grasp.


    Hagrid took it, the thing was no bigger than his palm. "This, this is the same tree from before?"


    "Yeah, one of my spells has improved. It can do things it couldn''t before." Felix was rather satisfied with the spell''s result.


    The wand tree possessed magic, but it still couldn''t withstand his magic.


    "In the next exchange, Philius will surely be amazed."


    Hagrid nced at Felix Harp, then back at the sapling in his hand, speechless. After a while, he suddenly had a magical idea, "Felix, if you were to use this spell on Fluffy, would it also shrink? Could I keep it in the yard?"


    "Cough cough!" Felix cleared his throat awkwardly and said, "Hagrid, this spell hasn''t been tested on magical creatures yet. We don''t know the exact effects, especially on creatures asrge as a three-headed dog. If something goes wrong..." He didn''t finish, but he was concerned that the spell might have irreversible consequences.


    Hagrid said somewhat regretfully, "No go, then? Fluffy''s been so lonely, and I was hoping it could keep Fangpany."


    "There will be opportunities in the future, Hagrid. Let me refine it further."


    Hagrid sounded interested, "Do you need my help? I could provide some less important magical creatures like Billywig, Chameleon Gnat, Knarl, Fwooper, Grindylow, and the like. They might be useful to you?"


    Felix''s eyes lit up.


    "That would be fantastic. I believe what this spell needs most now is practical data."


    "But, Hagrid, I must remind you, magic has a duration. Even if I try to extend the effect as much as possible, the expected duration is only a few hours."


    Hagrid pouted, "That''s fine. At least I can still hold it. Poor Fluffy, ever since it grew bigger than my house, I haven''t been able to let it put its paws on my shoulders."


    The two crouched down, carefully observing the small wand tree. It was covered in flowing green magical lines. After about half an hour, it grew from one foot to two feet. But in just another ten minutes, it had grown to two meters.


    And its rate of growth was getting faster and faster.


    "Hagrid, step back. I''m going to put it back in the pit."


    Hagrid stepped back two paces, and Felix tossed it back into the hole, adjusting its position with magic. Then, he saw the wand tree rapidly expand. It was a magical sight¡ª


    Just like Felix had read in books: when an inexperienced wizard performed the Animagus Reversion Charm, the process often proceeded painfully slowly, with some body parts reappearing before others, creating a bizarre scene.


    This wand tree was no different. The reversion process was far from graceful. A branch awkwardly extended, and then the trunk bulged outward, like one of Hagrid''s enormous pumpkins. Then it contracted again, but overall it grew by a foot...


    After half a minute, this unfortunate wand tree had finally returned to its original state. However, it looked rather woeful. The branches drooped, and more than half of its roots were exposed. Felix used magic to carefully bury them back into the soil, one by one.


    Finally, he poured a bucket of nutrient solution, and the wand tree''s condition seemed to improve slightly.


    Felix examined it closely. After a while, he turned to Hagrid, "Do you think it''s a bit crooked?"


    "Is it?" Hagrid couldn''t tell.


    "Look here, I remember it being straight, but after reverting, there''s a bulge."


    "Er," Hagrid thought of how his Fluffy had a big lump on its back after reversion, and shook his head repeatedly.


    Felix gave him a sidelong nce, "You didn''t notice? From my angle, it''s quite obvious..."


    ...


    In the evening, Felix received a copy of the Daily Prophet. The headline for the night was¡ª


    "The Closure of the Bussres Hotel Conference Marks the Beginning of a New Era"


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 Chapter 174: Newspapers and Letters

    Chapter 174: Newspapers and Letters


    Felix Harp scrutinized the article with care. Beneath the headline was a massive photograph of Cornelius Fudge standing in the center, his plump hands sped with those of the President of the American Wizarding Congress and the Minister of Magic for France, their smiles exceedingly radiant.


    He was dressed in formal attire, his robes stretched tautly, even his protruding belly seemed to have shrunk a bit, albeit with two visible dents.


    "When did he get involved?" Felix wondered.


    With a questioning gaze, Felix sought answers within the text and stumbled upon extensive descriptions about Fudge:


    "Minister Fudge has been closely monitoring the progress of the Cross-Channel Conference and has been exchanging views through correspondence. Three days ago, Minister Fudge personally attended the conference. Through his mediation, the shocking international event involving the student protests at the Bussres Hotel has yielded favorable results..."


    "...The impromptu ''Bussres Hotel Memorandum'' to be signed will y a substantial guiding role in the development of the entire incident. The American Wizarding Congress ns to revise keyws, including sections three and four of the original ''Wizard-Chicken Rtions Registration Act'', abolishing the ''periodic home visits'' surveince method in favor of magical contracts with wizards. Noteworthy is Minister Fudge''s provision of a wealth of his personal experiences and advice in governing the British magicalmunity, which has yed a pivotal role in the smooth proceedings of the conference..."


    "In an interview with this paper, Minister Fudge imed that the three nations will embark on broader coborations in the future. He hinted that, as per the existing work ns, an enigmatic grand traditional event is in the works. However, when pressed for more details, Minister Fudge declined, stating that everything is still under negotiation..."


    "Moreover, the name Felix Harp is also one to be remembered. At the onset of the event, he decisively put an end to the irrational actions of Ifarni students and effectively treated a severely injured female student, ensuring that the entire dialogue unfolded within a peaceful and friendly atmosphere, devoid of leaning towards more violent conflicts..."


    "Our reporter believes his merits are worthy of a Merlin Medal. Additionally, worth noting is the young witch named ''Bethany,'' who expressed her gratitude and admiration for Mr. Harp during an interview..."


    Felix chuckled softly and turned to the end of the article, unsurprisingly spotting the name Rita Skeeter. After a few quiet months, she was once again in the limelight.


    Her articles were always imbued with a strong personal touch, containing a plethora of facts-twisting descriptions and provocatively worded phrases. She had a penchant for celebrity gossip.


    Reading her work, one would think that Cornelius Fudge yed a grand role in all this, and Dumbledore''s name appeared only cursorily, merely in ces where it was necessary to be mentioned.


    "She''s quite the clever one, but I still find it hard to convince myself to like her," Felix mused. He flipped through the pages of other articles, where the content was much more impartial and objective. Dumbledore''s name appeared multiple times, tucked away in corners, and there he found the content he sought.


    "...It is worth noting that Uriah, the student leader who triggered this event, will be confined to Ifarni School of Magic, under the personal supervision and education of the headmaster. The specific measures of his punishment remain undisclosed, but he has undoubtedly be an idol among young American wizards, who gathered spontaneously at Grerk Mountain to cheer and celebrate..."


    ...


    In the days that followed, Felix obtained additional information from other sources.


    For instance, there was a message from Beauxbatons'' Xavier Colbert that included information not covered in the newspapers.


    Dear Felix,


    Celestina that woman has been demoted! The American Wizarding Congress paid a hefty sum! Regretfully, you didn''t witness the expression on her face¡ªit was a sight to behold. Every pore on my skin is radiating joy.


    But the Director of International Exchange isn''t too pleased, as that woman''s new position coincidentally connects with him. But who cares, really!


    The fish soup at that restaurant is still as delicious as ever. I''ve tried it twice again.


    Enclosed are relevant clippings. And more.


    ...


    What surprised Felix Harp the most was receiving a bulky letter a couple of days ago from Uriah, whom he had just read about in the newspapers, supposedly in reflection at Ifarni School of Magic.


    Dear Mr. Felix Harp:


    Please pardon my audacious letter. I obtained your address from Headmaster Albus Dumbledore; he''s a very kind person.


    Through various channels, we''ve pieced together what you''ve done, and we have btedly be aware of the truth. The following content wasposed under the witness of 52 students, with me as the principal scribe.


    Bethany: Mr. Harp, I have fully recovered,pletely healed! Based on the information I received from the Healers, they thought I was gone, and it was you who snatched me back from the clutches of the Grim Reaper! Knowing that you are a professor, I hope youe to visit America next year.


    Byles: Mr. Harp, first and foremost, thank you for saving my sister. Secondly, I must ask, are you always so serious? I admit I was quite frightened by you and even had nightmares. A strange feeling indeed... I''m thankful to you when awake, but all that remains in my dreams is fear.


    XXX: Don''t listen to Byles'' nonsense, Mr. Harp. I don''t have that feeling at all. Perhaps you''ve unveiled his facade! Haha, but your magic is truly astonishing. I asked a few professors; they all said they couldn''t aplish the same thing. I''m very curious...


    Felix rubbed his forehead, attempting to read through a letter pieced together by 53 individuals. It was undoubtedly a test of patience. Different tones, different wordings, yet unmistakably the handwriting of the same person.


    As he reached the end, he almost thought he was experiencing a split personality.


    The letter also included relevant news clippings. When the newspapers from the three countries were ced side by side, a rather intriguing fact emerged.


    With the oue unchanged, you would find three versions of the story''s origins and progression. Moreover, each version featured a different protagonist...


    For Felix, this matter hade to a close.


    Next, he turned his attention to refining his previous work on ancient magic. Professor Flitwick haduded his aplishments and personally tested the magic. Another ancient tree had suffered in the process.


    Professor McGonagall hastily halted their actions. She cast a stern gaze upon them, her expression furious, and spoke with gravity, "Felixius, I had thought you wouldn''t join them in their folly. The Wandwood Tree is a valuable asset of Hogwarts. I heard you were even considering experimenting on the Whomping Willow..."


    She pursed her lips tightly, exuding an air of profound authority, "To be frank, if you were my students, I''d surely confine you to detention! And each of you would lose two hundred points!"


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 Chapter 175: A New Tome

    Chapter 175: A New Tome


    Professor Flitwick awkwardly waved his hands, "I apologize profusely, Professor McGonagall. I got a little carried away... You know, that magic, I''ve been researching it for years."


    Professor McGonagall''s anger subsided somewhat as she inquired with curiosity, "How well did it work?"


    "Absolutely splendid, thanks to Felix Harp. We unanimously believe that this ancient magic holds tremendous untapped potential, even possibly affecting creatures like the Hungarian Horntail. We call it the ''Enhanced Scaling Charm,'' a fusion of the Shrinking Charm and the Erging Charm, but with even more potent effects."


    "Is it really that extraordinary?"


    "Yes, Professor McGonagall, it truly is. Of course, there''s still room for improvement."


    Professor Sprout rushed back hurriedly, meticulously tending to the two wand trees. However, she didn''t show any favorable expression to the originator of the idea until Felix Harp handed her threerge packets of magical nt seeds he obtained from the ck market.


    "These seeds are incredibly precious. Where did you get them?" Sprout looked at him in astonishment.


    Felix Harp vaguely replied, "I asked a friend from France to find them. It was a stroke of luck, and I doubt I''ll have such a good opportunity next time..."


    Thinking that he had pulled some strings with the French Ministry of Magic, Sprout didn''t press further. Instead, she engaged him in a discussion about the uses of these seeds.


    "This is Knotgrass Vine seed. It looks somewhat like brown banded thorns. We''ll use them in the sixth-year ss."


    "And this is Snargaluff seed."


    "And this, the Guardian Oak seed. Its aura repels lesser dark creatures. I''d love to nt a circle of them around Hogwarts..."


    "Good heavens, Smander''s me seeds! Felix, have you seen this? Smander''s me! It originates from the Mediterranean, a wondrous aquatic nt. Ingesting it directly allows underwater breathing, but that''s mere waste. Its value lies in the realm of potion-making."


    Sprout continued enthusiastically, her plump figure weaving through the Third Greenhouse, unearthing jars and bottles from corners, neatly organizing the seeds into categories.


    She hummed a tune with delight, as cheerful as a bee ¨C albeit a bit cumbersome, but incredibly industrious.


    Felix Harp surveyed the area, the air filled with the scent of soil and fertilizer, apanied by a strong aroma of flowers. His nose was in a conflicting state ¨C eager to breathe deeply, yet also partially obscured.


    Huge floral crowns hung from the ceiling like an array of colorful umbres, creating an intricatelyyered arrangement in the greenhouse space.


    Felix Harp inquired, "Are these Umbre Blossoms?"


    "Yes, indeed. They have a rich fragrance, but be cautious not to be too enamored."


    Felix Harp chuckled in agreement, observing rows of mushroom-like Umbrafungus swaying gently on the ground. Next to them were some empty pots, a leaf half-buried in the soil.


    "Is this a pot once used by Mandrakes?" Felix Harp picked up a leaf, examining it closely.


    Professor Sprout looked up, "Oh, indeed it is. Fully grown Mandrakes are extremely dangerous. I''ve only kept two of them, but their effects are truly potent. That young wizard, Colin Creevey, if I recall correctly, Severus and I mentioned him."


    Felix Harp attempted to remember and ended up shivering involuntarily.


    "A first-year student, petrified within three months of starting school, spent over half a year in bed, and on the third day of waking up, he had his final exams... Well, that was quite unfortunate."


    With a bag of gifts in hand, Felix Harp happily returned to his office.


    That evening, he resolved some doubts with Nearly Headless Nick through photographs. To be honest, the Nick in the photos appeared younger, his skin healthier. Though both had a head full of white hair, the photograph exuded more vitality than the Nick he had encountered at the Buseles Hotel; the real Nick seemed somewhat downtrodden.


    Communicating via photographs wasn''t exactly convenient, but it wasn''t as troublesome as he had anticipated. This was because Felix Harp wasn''t a novice student; he was a seasoned master of magicalnguages, emphasizing more onmunication than instruction.


    Their interaction often followed this pattern: Felix Harp raised a question, and Nearly Headless Nick pondered before presenting his approach.


    Or, it could be Nearly Headless Nick introducing him to some obscure yet incredibly useful books. Such as "The Chronicles of Achillesto''s Pce" - titles like these that were utterly baffling were ones Felix Harp wouldn''t have paid attention to before, unless he found himself remarkably idle and picked up a book at random.


    But even for leisurely reading, he''d choose something with an intriguing title.


    Like "The Adventures of Martin Miggs," published by LCA Comics, chronicling the escapades of a Muggle named Martin Miggs from France who inadvertently entered the wizarding world.


    After reading it, Felix Harp''s impression was that wizards probably hadn''t adopted Muggle movie devices for a significant reason: magic was simply too convenient. Young wizards viewingics was akin to watching storyboarded films.


    And introducing such devices might be futile. Wizards struggled to rte to the lives of normal people and would curiously ask why they didn''t use magic.


    In addition to this, the two would also discuss some Muggle matters, including portions of their own manuscripts.


    Today, Nearly Headless Nick rmended three obscure books to him again. Felix Harp hadn''t expected to be given reading rmendations himself; truly, the world was unpredictable.


    "Let''s stop here for today, Felix. I''m a bit tired," Nick''s eyes in the portrait appeared drowsy.


    "Goodnight, Nick."


    After the exchange, Felix Harp tidied his workspace. He stored postcards sent by his assistant from France in a drawer and pulled out a thick stack of manuscripts.


    He had alreadypleted his nned work. To cater to both young aspiring wizards and adult witches and wizards, he had prepared two books:


    One titled "The Young Wizard''s Adventures with Mick," designed in the style of the magical dynamicics prevalent in the wizarding world. It depicted the story of a 10-year-old young wizard attending a Muggle school.


    Initially, Mick intended to idle away his time, quietly awaiting his eptance letter from Hogwarts. However, he found himself drawn into the life of the school. From captivating sses to diverse games, and practical activities like museum visits, amusement parks, andmunity service... it introduced a previously unfamiliar world from a child''s perspective.


    The other book was an informative guide for adult wizards, aptly named "Magic in the Muggle World." The concept remained presenting the most fundamentalyers of Muggle technology in the most rigorous logic andnguage.


    After reviewing the manuscripts once more and not finding any errors, Felix Harp double-checked the appointment times on his calendar.


    "Tomorrow at 9 a.m., 126a Diagon Alley, Little Red Book Publishing Company."


    "Tomorrow at 10 a.m., 15b Diagon Alley South, LCA Comics."


    The former was the publishingpany he had been cooperating with, having sessfully published "A History of Magic" and "Domestic Life and Social Customs of British Muggle Families." Both books were currently used at Hogwarts.


    Since they had a good history of coboration, it shouldn''t pose any issues.


    As for thetter ¨C LCA Comics, specializing in the children''s market ¨C he hadn''t dealt with them before. He would have to handle it as the situation unfolded, but thankfully, he had made some preparations.


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 Chapter 176: L.C.A. Publishing House

    Chapter 176: L.C.A. Publishing House


    The next morning at half-past nine, 126a Diagon Alley.


    In front of a low, white building, Felix Harp smiled as he shook hands with a woman in a purple dress bidding her farewell.


    "No need to apany me, madam. It''s been an honor to continue our coboration."


    "Oh, Mr. Harp, you''re too modest. Your books are always so inspiring."


    Felix descended the deep brown wooden steps and blended into the bustling crowd. At this moment, a sense of relief washed over him. "The first book negotiation went smoothly, hardly took any effort."


    "But the real challenge lies ahead."


    He strolled along Diagon Alley, turned a corner by the entrance of Gringotts Bank, and followed another side street, counting door numbers.


    "13a, 14b, 15a on the south side of Diagon Alley... So, shop 15b should be right across." Felix turned around and saw a seven-story building.


    The building was dirty, showing signs of neglect over the years, with letters on top almostpletely faded. He could just make out a letter ''L,'' casting a shadow over his uing coboration.


    In the gap between the building and the adjacent one, a row ofrge trash bins was stacked, bearing the marks of L.C.A.


    He ascended the dark staircase to the second floor, pushed open an oak door covered in scratches, and a cacophony of fragmented voices assaulted his ears.


    He seemed to have stepped into another world. The walls were adorned with an array of colorfulic strips,pletely concealing the walls themselves.


    The central figure in most of theseic strips was a young boy with a beret and a striped shirt. He was depicted in various scenarios: being chased by a group of mischievous pixies; brandishing a small wand vigorously; riding a unicorn, joyfully turning back to greet a friend; standing atop a cottage roof, donning a wizarding cloak...


    But Felix also noticed that these artworks had seen their fair share of years. Some had lost their colors, and a few were covered in patches of purple mold in the corners.


    All of this suggested that this publishing house had once thrived but now had fallen on harder times.


    "Is anyone here? Mr. Andis?" Felix called out.


    After a moment, a door beside him swung open, hidden amidstyers of artwork that he hadn''t initially noticed.


    A lean, middle-aged wizard with a scruffy beard stared at him, his voice nasal as he asked, "Felix Harp?"


    "That''s me. I assume you''re Mr. Andis? We had an appointment."


    The wizard released the doorknob. "Come in, it''s a bit cluttered." He stepped back on his own ord.


    Felix furrowed his brow slightly, but he didn''t say anything. He followed the wizard into the room, where an unpleasant smell lingered and various items were haphazardly strewn about. He even spotted a few tes of leftover food in the corner.


    This sent shivers down his spine, and he instinctively thought of Apparating away from here.


    The onlyfort came from the fact that in this makeshift studio, he saw fresh paint and canvases, with some impressive half-finished artworks.


    He decided to delve further, as long as the room aligned with his aesthetic.


    "Cleanse anew! Sweep away the old! Whirlwind''s fury!"


    Felix waved his wand repeatedly, clearing away the clutter. A sudden gust of wind wreaked havoc in the small room, causing the windows to rattle, and the furniture to shake vigorously. But the dust and grime were swiftly stripped away by the wind, forming a murky mass of air.


    He opened the window, and from the tip of his wand, a silver swallow darted out. "Do me a favor. I remember seeing a trash bin when I came in." The swallow nodded and flew out the window, followed by a gray, serpentine dragon.


    "You, you..." The wizard named Andis stared in astonishment at Felix, his tongue momentarily tied in knots.


    "Please, have a seat, Mr. Andis." Felix waved his wand, pushing a chair that had been freshly cleaned towards him.


    Andis sat down with a bewildered expression, looking around. After a moment, he seemed to realize, "This seems to be my home?" He muttered softly at first, then his face flushed red, and he angrily protested.


    Seated across from him, Felix maintained a calm demeanor as he spoke, "Mr. Andis, let''s get to the point. Since you agreed to this visit, I assume you have a need for external submissions."


    "And as a potential coborator, at least until you explicitly decline, I hold the right to make demands."


    "You..."


    Felix Harp tapped the ring with his wand, and a stack of sketches flew out from it. "These are my submissions, ''The Adventures of Young Wizard Mick.'' I mentioned it in my letter. You can take a look first, and then it''s up to you to decide if we continue our conversation. I don''t want to waste both of our time."


    The wizard across from him held the sketches, his eyes filled with confusion as he looked at Felix.


    "What are you waiting for?"


    The wizard cleared his throat and awkwardly said, "N-nothing."


    He quickly lowered his head to examine the sketches, simultaneously mentallybeling Felix as a strong-willed wizard.


    The wizard decided to pick out a few faults casually, then swiftly usher him out. If Felix wasn''t satisfied, he''d run out onto the street seeking help...


    As time passed, Andis shifted from initially being nonchnt to bing genuinely engaged. He made variousments.


    "Not bad."


    "Quite interesting."


    "What''s this, a fer...ris...wheel? How does it spin, and it''s not really magic, is it?"


    "Merlin''s beard, pouring two sses of water together turns them red? I suspect it''s the effect of some kind of transparent potion."


    At some point, he pulled the chair beside Felix and started discussing with him.


    "I like this part, I find it quite wise¡ª"


    Felix looked over, it was a scene where the young wizard Mick and his new Muggle friend were shopping for clothes:


    "So, what do I say?" Young Wizard Mick looked at the assortment of clothes in the shop, nervously asking, "I''m utterly lost, I''m just a clueless country boy."


    "Don''t worry, I''m lost too, but my mum told me a trick." His friend said.


    Young Wizard Mick, gazing at the array of garments, confidently told the saleswoman, "My friend here has a budget of 15 pounds, and he needs a shirt, pants, and preferably a bowtie. Can you do that, madam?"


    The young saleswoman smiled, "Of course, young sir." She gave Young Wizard Mick''s figure a quick once-over, then went to fetch suitable clothes.


    His friend grinned at Young Wizard Mick, "See, not too difficult, right?"


    ...


    After about half an hour, Felix asked him, "What do you think?"


    Andis''s expression grew shrewd as he assessed the manuscript''s value. After seven or eight minutes, he hesitated, "To be honest, I can''t be sure."


    He added, "From my personal perspective, this is quite an interesting children''sic. But I''m not that confident in my own judgment. As you''ve seen, this publishing house was indeed sessful, but since I took over, we''ve had a dozen consecutive failures. We even had to release a 30th-anniversary edition of our old books."


    "Mr. Andis, I haven''t asked you yet, what does L.C.A stand for?" Felix inquired.


    "It''s the initials of the three founders'' names. The ''A'' stands for Andis, it was created by my grandfather and his two good friends." The wizard exined.


    "What about yourpany''s representative work, ''The Adventures of Martin Miggs''..."


    "It was my grandfather''s idea, somewhat based on his own experience. When he was a child, he once hosted a Muggle boy who identally stumbled into the magical world. They had a fun week together before the situation was discovered. Ministry officials erased the boy''s memory and sent him back home."


    Felix nodded knowingly. He took out a few pieces of parchment from the ring, covered in various forms and data. The parchment floated and adhered to the wall.


    "Mr. Andis, I can''t guarantee that this manuscript will single-handedly revive your publishing house, but from data analysis, since yourpany''s establishment, you''ve published seventeen sets ofics. Of course, ''The Adventures of Martin Miggs'' is the most famous. But I''ve obtained some data from my friend at the Ministry''s publication department, and it''s clear that content that''s rtively novel tends to be more popr..."


    "Furthermore, this manuscript, positioned for children, doesn''te across as too juvenile and is quite adult-friendly. If you''re willing, we can coborate."


    Andis didn''t have many options, unless he wanted to continue scraping by on the remnants of past glory.


    Thus, after Felix provided him with a reasonable justification, Andis agreed in due course. Their initial n was conservative, to publish a hundred copies as a trial. Even if it failed, it wouldn''t be a catastrophe.


    At best, Andis would''ve wasted some time, but time was something he currently had in abundance.


    With the coboration settled, Andis demonstrated his ancestral craft to Felix. He made alterations and improvements to one of Felix''s sketches, using his wand to add color, refining the image in no time.


    In the scene, a young boy stood on a towering Ferris wheel, tiptoeing to peer out the window. Beside him floated a half-eaten, levitating vani ice cream.


    Half an hourter, Felix exited the L.C.A. building, feeling quite pleased.


    He intended to use the public firece in Diagon Alley to return to his office, avoiding the need to Apparate to the edge of the Forbidden Forest and walk some distance. But just then¡ª


    "Professor Harp?"


    Felix turned around and spotted a familiar figure in the crowd. He responded with mild surprise, "Potter?"


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 Chapter 177: Outburst of Magic

    Chapter 177: Outburst of Magic


    Felix Harp inquired, "Potter, are you here in Diagon Alley to buy books?"


    Harry appeared somewhat uneasy, responding with hesitation, "Uh, I''m currently staying in Diagon Alley... at Room Eleven in the Leaky Cauldron..."


    He couldn''t very well mention that he had identally inted Aunt Marge and was now homeless, having been arranged by Minister Cornelius Fudge to stay at the Leaky Cauldron.


    Felix found Harry''s demeanor peculiar and probed, "Just you?"


    While there were certainly other lodgers at the Leaky Cauldron, it was clear that Harry understood the professor''s implication. "Yes, just me," he quickly added, attempting to divert attention. "I quite enjoy being on my own, browsing shops, eating, doing homework at Florean Fortescue''s Ice Cream Parlor... Oh, and I have Dobby keeping mepany."


    Felix smiled, "If I remember correctly, he should be working at the Leaky Cauldron?"


    Seeing that Professor Harp didn''t press further, Harry breathed a sigh of relief. He responded enthusiastically, "Exactly, Dobby is at the Leaky Cauldron. He''s been waking me up these past few mornings, but he''s probably busy attending to the patrons right now."


    As they walked and talked, Harry shared more about the rather quirky house-elf.


    "Dobby sent me a birthday present and a card! He mentioned he earned it himself, and I''ve been curious about where he''s been working¡ªI didn''t see any mention in the letter. Turns out it''s the Leaky Cauldron¡ª" Harry suddenly realized, turning his head to Felix in astonishment. "Professor, how did you know?"


    Felix replied sinctly, "Dobby and I are friends. We talked about it."


    Harry nodded, and then Felix asked, "So, you saw me while you were shopping? Quite coincidental. If I had left a minuteter, you might have missed me."


    Harry exined, "Actually, I saw your Patronus¡ªthe silver sparrow¡ªHermione mentioned it to me. I thought it resembled that, so I waited near the shop for a while."


    "Is that so? Your observation skills are keen," Felix''s response was somewhat absent-minded, his attention fully focused on Harry himself. From a different perspective in the world of distinct ck and white, the magical energy within Harry was continuously flickering, unusually lively.


    "Professor?"


    Harry sensed his gaze, and Professor Harp was looking at him with a scrutinizing expression, making him feel uneasy.


    "Potter," Felix murmured softly, "this must have had quite an impact on you..."


    Harry stood frozen, stuttering, "You, you know about it?" His heart turned cold, and he hurriedly exined, flustered, "I didn''t mean to, it''s just that Aunt Marge insulted my parents first, and I couldn''t stand it!"


    The professor wouldn''t think poorly of him, right? He had just bought a textbook on Ancient Runes yesterday.


    "No, you''ve misunderstood, Potter."


    As they passed through the wall, leaving Diagon Alley, and arrived at the Leaky Cauldron, Felix heard a sharp greeting, "Dear Mr. Harp, Dobby never expected to see you and Mr. Potter at the same time. Truly a day worthy of celebration!"


    The gazes of the others in the pub turned their way, and they began to chatter excitedly.


    Felix looked back calmly, his voice lowered as he gazed at the house-elf, "Dobby, it''s been a while."


    Dobby''s eyes widened, and he wiped his eyes with a dirty cloth, "Oh, Mr. Harp remembers Dobby. It''s so touching..."


    "Dobby, please arrange a private table for us. Potter and I need to talk," Felix looked at him gently.


    "Dobby understands. Please follow me, gentlemen."


    The house-elf led them to a rtively secluded table, providing them with food and drinks before respectfully withdrawing.


    Harry looked at Felix with a somewhat puzzled expression. He remembered the Knight Bus ride, being caught by Minister Fudge at the pub''s entrance. This was the same spot they had sat down to talk.


    Felix didn''t rush to speak; he pondered how to initiate the conversation.


    Harry stared at the wanted poster hanging on the column to his right. After spending two days at the Leaky Cauldron, he had be very familiar with that painting.


    "Potter¡ª"


    Professor Felix Harp''s words brought his consciousness back to his body, and he listened quietly.


    "I''ve heard you enjoy Dueling ss?"


    "That''s right, Professor," Harry said. "I find the ss really great, and I learn a lot from it. It''s just that it''s only every two weeks, and some spells are quite difficult."


    "Even I''m not proficient with the Impediment Jinx yet..."


    Felix nodded. "So, do you need some personal tutoring time, Potter? I''d be more than willing to assist."


    Harry was taken aback. He hadn''t expected such an offer, to the point where he almost couldn''t believe it.


    Ever since he identally inted Aunt Marge, people he knew seemed to have changed strangely. Dobby was adeptly attending to the pub''s patrons, Minister Cornelius Fudge turned a blind eye to his legal vition, and now, even Professor Harp was offering to train him?


    "I''d be delighted, of course, but why?" He asked cautiously.


    "Potter, to put it frankly, your current state is quite fascinating¡ªyour magic is in a highly active state. From my perspective, it''s like a cluster of mes constantly leaping and burning."


    "In short, I believe it''s of research value."


    Felix decided to tell Harry directly; there was nothing to hide about the whole situation¡ªexcept that it sounded a bit odd that he wanted to study Potter.


    But in another light, wouldn''t it sound better if he said he was caring for a young wizard in a special condition?


    Harry swallowed nervously. "I don''t quite understand what you mean."


    "Harry, if I''m not mistaken, you''ve recently experienced a magical outburst?"


    "A magical... outburst?"


    "You might have heard simr terms¡ªmagic going awry, magic awakening, magical outbursts... Many consider it a sign of childhood or young wizardry, but in truth, it''s always there. Sometimes, due to intense emotional fluctuations, young wizards disy various magical powers."


    Harry listened quietly, his memories returning to a few days ago. His aunt, Marge, hade to visit while he was looking after the dogs in the countryside. She was a rather rude and unkind woman; these two words couldn''t even describe a tenth of her character.


    Every time she visited, it turned into a nightmare for Harry.


    But to get Hagrid''s signature, he endured her verbal insults for a whole week. On her final day as a guest, she got outrageously drunk, became unrestrained in her speech, and callously insulted his parents, which infuriated him.


    He didn''t have his wand with him, but he was a wizard. By the time he snapped out of his rage, Aunt Marge had swelled up like a balloon, simr to the massive pumpkin Hagrid had ntedst year, except it was an ugly pumpkin with small eyes.


    He stormed out of the house in anger and vowed never to return to Privet Drive. Only after he''d calmed down did he start to feel fear. He feared he might be expelled or even sent to Azkaban, surrounded by a bunch of dark wizards.


    He had even contemted a life on the run, evading pursuit by the Ministry of Magic, but he needed some money first. Things, however, always went beyond his expectations¡ªjust as he arrived at the Leaky Cauldron, he was apprehended by Minister Fudge.


    Luckily, Fudge not only didn''t hold him ountable but also arranged a room for him at the Leaky Cauldron. He made Harry promise to stay in Diagon Alley until the start of term and not return to the Muggle world without permission.


    What reason did he have to refuse?


    ...


    Professor Harp''s voice seemed toe from a distant ce. "But this sort of urrence usually happens during childhood. Once young wizards start school, it rarely urs. So, Potter, your situation is quite rare. Something extraordinary must have happened to you."


    The professor didn''t me him; he understood himself...


    Harry looked up, his tone light. "I agree, Professor Harp. When do we start?"


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 Chapter 178: Trials

    Chapter 178: Trials


    Felix Harp grinned, "Anytime works for me, Potter. I''ll move in and keep youpany whenever you''re ready. But I have to return to the school first, to sort a few things out. You can also think about your schedule."


    He stood up, "Intensive training will be tough, Potter. Be mentally prepared. From my personal experience, the time after a magical outburst is perfect for learning spells. You''ll progress swiftly."


    Harry didn''t hesitate and readily agreed.


    Felix Harp found Tom, the owner of the Leaky Cauldron, a wizard hunched with wrinkles on his face and a bent back. Upon Tom''s suggestion, Felix chose Room 12, right next to Harry''s.


    He waved at Harry by the staircase, then turned and left the pub, using the public firece to return to his office.


    He went over his recent work, aside from attempting to incorporate the Sneakoscope into the curriculum, he had some other good ideas. Rolling up these half-finished ns, he tucked them into a ring.


    Next, he reviewed the records of the Wandwood tree''s observations. It was a task he and Professor Flitwick did daily, but he decided to entrust it solely to Flitwick for now.


    He then headed to the office of the Charms professor, informing Flitwick about his schedule sh. The short professor quickly agreed, clicking his tongue and saying, "Magical outbursts... I wonder what Potter has encountered. With you by that child''s side, Miss Miller will be relieved."


    Later, Felix spotted Snape''s figure within the school. Snape strode briskly, his ck robes billowing behind him.


    "Severus?" Felix greeted him, "You''re back so early? I do recall Snape returning home during summer holidays each year and generally arriving on the first day of school."


    Severus Snape''s face remained stern, suppressing his displeasure as he said, "You can inquire with our esteemed Headmaster Dumbledore. He''s the one who summoned me back, to brew a nauseating potion."


    In a sour mood, he swiftly strode away, his cloak trailing.


    What could that nauseating potion be? Felix wondered, watching his departing figure with curiosity.


    A dozen minutester, Felix returned to Diagon Alley. He knocked on Room 11 and saw Harry''s bed cluttered with various items: textbooks from different subjects, parchment, ink bottles, and even a broom maintenance kit.


    "Professor, I''m reviewing my assignments. Well, I still have three essays on wizarding history, two on potions, and one on spells left to write."


    "Wizarding history..."


    Harry distinctly heard Professor Harp''s disapproving hum, but the professor didn''t say much more. He took a seat across from Harry.


    "Time is precious, Potter," Felix stated, "I will guide you through your assignments in your spare time."


    ...


    Tom, the Leaky Cauldron''s owner, provided them with an empty basement, long abandoned, as he imed. Tom, hunchbacked and toothless, grinned, "I remember there used to be some protective enchantments here, but they might have faded. You''ll need to handle it yourselves."


    He snapped his fingers, and the wall-mounted torches lit up. Then, with a bow, he retreated backwards and left.


    Felix Harp waved his wand, clearing the umted dust and cobwebs from the room. He evened out a few damaged floorboards. When his wand touched the floor, it undted like waves, and Harry felt like he was on a small boat. This reminded him of Hagrid''s first boat ride with him.


    Once everything settled, the wooden floor transformed into an exotic-patterned carpet.


    Harry paced back and forth a few steps, feeling that the ground was not as soft as he had imagined. Professor Harp exined, "I can''t use cushions to make you practice magicfortably."


    Under his watchful gaze, various small objects flew out of Professor Harp''s ring, transforming into a small square table, two armchairs, and some humanoid targets.


    At the moment, Felix Harp sat on a chair, looking at him from behind the small table.


    "Next, Potter, let''s practice your most proficient spell a hundred times."


    Harry''s hand holding the wand trembled unnaturally. This seemed quite different from what he had in mind...


    He thought he would awkwardly dodge the professor''s attacks, like a constantly jumping squirrel, while Professor Harp elegantly cast spells, showcasing his power.


    But now, Professor Harp seemed more like a schr, sitting quietly in a chair. If he wore a pair of gold-rimmed sses, he would resemble a teacher he had seen at a Muggle school even more.


    Harry looked at the target several meters away from him. He waved his wand and shouted loudly, "Expelliarmus!" A red light shot from the tip of his wand, hitting the wall, but it was a good two feet away from the humanoid target.


    "Um, sorry, I missed."


    "It''s alright, continue."


    So Harry kept waving his wand, sending out sessive red lights. After about half an hour, with a hoarse and feeble voice, he called out, "Expelliarmus..." but only a shower of sparks burst from his wand.


    "Alright, let''s pause for now. Come over here and sit." Felix said.


    Harry wearily walked to the other side of the small table and sat down. He looked across at Professor Harp, who was writing and sketching on parchment. After a while, he looked up, "I''ve got a good understanding of your spell. Very well, we''vepleted the first phase of testing."


    "That was just a test?" Harry eximed in surprise. He was almost exhausted, and every cell in his body wasining.


    Felix Harp curled his lips slightly and said with a tempting tone, "Potter, at your age, your understanding of the Disarming Charm is no less than that of an average adult wizard. And you have the potential."


    "Besides the Disarming Charm, as you mentioned before, there''s also the less practiced Shield Charm."


    "And the Tongue-Tying Curse. I might even teach you one or two simple and practical spells additionally..."


    Harry swallowed hard, and with the brightly lit basement as his backdrop, though somewhat disrespectful, he felt like he was seeing the devil''s smile.


    But he had to admit, he was intrigued.


    Professor Harp didn''t borate on how mastering these spells would benefit him, but he couldn''t help but imagine - admiration from ssmates, extra points in ss, perhaps even a chance to showcase his abilities in front of that special girl...


    With a slightly trembling voice, he said, "Professor, I''ll follow your n." He felt that his tone when speaking was filled with a sense of tragedy, as if he were about to face the gallows.


    Felix Harp handed him a piece of chocte, saying, "Have something to eat first. We''ll move on to the second phase of testing."


    Ten minutester.


    Felix and Harry stood about eight meters apart, facing each other.


    "Potter, this time we''re testing the maximum power of your spells. You need to tap into your emotions fully. Do you remember what was mentioned in Dueling ss? Determination, confidence, and most importantly, the Disarming Charm is about self-protection, rendering the enemy incapable of harming you."


    Harry nodded, took a deep breath, and imagined Draco standing across from him, suddenly transformed into a giant with golden hair, brandishing a stick as he approached...


    "Pff!" He burst intoughter all of a sudden, "Uh, sorry."


    After a moment of emotional buildup -


    "Expelliarmus!"


    With a strained voice, Harry shouted, and a red light, as thick as a finger, shot straight toward Felix. Yet, it was blocked by an invisible barrier.


    "Not enough, Potter. Let me see your potential!" Felix urged.


    Gritting his teeth, Harry put all his effort into channeling magic. For a brief moment, he genuinely felt something different, what Professor Harp called "active magic." He repeated in his mind: Disarm, render the enemy unable to harm me...


    He thought of those real enemies - Professor Quirrell, the Basilisk, and most importantly... Voldemort!


    The red light, after flickering for a few moments, grew as thin as a strand of hair. Felix nearly thought he had failed, but in the next instant, a searing beam of light shot from Harry''s wand, spanning the eight-meter distance, and collided with Felix''s Shield Charm.


    Two spells grappled in mid-air, a deep rumbling echoing throughout the basement.


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 Chapter 179: Harrys Special Training

    Chapter 179: Harry''s Special Training


    "Potter, wake up! Potter..."


    Harry slowly opened his eyes, the light from the torches was a bit dazzling, making Professor Harp''s silhouette somewhat blurry.


    For a moment, his expression was quite bewildered.


    He got up from the ground, adjusted his sses, "What happened to me?"


    "Exhaustionbined with fatigue, a perfectly normal phenomenon," Felix Harp looked at him and said, "Let''s stop here for today. We''ll head up and have something to eat, and I''ll also work on outlining your training n."


    Harry felt incredibly ufortable, limbs weak, and body feeling light.


    He followed Felix''s footsteps unsteadily as they climbed the stairs, his stomach churning.


    It wasn''t until he downed arge ss of juice and finished two pastries that he felt like he hade back to life, with the mood to ponder some questions.


    "Professor, you said this phenomenon is normal, have you experienced something simr too? And you mentioned to me that the period after a magical outburst is very suitable for practicing spells, based on your personal experience..."


    Harry''s speech slowed down, and he thought of how Hermione had expressed sympathy to Professor Harp in a very emotional way.


    The context was the release of the Dueling Club news, and the discussions were all centered around the word "duel." Professor Harp''s ''glorious experiences'' were once again brought up and talked about extensively. The boys couldn''t help but wish they could swap ces with him, while the young witches either looked up to him in admiration or sympathized with the unfair treatment he received during his school years.


    And Hermione was one of them.


    At the time, Harry couldn''t quite understand her perspective, but now, he suddenly had a bit of an insight.


    In response to his question, Felix Harp sinctly said, "Indeed..."


    Indeed, what? As Harryy in his own bed, he continued to contemte this question.


    Early the next morning, Harry was awakened by Dobby''s knocking on his door. He opened the door drowsily, and the house-elf respectfully handed him toiletries, with Professor Harp standing beside him.


    "Hurry up, Potter, we have a heavy task today."


    Harry experienced a novel feeling, a simr sensation to when he was a guest at the Burrow and was woken up by Mrs. Weasley. Few adults intervened in his life, reminding him of brushing his teeth, apart from the angry roars of the Dursleys.


    The entire morning, they stayed in the basement, and Harry kept casting Disarming Charms, as Professor Harp put it, "We need to maximize your efficiency. You''ll find that during your student years, being adept at a single spell can take you far."


    He felt like he was going to throw up, but Professor Harp patiently pointed out his mistakes and spent a considerable amount of time exining advanced techniques for the spell.


    "Imagine yourself as a duelist, or a fledgling auror. Your magic is very active, you can sense it, manipte it, control it, and let the magic flow out all at once," Felix said, and then cast a spell of heightened sensation on Harry.


    "At the same time, it''s a good opportunity to learn nonverbal spellcasting while learning the Disarming Charm."


    "And there''s the magical theory part. I''ll only exin what''s most relevant to the Disarming Charm. It might not be useful for learning other spells, but we need to expedite the process. I want to see how far you can go."


    Harry noticed that while in the basement, Professor Harp always seemed distant and reserved. He would wake him up repeatedly when he copsed on the floor, not wasting even a second. But between training sessions, he would take him to Florean Fortescue''s Ice Cream Parlor or stand outside Quality Quidditch Supplies, gazing at thetest Firebolt models.


    Of course, Harry guessed that Professor Harp wasn''t really thinking about broomsticks during those moments, because one time, after drifting off for two minutes, he asked himself while demonstrating the Disarming Charm, "Doesn''t it feel exhrating? Like you were born to know this spell."


    His response had been somewhat hasty at the time, he couldn''t remember if he said, "Somewhat simr," or rather immodestly, "Exactly like that."


    They also ran into Neville Longbottom, one of his ssmates, a round-faced, forgetful boy. He was with his grandmother, who looked quite formidable, carrying a red handbag and sternly scolding Neville.


    Harry wanted to flee, because once when he was on the Knight Bus, he used Neville''s name without permission, hoping Neville''s grandmother would never find out.


    But Neville spotted Harry and waved excitedly, "Harry, Harry! It''s so great to see you. I''ve lost my book list."


    Harry quickly borrowed a piece of parchment from Professor Harp and wrote down the titles of the new textbooks.


    "Ah, you''re Harry Potter, right? Neville has mentioned you to me, a goodd, quite talented. He said you taught him the Disarming Charm, that you picked it up quickly, unlike him..." Neville''s grandmother clutched her handbag tightly, her eyebrows furrowing, "This boy didn''t inherit his parents'' talents, I''ve been anxious about him ever since he received his eptance letter."


    Neville wore a grim expression, sneakily ncing at Harry. Harry didn''t dare to say anything. The old woman was quite intimidating, but what surprised him was that Professor Harp, who had been quiet all along, spoke up, "Neville Longbottom, I saw your name on the ss list. I''m d you chose my course."


    "You''re a professor at Hogwarts?" Neville''s grandmother asked.


    "Felix Harp. I teach Ancient Magical Texts, madam."


    "I''ve heard of your name, Mr. Harp, and I greatly admire your courage. Not everyone dares to face a despicable pure-blood family," she proudly pointed at Neville, "Just like his parents, who stood on the frontlines against Voldemort''s reign during the war era, even though they were tortured by some scum..."


    She wiped her eyes and left with Neville.


    Neville mouthed to Harry: See you on the train. Soon after, he was dragged away.


    "What happened to Neville''s parents?" Harry asked, watching Neville''s retreating figure.


    Felix answered, "I''m not entirely sure, but they likely sacrificed themselves in battle against Death Eaters."


    ...


    A week passed in the blink of an eye. Professor Harp showed him a stack of thick forms.


    "Are these all the records of my practicing the Disarming Charm?" Harry eximed, pointing at the hefty parchment.


    "No need to be astonished. Let me tell you a secret: I''ve been quite sessful in the Muggle world, and this is what I used!" Felix joked.


    Harry looked at the curves on the chart. Progress wasn''t striking when considering ten castings as a unit, but if measured in hundreds of castings, his improvement was quite astonishing.


    "Isn''t it intriguing? No one has ever researched this before," Felix said in an upbeat tone.


    "Professor Harp, does my Disarming Charm reach the fourth level?" Harry looked at the annotations on the parchment, his eyes widening. It seemed to be the level achieved by Aurors after a few years of work.


    "Ah, you remember the categorizations?" Felix said, "To some extent, yes, you''ve indeed met that requirement. You can manipte the power of the Disarming Charm skillfully, performing finer actions like tracing an arc, casting nonverbally, and so on..."


    Harry felt as if he had consumed ten strawberry ice creams in a row, a sense of satisfaction overflowing from head to toe. But Professor Harp quickly poured a bucket of cold water on his enthusiasm¡ª


    "There''s only this one spell, Potter. If you want to delve deeper into the realm of dueling, you should consider establishing your personal fighting style."


    "Fighting style?"


    "Such as which spell to make your core¡ª"


    "Disarming Charm!" Harry blurted out without hesitation.


    "...Don''t make a hasty decision. Besides that, there areplementary spell systems. For instance, which spells you use for defense, which for offense; which are for restraining opponents, and which are for handling tricky situations. You need to think all of these through."


    "Not to mentionbat footwork, on-the-spot judgment, scenario rehearsal, and so forth."


    "Of course, there''s also targeted knowledge. Hmm, I might have set my expectations too high for you. This has already exceeded the norm for most Aurors."


    Harry excitedly jotted down in his notebook, "No problem, you can make it asprehensive as possible." He then, with a touch of Hermione''s tone, added, "Professor, I''m actually considering writing a rted thesis!"


    "...Very well, I''ll read it."


    In the days leading up to the start of term, Professor Harp didn''t have him continue practicing the Disarming Charm¡ªthis relieved him, and he finally got to learn a second spell.


    "Potter¡ª"


    "Professor, you can call me Harry," Harry said with a hint of nervousness. He had practiced saying this in front of the mirror several times that morning just to be able to say it now.


    There was silence from the other side. Just as he was beginning to regret his impulsiveness, Felix said, "Alright, Harry, I''ll call you that privately."


    "Your progress with the Disarming Charm won''t make rapid leaps in a short time. Even with myprehensive assistance, it''s not feasible¡ª"


    "Professor, I''m already quite satisfied," Harry said contentedly. He had undergone a tremendous transformation; at the very least, he believed facing Malfoy and his two cronies wouldn''t be an issue.


    He saw Professor Harp smile at him, "I''ve also obtained the data I wanted, and the activity level of your magic is gradually returning to normal. Although I''ve tried my best to extend this process, unfortunately, I can''t go against thews of nature."


    "In the next day or two, we''ll intensively learn some spells. The effects will be three to five times faster than your usual pace."


    Harry nodded eagerly.


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 Chapter 180: Conclusion of Special Training

    Chapter 180: Conclusion of Special Training


    On the morning before the start of the school year, Felix Harp sat leisurely at a cozy table in the Leaky Cauldron, enjoying his breakfast and casually flipping through the day''s newspaper.


    "Tsk, Sirius ck, why has he been on the front page for so many days?"


    Felix gazed at the man in the photograph. His face was gaunt, and his ck hair was tangled together. He had waxen-like skin and a somewhat vampiric appearance.


    The newspaper spared no ink detailing his crimes over and over again, including his support for the mysterious figure and, when cornered, his explosion that obliterated half a street, resulting in thirteen deaths. Currently, he was listed as a fugitive on the run.


    Words like "extremely dangerous" and "most notorious prisoner" appeared repeatedly in bold red font.


    "Escaping from Azkaban, is that really so difficult?" Felix sipped his coffee and took a couple of seconds to simte the scenario.


    First step, retrieve a spare wand, and then... hmm...


    ''Well, the premise doesn''t hold up. Why was I locked up in the first ce?''


    ''At least it exins why Moody was so jittery around Harry.''


    Just then, Harry yawned his way down the stairs, with Dobby cautiously trailing behind him. Dobby watched Harry with a worried expression, as though fearing he might miss a step and tumble down the stairs.


    "Harry, Dobby, over here," Felix tilted his head at them, "Good morning, Professor." Harry sat down on the opposite chair, and to his surprise, Dobby pulled up a chair right next to him.


    "Dobby, don''t you need to greet the guests?" Harry asked.


    "Mr. Potter, Dobby has resigned from the Leaky Cauldron. Today is Dobby''sst day here, and the boss approved that I don''t have to do anything."


    "Oh, uh..." Harry was clearly not fully awake yet, his mind took a moment to catch up, and after a while, he said, somewhat befuddled, "But, where are you going then?"


    "Mr. Harp has offered Dobby a job. Dobby is honored to help a friend! Dobby feels very honored," the house-elf stared with wide eyes at Felix.


    Harry also turned to Felix, who exined briefly, "I''ve hired Dobby as my spokesperson to deal with some book publishing matters."


    "Congrattions, Dobby," Harry said genuinely.


    After finishing his breakfast, Felix addressed Harry, "Harry, I won''t schedule any more training tasks for yourst day. Over these past two days, you''ve reviewed the Irond Charm, the Stupefy Charm, the Tongue-Tying Curse, and you''ve also learned the Impediment Jinx, which is more useful for your current level. It can give you an advantage in gaining initiative."


    Harry listened in silence; he knew this special training wasing to an end.


    The incantation for the Impediment Jinx was "Impedimenta," and its effect was to shoot a thick rope from the tip of the wand to bind the target. The advantage of this spell was that its casting range was very long, allowing him to attack from a distance as far as across a corridor.


    He had only learned itst night and was just barely capable of casting it, but the attack range was now around twelve to thirteen meters, surpassing most spells he had mastered.


    ''Ron deserves credit for me learning this spell,'' Harry thought. After multiple failures, he remembered how Ron had learned the Disarming Charm and decided to let Professor Harp use the Impediment Jinx on him, hoping to get a close-up ''feel'' for its mysteries.


    Professor Harp was also quite interested in this, "I''ve been wanting to try it out for a while, but never got the chance." As a result, Harry ended up repeatedly bound by the coarse rope that was akin to a devil''s snare, bundled up like a cocoon, feeling as if he were an oversized st-Ended Skrewt.


    Amid his desperate struggles, he finally mastered the spell, though the cost was a body covered in bruises, as if he had been hung up and whipped for half an hour.


    Speaking of st-Ended Skrewts, he couldn''t help but recall Mr. Weasley''s car. Last year, when it was time to return to school, Dobby sealed off the tform. To make it to school on time, he and Ron had flown Mr. Weasley''s illegally modified flying car halfway across Britain. Unfortunately, when passing over the Forbidden Forest, the car couldn''t bear the load and crashed into a st-Ended Skrewt.


    Mr. Weasley had faced scrutiny because of that incident, and he felt guilty about it for a long time.


    Now, not only was the "culprit" having breakfast with him, but also bing his friend, which made Harry marvel at the wonders of life.


    A mor came from outside the bar, and arge group of people suddenly surged into the establishment. Most of them had red hair and were lugging all sizes of suitcases and cages.


    "Dad, is Harry here?" a girl with fiery red hair asked, tugging on her father''s arm.


    "This is my seventh time telling you, yes, Ginny," her father replied.


    Harry''s face broke into a surprised expression¡ªit was the Weasley family. Next to them stood a couple dressed rather "Muggle-like," whom Harry recognized as Hermione''s parents.


    But everything paled inparison to the sight of his two good friends that captured Harry''s attention, and he was eager to share his own experiences¡ª


    "Here! Ron, Hermione!" Harry waved enthusiastically, leaping up from his seat and running over to them.


    Ron was dressed in peculiar attire, exuding an exotic aura, and Hermione''s skin had turned a sun-kissed brown. They both wore radiant smiles.


    Ron yfully pounded Harry''s chest and grinned, "Hey, Harry, did you actually inte your aunt?"


    "I didn''t mean to." Harry replied, noticing that Hermione''s parents were giving him quite peculiar looks. He instinctively exined, "I lost control, you know, idental magic..."


    But things seemed to be getting worse, and he turned to Professor Harp, seeking help with his eyes.


    Ron also realized he misspoke and got a kick from Ginny across Percy.


    Felix nodded at them and looked at Harry, saying, "idental magic is a product of extreme emotions. The fact that you managed to maintain a bit ofposure while out of control is quite surprising, I must say."


    He turned to Hermione''s parents, "Hello, I''m Felix Harp, the Ancient Runes professor at Hogwarts. I also have a reasonable understanding of the Muggle world."


    Mrs. Granger smiled at him; she had heard about this professor from her daughter. However, Mr. Granger looked at him with surprise, "I''ve seen you before, earlier. A strange guest, eh? Didn''t expect you to be a professor at the school... quite young, aren''t you?"


    Felix brushed over the topic, "Indeed, the wizarding world, you know."


    Hermione greeted in a low voice, "Hello, Professor Harp."


    Felix nodded at her, "Hello, Miss Granger." He then turned to Arthur Weasley, "Mr. Weasley, we should have corresponded earlier."


    Arthur Weasley tapped his forehead, "Absolutely right, I asked you some questions about Muggle technology... ah, Molly, calm down, just simple research."


    Mrs. Weasley shot her husband a re and warmly said to Felix, "Professor Harp, thank you for the Christmas present you gave to Ron. To be honest, it was quite precious... but Ron absolutely loves his new wand."


    "Mom!" Ron said, a bit annoyed; she always used his nickname regardless of the context.


    But Mrs. Weasley didn''t pay attention to him, "Ron looks up to you quite a bit. He chose your course this year, and of course, also¡ª" she looked at Harry and Hermione, and they nodded in unison, "these two little rascals, always keeping us on our toes."


    She went on, chattering, "We got news from Dumbledore quite early. Arthur and I were utterly bbergasted, trembling in fear, worried all along, but we didn''t dare send a howler, fearing it would disturb Ginny. After all, it''s Dark Magic..." She trailed off vaguely, "and it involves the Chamber of Secrets. Her brothers set a bad example for her."


    "Mom, how does that even involve us?"


    "Yeah, we haven''t caused any trouble this summer."


    The twins beside her were protesting vigorously; Mrs. Weasley pursed her lips, looking sternly at them. "And you, don''t think I don''t know what you''ve been up to..."


    Percy stepped forward, his chest puffed out, a shiny silver badge pinned on it¡ªit was the emblem of the Head Boy, "Mom, Ginny has me as an example."


    The twins wore sour expressions and muttered, heads lowered.


    ''Head Boy, huh?''


    ''How about Chief Bighead?''


    The two of them soon exchanged knowing smiles.


    Felix looked on with interest at the interaction in thisrge family. When they settled down, he said, "Don''t worry, Mrs. Weasley, I have some understanding of them..."


    Old Tom, stooped and with most of his teeth missing, approached them. He gestured with his hands, and three tables in the bar were pushed together, with over a dozen small stools settling around them.


    "And, do you need anything to eat?"


    "Don''t bother about me, Tom," Felix said. "I''ll be leaving now."


    He nodded slightly at the group and said, "Please excuse me." Then, he turned to Dobby, "Let''s go, I need to get you some new clothes."


    Dobby bid farewell to Harry and, after waving, bounced alongside Felix.


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 Chapter 181: The Crested Serpent

    Chapter 181: The Crested Serpent


    Beyond the wall behind the Leaky Cauldron, they arrived directly at Madam Malkin''s Robes for All asions on the north side of Diagon Alley.


    ording to Professor Flitwick, while this shop sold school uniforms, formal robes, and traveling cloaks, if you were willing to spend a little more, Madam Malkin would be delighted to craft a custom outfit for you.


    Madam Malkin, a plump and cheerful witch, d in a deep purple robe, greeted them, "Wee, are you here to buy a robe or perhaps a charming dance attire, sir?" She held a tape measure and a wand in her hands.


    Felix Harp pointed to Dobby, "Ma''am, not me, it''s him."


    Madam Malkin''s gaze fell upon Dobby, and she hesitated, "Oh, um..."


    "Ma''am, I was introduced by Professor Phileas Flitwick. He praised your craftsmanship."


    "It''s my pleasure as well."


    Under Felix''s words and mary persuasion, Madam Malkin created a little suit on the spot, transforming Dobby into a whole new appearance, akin to a refined British butler.


    "Sir, you''re very kind to your house-elf, but I''m not sure if I should remind you, clothes..."


    "Ma''am, Dobby is my friend, he''s free."


    Throughout their journey, Dobby kept expressing gratitude to Felix in various ways, until Felix informed him about the standardized dress code, finally settling Dobby down.


    Felix led him to the long-neglected building of LCA Comics Publishers, knocking on Andis''s door.


    After noting for over ten days, the smell in the house seemed to have gathered again, but Andis''s spirits had improved significantly. At least he had put on a clean set of clothes.


    He pulled Felix into the room, producing a stack of manuscripts and, with a heavy nasal tone, said, "I''ve redrawn a portion of the book, added exclusive magic, see how it is?"


    Felix carefully perused them. Eachic strip page was divided into five to ten panels. Opening a page, the characters in these panels would begin to move in a fixed sequence. As the plot of the first panel concluded, the second would start ying, timing executed perfectly.


    One could say that eachic strip page was akin to a segment of a film.


    "The magic on it is rather intriguing," Felixmented.


    If he were to add another page on top of this, allowing it to sequentially disy the content of all the panels in the entireic strip, wouldn''t that achieve a cinematic effect?


    He expressed this idea to Andis.


    "Hmm?"


    Andis pondered in his mind, "It seems feasible?" he said uncertainly.


    "I don''t know the magic of your publishing house unless..."


    "That''s a closely guarded secret." Andis hastily added.


    "Well," Felix pursed his lips, gazing at the manuscript in his hands, constantly caressing its surface, "Using your professional judgment, do you think the idea I just mentioned is feasible?"


    Andis didn''t answer, this time he took longer to think. The more he thought, the more excited he became, pacing around the room.


    "Absolutely feasible! This is a breakthrough in the wizarding world. Merlin, we''re going to make a ssh!"


    "If you were to make improvements, how long do you think it would take?"


    "Hard to say. This is new technology; it will definitely take time. I''ve already got two approaches in mind, I haven''t been idle these years, and my grandfather''s past research can be helpful too. But magic has changed, the entire process needs adjustments, including selecting the most suitableic strip medium and pigments. This requires both time and..." Andis awkwardly stopped.


    "And money?"


    "... Yes."


    Felix calcted for a moment, "I can provide about twenty thousand Galleons, but what can I get in return?"


    Andis struggled, he was hesitating, this was a critical choice, perhaps LCA Comics would regain vitality under his hands.


    But his judgments over the past decade had been wrong, what about this time?


    "Are you Felix Harp?" he asked, gritting his teeth.


    Felix nced at him, puzzled. What did he mean? I''ve already introduced myself. The house-elf Dobby, however, proudly stepped forward and said, "That''s right, this is the great Felix Harp, sir!"


    Andis cast a brief nce at Dobby, not paying much attention. He looked at Felix and said slowly, "I''ve inquired around recently, and they say you possess considerable influence."


    "Speak inly, Andis, no beating around the bush."


    "Five thousand Galleons! If you can help me deal with the Ministry of Magic, I''m willing to convert this money into an investment, exchanging it for twenty, no! Thirty percent ownership in the publishing house."


    "Deal with the Ministry of Magic?"


    "I hope this book can receive official rmendation and be disyed in bookstores of other countries. It would save a lot of time," Andis exined.


    "Where''s the trouble?"


    "It''s rted to some pure-blood families. They might not appreciate this book," Andis hesitated in his words.


    "But my previous publications didn''t cause any issues?" Felix curiously inquired.


    "Different publishing houses are different. I have a track record, coupled with the subject matter of this book..." He implied, and Felix understood. So, your previous published works offended some people, didn''t they?


    "I need to see those controversial drafts of yours first," Felix didn''t hastily agree.


    If Andis had issues, he would refuse promptly.


    After a pause, Felix lifted his head from one of the manuscripts. He had only obtained sales data from LCA Publishers before, but he hadn''t read the entire book yet.


    It was evident that Andis had indeed been working hard these years to revive the publishing house. The subject matter varied, but there was a book with antagonists from pure-blood families. Although there was no specific representation of which family, it was clear that it had drawn some discontent.


    Although, in his view, this was a normal creative process.


    "Tsk tsk!"


    Felix pondered for a moment. He needed to invest 5000 Galleons, along with limited time and effort. He also needed to address potential troubles. In return, he would gain thirty percent ownership from the other party.


    He also believed in the development of the new technology and had confidence in LCA.


    "That''s eptable, but I want all your magical data."


    Andis paused for a moment, "Of course, that''s within your rights. Just don''t disclose it recklessly."


    Felix nodded. Then he had no problem.


    Money was a minor issue; it was this exclusive magic that he valued. However, in the future, he would at least receive a stable portion of returns, saving him from dealing in the ck market.


    This was different from the fifty percent ownership mentioned by the twins. He hadn''t intended to take that money at all.


    Andis said to him, "Let''s establish a magical contract; it will put both parties at ease."


    Felix had no reason to refuse. He produced a piece of parchment. A string of golden words appeared on it, outlining the obligations and rights both parties should fulfill. Afterwards, they each left their names and a drop of blood.


    Under the gaze of the three individuals, the parchment turned to ashes within golden mes. But the text remained radiant, suspended in mid-air.


    Soon, the golden letters melted, coalescing into two glowing orbs. One for Felix and one for Andis.


    This contract belonged to the mostmon "Witnessed Contract," with no binding force, but it was protected by the Ministry of Magic. If any problems arose, all one had to do was take the orbs to the Ministry to file aint, and the Ministry would step in to resolve the issue.


    With the contract orb in his hand, Andis sighed in relief.


    He could say he was wagering a part of his future, but now he was filled with anticipation. This was because a mysterious friend had told him, "Cooperating with that gentleman, you''ll never worry about being at a loss. He''s a proud Slytherin, unlike those greedy pure-blood trash."


    Felix looked at the house-elf. "Dobby, I need you to visit at least once a day, inquire about progress and troubles. If necessary, you can negotiate on behalf of me and the pure-blood families." He pointed his wand at Dobby''s chest, and a Crested Serpent symbol, shaped like the number 8, appeared.


    The pattern remained still, but as you gazed at it, it began to move rapidly, the emerald snake eyes sparkling.


    This was the symbol Felix had imprinted on his clothes back in his fifth year. Many pure-blood families recognized it, although it wasn''t used much nowadays.


    "Dobby, Dobby''s afraid he can''t..." The house-elf hesitated fearfully.


    "When you were in the Malfoy household, you did tasks like delivering letters, right?"


    "But, but Dobby only delivered letters, it was simr to an owl''s role."


    "Then give it a try. If you encounter a problem you can''t solve,e to me," Felix said calmly. "I''m also curious to know who wille to me for trouble."


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 Chapter 182: The Commission of Phineas Black

    Chapter 182: The Commission of Phineas ck


    Felix Harp emerged from the L.C.A building, and the clock had struck noon. He took a detour to visit the Little Red Book Bookstore. To his delight, his sample copy of "Magic in the Muggle World" had beenpleted.


    "Remarkable efficiency, I needn''t worry at all."


    This book, a serious work of popr science, was in line with his previous two publications on Muggle studies and was poised to be part of a series.


    At least, that''s what the elegantdy in the purple dress told him.


    Felix also inquired about things he hadn''t previously paid much attention to, such as how his book managed to leave Ennd and spread throughout the world.


    From her response, Felix understood that there were two ways to expand the book''s presence worldwide. One was to obtain a rmendation from the home country''s Ministry of Magic, but this approach had limited spots and could face resistance from certain nations due to its official nature. The other method was to be a member of the International Wizarding Publishers Association.


    The International Wizarding Publishers Association was a rtively loose international wizarding organization,posed of top publishers from different countries. They held gatherings in March and September each year to select valuable books.


    These fortunate books would then be distributed to magical bookstores in various countries.


    Unbeknownst to Felix, he had inadvertently enjoyed this privilege. In response, he expressed his gratitude once again.


    "Your book is truly outstanding, Mr. Harp. It''s a win-win for both of us."


    ...


    Returning to the school, Felix found many professors had returned. Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick were decorating the Great Hall, in high spirits. Professor McGonagall was even humming a tune.


    Hagrid, the big and burly figure, walked in carrying two three-meter tall fir trees. Flitwick elegantly waved his wand, causing the trees to stand in a corner of the hall, adorned with colorful ribbons.


    "Felix," Hagrid greeted heartily.


    "Hagrid, how''s the lesson nning going?" Felix inquired.


    Hagrid chuckled, "Going pretty well, I spent quite some time in the library looking up information. I even went through the new books on the market. I can confidently say the teaching material I''ve chosen is interesting."


    "I remember this course always used ''Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them'' as the textbook."


    "Well, that''s the textbook for the higher years. I tried something new for the third years... as you told me, innovation requires a test subject, and if it seeds, then it can be extended to everyone."


    "I''m looking forward to it, Hagrid."


    The first day of school was tomorrow. The professors gathered around a rectangr table for dinner that evening. Even the elusive Professor Trwney had draped a veil and joined.


    She whispered to a house-elf, "Fetch me some sherry, dear."


    The house-elf stammered, "O-okay, ma''am."


    Her figure vanished, and shortly after, she reappeared struggling with arge bottle of sherry. "I apologize, couldn''t find a small bottle, only this kind."


    "Ha!" Trwney''s eyes lit up. "No worries, this is quite nice, very nice indeed."


    "Would you like some?" She looked at Felix, shaking the bottle, causing the liquid to sway.


    "No, thank you," Felix politely declined.


    Trwney poured herself a ss, and next to her, Professor Burbage also took a small sip.


    Dumbledore appeared for the first time since his return from France. He looked in good spirits, dly epting a te of tea-colored pastries from Flitwick. Felix thought it might be due to him having shed a particrly bothersome task.


    After dinner, he called out to Felix.


    "Wait a moment, Felix. Nick has a few books for you, entrusted to me."


    So, the two of them went to the Headmaster''s office. Dumbledore spoke cheerfully, "Hold on, I left them on my bedside table. During the time you were away, I''ve been reading parts of them each day."


    Felix nodded, watching him ascend the spiral staircase, disappearing into the upper floor of the office.


    "That''s Dumbledore''s bedroom, I wonder what it''s like?" he pondered curiously.


    The Headmaster''s office hadn''t changed much. In this spacious circr room, various whimsical noises filled the air: Fawkes, the phoenix perched on the gilded perch, rhythmically breathed; the silverware on the elongated table rotated, emitting tinkling sounds; and the portraits of former headmasters on the walls emitted snores.


    Felix Harp''s gaze fixed on the Sorting Hat resting silently on the partition, debating whether to pick it up and examine it.


    "Hey, Slytherind!" an unpleasant voice spoke up.


    Felix turned his head to see a portrait on the wall. At the bottom of the portrait was written in golden cursive letters:


    "Phineas Negellus ck, served 1847 to 1925, graduated from Slytherin House."


    "Felix," he asked, "Principal ck, were you calling me?"


    The portrait let out a snort. "Otherwise, is there anyone else alive in this room?" His goat-like beard twitched, his eyebrows thin and menacing, giving him a thoroughly disagreeable appearance.


    At this moment, he reached out and tapped the frame. "Come closer, I have something to tell you," he said urgently. Seeing that Felix hesitated, he added, "It''s for your benefit!"


    Felix''s mind was filled with skepticism. Whatever it was, how could it possibly benefit him? Nheless, he approached the portrait of Principal ck.


    The snores from the other portraits ceased. Some of them opened their eyes to observe, while others squinted, closely watching the interaction.


    But Principal ck remained uninterested, perhaps incapable of expressing himself, even if he was displeased. So he spoke as quietly as possible, "Have you ever heard the name Sirius ck?"


    "I have. He''s a celebrity now, escaped from Azkaban three weeks ago," Felix said.


    Principal ck choked for a moment. Somewhat embarrassed, he said, "He''s a descendant of the noble ck family, my great-grandson!"


    "Oh."


    "You mischievous boy, what do you mean?" Principal ck muttered under his breath. However, he quickly continued in a cunning tone, "We''re both Slytherins, young man. I know what you''re thinking..."


    "Listen, the ck family has a rich history and an extensive collection of books in our ancestral home. It''s notparable to the rubbish at Hogwarts. Are you interested? Help me with something."


    "What is it?"


    "Bring him to me. Not to this me, to another portrait. Remember, Grimmauld ce Number 12."


    Felix was very interested in the ck family''s collection, but he cautiously probed, "Don''t tell me that one of the 28 pure-blood families'' ancestral homes has no defenses?"


    "Listen to me, don''t interrupt. Time is short! You will find it, I believe you can do it. However, you need something, something unique to the noble ck family... Oh, Dumbledore! When did youe back?"


    Felix swiftly turned around, Dumbledore had appeared on the second-floornding, holding two books in his arms, standing expressionlessly.


    "Quite early, around the time you acknowledged Sirius ck as your great-grandson." Dumbledore descended the stairs, the light behind him preventing anyone from reading his expression, but his powerful voice was audible. "Phineas, we''ve discussed... the unforgivable crimes hemitted."


    Principal ck''s portrait shouted loudly, "Dumbledore, he''s thest descendant of the ck family!"


    But Dumbledore raised his voice as well, speakingposedly. "...betrayed his best friend, and he killed thirteen people, including one who was a close friend for ten years. Do you know what happened to him, Phineas? The only thing found at the scene were Peter''s finger and pieces of blood-soaked clothing."


    The old man walked to the portrait, his tone icy, each wrinkle on his face carrying anger. "And now he''s escaped, dreaming of aiding his old master in regaining power, even if it means killing his godson in his role as a teacher."


    "Phineas, my headmaster... Do you want to shelter a criminal?"


    Silence reigned in the Headmaster''s office.


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 Chapter 183: Analysis

    Chapter 183: Analysis


    Felix Harp stood quietly on the side, his mind spinning rapidly.


    Dumbledore''s words were pointedly clear, referring to Harry Potter and Sirius ck.


    The unexpected connection between the two was something he had never imagined.


    And Sirius ck, used of being a Death Eater who betrayed his best friend, Harry''s father.


    Felix thought of an organization active during the war - the Order of the Phoenix. It was a secret organization founded by Dumbledore to resist Voldemort, assisting the Ministry of Magic in fighting against Voldemort and his Death Eaters during the war.


    The Order of the Phoenix was not well-known, and it disbanded after Voldemort''s disappearance in 1981 and the victory in the war.


    Felix knew of this name because he was acquainted with Professor Toftwood of the Wizarding Examinations Authority - also an expert in ancient magical texts, whom Felix had visited before.


    Professor Toftwood had mentioned this organization in passing, praising the bravery of the Order of the Phoenix members, but he hadn''t revealed specific names.


    But Felix spected that at least Harry''s parents, Sirius, and that Peter should all be members of the Order of the Phoenix.


    No wonder... no wonder Dumbledore was so furious.


    From being best friends at school to closerades after graduation, and the bond of kinship formed due to Harry''s birth, this should have been an unbreakable friendship.


    Yet Sirius ck chose betrayal.


    And what role did Severus Snape y? Based on the information Felix had found during school, after the war, Snape was used of being a Death Eater. However, Dumbledore vouched for him as an undercover agent and prevented him from facing the trial at Azkaban.


    Otherwise, Hogwarts wouldn''t have had such a snarky professor.


    "So, Severus should also be a member of the Order of the Phoenix."


    Felix didn''t know much about his headmaster''s experiences during his school days, but he at least knew that the rtionship between Snape and the Potter couple wasplicated: he had a history with Harry''s mother - perhaps with a touch of admiration, but he was archenemies with Harry''s father.


    They wouldn''t start fighting during their meetings, would they?


    ...


    "Felix," Dumbledore turned his head, his bright blue gaze piercing through his sses,nding on him, "You are a professor of the school, and I hope not to see you make the wrong choices."


    Felix blinked, "Headmaster, you don''t need to say that. I also prioritize the safety of the students. Besides, my rtionship with Mr. Potter is good. I even trained him during the summer break."


    But the ck family''s collection of books is a different matter, isn''t it?


    Felix was quite clear about the distinction between these two.


    "Ah, I heard Phileas mention this," Dumbledore said, "He said you have quite the expertise in handling young wizards with magical surges..."


    "It''s not expertise, just personal experience."


    Dumbledore''s expression softened, losing some of its initial sharpness and intimidation.


    He spoke with a tone of exploring magic, "Could you share, Felix? Please forgive an old man''s curiosity."


    "It all started two weeks ago... I ran into Potter in Diagon Alley by chance and noticed the active magic around him. I deduced that he had recently experienced a magical surge. After inquiring, it turned out to be true."


    "Your sensitivity to magic is remarkable, Felix."


    "Thank you, Dumbledore. After that, I..."


    "That''s how I see it..."


    The tense atmosphere in the office gradually eased.


    Dumbledore transformed back into a gentle old man, engaging in a discussion with Felix Harp about the effects of magical surges and generously sharing his insights.


    "Headmaster Dumbledore, I''ve been pondering a question¡ªcan one intervene in the level of their magical activity for their benefit? The advantages seem quite apparent."


    "That''s an intriguing notion, but it must be approached with caution, Felix. Any research into magic itself can easily lead to severe magical idents."


    As Felix left the headmaster''s office, he held two books in his hands.


    These were passed on by Nick Limetto Dumbledore, one of the drawbacks ofmunicating through photographs. Nick Limetto resided in a safe house and rarely ventured out, making him hard to find by owls.


    And considering Felix''s current rapport with him, it was clear they hadn''t reached the level of past visits.


    He wasn''t surprised by this; rtionships umted bit by bit. He wasn''t a Galleon, after all, who could instantly win everyone''s trust and favor.


    He stuffed the two books into his ring and returned to his office. As he sat on the couch, he continued to mull over the words spoken by Headmaster Phineas ck''s portrait.


    Number 12 Grimmauld ce, the location of the ck family''s ancestral home.


    Though it was just a name with no additional information, it was enough for Felix.


    Clearly, this was how a regr person named a ce, and it was a starting point for him.


    Having marked out a rough area, all that remained was the process of investigation, bit by bit. Given time, he could unearth this hidden abode.


    That wasn''t the challenging part; the challengey in how to unravel the magic ced upon it.


    For these pure-blood families, the ancestral homes were bound to be protected by variousplex, even unimaginable, enchantments. Often, this process took several generations'' joint effort spanning decades or even centuries toplete.


    Moreover, if the house was under a Fidelius Charm, then he would indeed be at a loss.


    But ording to Phineas ck, he also had a portrait within the ck ancestral home, which meant he had a good understanding of the house. For the sake of saving thest bloodline of the ck family, he wouldn''t have Felix working in vain.


    Besides, this wasn''t a safe house; employing the Fidelius Charm would be too cumbersome.


    Another key clue provided by Headmaster Phineas ck was that they needed something "unique to the noble ck family." What could that be?


    Felix had some spections already.


    The Room of Requirement.


    Felix sat on the couch, beckoning a thick book over. It was "The Pure-Blood Directory" by Cantankerus Nott, which contained information about the so-called "Sacred Twenty-Eight" families.


    Turning to the section about the ck family, he quickly skimmed past the list of family members and their deeds.


    His gazended on the emblem of the ck family, bearing the French phrase, "Toujours Pur" - "Always Pure."


    He chuckled.


    For the noble, always pure ck family, what could be truly unique?


    Only bloodline.


    All he needed was a drop of Sirius ck''s blood, and he could enter the ck ancestral home, catching a glimpse of its hidden treasures...


    Emerging from the Room of Requirement, Felix looked at Hogwarts'' nighttime scenery, his gaze merging with the darkness.


    Sirius, where are you really?


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 Chapter 184: Grimmauld Square

    Chapter 184: Grimmauld Square


    September 1st.


    Felix Harp woke up early and, by way of Diagon Alley, returned to London.


    He was set to embark on his procurement for the new school year.


    In addition to updating his collection of magical films, he purchased a plethora of new books, clothing, and, most importantly, he found a map shop.


    It was a charmingly antiquated establishment, its quaint brown shelves lined with an assortment of maps, each with its own unique ir.


    From local London maps to maps of the British Isles, they served different purposes - aerial views, tourist guides, transportationworks...


    As Felix was about to acquire a thick as, he casually asked the shopkeeper, "Have you ever heard of Grimmauld Square?"


    The shopkeeper adjusted his sses and looked up from a colorful album...


    Thirty minutester, he found himself standing in a dpidated corner of London''s old district.


    The houses here were quite aged, their walls peeling to reveal unattractive shades of gray. To his astonishment, the ancestral home of the ck family was concealed amidst these buildings.


    He looked around the vicinity; some houses were still inhabited, while others were clearly abandoned - heaps of garbage at the door, shattered windows.


    On a more destewn, his gazended on a building, its number 11 Grimmauld Square.


    He nced left and right - number 10 on one side, number 13 on the other.


    "Curious, even the wizarding sight is blocked, is it not?"


    Felix stood still, continually scrutinizing something.


    An elderlydy carrying a cloth bag ambled over. "Young man, what brings you here?"


    "Visiting a pen pal, ma''am. The given address is a bit vague, and I''m trying to identify it," Felix replied, improvising.


    "I''ve lived here for over fifty years, since birth... Maybe I could help, tell me more."


    "Well, it''s Grimmauld Square in the old west district of London. The house number is blurred, but I guess it''s number 12."


    "Number 12? That''s impossible, young man. There''s no such house," the elderly woman''s voice grew louder, "You must be mistaken... or perhaps your friend is ying a nasty prank."


    "I find it odd too," Felix gestured towards the house before him, "This is number 11, and there''s number 13, but strangely, no number 12..."


    The olddy burst into heartyughter, "It''s not just you with that confusion." She winked, lowering her voice, "It''s a mistake. My grandmother told me ¨C well, she heard it from someone else ¨C that when they built these houses, the builders were a bunch of dunces. They did their work, and from today''s perspective, it''s not bad. But they got the house numbers wrong, and even when the town hall inspected, they didn''t catch it. And so, the mistake persists."


    "I recall that over the years, there were a few reports, but no response at all. You know, this ce is utterly neglected. Perhaps in another decade or so, they''ll tear it down in the name of obstructing the view... Well, I won''t agree, nor will my grandson ¨C he''s only two, but there''s a saying, right? Teach them young; some traditions must be upheld." She tilted her head, saying it with a yful air.


    The talkative old woman continued, and from her, Felix learned some less-than-reliable legends.


    For instance, "Number 12 Grimmauld Square does exist, and it''s a haunted house." Or perhaps, "The builders didn''t actually mess up; a nobleman bought the ce, but the house disappeared soon after..."


    Felix was intrigued by these tales, asionally eximing in amazement, earning the old woman''s even more satisfied gaze. "Not many young folks like you, respectful to the elderly. Unlike the folks next door; they st their speakerste into the night, causing unrest. I knocked on their door several times to no avail."


    Felix handed her a small card, and for a moment, it seemed like a golden light flickered across the card''s surface, though it might just have been a reflection of the sunlight.


    "Ma''am, you can write a note on it and slip it through their door, urging them to consider others'' feelings. Hmm, it''s best to include the contact number for the authorities."


    "Will it work?" The old woman took the card with a mix of doubt and curiosity. "People around here aren''t exactly polite."


    "Give it a try; it can''t make things worse."


    After declining her invitation, Felix Harp cast a Disillusionment Charm upon himself and stood quietly in ce.


    Several people walked by the street, but none paid him any attention.


    Around noon, he withdrew his wand and made a series of motions, dispellingyers of mist until he merged entirely with the air.


    His figure vanished.


    In a narrow gap, Felix struggled to move forward but was soon blocked by a wall of air ¨C a highly advanced magical barrier.


    Then, he heard a piercing scream, an utterly unpleasant sound that sent shivers down Felix''s spine. After a few seconds, a tremendous force repelled him outward, leaving him back on the grassywn of Grimmauld Square.


    "Is there someone inside?"


    Felix questioned uncertainly, "Professor ck didn''t mention this..." But after a moment''s consideration, he thought it might be a house-elf.


    After a brief hesitation, Felix decided to leave. He could indeed force his way in again using his advanced magic, but it might take hours, even days.


    If someone was inside, whether a wizard or a house-elf, they wouldn''t just stand by in the face of his intrusion.


    "At least now I know of this ce."


    Felix took a deep look, and his figure disappeared from sight.


    ...


    Meanwhile, aboard the Hogwarts Express.


    "Did you see that, Harry? Malfoy''s a coward. The moment he saw a professor, he fled. Fits right into his family''s tradition!" Ron said somewhat acerbically, but he wasn''t entirely to me; Malfoy had just mocked his family moments before.


    "Ron," Hermione piped in a sharp tone, pointing at the slumped professor on the small table. "Be careful..."


    The three of them nced over; the disheveled professor was still asleep. They resumed talking, but their voices were lowered significantly.


    "I''m dead serious. If he dares to mock my family again, I''ll grab him by the head¡ªHarry, what''s up with you?" Ron looked at Harry inquisitively.


    "What?"


    "You''re way too calm, just like Malfoy was when he was around. You drew your wand so naturally and looked at Malfoy as if he were some caterpir."


    "I''ve felt that too, Harry," Hermione said earnestly.


    Harry scratched his head, "It might be rted to me getting stronger? When Malfoy provoked us, I didn''t feel much anger, it was like watching a performance. It''s strange..."


    He looked at Ron and Hermione, speaking with uncertain tones, "I think maybe it''s because I knew, even if I did engage, I could easily win. I anticipated that oue beforehand."


    Ron let out a weird exmation, "That''s so cool, mate!"


    "Lower your voice, Ron¡ª" Hermione reminded him.


    But Ron paid no heed, excitedly saying, "Tell us more about Professor Harp''s special training, Harry! I''m so envious!"


    Harry sighed, "Honestly, it wasn''t a pleasant experience. I don''t even know how I endured it. But Professor Harp said that such opportunities are rare..."


    He began recounting, and Ron and Hermione were both staring at him, captivated.


    Unnoticed by all, the sleeping professor on the side slightly trembled.


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 Chapter 185: Remus Lupin

    Chapter 185: Remus Lupin


    "Merlin''s socks! Your Disarming Charm has reached Level 4, and you hadn''t even mentioned it before!" Ron eximed, his mouth wide open in astonishment. "Is that true? I mean¡ªthe bloke who''s aiming to be an Auror, and he''s only at Level 2 for the Disarming Charm."


    Harry attributed all of this to his magical outburst. "Professor Lupin said it would make my magic more active, which... well, it seems to have sped up my learning of spells."


    Ron looked expectant. "If only I could have a magical outburst too."


    "Ron, Professor Lupin said magical outbursts are the result of extreme emotions, and they mostly happen to young wizards before they enter Hogwarts. Once we''re at Hogwarts and learn to control our magic, these situations almost disappear."


    Hermione chimed in, matter-of-factly, "Just like Harry. His case is quite rare. It might be because his aunt insulted his parents¡ªoh, sorry, Harry."


    "No worries," Harry replied, but Hermione looked at him apologetically.


    "I know~ Can''t I just daydream?" Ron seemed to have thought of something, suddenly excited. "Besides, it''s not impossible, right? There were one or two times during the summer when Percy was showing off his Head Boy badge, and I had the urge to make it explode."


    "Is there much difference between making something explode and making it swell? Maybe my emotions weren''t strong enough at the time," Ron spected yfully, believing it to be a shortcut to learning.


    Hermione stared at him wide-eyed, even Harry was quite speechless.


    "But speaking of it," Harry looked at Ron thoughtfully, "I do seem to have a better grasp of the Disarming Charm. With other spells, it''s like I''m just a bit off."


    Ron looked puzzled. "Isn''t that because you spent the most time on the Disarming Charm?"


    Harry exined, "It''s a feeling! Like... it''s just..." he gestured with his hand, "Well, I''m not sure either. Maybe it really is just an illusion." He said somewhat dejectedly.


    Hermione provided theoretical support, "Harry, it''s not impossible¡ªthere are always some young wizards who learn specific spells faster."


    "Where did you read that?" Harry asked with interest, perhaps he could include this viewpoint in his essay?


    The thought of the essay made his head ache a bit. He had spoken without thinking, not considering the consequences at all.


    While he had umted a bunch of random notes during the training process, he had no idea how to turn these things into a presentable essay¡ªout of certain considerations, he didn''t want to just bluff his way through.


    Hermione''s answer was a bit different from what he expected. She smiled with her eyes narrowed in a pleased manner, resembling the ginger cat in her arms: "Do you remember the assignment from the Dueling ss, those forms? I helped Professor Lupin organize a part of them, and he proposed this idea then, but..."


    She made a helpless expression, "There were too few samples, and a lot of the submitted data was fabricated. I could tell at a nce!"


    Ron''s gaze suddenly became evasive, and Harry also lowered his head guiltily.


    Hermione looked at the two of them indignantly, they shared some responsibility for the false data.


    At this moment, a hoarse, weary voice joined their conversation.


    "Forgive me¡ª"


    The three of them looked anxiously towards the small table. The professor seemed to have just woken up, his face looking as worn as his patched robes and heavily worn suitcase, giving off an air of destitution.


    But his eyes were bright and sincere. The professor spoke gently, "I just overheard some of your conversation, it wasn''t intentional, but I did be curious."


    "Professor Lupin?" Hermione asked in a hushed voice.


    "Yes, I am Remus Lupin," Lupin said with a smile, "Did you see the markings on my trunk? Quite observant. If this were in ss, I''d give you extra points."


    "Remus Lupin?" Hermione let out a short scream, startling her ginger-coloredrge cat in her arms. It leaped out and stood in the aisle, looking at its owner usingly.


    "Oh, sorry, Crookshanks," the young witch said.


    "Quick, control it, don''t let it discover Scabbers!" Ron covered the bulge in his chest pocket where his pet fat rat, Scabbers, was hidden.


    "Have you heard of me?" Lupin asked.


    "N-no," she stammered dryly, quickly lowering her head and picking up herrge cat.


    Hermione''s behavior struck Harry and Ron as odd, but with an outsider present, they tactfully refrained from asking.


    Lupin didn''t press further either. He smiled at them. "I''m your Dark Arts Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, only for one year, as agreed with Dumbledore."


    Harry and Ron exchanged a nce, assessing the professor''s actual abilities. To be frank, solely judging by appearance, he didn''t inspire much confidence.


    Lupin gazed gently at the three of them, particrly lingering on Harry for a moment. Then he said, "I left the school exactly fifteen years ago, and many memories have faded, such as, I''m not quite clear about the Professor Harp you mentioned..."


    Harry and Ron turned their gaze to Hermione. She never disappointed in this aspect.


    Indeed, Hermione rattled off in one breath, "Felix Harp is an incredibly aplished wizard, a Slytherin graduate. He currently teaches Ancient Runes and has remarkable achievements in Muggle Studies. His influence is exceptional."


    "And he graduated only three years ago¡ªno, now it''s four years." Harry added.


    "A true rising star." Lupin admired. He changed the subject, asking, "You mentioned some special training earlier. Are you close to Professor Harp, Harry?"


    "Do you know me?" Harry unconsciously brushed his hair, where a lightning-shaped scar was, recognized by many as his signature.


    "I knew your father," Lupin said simply.


    Harry wasn''t too satisfied with this response, but he still said, "Professor Harp is kind, gentle, and courteous. Although he only started teaching third-year students, he has assisted some first and second years."


    He referred to the time during the Chamber of Secrets attack when the school was in turmoil, and many sought sce from the professors. Among them, Professor Harp had an exceptionally high approval rate.


    Lupin pondered for a moment, then asked, "You just mentioned that he graduated only four years ago. So, his Head of House is... Severus Snape?"


    "It''s Snape," Harry quickly followed up, then looked a bit embarrassed as he realized he hadn''t used the honorific.


    Lupin didn''t react much. His gaze turned distant, lost in thought.


    Outside, the rain wasing down heavier, and the weather turned pitch ck. The train slowed down.


    "Are we there yet?"


    "Not yet!" Professor Lupin drew his wand, and Harry stood up as well.


    The train''s lights suddenly flickered off, and shadows moved outside.


    Ayer of frost quietly climbed the windows.


    Someone stumbled in from outside, crashing into Ron directly, eliciting a painful yelp from him. Across the aisle, frightened breaths were audible.


    "What''s happened? Ouch! Is that you, Neville?"


    "Yes, it''s me. It suddenly got dark outside. Do you know what''s going on?"


    More people rushed in, speaking all at once in a chaotic manner.


    "Is Ron here? I''m looking for Ron."


    "I''m here, Ginny!"


    "Oh dear, that''s my face."


    "Who are you?"


    "I''m Neville, Neville Longbottom..."


    "Quiet!" Lupin shouted loudly, raising his wand. A burst of mes poured down from the wand tip, illuminating the panicked faces.


    The light also illuminated his tired, grayish face, but with an adult wizard present, everyone felt a bit more reassured.


    Hearing Lupin say, "Stay in ce and don''t move. I''ll go out and take a look," he opened thepartment door and stepped into the aisle.


    Harry thought for a moment and followed him outside.


    "Harry?" Hermione said urgently.


    "I''ll see if I can help." Harry passed through thepartment door and followed behind Lupin.


    A chill swept over them, and Lupin quickly stepped back, saying, "Go back, Harry!"


    But Harry didn''t hear; his entire attention was captured by something draped in a ck cloak with a hood. The thing floated in mid-air, a decayed, ashen hand emerging from the cloak. Following that, an intense coldness rushed over him, freezing his lungs, making it impossible to breathe.


    A distant female voice sounded, terrifying, terrified, and pleading.


    "I want to help her!"


    He didn''t know why he had this thought, but it was so strong. Even as he was about to lose consciousness, he instinctively responded.


    A dazzling red light illuminated the entire train.


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 Chapter 186: The Feast

    Chapter 186: The Feast


    "Harry! Harry! Are you okay?" Someone was pping his face.


    Harry opened his eyes. Everything was back to normal¡ªthe train was still moving, the lights were on. He sat up from his seat, wiping the cold sweat off his forehead, looking around the train in confusion.


    Ron and Hermione were closest to him, Neville was looking at him with concern, and Ginny was huddled in a corner.


    Hagrid took a chocte bar from his pocket and broke it to share with everyone.


    "This one''s for you, Harry. And excellent Disarming Charm, by the way."


    Harry took arge piece of chocte and suddenly asked, "Did I pass out? No, that woman... did she get saved?"


    "Who?" Hagrid asked casually.


    "The woman, the one who came out with the hooded thing. From the sound of her voice, she should''ve been an adult. She..." Harry suddenly stumbled over his words. There was only one adult woman on the train, the witch pushing the food trolley.


    But what he heard was clearly not that voice.


    Hagrid''s hand froze in ce, and he mumbled, leaving a sentence behind: "I''ll go have a word with the driver, sorry..." and hurriedly left.


    The door mmed shut.


    "Harry?" Hermione looked at him anxiously.


    He forced himself to calm down, sat back in his seat, took a bite of chocte. A warm sensation spread through his body, making him feel happy again.


    "Can someone tell me what just happened?" Harry asked.


    "We felt a chill, like falling into an ice hole. Then we saw your spell, the bright red light... the cold eased a bit, and then you fell to the ground. Professor Lupin said to whoever it was, ''Sirius ck isn''t here,'' and he raised his wand, a silvery light shot out, and the cold disappearedpletely, and the train continued." Hermione described what she saw.


    Harry chewed the chocte in silence. He didn''t really care about all this; he just wanted to glean any clues about the woman''s voice from the others. But the result disappointed him.


    Everyone''s expressions weren''t good. Ginny was sobbing softly, Neville muttered on the side, "It''s so frightening, it reminded me of the worst memories."


    "It''s like all the happiness has been drained from you," Ron continued, though he punched Harry lightly. "Your spell was really impressive, Harry! We gave Malfoy a good lesson. Just thinking about him rolling out and flying away makes me feel happy again."


    "It wasn''t my doing..." Harry shook his head, rallying himself. "What was that cloaked thing?"


    "I think it''s a Dementor. I''ve seen something simr inic books, like a rag without bones." Ron described.


    Harry looked at Hermione. Among the three of them, Ron was the most familiar with the magical world, but his knowledge was quite shallow. Hermione, on the other hand, had gained most of her knowledge from books, so she could provide more urate information.


    Hermione recalled the information she had read, "Dementors guard Azkaban. They feed on human emotions, especially happiness. Regr spells don''t work on them, only the Patronus Charm."


    "The Patronus? Like Professor Lupin''s Patronus, and Professor McGonagall''s?" Harry asked.


    "Exactly."


    "Exactly."


    Hermione and Ron said respectively. Hermione had seen Lupin''s Patronus, while Ron had seen McGonagall''s, and Harry was familiar with both.


    After that, everyone fell silent. After a dozen minutes, the train came to a stop.


    But they didn''t wait for Professor Lupin. "Let''s go, he should''ve disembarked already."


    The Great Hall.


    Hagrid was dressed very formally, in a suit, with his hair and beard neatly groomed. "How do I look, Felix?"


    "...Fantastic."


    Tears welled up in Hagrid''s eyes. He switched the umbre in his hand to his left side and pulled out a dirty handkerchief from his pocket, wiping his eyes. "It''s wonderful... I''ve been looking forward to this day."


    Today, he would not only be appointed as the professor for Care of Magical Creatures, but also clear his name. Dumbledore had presented aplete chain of evidence, from the creature and culprit behind the Chamber of Secrets incident, to Myrtle''s testimony. The Ministry had no reason to object anymore and had to lift the fifty-year ban.


    Hagrid had been subjected to two punishments for being the "alleged culprit behind Myrtle''s murder": dismissal and having his wand snapped. Some even suggested sending him to Azkaban, but thanks to Dumbledore''s intercession, that fate was avoided.


    And now, with the ban lifted, he could openly use his wand.


    Felix looked at the big red umbre in Hagrid''s hand. "Is your wand hidden inside there? I''ve been meaning to say, it''s a brilliant hiding idea."


    Hagrid raised his hand slightly. "Dumbledore fixed it for me. I''ve been worried about it, you know... theoretically, my wand was snapped by the Ministry."


    Felix stared at him, his expression quite peculiar, and said in a low voice, "Dumbledore fixed your wand? The one that was snapped?"


    "He''s quite a wizard, isn''t he?" Hagrid said happily.


    "Yes, he certainly is," Felix echoed.


    After a while, Hagrid emerged from the Great Hall to wee the new students, while the professors made their final preparations. Professor McGonagall was conversing with a house-elf from the kitchen about the dinner arrangements.


    "Everything is ready, Professor."


    "Very well, you''ve done a great job."


    Before long, students from second to seventh years poured into the hall, filling it with lively chatter. It felt to Felix as if hundreds of excited baboons were making a ruckus.


    However, his gaze was fixed on one particr wizard¡ª


    He was wearing a tattered robe, covered with patches at every corner, hinting at the poverty of the owner. He appeared worn out, as if he had just gotten rid of a troublesome matter. His face was still young, but strands of white were already interspersed in his brown hair...


    Professor McGonagall walked up to the wizard and warmly weed him, leading him to the teachers'' seats.


    A powerful gaze of hatrednded on the wizard. In the corner of Felix''s eye, he noticed Snape''s silver fork bending in half.


    Professor McGonagall introduced the wizard to the others, deliberately avoiding Snape.


    Soon, she stood in front of Felix.


    "Felix, this is Lames Lupin, once my student. He''s a very friendly and gentle person; you two will get along well." Professor McGonagall said.


    Felix and Lupin locked eyes, a hint of curiosity shing between them.


    Felix''s lips curled slightly, and he extended his hand. "Hello, Professor Lupin. Professor McGonagall mentioned you before. You must have been one of her most exceptional students?"


    Lupin also extended his hand, "I was just the inconspicuous one. On the train, though, I heard a lot of rumors about Professor Harp..."


    "Hopefully, nothing too peculiar."


    "No, not at all. They praise you a lot, almost made me jealous."


    They shook hands until Lupin let go first.


    Soon, Hagrid appeared with the drenched first-year students. Oddly, the Sorting Hat ceremony was not conducted by Professor McGonagall. Felix looked around but didn''t see her.


    Professor Flitwick held the Sorting Hat and a roll of parchment, followed by a small stool hovering behind him.


    He walked past each student in turn. With a wave of his wand, their wet clothes dried and becamefortable, as if basking in noon sunlight.


    "Form a line and follow me."


    One by one, the young wizards approached based on their surnames, awaiting their Sorting. But first, they were greeted with a song carefully crafted by the Sorting Hat. The young neers watched in astonishment as the Sorting Hat emotionally sang its verses.


    Perhaps, thus far, it was the most profound impression that Hogwarts had left on them.


    The Sorting began.


    "Newman Balk."


    "Gryffindor!"


    "Oliver Dana."


    "Hufflepuff!"


    "Greenthorne Fawley."


    "Ravenw!"


    "Astoria Greengrass."


    "Slytherin!"


    "Romilda Vane."


    "Gryffindor!"


    ...


    At the end of the Sorting Ceremony, Felix noticed Harry and Hermione slipping from the corner to their seats at Gryffindor table. Professor McGonagall appeared shortly after.


    Subsequently, Headmaster Dumbledore stood up to speak. His wee speech was as sinct as ever.


    Getting to the point, he somberly mentioned the presence of Dementors. "They will be stationed at all entrances of the school to fulfill the Ministry''s duties. During their stay, no one is allowed to leave the school without permission."


    "Dementors don''t ept any tricks or deception, including invisibility cloaks. They can''t distinguish between legitimate reasons and excuses. So, don''t give them any chance to harm you. Heads of Houses and the two student prefects, ensure that no student gets into conflict with Dementors."


    Once the young wizards had absorbed this information, Dumbledore introduced the two new professors with enthusiasm, using his words¡ª


    The former was the "generous substitute for Defense Against the Dark Arts, Professor Lupin." Thetter was "Rubeus Hagrid, who takes on the position of Care of Magical Creatures Professor while fulfilling his duties as the Keeper of Keys and Grounds."


    At the same time, Dumbledore expressed sympathy and apologies for the unjust treatment Hagrid had endured. "We''ve overlooked this for half a century. It''s time to correct this mistake."


    Hagrid stood up excitedly, waving his hand. A series of red sparks shot out from the tip of his umbre. The students responded with warm apuse, particrly fervent from the Gryffindor table.


    "We should''ve known!" Ron shouted, pounding the table, "Who else would make us get a book that bites?"


    After the feast, the students filed out of the Great Hall, apanied by lively discussions.


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 Chapter 187: A New Semester

    Chapter 187: A New Semester


    The following day, while Felix Harp was dining in the Great Hall, he overheard the various bits of gossip being discussed among the young wizards.


    "Harry faced off against a Dementor in a fierce battle, keeping it away from the carriage doors. The sky was filled with a zing red light; I saw it even from twopartments away."


    "Indeed, it''s almost unimaginable!"


    Ernie Macmin, a Hufflepuff student, piped up, his head poking out from his seat, "There''s nothing strange about this. Remember, Potter defeated the Dark Lord as a baby. When he first arrived, I couldn''t quite understand what the fuss was all about. ''The Chosen One'' sounded no different from me¡ªshort stature, looking a bit underfed, and his grades were only average..."


    He rattled off a list of shorings, then dramatically paused, his gaze fixed on his twopanions. "And now look at him! The truth has finally emerged!"


    "Goodness gracious, that''s how it is." His two friends chimed in, wearing expressions of sudden realization.


    Felix felt the urge to chuckle. He quickly finished his pie and arrived at the Ancient Runes ssroom, flipping through his ss schedule for the year.


    Among the third-year wizards, there were hardly more than ten who hadn''t chosen his course, which strangely elevated his elective to the status of a required subject.


    Professor McGonagall had put quite some effort into getting Ancient Runes onto the timetable.


    Ultimately, Ancient Runes for the third-year students were scheduled for thest period on Tuesdays and Thursdays, extending even half an hour past the regr dismissal time.


    Soon, the seventh-year students began to gather.


    Percy, Penelope, Wood, Geoffrey, and that Ravenw girl who had an affinity for carrying around a little skull inst year''s Arithmancy ss...


    Among these faces, Felix noticed one that shouldn''t have been there¡ªMarcus Flint.


    He had graduated this June, yet here he was again in the Ancient Runes ssroom. There was only one reason for this: he had been held back a year.


    Last academic year, he had failed both of his Advanced-level courses¡ªCare of Magical Creatures and Ancient Runes¡ªwith a score of zero in all of the exams, not even passing one. It was a matter of pure-blood pride, his father having pulled some strings with the board of governors to get him held back.


    "P-Professor." Marcus, towering and bulky, saw Felix wave at him. His face contorted into a grimace as heboriously made his way over, almost step by step.


    Everyone was watching the spectacle, especially Oliver Wood, who had eyes gleaming with excitement. He and Marcus were far from friendly; they were the respective Quidditch team captains for Gryffindor and Slytherin and had shed plenty off the pitch.


    "You..." Felix looked at Marcus, momentarily at a loss for words. What to say? At the very least, his performance in Ancient Runes was better than his Care of Magical Creatures grades. This indicated he invested more effort in his own subject.


    Had Felix not rxed the course selection criteriast year, would Marcus have managed to graduate with only one subject?


    Regarding this spection, Felix was none the wiser.


    He rummaged beneath the lectern and pulled out a piece of parchment, handing it over to Marcus. "This is your used answer parchment; I didn''t erase your information. All those wrong answers from before are still there."


    Marcus took it, mumbling as if he wanted to say thanks, but ended up choking on his own saliva.


    "Off you go. I''ll be checking regrly. If your grades don''t meet the requirements, I''ll halt all your activities¡ª" Felix calmly looked at him, "including Quidditch."


    "Yes, Professor." Marcus replied with a crestfallen expression.


    In contrast, Wood seemed as if he were celebrating early, letting out a loud, triumphant whistle.


    Felix gave him a sidelong nce. "You too, Wood. You and Flint are in the same boat."


    And so, a second mask of torment appeared in the ssroom.


    The other students giggled on the side.


    Soon enough, the ss officially began. Felix looked at the students before him. "During the previous academic year, you had a rtively easy time, and I am more than willing to let you experience the mysteries of Ancient Runes."


    The faces of the male and female wizards in the audience grew solemn, aware that typically such words were followed by a "however."


    "However, this year is your final year at Hogwarts¡ªWood, stop grinning at Flint¡ªI continue, you are facing the wizarding world''s ultimate examination. I need not borate on how significant this examination is."


    "Next, I will exin in detail our curriculum for this academic year..."


    During the final question segment of the ss, Penelope Clearwater raised her hand and asked, "Professor, will we have Ancient Runes practicals this year?"


    "Yeah, Professor. Last year, we shattered little skulls, chased off dark crows, defeated enchanted puppets, unraveled devil''s web traps, and finally collected all four keys. But there are still many unexplored ces," a Ravenw girl beside her said, counting on her fingers.


    Jeffrey, the Slytherin prefect, calmly suggested, "Professor, I believe we could determine the participants of the Ancient Runes practical based on their performance."


    Wood red at him immediately, and even Marcus seemed a bit off with his expression.


    Felix pondered for a moment. "Very well, I will open the ssroom on weekends for interested students to explore. But in the ssroom itself, don''t expect too much."


    The first ss ended hastily, and the students streamed out.


    "Harp, Professor?" Percy stood before Felix.


    "Is there something you need, Weasley?"


    Percy hesitated a bit and said, "Well, it''s about my brothers... Fred and George. They''re in their fifth year now."


    Felix patiently awaited what he had to say.


    "Uh, it''s a crucial year, as you know, OWLs exams... At home, they hope they could focus more on their studies and gain a couple more qualifications."


    "Harp, you could be more straightforward."


    Percy''s breath caught, and he gathered his courage to continue, "I-I''ve heard that you''re quite supportive of their pranks. They''re escting them more and more... I was hoping you could talk to them."


    Felix looked at him and softly said, "Weasley, perhaps you''re hoping I won''t offer them any help?"


    Percy struggled, "I have considered that."


    The empty ssroom fell silent. Felix tapped his fingers on the table, making a rhythmic "tap-tap" sound.


    After a pause, Felix looked up. "I cannot make decisions for them, Weasley."


    "You should understand that even without me aiding them, their minds will still be on this. I can''t exactly tie them up or... cast a Confundus Charm?"


    Percy''s face paled, and his lips stammered.


    "However, I do have a suggestion." Felix said slowly.


    "What is it?"


    "Join them."


    "You''re joking!" Percy''s eyes widened, "I can''t stand their pranks... It''s not my cup of tea."


    "No, I don''t mean you should engage in their research. What I mean is, understand them. Understand what they''re doing, what they''re researching, where their time is spent, and why they find it endlessly fascinating. When you know every aspect of their actions, you''ll always find an appropriate way..."


    Felix looked at him. "I heard you''re aiming to work for the Ministry of Magic? This might be a meaningful practice. You can write a relevant thesis."


    Percy left in contemtion.


    Meanwhile, Harry looked furious, with Hermione trailing behind him.


    "Harry, I wasn''t intentionally keeping it from you."


    "Hermione, you knew all along that my dad knew Professor Lupin, and even that small rat Peter! You knew everything but never told me. I was telling you¡ªWait, where is she? Hermione?"


    Turning a corner, Harry turned back to continue, but Hermione''s figure had mysteriously disappeared.


    He exchanged a nce with Ron, and just then, Hermione rushed in from another corridor, a delicate golden chain hanging from her chest.


    "Hermione, I wasn''t done talking¡ª"


    Impatiently, Hermione cut him off, "What are you waiting for? We''re going to bete for Transfiguration, hurry up."


    She rushed ahead, taking several steps before realizing they were still rooted in ce. With a serious expression, she scolded, "What are you both waiting for?"


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 Chapter 188: Time of Reckoning

    Chapter 188: Time of Reckoning


    Hermione''s peculiar behavior caught Harry off guard, erasing the angry expression from his face.


    He wasn''t sure whether to continue being mad or if that would just make him seem unreasonable. Ron took the opportunity to put an arm around his shoulder. "Harry, let''s talk about thister during dinner. Hermione''s got a point¡ª we''re really runningte."


    During Transfiguration ss, Harry was absentminded the whole time, his thoughts still upied by where Hermione could have learned that information. Perhaps Professor Snape? But the ages didn''t match up.


    He pondered so deeply that hepletely ignored the many nces cast his way.


    In the previous ss, during Divination, Professor Sybill Trwney had interpreted the shapes of his tea leaves, revealing a death omen that sent shivers down every young wizard''s spine¡ªa ghostly ck dog roaming in a graveyard.


    Her words unsettled Harry deeply, as he had seen the ominous ck dog, a symbol of death, not just once. From the cover of the book "Death Omens" in the bookstore to the suspicious dark figure he had glimpsed on the night he left the Dursleys on Magnolia Crescent.


    After the rushed Divination ss, Hermione unintentionally let slip some things to Harry in her attempt to counter Trwney''s viewpoint. She revealed that she had known certain things about his father for a while but had kept them to herself.


    That was the real reason for Harry''s anger.


    At lunch, the young wizards flooded into the Great Hall, buzzing with chatter. Harry grabbed some sausages and fried tomatoes, but his appetite seemed diminished, as if he had already been fed up with all sorts of worries.


    Hermione pushed a small dish of dip toward him. "Harry, you heard Professor McGonagall''s words too. Trwney predicts a student''s death every year. It''s her way of weing the new ss."


    However, Ron said with genuine concern, "You haven''t seen a roaming ck dog anywhere else, have you, Harry?"


    Harry''s stomach clenched suddenly. "No, but I have seen one," he said, "on the night I left the Dursleys."


    Ron dropped his fork, visibly anxious.


    But Harry was more concerned about something else. He looked at Hermione and said with a stern tone, "You still haven''t told me about my father."


    "Well, um..." Hermione shifted ufortably, avoiding his gaze, "okay." She took a deep breath. "Remember the time Professor Snape gave us detention?"


    "Of course, it wasst school year." Harry ransacked his memory. "We suspected Professor Snape was involved with the attacks connected to the Chamber of Secrets. We followed him into the Forbidden Forest and got caught. We lost ten points each for our Houses, and had a full weekend detention. And it was with Malfoy."


    He had no idea how this connected to his father.


    Hermione looked at him and said, "It was the content of that detention, Harry. Professor Snape had us copy a stack of old records from Professor McGonagall. They were about students'' breaches of rules and the corresponding punishments."


    Harry recalled more details. He remembered Malfoy chattering away beside him while copying the records.


    But he soon realized the crux of Hermione''s words. His eyes widened. "You saw my father''s name on those records!"


    "More than that, Harry." Hermione said, "All four of their names were there. I mean, I saw James Potter, Sirius ck, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew¡ª"


    "So, when you heard the full name ''Remus Lupin,'' that''s why you looked so surprised! You knew about it all along." Harry cleared up a confusion and regained his appetite, skewering a sausage and taking a big bite. But his gaze remained fixed on Hermione.


    "Exactly." Hermione nodded. "In fact, the portion I copied covered those years... well, I saw quite a few records of rule vitions."


    Harry stammered, "So, you mean my father...?"


    Hermione murmured softly, "Simr to being twins, but maybe even more mischievous." She carefully chose her words, "Your father''s name was often mentioned together with Sirius ck, asionally with two other people. This suggests¡ª"


    "They were friends! And my father clearly had a better rtionship with Sirius ck!" Harry pounded the table suddenly.


    He recalled the conversation he had overheard between the Weasley couple on the eve of the new school year. When he found out that Sirius ck''s escape target was him, he didn''t actually feel much fear.


    That fugitive had used a curse to kill thirteen people. Logically, he should have been terrified, but Hogwarts was the safest ce, with Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor Harp, with whom he had a good rapport.


    The only thing that puzzled him was the private conversation Mr. Weasley had with him the day before, just before they boarded the train. In that conversation, Mr. Weasley made him promise, swear not to actively seek out ck...


    Why would he go after someone who wanted to kill him?


    But now it all made sense. That ck and his father were good friends, breaking rules together, roaming the castle together, adventuring in the Forbidden Forest together...


    It was hard to imagine that two people like that could be enemies.


    "Right, he''s a Death Eater after all. War can drive people mad. Just think of Voldemort!" Harry told himself.


    Ron stared in amazement at the two, especially Hermione. It had been almost ten months since that detention, and she had kept the secret so well, not letting a hint slip.


    Hermione looked at Harry with agreement. "I thought the same thing, and...," she continued in one breath, "I even saw Severus Snape''s name. They have seven or eight records of altercations between them¡ªyour father and Snape."


    Harry was dumbfounded. His gaze involuntarily shifted to the teachers'' table.


    A quarter of an hour ago.


    Simr conversations were happening at the teachers'' table.


    Severus Snape leisurely speared a potato and put it in his mouth, chewing thoughtfully. "Felix, the new professor isn''t trustworthy. In fact¡ª he''s best friends with that fugitive. They were like-minded troublemakers during school."


    Felix looked up, casual. "I wasn''t aware of that. Could you borate, Professor?"


    Snape red at him. "What do you want to know?"


    "Everything you can tell me."


    Snape looked at him with a disdainful expression. "There''s not much to say. Potter, ck, Lupin, and that one, Pettigrew. They were practically inseparable during school, always causing trouble."


    "Especially Potter, arrogant and full of himself, unbelievably foolish to trust that traitor..."


    "Did you have a bad rtionship during school?" Felix inquired.


    Snape''s expression stiffened, and he said slowly, "You''ve managed to unearth quite a bit."


    Felix smirked, "All of it was out in the open. After all, you and him were the shining stars of that era. Many people haven''t forgotten about you two, like thendy of the Three Broomsticks."


    "Stop prying into my affairs, Felix. I warn you¡ª"


    "We''re on the same side, aren''t we, Headmaster?" Felix shifted the address. "But you''ll have to give me more information. If it''s a personal grudge, then I''m sorry, I won''t help you deal with Professor Lupin."


    After a long gaze, Snape tilted his head slightly and whispered, "Personal grudge? You''ll be surprised when you see through Lupin''s true nature, Felix. You can stay out of it, and I can handle ck alone, savor the sweetness of revenge."


    "Did they ever gang up on you? Professor, you weren''t beaten up badly during school, were you?" Felix inquired curiously.


    Snape''s gaze turned menacing, and Felix tried to salvage the situation. "Oh, of course not. At the very least, it was a level ying field. Otherwise, who do you think Professor used to test his curses on?"


    Snape stood up abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor with an ear-piercing sound. He cast a quick nce at the Gryffindor table, just as Harry was looking over. Their gazes met.


    The surprise on Harry''s face had yet to fade, while Snape''s eyes were as calm and still as deep springs.


    After a while, he left, swishing his robes.


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 Chapter 189: Twins and Snapes Gossip

    Chapter 189: Twins and Snape''s Gossip


    After the fifth-year Ancient Runes ss in the afternoon, Felix Harp asked the twins to stay back.


    "Professor, are there really seven types of scrying mirrors?" Fred asked curiously.


    In the recent lesson, Felix''s arrangement for their year was simr to that of the seventh year. He had exined the entire year''s curriculum and briefly reviewed the content from the third and fourth years. Towards the end of the ss, he mentioned that apart from magical puppets, they would also be introduced to a new type of magical runic creation this year ¨C scrying mirrors.


    Felix nodded and said, "Indeed, they do exist. You''ll see them in the next ss."


    He had dyed because there was one type of scrying mirror still in the process of adjustment.


    In "Secrets of Ancient Alchemy," there were descriptions of how to create seven types of scrying mirrors, all following the alchemical route. During this period, Felix had been recing some of the runic circuits in them, maintaining their functionality while even enhancing it.


    He tirelessly experimented. If possible, he intended to spend most of this year working on this task ¨C transforming alchemical creations into runic ones.


    With the presence of the alchemical master, Nics mel, he had confidence in his endeavors.


    ...


    George asked, "Why would there be seven types of scrying mirrors?"


    Fred replied without hesitation, "Perhaps they disguised the appearances of the mirrors? Like, it might look like a doorknob most of the time, but if you touch it, it starts shouting loudly."


    Building on his idea, George continued, "A bit like our fake wands, or it could be the other way around. It looks like a scrying mirror, but if you try to do something with it, it shoots fireworks from the tail and dashes around the room..."


    Fred chuckled, "Excellent thinking, George, you''ve got a captivating imagination."


    George bowed yfully, "As do you, Mr. Weasley."


    "Ahem!" Felix coughed twice, stopping their mutual admiration, "Seeing how cheerful you are, it pains me to withhold the uing news from you."


    Both twins turned their heads to him simultaneously.


    "Oh,e on, Felix, we''re all in this together," Fred said nonchntly.


    Felix chuckled, having said that not too long ago, "Not showing respect to the professor, are we?"


    Fred raised his hands in a pleading gesture.


    However, neither side took offense. Felix had long noticed that these two had personalities perfect for friendship, as long as you maintained a certain degree of authority around them; otherwise, their habitual pranks could be headache-inducing.


    Being their assistant wasn''t quite appropriate. Initially, Felix had considered finding someone to help him share the workload, but he could hardly imagine the twins seriously grading assignments. He even suspected that they might curse poorly written papers.


    For instance, putting a Pustule Jinx on inadequate assignments, lettingzy wizards feel the malice of a runic assistant...


    On second thought, it was quite amusing, but it was really something to be just contemted.


    Felix''s expression turned serious, "Alright, let''s get back on track. This year is your OWLs year. How confident are you about passing several exams?"


    "Ancient Runes should be fine, as long as they change the exam content to repairing magical puppets," Fred said, gasping for breath.


    Felix maintained a stern expression, "This is not a joke. I don''t deny your research and guidance in your free time, but your grades shouldn''t suffer too much either."


    The twins sighed, and Fred, surprisingly honest, said, "I reckon I might pass four or five OWLs exams, or even fewer. How about you, George?"


    "We''re on a simr level, but I think you might be a tad too optimistic. I''d say three certifications are a more reasonable estimate," George replied with rtive fairness.


    Fred''s face immediately lit up.


    Felix shook his head, not allowing them to stray off-topic, and said directly, "To prevent you from bing excessively absorbed, I''ve specifically asked your brother, Percy Weasley, to take time and keep an eye on you¡ª"


    "What!"


    "Oh,e on, Professor!"


    Felix''s lips curled into a faint smile. "Is there a problem? I talked to him, and he won''t interfere with your research¡ªat least not in the short term. From what I know, his grades are excellent, and he can offer you some advice."


    Fred drew back his neck, ncing sideways with an air of pride, and in an imitation of Percy''s tone, he said, "Fred! Put away your prank sweets. If I catch you giving them to anyone again, I''ll confine you to detention, and mark my words, I will do it!"


    Felix remarked, "...Honestly, are your sweets safe to eat?"


    "Of course they are, Professor. We tested them. I was the first guinea pig," Fred replied.


    "I was the second," George added.


    After ten minutes of the twins coaxing and cajoling Felix, with the next ss about to start, they hurriedly left. As they departed, they couldn''t resist shouting:


    "Professor, we won''t give up!"


    "That''s right! Unless you take back this decision!"


    Felix watched their retreating figures with a slightly troubled expression. At a certain moment, a thought crossed his mind, "Did Professor Snape perceive me in the same way back then?"


    "But I''m nowhere near that elusive," he realized, returning to his office and spending some time toplete the final improvements on the seventh scrying mirror.


    Looking at the various-sized mirrors on his workbench, his mood inexplicably lifted.


    "With over a thousand Ancient Runes under my belt now, when will that number be ten thousand, twenty thousand?"


    "At that time, what level of magical understanding will I have reached?"


    Felix envisaged himself in battle, ancient runes swirling around him, seamlessly coalescing into powerful ancient magic at his will. Others'' spells would at best be beams of light, while he had abandoned wands altogether, unleashing a relentless barrage of attacks with just his raised hand.


    No escape, no avoidance.


    "Overthinking. There aren''t many who can make me go all out now. I should focus on what I''ll discuss with Nics mel in our next interaction. His understanding of alchemy far surpasses my imagination."


    "With his perspective, I can scrutinize alchemical creations and runic creations from a higher level."


    "This will help meprehend the essence of runes better."


    As evening arrived and Felix left his office to head to the Great Hall for dinner, he unexpectedly caught wind of two pieces of gossip.


    The first was an ident during Hagrid''s first ss; a student got injured. After careful inquiry, Felix breathed a sigh of relief. The situation wasn''t grave¡ªgiven Madame Pomfrey''s skills, the student''s wound with a touch of foreign magic would heal in about three days.


    He brushed it off; the previous professor of this ss caused much worse chaos, and Hagrid at most would receive a warning.


    The second piece left him scratching his head. In Dark Arts Defense ss, the new professor had instructed third-year students to resist a Boggart¡ªthe creature that took the form of one''s greatest fear.


    Boggarts weren''t inherently powerful, but their effect on wizards with fatal weaknesses or deep fears was astounding, particrly when caught off guard.


    During the ss, one student''s greatest fear turned out to be Severus Snape. With encouragement from Professor Lupin, the student overcame their fear and cast the Boggart-Banishing Spell, "Riddikulus." And the oue turned out to be truly absurd¡ªProfessor Snape, who symbolized their inner fear, transformed into a dress with a triangr hat and a massive red handbag swaying in hand.


    Felix sat at the Hufflepuff table, two seats away, as a young witch with two braids of golden hair vividly described the scene:


    "...Professor Snape stormed towards us, even though his target was Lumberton. But I also felt a chill down my spine, thinking, ''Uh-oh, he''s definitely going to fail.'' Guess what happened?"


    Hannah Abbott blushed as she recounted, "Lumberton shouted the spell, and it was like a whipshed at Professor Snape. His clothes transformed into a flowery green granny dress, with a triangr hat on his head, and he was swinging a massive red purse..."


    "Honestly, I never realized that Lumberton, that boy with the L surname, could be so cool!"


    Felix listened in astonishment. Based on his understanding, Professor Snape must have been livid.


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 Chapter 190: The New Third-Year Class

    Chapter 190: The New Third-Year ss


    It seemed that he might never have the chance to drag Professor Lupin to a Dueling ss.


    Felix Harp thought with a touch of regret.


    If he really did so, it would be difficult to judge whether Snape would directly curse the new professor or aim his wand at Felix as the instigator.


    As for Snape''s evaluation of Remus Lupin, Felix could only take it as a reminder.


    At least, when Sirius ck had caused a stir, Dumbledore still let Lupin teach students, including Harry Potter, in ss. This indicated a considerable level of trust the Headmaster had in him.


    The next day, in the Ancient Runes ssroom for third-years, Felix introduced himself to the young witches and wizards below the podium.


    "Most of you¡ª"


    Felix''s gaze swept across the crowded ssroom, pausing briefly on some familiar faces¡ªGryffindor''s Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Slytherin''s Draco Malfoy, Millicent Bulstrode...


    "¡ªhave formed your impressions of me from Dueling ss. However, this subject is Ancient Runes, and you will find that these two disciplines differ greatly. In the public eye, Ancient Runes is not seen as a practical field."


    A Slytherin girl raised her hand, her eyes fixated zealously on the puppet ced on the table, "Professor, you created a magical puppet using Ancient Runes!"


    "This youngdy, what''s your name?"


    "Daphne," the girl said, "Daphne Greengrass."


    Felix nodded, "Miss Greengrass, as I''ve mentioned, it''s in the public perception." He emphasized, "Though I''ve been striving to shift Ancient Runes away from its previous stereotypes, as of now, we''ve only achieved some effects within the school."


    "However, you represent the future, and I believe more and more people wille to recognize the practicality and value of Practical Runes..."


    A wave of enthusiastic apuse erupted from the audience. Professor Harp''s words stirred their hearts.


    "Now, let''s begin the roll call¡ª"


    "Ravenw, Rowan Brown!"


    "Slytherin, Millicent Bulstrode!"


    "Hufflepuff, Seymour Feeneygan!"


    "Gryffindor, Hermione Granger!"


    "Slytherin, Daphne Greengrass!"


    "Slytherin, Gregory Goyle!"


    "Hufflepuff, Vincent Crabbe!"


    "Ravenw, Norbert Longbottom!"


    "Slytherin, Draco Malfoy!"


    "Gryffindor, Harry Potter!"


    "Ravenw, Padma Patil!"


    "Slytherin, Pansy Parkinson!"


    "Hufflepuff, Ernie Macmin!"


    "Gryffindor, Dean Thomas!"


    "Gryffindor, Ron Weasley!"


    ...


    It took Felix a good seven to eight minutes to finish reciting all the names.


    There were indeed a lot of them, and the thought of having to grade their assignments... Wait? Maybe he didn''t need to grade them himself.


    He nced at Hermione and decided to give her a bit more responsibility, including the task ofing up with questions.


    With various thoughts in his mind, Felix said calmly, "Next, following tradition, I will introduce this year''s study tasks to you, including Trantional Runes and Practical Runes¡ªthese are my own categorizations. In addition, I will let you experience the wonders of Runic creations."


    Felix waved his wand, causing a magical puppet on the tform toe to life, instantly capturing the attention of the students.


    "Absolutely, magical puppets. I believe you''ve all heard of them?" Felix Harp said with a pretentious air, drawing a wave of chuckles. More than just hearing about them, many had borrowed them from older students to control.


    Continuing, he said, "Fortunately, besides puppets, we''ll be introducing another form of runic creation this year¡ªScrymir."


    Felix noticed Draco raising his hand, using his left hand¡ªhis right was bandaged, a sling supporting it around his neck.


    ''One of the injured students from Hagrid''s ss? Quite a coincidence,'' he thought.


    "Mr. Malfoy?"


    "Forgive me, Professor, my right hand is not very convenient... It''s injured. What I meant to say is, isn''t Scrymir something those alchemists concocted? My family has quite a few high-end Scrymirs that can envelop the entire estate." Draco stated proudly, his gaze challenging Ron Weasley when he mentioned the estate.


    Ron red back at him.


    Felix gave Draco an odd look, "Envelop the entire estate... Is that one of the Malfoy family''s defense measures? How am I going to crack that..."


    "Ahem!" Felix pulled himself back on track, exining to Draco, "You have a valid point, Mr. Malfoy. However, I''ve improved the crafting method of Scrymirs, incorporating a certain runic circuitry."


    "What''s runic circuitry?"


    "You can think of it as connecting multiple runes together to achieve a specific effect," Felix exined sinctly.


    Seizing the opportunity, he subtly promoted the nearly non-existent Runes Club, "I''m considering teaching this part of the knowledge in the Runes Club. The notice will be posted soon, of course¡ªwith assessments."


    Next, Felix spent about twenty minutes discussing the history of Ancient Runes, potent ancient magic, ancient runic creations, and hidden wizard histories... Each topic was captivating in its own right.


    It had to be said; he sessfully ignited the young wizards'' motivation to learn.


    Yet, there were objections. During the Q&A session, another Slytherin girl raised her hand, "Professor, I have a question."


    "Miss Parkinson?"


    Pansy Parkinson crossed her arms, her face delicate and narrow, her short hair framing her cheeks. Even without speaking, she exuded an air of arrogance and sharpness.


    She tilted her head, "Perhaps I''m being too straightforward, but since alchemy has reced runic creations, doesn''t that indicate they are outdated? Why bother digging them up from the grave?"


    "Miss Parkinson, factually speaking, alchemy indeed dominates the magical world today..."


    Felix paused, addressing the ss, "Before answering this, let me pose a question. Who here knows about the Pensieve?"


    Hermione''s hand shot up first.


    Pansy pursed her lips, saying, "That''s the thing to view memories, right? My family has one. But no one pays it much attention."


    "Very well, Miss Parkinson. However, please raise your hand when answering next time." Felix fixed his gaze on her eyes, "I believe you''ll remember that, won''t you?"


    Pansy lowered her head, "Oh, yes, Professor."


    "Anyone else with more detailed information... Miss Granger."


    Hermione stood up and recited, "The Pensieve can view and store memories. It faithfully reproduces any detail from the memory owner''s subconscious. Some wise wizards use it to examine and categorize their thoughts, though most tend to shy away from it."


    Felix nodded, "Veryprehensive. What I need to add is that the concept behind the Pensieve is extremely ancient. You''ll find it difficult to categorize it as either ''alchemy creation'' or ''runic creation,'' as it embodies elements of both."


    He looked at the young wizards, "When an alchemist wishes to progress further, he inevitably delves into runic knowledge, whether he admits it or not."


    "It''s quite simple¡ªthe cherished and ancient magical creations mostly contain runic circuitry or variations thereof. The two are intertwined."


    Harry raised his hand, and Felix nodded at him.


    Excitedly, Harry asked, "Professor Harp, if an alchemist masters a lot of runes, why can''t they just study ancient magic as well?"


    Felix exined, "Firstly, top-tier alchemists have the sensibility to know what they want. Alchemy itself is a vast field requiring a wealth of knowledge. Constrained by talents, they must allocate their time and energy reasonably."


    "Furthermore, you don''t think that merely mastering a sufficient number of runes would allow you to learn ancient magic, do you?"


    "I have to remind you, Potter, from individual runes to ancient magic, there are many thresholds waiting for you."


    Seeing the somewhat puzzled expressions on the students'' faces, Felix realized he might have gone too deep. He pped his hands, "Alright, let''s move on to examining these two types of runic creations."


    About the roll call part, it''s not that the author is padding word count. It''s to remind everyone that from this chapter onward, they are officially introduced into the story.


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 Chapter 191: The Seven Types of Sneakscopes

    Chapter 191: The Seven Types of Sneakscopes


    "First, let''s talk about Sneakscopes. Since you already have some understanding, let''s quickly move through this part."


    Felix Harp flicked his fingers, and the Sneakscope on the table quickly sprang to life, performing various bewildering movements under his control. Finally, the Sneakscope released a fireball as its grand finale.


    The young wizards watched Felix Harp with eager anticipation. He chuckled softly, "After the lesson, I will distribute one Sneakscope to each of you, with no restrictions, I hope this will be a tradition at Hogwarts. Until next Tuesday, you can enjoy the fun of Sneakscope dueling to your heart''s content."


    Hermione''s eyes fixed on the Sneakscope with icy blue hair, and she found a simrly fierce gaze ¨C it was the Slytherin girl named "Greengrass."


    She pursed her lips; she wasn''t going to back down.


    She had been looking forward to this for an entire year.


    The brown-haired girl across from her responded with a simr look in her eyes. They both realized: the battle was on.


    "Next, we have the seven types of Sneakscopes."


    Felix Harp walked from one side of the lectern to the other. His left hand glided across the tabletop, and his ring emitted a faint glow. A row of Sneakscopes appeared on the table, causing the young wizards to crane their necks to get a better look.


    "What you see before you are the seven types of Sneakscopes. Now, to make it more engaging, I''ll ask: what is a Sneakscope?"


    Hermione raised her hand, but to bnce things, Felix Harp deliberately pointed at Draco Malfoy.


    Draco stood up and said, "It''s a detector used for rms. My father says the ones sold in the market are all rubbish; our family''s Sneakscopes are specially customized."


    Felix Harp nced at him and continued, "That represents the view of the minority... Let me exin. In the 18th century, the wizard Edgar Stroud invented the prototype of the Sneakscope. It was a dark magic detector, simr in shape to the gyroscope used nowadays. But simr magical objects with the same purpose can be traced back thousands of years, though they weren''t called by that name then...


    Looking at it from our present perspective, Sneakscopes can be regarded as a collective term for a category of detecting and rm devices.


    As time progressed, they diversified even further, giving rise to various derivative magical objects. For instance, the Honest Probe at Gringotts. It''spletely departed from the original design and looks like a slender, golden antenna.


    Or the Unveiler, which can uncover conspiracies or lies.


    The Sneakscopes we see today are mainly limited to detecting suspicious individuals or ck magic.


    But in reality...


    They can do so much more.


    Like providing alerts for specific types of magic;


    For certain behaviors;


    And even, for specific bloodlines, to the extent of... a particr person."


    Felix Harp''s words were astonishing,pletely overturning the young wizards'' perception of Sneakscopes.


    Most Slytherin students regarded this with skepticism, in contrast to their upbringing.


    But some believed firmly in Felix Harp''s words ¨C


    Ron, for example, wouldn''t mind having a Sneakscope for Malfoy. Just imagine, whenever Malfoy got within 100 feet of him, he would get a notification. He could hide in the bushes or behind a courtyard pir, waiting for the perfect moment to cast a curse on Malfoy.


    He''d dly spend a year''s worth of allowance for this. It would be even better if he could make one himself.


    "Professor, does that mean if I dislike someone, I can create a Sneakscope specifically for them?"


    Ron said loudly, looking openly at Draco Malfoy.


    Draco''s expression grew dangerous, and he squinted, saying, "Weasley, maybe you could have a Sneakscope at your house... to guard against mice. If your mum loses one Knut, she won''t sob inconsbly, will she?"


    "Malfoy, you git..."


    "Alright, enough arguing. Otherwise, I''ll deduct fifty points each and add three weeks of detention." Felix Harp said, exasperated. He hadn''t realized before how skilled Malfoy was at sarcasm.


    "As for Weasley''s question, the answer is yes, I can do that. But the rest of you need not bother..."


    "Better to sharpen your senses instead."


    Professor Harp''s words left everyone feeling helpless. After hearing his descriptions, the young wizards indeed started having thoughts simr to Ron''s ¨C everyone had one or two people they couldn''t stand.


    Naive''s thoughts were more practical. He really wished for a special Sneakscope to remind him not to lose things, but he worried about losing the Sneakscope itself ¨C it wasn''t impossible, after all, that''s what happened to his Memory Ballst school year.


    Naive, feeling vexed, scribbled ''Lucky Stars'' on a piece of parchment. That was the password for the Gryffindormon room. He just couldn''t remember it, so he would write it down wherever he could see it whenever he had the chance.


    ording to his logic, if he noted the password in enough ces, he''d never have to worry about forgetting it again. Maybe he''d get lucky and get it right once or twice...


    "Alright, let''s take a look at these seven types of Sneakscopes," Felix Harp said casually as he waved his wand, causing a fist-sized chestnut wood Sneakscope to hover in the air above the lectern.


    "The first type, the mostmon, these are the ones you find in the market. They might have slight variations in appearance. They''re not very specific and have mediocre effectiveness. They''re also prone to errors. The upside is that they''re easy to make and inexpensive."


    "They can be used temporarily for defense against dangerous creatures during outdoor camping, although they''re only barely adequate."


    "The second type is simr to the Honest Probe and can detect hidden curses on wizards."


    "The third type targets dark magic. My version can detect seventeen of the worst dark magic spells, including the Unforgivable Curses."


    He conjured a heavy ck light that caused the Sneakscope to emit a sharp rm.


    The young wizards in the audience stared at Felix Harp, silenced by the ck light that seemed to engulf all other light. But he continued speaking calmly ¨C


    "The fourth type is for specific spells, essentially a derivative of the third type, but more versatile in application. The one in front of me targets the Disarming Charm. Anyone want to give it a try?"


    Felix Harp pointed to a walnut-sized gray Sneakscope.


    All eyes turned to Harry. ording to recent rumors, he had single-handedly defeated a group of Dementors using the Disarming Charm.


    Draco, however, didn''t buy into the story at all. He staunchly believed that all the versions currently circting were fake. Stripping away the embellishments, the truth was: Potter encountered Dementors and then passed out. That was the real deal.


    So, he mimed "Dementor" at Harry.


    Harry was a bit nervous, a bit excited. He challenged Draco with a look, casually waved his wand, and silently, a curved arc of red light swept past the Slytherin student seats.


    Throughout, he hadn''t focused on his spell ¨C he was locked onto Draco.


    Harry was satisfied to see Draco''s face go pale.


    As Harry cast his spell, the gray Sneakscope in midair spun around and continuously shed red, emitting a series of sharp buzzes.


    Felix Harp exined, "Do you see? This is a Sneakscope designed for specific spells. This situation. It might seem insignificant, but if you were to ce one of these targeting themon ''Unlocking Charm'' in a room, it might serve as an unexpected surprise."


    "Keep in mind, ordinary Sneakscopes can be blocked. You''d never know if the person standing outside your room is a prepared dark wizard."


    "The fifth type is for specific bloodlines. Knowing that is enough, I won''t delve into it."


    "The sixth type targets specific individuals. The principle is simple ¨C you just need a strand of their hair, much like Polyjuice Potion..."


    "And the final type is for specific emotions. Here, I have a ''Joy'' Sneakscope. Quite intriguing, isn''t it? If you''re about to tell a joke, it''ll help you understand the true emotions of your audience."


    "Anyone want to give it a try?"


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 Chapter 192: Hair

    Chapter 192: Hair


    Hermione was still pondering, and Harry raised his hand with a trembling gesture.


    "Very well, Potter. Regardless of sess, for your courage, I''ll award ten points," Felix Harp nodded in satisfaction. He looked at the others. "He needs an assistant to help him, someone who can use words to make him think of happier things. Any volunteers?"


    Several hands went up among the Gryffindors.


    But Draco also raised his left hand, "Oh, Professor, I''m willing to give it a try. Potter, I have some things I''d like to say to you. You wouldn''t be afraid, would you?"


    Harry replied fearlessly, "It''s you, Malfoy."


    The two stood face to face.


    "I dare say my words will make you cry, Potter," Draco sneered in a low voice, deliberately keeping it hushed.


    Harry gazed at his tinum hair and said, "You can try."


    With his light-colored eyes narrowed, Draco continued, "You must have heard of Sirius ck''s name, right?"


    "And what of it?"


    "Heh, Potter, if I were you, I''d definitely seek revenge no matter what¡­."


    Harry''s heart tightened. He knew! He knew Sirius ck was a close friend of my dad! But why did he use the word ''revenge''? Suddenly, he realized something, and his stomach turned.


    Yet, he said "calmly," "What do you want to say?"


    "Oh, Potter!" Draco grinned, his eyes shing with malicious intent. "How your parents died, you''re not clear about it, are you? Such a pity, surrounded by lies."


    "I know," Harry suddenly said.


    "What?"


    "I know everything. ck was a Death Eater, he joined Voldemort, a wise choice... just like your father did years ago," Harry suppressed the terrifying thoughts rising within him. His current task was to counterattack; he absolutely wouldn''t show fear to his enemy.


    "What did you say?" Draco muttered in a low voice.


    With an expressionless face, Harry said, "You know what I mean. The Malfoy family, everyone knows what kind of people you are, right?"


    Draco''s pale face flushed with anger. "How dare you! Potter..."


    "What''s there to be afraid of?" Harry showed a satisfied smile. The suppressed emotions that had suddenly welled up left him breathless. He had to find an outlet for them; otherwise, he might end up shouting and screaming without any restraint.


    He leaned closer to Draco, their faces almost touching. Harry could even see the re of his nostrils. He whispered lowly, "Malfoy, your whole family is Voldemort''spdog, worse than any honorable pure-blood family. You think you''re something to be proud of? But you''re wrong! The shame of the Malfoy name will haunt you for a lifetime!"


    "You, you..." Draco''s mind was a mess, and he retorted loudly, "My family isn''t apdog for the Dark Lord!"


    Everyone looked at him in astonishment; before, they could only hear the two speaking in hushed tones.


    But at least this sentence was loud and clear for them to hear.


    "Is that so? Go ahead and call Voldemort, let''s hear it," Harry also raised his volume, making sure everyone heard his words.


    The entire ss fell silent, a deathly silence.


    Felix Harp waved his wand, making them move apart a little. "Alright, the test is over. Potter, Malfoy, return to your seats."


    The others looked up at the golden sneakoscope above the table, which was shing with dazzling light.


    Amid Ron''s excited voice, "Well done, Harry!" Harry sat back down. Only now did he have the mindset to think about the fleeting thoughts that had just passed through his mind.


    Revenge, revenge, what qualifies as revenge?


    Unless Sirius ck had done something to wrong him first.


    He had previously received information from Hermione, and it was merely that ck and his father had been good friends during their school years, breaking many school rules together. He, Hermione, and Ron spected that their rtionship hadpletely fractured with ck joining the Death Eaters, turning into enemies.


    And ck''s escape toe after him was also to aid his master Voldemort in regaining strength, just like Professor Quirrell in Harry''s first year. There was no personal vendetta involved.


    But Harry realized he was wrong, very wrong.


    From Mr. Weasley''s demeanor to Malfoy''s mention of "revenge," he suddenly conceived an astonishing idea.


    Harry left ss in a daze. Even when Professor Harp had everyone choose their favorite magical puppet, he simply grabbed one at random.


    Happily clutching a puppet with icy-blue hair, Hermione noticed the expression on Harry''s face. "What''s wrong, Harry?"


    "Nothing," he mumbled as he stumbled away. Ron called after him, "Where are you going? It''s time to go to the Great Hall for dinner." But he paid no attention, one hand holding his backpack, the other clutching a puppet with ck hair. He headed straight back to the dormitory.


    The dormitory was empty. He opened the box under his bed and pushed aside the clothes piled on top until he found a leather-bound magical photo album ¡ª it was the one Hagrid had given him two years ago, and he would asionally flip through it.


    Harry eagerly opened it, page after page. Then his breath caught.


    His gaze stopped on the photo from the day his parents got married. His father was waving at him with a smile, and his mother''s face was radiant with happiness. Their hands were linked together.


    And standing next to his father was a handsome, grinning man with ck hair. His face hadn''t sunken from prison, his hair wasn''t tangled, but Harry recognized him at first nce ¡ª


    Sirius ck!


    Dizziness swept over Harry, and his heart raced. His stomach churned, even more intensely than after Professor Harp''s training, but he was suddenly consumed by a strong emotion.


    The idea of revenge relentlessly ate at his heart. He grabbed his wand from the nearby table and held onto it tightly.


    "Perhaps he should leave Hogwarts, find that person, and then... kill him!"


    But this thought was interrupted, "Harry!" Ron and Hermione entered the dormitory, looking at him with concern.


    His tensed heart rxed, and he let out a deep breath.


    ...


    Later that day, Felix Harp intended to visit Hagrid. Inst year''s Forbidden Forest adventure, he had encountered many magical creatures and thought he might rmend some to Hagrid.


    Like a young unicorn, or perhaps the seemingly silly Cornish Pixies.


    But a phoenix with magnificent feathers appeared before him. He looked at it in surprise, "Fawkes? Did Dumbledore send you?"


    Fawkes nodded,nding on Felix''s shoulder. There was a dizzying sensation, and he found himself in the Headmaster''s office.


    Dumbledore sat behind his desk, dressed formally, seeming either about to head out or having just returned. His expression was serious, but when he saw Felix, a smile appeared.


    "Felix, forgive me for summoning you sote."


    "What''s the matter, Dumbledore?"


    "I heard about the seven Sneakoscopes you introduced in ss... one of them, can it selectively find a specific person?"


    "Yes, but it requires that person''s hair or bodily tissue or something simr," Felix replied, also pondering Dumbledore''s intentions.


    "It conveniently fits your request." Dumbledore lifted a piece of red cloth, a few strands of ck hair lying on it.


    "This is..." Felix already had a guess.


    "Sirius ck''s hair." Dumbledore lowered his gaze, speaking solemnly.


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 Chapter 193: Buckbeaks Burden

    Chapter 193: Buckbeak''s Burden


    Felix Harp leaned in, studying the ck-haired figure on the red cloth. "Is this all there is?"


    "Regrettably, these are all we found from Azkaban," Dumbledore replied.


    "Hmm," Felix nodded, pondering for a moment before saying, "I can''t guarantee the number of sneakoscopes... One, that''s no problem! Two, a bit of a stretch. Three, that''s purely relying on luck."


    Dumbledore smiled. "You''ve already exceeded my expectations. I initially thought we could only make one sneakoscope."


    Emerging from the office, Felix nced at the sky; it wasn''t toote. He left the castle and followed a path straight to Hagrid''s hut.


    The scent of trees filled his nose, and the grass was damp from the earlier rain. Soon, the outline of the house became clearer.


    "Fang, behave."


    Felix addressed the bounding ckhound. It seemed to want to leap onto him, but no matter how it tried, it couldn''t touch him through theyer of air. He didn''t want it to leave muddy pawprints on him.


    Felix retrieved a warm meat pie from a specialpartment in his ring and tossed it to Fang.


    Fang caught it in one bite, happily wagging his tail.


    Felix knocked on the door. "Hagrid, it''s me, Felix."


    A sound like a choked sob came from inside¡ª


    "Come in, the door''s not locked!"


    He pushed the door open and was taken aback by the sight inside: the small room was packed, and Hagrid sat on a soft bed, guzzling from arge barrel of booze. His eyes were puffy, blurred with tears.


    Beside himy a Hippogriff, a creature with a horse''s body and wings, its head resembling an eagle''s. In front of it sat a basin filled with gory raw meat. Juice dripped from its beak onto the floor. At the sound of Felix''s presence, it snapped its head up, watching him warily.


    "Hagrid?"


    Hagrid stared at him, his voice somewhat husky. "Felix, you''ve heard too, huh?" He patted the Hippogriff''s head. "Behave, Buckbeak. You can''t make any more mistakes."


    Buckbeak, who had raised its head, lowered it again, continuing to work on the raw meat in the basin.


    "Care for some?" Hagrid gestured toward the wooden barrel.


    "No, thank you."


    Felix sat down not far from him. "I did hear some rumors, but I didn''t expect it would affect you this much."


    Hagrid took another gulp of his drink; traces of the liquid clung to his beard. "What can I do? Probably the shortest-lived professor in history..."


    "They expelled you?" Felix asked, surprised.


    "Well, Harry asked the same thing... not yet, but it''s a matter of time. Yesterday, a representative from the Board of Governors came to see me, dressed all proper, to be honest, a bit like you. He told me my teaching methods were too reckless, that I should be more cautious..."


    "I don''t think it''s a big problem," Felix said. "From what I know, Hippogriffs are quite intelligent. There must have been an ident."


    "An ident? Sort of... you could say that!" Hagrid suddenly burst out in anger, startling the creature next to him. "That student Malfoy, he didn''t pay any attention to me. I told him to bow, to bow! He acted like aplete fool!"


    Felix gave Hagrid an odd look. "You allowed them to get close to it?"


    "Yeah, I know ''em, no danger. As long as they bow, it''s a bow... hic!" Hagrid belched, shaking the barrel before absentmindedly pouring the remaining drink into the basin. "That means it epts you. Polite creatures, aren''t they?"


    Felix reservedly disagreed. Bowing might signify eptance, but not out of politeness. It was about exposing your vulnerabilities first, earning their trust, and then, in turn, they would lower their heads to earn yours.


    It was a unique behavior.


    "Hagrid, my advice is, when dealing with creatures capable of harming young wizards, like it¡ª"


    "Buckbeak. Its name''s Buckbeak," Hagrid interrupted gruffly.


    "¡ªFor example, with Buckbeak, it''s best to maintain a safe distance during the first ss. Once you''re familiar, you can select a couple of obedient students to interact with it."


    "Good advice, but unfortunately not applicable at the moment," Hagrid said sadly. "I''ve been out of sorts all day, having students feed the st-Ended Skrewts while I look up at the sky... Perhaps in the next moment, an owl will tell me I''ve been expelled."


    Felix Harp said directly, "Hagrid, you don''t need to worry about your position. I''ve looked into your predecessor¡ªKettleburn''s record. He had sixty-two instances of being put on probation, and he had far more serious idents than you, yet he made it to retirement without a scratch."


    "Really? I didn''t think of that. That representative from the Board of Governors looked at me as if I was headed to Azkaban," Hagrid said hopefully.


    "They can''t dismiss a tenured professor; that''s within the headmaster''s authority. At most, they can give you a reprimand, but who would care?" Felix said, having studied these rules thoroughly and never considering them worth his attention.


    Hagrid perked up, looking at Felix. "So, I''m in the clear?"


    "You were never in trouble."


    "That''s splendid news!" Hagrid cheered, his beard sttered with the liquid he''d been drinking, causing Buckbeak to sneeze.


    "Oh, go on, Buckbeak, back to your territory!" Hagridughed, lifting the creature up and pushing it out of the hut, despite its reluctant gaze.


    "I worried I''d be fired, couldn''t even manage my Keeper of the Forbidden Forest duties, wanted to at least feed it onest time. Turns out I was overthinking it..."


    Felix said, "Hagrid, let''s discuss the content of your next ss. I think the baby unicorns are a good choice. They''re fluffy and endearing; I''m also curious about the special traits of their golden fur during their young stage..."


    "Do you think they won''t look imposing enough?" Hagrid asked.


    Felix gazed calmly at him, causing Hagrid to be flustered. Felix waved a hand, "Alright, you''re right, I shouldn''t take unnecessary risks."


    He started counting on his fingers, "Unicorn, Flobberworm, Snargaluff, Fire Crab, Flower Fairy, and Augurey... Does the Augurey''s call have any danger to it?" He asked Felix''s opinion.


    An Augurey was a small, green bird with a shy nature; it somewhat resembled a malnourished young vulture and was known for its heartrending call.


    Felix pondered, "I recall its call is regr?"


    "Usually it calls just before heavy rain. For a while, people used them to predict the weather, but they couldn''t stand their noise, too unpleasant... And some Augureys incessantly call during the winter, signaling that they''re nearing death." Hagrid spoke thoughtfully, "I can find a sunny day; they''ll look downcast then."


    Felix encouraged him, "Exactly, Hagrid. Base your approach on the magical creature''s characteristics and eliminate potential risks."


    "Haha, I think I''ve got the hang of it."


    ...


    Felix returned to his office; the sky had turnedpletely dark. He looked at the photo of Nearly Headless Nick on his desk and inquired, "Is Nick around?"


    "''I'' has gone to sleep." The person in the photo blinked.


    "He''s been going to bed earlytely," Felix remarked.


    Nearly Headless Nick in the photo smiled and said, "Old folks, you know, can''t stay upte."


    Over six hundred years old...


    Felix contemted the vor of that statement, "When he wakes up, please tell Nick that I''ve prepared his Christmas gift, something with special significance; he''ll surely like it."


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 Chapter 194: News from the Runes Club

    Chapter 194: News from the Runes Club


    Over the next two days, tranquility reigned. On Thursday morning during their Ancient Runes ss, Felix Harp also revealed the news of the Runes Club to the students.


    As soon as the ss ended, he was surrounded by a group of eager students.


    "Professor, when will the Runes Club hold its activities?" a witch with golden-red curls inquired, yfully linking arms with her friend.


    Felix Harp replied gently, "Miss Aexmo, the announcement will be made next Monday, including details about the recruitment process."


    "Could you give us a tiny hint in advance?" pleaded Marietta Aexmo. The students around her couldn''t help but look at her with admiration.


    "One of the methods is through a public assessment. That''s all I can say," Felix Harp stated.


    "Do we really need an assessment? Oh my, other clubs usually invite members!" Marietta chattered.


    Eddie Carmilche countered, "I think it''s a good thing. After all, it''s the first time they''re recruiting. I consider myself quite adept, and even with an assessment, I can stand out."


    Eddie had been one of the nine students who joinedst year. Along with Hermione, who joinedter, a total of ten studentspleted the initial testing on the ''Answering Parchment''.


    Felix Harp exined, "A few individuals will receive a direct invitation from me. After observing for a year, I''ve identified suitable candidates. However, time is limited, and I can''t know all of you..."


    The surrounding students gradually dispersed. Marietta turned to her friend, holding her hand, and asked, "Autumn, what do you think the assessment will be?"


    Autumn opened up, jokingly saying, "It might not be an assessment. You could receive an invitation."


    "I''m aware of my limitations. I''m just average in this ss. That Carmilche guy seems more likely," Marietta said somewhat pessimistically, but then she looked at her earnestly. "Who knows, maybe you''ll get an invitation."


    Autumn smoothed her hair, "We shouldn''t pin our hopes on that. We should prepare in advance. The professor has actually given quite a bit of information."


    "Really?" Marietta looked at her puzzled.


    "The professor mentioned a public assessment andter said that, after observing for a year, he''s found a few suitable candidates... What does that make you think?"


    "I think... uh, there might be two recruitment methods?" Marietta ventured.


    Autumn widened her eyes, and Marietta chuckled embarrassedly, "You''re smarter than me, you know. I''m always so absent-minded."


    "You''re justzy!" Autumn retorted with a hint of irritation. She then exined, "The assessment criteria probably won''t be about our performance in Ancient Runes. Otherwise, it wouldn''t make sense to waste time. Along with everything the professor has been doing this past year¡ªmagic puppets, the Answering Parchment, and this year''s Sneakoscope¡ªit all points to one thing."


    "What''s that?"


    "He values practical Ancient Runes more!" Autumn concluded.


    Marietta finally caught on, "That makes sense. But we haven''t learned much practical Ancient Runes..."


    "That''s why I suspect there are two possibilities!" Autumn raised a finger. "First, we might have to create an alchemical item to assess our practical skills."


    "Second, it could be a test of our understanding of practical Ancient Runes."


    "But I don''t understand much. We only learned seven, no, nine practical runesst year," Marietta said with a frustrated expression.


    "You''re forgetting something. The professor has written three books, and one of them is about Ancient Runes," Autumn pointed out.


    "Well, what are we waiting for?" Excitement gleamed in Marietta''s eyes as she grabbed Autumn''s hand, ready to head to the library.


    "Wait, wait! We still have sses!" Autumn restrained her unreliable friend.


    "Oh dear, I forgot. By the way, does that handsome Hufflepuff guy have ns with you?"


    "Cough, cough! Well... he invited me to spend the weekend at Hogsmeade."


    "Oh~"


    On the other side, Felix Harp had finished his morning sses and was heading straight to the library. As he reached the entrance, he crossed paths with the newly appointed Defense Against the Dark Arts professor who wasing out.


    He nodded to the professor and brushed past him.


    "Harp Professor, please wait a moment!"


    Felix Harp halted his steps. "Is there something you need, Professor Luping?"


    Luping looked at him gently, "You see, I''ve heard from some students that there has been an ongoing interaction between Dueling Club and Defense Against the Dark Arts sses. I wanted to inquire about your ns for this school year..."


    Felix Harp felt a slight headache, as if Snape were lurking in some corner, watching him.


    Of course, that was just a misconception.


    He thought for a moment and said, "Let me talk to Severus and finalize the curriculum for this school year."


    Luping seemed to understand his subtle hint. He didn''t press for more and thanked him in a friendly manner.


    Felix Harp watched him leave, "A good person, too bad you''re only here for a year." Otherwise, he might put in effort to mend the bridge between them.


    However, such efforts usually went unrewarded and could evenplicate things. If Snape decided to leave the Dueling Club in frustration, it would be a mess.


    Felix Harp entered the library, greeted Madam Pince, the librarian, and made his way to the Restricted Section.


    After a while, he found the book he was looking for¡ª''Wizarding Lineages''.


    ''There are differing ounts about the origins of wizards, with two predominant theories. The Preordained Theory suggests that wizards are individuals who have naturally awakened magical abilities, marked by their extraordinary destinies. They are regarded as the original Pure-bloods or the first generation of magical beings.''


    ''Conversely, proponents of the Blood Transfusion Theory im that wizards were originally ordinary people. In ancient times, muggles faced threats from magical creatures and struggled to survive. Some wise individuals experimented by infusing themselves with magical blood, thereby acquiring magical powers.''


    ''However, thetter theory is evidently wed and sphemous to the wizarding identity, filled with incredible conjecture. Whenever someone discusses this topic with me, I counter with a question: where did those original magical creaturese from?''


    ''This question is difficult to answer, as two perspectives persist. One argues for a theory of innate existence, suggesting these magical creatures were always present. Another perspective asserts that magical creatures were the result of wizarding experimentation.''


    ''ording to the former theory, if magical creatures have existed continuously, then why couldn''t wizards have done so as well? Thetter theory actually bolsters the greatness of wizards...''


    Felix Harp swiftly flipped past this section, which was infused with strong personal opinions. After about ten minutes, he paused at a particr passage.


    ''Wizard blood is imbued with magic, more potent than magic from other body parts. In stringent magical contracts, blood is a necessary requirement. This led to the infamous Bloodline Detection Charm. Some Pure-blood families would extract blood from newborns and discard the ones with lower concentrations. This practice has been widely condemned, and even today, some stubborn families may still persist...''


    Felix Harp lifted his head from the book, pondering the information he had just read.


    Originally, he wanted to confirm whether he could substitute a strand of Sirius ck''s hair for blood in order to bypass the defenses of the ck family''s ancestral home.


    The issue was, how much hair would he need? Dumbledore hadn''t provided much, and it was a stretch even to create three Sneakoscopes. So, Felix Harp hade to the library to look up relevant information.


    From the results, it seemed his n was unlikely to seed.


    For the Alliance Chief, should he wear a suit or a white shirt underneath?


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 Chapter 195: The Wand of Narvik

    Chapter 195: The Wand of Narvik


    During the final ss of the afternoon, as Felix Harp observed a group of disheveled young wizards entering the ssroom, he gave them an odd look. "What''s happened to all of you?"


    Narvik had a mournful expression on his face. "I identally blew up the cauldron."


    Standing next to him was a young wizard with light brown hair, Symo Finnigan. He earnestly exined, "Professor, it was just an ident. Snape was standing behind Narvik, and when Narvik''s hand trembled, he dropped a handful of caterpir slices into the cauldron. And, well, I happened to be stirring the potion at the time... Long story short, there was an explosion."


    Felix waved his wand speechlessly, cleansing their faces and robes of the suspicious ck smoke. He nced at the others and took care of them as well.


    "Th-thank you, Professor," Narvik said.


    "No need to thank me," Felix told him. "Stay behind after ss, I have something to discuss with you." Narvik visibly trembled, and Felix added, "Don''t worry, it''s not bad."


    He watched Narvik stumble to find a seat, and Hermione leaned in discreetly. "Professor?" Harry and Ron leaned in to listen as well.


    Felix spoke briefly, "About wands."


    Hermione immediately understood. In her paper fromst semester, she mentioned that among the wizards she knew, two of them struggled with wands inherited from others¡ªRon and Narvik.


    It seemed Professor Harp was about to suggest Narvik get a new wand.


    She pulled an puzzled Harry and Ron back to their seats, whispering quietly.


    After a minute or two, Felix began the lesson.


    "Today, we''ll officially start learning Ancient Runes. Turn your books to page seven. These are simple sentences, but you''ll delve into theirplete chapters in your fourth year."


    "If you do well this ss, you''ll save yourselves a lot of trouble in fourth year," Felix motivated the young wizards. "The first runic symbol we''re encountering today is called ''Ken,'' signifying light, and it somewhat resembles a torch."


    "Drawing from known magical manuscripts, we find that the ancient wizards attributed multiple meanings to it¡ª


    "The firstyer of meaning is the light itself, illuminating the path ahead, especially light arising from darkness;


    "The secondyer of meaning points to the illumination of knowledge, and this bes clearer in older manuscripts. Likely because in times of ignorance, knowledge could dispel the fog...


    "The thirdyer of meaning represents the flip side of evil. In a certain period, some wizards liked to use this term to boast about themselves;


    "The fourthyer of meaning can also stand for hope, particrly hope in adversity;


    "..."


    The young wizards below diligently took notes as Felix continued his lecture. Soon, the ss bell rang.


    Felix pped his hands. "This lesson was rtively simple. You only need to memorize the meanings of twelve ancient runes. I won''t assign a paper, but you mustplete the content on the ''Question Parchment.'' They''re all multiple-choice questions, so I expect your uracy to be above seventy percent. In the next ss, I''ll spend a few minutes assessing you."


    The young wizards filed out, and Felix watched Narvik''s foot step out of the ssroom before quickly calling him back.


    "Oh, sorry, I forgot..." Narvik retracted the foot he had extended.


    Harry, Ron, and Hermione slowly packed their things. Hermione pretended to identally scatter a stack of parchments, while Ron and Harry''s movements seemed more awkward. They repeatedly weighed a book in their hands, as if trying tomunicate to the professor that they wanted their books to look tidier.


    Felix gazed at Narvik before him. His round face held a hint of unease as he gently asked, "Lumbatton, I''ve heard your wand was passed down from someone else?"


    "Yes, from my father," Narvik replied softly.


    Felix Harp was cautious not to touch upon sensitive matters. He and Harry had encountered this young boy during the summer break. By his side was an elderly woman, not his parents.


    "Can you perform a few spells?" Felix asked.


    "Right now? Here?" Narvik stuttered.


    "That''s right."


    Narvik clumsily drew his wand. His face turned red as he awkwardly waved it through the air.


    Harry, who was still packing, couldn''t bear it. He walked over to Narvik and encouraged him, "Narvik, don''t be nervous. We practiced the Disarming Charm together. Remember how it felt back then?"


    Felix gave them a quick nce. You''re wee to eavesdrop, but joining in so openly... Well, seeing as your words seem to hold sway, I won''t shoo you away.


    Narvik did rx somewhat. He shouted, "Expelliarmus," and a fleeting sh of red light appeared.


    After a moment of thought, Felix asked, "Harry, would you be willing to lend your wand to Narvik temporarily for practicing the Disarming Charm?"


    Harry hesitated for a moment. "Of course, no problem." He handed his wand to Narvik.


    Felix looked at Narvik, who seemed lost. He said, "Try using Harry''s wand, either with the Disarming Charm."


    Narvik made several attempts, but not even a spark emerged. He seemed to exhaust himself more than anything.


    It was as if Harry''s wand had no interest in him whatsoever...


    "Try Mr. Weasley''s wand next. I remember you have the same core¡ªunicorn hair?"


    "That''s right, Professor," Ron said. Almost unconsciously, he and Hermione moved closer.


    Felix inquired, "Mr. Weasley, would you be willing to lend your wand to Narvik temporarily for practicing the Disarming Charm?"


    Ron seemed to find this interaction cool. With a serious expression, he said, "As you wish, sir." He then handed his wand to Narvik with a certain solemnity.


    This time, Narvik sessfully cast the Disarming Charm.


    "Hmm..." Felix pondered.


    "Professor, what does this mean?" Hermione was quite intrigued by this phenomenon. She wanted to add this passage to her notes.


    Felix exined, "It means that Mr. Lumbatton''s wand isn''t outright rejecting him, but it''s not well-suited to him either. This could lead to a lot of obstacles. It would be best for him to get a more suitable wand."


    Narvik held onto his wand tightly.


    "Pr-Professor, I don''t want to change my wand."


    Felix spoke calmly, "There are other ways tomemorate..."


    He nced at Narvik and continued, "Wait a moment." He pulled out a piece of parchment and quickly wrote a fluid script. Hermione recognized the upside-down writing at the top as ''Mrs. Lumbatton.''


    Soon, Felix finished writing a short note and handed it to Narvik. "Send this to your grandmother. Let her decide."


    As Narvik left the ssroom, his expression was deeply conflicted.


    Hermione remembered his forgetfulness and suggested, "Why don''t we send the letter now ande back to eatter?"


    "I, I..." Narvik bit his lip.


    Harry understood his stance quite well. The wand was likely a relic left by his parents, and he was using it to remember them in his own way. But Harry also agreed with Professor Harp''s advice. There''s more than one way tomemorate, and there''s no need to force yourself to use an unsuitable wand.


    He pulled Narvik aside for a quiet conversation.


    With a puzzled expression, Hermione asked Ron, "What''s going on with them?"


    Ron shrugged, indicating he didn''t know either. He then went on to tell Hermione about thetest antics of the twins.


    "Percy''s been taking the wrong potiontely, and he''s been keeping a close eye on Fred and George..."


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 Chapter 196: The Enigma of the Shrinking Charm

    Chapter 196: The Enigma of the Shrinking Charm


    On the first weekend of the new school year, Felix Harp found himself incredibly busy.


    With the first Dueling ss approaching, he had to swiftly finalize the choice for the third permanent professor. In private, he sought the opinions of Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick.


    Professor McGonagall politely declined, stating that she was also holding the position of Deputy Headmistress, and the school''s numerous trivial matters demanded her attention.


    "If it''s an asional participation once or twice, I would be quite willing," she told Felix.


    On the other hand, progress on the other front was going remarkably well. Almost as soon as Felix broached the subject, Professor Flitwick eagerly epted the invitation, as if he had been waiting for this day.


    From a neutral perspective, Felix also agreed that Professor Flitwick was the most suitable candidate.


    As the head of the Dueling ss, he had to consider the difficulty and learnability of the spells taught, as he was dealing with students from all seven years of the school.


    And as an experienced professor of Charms, Professor Flitwick undoubtedly possessed numerous techniques to simplify the learning process of spells.


    In contrast, Transfiguration appeared to be more challenging¡ªusing Transfiguration skillfully in a duel wasn''t an easy task. It demanded wizards to cast nonverbal spells rapidly and possess a vivid imagination for dueling.


    Even among the older students at Hogwarts, performingplex biological transfigurations silently was a daunting feat, not to mention in abat scenario.


    "Transfiguration is the realm of geniuses, representing the boundless possibilities of magic," wrote a Dueling grandmaster skilled in Transfiguration in a magical scroll. Felix partly agreed with his perspective.


    Headmaster Ravenw''s Office.


    After resolving the invitation matter, Felix and Professor Flitwick spent nearly a day discussing improvements to the "Reducing Charm."


    "The performance of the Reducing Charm on magical creatures isn''t impressive. Of course, it might be because the current test subject is only the Flobberworm, which isn''t representative," Felix extracted a set of test data from a ring and handed it to Professor Flitwick.


    The Flobberworm was a ten-inch-long worm, generally brownish in color, and it liked to dwell in damp environments. Its presence could be observed in the shaded areas of the Forbidden Forest.


    Although the slime of Flobberworms could thicken magical potions, they were not highly regarded due to theirmonness, akin to kneazles. They served as a food source for other magical creatures within the Forbidden Forest, positioned at the bottom of the entire biological chain.


    Therefore, Felix carried out tests on Flobberworms without any psychological burden, as there were no legal concerns. However, the results were often far from splendid. Pustules grew on the already ugly worms, rendering them quite fearsome.


    And crucially, he still couldn''t identify the issue.


    Professor Flitwick sat on a chair with blue cushions, his feet suspended in the air, examining the data and pondering carefully. "Could it be rted to the imbnce of magic?"


    "Imbnce?" Felix inquired.


    "Yes, I revisited this spell recently. The Shrinking Charm was, in fact, something I pieced together based on modern magical theories, making it aposite spell. Therefore, there might be instances of magical inconsistency at the junctures," Professor Flitwick exined.


    Felix pondered for a moment before saying, "I have considered this as well, but during the casting process, I didn''t sense anything unusual, nor did I experience any hesitation."


    "We can try it out!" Professor Flitwick jumped off the chair. "One person handles one part of the work. You cast the spell, and I will perceive it."


    Felix understood his point. "You want to use other magic to amplify your senses and perceive the formation and flow of the spell? It''s indeed worth a try. I don''t have this capability alone."


    Professor Flitwick smiled, "Isn''t this the essence of coboration?"


    He pointed his wand at himself and whispered, "Enhanced perception... keen senses... magic unveiled... the voice of Adimo..." Magical lights shimmered over Professor Flitwick.


    Felix Harp admired the scene with wonder. Few could achieve this; simply solving the puzzle of multiple spells interacting with each other would confound ny-nine percent of wizards.


    Soon, Professor Flitwickpleted his task. He looked strange, with his ears elongated into bronze-colored trumpets, his eyes a hazy gray, resembling a fairy''s face, shing with various colored lights like colorful bulbs.


    Professor Flitwick''s expression was peculiar. Struggling to maintain the spell, he squeezed out a few words through his teeth, "Hurry... can''tst much longer..."


    Felix''s expression turned solemn. He deliberately mobilized his magical power, making them more active. A pale blue light continuously gathered, then burst into a dazzling beam.


    His incantation struck a quill, causing it to emit a crackling sound as it swiftly expanded. In the blink of an eye, it transformed from the size of a dagger into a slightly curved spear, still in the process of changing.


    When the quill extended to upy almost half the office, it finally couldn''t withstand Felix''s magic and exploded with a bang, releasing a massive shockwave that spread out.


    The entire office became chaotic as if a whirlwind had passed through, leaving a mess in its wake.


    Felix, shielded by an Irond Charm, stepped back two paces. Professor Flitwick, due to the strain of maintaining the spell, was blown away. His petite figure tumbled through the air, and he quickly pointed his wand at himself, then floated down leisurely.


    Suspended midair, Professor Flitwick stared at the blue powder falling like sparkling stardust, a brilliant blue gxy descending. He couldn''t contain his excitement, "Felix, your magical power is too strong. You''vepletely altered the quill''s structure."


    Once calm, he cautioned, "Until this magic is thoroughly perfected, never use it on a person."


    Felix nodded, saying, "That''s exactly what I was thinking. Philius, did you discover anything just now?"


    "Goodness, it''s truly miraculous... I did uncover some intriguing details." Professor Flitwick waved his wand, restoring the room''s arrangement, then flicked his wand to release a cloud of bronze-colored smoke.


    The smoke constantly shifted its form, conjuring a phantom wizard casting a spell. Felix recognized it as the scene of his own incantation.


    "Here, here, and here... there are extremely subtle imbnces in these three positions." Professor Flitwick used the smoky figure to illustrate what he had seen.


    Felix gazed at the image and murmured, "I hadn''t noticed any of this before."


    Professor Flitwickughed heartily, "It''s difficult to notice when you''re researching alone, but in any case, we have a new direction."


    Leaving the office, Felix paid another visit to the Potions Master''s office. He discussed the teaching content for the new school year with Snape and informed him about inviting Professor Flitwick.


    Snape looked at him skeptically, "I thought you might invite that Lupon fellow."


    Felix stared at him without saying a word. Isn''t the reason obvious?


    Perhaps his gaze was too direct, as it left Snape somewhat irritated. "I have things to attend to. If you don''t mind, Felix..."


    ...


    In the evening, Felix was in his office organizing materials for the Runes Club. It wasn''t until Hermione knocked on the door to receive her Runes training that he realized he had missed dinner.


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 Chapter 197: The Three-Dimensional Enchanted Runes Sphere

    Chapter 197: The Three-Dimensional Enchanted Runes Sphere


    Felix Harp waved his wand, conjuring a few tes of snacks. "Please, have a seat. Let''s chat for a moment."


    He naturally picked up a piece of chocte biscuit and put it in his mouth, the taste of chocte revitalizing his spirits.


    Hermione looked at him oddly, wondering if the professor hadn''t eaten dinner.


    "How was your summer?" Felix picked up another biscuit.


    "Very nice! My family and I went to France. I saw many interesting magical things and included them all in my magical history paper," Hermione enthusiastically recounted her summer experiences.


    Felix nodded asionally in agreement. Soon, the tes of snacks were emptied, and with a wave of his wand, the small tes were filled once more.


    "Professor, haven''t you had dinner?"


    "Um... yes, indeed. You should try some, though. The taste is quite exquisite."


    Felix ate until he was content and then paused, leisurely pouring himself a cup of tea. "I saw the postcard you sent. In fact, I also visited France during the break."


    "Really?" The young witch blinked, intrigued. "For a vacation too?"


    "For official matters, I stayed in Paris for a few days. Some things happened during that time..." Felix briefly recounted his own experiences, then asked, "You must have practiced runic scripts during your break?"


    "Of course!" Hermione didn''t want the professor to think she had just yed around the entire vacation. She quickly rattled off, "I packed everything into a bead pouch and carried it with me ¨C runic carving tools, chestnut wood parchment, and even my holiday assignments..."


    "Let me see." She pulled out a small bag from her wizarding robe and tapped her wand on it. Sheets of chestnut parchment flew out, quickly forming a neat stack.


    These parchment sheets were an improved version of chestnut wood, differing in color but otherwise resembling sheepskin parchment greatly.


    Felix picked up the top few sheets; these should represent the young witch''s highest level. He studied the dense runic symbols carefully.


    Hermione exined, "I''ve allocated about a third of them for practicing individual runes, and the rest for practicing runic circuits, just as you instructed. However, for now, I''ve only mastered the circuits used on the bead pouch."


    "You continuously exceed my expectations." Felix generously praised her.


    He led Hermione to a worktable. "Let me be amazed, Miss Granger."


    With a serious expression, Hermione sat down in the chair and picked up her chestnut carving knife. She swiftly carved a rune, her skills much improved after a summer of practice. Her magical power flowed smoothly, free from the stiffness and hesitation of the previous school year.


    Subsequently, one runic symbol after another emerged, the whole process flowing like a stream of water, carrying a touch of elegance.


    Felix''s gaze fixed on the tip of the runic carving knife, observing the agile crimson glow pouring out of it. It resembled a dancing sprite, and he unconsciously recalled the discussion about the Scale-Erging Charm he had with Flitwick earlier that day.


    Bnce of magic;


    And the liveliness he saw now...


    He lightly moved his finger, and the symbols appeared in the air.


    Hermione wrote down seventeen runic symbols in one go. These were the most challenging set of runic circuits she had mastered. "Now, it''s about connecting them one by one. You can do it!" she encouraged herself.


    Carefully, she guided magical lines from the runes, connecting and intertwining them. She was so focused that shepletely ignored the world around her.


    Felix mimicked Hermione''s steps. Runes automatically connected in the air, forming the circuit faster than the young witch,pleting the construction of the entire circuit.


    A sense of aplishment washed over him as he seamlessly linked the circuit from start to finish, forming aplete loop.


    "It feels just like the patterns in a Pensieve during meditation!"


    Felix Harp suddenly had an epiphany. He looked at the ring in his hand, disassembled it, turning it into individual runic symbols, then connected them once more.


    Magic flowed within the ring like ripples in water, embodying an exquisite beauty in its movement and stillness. At this moment, a thought struck him: he wanted to attempt reconstructing theplete Scale-Erging Charm.


    Not the amalgamation he had researched with Flitwick, but the true ancient magic.


    He had already invested a significant amount of time in this magic, and today, inspired twice ¨C once by Flitwick''s theory of magic bnce and once by the sensation of magic liveliness brought by Granger ¨C he felt a surge of inspiration.


    "Perhaps today holds the promise of sess?"


    More symbols appeared. Felix first manifested the known runicponents of the Scale-Erging Charm. A hollow sphere formed,prised entirely of runic symbols...


    Meanwhile, Hermione let out a sigh of relief. "Sessfullypleted the first set of runic circuits," she murmured contentedly, gazing at her work. She could hardly find any mistakes ¨C at least not from her perspective.


    "Carve the rest and astonish the professor." That''s what the young witch thought. Just then, she noticed a bouncing little entity on the edge of the chestnut parchment ¨C something she was familiar with from her time in the Room of Requirement.


    It was unmistakably a runic symbol!


    Hermione hesitated and turned back, "Professor..." Her eyes widened, as if witnessing the unimaginable.


    "Professor has brought the Room of Requirement into reality?!"


    In Hermione''s eyes, Professor Harp was holding aplex hollow sphere, surrounded by hundreds of colorful runic symbols. Moreover, new symbols were emerging continuously, filling almost half the room.


    Her gaze fixated on the iplete sphere. A portion of it was missing, resembling a form of art with a beauty in its imperfection ¨C an art piece she had seen in exhibitions before.


    But Professor Harp clearly did not appreciate this ''imperfect beauty''. He was attempting to restore the sphere. He summoned runic symbols, making them revolve around the sphere''s edge. asionally, one or two symbols would connect to the sphere as if drawn by an invisible force.


    It was only at this moment that Hermione realized the sphere was constructed using runic symbols.


    For a moment, she felt lost. Runic symbols, runic circuits, whates after that, a runic sphere? Despite her confusion, she slowed her actions, and even her breath became barely audible.


    One of the greatest benefits of being an assistant in Ancient Runes ss was that Hermione could continuously refresh her understanding of runes and push her knowledge to new horizons.


    Felix Harp, on the other hand, found himself in a magical state of mind. He could rely on intuition to eliminate certain options and pinpoint the correct runes. He attempted to fill in the missing parts. Progress was smooth, but the only concern was that this ancient magic might contain runes he had not yet mastered...


    The hollow sphere gradually became whole, Felix''s confidence growing. He had an intense premonition that he would seed tonight.


    Time passed, and the surface of the hollow sphere started to shimmer with golden arcs of light, symbolizing his proximity to sess. It appeared that only one rune was missing.


    However, after five more minutes, Felix wiped off a cold sweat. My goodness, could it really be this elusive?


    Just one rune?


    One after another, free-floating runic symbols formed a row, continuously flying by him. The air in the office rippled with a hunting sound.


    "Not this one, nor this..."


    He forced himself to stay calm. Even if he failed this time, it wouldn''t matter much. He was so close to sess, wasn''t he?


    In a state of rxation, a revolutionary idea suddenly urred to him.


    "Why not deduce the missing rune based on the existing gaps?"


    His gaze fixed on the sphere''s single gap.


    The more he thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. He had even analyzed some characteristics of the unknown rune.


    With a direction in mind, he grew even calmer. The swirling magic subsided. He focused most of his awareness on the Room of Requirement, continuously attempting to construct the rune he imagined.


    Soon, the first attempt began. An iplete symbol manifested in the air, barely half-carved before it vanished into thin air.


    A mistake... try again!


    The Room of Requirement could only imagine; it couldn''t prove. But now, he elerated his thought process with the Room of Requirement, striving for more time.


    Unbeknownst to him, he broke the Room''s operational speed, going from threefold to fourfold, continuously ascending.


    One could predict that his next few days wouldn''t be easy...


    From Hermione''s perspective, the construction of the hollow sphere seemed to stall at the final step. Professor Harp began sketching a mysterious symbol in the air repeatedly, with minor variations each time.


    A terrifying conjecture formed in her mind ¨C was Professor Harp creating his own rune?


    What an extraordinary talent!


    Wasn''t she still in the Room of Requirement?


    Half an hour passed. After countless failures, a brilliant golden runic symbol was finally drawn. The instant it appeared, it was drawn towards the hollow sphere, merging with it.


    From the gaps of the hollow sphere burst forth a dazzling golden light. Apanied by a hissing sound akin to metal melting, the gaps slowly sealed, forming aplete sphere.


    With one hand, Felix held the hollow sphere, basking in its golden light. In this moment, all pressure vanished. He felt a sense of unprecedented delight, as if his body and soul had been thoroughly cleansed.


    Hermione stared dumbfoundedly at the scene before her. She suddenly remembered an incident from her childhood when she read the Encyclopedia Britannica. She came across grand names described in beautiful words: genius, great men, heroes, legends...


    She was young then, struggling to hold the oversized book, she asked her father, "Dad, what''s a legend?"


    Her father gently replied, "Perhaps it''s those figures that surpass their era, appearing only once every thousand years."


    "They''re clever? Or they have powers?"


    "I believe it''s more than that. History is full of clever people and those with power."


    "Then what is it?"


    "I can''t say for sure, dear, but at least they''re people who, with the recognition and blessings of countless others, ascend to the pinnacle."


    ...


    She didn''t know why she suddenly thought of this little story, but the notion was like a seed breaking the soil, rapidly growing into a towering tree ¨C


    "If legends are to emerge in this era, it must be Professor Harp, right?"


    Finally, her perspective on the protagonist of the story was clear ¨C four words to describe him, an ancient millennium legend.


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 Chapter 198: Discussion

    Chapter 198: Discussion


    Felix Harp gazed at the golden magical runic sphere. It appeared that he had seeded.


    He had sessfully restored an ancient magic ¨C the Scale-Adjusting Charm. This was truly an extraordinary achievement, one deserving of recognition and celebration. He could even write an autobiography about it or be featured in the Famous Wizards and Witches Cards collection.


    But the question was, was this really the Scale-Adjusting Charm?


    Felix had never seen or heard of such a hollow spherical structure before. As far as he knew, neither had Flitwick. The earliest version of the Scale-Adjusting Charm they had restored together, in coboration with the former Ancient Runes professor, was a twisted ne.


    Until now, Felix had never doubted the authenticity, as the ancient magic he had studied consisted of runic patterns on a t surface. He believed Flitwick felt the same way.


    They had even discussed whether to put in effort to make the patterns smoother...


    As for tonight, it was a stroke of luck that, in a special state, he had stripped away the traces of modern magic. He had let it self-adjust and self-evolve, and the result was that it became more and more askew, more and more distorted, and ultimately transformed into a sphere.


    Perhaps his greatest discovery was the realization of a more stable runic structure?


    Felix looked at the runic sphere in his hand, feeling an itch of curiosity. He really wanted to find a test subject and see what this thing was really capable of ¨C whether it was indeed the Scale-Adjusting Charm. But the only being standing before him was Hermione. He dared not act recklessly.


    The flobberworms with sores on their bodies reminded him how terrible the consequences could be if things went awry.


    Moreover, even without these concerns, he couldn''t guarantee what might happen to the young witch if she touched the golden runic sphere ¨C whether she would grow into a fifty-meter-tall giant or shrink into a thumb-sized flower fairy.


    It might even lead to more peculiar oues...


    Though he was indeed curious, he sessfully suppressed the urge. The Forbidden Forest had plenty of creatures to satisfy his testing needs.


    Professor Flitwick''s advice still held true.


    "Professor? Can I touch it?" Hermione asked curiously, her eyes brimming with anticipation.


    "I''m afraid not," Felix said with a stern face. Seeing the disappointment on the young witch''s face, he exined, "Currently, I''m not certain about its effects. I''m worried there might be irreversible consequences."


    After a moment''s thought, Felix transmitted a dispersing intention to the golden runic sphere. The runic sphere quietly melted into a golden liquid and flowed into his body.


    This greatly surprised him. Almost immediately, Felix took all means to examine his own physical state ¨C everything was normal.


    So, he tentatively invoked the magic. Heat emanated from his right hand, and he stared at his palm, where a shallow blue vortex-like halo appeared.


    Felix infused a bit of magic, and a powerful suction surged out from the vortex, causing chaos in the office.


    He quickly stopped, deciding to try it in a more suitable environmentter.


    But in any case, he realized the exceptional nature of this magic, likely surpassing his initial expectations.


    Hermione was also taken aback. She felt as though she had almost been sucked into that shallow blue vortex, and she became a bit flustered.


    Felix reassured her, "Don''t worry, I can control it well."


    He dispelled the magic, saying in a rxed tone, "In any case, a pleasantly surprising ident urred tonight. I coincidentally stumbled upon a magic. That''s a good thing. But we''ve veered off track; now let me take a look at your work."


    He waved his wand, causing the scattered parchment, quills, and the crooked table to return to their original positions. Amidst it all, Hermione saw three golden, walnut-sized Sneakoscopes.


    Curiously enough, she had seen those same Sneakoscopes just this Tuesday.


    ¡°This is... that Sneakoscope that can target specific people?¡±


    Felix Harp nced at it. "Exactly, it''s a request from someone. Perhaps you''ll encounter it again in a few days."


    "Encounter it again in a few days..." Hermione pondered the meaning of these words.


    When it came to targeting specific individuals, the only one she could think of was...


    "Sirius ck?" she asked in astonishment.


    Felix feigned surprise and sighed. "Well, it''s not like I volunteered this information. Headmaster Dumbledore doesn''t want me to spread it around. Pretend you don''t know, deal?"


    Hermione smirked. "Deal." Then she inquired, "Can I tell Harry?"


    "Oh, no. I have no idea how Dumbledore ns to use these Sneakoscopes. I''d rather not know. Is that settled?" Felix exined.


    Perhaps Dumbledore would just hand the Sneakoscope to Harry and tell him to be cautious. Or maybe he''d secretly hang it in Harry''s dormitory. Or, he might simply hang the three Sneakoscopes at different entrances of Hogwarts...


    In any case, Felix was only responsible for crafting the Sneakoscopes, not their use, and he wasn''t concerned about that. Dumbledore would handle everything.


    Felix picked up Hermione''spleted work on parchment. "Very impressive. It seems you''ve truly mastered the runic circuits on the bead bag."


    "Can I learn new content?" Hermione asked.


    "Of course, you''re fully qualified now." Felix leaned against the edge of the table and scratched his chin.


    "Well... Professor, do you have any suggestions?"


    "While continuing to learn new runes or runic circuits isn''t wrong, I believe it''s best to start by harnessing the power of individual runes. This will help you better understand the entire runic system ¨C that''s been something I''ve been contemtingtely."


    "The power of individual runes?"


    Felix exined, "Yes, remember what I mentioned? When runes were first discovered, it was because they could temporarily store magic and convert it into magical effects."


    "This means that individual runes also represent a part of magic, not just something you write on parchment and connect into runic circuits or craft into runic objects."


    "If that''s the case, what distinguishes runes from alchemical symbols?"


    Hermione thought for a moment and said, "Professor, if I understand correctly, does each rune I''ve learned represent... a spell?"


    She couldn''t help but count on her fingers how many runes she had mastered; there were about a hundred of thembined. If this hypothesis was true, had she unknowingly mastered a hundred spells?


    She hadn''t even learned a hundred spells yet! If it weren''t for her determination to repair the bead bag herself, she could have learned even more runes.


    "It''s not that exaggerated," Felix chuckled softly. "In my view, an individual rune is simply a pattern that carries magic. Most of the time, those so-called magical effects are just simple things like glowing or generating heat, without much practical use. But there are exceptions ¨C"


    He chanted an obscure incantation, and a gentle white light emanated from his palm.


    "This is a rune you just learned, representing ''light.'' It can temporarily rece Lumos, and it''s quite useful if you don''t have your wand at hand."


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 Chapter 199: Ancient and Modern

    Chapter 199: Ancient and Modern


    Hermione seemed to recall something, "Professor, was it this magical script you used inst year''s public ss?"


    "No, in the public ss, I demonstrated genuine ancient magic. It just had this magical script at its core," Felix Harp exined.


    He nced at the time and gently added, "We''re almost done for today. As for delving into the power of individual magical scripts, I''ve scheduled that part for tomorrow. You can try it on your own after you return. There''s no danger, though it might pose some challenges."


    "Challenges?"


    Felix Harp''s lips curled into a slight smile, "If I remember correctly, the effect of one magical script I taught you is quite intriguing. I wonder if you can discover it?"


    Hermione felt a hint of resentment. The professor''s mischievous streak was showing again...


    By this point, Hermione had a grasp of the logic behind the practical ancient magical script system¡ªakin to the dismantled radios she had worked on.


    Magical scripts formed the foundation, equivalent to the electronicponents within a radio; both single magical scripts and electronic parts were rtively independent, capable of showcasing their own characteristics. For instance, the heat generated by a resistor, the light emitted by a small bulb, and the illuminating magical script the professor had disyed.


    These characteristics inherently held no concept of superiority or inferiority, but once subjective judgment entered the picture, distinctions arose. Luminescent characteristics were undeniably more valuable than heating characteristics...


    And magical script circuits corresponded to the circuits within a radio. By now, magical scripts werebined to form circuits, possessing specific magical functions. Like the burst magical script circuit the professor had demonstrated early on.


    She still remembered his description of it as "extremely unstable," indicating that even single magical script circuits were challenging to stabilize.


    Only when multiple magical script circuits coborated could a fully functional magical script creation be crafted, much like her beadwork bag.


    As for ancient magic, her exposure to information was limited, but she tentatively believed it followed a simr rtionship.


    Hermione thought that drawing this analogy made understanding easier. She shared her thoughts with the professor, looking at him with an expectant gaze, "What do you think?"


    Felix Harp returned an approving look, "You''ve summarized it vividly, Miss Granger. For your current level, this interpretation suits well."


    The young witch nodded; she had encountered a wealth of new knowledge today and needed to reorganize her thoughts once she returned.


    ...


    Once Hermione had left, Felix Harp sat on the couch, his harvest from tonight leading him to deeper contemtion on the differences and simrities between ancient and simplified magic.


    His prior assumption was that ancient magic was immensely powerful but difficult to control, while simplified magic, although not overwhelmingly potent, was entirely adequate. Its greatest advantagey in its simplicity and ease of learning, with a lower probability of going awry.


    Yet, in truth, the recement of ancient magic with simplified magic was almost inevitable¡ª


    Simplified magic could essentially be seen as an amalgamation of incantations + spellcasting motions + maniption of magical power.


    ''Incantations'' represented the power of the mind and could be omitted once proficiency was achieved, leading to nonverbal spellcasting;


    As for thetter two¡ª''spellcasting motions'' and ''maniption of magical power''¡ªin most cases, they could be conted.


    This was because, in the system of simplified magic, spellcasting motions and maniption of magical power were intricately linked. Each spellcasting motion corresponded to a method of manipting magical power, which was the essence of the entire simplified magic system.


    This approach brought about remarkable benefits:


    Wizards need not invest extensive time in learning how to manipte and harness their magical power; this knowledge was naturally integrated into the Hogwarts curriculum.


    In theory, once you learned the standard spellcasting motions, you were eligible to master most spells within the same system.


    The reason not all spells are included is that some obscure spellcasting motions have been omitted from the current Hogwarts curriculum. This means young wizards cannot master the magical power maniption behind these motions.


    However, if a professor wishes to provide extra instruction, they could spend more time on new spellcasting motions while exining spells. Young wizards might find these spells slightly more challenging, but they would still manage.


    It''s precisely because spellcasting motions and magical power maniption are closely intertwined that many young wizards are only familiar with the former, while thetter remains elusive. However, this doesn''t hinder their use of magic in the slightest.


    An extreme example would be: some exceptionally talented wizards can grasp corresponding spells by observing them just once, memorizing both the incantation and the motion.


    Moreover, when one bes sufficiently familiar with an incantation, the need for the corresponding spellcasting motion can be eliminated. Everything seems to revert back to the maniption of magical power itself.


    However, the majority of wizards never trulyprehend this process.


    If unsatisfied with the school''s curriculum, the Hogwarts library holds a wealth of resources for young wizards to reference and delve deeper into learning, provided they choose the right books.


    All of the aforementioned considerations are indeed advantages of simplified magic¡ªeasy to learn, self-contained, and with potential for further improvement.


    This is far superior to ancient magic.


    Remember, ancient wizardscked standardized spellcasting motions. Learning an ancient spell meant embarking on an adventure, so they naturally leaned towards mastering magic of a simr type to reduce the risk of learning new spells.


    Furthermore, the ancient wizardry''s apprentice-master tradition,bined with theck of modernmunication, led to severe specialization. Many wizards only mastered a few fire spells in their entire lifetime.


    Felix Harp''s spection indicated that only when he grasped the characteristics of numerous practical ancient magical scripts and theirbinations could he truly harness the might of ancient magic.


    Even a few fire spells, in his hands, could ignite an inferno.


    However, simplified magic isn''t without its drawbacks¡ª


    This approach resulted in an inevitable consequence: for present-day wizards, the older the magic, the harder it is to master.


    This is because some ancient magic inherited the ancient wizards'' understanding of magic, an understanding that shes with the current magical system.


    For instance, the Patronus Charm focuses more on the application of mental strength.


    Furthermore, its method of magical power maniption isn''t epassed by the basic spellcasting motions taught at Hogwarts. This implies that one would have to relearn several, even a dozen, methods of manipting and harnessing magical power, which stumps over ny percent of wizards.


    Felix Harp realized this early on and sought to break free from the constraints of simplified magic.


    He started by delving into books in the library to learn more about manipting and harnessing magical power.


    He even attempted to uncover potent spells from various ancient tomes, mastering and controlling them.


    In truth, this was the path many wizards chose¡ªpursuing powerful magic to enhance their mastery of magical power and understanding of magic.


    Later, Felix Harp set his sights on practical ancient magical scripts, which he believed pointed directly to the essence of magic, and developed his skills to where he is today.


    But now, looking at it, are magical scripts truly the essence of magic?


    In just a year, he had witnessed Slytherin''s blood magic, Ravenw''s memory magic, and Dumbledore''stent talent in transfiguration.


    Everyone was on the right path, though Felix Harp had no doubt that his chosen path held the greatest potential.


    If he were to judge now, the essence of magic was one and only one thing¡ªmagical power, the innate magic within a wizard.


    With magical power, the diverse and colorful world of magic flourished.


    This chapter tied up some loose ends from the original text, though the writing was quiteplex. I''d like to hear your thoughts. If you''re not fond of this pure theoretical exposition, I''ll reduce it in the future.


    Also, just two chapters today.


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 Chapter 200: Trial

    Chapter 200: Trial


    In the early hours of the second day, Felix Harp blinked groggily, his head buzzing like he had a stirringdle plunged into his brain, swirling it ceaselessly.


    He crawled out of bed and floated lightly to the washroom.


    His reflection in the mirror was flushed, as if he had just been pulled out of scalding hot water. He muttered to himself, "The side effects of the Pensieve hit rather quickly."


    Last night, in order to deduce the fragmented runes on the Magical Text Ball, he forcefully increased the Pensieve''s processing speed. Now, the side effects had caught up with him.


    He had anticipated this, of course.


    Exiting the washroom, he nced at the deep darkness outside the window, downed arge vial of potion, which quickly soothed the burning sensation, yet he still felt drained.


    Felixy on his bed until ten o''clock. The constant throbbing in his brain left him with no appetite, and even quiet contemtion seemed impossible. He decided to go for a walk, hoping that the cool breeze might help.


    Unknowingly, he found himself at the edge of the Forbidden Forest, squinting between the dense trees and Hagrid''s hut, torn between choices.


    "Well, since I''m here, why not... test the Shrinking Charm?" his curiosity got the better of him.


    Felix hesitated for only two seconds before strolling leisurely into the forest. However, he draped himself in a cloak that radiated a shimmering magical light when he lightly touched his chest ¨C a cloak crafted from the hide of a serpent-like creature on the inside and a dragon on the outside. With Felix''s careful enchantments, it bore numerous runic circuits and defensive spells, resulting in a light, ethereal creation.


    The forest''s air was humid and gentle, lifting his spirits somewhat as his gaze wandered.


    "A Tebo Wart Hog, or perhaps a red hat," Felix hoped for.


    Following a steep stone path, he descended, and suddenly remembered finding a giant spider''s pincer herest school year. He had nned to fashion a runic carving knife from it, but it had already dried out, devoid of any magical traces. Coupled with his busy schedule, he had forgotten about it.


    Rustling sounds emerged, and Felix looked up to find himself surrounded by a dozen massive spiders. Their intentions were clear ¨C they were ready to pounce.


    Giant spiders...


    "How fortunate to meet you," Felix spoke earnestly.


    The spiders on the opposite side continually manipted their pincers, emitting a clicking sound. He could even hear the scraping of their hard, ck hairs against the ground.


    His ebony wand rested casually in his hand, showing no signs of unleashing powerful spells, yet his left hand quietly radiated a faint blue aura. He infused it with magic, swiftly morphing it into a swirling, spherical vortex.


    At the edge of the vortex, faintly glowing runes could be seen ¨C the embodiment of runic magic within a hollow sphere.


    The nearest eight-eyed giant spider, about the size of a small elephant, leaped into the air.


    Felix extended his hand calmly.


    Above his outstretched palm, the spherical vortex spun vigorously, its internal hundreds of blue magical threads suddenly expanding, enveloping Felix, forming a barrier with a twenty-foot diameter.


    These magical threads spun rapidly around him, weaving an intricate tapestry of magic.


    The spherical vortex in Felix''s hand turned transparent, releasing a fearsome suction force. The eight-eyed giant spider in mid-air had no chance to resist as it was pulled down.


    Upon contact with the outer blue glow, its speed decreased, body shrinking continuously. The processsted less than a second, and then, like a pebble thrown into a pond, it vanishedpletely.


    Felix leaned in to examine closely. Within the colorless, transparent vortex, a tiny spider, the size of a mung bean, clung to its massive pincers, perpetually turning in circles.


    The potent suction had no effect on Felix, but it was very much real and expanding outward.


    "A snap!"


    A massive tree snapped in half, spiraling towards him. As it approached the blue magical weave three meters away, it rapidly shrank into a toothpick. Along with the eight-eyed giant spider perched on it, they both plunged into the spherical vortex.


    It wasn''t just trees and giant spiders; even stones the size of heads whizzed toward him, along with soil, dry branches... Around him, a medley of peculiar objects flew in a frenzied rush.


    Felix Harp contemted and consciously began to manipte the magic. The swirling wind around him dissipated, and swaying branches gradually settled. Yet, the remaining suction force of the vortex concentrated on the remaining eight-eyed giant spiders.


    They somersaulted, flew back in various postures, and were collectively tossed into the vortex.


    All twelve of them, not a single one escaped.


    Felix observed his miniature world with great interest.


    He attempted to halt the rapidly spinning vortex. It obediently stilled, the outeryer of magic returning to the sphere and gently revolving.


    Now he held a transparent sphere, its interior filled with ribbons of blue magic, stretching freely and gliding gracefully.


    Inside the spherical vortex ¨C the captives, the twelve eight-eyed giant spiders ¨C tumbled helplessly. One of them barely clung to the toothpick-sized ancient tree, itsrge pincers wriggling wildly.


    Felix summarized his findings so far¡ª


    First, although he had only tested the shrinking effect, not the erging effect, he could confirm it was undoubtedly the Shrinking Charm. It was not some random concoction, which relieved him and lifted the heaviest stone from his heart;


    Second, the magical effect was quite dramatic;


    "The spherical vortex provides potent suction. The internal bundled magic expands into a web, shrinking everything."


    "Eight-eyed giant spiders aren''t weak, but they''re utterly defenseless against it. This means that most creatures in the Forbidden Forest won''t stand a chance against this magic."


    Felix stared at the ten-yard radius, the now-bald patch of ground, even the soil had sunken a bit, exposing moist brown earth. This was the result of redirecting his focus to the giant spiders midway.


    "The effect on magical creatures should be promising; I won''t have to worry about being outnumbered anymore. As for wizards..." he analyzed inwardly, but then his head was struck by another bout of pain, "Hisss~"


    Felix ceased his actions. He surveyed the scene, deciding to deeply analyze it once he had shaken off the effects of the Pensieve.


    "Next,es the most crucial part¡ª"


    He flicked his finger, and an eight-eyed giant spider was ejected from the vortex. Under his control, its body rapidly expanded, and after a dozen seconds, it had reverted to its original size.


    Therge spider lifted its head. The ominous wizard was observing it, murmuring strange words. "Nothing seems amiss, no deformities, no abscesses. It truly seeded."


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 Chapter 201: Fluffys Offspring

    Chapter 201: Fluffy''s Offspring


    The eight eyes of the Acromant trembled in unison, and its tworge pincers twitched as if they had touched some kind of switch, creating a rapid "tak tak tak tak" sound, all in sync.


    "Um... let''s test the ergement ability again."


    Felix Harp first stunned it with a Stunning Spell, then conjured a thread-like blue magical energy with his wand, flicking it onto the ugly head of the Acromant. Under his control, the Acromant rapidly expanded in size¡ªten feet, twenty feet, thirty feet.


    Felix paused and walked a circle around it.


    "Ergement works as well, and this magic is fully under my control."


    "But it feels rather impractical."


    Felix observed the scene. Who would erge their enemies on the battlefield? Just to make them into conspicuous targets?


    Clearly, there were better ways.


    Felix returned the Acromant to its original state. After a thorough inspection, he shrank it down to the size of his thumbnail. He took out an ordinary, transparent ss bottle from his pocket and put it inside.


    "Mr. Acromant, would you mind staying in there for a while?"


    He then waved his hand to dispel the swirling sphere. A dozen secondster, eleven unconscious giant spidersy around him.


    Seemingly, they were knocked out by the transformation.


    Carefully, he left magical marks on three of the Acromant. With these marks, he could easily locate their nest.


    The location where the Acromant had been lurking was too close to the school. Considering their reckless attacks on humans, the danger was significant. It would be best to have them move a bit farther away.


    Keepingpany with giants wasn''t bad¡ªit was convenient that they were on the other side of the Forbidden Forest.


    But not today. He had juste up with an even better idea.


    ...


    An hourter, Felix Harp held a small ck dog with three heads in his arms as he knocked on Hagrid''s cabin door.


    Hagrid seemed to have just finished eating, with tomato sauce smeared on his beard. He hummed a tune softly.


    He opened the door, revealing a heartyugh. "Felix, your suggestion was really good. The students are responding well... wait a moment!" He suddenly roared, his eyebrows and beard shaking vigorously.


    "Flu... Fluffy..." Tears welled up in Hagrid''s eyes.


    Felix Harp smiled at him. "Exactly, I brought Fluffy¡ª"


    "...And he''s got children!"


    "Huh?" Felix Harp looked at Hagrid with question marks filling his mind, and a headache starting to throb.


    The next moment, he was pulled inside by Hagrid''s massive hand. "Come in quickly, don''t let the little one catch a chill."


    Hagrid pushed him onto a chair. Hisrge figure moved around the cabin in circles, muttering non-stop, "Let me think... let me think... what do three-headed dogs need when they''re young? First, a firece, and some raw meat, luckily there''s a bit of that left... and of course, music can''t be left out! His father loved it when I yed the flute for him. Merlin''s beard, Fluffy actually has children! I waspletely kept in the dark!"


    Felix Harp remained puzzled for a good dozen seconds before he grasped the reason behind things. He interrupted the busy Hagrid with a wry smile, "Hagrid, do you remember that magic of mine? During the summer vacation, I turned a Whomping Willow into a potted nt."


    Hagrid gradually halted his steps and spoke with uncertain tones, "Of course I remember, don''t tell me..." His gaze turned toward the small ck dog in Felix''s arms on the opposite side¡ªit was wagging its tail frantically and looking at him with pitiful eyes.


    He felt an intense sense of familiarity.


    "Yes, I brought you Fluffy, just as I promised."


    Hagrid muttered something iprehensible and then snatched the three-headed dog from Felix''s embrace. He scrutinized it closely.


    The little creature was only half a foot tall, not even filling half of Hagrid''s palm. Its body was like draped ck silk, and its three heads were no bigger than walnuts, emitting pitiful "whimper" sounds.


    Hagrid''s hand trembled. "It really is Fluffy. Look at these paws, this nose. His second head is a bit smaller, it was even smaller when he was born. I thought he might be deformed..."


    Fluffy, the three-headed dog, returned to the embrace of his "old father." Its four plump paws clung to Hagrid, refusing to let go.


    Fluffy''s three heads greedily sniffed the scent on Hagrid''s body. After a while, it suddenly turned its head and barked at Felix with a "woof."


    It''s that guy! The one who suddenly turned me into a tiny thing!


    "Oh my!" Hagridughed even more heartily. "That''s what he used to be called as a pup, learned it from Fang. But when he grew to twice Fang''s size, he stopped calling."


    "You''re happy, Hagrid, and that''s all that matters. I''m not sure if I did the right thing, didn''t think it through too much..."


    "You''re too kind, it''s exactly what I wanted!"


    Seeing that Hagrid couldn''t really intercede on its behalf, Fluffy seemed to settle downpletely. Ity on Hagrid''s shoulder¡ªquite spacious for it now. Soon enough, its three heads began topete for the raw meat that Hagrid handed over.


    "Slow down, slow down, it''s all yours," Hagrid said with a cheerful smile.


    Before leaving, Felix Harp took the rare opportunity to remind him, "Hagrid, if Fluffy grows to about a third of its normal size, you should send him back. His recovery rate will elerate from then on. I''ve strengthened the spell, so you should be able to keep him for about a week."


    "Got it, got it," Hagrid said contentedly.


    Leaving Hagrid''s cabin and returning to the castle, Felix Harp suddenly remembered that he still had a ss bottle with an Acromant inside in his pocket.


    He couldn''t help but hesitate. He really didn''t want to go back again.


    Or maybe just squash it... after all, no one would notice...


    But in the end, Felix Harp decided to return to his office with it.


    Lying on the sofa, hezily watched a movie, but he couldn''t remember anything by the end of it.


    "The side effects of the Room of Thought are quite significant."


    Felix poured himself another dose of potion. For a moment, he felt slightly better; his headache wasn''t as severe. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the crown of Ravenw, cing it on his head.


    A faint, cool sensation radiated from it, soothing his weary mind.


    "It actually works!"


    Felix felt like his ''reasoning'' had taken a vacation and finallye back.


    Sitting up from the sofa, he carefully reviewed the events of the day and couldn''t help but cover his face.


    "So reckless..."


    He quickly went to his worktable andyered protective spells on the ss bottle containing the Acromant.


    "Very well, now even a three-headed dog will need some time to break through." He said with satisfaction. "It''s good timing to record the duration of the spell andpare it with the data from Hagrid''s side..."


    But then he suddenly realized a serious problem, "If I''m not feeling better tomorrow, how am I supposed to teach young wizards?"


    Felix stared at his reflection in the mirror. He was wearing a wide, deep brown men''s hat on his head.


    "Professor''s new style?" Hermione asked, knocking on his office door on time. She couldn''t help but steal a few more nces.


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 Chapter 202: The Time Turner

    Chapter 202: The Time Turner


    "What''s the matter? You seemed a bit angry when you came in just now," Felix Harp said. He appeared almost the same as yesterday, except for therge, deep brown hat perched on his head.


    "Professor, I already know what that ''very intriguing'' magical text is," Hermione emphasized heavily. This morbidly fascinating vocabry was mentionedst night by Professor Harp himself when he suggested she explore the power of individual magical texts.


    "Tell me, let''s hear if your guess is correct," Felix''s mouth curved into a smile.


    "It represents the strength of aurochs, URUZ," she uttered a strange sound, her hand glowing with a faint white light as she looked at him with suspicion.


    "Just as I thought... cough cough! You must have had an interesting experience," Felix remarked.


    "Indeed, it was quite fascinating! I woke up early today to avoid everyone, trying out magical texts in a corner of themon room¡ªsome failures, some sesses..." Her face wrinkled with puzzlement and confusion. "I don''t know why, but Fred and George also sneaked out early, tiptoeing like they were avoiding someone."


    "Uh..."


    "I was using this magical text at the time, heard them walking, lost control for a moment, and I just, I just¡ª" Hermione expressed with frustration, "I broke the armrest of a chair right in front of them."


    Felix struggled to hold back augh and consoled her, "It''s not a big deal, only the two of them saw it."


    "That''s no longer the case," Hermione said mournfully, "They told Lee Jordan."


    Lee Jordan was thementator for the school Quidditch matches, known for his big mouth around the school. Felix had watched a few Quidditch matchesst year and was quite impressed by him.


    "Everything will pass, well, maybe," Felix changed the subject, "Let''s get to today''s main topic¡ªuh, today we won''t be teaching in the Thought Chamber. It''s under renovation, too noisy."


    Hermione looked at him with a puzzled expression. What was the professor talking about?


    "...Exploring the power of individual magical texts can help you be more familiar with the texts themselves. Otherwise, having arge number of them won''t be of much use. This has been my recent insight," Felix said, conjuring a bright red magical symbol on the tip of his index finger. The symbol bounced and hopped in front of the young witch.


    As the magical symbol returned to his palm, Felix closed his hand around it. Hermione half suspected that Professor Harp had squashed the little thing, but he slowly opened his palm, revealing a cluster of small mes burning quietly.


    "To achieve this level is quite sufficient."


    Hermione, who had been slightly discontented before, was nowpletely captivated by the new knowledge. Soon, she started asking one question after another under his guidance.


    With his guidance, in less than half an hour, Hermione mastered the magical text symbolizing ''illumination.'' A pure and gentle light emerged from her hand, albeit thin and faint.


    "Your foundation is solid, Miss Granger. You could certainly y a greater role in the Magical Texts Club."


    Hermione was taken aback by his words, then excitedly asked, "Professor, is the Magical Texts Club starting?"


    "Yes, it is. The announcement will be made next Monday."


    Hermione was eagerly looking forward to the Magical Texts Club. ording to the professor''s previous statements, he would focus on practical knowledge of ancient magical texts.


    For the remaining time, Hermione practiced on her own while Felix flipped through a hefty tome, his fingertips constantly tracing various magical symbols.


    However, Hermione seemed unusually tired, yawning incessantly. She heard the professor''s voice¡ª


    "Did you use the Time Turner today?"


    Startled, Hermione looked over. Professor Harp was peering at her through the pages of the heavy book, his gaze scrutinizing her.


    "What? Um, oh..." She took a while to calm down. "There''s never enough time. I have so many assignments to write, extra magical text practice, and reading some reference books... I''ve already used up six hours just this morning."


    Felix Harp shook his head. "I can imagine how busy you usually are. Are you nning to make one day into two, or perhaps three?"


    Hermione didn''t say anything.


    "Actually, I suggest you drop one or two subjects..."


    "No, I don''t want to give up," Hermione interrupted him, her tone firm.


    "If that''s the case, you might consult Percy Weasley. As far as I know, he obtained twelve certificates in his OWLs exams."


    Hermione nodded, acknowledging the suggestion.


    She was indeed curious about how Percy managed to use the Time Turner. It had only been a week, and she was already feeling exhausted.


    "Can you tell me what it feels like to use the Time Turner?" Hermione noticed Professor Harp hiding his face behind the heavy book and asked calmly. After thinking for a moment, she described her experience, "I felt like I was rapidly moving backward, like flying, but in reality, I hadn''t moved at all..."


    "Do you think the surroundings were moving?"


    "Yes."


    "Besides that, what else did you feel?"


    "I heard some strange sounds, as if there was a drum pounding in my ears. I tried to speak, but I couldn''t hear anything, just saw some blurry patterns, a bit like clouds."


    "Thank you, Miss Granger. Your answers have satisfied my curiosity," Professor Harp said after a short exchange.


    After the brief conversation, the office fell silent. It remained so until Hermione left. After she was gone, Felix Harp set down his book. "The mysteries of time..."


    The next day marked the start of a new week.


    After his first ss, Felix Harp took the opportunity to visit the headmaster''s office and handed over the three Sneakoscopes to Dumbledore.


    "Clever design. I suspect some Trace Charms are involved. Oh, not just that, I can also see elements of Nick''s techniques. It seems like you''ve been in frequentmunicationtely," Dumbledore said. His silver-white beard was twisted up as he peered through the half-moon lenses at the pocket-sized Sneakoscopes.


    "You can tell?" Felix Harp asked, surprised.


    "I was quite the alchemist in my younger days, and Nick offered me some pointers. Unfortunately, I didn''t continue down that path," Dumbledore said regretfully.


    Suddenly, Felix Harp remembered the introduction to this old man he had read on a Chocte Frog card a long time ago. One line echoed in his mind:


    "---Effective coboration with partner Nics mel in alchemy."


    So, the headmaster was skilled in alchemy as well? Felix thought about the glimpses he had caught of the Put-Outer.


    He realized he only had a superficial understanding of Dumbledore''s past. Yes, he knew about defeating the dark wizard Grindelwald, containing Voldemort, and a series of papers he published in his youth.


    But what else was there? He knew the headmaster liked sweets, enjoyed chamber music and Gobstones.


    Felix couldn''t help but let his imagination run wild.


    "No problem, Felix. You''ve done excellently," Dumbledore said once he was satisfied. After confirming everything, Felix took his leave.


    "If there''s nothing else, I''ll be on my way, Headmaster Dumbledore."


    "Other than expressing my gratitude, nothing else, Felix," Dumbledore said, "Oh, by the way, your hat is quite charming."


    Felix left with a stern face, refusing to respond to thement. As he departed, he caught a glimpse of the portrait of Headmaster Phineas Nigellus ck gesturing at him, seemingly subtly reminding him not to forget their conversation from a week ago.


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 Chapter 203: The Magical Script Clubs Recruitment

    Chapter 203: The Magical Script Club''s Recruitment


    Later in the afternoon, a brand-new poster was hung on the bulletin board, and from quite a distance, one could clearly read the title on it¡ªRecruitment Notice for the Magical Script Club!


    A group of young wizards gathered around the bulletin board, and an enthusiastic student read aloud for everyone to hear:


    "We are recruiting the first batch of members for the Magical Script Club, with the following requirements (choose any one of the three, selection will be based on merit):


    Roughly master thirty practical ancient magical scripts (to the extent of repairing magical puppets), or be proficient in one practical ancient magical script (see illustration below);


    Independently create an alchemical item;


    Focus on ''Exploration of Ancient Magical Scripts'' andplete a seven-foot-long essay (alternative reference book list attached).


    Selection time: thest Saturday morning of this month; Location: Ancient Magical Script ssroom;


    ¡ªHead of the Magical Script Club: Felix Harp, born on September 7, 1993."


    Beneath the poster, there was a moving image and a lengthy book list.


    Harry, Ron, and Hermione squeezed to the front of the crowd, carefully examining the text and illustrations.


    "I think the first requirement is the easiest to fulfill," Ron said, staring at the end of the first item. "It''s thest sentence¡ªjust needing to be proficient in one practical ancient magical script."


    His words elicited a chorus of agreement.


    "Not at all!" Hermione retorted sharply. She pointed to the animated image on the bottom left of the poster¡ªa young wizard holding a magical symbol, which promptly transformed into a burst of mes. "It''s the most difficult of all the requirements. In fact, I believe the third requirement is the simplest."


    "Are you kidding, Hermione? It''s a seven-foot essay, seven feet!"


    "My eyesight is just fine, Ron. In fact, I''ve written longer essays."


    Many students recognized this assistant from the Ancient Magical Script ss, especially those who had taken the elective for more than a year. They were familiar with her handwriting.


    Privately, many peopleined that the second-year Gryffindor was the actual professor of the Ancient Magical Script ss, because her delicate handwriting often appeared on the assignments for this ss, spanning five different years.


    "Miss Granger, I hope you can exin the meaning and difficulty level of each requirement in detail," seventh-year Percy appeared. He had a badge on his chest symbolizing his role as the head of the boys'' student council. His tone was dignified and formal. "Your words will be a powerful reference."


    Ron whispered to Harry, "Look at him, he''s like the spokesperson for the Ministry of Magic, just missing the protruding belly."


    Harry nced at Percy, then imagined Percy with Uncle Vernon''s belly¡ªa mental image that made him burst intoughter.


    Seeing everyone''s attention on her, Hermione said nervously, "Oh, of course. Professor Harp''s Magical Script Club ces greater emphasis on practical magical scripts. His three requirements revolve around this point."


    "The first requirement assesses proficiency in practical magical scripts. Based on what I know¡ªI mean, I''ve seen your assignments¡ªmany students from fifth year and above meet the criteria, except for thatst sentence!"


    "The second requirement is understandable, but to meet the professor''s standard, you''d definitely need to use more alchemical symbols and practical magical scripts."


    "The third requirement examines the understanding of practical magical scripts. Personally, I think¡ªit''s the simplest way and the best choice for students below fifth year..."


    After a dozen minutes, Hermione finally broke free from the crowd and found Harry and Ron waiting at a distance.


    "My goodness, this is the first time I''ve been treated with such enthusiasm!" Hermione said, unsure whether she was pleased or annoyed.


    Ron muttered to the side, "I wouldn''t mind trading ces with you."


    "Let''s go, we should head to the Great Hall for dinner," Harry suggested.


    At that moment, a voice interjected¡ª


    "Thus, you Muggle-borns have just stepped into the limelight!" Draco Malfoy appeared seemingly out of nowhere, wearing a sickly expression on his face. By his side stood Pansy Parkinson, along with his unwaveringckeys, Crabbe and Goyle.


    "Shut your mouth, Malfoy! Maybe you should be more concerned about exining to your dear old dad how you''re hanging out with your Death Eater friends," Ron sneered.


    Draco''s expression darkened; Ron had struck a nerve. Ever since his thoughtlessmentst Tuesday, after three days of brooding, his father had sent a strongly-worded letter, forbidding him from mentioning any topic rted to the Dark Lord.


    "Get this person out of your memory, understand! Otherwise, I''ll bring you back." That''s how the sentence in the letter went.


    Draco paid no attention to Ron. He looked at Harry and said, "If I were you, I''d spend more time with that big oaf. You might only find him in Knockturn Alley in the future."


    Harry replied without hesitation, "Hagrid won''t get fired."


    "Just wait and see, Potter." Draco smirked coldly and turned to Hermione. "You Muggle-borns have a bit of cleverness, but what else can you do besides rote memorization?"


    "I can do a lot more. Do you want to try?" Hermione produced a strange syble from her mouth, and a faint halo appeared over her palm.


    "She''s also ranked first in all subjects on the second-year ''Answer Sheepskin Parchment'' leaderboard. Yes, to you, that''s nothing... Oh, right, she might even be one of your examiners if you want to join the Magical Script Club," Ron taunted him.


    Draco felt as ufortable as if he had swallowed a dead fly. He spoke slowly, "What a shame, it seems you''ve won the Daily Prophet''s grand prize in fortune-telling, making you noticeably more confident..."


    "Draco, don''t pay attention to these lowlifes. My grandfather''s servants are wealthier than their entire family. Being on par with them is the greatest humiliation I''ve ever faced in my life," Pansy Parkinson said haughtily as she pulled him away.


    Ron furrowed his brow and said incredulously, "Are they insane? Why is their presence always so unpleasant?"


    Even after dinner and back in themon room, Ron was still bothered by the incident. "Ruined my good mood for the day, Hermione. I mean it, if you be one of the examiners in the selection... hey! Keep your cat away from me!"


    Less than three feet away from him, a ginger-furred, squashed-faced big cat was crouching down, its gaze fixed on his pocket.


    Hermione grumpily picked up her cat. "Crookshanks, behave." She sat down on the other side of the small round table.


    Harry looked down at a piece of parchment covered with names and various lines connecting them.


    Hermione nced at the content and worriedly said, "Harry, are you still preupied with that fugitive?"


    "I just can''t understand how my dad could pick that guy as his best man!" Harry pounded the table in frustration. Even though nearly a week had passed, he couldn''t forget his anger at that moment.


    Hermione tried to console him, saying, "People can change, Harry."


    Curious, Ron asked, "I remember you said you were going to talk to Professor Lupin on Saturday for information. What happened?"


    Harry sighed dejectedly. "I didn''t meet him. Professor Lupin was sick. I knocked on his door for ages, and he finally replied in a hoarse voice."


    "But he didn''t outright refuse you, did he? Try again when you get the chance, after ss or maybe the next weekend," Ron suggested.


    Harry nodded; he was thinking the same thing. There was supposed to be a lesson in Dark Arts Defense today, but Professor Lupin looked too worn out. Harry didn''t want to ask for a favor while the professor was teaching; he was afraid Lupin might copse during ss.


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 Chapter 204: Correspondence and Research

    Chapter 204: Correspondence and Research


    Ron leaned over to look at the parchment, surprised, and said, "Why is my dad''s name on here?"


    On the parchment, the names of James Potter and Sirius ck upied the center, branching out to various rted individuals from their names. For example, James led to Harry, and from Harry, various sources of information emerged, like "Mr. Weasley," "Minister Fudge," and "Professor Lupin."


    Harry exined, "Before we got on the train, Mr. Weasley warned me about Sirius and made me promise not to seek him out. He must know more."


    "Should I write a letter to my dad?" Ron asked hesitantly, clearly nervous.


    "I think¡ª"


    "Potter! Come over here," Professor McGonagall entered from outside, motioning to Harry.


    The two of them spoke quietly in the corner, Harry''s voice growing more excited.


    After a while, he returned, cing a disillusionment charm on the table and using a quill to add a new name to the parchment: "Professor McGonagall."


    "She knows too, but treats me like a child," he said with frustration.


    Hermione looked at the tiny disillusionment charm and suddenly said, "This was made by Professor Snape,missioned by Dumbledore. It contains a strand of Sirius ck''s hair."


    She had promised Professor Snape not to reveal this earlier, but since the charm was already in Harry''s hands, there was no need to hide it anymore.


    Harry chuckled in exasperation, "So, everyone is trying to keep me in the dark?"


    "Don''t be that way, Harry. They have their reasons. But we can also investigate the past ourselves, can''t we?" Hermione said.


    Ron widened his eyes, "Do you even know what you''re saying, Hermione?"


    "This is important, Ron. We might be able to glean valuable information from it. Like what kind of magic Sirius ck was skilled in. In case we cross paths, it''s better to know something rather than nothing." Hermione assigned tasks with confidence, "Ron, write to your dad, and Harry, focus on Professor Lupin."


    "What about you?" Ron asked sensitively.


    "I''ll ask Professor Snape if he knows anything. But chances are slim; he was already out of Hogwarts when Harry''s father attended." Hermione counted on her fingers, "Oh, and there''s Hagrid. Remember? The night Malfoy got hurt, we went tofort Hagrid, and he ended up kicking us out."


    Ron nodded approvingly, "That''s a good move. Hagrid is a bbermouth; he''ll spill the beans."


    Harry suddenly reminded them, "Snape definitely knows as well. He hated my dad and probably Professor Lupin too. Maybe we could¡ª"


    "That''s a good idea. Let''s go ask him¡ª''Dear Professor Snape, were you ever beaten to a pulp by someone named James Potter when you were in school? We''re interested in learning about one of his friends...''" Harry was left speechless.


    Neville walked in, holding a letter in his hand. He looked around and approached the trio.


    "Grandmother''s letter, addressed to Professor Snape. I don''t know if I should give it to him," Neville''s round face showed hesitation.


    ...


    Felix Harp saw this letter the next day. In front of Neville, he opened the envelope and pulled out the letter.


    Neville stared at him, unblinking. "What did she say?"


    "She''s inviting me to Madam Puddifoot''s Tea Shop this weekend for a conversation," Felix Harp smiled.


    Neville swallowed nervously, "C-Can Ie along? It''s about me, isn''t it?" He managed to get out the script Harry, Ron, and Hermione had prepared for him the day before.


    "Oh, no, you can''t. You''re not allowed in Hogsmeade yet."


    ...


    "You agreed just like that? Without putting up a fight?" Harry eximed, eyes wide.


    "I, I..." Neville stammered, "I think Professor Harp made a valid point. I''m really not allowed in Hogsmeade Vige."


    "You could have asked him to take you along; he''s a professor!"


    "I didn''t think of that at the time..." Neville scratched the back of his head.


    Harry stewed in his frustration.


    Meanwhile, Felix Harp was engrossed in observing a ss jar.


    Three days had passed, and the acromants inside were now the size of walnuts.


    "I know you can understand me, Mr. Acromant," Felix Harp said.


    "Wizard, what do you want?" the acromant growled, its massive pincers clicking menacingly.


    "A lot of things, but I need your cooperation."


    "Impossible, wizard, you cannot insult me." It snapped, waving its pincers angrily.


    If it had maintained its original size, this would probably have been quite intimidating.


    Felix Harp smiled, "I should remind you, you attacked me first. I spared you because you''re still useful. If that changes..."


    The acromant grew nervous, recalling the fear of being tormented (shrunken) by this wizard, "So, you''ll let me go?"


    "If you''re satisfactory, why not? Do you look appetizing to me?"


    "Fine, I agree." It quickly changed its tune.


    "Next, I will use magic to gradually stimte you, aiding your recovery. You must describe the corresponding sensations. Understand?"


    "...Understood."


    In Felix Harp''s view, a blue magic resided within the acromant, appearing highly organized, like chains obstructing its body''s restoration. Yet, this magic was dissipating at an excruciatingly slow rate.


    After all, this magic was a finite resource, and the acromant was inherently magical, containing its own magic and struggling to shed the constraints on its body.


    As the process progressed, its speed elerated. From the data collected over the past three days, the transformation took ce between 5 to 8 days.


    ''If I could have my magic automatically absorb free magic, could I maintain existence indefinitely?'' Felix Harp spected, though it was entirely unrealistic. At least, currently, he couldn''t even touch a shadow.


    Felix Harp carefully probed. The blue magic remained stable, seemingly disinterested in its former master. Instead of using a resizing spell to undo the magic, he infused his magic into the acromant, helping it resist and erode the blue chains.


    Threads of blue mist emerged from the acromant''s body. Soon, it had shrunk to the size of a watermelon. But it didn''t dare move, letting Felix Harp prod and poke.


    Every few minutes, Felix Harp would inquire about its sensations.


    "How does it feel?"


    "I feel nothing."


    After a while¡ª


    "Now?"


    "It''s like stepping into a den from sunlight. My body feels much morefortable." The acromant favored cold and damp environments.


    "It was ufortable before?"


    "The transformation process was painful, extremely disorienting. But after a while, I couldn''t feel it anymore. I thought that''s how I''d remain." The acromant spoke.


    Felix Harp looked at it in mild astonishment. He knew acromants couldmunicate in humannguage, but he didn''t expect them to express themselves so clearly.


    "Do you guys chat in English and hold tea parties? Or did Aragog teach you?" Felix Harp asked curiously.


    "I don''t know what you''re saying. It''s Aragog who taught us," the acromant replied.


    Felix Harp understood somewhat. Wild acromants definitelycked this ability. Being linked to Aragog, who was raised by Hagrid, made all the difference.


    This led him to some new thoughts¡ªperhaps he could domesticate them?


    When he delicately broached this idea to Hagrid, thetter burst intoughter, "Hogwarts is already doing that! I visit every month or so to check on Aragog. He''s quite old; he might not have much time left. I also extract some venom from the acromants¡ªit''s good stuff, and a portion of the school''s expensese from it. But Aragog never lets me take too much; he''s concerned about his descendants'' hunting needs..."


    Felix Harp stared at Hagrid in astonishment; this waspletely different from what he''d imagined.


    Hagrid cheerfully added, "Finally, there''s something you didn''t know, Felix. Most of the intelligent creatures in the Forbidden Forest maintain connections with Hogwarts. Dumbledore assigned me this responsibility."


    "Like unicorns; I bring them some herbs and remedies. They don''t mind me taking a bit of their hair. The good stuff is taken by Ollivander, what''s left isn''t very useful. I use it to make pads, rags, and such. Very practical..."


    "Or the centaurs; they act as a barrier for the Forbidden Forest, alerting me if werewolves, giants, or dangerous creatures approach. If they encounter something they can''t handle, they inform me. They''re skilled healers, different from wizards, but they''re useful sometimes. As for centaur divination, that''s not my expertise..."


    "nts are the same. Professor Sprout scatters seeds into the Forbidden Forest every year."


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 Chapter 205: The Seventeenth Dueling Lesson of Flitwick

    Chapter 205: The Seventeenth Dueling Lesson of Flitwick


    For young wizards at Hogwarts, the Dueling ss held on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month was not just a ss but a grandpetitive social event that invigorated both the body and mind.


    In the eyes of many, this ss had the potential to rival even Quidditch matches. At least here, they could actively participate instead of being mere spectators on the field.


    The Great Hall was bustling with people. Before the professor arrived, students gathered in small groups, engaging in spirited conversations. Harry saw Percy enthusiastically recounting how he achieved twelve OWLs certificates, and Hermione''s eyes lit up beside him.


    "I''ll be back in a moment," Hermione told Harry and Ron.


    They watched as she navigated through the crowd, speaking in hushed tones to someone. Percy, who was nearby, initially paid little attention, but his eyes soon widened. The twins quickly moved past the crowd and headed toward a corner of the hall where four long tables were arranged.


    As they passed the twins, Percy stopped to warn them, "I don''t know how you managed to evade my sight, maybe you used a tracking spell or something¡ª"


    The twins exchanged a nce, and Fred winked, saying, "Did you hear that, George? A tracking spell... What a productive day it''s been!"


    George made an exaggerated bow, hand ced behind his back. "Noble behavior, Percy! Just to contribute to the grand mischief-making cause, we''ll make sure to leave you with a name."


    "About as big as a palm¡ª"


    "No, the size of a badge will do. We''ll just write ''Big-Headed Boy,'' and it''ll be crystal clear."


    Harry chuckled softly from a distance. Quickly shifting his gaze, he looked at Ginny beside him. Her face turned quickly red, seemingly as though she might faint into the arms of her good friend, Luna Lovegood.


    "Do you need me to tell you a cheesy joke?" Luna said, her wide eyes staring off abruptly. Harry was used to her entric manner; he knew she was always like this.


    "Do you have any profound insights, Luna?" Harry hurriedly nced in Percy''s direction. They were now standing beneath a suit of armor, speaking in low voices.


    "Your mind is all jumbled up, probably infested by a group of migratory botflies...," Luna said earnestly, shaking a bracelet on her wrist. "I can help you get rid of them."


    "How do I do that?" Harry said, catching a glimpse of Professor Flitwick''s figure at the entrance of the hall.


    "You need to calm down first, be less attractive to the botflies..."


    "Thanks, but I don''t think my mind has those peculiar things in it." Harry interjected quickly.


    Professor Flitwick and Snape entered the hall, as expected. No, there was another professor, Professor Felix Harp, whom he had overlooked.


    Hermione returned hastily from a distance, and the young wizards positioned themselves by their houses as the professors entered.


    Felix Harp gave himself a sonorous boost and boomed, "Wee back to Dueling ss, young wizards! I see many familiar faces and quite a few new ones..."


    In front of their respective houses, rows of students looked on with curiosity and restraint. Among them were the first-year students of each house. Harry noticed a young witch named Romilda Vane who was gazing intently at Professor Harp.


    "Before we begin today''s lesson, allow me to introduce our third permanent Dueling professor, Pheus Felix Harp!"


    The diminutive Felix Harp took a few steps forward. He was dressed formally in a crisp suit, elegantly twirling his wand as if it were a conductor''s baton.


    Lively cheers erupted from Ravenw, apanied by bursts of sparks that converged to form the symbol of the eagle, emblematic of Ravenw house.


    Harry thought they must have taken inspiration from the parchment designs. The two looked remarkably simr.


    Students from other houses were also pping fervently. When it came to poprity, Felix Harp was undoubtedly the most favored among the four house heads.


    "Thank you, thank you¡ª" Felix Harp was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes. He pulled out a handkerchief embroidered with the Ravenw crest and dabbed his eyes, "I''m overwhelmed today, it''s like standing at the podium for the first time."


    Today was Felix Harp''s special day, and both Felix and Snape deliberately downyed their presence, allowing Harp to shine. After bowing to the two professors, Harp began to exhibit his spell-casting skills, turning it into an art form in his hands.


    After a few minutes of showcasing his skills, Felix Harp got down to business. He flicked his wand, causing billowing bronze-colored smoke to emanate from its tip. The smoke coalesced into vague humanoid figures, standing on a gilded stage.


    These bronze figures were paired off, facing each other as if engaged in duels. Each pair featured a shorter wizard, presumably Felix Harp himself.


    The young wizards carefully counted ¨C there were a total of seventeen pairs.


    Felix Harp''s high-pitched voice echoed, "Allow me to retrieve memories of my moments of glory. This dates back more than sixty years... After seventeen duels, I earned the title of Wizard Dueling Champion for the year 1931."


    He waved his wand, causing the first pair of bronze figures toe to life. The tall wizard cast a spell, while the shorter figure retaliated with a head lowered, quickly defeating the opponent with a single strike.


    Felix Harp acted as amentator, saying, "Did you see that? My opponent underestimated me. He thought my small stature meant I was likely not skilled, but this was one of the easiest victories I achieved."


    "Short-lived, yet brilliant. There''s much to learn from this..."


    "First lesson, never underestimate your opponent in a duel. Many of you might think this, but only a few wizards truly embody it."


    "And what else? Yes, seize the opportunity. I didn''t remain defensive; I counterattacked opportunistically. This also reminds us that wizards are most vulnerable when they''re on the offensive. You must protect yourself and leave room for maneuvering."


    "Now, it gets a bit tougher. Anyone knows? A hint ¨C it''s rted to my unique height." Felix Harp looked expectantly at the young wizards in the audience.


    Harry''s eyes brightened; he had heard a simr expression from Professor Snape!


    He was the first to raise his hand. When called upon, he said with excitement, "Craft abat style that suits you best, leveraging your personal traits."


    Felix Harp smiled, "Excellent, Potter! Yes, personal traits are crucial. Each of us is unique; you must ept everything about yourself, the good and the not-so-good..."


    "I used to be troubled by my height and build. Most of the time, I had to look up in duels. Being shorter had its disadvantages, too. My movement speed wasn''t as fast, and my arm length was limited, making it easier for opponents to gauge the range of my spells."


    The young wizards listened attentively, curious to know how Professor Harp resolved these challenges.


    "¡ªBut I emerged from that shadow. I embraced my imperfections, and eventually, my height became an advantage. Few wizards have experience dueling someone of my stature. They often make mistakes dealing with me, either due to mentality or habit."


    "My build made it easier for me to dodge spells. I no longer focused solely on speed but developed a more agile footwork..."


    Felix Harp spoke with a touch of sentiment, prompting enthusiastic apuse from the audience. He heard someone from his house shout, "Headmaster, you''re the best!" He couldn''t help wiping his eyes again.


    "Next, let''s move to the second duel. I encountered someone quite intriguing, and weter became friends."


    ...


    Over an hour passed. Using his personal experiences, Felix Harp painted vivid dueling scenes, leaving the young wizards feeling enriched.


    Harry even thought he could put down these words without changing a single one and hand them over to Professor Snape.


    But such things were just wishful thinking.


    Felix walked to the center of the gilded stage, smiling, "There''s just under half an hour left. After consulting with the two professors, we''ve decided to switch to practical guidance."


    "Students will select a professor for one-on-one guidance. After a whole year and a summer break, many of you should be confident in your abilities..."


    He surveyed the room, observing the eager faces.


    "Well, then, let''s show what you''ve got!"


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 Chapter 206: Guiding the Battle

    Chapter 206: Guiding the Battle


    Young wizards gazed at each other, but not a single one volunteered to step onto the stage.


    Below, a cacophony of whispers filled the air.


    This was a chance to face off openly with a professor, but the question remained: Who should they choose?


    Felix Harp chuckled softly. "Who among you is willing to give it a try? Opportunities like this are rare."


    Harry felt a tickle inside, his lips dry. He had undergone Professor Harp''s special training during the summer break, and he knew very well the vast gap that existed between them. However, he could never quite quantify just how wide that gap truly was.


    And just now, a sudden thought urred to him. Could he gain the insights he desired through one-on-one guidance?


    In the midst of his hesitation, the first person stepped forward¡ªPercy Weasley.


    He bowed with solemnity. "As the head boy of Gryffindor, I''m more than willing to set an example for others."


    "Excellent, Weasley. Which professor do you choose?" Felix encouraged, his gaze fixed upon him.


    "Professor Flitwick," Percy replied without hesitation.


    He had made up his mind beforeing up. Among the three professors, Snape was universally recognized as unfriendly to Gryffindors, and while facing him might not be life-threatening, embarrassment was inevitable; ruling Snape out.


    Hagrid didn''t use his magic frequently, but his Disarming Charm fromst year left a deep impression. Percy worried that Hagrid might use a spell of that magnitude on him; ruling Hagrid out as well.


    With this consideration, Professor Flitwick seemed to be the most suitable choice. He had an affable and gentle personality, wasn''t overly strict with young wizards, and rarely deducted points.


    Flitwick had disyed ease in guiding students during dueling lessons the previous school year, never leaving them feeling disheartened.


    "I choose Professor Flitwick," Percy reiterated.


    Soon, Flitwick and Percy stood face to face. Flitwick reminded him, "Remember what I''ve told you before." He had spent over an hour detailing his own fighting style.


    Percy nodded. Both raised their wands and saluted, and then the duel officially began.


    Percy made the first move, sending a Disarming Charm soaring through the air, but Flitwick simply tilted his head to dodge it, his eyes focused unwaveringly on his opponent''s wand.


    Almost simultaneously, a bright incantation shot toward Percy. Luckily, he had rehearsed before taking the stage. After casting the Disarming Charm, he instinctively jumped to the side, simultaneously uttering the incantation for the Shield Charm.


    "Protego Armorum!"


    The Shield Charm took form just in time to intercept Flitwick''s spell.


    "Nicely countered, Percy," Flitwick praised. He consciously controlled the pace of his attacks. Nearly three minutester, he decisively employed an Impediment Jinx, defeating Percy.


    Flitwick critiqued, "Your spellwork is quite proficient, and you possess your own logic, but it''s evident that youck practical experience. Your reactions under pressure were a bit hasty."


    Percy freed himself from the bindings, smoothed the wrinkles from his robes, and with formality, said, "Thank you, Professor Flitwick. I''ll keep that in mind for the future."


    He bowed and stepped down from the gilded tform, Gryffindor''s young wizards cheering with excitement.


    "We''re the first ones!"


    "Percy, how did it feel facing the professor? Did you feel the pressure?" someone asked him.


    Percy exined, "Certainly, there was some pressure, but you don''t have time to dwell on it. You must remain entirely focused."


    With the first person bravely taking the plunge, the young wizards became increasingly eager. Timidness faded away as swiftly as dawn, and soon the second student was standing on the gilded stage.


    Again, a Gryffindor student, Oliver Wood, tall and robust, was the captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team.


    He scratched his head in embarrassment. "I, I choose Professor Harp."


    Felix Harp and him saluted each other. Wood mumbled, "Professor, please go easy on me. You''re the one I fear the most."


    "Then why choose me?"


    "Hey, heh, since I''m graduating soon, boasting about facing you sounds pretty impressive." Wood said, a bit sheepishly.


    Impressive, quite the choice of words¡­


    As the duel began, Wood still shouted enthusiastically, "Expelliarmus¡ª"


    A beam of red light zipped past his hair, extinguishing the words behind it. The spell''s force made his hair stand on end.


    He gazed at Professor Harp, wondering if being hit by that would literally cleave him in two. Looking back at him, the professor nodded with an encouraging smile.


    "I¡­"


    Soon, the students witnessed aplete domination. In the initial moments, Wood hadn''t even managed to cast a full spell; his attempts constantly disrupted by silent casting.


    It wasn''t until Wood closed his eyes, and almost recklessly muttered the Disarming Charm, that the duel regained normalcy.


    Professor Harp ceased preventing Wood from casting spells. They engaged in a back-and-forth, firing spells of various colors.


    Professor Harp employed the duel strategy he had discussed in previous dueling lessons: defense/evade¡ªcounterattack. Each action had a theoretical basis, and with Flitwick''s prior words in mind, they had a more profound understanding. Even the first-year students could sense something.


    Seven or eight minutester, sweat-drenched Wood conceded. As per tradition, Felix offered feedback, "Wood, youck fluency in nonverbal spells. Your duel intentions are too conspicuous, and youck a consistent approach."


    "In your recent performance, you cast twelve different spells. These included dueling spells like Expelliarmus and Protego, as well as minor jinxes like the Leg-Locker Curse and the Tickling Charm. Among them, you cast Expelliarmus three times, Protego twice, the Leg-Locker Curse twice, and the Tickling Charm once¡­


    "It''s not that you can''t use minor jinxes, but you must choose your spells carefully. For instance, the Leg-Locker Curse can''t directly control your opponent. This means you waste excellent opportunities for initiating and hitting your target.


    "Moreover, your spellsck a distinctive impact, which indicates ack of mainline spells¡­"


    Wood humbly epted the advice, wiping the sweat from his face.


    Next, Gryffindor students were eager to step up, but the other three houses protested. A Slytherin student took a stand, a seventh-year prefect named Jeffrey.


    "Professor Snape, please provide guidance to a student," he respectfully requested.


    Snapeid down his fork and withdrew his wand from his ck robe, his robes billowing as he walked to the center.


    Facing the Slytherin student, Snape evidently held back. Otherwise, ording to his temper, he might have simply cast a spell to knock his opponent down. However, this time, he seldom attacked, choosing instead a defensive posture.


    Jeffrey''s first spell hit the ground three feet away from Snape. With a cold expression, Snape scolded, "Are you worried about identally hitting me, Jeffrey? Use every spell you can think of to attack. Dueling is a serious matter!"


    Next, Jeffrey began his attacks from various angles, sending spells of different colors towards Snape. The young wizards witnessed a spellbinding disy of defensive teaching.


    Snape rarely used protective spells like Protego. His eyesight was exceptional, easily deflecting iing spells. Confronting a cloud of seemingly dark mist, he pointed his wand at it, turning it into a cloud of white mist.


    Stepping out of the mist, Snape''s vague face grew clear. He gradually approached Jeffrey, casually deflecting the spellsing his way and sending them off course.


    Soon, Jeffrey found himself backed against the stage''s edge, forced to concede.


    "Absolutely fantastic! Did you all see that?" The Slytherin students erupted in enthusiastic apuse.


    Harry couldn''t resist his yearning any longer and rushed onto the tform.


    Snape looked at Harry, a sneer on his face, and spoke in a lowered voice only they could hear, "Couldn''t hold back any longer, could you? Just like your father, always seeking the limelight. Maybe this makes you feel special, enamored with being seen as a savior¡­"


    "I don''t think of myself as special. Everything just seems to find me!" Harry retorted. "Like Sirius ck, who escaped from Azkaban, I had no prior knowledge of him."


    "Don''t mention that nauseating name," Snape replied coldly.


    Harry spoke with certainty, "I''ve seen records from your student days. You didn''t get along, but there must be deeper reasons behind it¡­"


    Snape''s expression became enigmatic, his lips tightly pressed as if restraining spiteful words.


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 Chapter 207: Harrys Duel

    Chapter 207: Harry''s Duel


    Harry pressed on, his voice determined. "You must know something¡ª"


    Snape waved his wand, murmuring "Muffliato," rendering their conversation unheard by those around. He spoke deliberately, each word cutting through the air, "You''re always meddling, Potter! A few praises and you believe yourself the Chosen One. Were it not for your mother''s sacrifice, you''d be nothing."


    A mixture of emotions churned within Harry''s stomach¡ªgratitude and sorrow. He was relieved that his gamble had paid off; Snape indeed held more secrets. Yet, his heart ached at the mention of his mother. What could there be that he didn''t already know? Snape continued his unabashed mockery, depicting Harry as a mere survivor, a thief of unearned renown, causing his lungs to feel as though they might burst.


    His grip on his wand tightened, an urge to curse Snape with a Bat-Bogey Hex almost overwhelming him. The name of the spell seemed fitting for Snape, who resembled a rather unsavory,rge bat.


    Snape noticed Harry''s gesture, cold eyes narrowing with an intent that was far from benevolent. "Do you wish to engage, Potter? I''m willing to give you that opportunity..."


    Harry drew in two sharp breaths, then stiffly replied, "No, I seek something other than you." He took a few steps back, turning to Felix not far away. With conviction, he dered, "I choose Professor Harp."


    Snape''s expression disyed astonishment. In his calctions, Potter''s nature should have been easily provoked, giving him an excuse to publicly chastise the young wizard.


    Truth be told, he was eagerly anticipating that moment.


    But thisd had actually declined. How dare he!


    Snape reluctantly retreated to the edge of the stage. Felix and Harry now stood face to face, their wands at the ready.


    In a low voice, Harry began, "Professor, if I manage to hold out for two minutes, would you promise me something?"


    Felix gazed at him and chuckled, "Like during our special training?"


    "Exactly," Harry quickly affirmed. He hadn''t really expected to glean information about his father and Sirius ck from Snape; that had been more of a fortunate ident. Now, he was executing his true n. "Just like when I seeded for the first time, would you join me to examine the Firebolt crossbow prototypes at Quality Quidditch Supplies?"


    "I went easy on you that time to boost your confidence," Felix remarked.


    "I know, but I''ve improved," Harry asserted.


    After a brief exchange, they both bowed to each other, then took seven steps back and turned, locking eyes.


    Felix made no initial move, and Harry understood. It was like that time in the basement of the Leaky Cauldron.


    Harry swung his wand abruptly and shouted, "Impedimenta!" A rope-like charm shot toward Felix. He didn''t wait to see its effect, quickly stepping back twice and following with a silent Disarming Charm.


    Felix stood smiling, the charm touching his body before rapidly softening. He then tilted his head, avoiding the red arc of light. Swiftly, he cast two spells, one crimson and one gold.


    "Protego Armor!" Harry had already prepared the Shield Charm. One spell grazed the magical barrier while the other struck his Shield Charm directly, producing a muffled bang.


    Harry mentally counted to eight, a pattern he had recognized during training. Professor Harp never knocked him down all at once; there was always a deliberate pause between spells. This offered him a glimmer of hope.


    Reaching eight, he dodged to the side, a powerful spell smashing his Shield Charm. Scrambling up from the floor, he aimed his wand and sent three Stunning Spells: "Stupefy! Stupefy! Stupefy!"


    Without any visible motion, a faint magical barrier shimmered before Felix, deflecting Harry''s spells. Immediately, Felix extended his hand, and the protective barrier morphed into seven or eight blunt-tipped arrows, hurtling towards Harry.


    "Whoosh, whoosh!" The arrows emitted a mournful, whining sound.


    Harry cast a Freezing Charm, suspending the arrows in mid-air, then lunged sideways.


    The arrows paused for a second or two, then continued on their designated path, striking the wooden floor with an oddly muffled thud.


    "Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle!"


    Less than thirty seconds had passed, yet the intense exchange of offense and defense between the two was riveting to all who watched. Professor Harp appeared undoubtedlyposed, and the young wizards around weren''t overly surprised. But Harry''s performance left them bewildered.


    His familiarity with dueling astonished everyone.


    True, Harry was often in a sorry state¡ªevading, rolling, awkwardly retreating. Yet, he managed to counterattack whenever gaps emerged, casting spells at a frequency exceeding that of his earlier ssmates.


    His countenance remained calm, devoid of the panic disyed by the others.


    Harry dashed across the stage, seeking to increase the distance between himself and Professor Harp.


    Two minutes proved lengthy, forcing Harry to strategize meticulously, something he had never contemted before. Although aware his spells were ineffective, he continued retaliating, hoping to disrupt the professor''s attack rhythm.


    However, what filled him with despair was Professor Harp''s unwavering pace, casting spells roughly every seven to eight seconds, never disrupted by Harry''s efforts.


    "I still have a long way to go!"


    "Specting like this, I''m certainly no match for Sirius ck!"


    Impatience consumed Harry, his inner voice urging him it wasn''t yet time, yet his mind wandered ceaselessly.


    Mid-run, a Binding Charm caught him, causing him to stumble.


    His sses flew off, and Harry looked up, dazedly catching a blurred figure on the opposite side raising a wand.


    "No!"


    Struggling, he lifted his wand, shouting, "Expelliarmus!"


    A brilliant red beam erupted, resembling a wrist-thickser, shimmering with a faint white light.


    The spell spanned a dozen meters, meeting Felix''s Disarming Charm head-on.


    "Hmm?"


    Unfazed, Felix subtly enhanced the charm''s power, equalling the strength of Harry''s Disarming Charm.


    From the perspective of the young wizards, Harry was momentarily on par with Professor Harp. Their spells shed fiercely, igniting crackling explosions and arcs of magical light.


    Half the hall buzzed with excitement.


    "Is that Harry''s Disarming Charm? How did he master it?"


    "Legend has it that he used this spell to defeat the Dementor attacking him..."


    "He''s just a third-year student! Truly the savior who defeated the enigmatic figure."


    "Do you think he can win?"


    "...You''re getting ahead of yourself, but I believe it''s possible in the future!"


    Severus Snape, stationed in the corner, watched in astonishment. He had never known Harry could wield magic of this intensity¡ªfar beyond what he usually demonstrated.


    Suddenly, his attention shifted to another figure.


    Lupin!


    Lupin appeared weary, his graying hair even more conspicuous against his patched clothes. Snape wasn''t sure when Lupin had entered the Great Hall; he stared at Harry with concern.


    Their eyes met, and Lupin nodded kindly before intently fixing his gaze on Harry.


    On the gilded tform, Harry struggled to maintain the charm. He couldn''t gauge how much time had psed; each second felt like an eternity. Still, he yearned to endure a little longer.


    Perhaps he had already held on for two minutes? That way, Professor Harp wouldn''t refuse his request. Harry hoped.


    Felix''s incantations remained steady and formidable, maintaining their unyielding power. Helplessly, Harry watched his own magic pushed back.


    He gritted his teeth, his vision bing hazy, the world spinning. He was familiar with this sensation.


    "In the next moment, I should copse onto the carpeted floor, ufortable but not overly painful..."


    "Thud!"


    Harry crashed to the ground, eximing in pain. Tears welled up.


    Abruptly, he realized he wasn''t in the basement of the Leaky Cauldron for special training; he was on the gilded tform in the school''s Great Hall, lying on bare, hard wood.


    "Harry... Harry..." A gentle voice reached his ears as someone crouched beside him, but he couldn''t distinguish who it was.


    He faded into unconsciousness.


    Felix Harp observed Professor Lupin rushing toward Harry in concern and halted from a distance.


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 Chapter 208: Conversation with Lupin

    Chapter 208: Conversation with Lupin


    Harry woke up in the hospital bed and opened his eyes to see the white ceiling.


    "Here you go, Harry," he heard Hermione''s voice, and he reached out to take it¡ªhis sses.


    After putting on his sses, Harry''s vision became clear, and he saw Hermione and Ron sitting nearby. Madam Pomfrey was preparing a potion on the small table by the bed, and Professor Lupin was leaning over, checking his condition.


    Across the aisle, Professor Snape sat calmly on the opposite bed, flipping through an issue of the Daily Prophet.


    "Professor¡ª"


    "Child, drink this first," Madam Pomfrey said, and Harry struggled to say, "I think I''m fine!"


    "Oh, really?" she said absentmindedly, "That doesn''t stop you from drinking the potion. Hurry up, or I''ll rece it with a Draught of Living Death."


    Harry drank the liquid in the cup in one gulp, then turned to Felix eagerly, asking, "Professor Harp, did Ist for two minutes?"


    Felix put down the newspaper, smiled, and said, "That final move of yours was indeed quite impressive. I was actually timing it."


    It took Harry a couple of seconds to realize what the professor meant, and he showed a surprised expression. "So, I, I¡­"


    "Yes," Felix winked at him, "you can take your time considering your wish. Just don''t make it too challenging, or I''ll have to decline."


    Harry blurted out, "I want to know about my father, and also about Sirius ck!" He nced at Professor Lupin next to him, who was looking at him in astonishment. So, in a hushed voice, Harry added, "Thank you foring to see me, Professor Lupin."


    Professor Lupin kindly said, "It''s nothing, I happened to have some free time tonight. Harry, about your father¡ª"


    Madam Pomfrey handed him a nket, "It''s a bit chilly at night, cover yourself with this." She then turned to the two professors, annoyance on her face, "The patient needs rest; you both better keep it short."


    Professor Lupin adjusted, "Harry, I know you have some questions. This weekend, you cane and find me. I won''t disturb you for now. Professor Harp, shall we?"


    Felix stood up, "Of course."


    The two of them walked out of the office together. As they turned a corner in the hallway, Lupin paused, "Professor Harp, we need to talk."


    "About Potter?"


    "Exactly, about Harry." Lupin said calmly, "It''s evident that you treat him differently. But don''t you think some of your methods aren''t suitable for a third-year student?"


    "What do you mean?" Felix looked at him curiously.


    "Summer special training, forgive me, I was with them in apartment and overheard some. From Harry''s description, he fainted over a dozen times during your training..."


    Felix casually remarked, "It''s probably more than that. If my recorded data is correct, it should be 32 times."


    Lupin looked at him sternly, "Haven''t you realized the seriousness of the problem? He''s only thirteen!"


    "What does age signify? Will ck spare him because he''s young and wait until he''s of age? If you''re concerned about his health, that''s unnecessary; I''ve prepared adequately."


    Lupin suppressed his anger, "Harry will be safe staying at the school. Moreover, not everything can be brushed off with ''being prepared.'' Have you considered his mental resilience? What were you doing at thirteen?"


    Felix looked at him expressionlessly and said softly, "In my view, your reasons are all excuses. At least I won''t ce my hopes on others and pretend that nothing has happened."


    Lupin calmed down, hesitated for a moment, and said, "I don''t intend for my words toe off as biased, but youe from Slytherin, and you were Snape''s student..."


    "What are you trying to say, Lupin?" Felix tapped the window frame in front of him, "I''m in a hurry."


    Lupin took a deep breath, "I care about Harry''s safety more than anyone else, and your influence on him is just too significant. Unfortunately, Snape and his father were bitter rivals during their school days, and I''m worried Snape''s attitude might affect you."


    Felix Harp''s gaze shifted towards the window, "Severus can''t sway me, but I don''t intend to change my teaching philosophy. Professor Lupin, you''re being too broad in your concerns. What''s your connection to Harry? Let''s just part ways here."


    He took a few steps, silently counting in his mind, one, two, three...


    "I knew Harry''s father! We were good friends, even beyond what that word implies. I am deeply grateful to him," Lupin suddenly revealed.


    Felix, with his back turned, curled his lips, then turned to look at Lupin, "You expect to convince me with vague words?"


    "... Harry''s father, James Potter, he was a genius in school, a prodigy who excelled in everything he learned. He was at the top of his ss. And as for Sirius ck... I mean ck," Lupin stood alongside him, gazing out the window. The night had fallenpletely. "I was an outsider back then, and James epted me."


    "James and Sirius, they were exuberant, outgoing personalities. They were very popr among their ssmates. James even joined the Quidditch team. But, on the flip side, they also became targets of Slytherin."


    Felix asked with interest, "Can you borate?"


    Lupin thought for a moment, choosing his words carefully, "The Slytherin of that time... might be different from what you''ve encountered. The theory of the Dark Lord was very popr, and many students joined the Death Eater ranks right after graduation. We privately called them Death Eater reserves."


    Felix nodded, "I have heard some of it."


    "James and Sirius, at that time, Sirius was a good person." Lupin said with difficulty, "They quickly became leaders of Gryffindor, with James''s carefree attitude, fondness for pranks, but also his strong sense of justice, always standing up for his fellow students. Sirius, on the other hand, strongly resented his family''s corrupt lineage. He didn''t have any liking for Slytherin either. He even cut ties with his family at the age of sixteen. I just didn''t expect that he would ultimately betray James." He shook his head and didn''t continue.


    And Felix understood what he left unsaid. He sighed emotionally, "A righteous young man turning into a dragon of darkness, how can one notment?"


    Lupin continued, "James and Sirius made enemies among many, certainly, some due to their pranks. They were indifferent to that. Peter and I also participated to some extent. Looking back, I find my own foolishness hard to believe."


    "Are you trying to tell me about your own youth?" Felix asked.


    "Almost there. James and Sirius had a nemesis at the time, our current Potions professor, Severus Snape. They had their confrontations, even escted in thest few years."


    "Because of Harry''s mother?" Felix interrupted, inquiring. From the information he had gathered, it seemed there wereplex emotions at y.


    "Forgive me, but I privately dug up some information." Lupin looked at him, his eyesplex. After a pause, he continued, "You''re a true Slytherin, Professor Harp. I mean that without any offense, but you clearly know some inside details and yet remain silent..."


    Felix cut to the chase, "My knowledge is limited, I can''t grasp the entire picture of those times. However, it''s helpful in sorting out some uncertainties. Please continue, Professor Lupin..."


    Lupin said somewhat speechlessly, "It''s far moreplicated. I was one of the few who understood the situation back then, Professor Harp. I hope this conversation between us won''t be leaked."


    "At least I won''t be the one to share it." Felix''s gaze slid to the corner of the corridor, revealing a yful smile.


    But what if someone was here?


    "Harry''s mother, Lily Evans, she was good friends with Severus even before entering Hogwarts. And James and Sirius, they connected instantly, the kind of bond Harry shares with his two closest friends." He smiled, saying that was perhaps the most beautiful memory of his life.


    "As I mentioned before, James and Sirius quickly became prominent figures, gathering arge following. As for their rtionship with Severus, it was somewhat akin to Harry and Malfoy today. Snape embodied many traits James disliked: unkempt, into dark magic, a Slytherin, and a bother to his ssmates."


    "Why a bother? I recall you said Snape and Harry''s mother were good friends," Felix asked.


    "That''s true, but you can''t expect eleven or twelve-year-old boys to calmly analyze situations. Plus, James and Sirius..." he paused, "they were impulsive personalities."


    "The conflict between James and Snape escted quickly. James hexed Snape, and Snape countered with various spells. Lily always stood by Snape''s side, disapproving of everything James did."


    "That''s how it went for a few years. Then, James started to have feelings for Lily," he smiled, "Suddenly, he became interested in her, the same Lily he had been at odds with for so long. He tried to approach her, but why would she pay him any attention? James soon changed himself. He became less arrogant, less boastful, and overall, he showed a more mature side..."


    "Their conflict with Snape shifted to the shadows, away from Lily''s sight. We didn''t find it inappropriate at the time. Snape was already disying remarkable talents in potions, favored by Professor Slughorn, who gave him many opportunities. We all agreed that if he graduated, the Death Eaters would gain a powerful ally."


    "Meanwhile, due to some severe incidents, Lily broke off her friendship with Snape. James took the opportunity to step in, showing her abundant care. Forgive my choice of words, but it''s close."


    "About a yearter, in their seventh year, James and Lily became a couple. His rtionship with Snape became even more convoluted¡ªconflicting personalities, differences in beliefs, and emotions further entangled."


    "If you ask me, Snape''s most hated person was James, maybe next to ck. It was he who acted as an inside source for the Dark Lord, revealing the location of the Potter family. Merlin, I didn''t know how to tell Harry. James trusted him so much, even made him Harry''s godfather..." Lupin''s eyes turned red as he spoke.


    "Professor Harp," Lupin looked at him earnestly, "we haven''t interacted much, but I can tell you''re a dedicated professor. Many of my students like you, even though they''re not old enough to take your elective courses."


    "I''m sharing these past events with you, hoping you won''t be influenced by Snape. Please believe me, my feelings for Harry are sincere."


    Felix fell silent for a moment. "Professor Lupin, you''re overthinking. Harry is a student I have high hopes for, and I''m equally excited about his future."


    Lupin departed, and Felix''s gaze turned to the corner. He sighed lightly and left from the other direction.


    Around the corner of the corridor, Harry sat silently on the ground. Ron and Hermione looked at him with mixed expressions.


    This scene was difficult to break down, so I apologize for theteness today.


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 Chapter 209: Lady Longbottom

    Chapter 209: Lady Longbottom


    Back in his office, beneath the starry Hogwarts sky, the atmosphere was unusually serene. The Forbidden Forest in the distance appeared even darker than the night itself. Felix Harp, meticulously observing the eight-eyed Acromant within therge ss enclosure, recorded thetest data.


    "Wizard, when do you intend to release me?" The Acromant''s coarse voice sounded.


    "Soon, once the experiment is concluded," Felix replied absentmindedly.


    ...


    After the routine teaching day of the following Friday, the second weekend since the start of term arrived. Felix Harp, attired neatly, arrived punctually in the vige of Hogsmeade.


    He deliberately passed by the main entrance of the school and, nking the wrought-iron gates, encountered a Dementor''s presence.


    The creature was even more sinister than he had imagined. It exuded an icy chill that caused his body to involuntarily stiffen and his mood to sour as he approached.


    As Felix deliberately cast a Patronus charm in his mind, the Dementor''s influence waned, and the hooded figures in their tattered cloaks seemed to lose interest in him.


    Yet, his aversion to these creatures only intensified, apanied by a strong urge to destroy them.


    Pushing open the door of Madame Puddifoot''s Tea Shop, Felix Harp entered the ce that Hogwarts students whimsically dubbed the ''Romantic Destination.'' To some extent, there was an air of vague beauty about the ce.


    The interior was misty, with itsyout winding and confined. Every ornament was adorned with slightly gaudyce trimmings.


    Felix wasn''t particrly fond of this decorative style, but he had to admit that the proprietor had created a suitable atmosphere.


    Apart from a few young wizard couples, he noticed a few solitary patrons enjoying their tea, which eased his tension. Approaching the counter, he spotted a smiling, plump middle-aged witch.


    "Madame Puddifoot?"


    "It''s me, dear. What can I get you?" Madame Puddifoot said, her hair arranged in a ck bun.


    "Could you check the reservation information for me? Augusta Longbottom, 10 o''clock."


    Madame Puddifoot lowered her head, perusing the records only she could decipher. "Indeed, that''s correct. She told me herself. Ten o''clock in the morning, at the window-side alcove, you''re fifteen minutes early."


    "I know. Start with a cup of coffee, please. And which specific spot?"


    "Right to your left, along the aisle. Next to that small round table, there''s ace bow menu."


    Felix Harp took his seat and gazed at the dim window. His index finger tapped against it, causing a palm-sized area to frost over, revealing a clear view outside.


    He contemted his thoughts in silence, reflecting on his conversation with Lupin on Thursday night. Unexpectedly, he had stumbled upon the trail of Harry and the others, prompting him to lead Lupin into recounting stories of the original Order.


    ''Who knows if Harry can endure this truth? Yet, brutal reality is better thanforting lies. Whether he falters or rises, it''s his choice alone, and he can''t me anyone else.''


    After around seven or eight minutes, he saw an elderly woman with arge red handbag appear at the street corner.


    She entered the establishment and immediately inquired aloud if Puddifoot was here yet. Madame Puddifoot pointed to his location and said a few words. Subsequently, the elderly woman strode over with purpose.


    Felix Harp stood up and shook her hand, "Greetings, Lady Longbottom."


    "Hello to you too, Professor Harp. We''ve met during the summer." Lady Longbottom extended her withered, talon-like hand. Afterward, she removed her tall hat adorned with the emblem of an ancient beast, setting it along with her red handbag aside before taking a seat across from him.


    Madame Puddifoot brought over a cup of tea, "Just as you prefer it, Lady Longbottom."


    "Oh, Puddifoot, you''re always so considerate." Lady Longbottom remarked, looking at the coffee in front of Felix. She suggested, "The ck tea here is quite nice, I quite enjoy it. You should give it a try."


    "There''ll be a chance, madam," Felix replied.


    After exchanging pleasantries, the two delved into the main topic. Felix said, "Madam, you should have received my letters. Neville''s wand seems to be an inheritance from his father, and it doesn''t seem to suit him."


    Lady Longbottom stirred the dark, rich tea with a small spoon. "You''re right, dear."


    Felix paused and tentatively said, "Perhaps I''m not familiar with the Longbottom family''s traditions, but maybe..."


    "No perhaps about it," Lady Longbottom firmly pressed her lips together. "It''s Neville''s choice."


    That slow-reacting, timid round-faced boy? Felix found that a bit hard to believe.


    He looked at her calmly, maintaining silentposure.


    Lady Longbottom thought for a moment, "It''s not a shameful matter. My son and daughter-inw were tortured into madness by Voldemort''s followers. They''ve been residing at St. Mungo''s for years. Neville grew up with me, and before he started school, I used to take him to visit his parents at St. Mungo''s every other week..."


    "Wait, you mean his parents are still alive?"


    "Of course!" Lady Longbottom proudly dered. "They were tortured by four Death Eater scum, subjected to the Cruciatus Curse... Few can survive that, but they are strong, Frank and Alice. I must say, they are strong!"


    Her voice boomed, attracting a few curious nces.


    "The Cruciatus Curse..." Felix repeated softly.


    "That''s the curse, one of the Unforgivable Curses, that can make you wish for death," Lady Longbottom exined. "Frank and Alice are the bravest people I''ve ever known. They didn''t give in to a single word. I''m proud of them. It''s just a bit regretful... Voldemort is already dead, yet I still remember Frank saying he''d celebrate the victory."


    She lifted her teacup to shield her face.


    After two or three minutes, sheposed herself. Aside from slightly reddened eyes, her expression grew even prouder. "We''ve strayed from the point, wasted your time, Professor Harp."


    "It''s nothing. I admire those with unwavering determination," Felix said.


    "Thank you. Where were we? The wand? Oh, right, the wand."


    "Probably when Neville was about four or five years old. He returned from the hospital, ransacked the ce, and found his father''s wand. I had hidden it away. Its core is unicorn hair, particrly loyal."


    "I thought it was a passing phase, so I allowed it. But he clung to it ever since. When it was time to buy a wand before school, he refused, insisting on using his father''s wand."


    "Did you not try to persuade him, madam?"


    "I did try. This child is usually quite timid, but he''s particrly stubborn about this. Besides, before school started, he managed to perform a simple spell with that wand. Considering his previous performance, it was almost a miracle... So I agreed."


    Felix pondered and suggested, "Perhaps you could get another wand, just as a backup."


    Lady Longbottom''s expression turned stern, "I don''t think changing wands would help him much. His report card from this summer has made me ashamed! He hasn''t inherited his parents'' talent at all. I even thought he might be a Squib until he identally disyed magical ability due to an incident."


    Felix said gently, "But, as you said, he wasn''t a prodigy to begin with. Even slight influences can bring about significant changes, let alone a wand?"


    He retrieved a stack of parchment from his ring. "These are Neville''s performances in spellcasting sses, recorded by himself. The data on there is unexpectedly honest, and it''s given me a clearer understanding of his situation."


    "From the data, it seems that Neville takes three to five times longer than an average person to learn a spell. It''s hard to say if the wand has anything to do with it..."


    Lady Longbottom carefully examined it, flipping through page after page. Alongside Neville''s handwriting, there were markings andments from another person. After a while, she looked up, "You''ve convinced me, Professor Harp. Neville''s fortunate to have met you. Truly."


    Felix shrugged, "I''m also curious about his performance with a new wand. Also, Lady Longbottom, I have an unfavorable request..."


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 Chapter 210: The Patient

    Chapter 210: The Patient


    Half an hourter, Felix Harp and Madam Longbottom stood in front of an old-fashioned red-brick department store. The sign above disyed its name as ''Wonders Limited'', appearing decrepit and deste. The dusty door bore arge sign that read "Closed for Renovations."


    Felix gazed through the shop window, observing several tattered stic mannequins in front of him. One was particrly ugly, its movements askew, eyshes sticking to its face, d in a green nylon skirt.


    "I suppose this ce has never really opened?" he remarked with a confident tone.


    "Don''t talk nonsense. The Ministry of Magic put quite a bit of effort into finding the right ce," Madam Longbottom said absentmindedly, her hands nervously twisting the thin rope of her bright red pocket. "Are you truly certain about this, Professor Harp? I''ve experienced too many disappointments over the years."


    "I can''t provide you with a definite answer, madam. This is a makeshift measure I came up with, after all, my request might seem... less conventional," Felix exined.


    Madam Longbottom pursed her lips. "You mentioned a magical outburst... are you sure there''s no danger?"


    "Are magical outbursts during a young wizard''s growth dangerous?" Felix retorted.


    Madam Longbottom''s expression turned serious. "You''re tapping into my blind spot. My experience tells me that every young wizard goes through this phase, and it''s more worrying if they don''t. But causing a controlled magical outburst..." She shook her head, finding the notion incredible.


    Felix rified, "Madam, it might be due to my unique constitution, but I''ve experienced magical outbursts more than once, and though it''s an ufortable process, I''ve also benefited from it."


    "In fact, I realized its value quite early and formted some hypotheses. However, this experience is solely mine, without any corroborating evidence. It wasn''t until this summer vacation that I finally encountered an exceptionally rare case."


    Madam Longbottom pursed her lips. "If you can cure... no, I won''t ask for more. But I need Dumbledore present. I trust him."


    Felix''s lips curled into a smile. "Absolutely, madam."


    Madam Longbottom turned to the particrly ugly mannequin and said, "I''m here to see Frank Longbottom and Alice Longbottom." The mannequin nodded slightly and waved to them.


    The two then walked through the shop window ss and entered the St. Mungo''s Hospital for Magical Mdies and Injuries.


    Felix found himself in a waiting room, curiously looking around: several male and female wizards sat on wobbly wooden chairs. Two healers in green robes were jotting down their symptoms.


    To the left and ahead was an inquiry desk where a golden-haired woman stood, a long queue in front of her. Behind her was the emblem of St. Mungo''s, intersecting wands and bone patterns.


    The walls were adorned with portraits of healers and some informationalbels.


    At that moment, a middle-aged wizard showed his right hand to a healer, a ck kettle mped tightly onto it, dark green blood seeping from the wound. He was angrily eximing,


    "Can''t you see it¡ªcurse! I''ve been cursed¡ªsent as an anonymous birthday gift¡ªdon''t let me find out who! Ouch¡ªthis stupid kettle¡ª" he kept shaking his arm.


    "Stay still, you''re making it hard for me to see," a young healer with a writing pad examined carefully for a moment. "You need to go to the fifth floor for curse injuries."


    Felix read the directions on a sign: Artefact idents Department¡ªFirst Floor (cauldron explosions, misfired wands, broomstick collisions, etc.); Magical Creatures¡ªSecond Floor (stings, burns, punctures, etc.); Magical Bugs and Diseases¡ªThird Floor (dragon pox, vanishing sickness, lymphatic fungus, contagious ailments); Potion and nt Poisoning¡ªFourth Floor (rashes, vomiting, uncontrobleughter, etc.); Spell Damage¡ªFifth Floor (unremovable curses, miscast spells, etc.); Tea Room and Gift Shop¡ªSixth Floor.


    "We''re going to the fifth floor," Madam Longbottom said to him as they ascended a crooked staircase, arriving at the tform of the fifth level. They passed several double-doored rooms, until they reached a long chamber¡ªall the doors here were locked.


    A healer wearing a wreath of gold and silver flowers emerged from a closed ward, smiling as she greeted, "Madam Longbottom, here to visit your family? Let me take you in."


    "Thank you, Merriem."


    Healer Merriem chanted "Alohomora," leading them into the room. They passed several beds and went to the furthest end¡ªthere were two beds enclosed by floral curtains.


    She drew back the curtains, saying cheerfully, "Frank, Alice, your mother hase to see you again."


    This was the first time Felix Harp had seen the Longbottom couple. Both were dressed in pajamas, their faces gaunt and worn, half-grayed hair. Frank Longbottom, Neville''s father, sat bewilderedly at the bedside, seemingly lost in thought for eternity, asionally shifting his gaze. Alice Longbottom, Neville''s mother, on the other hand, disyed more noticeable reactions. She held a bag of snacks in her hands, reading it with care.


    Neither of them reacted to the healer''s words.


    "She''s actually just looking at the patterns above," the healer exined, "Most of their memories are gone, as you might understand."


    "Merriem..." Madam Longbottom said, "Could you give us a moment?"


    "No problem." She closed the curtains and left.


    Madam Longbottom walked to the bedside, gripping Alice Longbottom''s hand, stroking her thinning hair. "This is also one of the aftereffects of the Cruciatus Curse, aging them faster than usual. I worry that they''ll be gone before me..."


    "If you don''t mind, madam?" Felix Harp asked in a hushed tone.


    "What, oh, of course, do you need me to do something?" Madam Longbottom nervously inquired.


    "Nothing at all..." Felix snapped his fingers gently, and suddenly, the room spun, everything inside twisting in a whirl of colors and shapes, like an abstract painting.


    But soon, everything returned to "normal," or rather, not normal. Felix''s expression turned serious as he attempted to lead Neville''s father into the Pensieve, and he did manage to aplish it partially¡ª


    In his own half of the space, there was no issue, but the other half was vacant, filled only with a shattered world: his gaze rested upon a serene expanse of ck, as tranquil as the cosmos, darker than the thickest ink. Memories floated in midair, fragmented and torn like a curtain rent asunder.


    Felix stood at the edge of the room, observing this exceedingly bizarre scene. Faint glimmers of fluorescent light intermittently illuminated sporadic images¡ªa mix of men and women¡ª


    An infant with a round face, Madam Longbottom, several menacing visages, Dumbledore, an unattractive man with a false eye, Lestrange, a man who bore an uncanny resemnce to a grown-up Potter...


    The most frequent appearance was that of a woman with a round, friendly face. She looked very young, her gaze extraordinarily gentle. Despite the changes in appearance, Felix recognized her at a nce¡ªAlice Longbottom, seated on the bed beside.


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 Chapter 211: Source of Confidence

    Chapter 211: Source of Confidence


    After a considerable time, Felix Harp emerged from the Room of Thought.


    To onlookers, it appeared as though he had been lost in thought for just over ten minutes, but Lady Longbottom held her breath, her lips trembling as she inquired, "How did it go... I saw Frank suddenly gopletely still."


    Felix Harp rubbed his temples, sitting somewhat wearily in a nearby chair. "It''s a colossal undertaking, but well, I''ve found a way to heal," he said, his smile radiant.


    Lady Longbottom let out a suppressed shriek. She covered her mouth tightly, her eyes welling up with mist. She took a few steps back and sat on the bed. "Is it true, Professor Harp? Mr. Harp, I hope¡ªoh, I don''t want to ask for too much, just if they could remember something..."


    "No, no, my deardy. I came prepared with a n before I arrived. So, it''s either helpless or theoretically entirely curable."


    Felix spoke with a rxed tone. "Though it might sound immodest to say so, what worried me the most was having to deal with shattered souls. If it were indeed the case, even with the guidance I once received from a great wizard, the chances of their recovery would be slim.


    But luckily, the worst-case scenario didn''te to pass. I just need to assemble a puzzle, possibly with the aid of some emotional power..."


    Lady Longbottomposed herself. She spoke cautiously, "May I understand your treatment concept? After all, Frank and Alice have already been sentenced to the Kiss of Dementor by St. Mungo''s most authoritative healers..."


    She had initially intended to keep these thoughts to herself, to appear as if she wholly trusted Felix Harp. This way, she could spend the next few months with hopeful anticipation. However, being a strong-willed witch who had sent her own son and daughter-inw into battle, she had her convictions.


    "Of course, and please do not resist," Felix said, again employing a persuasive snap of his fingers, drawing her into the Room of Thought.


    After a moment, she suddenly looked rejuvenated. "This is the Room of Thought, a powerful memory magic? It''s a marvel. I already believe you can do it. I need to find Merilyn..."


    "Oh, please refrain from doing that for now, Madam. I don''t want too many people to know about this yet. It hasn''t seeded yet, has it? Not everyone will ept the guidance of an outsider." Felix Harp gently cajoled.


    "You''re right, Mr. Harp." Lady Longbottom seriously considered his suggestion. She didn''t want unnecessaryplications, avoiding interference from St. Mungo''s. However, she nned to consult with Dumbledore.


    It had less to do with trust and more with Dumbledore''s role as a founder of the Order of the Phoenix, having the right to know. Moreover, he could assist in any potential gaps.


    "Mr. Harp, in your estimation, how long will it take to see results?"


    "I can spare a morning every week. Honestly, I''d be willing to devote more time. It''s a fascinating subject. Perhaps once sessful, my Room of Thought magic will reach an incredible level..."


    Felix''s voice gradually faded, nearly inaudible. He had always believed that the Room of Requirement was Ravenw''s ''Room of Thought,'' so he had been considering how to manifest it in reality.


    On the night he had restored the Shrinking Charm and acquired the runic orb, he had touched a fragment of this realm¡ªfrom the Room of Thought, he had extracted thousands of runic symbols, but reproducing that unique state had proved elusive.


    Now, he saw hope anew.


    Felix turned to Lady Longbottom and said, "I cannot promise a precise timeline, but I believe, at thetest, around Christmas time, they should recognize their family."


    "I''m looking forward to it, Mr. Harp. This might be the best Christmas gift I''ve ever received."


    "I don''t mean to dampen the spirits, Madam. But we''d better maintain cautious optimism to avoid any unforeseen setbacks."


    "Isn''t that your motto, to remain vignt at all times? It reminds me of a friend, someone quite pessimistic about the future."


    "No, I just prefer to have a hand in shaping the future myself."


    ...


    As they walked out of St. Mungo''s Hospital for Magical Mdies and Injuries, the two of them discussed the matter of creating artificial magical outbursts. Felix Harp hadn''t yet fully thought it through, but he offered some general ideas.


    "My approach might hurt Nawi''s feelings, so I need your approval," Felix said, feeling somewhat sinister, yet he spoke his mind.


    "If I didn''t have some understanding of you, I''d think... Besides, aren''t you worried about Nawi misunderstanding you?" She couldn''t help but ask.


    Felix shrugged. "I''ll ask for his forgiveness afterward. I don''t care how he judges me."


    Lady Longbottom gazed at him with mixed emotions. "I might never understand a Slytherin''s mindset, even a good one like you. ording to your words, if sessful, that child might awaken even greater talents, at least not being too far behind others..."


    She added, "And you might bear a lifetime of misunderstanding, Mr. Harp. That child is more stubborn than you might imagine."


    Felix calmly reminded her, "Madam, I don''t mean to parade my innocence. In fact, I''m consulting with you on how best to harm a child, even if only temporarily."


    "I am his grandmother, and I have my reasons, but you... What if others find out? Some would vehemently criticize you; I know those tedious folks."


    "Yes, yes," Felix murmured softly. "But I won''t let the judgments of others hold me back."


    Upon his invitation, he and Lady Longbottom used Apparition to arrive at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. They made their way into the castle.


    She looked nostalgically at everything within the castle. "I got stuck on this revolving staircase during my school days, and... I remember that ugly giant stone monster outside Dumbledore''s office."


    They soon arrived at what she referred to as the "ugly giant stone monster." Felix Harp extended his wand, and a silvery beam of light passed through the gap in the stone creature, disappearing. After a moment, the silvery beam returned, transforming into a silver-white swallow.


    Itnded on Felix''s shoulder, held its head high, and emitted a crisp voice, "Iced lemon juice."


    The stone creature suddenly came to life, rotating to clear the way, revealing the spiral staircase within.


    "Let''s go, Dumbledore is waiting for us," Felix said.


    They pushed open a gleaming oak door, and Dumbledore was smiling as he looked at them. He stood up from his chair. "Lady Longbottom, your presence surprises me."


    Lady Longbottom pursed her lips. "Dumbledore, I need to tap into your wisdom." She began to narrate what they had discussed.


    Dumbledore listened in silence, asionally showing a look of surprise, but he didn''t attempt to interrupt her. He remained quiet until she finished, then smiled and said, "So, I''ll be able to see two old friends soon?"


    "As for artificially inducing magical outbursts..." he frowned, looking at Felix. "I''ve reminded you that any research into magic itself could result in extremely dangerous consequences."


    "It''s with my agreement," Lady Longbottom insisted. "Nawi, that child¡ªI believe he would make the same choice if he knew. It''s just that we cannot inform him in advance."


    Dumbledore fell into silence. After a while, he sighed and said, "I respect your choice. Perhaps I''m overly cautious. From my perspective, what you''re doing isn''t excessively risky, even though it might..."


    He looked at Felix and asked a simr question, "Aren''t you afraid of being misunderstood, Felix?"


    Felix spoke calmly, "This benefits everyone, and it particrly benefits me. So, I don''t mind pushing it forward despite the opinions of others."


    Behind them, the door closed.


    Dumbledore''s expression grew serious as he stared at Felix. He said in a low voice, "Are you confident about treating the Longbottoms? Frankly, after the tragedy, I''ve tried multiple times to mend their shattered memories, but their situation is dire. I''ve been utterly helpless."


    Felix chuckled softly, "Headmaster Dumbledore, I''ve received selfless assistance from Lady Rowena Ravenw..."


    For him, apart from the Room of Thought magic, there was something he hadn''t disclosed to Lady Longbottom¡ªa memory node inherited from Lady Ravenw herself, or one might say, a soul node.


    This was his greatest source of confidence.


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 Chapter 212: Worries and Speculations

    Chapter 212: Worries and Spections


    As Felix Harp stepped out of the Headmaster''s office, he was still contemting Dumbledore''s final piece of advice: never attempt to toy with people''s hearts.


    Shaking his head, he made his way to check on Hagrid''s giant dog. That creature must have grown to about five or six feet by now.


    Meanwhile, in the Gryffindor Common Room, many were still discussing the recent events. Right before their eyes, Professor McGonagall had dragged away Navi Longbottom with a fearsome-looking old woman.


    From the helpless expression on his round face, it seemed he was about to face the gallows.


    "That''s Navi''s grandmother. I met her during the holidays," Harry exined, "She''s quite strict with Navi."


    Hermione whispered, "Professor Snape must have convinced her, so she''s taking Navi to get a new wand."


    The three of them were aware of the incident involving Professor Snape''s suggestion for Navi to change his wand, and they had even helped Navi send out the letter.


    Ron astutely pointed out, "He should''ve done it ages ago. You have no idea how great it feels after I got my new wand! By the way, Navi''s grandmother seems quite authoritative. Why aren''t his parents here?"


    Harry replied, "They might have been killed by Death Eaters. Navi''s grandmother mentioned it briefly, saying that Navi''s parents were tortured by Death Eaters without revealing any information."


    "Death Eaters..." Ron said with disgust, "Truly a bunch of heinous criminals."


    "Yeah," Harry said with a touch of bitterness, "just like that Sirius ck."


    Ron and Hermione exchanged a nce. Since Thursday night, Harry had been acting rather strangely.


    Ron said, "Harry, I''ve already sent my letter, but my dad hasn''t replied yet."


    "Well, thanks," Harry replied listlessly.


    ncing at the time, Hermione said, "Sorry, I''ll be right back." She hurriedly left and returned about seven or eight minutester, yawning and looking around, passing their seats twice.


    Ron grumbled, "Hermione, I thought you were Navi for a moment there. Your memory seems to have deteriorated a lot."


    "What? Oh, I was lost in thought. We were discussing Thursday night''s information. Harry, let''s go over it again. Honestly, I don''t know what''s bothering you so much."


    Harry said in frustration, "I''ve always wondered why Snape hated me so much... Just a little over ten days ago, I thought it was because he and my father were arch-enemies at school. Then suddenly, my mother got dragged into it."


    Hermione opened her mouth, unsure of what to say. Ron said, "You''ve been overthinking this, Harry. If you think about it, it''s pretty understandable. Snape and your mum were neighbors and had some kind of rtionship. He might even have had a secret crush on her. But they drifted apart after being sorted into different houses. Your dad and Snape, on the other hand, are a different story altogether."


    He concluded, "Basically, Snape knew two people: a neighbor and an enemy, and they just happened to be your parents."


    Harry said, "It still feels weird. I never thought I''d be connected to Snape in this way."


    "Just old rtionships and grudges from the previous generation. Don''t dwell on it too much, Harry," Ron advised, "If I wanted to, I could im any Death Eater as a rtive. I mean those pure-blood... If I obsessed over that all the time, I''d probably go mad." He made a disgusted face.


    "But, ording to what you''re saying, if Snape liked my mother," Harry couldn''t help but shiver, as if he were covered in slimy Floo Powder, "why didn''t they end up together?"


    Ron looked puzzled, "Is there a connection? Are you secretly hoping Snape would be¡ª"


    Harry frustratedly covered his mouth, and Ron teased, "Still brooding? Letting your thoughts run wild."


    Harry, with irritation in his voice, retorted, "If you say that again, I''ll stuff Uncle Vernon''s smelly socks in your mouth while you''re sleeping." Then, he stammered for a while, trying to exin his uneasy feelings but eventually gave up, "I just feel off, that''s all!"


    Hermione pondered beside them, "Harry, I think your worries arepletely unnecessary. They couldn''t possibly end up together."


    "Why?" Harry asked urgently. These past few days, he had been gued by this strange sensation, even surpassing his hatred for Sirius ck. He was eager to find more evidence.


    "Because of the war," Hermione exined, "Don''t forget the context. That was the era when the Death Eaters were rampant, and Slytherin House was practically a training ground for new Death Eater recruits."


    "So what?" Ron asked with interest, taking out a pack of juice-vored jelly beans and offering them to Harry and Hermione.


    Hermione rolled her eyes at him, "Didn''t you think about the issue of allegiance? Do you really think it''s child''s y? ording to Voldemort''s ideology, Harry''s mother was Muggle-born, the lowest of the low, naturally opposed to Voldemort. And Snape... is he pure-blood or half-blood?" She looked at Ron, unsure.


    Ron thought hard, "I don''t recall a Snape family. Maybe he took his father''s name?"


    "Then he should be a half-blood," Hermione continued, "But either way, he aligns with Voldemort¡ª"


    Harry interjected logically, "He doesn''t. If he were a Death Eater, he wouldn''t have escaped Dumbledore''s notice."


    "Fine," Hermione revised her statement, "ording to Professor Lupin, Snape at least partially agreed with Voldemort''s ideology, right? Think about it, Harry. How could they ever be together? They belong topletely opposing factions!"


    Suddenly, it all made sense to Harry, and his question that had been bothering him was resolved. They quickly transitioned to a heated discussion about how Sirius ck managed to escape Azkaban.


    "The only thing that can ward off Dementors is the Patronus Charm, but he couldn''t possibly have his wand," Hermione mused.


    Ron spected, "Maybe it''s some advanced Dark magic, something Voldemort taught him?"


    Thinking of the stack of Dark magic books in Professor Harp''s thinking room, Hermione decided to ask him privately if he knew anything about it. "By the way, Harry, have you been carrying that Sneakoscope with you?"


    "Yeah," Harry said, taking out a walnut-sized gold Sneakoscope from his pocket, "It looks like it''s broken or something. It''s never reacted."


    Ron hastily said, "Don''t even joke about that. If it did react, we''d be in trouble."


    The trio continued working on their homework in themon room. During that time, Wood came to find Harry once, informing him of thetest Quidditch training schedule. Wood took Harry aside, speaking animatedly in hushed tones.


    When Harry returned, Ron couldn''t help but ask, "He looked pretty pleased. What was that about?"


    "Exactly," Harry said cautiously, tucking a parchment full of training ns into his book, "ording to him, Slytherin''s Captain, that big bloke, might be kept behind by the professor. Wood''s nning to keep an eye on that."


    After about an hour, Navi returned, his face not showing much expression.


    "Navi, over here!" Harry waved to him, "How''s the new wand?"


    Navi mumbled, "It''s alright." He pulled out two wands from his pocket¡ªone new, one old¡ªthat seemed strikingly simr apart from their conditions.


    Hermione examined them closely, "Cherry wood, needless to say. Unicorn hair core. As for the size..." She measured, "Thirteen inches. Am I right?"


    Navi looked at her in surprise.


    Hermione said with a cheerful mood, "I spent quite a bit of time studying wandsst year."


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 Chapter 213: Prestige

    Chapter 213: Prestige


    However, Hermione''s good mood didn''tst long. A fifth-year senior rushed over to her and inquired, "I heard you can break solid wood handrails with your bare hands? This must be the effect of practical spellwork. Can you demonstrate?"


    Hermione stared at her in disbelief. Are you asking me to publicly perform handrail-breaking?


    The senior student also realized her mistake and whispered, "It''s okay if it''s done privately. I''ve prepared two copper cauldrons..."


    Hermione felt ufortable and saw people beginning to gather around. She nervously said, "I have something important to attend to, I need to go back to my dormitory for a moment and will be right back!" Then she hurriedly left.


    Hiding in her dorm room for a while, she finally thought of a solution.


    This time, she was prepared. She returned to themon room, cleared her throat, and confidently said, "Regarding the proficiency level mentioned in the Magical Script Club announcement, it''s something like this." She drew her wand and slowly traced a golden magical script in the air.


    A group of students gathered around, curious.


    The magical symbols gradually took shape, hanging in the air without dispersing, and everyone watched in silence.


    Hermione exined, "Getting to this point is already quite difficult. It''s based on a rough grasp and continuous familiarity with the practical script''s meaning, allowing it to exist steadily in a short period."


    After a few minutes, Hermione flicked her hand, and the golden script flew into her palm. "This is a magical script representing light, which we learned in our third year. The key is to manifest the magical meaning represented by the script." Symbols on her palm suddenly burst into a bright white light.


    The young wizards were entranced for a moment. Hermione sighed with relief; it seemed to be effective. At least no one asked her to perform again¡ª


    Just then, the twins appeared suddenly. Fred inquired, "Hermione, I remember you also mastered a strength-enhancing spell, which one is it?"


    Hermione red at him, not saying a word, but a halo suddenly enveloped her hand¡ªshe had better control over the magical script symbolizing "buffalo strength."


    Fred shrank back a little, jokingly saying, "You''re not thinking¡ª"


    "Exactly, just as you''re thinking," Hermione affirmed, taking a step forward.


    Fred saw the situation turning unfavorable and hurriedly pulled George along, while many Gryffindor students burst intoughter. Lee Jordan, the twins'' mischief-loving friend, cheered excitedly.


    Later, they returned to their seats and discussed in hushed voices.


    About five days had passed since the recruitment announcement for the Magical Script Club was posted. Many students nning to sign up had already taken action, but a few were still hesitating.


    This hesitation was essentially about not wanting to write a seven-foot-long essay, wanting to see if there was a better way. In most cases, the so-called "better way" meant finding a shortcut to quickly master a practical magical script.


    Ron was particrly infatuated with this idea, even though Hermione had told him at least ten times that it was impossible. He remained stubbornly enthusiastic.


    Hermione reminded him and Harry in annoyance, "There''s less than two weeks until the end of the month. You can''t expect to write a seven-foot essay in thest few days. Unless you''re not nning to join the Magical Script Club. Remember, the first round of recruitment has the loosest requirements. It won''t be this easyter!"


    "Alright, alright," Ron yawned, "but both Harry and I couldn''t borrow Professor Harp''s book. We started toote..."


    Hermione took out two identical books from her bead bag, bearing the title "Exploring Ancient Magical Scripts." She handed them over, and the name Felix Harp was neatly printed on the cover. "Here, you can borrow these for now."


    Ron gazed at her with admiration, "Hermione, you''re truly amazing. How did you know we couldn''t borrow the books?"


    Harry was equally incredulous, "Yeah, Trwney even said you had no talent in Divination. She should see this."


    Hermione retorted, unamused, "I bought these at Flourish and Blotts, not from the library''s collection."


    "You bought two?" Harry asked.


    "One book for careful study, filled with my notes; the other for collecting," Hermione said matter-of-factly.


    As a result, Harry and Ron were vying for the book with notes, and in the end, they decided to read it together, rather than touch the nk "Exploring Ancient Magical Scripts" book. This left Hermione frustrated.


    In different corners of the school, young wizards had varying attitudes towards this matter: some had given up early, some were half-heartedly attempting it, and some were secretly striving.


    In the following days, Felix Harp seemed incredibly busy. Those who could catch sight of him during sses would find him leaving in haste as soon as the bell rang.


    After that, finding the professor was an impossibility.


    He also fulfilled his promise, delegating the grading of daily tests for third and fourth years to his assistants, greatly reducing his workload.


    Felix had a number of recurring tasks: his unwaveringmunication with Nearly Headless Nick, which urred about every three or four days; With Flitwick''s involvement, Dueling Club had be less demanding; Experiments on the Shrinking Charm had to be put on hold for a while, as the eight-eyed giant spider had expressed significant objections.


    Besides this, he spent most of his time in the library, researching Memory Charms. Many techniques were hidden within snippets of text, often overlooked even by the authors themselves, yet he managed to unearth them.


    He paid special attention to the materials left by Lady Ravenw; her twelve volumes of manuscripts were pondered over repeatedly.


    The results were significant¡ªFelix had nearly unraveled the intricate structure of the stabilizing memories that Lady Ravenw had left him. Ironically, what he originally sought was a Patronus that could imnt itself into the owner''s mind. However, what Lady Ravenw offered far exceeded his imagination.


    This became particrly evident during the recent trips to St. Mungo''s.


    In discussions with Dumbledore, he, who was usually sinct, expressed confidence: "The healing method is quite clear now¡ªfirst, memories should be roughly sorted by age to create a general outline; then, using memory nodes to stabilize them and prevent disintegration. As long as thepletion rate exceeds fifty percent, the remainder can recover naturally."


    Dumbledore nodded approvingly. "Felix, you''ve solved a significant issue that has troubled the magical world. This method can be applied not only to healing the shattered memories caused by the Heartrend Curse but also to certain stubborn memory injuries."


    Felix was momentarily stunned. "I haven''t thought about that yet, I''ve been busytely." Mainly because no one around him had such a need.


    Dumbledore shook his head. "An old friend of mine was attacked by Lohart''s Memory Charms, suffering irreversible damage. He''s not alone; there are many cases of abuse of Memory Charms. Most people can''t receive effective treatment...


    Felix, this achievement qualifies you for the St. Mungo''s Healing Badge and the Order of Merlin Badge." He implied with a wink.


    Felix instantly grasped the Headmaster''s intention.


    This was a golden opportunity to acquire prestige. With a bit of maniption, he could be hailed as the "Bane of the Heartrend Curse," the "Ender of Memory Damage," or even the "Master of Memory Charms."


    Felix''s heart raced. Among his publicbels, "Muggle Studies Expert" and "Hogwarts Professor" were widely recognized, offering tremendous convenience in normal social interactions.


    However, in the eyes of a few, he might still be seen as the "Ancient Magical Script Traitor" or the "Dark Lord Reserve" and other unfriendly titles.


    Hmm... the former referred to those old fogies from the Ancient Magical Script Society, while thetter was likely some pure-blood families he had intimidated.


    Though he despised mundane socializing and political maneuvering, he didn''t mind expanding his influence.


    Whether it was the St. Mungo''s Healing Badge or the Order of Merlin Badge, they were both highly renowned distinctions.


    Suppressing his excitement, he neither confirmed nor denied, saying, "Dumbledore, some magic is crucial to me. I don''t n to share it publicly in the short term."


    Dumbledore understood this well and calmly advised, "No one will force you to share your magic, Felix. In fact, most healers wouldn''t be able to reach your level... With just the branch of Memory Charms, you''re already standing at the pinnacle of the wizarding world."


    "My suggestion is to develop a set of effective healing methods that are far below your own level..."


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 Chapter 214: Cedric Diggory

    Chapter 214: Cedric Diggory


    On thest Saturday of September, the recruitment assessment for the Magical Runes Club began.


    Hermione had woken Harry and Ron up early, and after the three of them had breakfast, they hurried to the Ancient Runes ssroom.


    Harry looked tired, and Ron rubbed his eyes vigorously. Heined, "Hermione, we arrived way too early. Besides, Harry and I only need to turn in our essays. Professor Harp won''t grade them on the spot."


    Hermione looked at them sternly, "Of course, you went to help out. The essays you wrote..." She pursed her lips, refraining from saying anything harsh, but her meaning was clear.


    Harry blushed slightly. He and Ron had spent two weeks barely scraping together seven feet, and it felt like torture.


    The longest essay Harry had ever written was only three feet, fromst year when Professor Binns assigned aposition about "A Comprehensive Guide to Medieval European Wizards." If he remembered correctly, Hermione had turned in an essay that was four feet seven inches long, and her handwriting was tiny.


    The door to the Ancient Runes ssroom was tightly closed, with a note attached: The Magical Runes Club assessment location has been changed to ssroom 7 on the same floor.


    Beneath the text was a simple drawing of an abstract stick figure waving them forward.


    "The location changed?" Harry looked puzzledly at Hermione. She shook her head, "I''m not sure either. It might have been ast-minute change."


    A voice came from behind them, a clear and crisp voice, "Hello there."


    The three turned around, and a tall and slender boy stood behind them. He had a striking handsomeness, with jet-ck hair and a straight nose. Except for his slightly paleplexion, there seemed to be no ws.


    He extended his hand with a friendly smile and introduced himself, "I''m Cedric, Cedric Diggory."


    Harry also shook his hand, "I know you, the Seeker and new captain of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team. Wood mentioned you, and you also did well in the Dueling ss. Oh, right, I''m Harry Potter."


    Cedric chuckled, "Can''tpare to you, I suppose. There''s probably no one in the school who doesn''t know you. Are these two your friends?"


    "Yeah, this is Ron Weasley, and this is Hermione Granger. Both in their third year," Harry introduced Ron and Hermione.


    The two looked curiously at Cedric.


    They walked together towards ssroom 7. With the addition of a stranger, Ron and Hermione were a bit more reserved in their conversation. Harry wasn''t exactly the most talkative person either, but he could chat about Quidditch with Cedric.


    Harry found a topic, "Cedric, are you a new addition to the team this year? I remember the Hufflepuff team had an older student as the Seeker before."


    Cedricughed, "I joined the team in my third year, and this is my third year on the team."


    Harry felt a bit embarrassed; he didn''t remember a Hufflepuff team member like that.


    Luckily, Cedric exined his confusion, "I used to be a Seeker. Butst year, several older yers left all at once, and it was hard to find suitable Seeker candidates. So, I stepped up, became the captain, and formed a new team..."


    Harry began to understand. Wood had also mentioned in a previous conversation that the new Hufflepuff captain shouldn''t be underestimated. They wouldn''t have put a neer in such a position.


    Regardless of who the opponent was, he was confident in securing victory and lifting the second Quidditch Cup.


    The two then began discussing Quidditch tactics, which Ron and Hermione found rather odd. Hufflepuff''s captain and Gryffindor''s Seeker discussing Quidditch ¨C keep in mind, in just over a month, they could very well be opponents.


    Cedric said, "Honestly, I''m feeling quite pressured, being thrust into this role... I spent the entire summer reading various strategy manuals. Back when I was a yer, I didn''t have to think about these things."


    Harry also recalled the image of Wood desperately exining various tactics to the team membersst year. In the days leading up to the finals, the twins had thought Wood was a bit hysterical, perhaps needing a "two-day stay at the hospital."


    Now he suddenly understood Wood''s situation.


    Harry casually mentioned a few Quidditch books he hade across for leisurest year, thinking they could be useful. Cedric happily noted down the names, "One of them I haven''t heard of. Thanks, Harry."


    "Speaking of which," Harry asked, "can a Seeker also be a captain? I''ve always flown solo, so I might not be considering the field situation."


    Cedric happened to have read about this aspect: "These are two different strategies. Some teams fully ensure the Seeker''s freedom to fly, not participating in team actions, allowing them to y freely. They believe this can help them catch the Golden Snitch more quickly."


    "While some teams require their Seekers to asionally engage in both offensive and defensive ys."


    Harry pondered for a moment, "Thetter sounds more demanding." Wood had never asked him to coordinate with defense; his only requirement was to catch the Golden Snitch as quickly as possible.


    "Not entirely true," Cedric exined, "for a prodigious Seeker like you, Harry ¨C you can finish a match in half an hour. If my team had someone as talented as you, I would definitely give them absolute freedom, because it''s difficult to close a 150-point gap in such a short time."


    Upon hearing this, Harry grasped the simrities and differences between the two strategies.


    Ron suddenly chimed in, "Harry''s fastest time was five minutes! He caught the Snitch in just five minutes and broke the school record."


    Harry felt somewhat embarrassed as he recalled his performance against Hufflepuffst year. He discreetly nced at Cedric, and true to form, the new Hufflepuff captain seemed a bit displeased.


    He quickly changed the subject, "Cedric, did you also write the essay? Honestly, a whole seven feet, Professor Harp''s expectations are quite high."


    Cedric followed his lead, "I met the first requirement, roughly mastering thirty practical runes."


    Turning a corner into a dim corridor, Harry was relieved to find they had finally located the deeply hidden ssroom 7. He sighed with relief, thankful that he wouldn''t have to resort to idle chatter anymore.


    The ssroom door was slightly ajar. They peered inside, findingplete darkness, no sign of light.


    "Did we get the wrong ce?" Harry wondered aloud. He had a bad feeling about this, thest time he had experienced something simr was back in his first year, when they identally entered the trapdoor concealing the Philosopher''s Stone while trying to escape from Filch.


    Back then, they had encountered a three-headed dog that, when standing on its hind legs, could reach the ceiling. Heter learned that the three-headed dog was Fluffy, Hagrid''s pet, and its name was "Fluffy."


    "I don''t think so," Hermione pointed at a note on the wall that read, "Magical Runes Club Recruitment Assessment Venue."


    The three exchanged nces, stepping hesitantly inside with uncertain feelings.


    To their amazement, the interior was a lush grassy field filled with the songs of birds and fragrant blooms. It was as if they had traversed through space, arriving deep within the Forbidden Forest.


    Taking a few steps, they spotted Professor Harp''s figure ¨C he was sitting on the grass, a small table before him. It seemed like he had brought all his tea things with him and was leisurely sipping tea. In front of him were over a dozen magical puppets, male and female, old and young.


    These magical puppets stood not far from them, rehearsing a y.


    "Look, that''s the east, and you are the sun."


    As they approached, they happened to catch a line of dialogue.


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 Chapter 215: Assessment

    Chapter 215: Assessment


    "Professor." "Hello, Professor Harp."


    Harry, Cedric, Ron, and Hermione greeted.


    "Come and have a seat." Felix Harp nodded at them. With a wave of his wand, four small low tables rose from the ground, and the four of them took their seats.


    One by one, small teacups jumped into their hands, followed by an elegant, slender-necked teapot that gracefully inclined and poured out amber liquid.


    Harry sipped the tea. He rarely drank tea, but he found the taste quite pleasant. The long-necked teapot leaned over, wanting to refill his cup. He curiously scratched the teapot''s belly with his finger, and it suddenly trembled, as if tickled in an itch. It shook and spilled tea all over the small table.


    "Apologies, Professor? It suddenly became..." Harry was somewhat puzzled.


    "Oh, it''s not your fault." Felix Harp waved his wand, calming the teapot down. "I''ve been trying to make them more interactivetely, more autonomous... but sometimes they seem to get a bit too lively."


    Hermione asked in surprise, "You''ve given them intelligence?"


    "Not that exaggerated," Felix Harp exined. "It''s more like a rigid response. Based on feedback mechanisms, they¡ª" he pointed to the small tform in front of them, "are actually more advanced."


    The four''s gaze fell on the magical puppets¡ª


    The y was still ongoing, and these ''actors'' seemed to genuinely possess their own intelligence. Some delivered their lines with full emotion, smoothly reciting their lines, while others seemed a bit perfunctory, pausing from time to time as if they had forgotten their lines, only to continue a few secondster.


    The ones with no tasks at the moment would look around, appearing rather unprofessional. Like a peculiar-looking old man puppet, who held a jug of wine and asionally took a sip from it.


    Harry stared for a while and finally confirmed that the little jug was purely decorative. He said with a quizzical expression, "Professor, do they also ck off?" He searched his memory for simr examples, "Like the portraits in the school, with their own interests?"


    Felix Harp exined, "Their intelligence is simr to that of portraits, but fundamentally, theyck emotions. All their actions are designed. Of course, I didn''t intend to give them human-level intelligence, just enough to understand simplemands."


    The four listened with mixed understanding. Ron said enviously, "Sounds a bit like house-elves, they can help with household chores and such. I once hoped to have one to do my homework for me."


    Hermione said, "Ron, they wouldn''t do such mundane tasks."


    "No, Hermione, you don''t know. They do everything, they''re versatile," Ron argued, "Don''t believe me, ask Harry, Dobby must have told him, right?"


    Harry shook his head, "Dobby didn''t talk much about his life at the Malfoy''s, but it must have been quite terrible." He looked at Felix Harp, "Professor, is Dobby doing well now?"


    The day before the start of the school year, Dobby resigned from the Leaky Cauldron and was currently handling some book publishing issues for Professor Harp.


    Felix Harp nodded with a smile, "He''s doing fine. I''m actually considering giving him a raise..." He waved his wand, ending the theatrical performance. "Alright, let''s get back on track. Are all of you nning to join the Magical Writing Club?"


    "Yes, Professor." Harry pulled out a stack of parchment, "This is my essay." Ron also took out a few slightly crumpled pieces of parchment from his bag, trying to tten the curled corners.


    Felix Harp''s wand tapped on them, immediately making them neat.


    Ron asked with great interest, "Professor Harp, what magic is this?"


    Felix Harp said casually, "Just a simple little trick, it might not even count as magic."


    He turned to Cedric, "Diggory, judging from your performance in ss, you''re definitely qualified..."


    Cedric declined his offer, "I''ve been practicing in private for quite some time. I wanted you to see the results."


    Felix Harp had no reason to refuse. He took out a partially finished magical puppet from a ring. It only had shallow traces of magical writing on it, "You have about two hours, I think that should be enough."


    Cedric took it energetically and began to work earnestly.


    Felix Harp waved his wand, creating silence around him to prevent any disruptions. Cedric was initially surprised but quickly understood, smiling at Felix Harp to express his gratitude.


    The students participating in the assessment arrived one after another, all curiously observing the space. Several seventh-year students pointed and chatted, wearing nostalgic expressions.


    One senior student sighed, "We took Magical Writing Practical ss herest year. I found three hidden boxes and collected a precious magical manuscript."


    Harry and hispanions busily recorded the information of the participants, spotting many familiar faces.


    Harry saw a few of his former teammates, "Angelina, Alicia, Katie, you all came!" He also noticed the twins approaching from a distance and joked, "Is today a team reunion?"


    "Oh no, Katie and I are here to give it a try. Alicia is quite hopeful," Angelina said. "As for Wood, he didn''te. I guess he''s somewhere hidden, studying new tactics. It''s hisst year, he definitely wants another Quidditch Cup."


    While speaking, the twins approached each other with shoulders linked, seemingly ying a game. When they got closer, Harry realized their legs were stuck together tightly.


    "We''re testing the limits of the Sticky Hex with this spell," Fred winked. "Isn''t it cool?"


    The twins exaggeratedly acted it out, but they lost control of the distance and ended up rolling onto the ground together.


    The three girls burst intoughter, and Angelina waved her hand, saying, "Oh my, don''t make meugh."


    Ron rarely saw the twins in such a misfortunate state. He approached them with a grin, squatting in front of them, holding a piece of parchment, "Excuse me, your chosen assessment task is¡ª"


    The twinsy on the ground, and Fredughed heartily, "Silly kids, we''re just here to watch the fun. We got internal invitations long ago."


    Ron looked at them in surprise, "Are you serious?"


    "Of course, I think Hermione got an invitation too."


    "But she wrote an essay like us!" Ron eximed.


    Upon hearing Ron''s words, Fred looked at George and pretended to be contemtive, "Shouldn''t we reflect on ourselves a bit? This way, we might seem like we''re cking off."


    George sighed, "Thankfully, we came prepared."


    The two stood up from the ground and approached Felix Harp, taking out palm-sized heart-shaped blocks from their pockets. "Professor, do you remember the Rtionship Mirror fromst semester? This is the final product."


    Felix Harp toyed with the magical creation in his hand, which looked even more refined now, one side painted ck and the other side painted pink. His finger touched it, and the heart-shaped block split into two halves automatically.


    "You''ve designed it as a pair? A clever concept..."


    The interior resembled a miniature makeup mirror, but instead of a mirror surface in the middle, there was a carefully polished circr ne coated with silver powder.


    On the outer edge of the circr ne were carved some patterns. Felix Harp traced his fingers along these uneven grooves, sensing familiar traces.


    "Is this the magical circuit I taught youst year?"


    "Exactly, we used your suggestions and applied magical circuits to store synchronous magic. The effect is excellentmunication is more urate, and the range is greater," Fred said.


    George added, "We also added anti-deciphering spells."


    Percy, who had appeared at some point, stood off to the side with Penelope Clearwater from Ravenw. Penelope said to Percy, "They seem to havee up with something remarkable, that Rtionship Mirror."


    "You knew?" Percy said in surprise.


    Penelope calmly replied, "They slipped into the Ravenwmon room a couple of days ago, promoting their new product and jotting down a few names of potential buyers."


    "And you didn''t shoo them away?"


    "Why would I? Ravenw wees anyone who can answer the door riddle. Besides," she smiled, "I''ve put my name on that list too."


    "Penny, how could you..." Percy fell silent as he watched the twins in the distance, engrossed in conversation with Professor Harp, earnestly discussing things with excited expressions on their faces.


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 Chapter 216: The Reason for the Escape?

    Chapter 216: The Reason for the Escape?


    "You''ve considered this quite thoroughly. What surprises me the most is that you managed to be patient and revised it seven times," praised Felix Harp.


    The twins grinned mischievously, "It''s all thanks to you. You always give us a bunch of suggestions for improvements, making us feel like it''s not good enough yet."


    Felix looked at them, "What''s your n then?"


    Fred said, "Right now, we''re just promoting it within the school. Many people seem interested in buying."


    Felix pondered for a moment, "Doesn''t the production process consume a lot of time? Your OWL exams..."


    Fred pleaded, "Professor, please don''t make it hard for us. We still have enough time."


    George added, "Yes, we''ve dropped some electives and even a few required courses¡ª"


    "Astronomy¡ª"


    "History of Magic¡ª"


    Felix gave them a reproachful look.


    "You can''t force us, after all, we haven''t neglected what we should have learned. Professor Flitwick even praised us," Fred defended himself and George.


    Felix couldn''t really argue with them. Moreover, he truly believed that confining the twins wasn''t a good choice. Providing them with a broader stage, watching them dance upon it, perhaps that was what he should do.


    With a thoughtful expression, he said, "Rein it in a bit this year. After the exams, I mean the OWL exams, I''ll take you to see something."


    As Harry and the others stared in astonishment, the twins winked at them and departed, extending their antics.


    Just before leaving, Fred patted Ron''s shoulder, "Silly Ronny, you can jot this down on parchment: The assessment item is a pair of alchemical love mirrors, starting price¡ªthree Galleons, subject to change."


    Ron turned to Harry, "Did you hear that?"


    "Of course," Harry replied, still thinking about those love mirrors. Lost in his thoughts, he caught sight of the girl who made his heart race.


    Autumn Zhang and her friend appeared. They nced around, and several students were already sitting in corners of the area, engraving magical symbols onto parchment with magical puppets.


    Her friend gestured towards Cedric''s figure, whispering to her.


    Professor Hagrid was surrounded by three to five students. He was shaking his head at a crucifix-shaped amulet, while the student next to him wore a disappointed expression.


    Autumn Zhang approached Hermione, "Hello? We''re here for the assessment."


    Hermione had just finished recording a form; she wiped the sweat off her forehead. "Oh, please wait." She pulled out a fresh piece of parchment and smoothly said, "Names, year, and house."


    "Autumn Zhang, fourth year, Ravenw."


    "Marietta Edgbe, fourth year, Ravenw."


    Hermione jotted it down on parchment, "The assessment you''re participating in is... Harry?"


    Unintentionally, Harry leaned closer. Stammering a bit, he said, "I came to take a look, Hermione, to see if I could help..."


    "I''m alright," Hermione didn''t notice his expression. She looked at the two opposite her and they quickly responded, "Essays, both of us have essays."


    "ce your essays on thatrge table over there, next to the quills and inkwells. The results will be announced in a week or two."


    Once Hermione finished speaking, Harry offered, "I''ll take you over there."


    Autumn Zhang nced at him and nodded. The three of them walked away together.


    Hermione vaguely heard Harry mumbling his self-introduction...


    Around eleven o''clock, a group of third-year Slytherin students arrived¡ªDraco Malfoy, Daphne Greengrass, Pansy Parkinson, as well as Crabbe and Goyle.


    Ron walked over excitedly and taunted, "Didn''t expect to see you here, Malfoy. Are you eager to show us some marvelous ancient magic? After all, you are a Malfoy!"


    Draco nced at him contemptuously, "Weasley, wherever Potter is, you''re there too. Are you hisckey?"


    Ron''s expression turned astonished; he looked at Crabbe and Goyle, "Hey, guys, does Malfoy really see you like this? He doesn''t even have friends?"


    Impatiently, Pansy said, "Just register us already. I''m not interested in your clownish remarks."


    Ron''s face turned red, "Sorry, you might have to write it yourselves." He pushed a stack of parchment into Malfoy''s arms.


    On the other side, Daphne walked up to Hermione, "Hey, Gryffindor girl!"


    Hermione stared at her, "Is that you?" Her voice sharpened, full of aggression as she said, "I didn''t get a chance to ask you, do you like your magical puppet?"


    During the first Ancient Runes ss at the start of the school year, the two hadpeted for the same puppet design, and Hermione had gotten there slightly faster.


    Daphne proudly said, "Sorry, I found an older student and exchanged with her."


    Hermione fell silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke up, "My magical puppet is even more powerful!"


    "Nonsense!"


    "Wanna give it a try?"


    "Sure, you think I''m scared of you!"


    ...


    Felix Harp wiped off the sweat that had formed. He had spent the whole morning evaluating dozens of peculiar alchemical creations, and except for a few that passed, the rest left him speechless.


    For instance, there was a small vial emitting a strong, pungent odor. The student who submitted it imed it contained a magical protection charm that could repel rampaging werewolves.


    But Felix, after confirming multiple times, found it contained nothing more than ayer of pus from bubotuber tubers. It was quite dangerous stuff, so he confiscated it immediately.


    Cedric finally finished his work. Felix looked over his results and couldn''t help but admire, "You''ve mastered fifty-two runic symbols, impressive. You learned all of this on your own?"


    Cedric said, "I consulted older students; they gave me some pointers."


    ...


    It wasn''t until around two in the afternoon that Felix watched thest student leave. He turned to Harry and Ron, "You''ve worked hard." The two bid him goodbye wearily; they needed to catch up on sleep.


    Hermione, as the assistant for the Ancient Runes ss, stayed behind. The two of them stared at the pile of essays. Felix sighed, "It''s quite an extensive workload. We''ll continue tomorrow."


    "Professor, should Ie tomorrow morning?"


    "No, I have something in the morning, I need to visit St. Mungo''s."


    "The magical hospital?" Hermione looked at him anxiously. Was the professor sick? Even Madame Pomfrey couldn''t help?


    "I''m visiting two friends," Felix said briefly.


    Hermione nodded, and then remembered her earlier question, "Professor, do you know how Sirius ck escaped from Azkaban?"


    Felix thought for a moment, "I''m not entirely sure. Hees from the ancient ck family and was even a Death Eater. He might have possessed some highly secretive magic, which he could have employed."


    "But why did he wait for over a decade to escape?" Hermione asked perplexedly.


    That question made Felix fall silent, "Indeed, why did he wait for over a decade to escape? Did he only find the opportunity then, or were therepelling reasons for his prison break?"


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 Chapter 217: "As You Wish"

    Chapter 217: "As You Wish"


    The next morning, as usual, Felix Harp met with Mrs. Longbottom at the entrance of St. Mungo''s. He proceeded to treat the Longbottom couple, and as time went on, his skills of piecing together, categorizing, and sorting memories became even more proficient.


    At times, he felt like a skilled bookbinder, carefully handling the intricate memories. However, even then, he couldn''t guarantee that there would be no omissions or gaps in the process of assembling memories.


    Some memories were destined to disappear forever, and he had no way to prevent it. In fact, his job was to construct a stable memory structure and gradually add memories to it in a logical manner. Once this process surpassed a certain limit, human self-healing mechanisms would kick in. As for how long it would take for full recovery, he couldn''t assure.


    "Madam Mallomar has be suspicious," Mrs. Longbottom said.


    Felix Harp replied calmly, "As a stranger who visits every week, some suspicion is normal. But we should be able to deflect it for a while. Whether it''s discovered by November or before Christmas doesn''t really matter."


    Mrs. Longbottom agreed, more concerned with the oue than the process. When St. Mungo''s finally noticed the significant changes, it would signify improvement in their son and daughter-inw''s condition. By then, no one could say a word.


    "Moreover," Felix Harp smiled, "my paper is almost finished."


    "A paper?"


    "Dumbledore''s suggestion¡ªan article on restorative memory therapy. I''m nning to split it into two parts. The first part will be theoretical exposition and derivation, not likely to cause much stir. The second part will include the data from this treatment. It will definitely attract significant attention. I intend to release it around Christmas..."


    On a muggy day in early October, damp air stealthily permeated the castle, leaving moist traces on the ancient walls. Every morning, cold mist emerged from the heart of the Forbidden Forest, carried by the wind to the school. Silver frost adorned the frontwn, and many young wizards who hadn''t been mindful of the chill ended up with colds.


    Even Professor Lupin wasn''t immune; he had to wrap himself in a thick scarf, and every time he spoke, the scent of Pomfrey''s invigorating draught filled the air.


    On the same day, Felix Harp received two letters, both rted to his uing book publications.


    In the first letter, Little Red Book Publishing reported "tremendous" news. His new book, "Magic in the Muggle World," had sold over a thousand copies, and for each copy, he would receive three Galleons and seven silver Sickles. The initial earnings would amount to around three thousand four hundred Galleons.


    However, the letter also mentioned that the major buyers were various magical ministries and individuals interested in Muggles¡ªdue to the reputation established by his previous two books, many people, upon seeing the name "Felix Harp," would immediately choose to buy.


    Of course, sales would experience a significant decline afterward, eventually stabilizing.


    Felix Harp was realistic; his books earned through a steady trickle, never bing bestsellers.


    The other letter was brought by Dobby. The house-elf stood before him, wearing his customary little suit, now much cleaner, and a brown soft hat.


    "Mr. Harp, your book ''The Adventures of Young Wizard Mick'' isplete. Mr. Anders sends his regards through me," Dobby respectfully announced.


    "Let''s sit and discuss," Felix Harp invited, leading him to the office''s sofa. He casually opened the letter. The handwriting was messy, perfectly matching Anders'' style¡ª


    "It''s done!


    I can''t describe how I felt at that moment¡ªit''s like crawling out of hell step by step and seeing the first rays of sunlight...


    If this book fails, I might be so disheartened that I''ll strangle myself. But I doubt that''s going to happen, haha!


    I''vepleted the Ministry''s paperwork. There were some people trying to trip me up, damn pure-blood rubbish! However, I took Dobby out for a spin, and things worked out fine. I still don''t know if someone helped me or if that family backed off.


    But anyway, Mr. Harp, you can expect the new book to hit shelves in 27 countries. It''s divided into seven volumes, priced at 13 silver Sickles each, or aplete set for six Galleons and six silver Sickles. After deducting costs, we might make about two Galleons¡ªI admit we can''tpete with professional books, but once it catches fire, our sales will outstrip them tenfold, I swear in my grandfather''s name!


    Felix Harp couldn''t help but chuckle at Anders'' skillful way of slipping in requests. When it came to media friends, he pretty much only knew one Rita Skeeter. How she was faring now, he hadn''t really been paying attention.


    "Dobby, you''ll have to make another trip to this ceter. Take this note with you," Felix Harp tore off a piece of parchment and handed it over. The parchment sparkled with sparks, forming an address.


    After thinking for a moment, he took out a bag of coins from his pocket. "Here are sixty Galleons. Fifty are for that woman¡ªshe''ll understand. The remaining ten are for your recent efforts."


    Dobby''s eyes widened as he seemed to calcte his sry on his fingers. "Dobby shouldn''t be taking this much money, too much!" he eximed, every hair on his head trembling, as if he might faint at any moment.


    Felix Harp said gently, "Your performance deserves this wage, and besides, I''ll need you to continue working for me. Your tasks will only increase, not decrease..."


    Dobby hesitated for a long while. It wasn''t until Felix Harp finished his third cup of tea that he reluctantly agreed.


    "Tell me about what''s happening with Anders."


    "Yes, great and generous Mr. Harp. I''m there every day. Mr. Anders is very diligent, reminding me of the days I used to work. Two weeks ago, he finished all theic drafts and started organizing manpower for mass printing. Dobby helped too!"


    "Did anything unusual happen during this process?" Felix Harp inquired.


    Dobby pondered for a moment. "Ah, Dobby remembers! One day, Mr. Anders left the house all dressed up, saying he was heading to the Ministry to register. He returned in a fit not long after. However, he didn''t exin the reason. Later, Mr. Anders took Dobby out again and introduced Dobby to some of his friends. About two dayster, when Dobby asked him, he said the matter had been resolved."


    "Dobby found it strange, but couldn''t figure out why."


    Felix Harp sighed. "Never mind."


    The house-elf cautiously looked at him. "Did Dobby do something wrong?"


    "No, Dobby. Now, continue keeping an eye on Anders. If anyone troubles him, remember the person''s name and appearance."


    "Understood, Mr. Harp!"


    "Now, you can go to the address I''ve given you. Herst name is Skeeter. Oh, she might not recognize you or the Dark Mark emblem on you, so you''ll have to mention my name."


    "Is delivering the letter all Dobby needs to do?"


    "This is a transaction, and though... I don''t intend for her to refuse."


    Dobby confidently said, "Dobby has done jobs like visiting strangers before." Then, his ears drooped. "It was delivering letters to the Malfoy family..."


    "You''re free now. Outside of work, you can do anything you want," Felix Harp said.


    Heforted the house-elf before seemingly remembering something else. "By the way, I need you to help me with a test." He waved his wand, and a silver-white swallow flew out from the tip. The swallow let out a gentle chirp andnded on Dobby''s hat.


    "What''s this?" Dobby''s two slender hands held onto the hat, and his tennis-ball-sized eyes peered upwards, but he could only see a silver-white beak.


    "That''s my Patronus. Just keep it with you. When the timees, it will disappear on its own."


    "Dobby understands. Dobby will take his leave." With a soft snap of his fingers, he and the Patronus vanished from sight.


    Felix Harp''s gaze turned distant, and his deep blue eyes reflected various fleeting scenes. After seven or eight minutes, his eyes emitted a strong silver-white light. Simultaneously, in a resolute tone, he said, "Rita, it''s been a while..."


    Hundreds of kilometers away¡ª


    Rita Skeeter once again heard that voice which had always filled her with genuine fear, emanating from a silver-white Patronus. After a moment, she respectfully and slyly responded, "As you wish, sir."


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 Chapter 218: Suspicions

    Chapter 218: Suspicions


    Later that evening, Dobby returned to report the results to Felix Harp.


    "Harp, the woman named Skitt has agreed, and during this process, that little silvery bird on my head..."


    "I understand, Dobby. This is the test I mentioned to you, and its effectiveness has surpassed my expectations."


    ...


    As twilight fell, Felix Harp walked into the Great Hall with a cheerful mood.


    "Hmm, which house''s table should I choose today?" he pondered, as it was one of his pleasures to always sit at a different table during meals. "Ravenw, perhaps. The eagles have been quite subduedtely."


    Out of the corner of his eye, Felix noticed the Slytherin yers entering the hall, chatting and carrying broomsticks. He knew that Quidditch season was about to begin.


    Felix aimed for a group of Ravenw students and prepared to sit beside them. A slightly plump boy with freckles on his face was enthusiastically discussing something.


    "¡ªI''ve been learning about Kappastely, yes, those water-dwelling creatures with webbed feet, like monkeys covered in scales. Professor Lupin is quite impressive¡ª"


    Felix inadvertently nced at the teachers'' table and indeed saw a slightly weary figure.


    "Professor Lupin?" Felix changed direction and sat next to the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. He greeted him warmly, "Harp, Professor. Please pardon me, I''m still recovering from a cold." Lupin adjusted the scarf around his neck.


    "October is indeed flu season. I remember it was the samest year," Felix smiled, adding some smoked beef and potatoes to his te. "Madam Pomfrey has been quite busytely."


    Lupin''s expression turned nostalgic, "She''s indeed a responsible school nurse. When I was a student, she helped me a lot."


    Felix''s train of thought derailed; he thought Lupin was referring to the incident involving students from Slytherinst term, which inevitably would involve Snape. He decided not to bring it up and shifted to another topic.


    "You must have received the curriculum for the dueling ss, Professor Lupin?"


    "Miss Granger handed it to mest week." Lupin spoke thoughtfully, "I''ve seen the Disarming Charm in the content, which happens to be useful against Grindylows..."


    "Indeed," Felix reached for a distant dish of sauce, passing it to Lupin. "That should make my teaching easier. Oh, you''re wee." He said as their arms brushed.


    Looking down, he felt that odd sensation again. Ever since their first handshake, he had noticed Lupin''s hand was densely covered in hair, much thicker and harder than usual.


    Lupin waspletely oblivious; he continued, "Grindylows have powerful fingers, but they''re fragile. The trick to getting away from them is making it impossible for them to grasp you."


    "The strongest and yet the weakest?" Felix was intrigued, "This somewhat aligns with Professor Flitwick''s perspective. He also believes that wizards are strongest when attacking but simultaneously expose their vulnerabilities. So, when casting spells, it''s best to be fast, concise, and allow room for improvisation..."


    Lupin smiled, "Professor Flitwick does have a wealth of experience. His dueling championship carries weight."


    "Speaking of which..." Felix began slowly, "In his youth, Flitwick also aspired to join the Ministry, but he was rejected due to his bloodline issues."


    Lupin paused, listening quietly.


    "...Of course, the reasons weren''t stated so inly, but everyone is aware of the Ministry''s ethics. Professor Lupin, how do you view the discrimination issue within the Ministry?"


    Lupin smiled gently, "This sentiment isn''t new. Even when I was a student, people criticized the Ministry for its close-mindedness and inaction. But over a decade has passed, and it hasn''t changed much."


    "Perhaps it''s time for the Ministry to undergo some transformation?"


    "It''s quite difficult," Lupin pondered for a moment. "Unless there''s a courageous Minister in power. As for Fudge, he''s a politician and a cowardly little wretch," he said bluntly. "His everyday routine has drained him of all his courage."


    Felix was surprised by his attitude towards Fudge. He couldn''t fathom where this aversion came from. After all, Fudge''s conciliatory tone still had some poprity.


    At least, wizarding folk didn''t desire a Minister who would overly interfere with their lives¡ªexcept during times of war.


    They then shifted their conversation to Sirius ck.


    "Miss Granger once asked me a question I couldn''t answer," Felix said. "She asked why ck, who had spent over a decade quietly in Azkaban, suddenly chose to escape. You see, once caught, a Dementor''s Kiss likely awaits him."


    "Professor Lupin, you must know him well. Do you have any spections?"


    Lupin furrowed his brow. Felix''s words struck a chord with his long-held secret confusion. An unrealistic fantasy surged within him once more. This notion made him relive joyful times during quiet nights, but it also weighed heavily on his exhausted heart.


    "Lupin, oh Lupin, what are you hoping for? Has your years of wandering truly muddled your mind?"


    Yet outwardly, he only said indifferently, "Ever since ck''s betrayal, I haven''t been able to understand his thoughts."


    "Such a pity," Felix said softly. "Harry and the others still inquire about ck''s secrets. They worry about encountering him one day."


    Lupin couldn''t help but reiterate his stance, "Hogwarts is very safe."


    ...


    Back in his office, Felix contemted his conversation with Lupin. On a piece of parchment, he wrote ''Remus Lupin'' and ''Sirius ck'', connecting them with a line and adding a question mark. He delved into deep thought.


    He knew very little about ck''s information, apart from the stark contrast between his youth and adulthood.


    And Lupin... Felix couldn''t shake off the unease he felt.


    Dumbledore trusted him, and Felix had glimpsed him in the memories of Frank and Alice. That much was certain: Lupin was almost certainly a member of the Order of the Phoenix.


    However, Snape didn''t hide his malice toward him. In Felix''s view, the only reason Snape hadn''t cast a curse was Dumbledore''s presence.


    Felix reviewed the records from that time. Snape had conflicts mostly with James Potter and to some extent with ck, but the number of times Lupin and Peter Pettigrew were involved in disputes was rtively few.


    Was he disliking the whole package due to one bad egg?


    But Snape seemed to have a favorable impression of Peter Pettigrew. At least, he referred to him as ''Peter'' rather than using his surname. Knowing his own Head of House, this was already quite a rare thing.


    If Lupin died, Snape wouldn''t suddenly change and start calling him ''Remus''.


    Felix began jotting down his suspicions about Lupin:


    ''Gentle personality, Snape harbors extreme hatred toward him;''


    ''Incredible abilities, beloved by young wizards, yet experienced poverty;''


    ''Physically weak, easily sumbs to a cold, do Madam Pomfrey''s potions have no effect?''


    ''Unusual hair on his arms;''


    ''Abnormal aversion to Minister Fudge;''


    Felix marked ''Fudge'' heavily. The Minister hadn''t been in office for many years, and aside from maintaining a facade, his policies could be counted on one hand, and each one could be counted without much effort.


    Before long, he remembered Bill Weasley''sints about the Ministryst year¡ª


    "Take a look at the recent newspapers! It''s all about ''Lycanthropes'' Blessing,'' ''Werewolf Registry Amendment,'' propaganda. Only registered and regted werewolves have the right to purchase Wolfsbane Potion. The Ministry is using my potion to reim scattered werewolves..."


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 Chapter 219: Opportunity Unveiled

    Chapter 219: Opportunity Unveiled


    When the term "werewolf" suddenly sprang into Felix Harp''s mind, the previously inexplicable pieces of the puzzle suddenly clicked together.


    Lupin had always given him an eerie feeling, and he thought it was because of Snape''s words affecting him. Now, it seemed not to be the case. Felix had captured some characteristics of Lupin in his non-transformed state: the pupils, the hair, and the faint aura of a dark creature. Unfortunately, Felix hadn''t even considered this aspect.


    Furthermore, Lupin had always given the impression of having poor health, but when was this impression most noticeable? Around the full moon! Especially in thest couple of days. Every ailment conveniently timed... It must have been just after the full moon had passed.


    Madam Pomfrey''s skills were not to be underestimated.


    "Too obvious! I can''t believe I didn''t see it. The clues were right in front of me," Felix murmured as he looked at the information he had jotted down on parchment,paring it line by line.


    "Lupin, destitute, because he never holds a proper job. To conceal his identity, he must always be ready to change locations and identities."


    "He must have considerable expertise in concealing, but once is happenstance, twice is coincidence. What about three times, four times? For a werewolf, in a matter of months, those around him would notice the anomalies. No number of excuses can change one fact: a werewolf disappears during the full moon!"


    "His animosity toward the rtively new Minister of Magic, Fudge, is due to Fudge''s oversight of the amendment to the Werewolf Registration Act. He tied the werewolf registry to the Wolfsbane potion¡ªno registration, no potion. This also exins why Lupin came to Hogwarts this year. He couldn''t obtain this potion elsewhere to retain his sanity during the full moon transformation."


    Indeed, werewolf transformations were incredibly draining. Without the Wolfsbane potion, they would violently attack anyone in sight, even if caged, descending into madness, striking and tearing at anything in their way.


    The aftermath was intense and oftensted three to four days, sometimes even a week, depending on individual constitution.


    With the Wolfsbane potion, however, werewolves could remain rational during the full moon, find a hidden ce to hide, and return to normal the next day¡ªperhaps a bit fatigued butposed enough to avoid suspicion. It was a thousand times better than being recognized as a werewolf.


    Felix recalled that two weeks before the start of term, Snape had been called back by Dumbledore. He had grudgingly mentioned concocting a "disgusting" potion, besides Wolfsbane, what other potion could it be? Felix couldn''t help but curl his lips into a smirk. It was hard to imagine Snape, pinned down by Dumbledore, brewing a potion for someone he disliked.


    "Severus''s expression must have been amusing!"


    There were other small details to note.


    For instance, Snape had once told him, "Lupin''s true nature will shock you." It was undoubtedly an allusion to his being a werewolf. Before the start-of-term feast, Professor McGonagall, when introducing Lupin, had deliberately avoided looking at Snape. This implied she knew of their conflict, which in turn meant she also knew of Lupin''s condition.


    Who else knew?


    Dumbledore must have known, and perhaps...


    Felix calcted the timeline. When Lupin attended school, Dumbledore was already the headmaster. For him to attend, he must have had the headmaster''s approval.


    Perhaps the entire n was Dumbledore''s orchestration. He likely wouldn''t leave it to chance; he would personally visit and persuade...


    To admit a young wizard werewolf to Hogwarts, a series of protective measures must be put in ce¡ª including a location for the werewolf''s transformation and care and treatment after the transformation.


    The former, Felix Harp had no way of knowing. In theory, any abandoned ssroom would do. With Dumbledore''s abilities, he could easily cast various silencing spells to muffle the howls of the young Lupin during his transformation.


    "Hagrid once mentioned that many werewolves are ostracized from the wizarding world and, disheartened, they''d rather live with wolf packs. But for a young Lupin, he couldn''t have made that choice. The most usible scenario is that his parents locked him in a room, muffling his cries with silencing spells to keep the neighbors from hearing..."


    "Felix wondered, could Lupin have a significant psychological aversion to silencing spells?"


    As for thetter, Lupin had personally admitted that Madam Pomfrey had helped him a lot during his school years.


    Felix suddenly thought of an intriguing question: Did Harry''s father¡ªJames Potter, along with Sirius ck and Peter Pettigrew¡ªknow about Lupin being a werewolf?


    "They probably did," Felix silently spected, "or else Lupin wouldn''t reminisce about those times so fondly." He recalled the smile on Lupin''s face when he spoke of his introduction to Hogwarts, his eyes seemingly glowing.


    This raised more questions in Felix''s mind, not about Lupin, but about Sirius ck.


    From the information he had pieced together, there was a distinct shift in his behavior, even reaching abnormal levels.


    In his youth, ck was a valiant Gryffindor, vehemently opposed to Slytherin and even his own family. Though based on some restricted records Felix had glimpsed, this person seemed rather reckless...


    After graduation, ck almost immediately joined the Order of the Phoenix, bing a stalwart against Voldemort and his Death Eater forces. From this perspective, he was a fearless warrior.


    "When did ck start to change? Was it due to an inability to resist the pull of family ties, being influenced by his numerous Death Eater rtives, or perhaps he was captured by Voldemort himself in some operation and threatened with death and harm to his family? Or maybe it was simply the unbearable torment of the Cruciatus Curse?"


    "Could it be? Transforming from brave to cowardly after tasting the bitterness of suffering..."


    Felix suddenly felt disgruntled. If things were as he suspected, he despised this story.


    Especially when he thought of the Lestrange couple being tormented to madness by Death Eaters, not disclosing any information, this extreme contrast left him in inner turmoil.


    If he were in that situation, how would he choose? Would he betray his best friend for some reason?


    "Suppositions that simply don''t hold water," he murmured after a moment of thought.


    Felix suddenly felt a pang of mncholy. He realized he hadn''t made any close friends during his school years. The first three years were spent studying and fighting, in fourth year he ignored everything around him while practicing spells, and by fifth year, everyone looked at him with awe.


    "Speaking of which, during my school years, a few Slytherin girls did give me choctes, but I suspected curses and threw them away."


    "Did I miss out on something?"


    Chewing over his past experiences, Felixughed softly after a while.


    "I''m quite bored, aren''t I? Well... Sirius ck, whether it''s for the hidden books in the ck family home or to ascertain whether you harbor a wicked soul, I will give you a chance to exin."


    Today will only have two updates. We''re about to approach the main storyline of this school year, plus a near climax that the author has nned, allowing the author some time for meticulous arrangement.


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 Chapter 220: New Ventures and Recruitment List

    Chapter 220: New Ventures and Recruitment List


    The Ancient Runes ss for the third year had found its rhythm. After delving into two sections of rather cryptic magical manuscripts, they were finally about to embark on their first genuinely intriguing lesson.


    Felix Harp stood at the podium. "Put away your textbooks, for today we shall undertake a new endeavor."


    The young wizards and witches grew excited. "I''ve been looking forward to this day!" Dean Thomas eximed. "Professor Harp''s sses are always full of fascinating possibilities. I''ve heard that phrase for a whole year now!"


    Felix had grown ustomed to the chatter of the young wizards. From his coat pocket, he withdrew a small wooden box about the size of his palm. He raised it towards the students and then ced the box on the lectern. "A little experiment of mine, initially meant to test my mastery of practical Ancient Runes. But then I thought, why not make more of it?"


    He produced his wand, tapping the lid of the small wooden box. Circr patterns of golden-red magic woke from slumber, materializing on the surface of the box.


    With a deft flick, Felixyered the magical patterns one upon the other¡ª


    "A snap!"


    The box was now open.


    "What''s inside?"


    "I''m curious too."


    A chorus of noise erupted below.


    Felix gazed sentimentally at the students. As a professor, he could easily distinguish the differences between the two houses. Gryffindor''s students were more outwardly emotional, most of them craning their necks and leaning forward, eager to know whaty inside the box. On the other hand, Slytherin students were more reserved, their curiosity evident in their eyes, though many restrained themselves, except for a few who seemed a bit scatterbrained.


    It wasn''t a matter of superiority, just a reflection of two distinct traits.


    In no time, a runic symbol leapt out of the box. Hermione recognized it at first nce; it was the runic representation of buffalo strength. She couldn''t help puffing her cheeks in satisfaction. Thanks to the bbermouth of Lee Jordan, her reputation had grown even more prominenttely, with the incidents of breaking the chair armrest and confronting Draco Malfoy being widely discussed.


    Numerous students from other houses hade, intrigued and chattering, wanting to witness her skills.


    Not many students could recognize this runic symbol at a nce like Hermione. Draco, for instance, felt a vague sense of familiarity with the symbol, as if he had seen it somewhere before.


    The next moment, a second runic symbol flew out of the box, followed by the third, the fourth...


    Hundreds of variously colored runic symbols soared out continuously before the box abruptly closed. The young wizards and witches stared with wide eyes at the runic symbols fluttering near the lectern, overwhelmed with awe.


    They turned their gaze towards Professor Harp, who was admiring the multitude of runes before him. Suddenly, he extended his hand and gave a push. The hundreds of runic symbols, previously gathered, scattered in all directions, filling up nearly half the ssroom in just a few seconds.


    The young wizards and witches looked upward at the sparkling, multicolored magical symbols suspended in mid-air. They resembled the candles that floated in the air during hall banquets, yet these runes were much closer, easily graspable with a reach.


    Seamus Finnigan couldn''t resist tapping the fiery-red runic symbol in front of him with his wand, and it immediately emitted a burst of orange mes before drifting away. It startled Seamus quite a bit.


    Felix cleared his throat and swung his wand in a sweeping arc, causing the runic symbols to freeze in an instant.


    "Next, I shall teach you a little technique to sense magic. During this ss, you need to select the five runic symbols that resonate with you the most and record their shapes on parchment."


    "Here''s a friendly tip: this is rted to your final exam''s practicalponent."


    Other students looked at him with eager eyes. "What are we waiting for?" Seamus eximed loudly, followed by a chorus of softughter.


    Felix Harp exined the technique, "It''s actually quite simple. Touch the symbol with your hand and perceive the magic within it. The more you ''see,'' the more it matches you... You may begin!"


    Ron muttered to Harry, "Sounds like something Trwney would say."


    Harry couldn''t help ncing at Hermione. She had a history of disagreements with Professor Trwney and had often ridiculed terms like "Inner Eye" and "Second Sight" as unreliable - these were specialized terms used by Divination professors to describe whether a young wizard had a natural talent for Divination.


    Simr terms included "the aura around one," and "receptivity to future resonance." Unfortunately, Hermione was ssified as someone without Divination talent.


    Normally, when this name was brought up, she''d have plenty to say, but this time, Hermione didn''t respond. She discreetly leaned in to Professor Harp, asking something in a hushed voice.


    Harry''s interest was piqued, and he tugged Ron along to join them.


    "¡ªIs there a purpose behind this?" he just managed to catch thetter half of Hermione''s sentence.


    "It''s in preparation for the Ancient Runes Club''s first activity," Felix exined. "And also to explore a possibility - if wizards naturally have spells better suited to them, like Potter''s Disarming Charm," he nodded towards Harry, "then could ancient runes have a simr phenomenon?"


    Hermione understood. "So, you believe that everyone has their own perfectly-suited ancient rune? Our task now is to find it based on intuition?"


    Felix said, "I''m only specting, but it''s worth a try."


    Harry couldn''t help interjecting, "Professor, have the results for the Runes Clube out yet? Ron and I..."


    Felix looked at him. "Your essays...barely passed. You''ve been ced in the second category."


    "Second category?" Harry heard this term for the first time. He nned to ask Hermione about itter - she would surely know. However, he understood the implication of "barely passed." Both he and Ron breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Oh, and," he heard Professor Harp addressing him, "how''s your essay on dueling systemsing along?"


    "Uh...still working on it," Harry said sheepishly. He had taken lots of notes, but the essay was only about a thirdplete. Plus, his mind was now consumed with thoughts of first category, second category, and so on.


    Back at their seats, Hermione naturally provided an exnation of the grading categories. "The professor has divided the assessment into three categories. The lowest one is straight elimination - as the professor puts it, those are the ones who are just trying their luck without any preparation."


    "So, the second category is a pass, and the first category is outstanding?" Ron guessed, which made a lot of sense.


    "No," Hermione sighed, "the first category is a pass. As for the second category, it retains the right to audit. Whether you attend or keep up with the club''s lessons, the professor won''t interfere."


    Ron''s mouth fell open, and he couldn''t help raising his voice, "So you mean, we''re just filling spots?"


    "Professor Harp believes," Hermione''s tone grew louder too, "that a minority among you might be able to keep up with the course. But most will fall behind and naturally drop out."


    "At the moment, there are only seven students in the first category, which is quite low. That''s why the professor intends to select a few more from the second category."


    Harry couldn''t help but feel uneasy. He had a strong feeling that he might fall behind. Perhaps he was just on a one-way trip?


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 Chapter 221: The Gift of Divination?

    Chapter 221: The Gift of Divination?


    "Let''s hurry and find the right magical runes," Hermione reminded them, "This ss is very important. If you can find suitable magical runes, I can give you extra lessons..."


    "You''ve mastered all these runes? These aren''t theoretical runes, but practical ones!" Ron eximed in surprise.


    "Don''t be silly, there''s no way I''ve mastered them all," Hermione said, "But I''ve definitely learned faster than you!"


    After that, Harry and Ron became much more enthusiastic. And it wasn''t just the two of them; other young wizards were also intrigued by this novel way of teaching.


    Daphne Greengrass twirled around a slender, agile magical rune symbol in emerald green. "I feel like it''s trying tomunicate with me, but I can''t quite hear it."


    "That''s enough of a demonstration," a Gryffindor next to her said irritably, showing no results so far. "Move aside, please."


    Neville reached out his round hand toward a fiery red magical rune. "Step aside, Lumberton," Draco said, apanied by two cronies. He greedily eyed the rune, which seemed to be the brightest of all symbols.


    Neville recoiled a step but then stood his ground. "I was here first," he muttered.


    "What did you say? I didn''t quite catch that. Maybe you''d like to experience the power of the Leg-Locker Curse again?" Draco threatened in a low voice.


    "What''s going on?" Felix Harp suddenly appeared, as he had been keeping an eye on Neville.


    "Nothing, Professor," Draco said with an air of self-importance, "Lumberton might not have performed well in Potions ss; he''s just crying a bit."


    Neville clenched his fist, stubbornly stating, "I''m not crying." Tears were welling up in his eyes.


    "Malfoy,e with me," Felix said, leading Draco out of the ssroom.


    "Professor Harp," Draco said somewhat flustered. He wasn''t afraid of losing points, but he dreaded copying two thick books again; the lesson fromst year was still fresh in his memory.


    But he heard Professor Harp ask calmly, "Malfoy, tell me, does bullying the weak bring you happiness?"


    "I, I..."


    "The fact is, ever since yourst detention, I haven''t heard you use that word again, have I?"


    Draco wanted to be defiant, but he felt his thoughts were already transparent. "No," he said softly.


    That word was "Mudblood."


    "That''s good, isn''t it? I''ve always thought you were a smart student. I knew that from the moment you came up with the idea of using a scarf to drag a Dark Magic item."


    "I believe you''re capable of much more, Malfoy. Show me."


    When Draco returned to the ssroom, Pansy Parkinson immediately approached. "Draco, did you lose points or get detention?"


    "No," Draco said bewilderedly, "The professor praised me."


    In the afternoon, the magical runes club recruitment poster that had been hanging on the bulletin board for weeks was finally reced with a long list of names.


    "Only seven in the first batch."


    A young wizard muttered, "Hermione Granger, Fred Weasley, George Weasley¡ªthree from Gryffindor alone."


    "That''s normal. Granger is the assistant for Runes ss. Rumor has it she''s proficient in not just one practical rune, but over a hundred, and she can easily break the armrest off a solid wooden chair. And those twins, have you heard about the Mirror of Erised?"


    "Ah, well, I''ve already reserved mine, but I won''t get it until Halloween."


    "That was quick! I''m still hesitating!"


    "Firste, first served."


    "Who else is left?"


    "Hufflepuff only has one, Cedric Diggory, and he''s truly outstanding. Besides that, Ravenw has two, and Slytherin has one¡ªit''s that Head Boy with thest name Jeffrey, the rather haughty one."


    On the third-floor staircase of the castle, Felix Harp was conversing with a girl who had wild, golden-blonde hair. Her wand was tucked behind her left ear.


    Luna Lovegood handed him two pieces of parchment.


    "What''s this?" Felix asked as he took them.


    "It''s my essay, but I''ve only written two feet worth. It''s not enough words."


    "You want me to help you pass with a shortcut? You''re not old enough for that," Felix said with a chuckle.


    "No, it''s just that I was worried you might feel bad if you couldn''t recruit enough people, so I wrote a little something. I went to see on the test day, there were a lot of people, so I didn''t go in." Luna shook her head and exined, "I also suggested to Ravenw students to sign up."


    Felix looked a bit puzzled. "I''ve heard more than one Ravenw student say that a second-year student was going around promoting the Runes Club."


    "That''s right, that''s my nickname, Loony, but I don''t really mind."


    "Thank you, Miss Lovegood."


    "We''re friends, aren''t we?" She looked at him as if confirming.


    "Yes, Luna."


    Luna smiled. "By the way, there''s something I wanted to ask you..."


    Felix looked at her attentively. "As long as I know."


    "The other day, I met a professor who kept inviting me to be her assistant."


    Felix suspected he had misheard. This approach sounded all too familiar. Which professor was trying to follow his footsteps in finding a shortcut?


    "Who invited you?" he asked.


    "I don''t even know her, I''ve never seen her before." Luna tossed her hair casually.


    "Well, you can at least describe what she looks like, right?"


    "She was wearing a very pretty pair of insect sses, and she had a shiny, transparent cloak on, and her wrist had more bracelets than I do," Luna described earnestly, emphasizing, "Many more!"


    Upon hearing these descriptions, Felix couldn''t help but think of Sybill Trwney. But Luna''s portrayal of Trwney seemed overly positive. Was it safe to say they both were Ravenws...


    Felix stared at Luna, and inquired tentatively, "How did you two cross paths?"


    Luna Lovegood was only a second-year student. In theory, she wouldn''t have any contact with Sybill Trwney.


    "That day, I was leaving ssroom seven, thinking I had nothing to do. So, I wandered around the castle and came across a very interesting portrait of a knight on the eighth floor. He was looking for his lost horse, and we chatted for a bit. He told me there was a free performance to watch in the tapestry room on the North Tower."


    "Are you talking about Trwney? I didn''t know she had a penchant for performing," Felix found it hard to believe, but indeed, Trwney''s residence was at the top of the North Tower, connected to her Divination ssroom.


    Luna nodded and then put on a slightly fearful expression. "It''s, it''s not clear... Dear, please don''t press me. I can''t say!" Then she added solemnly, "It''s that kind of performance. Honestly, I''m not very good at it."


    Felix''s expression remained stern. "And then what happened? Did she spot you for sneaking a peek at her... her performance?"


    "No, apart from her looking somewhat excited¡ªmaybe I interrupted her state¡ªsheter said I might have some sort of inner eye and invited me to be her assistant."


    Felix inquired, "Have you heard of Divination ss?"


    "Yes," Luna blinked her pale eyes, "Yes, one of the elective courses for third years. But I didn''t n on taking Divination."


    "Why not?"


    "I prefer stargazing. A centaur friend of mine taught me astrology and gave me some dittany and flobberworm mucus. When heated, they attract a group of smoky creatures that twist into various shapes to make prophecies." Luna exined.


    Observing smoke shapes, basically? Felix guessed.


    "And, I''ve already decided to take Ancient Runes and Care of Magical Creatures next year. Their schedules might sh."


    Felix wondered about the irony of a young girl who wasn''t keen on Divination getting recruited as an assistant by a Divination professor. The intricacies of Luna Lovegood''s encounters never ceased to amaze.


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 Chapter 222: Traces of Black

    Chapter 222: Traces of ck


    To be perfectly honest, Felix wasn''t quite sure if Luna possessed the gift of Divination. This young girl had always been quite unique, but his focus was on a different matter at hand: "You still venture into the Forbidden Forest often?"


    Luna paused for a moment, seemingly contemting how to approach this question. Felix was curious to hear her response, but Luna drifted off into a dreamy state shortly after.


    Felix snapped his fingers in front of her, and Luna, as if in a trance, said, "Ferenz is a good person."


    Felix wasn''t entirely certain whether her statement was in response to his earlier question, but he grasped the essence: the centaur named Ferenz would protect her.


    He cautiously inquired, "Perhaps I could meet your centaur friend? I happen to be heading to the Forbidden Forest this weekend to release a small creature..."


    "Oh, I''m not sure. Ferenz mentioned that hispanions are quite traditional, which, in my understanding, means they have a bit of a temper," Luna said. "I''ll ask him beforehand."


    ...


    Two more days passed. Hogwarts was shrouded in continuous rain, with dark clouds hanging low, stifling the air. The temperature had dropped significantly, and Madam Pomfrey had reminded the young wizards more than once to put on warmer clothes.


    "There''s really no need for her reminders. I mean, we''re not idiots," Ron gestured towards the weather outside. Rain was falling lightly, pattering against the roof of the Second Greenhouse.


    Harry absentmindedly handled a bean pod. "Wood would love this. He thinks we''re likely to face rainy conditions in our first match, and he''s eager to incorporate this aspect into our training... Finally, he got his chance."


    Madam Sprout pped her hands, capturing the young wizards'' attention. She reminded them, "Be gentle in your handling, or they might retaliate harshly."


    But it was toote. Seamus Finnigan''s actions were rather rough as he repeated an experience from their Magical Runes ss. "You saw it too¡ªI touched that fiery red magical symbol, and it reacted intensely. I guess... ow!"


    The bean pod in front of him suddenly burst open, shooting out seven or eight hard beans, all hitting him in the face. One even identally struck Seamus, who joined in with a groan of his own.


    Madam Sprout hurried over, surveying the scene. "Not following instructions, disregarding the teacher''s words! I really ought to deduct points from you, Mr. Finnigan." With Seamus and his friend, she moved to the corner. "Just a bit of ointment is needed. Honestly, if you were as careless while squeezing pus from bubotuber pus, you''d be in for a tough time..."


    A bolt of lightning cut through the air, illuminating the somewhat dim castle. Felix lowered his wand, turning to his parchment to write and sketch. Inside a ss container beside him, a fist-sized Acromant spoke angrily, "You''re not keeping your promise, wizard!"


    Felix responded, "I promised to let you go before Halloween, I didn''t specify the exact day. Besides... are you really not considering my offer? I could have you as my assistant."


    "What kind of assistant? Like that little girl?" The Acromant had seen Hermione, the young witch had been quite fascinated by it until Felix revealed its true size to her.


    In its normal state, the Acromant was about the size of a small carriage, covered in tough ck hair, with a small and grotesque head, and a pair ofrge pincers that always made a clicking sound.


    "Ah, close enough, but you need to continue cooperating with my research," Felix Harp said.


    The Acromant pondered for a moment and then shouted angrily. Felix found it noisy and cast a Silencing Charm on the ss container.


    "Atst, I have detailed test data. The remaining work involves conducting some repetitive tests on other creatures,paring results, and gaining a clear understanding," Felix folded a stack of thick parchment.


    He operated each ancient magic he currently held in the same manner. Flitwick greatly appreciated this cautious approach.


    That evening, light rain turned into a downpour, and raindrops the size of beans tapped against the castle''s window sills. Half asleep and half awake, Felix heard a deep buzzing alert.


    He sat up abruptly, wand appearing instantly in his hand. He waited quietly for a few seconds, seeing no one. But he quickly figured out what had happened. He swiftly left his bedroom, pushed open the office window¡ª


    Rainwater was swept into the room by the fierce wind. Beyond the window, it was pitch-ck, and the rm sounded suddenly clear.


    "It''s the miniature sneakoscope at the castle''s entrance. Sirius ck is here!"


    He somersaulted out of the window, a glint from his ring, and a Firebolt broomstick appeared out of nowhere. The next second, he soared throughyers of thick rain like curtains, disappearing in front of the office.


    When he arrived at the castle entrance, there was no one here, only a spot above the main gate continuously emitting golden light, apanied by a loud buzzing sound.


    Felix pointed his wand at himself, andrge amounts of mist spread from him, making him look like a boiling kettle. Just then, Dumbledore appeared, wearing a gray-blue pajama, no sses, with a fiery phoenix perched on his shoulder.


    "Hello, Fawkes," Felix greeted.


    Fawkes let out a low cry.


    A tabby cat appeared from afar, transforming into a panting Professor McGonagall as it ran.


    "Any discoveries, Felix?" Dumbledore spoke gravely.


    "Clearly, I''m a bitte," Felix pointed at the broomstick in his hand. Among the three, he was closest to the castle gates. "I came as quickly as possible, but this rain has been quite helpful for him."


    "Sirius ck?" Professor McGonagall asked anxiously.


    "Clearly..." Felix waved his wand, silencing the buzzing.


    "We should search the castle, Dumbledore," Professor McGonagall said sternly, "Phileas Flitwick, Severus Snape, Argus Filch..." She recited names one after another, and three silver-white cats flew out from her wand, each going in a different direction.


    Dumbledore silently watched as Professor McGonagall''s patronuses disappeared. He crouched down to examine the ground at the castle entrance, his fingers touching the cold marble. Then he swiftly entered the castle, heading for the portraits nearest to the entrance.


    "Has anyone entered? Outsiders?" he asked.


    "None that we''ve seen," the characters in the portrait spoke in a cacophony of voices, "Of course, we could have been deceived, Headmaster."


    Dumbledore nodded, not saying a word.


    "Is it possible that ck is hiding within the castle, Albus?" Professor McGonagall asked with concern.


    "Unlikely," Dumbledore said softly, "Felix arrived swiftly; he wouldn''t have had the time to cover his tracks so thoroughly. It''s more likely he appeared from afar and triggered the rm. But we should be prepared, Fawkes¡ª"


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 Chapter 223: Confrontation

    Chapter 223: Confrontation


    A phoenix atop Dumbledore''s shoulder let out a resounding cry.


    "Go watch over Harry, but remain unseen," he said. Fawkes unfurled his wings, soaring into the air, his form vanishing abruptly.


    "A truly extraordinary creature," eximed Felix Harp, "irresistibly endearing."


    Dumbledore nced at him. "Hagrid has been unusually joyfultely. He mentioned an old friending to stay temporarily. Do you know why, Felix Harp?"


    Felix Harp looked around cautiously. "I''m not sure either, Headmaster... We haven''t been in touch muchtely."


    Soon, the heads of the four houses and professors arrived. Professor McGonagall briefly exined the situation.


    Snape was taken aback. "ck! Still as foolish as ever... How did he breach the Dementor''s defenses?"


    Felix Harp murmured, "Severus, he escaped from Azkaban. Do you really think a few Dementors would bother him? Frankly, they''re repulsive and not very useful."


    Currently, Dementors hadn''t appeared on the school grounds. The only way students could see them was by passing Hagrid''s cabin and walking up a long slope to glimpse the two guarding the entrance to the school.


    However, if Hogwarts were scaled down to a certain proportion, one would find a significant number of Dementors congregating at its edges, including near the neighboring wizarding vige, Hogsmeade.


    This was why Felix Harp believed Luna''s behavior wasn''t safe. No one could guarantee that Dementors wouldn''t suddenly emerge. Even though the Ministry of Magic would surely establish patrol areas, for young, emotionally charged students, Dementors were like a feast.


    Dumbledore strongly opposed their presence within the school for this very reason. He believed the Ministry had little control over Dementors. Yet, he had to make somepromise and allow their presence outside the school.


    Snape calmed down and subtly hinted to Dumbledore, "Headmaster Dumbledore, just the day before yesterday, the newspaper reported ck''s trace in Diagon Alley. Today, he''s outside the castle. It seems... to me, he couldn''t have done this without help."


    The professors present looked at Snape in astonishment, and Flitwick sharply eximed, "Are you suggesting ck has rallied some Death Eaters?"


    Snape was caught off guard. That wasn''t what he meant...


    The professors started discussing fervently, almost instantly epting Snape''s ''idea''¡ªor rather, what seemed to be the reasonable assumption.


    The newspapers had already crowned ck the "top Death Eater beneath the mysterious figure," and with thatbel, it was odd not to find any allies.


    "With his influence..."


    "It''s quite possible. We thought ck was alone, but he might have gathered quite a few dark wizards."


    Quiet until now, Lupin suddenly spoke, "I don''t think so, Xiao Tiang¡ª" He hesitated for a second or two, "ck is just an undercover agent. Even in the Death Eater circles, few know his true identity."


    "Lupin, can I interpret this as you defending your dear friend?" Snape redirected his focus towards Lupin, deliberately emphasizing the word "dear friend."


    "No, Severus," Lupin said calmly, "it''s just a simple analysis." He looked at Dumbledore, "Perhaps when he returned to the Death Eaters as an infiltrator, he would have been weed and praised, but the issue is, he failed. His intel directly led to the disappearance of the mysterious figure. Would any Death Eaters still trust him?"


    "Headmaster, from what I know of him, ck is undoubtedly a lone operator. Maybe... he did it to prove himself, like he did during his school years or in the times of war¡ªevery battle, he was at the forefront," Lupin summarized despondently. "He enjoys adventure, likes being a lone hero."


    Snape''s gaze turned cold, but he remained silent, retreating into the dark corner of the wall.


    One professor offered their perspective, "But without help from Death Eaters, how could he cover hundreds of kilometers in just two days? Many have tried to follow his trail. The Ministry has put up a significant reward."


    "Too many possibilities, Floo powder, Portkeys, broomsticks..."


    "But they would leave traces. ck wouldn''t dare expose himself!"


    "Could it be Apparition? Some wizards can use it without a wand."


    Flitwick was an authority on spells and he rejected this guess, "In theory, Apparition doesn''t require a wand, but in practice, very few can manage it. It''s far more difficult than you imagine and idents are quitemon. Besides, Apparition has many limitations, unless... unless he had a wand!"


    "How could that be?"


    "Stealing, robbing, if he saw an opportunity, nothing''s impossible."


    Dumbledore interrupted the discussion, "Everyone, let''s search the castle thoroughly to ensure nothing is amiss."


    In the end, the professors spent nearly half the night, and even when the sky was growing light, they hadn''t found any issues.


    The professors dispersed gradually. Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, Snape, and Felix Harp gathered once more. Professor McGonagall reported thetest progress, Snape clearly had something to say, and Felix Harp had a small question that needed Dumbledore''s answer.


    "I''ve shown the portrait of ck to the Fat Lady for confirmation. She won''t make a mistake," McGonagall said.


    "Very good, Minerva," Dumbledore said. "Let''s ensure that all the portraits in the castle remember ck''s face, I mean... themunicative ones."


    McGonagall nodded. Snape scoffed under his breath, and Dumbledore turned to him, "Severus, you seem to have something on your mind?"


    Snape''s words held no emotion, "Dumbledore, I think we''re wasting our efforts. We discussed this before the school started¡ª" He raised his head, his gaze descending from his hooked nose, "As long as there''s a vulnerability in the castle, ck will find an opportunity."


    McGonagall said sternly, "Are you suggesting there''s a traitor at Hogwarts? That''s impossible! Impossible, Severus."


    Dumbledore spoke firmly, "Today''s events prove there''s no aplice of ck within the school."


    "But that''s not definite, Headmaster," Snape''s voice was low, and he quickly said, "Perhaps the mole was simply unaware of a mirror specifically designed to track ck. In fact," he shed a sardonic smile, "I was kept in the dark as well, wasn''t I?"


    Felix Harp knew who he was talking about¡ªRemus Lupin, Sirius ck''s dear friend from school. A few hours ago, Snape had intentionally directed suspicion towards him, but Flitwick had steered it off course...


    It seemed Dumbledore had warned Snape not to reveal Lupin''s werewolf identity, as the professors and parents of students would explode¡ªduring the war, werewolves were a significant dark force under Voldemort.


    ...


    After McGonagall and Snape left, Felix Harp raised his own question.


    "You want to know how Dementors reproduce?" Dumbledore repeated the question he heard.


    "Exactly, to my knowledge, the number of Dementors isn''trge, around a hundred? From the information I encountered during my school years, their numbers haven''t changed significantly over the past century," Felix Harp asked.


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 Chapter 224: The Origin of Dementors

    Chapter 224: The Origin of Dementors


    Dumbledore pondered for a moment and then spoke, "This involves a fearsome dark wizard from the 15th century, Ectis. He is known as the earliest inhabitant of Azkaban, back when Azkaban was just a hidden, magic-sealed ind in the North Sea."


    "While history has nevercked wizards referred to as ''evil,'' Ectis''s malevolence was ingrained to the core. He had no mercy for any living being, and it was he who cruelly created the species known as Dementors."


    Felix Harp eximed in surprise, "Dementors were created by wizards? Like the Quintapeds?" He had no inkling of this; it was truly a hidden secret within the wizarding world.


    "Quintapeds were idental creations, but Dementors were not," Dumbledore shook his head. "It wasn''t until Ectis''s death and the breakdown of the hidden magic that people discovered his actions. However, Dementors had already be an independent species. Initially, there were only a few, but they can propagate and divide like fungi, and conventional spells are nearly ineffective against them."


    Felix was puzzled, "If that''s the case, they should have be uncontrobly numerous. But in reality, their numbers are scarce, and they''re used by the Ministry of Magic?"


    Dumbledore exined, "The Ministry of Magic has more of a cooperative rtionship with Dementors. Moreover, these creatures seem to possess a mystical collective consciousness. Their numbers remain within a certain range, but once they decrease to a certain level, they naturally divide. Perhaps this is also a form of reproduction?"


    Felix began to grasp the nature of Dementor existence and couldn''t help but inquire further, "Apart from the Patronus Charm, are there any spells that work? I mean, spells that canpletely vanquish Dementors?"


    "Very difficult, Felix, very difficult," Dumbledore said with a sigh.


    Felix wanted to continue his questions, but Dumbledore seemed unwilling to borate further, and their conversation soon came to an end.


    ...


    In the early morning, young wizards woke up in their beds, unaware of the events from a few hours prior.


    Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat at the Gryffindor table, having breakfast. Owls asionally flew in, catching Hermione''s hopeful gaze as she looked towards the Great Hall''s entrance.


    "Are you waiting for a letter?" Ron asked.


    "Oh, I ordered a book from Flourish and Blotts through the Owlery," Hermione said absentmindedly. "It seems it won''t arrive today."


    Ron noticed Harry''s dejected mood and suggested, "After your training this weekend, we can visit Hagrid. Honestly, the three-headed dog looks adorable when it''s small. It''s the first time I''ve agreed with Hagrid''s taste..."


    Harry''s interest was piqued, and he perked up, "Might have to wait a bit, Wood''s likely training until dark."


    Ron shrugged, "Let''s hope Hagrid won''t kick us out again." At the beginning of the school year, fearing Hagrid''s dismissal, they had visited him at night while wearing invisibility cloaks. Hagrid had escorted them back to the castle himself, warning them they could only visit during the day.


    Hermione was about to voice her thoughts when Professor McGonagall entered the hall. She said loudly, "Potter,e here!"


    Harry put down his utensils, wondering what he had done wrong this time. Ron and Hermione exchanged nces and followed.


    "Weasley and Granger... you too," Professor McGonagall added. She didn''t dismiss the uninvited pair and looked at Harry with a stern expression. "Your Sneakoscope, where is it? The one meant for ck!"


    Harry carefully retrieved the pocket-sized Sneakoscope from his pocket. Ity quiet in his hand, and Professor McGonagall visibly sighed in relief.


    "What''s happened, Professor?" Hermione whispered.


    "It''s time I stopped keeping this from you, Potter," Professor McGonagall began, her expression serious. "I know you might be shocked, but I have to tell you¡ªck¡ª"


    "I already know," Harry said angrily, "I know he''s after me. That''s why he escaped from Azkaban. I know he was friends with my dad, even his best man. He''s... He''s also my godfather." Harry couldn''t continue; the word "godfather" felt like an insult, a mockery of not only himself but also his deceased parents.


    Professor McGonagall seemed genuinely surprised, staring at him wide-eyed. "I understand now, well, I thought¡ª"


    Feel free to let me know if you''d like any specific phrases or passages to be rephrased or adjusted to better fit the Harry Potter universe''s tone and style!


    "That''s why you should understand why I insisted on you carrying this Sneakoscope with you. It can protect you," she pursed her lips. "Earlier today, before dawn, the Sneakoscope in the castle sounded an rm."


    Harry stammered, "W-was it the one I had? But it''s been in my pocket, and there was nothing unusual..."


    Ron''s face showed the fear that mirrored his own. He clutched his pocket tightly and whispered, "Don''t move, Scabbers!"


    Professor McGonagall clenched and unclenched her fist repeatedly, seemingly unsure whether to reveal something. Previously, only Felix, Dumbledore, and she knew that it wasn''t just one but three Sneakoscopes. However, it was no longer a secret now.


    Hermione chimed in, "Professor McGonagall, I''ve seen from Professor Harp that there are three identical Sneakoscopes. I assume the other two are ced elsewhere? I guess, at the front and back doors of the castle..."


    Professor McGonagall sighed, "Well, Miss Granger, just as you said... one at the front and one at the back."


    Harry didn''t know if he should feel relieved or disappointed, "So you mean, he was lurking at the castle gates?"


    "Likely so," Professor McGonagall said, "Professors were up early and conducted an urgent search of the castle, but we found nothing. The portraits in the castle didn''t spot any strangers either, which suggests¡ª"


    "He realized he was exposed and left in advance," Harry interjected.


    "Correct, Potter," Professor McGonagall said, "Since you''re already aware, I believe you''ve mentally prepared. Some activities aren''t suitable¡ª"


    "Hogsmeade¡ª" Harry blurted out, his heart suddenly in his throat.


    Hogsmeade was an all-wizard vige, and third-year and above students could visit it on certain days with the permission of their parents or guardians.


    He had talked about this with Ronst night. Harry had told Ron that he hadn''t gotten his uncle''s signature, and Ron had suggested he ask Professor McGonagall.


    Now, it seemed that the ns were ruined.


    Professor McGonagall nced at him, her expression grave. "You won''t be going to Hogsmeade, of course. I meant Quidditch. Frankly, letting you practice is too dangerous. Even with the other yers, it''s not enough to handle ck."


    "Professor McGonagall," Harry couldn''t help but raise his voice, "What does this have to do with my training?"


    "It''s definitely rted. ck is likely hiding in Hogsmeade or deep in the Forbidden Forest," Professor McGonagall delivered shocking news. "The Quidditch pitch is far from the castle. If something were to happen, we wouldn''t have time to mount a rescue."


    "But, but..." Harry was bewildered. He had already begun his training for this year, three times a week. Wood had enthusiastically told him that they aimed to win a second Quidditch Cup this year, a graduation gift.


    Other yers were equally confident due to their victoryst year.


    Now, before the first match even began, was the trophy already slipping through their fingers?


    Suddenly, something crossed Harry''s mind. He spoke urgently, "Professor McGonagall, if a professor was watching us, like Professor Vector¡ª"


    Professor McGonagall remained tight-lipped.


    "Please..." Harry implored.


    "Very well," Professor McGonagall relented, "I''ll ask Professor Vector to oversee your training. Return to the castle before nightfall. When I have the time, I''ll visit as well."


    She hurriedly left, having much to attend to because of the morning''s incident.


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 Chapter 225: Ferenzs Advice

    Chapter 225: Ferenz''s Advice


    Harry took his seat, the recent events making him feel like he hadn''t woken up yet, or like he''d somehow jumped ahead to April Fool''s Day. But the twins and Wood had already closed in, their faces mirroring the seriousness of Professor McGonagall''s expression, and they had overheard the argument between them.


    Though he hadn''t caught every word, the sporadic mentions of "Quidditch" and "training" were enough to send shivers down their spines.


    Harry exined the trouble he had encountered, and while Wood''s face darkened, he still offeredfort, "It''s alright, youe back before dark, and we''ll continue the training. Your position as a Seeker isn''t that crucial, so the impact won''t be too significant..."


    He finished with a somewhat grim joke, "ck couldn''t have spent over a decade in prison to get a bad eyesight, mistaking me for you, could he?"


    The twins erupted into carefreeughter, attempting to envision Wood''s burly figure as Harry was definitely not an easy feat.


    However, Harry didn''t share their lightheartedness. He realized all too clearly that Sirius ck, the escaped prisoner who had spent twelve years behind bars, had been disturbingly close to him.


    "Perhaps, I should put more effort into my dueling system essay," Harry mused, patting his bag, which held the beginning of his paper.


    As the weekend approached and Halloween drew near, the festive atmosphere grew stronger.


    Felix Harp rose early, examining the paper in his hands.


    "...The above exnation suggests that we may have found a new method for treating memory impairment. It could be more targeted than existing potions and spells, but the catch is finding a way to establish a stable connection with the patient''s memories. Not the kind of brief and malicious intrusion seen in Legilimency, but a cooperative form of information exchange.


    Simultaneously, for cases of severe memory damage (extensive and permanent injury, shattered memories), simple bonding spells are inadequate. We need to consider providing memories with a stable structure..."


    Felix nodded in satisfaction. "The entire paper is theoretical deduction, but it subtly alludes to the most crucial part - the Mind Room magic and the stable structure of memories."


    "Let''s float it out and gauge the response. Hmm... I could publish it in a monthly edition of the ''Prophet,'' which carries some influence. Although it''s not directly rted to their field, the incubation period for brewing ideas is longer."


    "I estimate it might not spread within the therapistmunity until mid tote November. Something purely theoretical like this will surely elicit diverse opinions. By then, the situation with the Lumbatons might be hard to conceal, but I can conveniently use this as an excuse to avoid higher-level involvement from the Saint Mungo''s administration. No one would be foolish enough to reject a potential Order of Merlin medal-worthy achievement."


    He tucked away the paper; a few adjustments to the wording and it would be ready to send.


    Felix sat on the couch, contemting how to simplify the treatment n. Dumbledore had given him this advice. Whether it was the Mind Room magic or the memory nodes inherited from Lady Ravenw, both were invaluable knowledge. He wasn''t that reckless to reveal them so easily, and besides, not many would be able to learn them.


    "Simplifying the Mind Room magic is rtively straightforward; I know it inside out. As for memory nodes..." Felix thought for a moment, deciding to present his own interpretation of a stable memory structure derived from Lady Ravenw''s legacy. He had employed this on magical puppets, granting them rtively stable personalities and habits, even enabling them to rehearse ys on their own.


    Inside a ss container on his workbench, an eight-eyed giant spider cleared its throat impatiently, "Hurry up, hurry up! I can''t wait any longer."


    Felix turned around, "Are you sure you won''t reconsider? I can grant you a vacation and ample food..."


    "Stop talking, just stop!" The eight-eyed spider replied irritably, "Let me go back."


    "Very well." Felix extended his hand, and the ss container on the workbench flew into his palm. With a crisp snap, it shattered, and in a hazy blue light, the giant spider''s size continually diminished, soon shrinking to the size of a fingertip.


    Felix carefully ced it back into a small ss vial, and a faint voice emerged from the vial, "Your magic has progressed again. I don''t feel anything different. Perhaps, I mean just perhaps... I might asionally assist with your experiments." Felix smirked, putting the vial into his pocket.


    Checking the time, he Apparated to the castle''s entrance. Two minutes passed, and just when he thought Luna might not show up, she bounded into view.


    "Felix, I''ve prepared some buttered peas, Ferenze would like them." She pointed to a crookedly woven basket.


    Felix wasn''t exactly familiar with centaur tastes, and he didn''t particrly like this scent, so he changed the topic, "Let''s go, we''ll meet your friends."


    They descended the slope, passing by the greenhouses and the Whomping Willow. Hagrid''s hut appeared in the distance, but they didn''t approach it. Instead, they took a turn, entering the Forbidden Forest.


    Passing through a barrier of trees, they soon arrived at a clearing. The ground was covered in moss and various wildflowers, and a few rocks had been meticulously arranged. It was evident that this was Luna''s secret haven.


    Luna retrieved a whistle from her pocket and blew into it with puffed cheeks. The sound was subtle, blending perfectly with the surrounding "rustling" of the wind. Felix could tell this was a magical item.


    Soon, the sound of galloping hooves reached Felix''s ears, and a young centaur appeared. He had white hair and the body of a silver-maned horse.


    Felix deduced the centaur was "young" from his human face. The centaur cautiously peered at him through the branches, half of his body concealed behind a tree trunk.


    "Little Luna, is this your teacher?" the centaur asked. Felix''s refined attire assured him of Felix''s teaching position.


    "Yes,e on over. I''ve prepared new treats for you to try!" Luna cheerfully replied.


    Ferenz emerged from behind the tree trunk, stopping a couple of meters away from Felix. He maintained a stern expression, saying, "Hello, I''m Ferenz."


    "Oh, hello. I''m Felix Harp," Felix replied courteously.


    "Listen, wizard. We generally avoid dealings with humans, especially adult wizards. If not for Luna wanting me to meet you..."


    Felix chuckled, "I know centaurs can be exclusive, but I believe you might be an exception. Also, I''vee here to discuss some rather serious matters with you."


    Ferenz eyed him, saying, "What matters?"


    "Do you know Sirius ck?"


    "Heard the name. Dangerous individual," Ferenz replied casually.


    "Exactly. He''s escaped from Azkaban. The Ministry and Dementors are furious. By the way, have you encountered Dementors?"


    Ferenz replied stiffly, "I haven''t, but some of our people im to have seen their shadows."


    "That''s it," Felix said, "The Forbidden Forest isn''t entirely safe. And forgive my bluntness, but if Dementors were to go out of control, I doubt you''d have an effective way to counter them."


    Ferenz pawed the ground, his face twisted in anger, but he knew Felix was right.


    Felix continued, "Allowing a student near the Forbidden Forest is risky, and it goes against the school rules. My suggestion is to exercise caution until the Dementors are removed."


    "Are you trying to prevent us from meeting?"


    "I have no intention of ruining a friendship. Someday, Luna might look back on this as a wonderful memory. Ferenz, do you know Hagrid?"


    "Know him," the centaur replied.


    "That''s good. I don''t think Hagrid would mind hosting you. Perhaps, meeting behind Hagrid''s hut near the pumpkin patch could work."


    Ferenz remarked, "Hagrid might be mightier than centaurs, but I doubt he can handle Dementors."


    Felix shook his head, "Ferenz, you don''t understand. Hagrid is a wizard. No matter how he appears, he is undoubtedly a wizard. His capabilities surpass yours and yourmunity''sbined."


    "Maybe he can''t directly fight Dementors, but he can surely hold on until reinforcements arrive. Besides, we''re discussing the worst-case scenario, and such urrences of Dementors going out of control are rare."


    Reluctantly, Ferenz agreed. He stepped forward, extending his hand to shake Felix''s.


    "It''s clear you don''t hold bias against centaurs, Mr. Harp," he said.


    "Oh, of course not, Ferenz. Do you know the location of the acromant nest?" Felix inquired.


    "I do," Ferenz hesitated, pointing in a direction, "Their nest is to the west of our settlement. We had a confrontation with them years ago. Their hunting grounds won''t cross the borders we''ve drawn."


    Felix roughly calcted the positions of the centaur settlement, the spider nest, and Hogwarts. He suddenly realized that the centaurs had separated the acromant swarm. Even if mischievous young wizards were tempted, traversing hours of rugged terrain was a challenge, and they might be detected and turned back by centaurs.


    For the next while, Luna remained in good spirits, but conversation between Felix and Ferenz was sparse. Ferenz shared "morning tea" with Luna, the buttered peas. Luna also wanted Felix to try them, but he politely declined.


    Before departing, Ferenz hesitated and said, "Perhaps you''re right."


    "What?" Felix asked.


    "Danger lurks close...," the centaur said uneasily, flicking his silver tail, "Our people have sensed it too¡ªsubcurrents are swirling, darkness looms."


    Felix grinned, "Perhaps this heralds the return of a long-disappeared Dark Lord?"


    Ferenz stared at him, surprised, and slowly said, "I''m not that urate with predictions. Centaurs observe the stars and glean important insights, but it''s only a vague response."


    Felix reassured, "I''m not a seer, but I know more than the average person. With enough information, you naturally see farther. It''s the principle of arithmancy divination."


    Exiting the Forbidden Forest, Luna mused, "Were you discussing a mysterious person? Is heing back?"


    "It''s a possibility." Felix didn''t delve into it; she was only a second-year.


    After seeing Luna off, Felix turned back into the forest. Following Ferenz''s guidance, he walked for about fifteen minutes before resorting to his broomstick, zooming low over the terrain.


    His objective was clear: the acromant nest.


    Three thousand words, a hefty chapter!!!


    By the way, I forgot to mention that the out-of-universe rating for this book has reached level three. Monthly fan titles will be distributed, and there are also event posts in thements section. If you''re interested, take a look.


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 Chapter 226: Aragogs Realm

    Chapter 226: Aragog''s Realm


    Felix Harp rarely employed a broomstick for travel, but this situation demanded it. He wasn''t keen on spending hours wandering thebyrinthineir of the Acromants.


    From his pocket, he withdrew a ss vial and inquired of the eight-eyed giant within, "Can you ascertain the direction?"


    "You''re venturing into the spider''sir?" The eight-eyed giant asked incredulously.


    "Yes, broadening my horizons," Felix responded dismissively.


    The giant spider had long discerned this wizard''s nature. If there were no benefits involved, it would have simply discarded him into the woods and moved on. This new attitude meant only one thing: Felix had intentions concerning the colony of eight-eyed giants.


    Though their housed over three hundred Acromants, the spider remained unsure. It wisely held its tongue. Felix stowed it in his pocket and flew on his broom, guided by the direction indicated by the Centaur he''d encountered earlier. After half an hour''s flight, he descended from the broom.


    "Now," Felix waved his wand, "I remember marking three of you with sigils earlier. Let me see where you are."


    Weeks ago, Felix had ventured deep into the Forbidden Forest to practice the Shrinking Charm, identally trespassing into the hunting territory of the Acromants. He had been attacked by a group ofrge spiders, which, as expected, he had taken down. He had even secretly cast tracking spells on some of them...


    Felix swiftly sensed the magical marks'' direction. He followed a winding path, where the ground became increasingly littered with stones, tree roots formed gnarled tangles, and sporadic spiderwebs appeared.


    "The silk of Acromants is non-toxic," Felix remarked, flicking at the spider silk with his fingertip. The adhesive substance on it had dried, feeling like pliable rope.


    "Perhaps it can be incorporated into the Bindweed; who knows what effect it might yield," Felix muttered, gathering some of the white spider silk as he went.


    Soon, the whistling sound reached his ears, a series of "ttering" that merged into a collective cacophony. Felix turned to see three or four dozen Acromants, each the size of a small carriage, surrounding him.


    A minuteter.


    From a ring, Felix retrieved a tall goblet and proceeded to stuff more than thirty shrunken Acromants into it.


    After a brief contemtion, he pulled out a ss vial from his pocket and released the initial "prisoner," the first eight-eyed giant, into the wild. Following a burst of intense blue light, the creature finally regained its original form.


    "There you go, yourpanions," Felix instructed, holding out the goblet. "Be careful not to crush them."


    The eight-eyed giant stared intently at the tightly packed tiny spiders within the goblet''s crevices, nking its left pincer.


    "You, you have them..." The eight-eyed giant''s excitement led to a dent in the goblet, causing the little spiders inside to scurry around in panic. However, a translucent membrane covered the goblet''s opening, preventing their escape.


    "Exining them individually would be quite troublesome, so let''s save ourselves some effort," Felix toyed with his ebony wand. "By the way, I haven''t asked for your name yet. Do you all have names?"


    The eight-eyed giant hesitated for a few seconds before gruffly dering, "Gok, my name is Gok."


    "Fascinating. Hagrid had a creature in a cupboard once, a fellow named Aragog. Any rtion?" Felix inquired.


    Gok, the eight-eyed giant, reluctantly admitted, "I am his offspring."


    It appeared that even magical creatures had family conflicts. Felix refrained from asking questions like "How many siblings are you?" or "What''s your rtionship with Aragog?"


    Deeper into the Forbidden Forest they ventured, and even during the day, the light grew dim. The towering beech trees, over ten meters high, acted asyers of dense veils, effectively shutting out the sunlight.


    Felix Harp waved his wand, conjuring a swirling circle of ethereal blue mes to illuminate his surroundings. The ground, carpeted with fallen leaves, started to crawl with spiders of various sizes. They scurried chaotically between exposed tree roots and leaf piles.


    "I recall a rather obscure spell, the Arachnid Repellent Charm, I believe?" Engaging most of his focus in his mind''s chambers, Felix muttered an incantation and sent forth a burst of red light. The smaller spiders uncontrobly distanced themselves from him, even Gok, the eight-eyed giant, shuffled backward with haste.


    "Funny, nearly forgot about you," Felix scratched his head, then canceled the spell. He applied a levitation charm to himself and lightly hovered atop Gok, the eight-eyed giant.


    "Let''s proceed."


    Plucking a hair from Gok''s back, Felix transfigured it into a soft cushion and seated himself.


    Gok, the eight-eyed giant, expressed reservations but knew protesting was futile. It grumbled, and another idlerge pincer produced a rattling sound, as if releasing its inner frustration.


    They resumed their journey. The number of fallen leaves diminished, while white spider webs became more prominent. Along the way, numerous Acromants discovered them, only to be Shrunk by Felix''s spell into tiny spiders, all tucked into the tall goblet.


    They arrived at the edge of a spacious, concave clearing. Illuminated by the blue mes, Felix saw hundreds of colossal creatures in the distance. Vaguely discernible, each resembled a small carriage. He dismounted from Gok and jumped down.


    In the center of the hollowy a foggy, semi-spherical spiderweb. Several Acromants approached, and one with white fur atop its head addressed Gok, "Gok, you''ve brought a wizard here. Have you betrayed Aragog?"


    In the darkness, more rattling sounds resonated, evoking an eerie atmosphere within the unseen, lightless forest.


    "Gok," the one called Gok shouted in anger, "I''ve never betrayed Aragog, not once!" Raising arge pincer, it bellowed towards the center of the clearing, "Aragog, Aragog!"


    Emerging slowly from the mist-shrouded, semi-spherical spiderweb was a spider roughly the size of an African elephant. Its body and legs were a mix of ck and gray, and each eye on its grotesque head was veiled by a milky film. It was blind.


    "What''s going on?" It said, and its tworge pincers ttered restlessly.


    "Gok returned," the big spider with white fur on its head replied, "and he brought a wizard."


    "Who? Hagrid?" Aragog drew nearer, its eight milky-white eyes scanning aimlessly.


    "No, a stranger wizard."


    "Kill him, I''m trying to sleep..." Aragog grumbled irritably.


    "Oh, I think not. I have a hostage," Felix chirped merrily.


    "Hostage..." Aragog seemed puzzled. It stared at Felix''s direction, and its dark gray pincers twitched. "Gok, what have you done?"


    Gok, the eight-eyed giant, blurted out in a rough voice, "Old geezer, have youpletely lost your mind? This wizard ims to have hostages in that goblet!" It continued with a touch of exasperation, "And they are our kin¡ªmore than a hundred of them, all shrunk down!"


    Aragog fell silent for a prolonged moment. Just as Felix began to wonder if it had dozed off, it finally spoke, its words more measured, "Who is the formidable wizard intruding upon my domain? I am Aragog, founder of the Forbidden Forest Acromant colony, and we have a non-aggression pact with Hogwarts."


    Felix chuckled softly, "How amusing. I''ve always wondered about the root of Gok''s indifference toward human lives, and I think I may have found it."


    "You''vee to the wrong ce, wizard. We''ve never harmed any young wizards," Aragog said. Its dark gray pincers tapped the ground, and more and more giant spiders emerged, standing behind it.


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 Chapter 227: A New King

    Chapter 227: A New King


    Felix Harp hesitated for a moment and turned to inquire of the eight-eyed giant spider, Gock, "If I were to put you in charge of thismunity of eight-eyed spiders, could you manage it, Gock?"


    He sensed therge spider beside him trembling all over, itsrge pincers involuntarily mping down, squashing the tall goblet even tter.


    Felix quickly tapped it with his wand, causing Gock to slump uncontrobly. The tall goblet slipped from itsrge pincers and drifted in front of him. Felix nced inside uncertainly and said, "I suppose it should be fine..."


    Aragog snapped angrily, "Wizard, what do you intend to do!"


    But no one paid it any mind. Felix awaited Gock''s response, and time seemed to stretch. Finally, Gock answered him, "I believe I can do it." It knew it had boarded this wizard''s mischievous ship.


    Felix wore a satisfied smile. "You would restrain your fellow spiders, wouldn''t you?"


    Gock affirmed firmly, "Yes!"


    Aragog was beside himself with anger, its pincers thrashing. "Go, kill the wizard, kill the traitor."


    The eight-eyed spiders behind it swiftly closed in. Some had already leaped, but Gock made no move. It knew the wizard would handle all troubles.


    Everything unfolded as if reying a scene. Felix held a vigorously swirling spherical vortex, surrounded by hundreds of blue magical lines. Under the pull of a terrifying force, therge spiders had no resistance as they were dragged closer, shrinking to the size of fingernails.


    Felix gazed at the dozens of eight-eyed spiders within the vortex, marveling, "Each time I see this, I can''t help but be amazed by the wonders of magic."


    Gock mumbled despondently, "As am I."


    There were no eight-eyed spiders left on the concave groundrger than a pumpkin. From the perspective of an observer, Gock saw clearly, remembering how it had been just as helpless once.


    Felix swung his wand, allowing the shrunken spiders within the vortex to float in mid-air, along with those in the tall goblets, forming a dense cluster. They struggled intensely. "Tell me, Gock, which ones would pose obstacles for you?"


    Gock surveyed the floating eight-eyed spiders hesitantly and pointed to a few, "They have preyed on humans, not Hogwarts students¡ªMuggles and wizards who trespassed into the Forbidden Forest, and a werewolf."


    Felix nodded, conjuring a few small mes of forest white that reduced them to ashes in the blink of an eye.


    "Any more?"


    Gock trembled as it said, "Just, just Aragog... there are no others."


    "Very well," Felix stated. He ced Aragog into a ss jar and flung the rest of the eight-eyed spiders to the ground, where they regained their original forms.


    All around him, the spiders piled up, forming severalyers, like a circr towering wall.


    "Gock, I won''t keep you from reiming yourmunity. We''ll celebrate your ascension as the new king another day." Felix was ready to leave.


    "Mr. Harp," Gock inquired, "Aragog... what will you do with it?"


    Felix replied calmly, "It''s old, it''s sick. I''ll take it to Hagrid. He''ll look after it, perhaps extend its life for a few more years."


    Felix stuffed the ss jar and the newly captured prisoner back into his pocket, retrieved a flying broomstick from his ring, and soared into the sky.


    ...


    As the evening approached, Harry, Ron, and Hermione knocked on Hagrid''s door.


    Hagrid cast a skeptical nce at them, then looked at the sky outside. Muttering, he said, "Not toote yet,e in." He made way for them.


    Harry was covered in dirt, holding a broomstick in his hand¡ªfresh from training, utterly exhausted. He plopped down onto a cushion and had no intention of moving.


    Ron''s gaze was searching around, and he soon spotted the silhouette of Fluffy, the three-headed dog, under a small table. He went over, dragged it out, and cradled it in his arms. "Professor Harp visited? Last time we were here, Fluffy was just a puppy with little teeth."


    "Yeah," Hagrid replied, his mood a bit downcast.


    "Hagrid, what''s happened?" Hermione asked.


    "Is it that obvious?" Hagrid gestured in Ron''s direction. "It''s Aragog...," only then did Ron notice the fist-sized spider lying on the grubby cushion.


    Ron recoiled with a shout, spiders being his worst fear, especially an aged one like this¡ªa mix of ck and gray fur, its eyes a cloudy gray, incredibly intimidating.


    Harry, less frightened, pondered, "The name Aragog, you''ve mentioned it before..."


    Hermione reminded him, "That''s the name of the giant spider Hagrid had fifty years ago. He was falsely used of opening the Chamber of Secrets because of it."


    Harry''s eyes lit up with understanding. He quickly formed a new question, "But the giant spiders in the pictures are all muchrger... Oh, I get it. Professor Harp did this, just like with Fluffy?"


    "Exactly," Hagrid grumbled, "Felix came by this morning, told me some things. I didn''t expect Aragog to... never mind, it''s old anyway."


    He halted at a critical point, leaving Harry and the others curious. But Hagrid was reluctant to talk, and they couldn''t push it.


    Hermione couldn''t help but say, "Hagrid, I''ve read that the venom of giant spiders is highly toxic."


    Hagrid waved a dismissive hand, "It''s too old to produce venom now, and it''s blind too. It couldn''t catch prey in the wild anyway. Those giant spiders in the Forbidden Forest are all its descendants. Otherwise... well, it''s better this way. I''ll keep it, so I don''t have to worry about other spiders eating it."


    The three of them took turns to pat Fluffy, and it resignedly stopped struggling, its three headspeting for the rock cakes in Ron''s hands. Ron seemed quite enthused by this activity, delighting in feeding the cakes to its three mouths.


    "Don''t feed it too much!" Hagrid bellowed, "It''ll get indigestion."


    ...


    The trio didn''t linger for too long. They promised Professor McGonagall that they''d be back at the castle before nightfall.


    In themon room, Harry and Ron were working on their homework, though their hearts weren''t in it. Harry sighed and pulled out a piece of parchment and a notebook from his bag, constantlyparing the contents.


    Ron leaned over and nced at it, promptly shoving his own homework aside. "Are you working on that essay Professor Harp assigned you?"


    Harry nodded, "Yeah, it''s about the dueling system. I might have exaggerated a bit."


    "Is it difficult? Your Disarming Charm is already top-notch."


    "No, I can''t rely solely on the Disarming Charm. If Hermione were here... Hermione? Why didn''t you go to Professor Harp''s office today?" Harry looked puzzled at the young witch across from him.


    Hermione looked up in a fluster, "What? Oh, I didn''t need to go today."


    Ron teased her, "You haven''t forgotten, have you? You''ve been acting oddtely. Forgetful, disjointed..."


    "Well, you''re wrong," Hermione sat up straight, her tone proud as she shot Ron a nce, "I''m working on the Ancient Runes assignment for the third year. If you think that''s odd."


    Ron stuttered, "Th-th-third year assignment, Hermione. You wouldn''t happen to mean..."


    "Exactly. You''ll see it next week," she said with a straight face.


    After that, Harry watched with keen interest as Ron continuously praised Hermione, hoping for even the slightest hint of what was on the assignment. "Just a little clue, Hermione, even a tiny one..."


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 Chapter 228: Enigma of Time

    Chapter 228: Enigma of Time


    Simultaneously, in the Ancient Runes Office.


    Hermione held three bright runic symbols in her hand, watching them spin ceaselessly, her eyes gleaming with excitement.


    Felix Harp leaned against his desk, engrossed in grading a set of papers. His fingertip lightly brushed over the final word, leaving a faint trace of ink, and his gaze took on an intriguing quality.


    ncing at the clock, it struck exactly eight o''clock¡ªthe time when runic instruction was just beginning.


    "So, did she rush over right after finishing her exam? Or," Felix''s thoughts turned, "is there another Granger here in the castle?"


    An itch of curiosity pricked him. What if he summoned his Patronus to convey a message to the other Hermione? Something like asking her to bring Harry''s Sneakoscope on her way? What would happen?


    Felix patiently waited for two minutes. Hermione remained enthusiastically practicing runic shapes in the air, utterly absorbed. She didn''t stop and instead patted her own forehead. "Oh, Professor, I almost forgot. You asked me to bring the Sneakoscope..."


    "My understanding of Time-Turners is rather limited, and I''m feeling a bit at a loss," Felix mused. "But if I''m within a loop of time, there must be a starting point and an endpoint. And when that endpoint arrives, the two Grangers would inevitably converge at the same position."


    Felix pondered in silence. He still couldn''t act recklessly; the consequences were unknown. Presumably, this was also why Granger didn''t suddenly produce a Sneakoscope from her pocket...


    It simply wasn''t his style.


    "Professor¡ª"


    Felix''s spirit stirred as he looked up. The young witch was pointing at a sapphire-blue runic symbol in her hand. "I sense something amiss here, the flow of magic doesn''t seem smooth?"


    A hint of disappointment shed, but he kindly exined, "This runic symbol represents water, also symbolizing the sea and broad-mindedness. You should try to delve deeper into its meaning; it''s a marvelous sensation when understanding suddenly dawns upon you."


    "Nevertheless, the runic symbolism is the key to understanding runes."


    "I understand, Professor!" Hermione said joyfully. "I have an idea. When I was younger, I witnessed many rivers,kes, and even the ocean with my family. I believe that might be of help?"


    "Exactly, you can draw from that experience," Felix agreed.


    The rest of the runic guidance proceeded as usual, yet Felix''s heart held different expectations. From time to time, he nced at the clock on the wall.


    As half-past nine arrived, the evening''s lesson was drawing to a close. However, Felix couldn''t resist a remark, "Miss Granger, you seem rather weary. How about grabbing a little snack and watching an animated film?"


    If Hermione agreed, he nned to gently remind her of the time and observe her reaction...


    Hermione''s expression lit up with interest, but she quickly and subtly nced at the clock. "Oh, no thank you, Professor. I have something to attend to. It''s lights out by nine fifty..." Her breath paused for a moment, "I mean, the curfew is ten o''clock."


    Felix Harp nodded, "I''ve been negligent." He watched Hermione depart; it seemed his spection was correct. He truly was in a time loop, and very likely, his assistant had used the Time-Turner at nine fifty to go back two hours.


    In other words, she returned to seven fifty, bringing with her the paper that hadn''t even dried yet, to report to his office...


    After careful consideration, he cast a Disillusionment Charm, a Muffliato Charm, an Invisibility Charm, and a No-See Spell on himself, preparing for all eventualities. With his preparationsplete, he stepped out of his office.


    Felix followed behind Hermione from a distance, resembling a true ghost. After about seven or eight minutes, outside the Gryffindormon room, he saw Hermione hiding behind a door pir.


    "She''s chosen a good spot; there are no portraits around."


    Soon, another person emerged from themon room¡ªa second Hermione Granger!


    Felix couldn''t hide his astonishment. Although he had known since the beginning of the school year, or even the previous one, that Hermione possessed a Time-Turner, this was the first time he had directly witnessed its effect.


    He quelled his impulsive thoughts once again and watched as she passed the door pir without looking to the side. The other Hermione quickly retreated.


    In his sight, the Hermione Granger who had just exited themon room stood in a corner, turning a golden hourss-shaped timer. She spun it twice, apanied by the faint sound of gears, and her figure abruptly vanished.


    Felix''s eyes nearly popped out, but he saw nothing, as if he were observing empty air. Everything that had just happened seemed like a fabricated memory he had concocted for himself.


    The Hermione behind the pir peeked out and hurried back to themon room.


    Felix could still hear the portrait of the Fat Lady at the entrance grumbling, "Why''d youe back so soon? You little wizards..."


    "Out of my way." Hermione quickly uttered the password, and the Fat Lady reluctantly moved aside.


    Felix returned to his office with light steps, his sense of awe undiminished. This was a power he had never before touched¡ªa mystery of time.


    "Time, time! I should respect time. This matter stops here; I mustn''t take risks." Felix warned himself. His assistant was already quite responsible; he couldn''t lead her astray.


    If he made a mistake and threw the young witch into a tumultuous flow of time, where would he go to find her?


    But his thoughts quickly shifted, unable to help but think, "What if I could obtain another Time-Turner from elsewhere? The Ministry of Magic, ancient pure-blood families, or the tombs of ancient wizards¡ªall have a slight possibility... This matter requires careful nning; I mustn''t act rashly!"


    ...


    The next day, as usual, Felix went to St. Mungo''s.


    Madam Longbottom carefullybed Alice''s hair, yet arge clump still stuck to theb. She smiled wryly, "I hope they recover soon and shake off the side effects of the Cruciatus Curse, don''t you think?"


    "They will," Felix reassured her. "Right now, they''re like walking shells, unable to control their magic. Once their memories return, many methods will be essible."


    Madam Longbottom breathed a sigh of relief.


    During this time, Healer Meilin, the Longbottoms'' attending healer, paid a visit. She was a friendly witch, but she couldn''t help giving Felix a skeptical nce.


    "The ''specialist'' Madam Longbottom brought in seems quite young. Still, there''s been some improvement..."


    Healer Meilin asked probing questions about magical treatment, and Felix casually touched on shallow knowledge of blood magic, leaving her looking rather bewildered.


    "...I''m trying to awaken the remnants of their subconscious, in tandem with channeling their own magic," Felix exined eloquently. While it wasn''tpletely false, he yed a trick by not mentioning that he had spent most of his time tampering with their memories.


    Once Healer Meilin left, Felix turned to Madam Longbottom. "The first part of the thesis has been sent out; it might take some time."


    Madam Longbottom looked puzzled. "Felix, I''ve been wanting to ask you¡ªwhy didn''t you send itter, after the treatment?"


    "Because we can''t keep it hidden," Felix exined. "Based on my estimation, by the end of next month at thetest, Frank and Alice''s reactions will be quite apparent. St. Mungo''s won''t be able to overlook it."


    "While we can reveal the truth, we still have to consider the worst-case scenario: St. Mungo''s rejects my treatment n. And Frank and Alice can''t currently leave St. Mungo''s care... You could say I like to be prepared in advance. Although my paper is only theoretical, very few could find fault with it, at most considering it impossible given current treatment methods¡ªnothing more than a young person''s fanciful thinking."


    Felix smiled. "But once someone manages to achieve it, it will be a groundbreaking achievement, and St. Mungo''s will be eager to keep us."


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 Chapter 229: Nevilles Favourite

    Chapter 229: Neville''s Favourite


    Neville found that apart from Herbology, he had developed a liking for another subject - Ancient Magical Languages.


    It wasn''t that he had a particrly strong affinity for ancient magical texts, akin to his skill in handling various magical nts. Quite the opposite, due to his poor memory, he was one of the few underachievers in the ss. In the recent exam, his marks were only slightly better than Crabbe and Goyle from Slytherin.


    He enjoyed Ancient Magical Languages because he liked the professor who taught the ss. This reason was somewhat simr to why he disliked Potions ss.


    "Neville, your grades might not be the best, but your attitude is admirably earnest. That''s what I appreciate about you," Professor Harp remarked to him after a ss, presenting him with a personally crafted bookmark.


    On it was a short story written in magical script that, ording to the professor''s words, covered the 127 theoretical ancient magical texts studied during the academic year.


    With the help of the Ancient Magical Languages prodigy Hermione, he managed the trantion:


    "Narl was a clumsy person.


    This clumsiness was something others told him, and over time, he came to believe it himself.


    Narl enjoyed fashioning y dolls; he had a natural sensitivity to the different characteristics of various types of y. He liked watching as ck, red, brown, white, and gray, the various colors of y, took shape in his hands, transforming into intricate, adorable figures.


    This enjoyment was pressure-free; it brought himfort when he was sad.


    His parents were busy, seldom spending time with him¡ªeven on the most important Christmas, they barely managed a brief meeting. His greatest wish was for them to spend more time with him.


    Quietly over two months, Narlpleted a set of figurines. His mom, dad, and himself were all there, embraced, smiling joyfully.


    He thought: When Mom and Dad see this, they''ll surely ruffle his hair and say with smiles, ''Narl, you''re the best.''


    On Christmas day, Narl presented the gift to his parents. They looked at him in surprise, deeply moved by the exquisite doll. They apologized, saying: ''We''ve neglected you; you''re not less than anyone. We swear, we''ll be there for your growth.''


    Narl was ted."


    ...


    Neville carefully ced the bookmark within the pages of his Ancient Magical Languages textbook, his actions filled with caution and reverence, causing even Hermione to feel a pang of jealousy.


    "Thank you, Hermione," he said sincerely.


    "Huh? Oh, it''s nothing¡­" Hermione was somewhat unustomed to his demeanor, waving her hands dismissively.


    Returning to her seat, Hermione found Ron wearing a mournful expression as he stared at his exam paper. "Hermione, your questions were too tough."


    "Really?" Hermione looked surprised. "I based the questions on what was covered in ss; each question had its prototype."


    Ron disyed his sparsely scribbled notes in the Ancient Magical Languages textbook. "Not everyone''s like you, jotting down every word the professor says. I''m in a normal state, unlike you. Don''t believe me? Look at others." He protested, "Harry, Dean, Seamus..."


    But Hermionepletely disagreed. "My exam wasn''t beyond the curriculum; it''s your own issue." Suddenly, she turned to Harry. "Do you think the same way?"


    Harry was taken aback, diplomatically replying, "Hermione, this time, half the ss failed the exam."


    Deted, Hermione slumped onto her desk.


    Harry opened his mouth, "Actually... it''s not too bad. Professor Harp mentioned that the final exam is about this level of difficulty. It''s quite instructive, isn''t it, Ron?"


    Ron quickly chimed in, "Yeah, that''s right, exactly."


    Hermione turned her head away, looking towards the center of themon room. There was only Fred from the Weasley twins there, but he was surrounded by a crowd, excitedly showing off a heart-shaped couple''s mirror in his hand. "It has two functions: textmunication with virtually no distance limit, so you can chat with friends far and wide during the summer break, and voicemunication that currently covers the school grounds. Couples love this. Let me demonstrate," he said.


    He shouted at the couple''s mirror, "George, where are you now?"


    A clear voice came from the mirror, "I''m in the Ravenwmon room. Do you want me to describe theyout?"


    Fred said, "I''ve been there already, but some of our friends haven''t." He winked at the others.


    The voice from the mirror continued, "Then, let me take you on a tour of the Ravenwmon room. I''m George Weasley." He cleared his throat, "Let''s begin now¡ª"


    "The colors here are mainly bronze and blue, with stars painted on the ceiling and carpet. I also saw a white marble statue, besides various textbooks, there are some small ornaments on the shelves..."


    All in all, though different from ours, it looks quite fascinating. Having said that, I have to criticize a bit. Slytherin''smon room is like a dungeon..."


    Lee Jordan looked at Fred in surprise, "You guys have been to Slytherin''smon room too?"


    Fred grinned, "We were blindfolded and ran around in there."


    George''s voice from the mirror kept talking, "...there are small windows that overlook the ck Lake, but it''s a bit worrying that you might get flooded in your sleep. Chains hang down from the ceiling, the decor is simr to Professor Flitwick''s office, and the lighting is like will-o''-the-wisps¡ª"


    "George, you''re getting off track," Fred interrupted him.


    "Alright," the voice from the mirror said. Even though his face couldn''t be seen, many young wizards could imagine George''s shrugging expression across the mirror. He even pretended to smirk and continued, "Next, let''s randomly interview a Ravenw student. Hello, what book are you reading? Your ne is very pretty; it reminds me of thendy of the Three Broomsticks. She''s quite charming..."


    "George!" Percy shouted at the couple''s mirror in anger.


    But a distant, dreamy voice of a young witch came from across, "A Selection of World Jokes, a very interesting book."


    "Really? I''m suddenly interested. Dad''s joke book is too clich¨¦. Who would be interested in a troll that sat on a kettle and went ''clonk''..." George said.


    "It''s Luna!" Hermione eximed in surprise to Harry and Ron, who hade over to listen.


    Ron, with a mix of worry and anticipation, said, "This girl is definitely going to surprise us."


    Next, nearly the entire Gryffindor students heard Luna''s slightly distant voice, telling a dry joke. No oneughed, but George across the mirror was quite interested, "Sounds good, but what''s a lottery?"


    Then, another cheerful female voice chimed in:


    "That''s a kind of small card with stickers; you scratch the card to reveal different prizes, and sometimes you''re asked to guess a sequence of numbers..."


    Percy in themon room was astonished, "Penelope?"


    The voice from across asked with confusion, "Percy? Is this the couple''s mirror? It''s even better than I imagined... I was even thinking of confiscating it. Are you Fred or George? I remember I paid a deposit."


    A slightly awkward voice from across, presumably George, sounded, "This is a prototype, not for sale right now. But if you need it, Fred and I can tie Percy up and give it to you."


    After this point, Harry and his friends weren''t sure what happened next because Percy snatched the mirror from Fred''s hand, took the other half of the couple''s mirror and went to a corner to have a private conversation.


    Fred remained in ce, looking at everyone with a smile, "That concludes this demonstration. Pre-orders are only three Galleons. Friendly reminder, the price will go up soon¡­"


    Hello everyone,


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 Chapter 230: The Ripple Effect

    Chapter 230: The Ripple Effect


    The crowd dispersed, but young wizards and witches continued discussing the topic of the Mirror of Couples with enthusiasm. In a corner of themon room, Harry pondered, "Fred and George must have drawn inspiration from Muggle telephones. For now, it only allows one-on-onemunication."


    "That''s like the dropped call I made to you during the holidays... a telephone?" Ron remarked. "Such a weird word!"


    Harry recollected, "You were shouting so loudly back then, I thought you believed you were talking across half a Quidditch pitch and were afraid the other side couldn''t hear you."


    "I got you into trouble that time. It was your uncle''s voice on the other end," Ron admitted hesitantly.


    "Yeah, after he hung up, he scolded me fiercely and nearly shoved me back into the cupboard," Harry said nonchntly.


    Ron and Hermione exchanged worried nces. Hermione eximed indignantly, "Your family is really terrible!"


    Harry shrugged, "It''s the only ce I can go during the summer, luckily it''s just two months, and when Ie of age, I can move out."


    Suddenly, Ron suggested, "How about spending your summer directly at the Burrow? The Quidditch World Cup is next summer. My dad can get tickets through his Ministry connections."


    Harry''s heart skipped a beat, "Could I?"


    "It''s not like it''s the first time. My parents will wee you for sure, and Ginny, of course..." Ron trailed off.


    Harry''s mood brightened. Even not being able to go to Hogsmeade for the weekends seemed unimportant now. "I bet the Dursleys will let me go, especially after what I did to Aunt Marge."


    Hermione thought for a moment and added, "Harry, considering where the Dursleys live, it''s not far from London. You''re also wee to visit my home. By then," she grinned, "my parents and I can introduce you as the wizardd Mick."


    "What''s that?" Harry inquired.


    "The main character of a magicalic book series from the wizarding world," Hermione exined.


    "Why have I never heard of it?" Ron looked at her suspiciously.


    "Because it''s just been published recently. I ordered it from Flourish and Blotts a couple of days ago," Hermione hurried to her dormitory and returned shortly, holding a stack of books that she mmed onto the small round table with a thud.


    Harry yed with the books. One was obviously quite hefty, titled "Magic in the Muggle World." The rest were a series ofic books, slightly thinner butrger in size. The cover depicted an amusement park, and a young wizard boy peeked curiously at the entrance. The title read, "The Adventures of Young Wizard Mick."


    Ron eyed the thick book with trepidation, not daring to touch it. He casually opened one of theic books and was soon engrossed. "Wow, this is really interesting!"


    Harry noticed the author''s name on the cover: Felix Harp. "Is this Professor Harp''s work?" he eximed, amazed. It was hard to imagine Professor Harp creating aic book.


    He thought he might be mistaken and subconsciously opened the hefty book, "Magic in the Muggle World." It was filled with tiny text and various illustrations, enough to make his head spin.


    This was definitely Professor Harp''s style! Ron closed hisic book and examined the lower right corner of the cover. "It is! And look, L.C.A. Comic Publishing, Merlin''s beard, that''s my favorite publishing house!" Ron danced with excitement, only to notice that Harry and Hermione were staring at him nkly.


    "This is the famous L.C.A. They published ''Martin Miggs, the Mad Muggle,'' which I adored as a child!"


    Suddenly, Harry remembered that he had seen thisic book set in Ron''s room at the Burrow. But the magic on the cover had almost disappeared, and the character with the beret was jerking around in an annoying manner, making it ufortable to look at.


    He opened the brand new "Adventures of Young Wizard Mick" and flipped through it casually. The page he turned to was divided into nine panels, depicting Mick''s first encounter with a pop-up toaster while visiting a friend''s home.


    Looking at theic where Mick pointed in astonishment at the suddenly ejected toast, his mouth agape, paired with the words, "This is magic, absolutely magic!" Harry couldn''t help butugh. He had seen a toaster at the Dursleys'', but from this angle, it was unexpectedly amusing.


    He even started anticipating Ron''s reaction when he saw a real toaster, wondering if he''d have the same wide-eyed, speechless expression.


    Harry and Ron quickly huddled together and started reading from the first page in order.


    "Wait, I''m not done yet!" Seeing Harry about to turn the page, Ron said hastily.


    Hermione looked at them with some confusion. "While I admit that thisic series is enjoyable, do you guys really need to be so exaggerated about it?"


    Ron looked up and said, "Exaggerated? It''s undoubtedly the bestic series in the past decade. I bet it can rival ''The Adventures of Martin Miggs.'' Ande to think of it, that book is a bit outdated..."


    Harry agreed sincerely, "I find it really entertaining too. It''s as if my mundane eleven years before this suddenly became extraordinary."


    "But¡ª" Hermione began, "Don''t you both think that ''Magic in the Muggle World'' has more logic and charm? Look here, it exins the prototype of the steam engine, and it evenbines levitation spells to envision arge airship..."


    Ron raised his head in bewilderment, "What are you saying, Hermione? What''s a steam engine? What''s arge airship?"


    Seeing Hermione''s inclination to exin, Ron quickly hid behind theic book, calling out loudly, "Hey, Harry, look at this, why did the slice of bread pop up..."


    His voice drew their roommate Seamus Finnigan''s attention, and soon Lavender and Dean Thomas were there too, pointing and discussing theic.


    Some young wizards thought there was excitement, so they gathered around as well.


    Dean Thomas, who had grown up in the Muggle world, looked at one page and couldn''t help exining, "This is an ice cream maker, very convenient. You just need to add cream, milk, and other ingredients, and you''ll get a constant supply of ice cream."


    Others stared at him in confusion, and Dean added proudly, "My uncle had an ice cream truck, and I used to y on it when I was a kid." Ron looked at Dean enviously; he also wanted a never-ending supply of ice cream.


    Hermione tried a few times to exin the greatness of steam engines andrge airships to the young wizards, but she received only polite nces before everyone''s attention went back to theic.


    Percy didn''t show much interest either, but he noted the book''s title. "I think it''s necessary to rmend this to Professor Sinistra. Hogwarts could use this book."


    Hermione was puzzled. Why didn''t anyone like steam engines and airships?


    After Ancient Runes ss the next day, when Hermione brought up this question, Felix Harp chuckled, "Granger, you have a special... passion for knowledge, but you can''t expect everyone to be interested in somewhat dry information like you are.


    That book is meant for adults, even considered a reference book. You flip through its relevant sections when you need to."


    "Oh, and this is the list for the Rune Club. Also, these coins. I need you to distribute them to the students on the list. You can ask Percy Weasley for help; he''s the head of the student council."


    Hermione had no objections. She just looked at the pile of bronze Knuts, each with a serpent crest, and couldn''t help picking up one to examine closely. "These are Heating Knuts?"


    "Exactly, I made a little modification. Fred and George gave me the idea. They can heat up and disy messages." Felix exined, "The date for the first club meeting hasn''t been set yet. My schedule has been quite packed recently. It might have to wait until mid-November."


    Hermione nodded, getting ready to collect the list and coins. But when she saw the names of Draco Malfoy, Daphne Greengrass, and Pansy Parkinson, she couldn''t help but furrow her brow.


    Felix turned to Harry and gestured, "Potter,e over here!"


    Harry walked over to where Hermione was waiting by the door and looked somewhat apprehensive at Professor Harp. He still had to finish his essay, and he hoped he wouldn''t be asked about it now.


    Luckily, Felix didn''t bring up the essay. He whispered, "Harry, do you still have that Sneakoscope with you?"


    Harry took out the Pocket Sneakoscope from his pocket, and Felix took it, saying, "Wait a moment." He then tapped the Sneakoscope with his wand repeatedly. Soon, Felix extracted a thin thread from the Sneakoscope and quickly attached it to a Galleon.


    "What''s this?" Harry looked surprised.


    "It''s a form of synchronization magic," Felix exined. "Once the Pocket Sneakoscope is triggered, I''ll immediately receive a notification, no matter where you are."


    Harry understood. Professor Harp was concerned about his safety, much like Mr. Weasley. Mr. Weasley had sent a letter a while back, seriously criticizing the trio''s attempts to uncover Sirius ck''s secrets, deeming it "reckless, unnecessary behavior; it''s best to stay safe and sound within the school."


    Comparatively, he preferred Professor Harp''s approach. At least he wasn''t nning on locking himself up.


    In the following days, the young wizards weed the first Hogsmeade weekend of the new school year, and many of them had a wonderful time.


    For instance, the Weasley twins went to Zonko''s Joke Shop and bought a batch of Stink Pellets. They jokingly said, "Without these cute little smellypanions that emit odors, we''d feel uneasy and lost..." "Seeing Fred and George without them feels like something''s missing."


    The Halloween feast was also splendid, with the castle''s ghosts putting on a wless performance. But soon, all the young wizards'' attention was drawn to the uing first Quidditch match.


    On the first Saturday of November, thunder roared, the wind howled, and the rain poured down.


    I just realized there''s a second patron. Happy about that. Thanks to the patron who''s not seeing Moonlight Dyes the Twilight Sky for the support.


    Also, more updates will being. Currently, I owe the new patron three updates, and the overall target is ten chapters. Slowly, but surely.


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 Chapter 231: The Enchanted Iron Armor Curse

    Chapter 231: The Enchanted Iron Armor Curse


    Harry woke up early from his bed.


    The wind was blowing so fiercely that it woke him up. He nced at the window and saw darkness outside.


    Harry closed his eyes again, but he felt a cool breeze on the back of his neck. The thought of "Is the window drafty?" spun in his mind for a while before he suddenly turned around and saw the annoying face of Peeves the Poltergeist.


    "Why are you blowing like that?" Harry said angrily.


    Peeves puffed his cheeks and blew a couple more times. This infuriated Harry, and he sat up, grabbing his wand from beside the pillow. Peeves deted like a punctured balloon and flew away in a spin.


    Themotion left Harry wide awake. He nced at the others; they were still asleep. Harry opened the door, and a ginger-colored figure slinked past him at his feet, so he instinctively scooped it up in his hand.


    "Crookshanks?" Harry looked at the cat in his hand. Its face seemed ttened and strangely fierce. "Ron was right to be cautious about you." He closed the door, casually tossing the cat near the spiral staircase. "Off you go, no mischief with Scabbers. Hermione''s had a few arguments with Ron over you."


    Crookshanks gave him a disdainful look and slinked away.


    Harry sat in the dimmon room for a while, a few hours left until dawn, needing something to upy himself. He pulled out his Dueling Systems essay from his backpack, contemting how to conclude it.


    "¡ªWith the Disarming Charm at its core, well¡ªat least it needs to be cast silently and wandlessly, the casting... concealment," Harry chewed on his quill, pondering for a while, then continued, "Defense is crucial as well, aiming to bring the Body-Bind Curse to the same level as the Disarming Charm."


    After a thought, he crossed out thest sentence and reced it with, "To be proficient, achieving the level of a third-level spell."


    "Other spells as supplements, when facing distant enemies, use¡ªthe Impediment Jinx to seize the initiative. Therefore, silent spells are necessary." Harry dipped his quill in ink again. "Focused incantations for swift attacks¡ªbut if blocked, that indicates, indicates what?"


    Harry scratched his head, flipping through the nearby notes. These were his records of Professor Lupin''s words during the summer training. After a few pages, his eyes lit up, and he quickly wrote, "¡ªIndicates the opponent isn''t mediocre, one must adjust their mindset and proceed steadily. This highlights the advantage of mastering a sufficient number of spells, to find weaknesses in the enemy!"


    Harry paused, contemting the meaning of this passage.


    Professor Lupin had told him that his current skill was far from that of experienced Aurors. While his Disarming Charm''s power wasn''t significantlycking, the experiential gap was vast¡ª


    He might deceive an opponent with his youthful face, catch an adept off guard with a bold move, but if the other was prepared, the battle would be resolved in a minute or two¡ªhim being the one resolved.


    Harry thought for a moment. What if he encountered enemies that the Disarming Charm couldn''t handle, like Sirius ck, or Snape? What then?


    After pondering for a while, he arrived at an answer: no solution at all. If the Disarming Charm wasn''t effective, his Stunning Spell, Impediment Jinx, and Freezing Charm, even less so.


    With that realization, he suddenly felt deted.


    "ck was a genius even in school, and after graduating, he went through a war. His only weakness might be the twelve years in Azkaban, tormented by Dementors, driving him insane..."


    Harry had heard Hermione''s exnation. Dementors were quite repugnant dark creatures. Anyone in close proximity would feel cold and mental stiffness. This would be followed by the draining of happiness, sinking into mncholy, and a weakening of the resistance to despair. Ultimately, they''d be a feast for Dementors, their souls consumed.


    His own experience had proven the credibility of Hermione''s information.


    Harry shivered, recalling the name Hermione had mentioned¡ªthe Dementor''s Kiss. "Too sinister."


    After spending two or three hours, Harry finally finished revising his essay in the dim light of themon room. "This is the most serious essay I''ve written so far," he remarked with a sigh.


    Harry tidied up his things, nced at the sky. The storm had not weakened in the time he was writing, in fact, it had intensified. However, a faint light was now appearing on the horizon.


    He skipped a mealtime and headed towards the Great Hall.


    The Great Hall was empty. Harry was about to pick a spot in the middle when his gaze drifted outside, spotting a familiar figure.


    It was Professor Harp!


    He was wearing a dark robe, standing in the pouring rain. Harry might not have been able to see clearly if not for a sh of lightning.


    "Professor, do you have something on your mind? It can''t be like Wood, subjecting yourself to extreme conditions for experience, can it?" Harry pulled his hood over his head and stepped out of the hall.


    As he approached Professor Harp, about to greet him, he found himself bumping into something and being pushed off course by a force, falling into the mud.


    "Ouch! Eww!"


    Mud sttered Harry''s mouth and sses, but curiosity consumed him. He hadn''t encountered the professor, right?


    Felix lowered his head, looking at him. "Harry, what are you doing?"


    "Uh..." Harry got up from the ground, stuttering, "I saw you standing outside and wanted to say hello, but I lost my bnce for a moment."


    Felix chuckled, "It''s not that you lost your bnce... it''s my doing. I was just contemting how to shield against rain and wind."


    Harry became intrigued, "Are there suitable spells for that?" He felt like he should learn them.


    "Waterproof and repent to moisture, the former is more effective in isting water and mist," Felix exined. He nced at Harry''s disheveled appearance and drew his wand, pointing it at him.


    A mist enveloped Harry, warming him up. Then, he noticed water sliding off him, and it was as if he had been coated with some kind of oil, not a drop of rainwater sticking to him.


    Harry consulted Felix about these two spells. In fact, they were quite simr and could even be seen as one spell.


    Drawing his wand, he tapped his sses. "Waterproof and moisture repelling!" Water veered away from the lenses, and his vision cleared.


    "Now rain won''t be an obstacle anymore!" Harry excitedly thanked Felix, feeling more confident about his chances today.


    Felix said, "No need to thank me. It was a couple of days ago that Granger asked me about waterproofing spells. I told her. It just seems that I bumped into you ahead of time."


    Harry was ready to thank Hermione, but a question arose in his mind. "Professor Harp, didn''t you already know this spell? But you just said you were thinking about shielding against rain and..." He paused, unsure, "wind?"


    "Yes," Felix said, "I foresaw that there would be strong winds on the Quidditch pitch today."


    "Did youe up with a solution?"


    Felix smiled, "Didn''t you just experience it?"


    "Experience it?" Harry racked his brain; his stomach began to rumble. "Was it the Protego Charm? Did I just bump into a Protego Charm?" That was the only thing he could think of.


    "Exactly," Felix approved, giving him a nod. "The Protego Charm is formless and immaterial. It can defend against both magical and physical attacks. While not particrly powerful... it''s quite evident that it can protect against wind."


    That sounded somewhat incredulous. Harry hadn''t even considered that the Protego Charm could have this application. Would a normal person think of this?


    "Harry, I''ve told you before, when you''re proficient in a spell, you can adjust its effects ording to your needs." Felix spoke as a transparent spherical barrier suddenly expanded around him, nearly touching the tip of Harry''s nose.


    Harry gaped at this so-called "Protego Charm." He could even see a faint glow radiating from its surface, raindrops sshing against it, creating ripples.


    He reached out and poked it; the spherical barrier dimpled and then pushed his finger away.


    "So¡ªare you sessful now?" Harry asked. In his view, altering the Protego Charm from a small area in front of him to a transparent, colorless,rge sphere was undoubtedly a sess.


    Felix tilted his head, gesturing for him to watch further. The transparent spherical magical barrier started to dent inward, fitting Felix more and more snugly, taking on a humanoid shape.


    Finally, it was as if he was enveloped in a transparent, human-shaped air bubble.


    Felix sighed in regret, "I was attempting to transform the Protego Charm, sticking it thinly on the outside of clothes. Maybe I could have called it the Protego Armor Charm? Unfortunately... this technique has a certain difficulty level. It''s not something that can be aplished in half an hour."


    Originally, this chapter should have been posted yesterday, but when I finished writing, it was toote. I moved it to this morning, perfectly concluding this scene.


    Hello everyone,


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 Chapter 232: The Dementors Presence

    Chapter 232: The Dementor''s Presence


    Professor Harp turned and left, saying he needed to ponder how to make the Irond Charm fit better, in his own words.


    "It sounds like discussing how to resize a garment," Harry thought.


    He saw the Gryffindor team members entering the Great Hall and hurried over. He had to grab something to eat now, even if it was just a bowl of porridge. In this dreadful weather, it was hard to predict when the match would take ce.


    ...


    Felix Harp wandered alone on thewn. The weather was extremely gloomy, with dark clouds pressing low. Strong winds bent the trees, and he noticed the branches of the Whomping Willow swaying continuously.


    But everything around him was serene. The rain couldn''t touch him, and the wind couldn''t pass through him¡ªexcept for the slightly bothersome transparent shield that elevated him by a foot.


    In the distance, some students had arrived early. They watched curiously as Professor Harp circled the pitch in the pouring rain, not daring to disturb him.


    These students chose seats on the higher tiers, their gazes locked onto Felix. Even though they didn''t understand what he was doing, it seemed fascinating.


    Especially a few young witches with ck hair and blue eyes imagined (since the rain obscured their view) Professor Harp strolling gracefully in the rain. Their attention couldn''t be diverted.


    When Felixpleted the third circuit around the Quidditch pitch, the humanoid Irond Charm around him had closed in to about half an inch. It was hardly noticeable unless one looked closely.


    He stopped and nced at the entrance of the pitch. A team of Hufflepuff yers, donning canary yellow robes, walked in. The one leading them was tall, slender, and handsome¡ªthe captain of the Hufflepuff team, Cedric Diggory.


    Felix ascended the wooden steps to the professors'' viewing area, quietly took a seat. The canopy above his head was utterly useless against the rain, forcing him to maintain the Irond Charm.


    One by one, young wizards and witches, some draped in cloaks and others holding umbres, entered the pitch.


    As time ticked by, more and more people gathered. Professors McGonagall and Hooch arrived, and Dumbledore came too. When he spotted Felix, he smiled faintly and sat down beside him.


    "Headmaster Dumbledore."


    "Felix."


    Dumbledore nearly whispered, "Quite an intriguing technique."


    Felix knew what he was referring to. "Aside from protecting against the wind, it doesn''t seem very useful. Essentially just an Irond Charm."


    "Felix, you''re too focused on the power of spells."


    "Isn''t the Irond Charm meant for defense?"


    The two conversed quietly. Soon, the two teams for today''s match stood at the center of the pitch. The downpour had createdyers of watery screens, making it possible to only see the yellow and crimson Quidditch uniforms. But even so, it didn''t dampen their enthusiasm. Amidst the booming thunder, a roar of cheers erupted from the stands.


    With a whistle from Madam Hooch, the match began.


    The yers of both teams rose into the air at odd angles. The wind was truly fierce. Felix Harp noticed Harry being swept sideways by the wind. Thankfully, he quickly adapted to the wind direction. Aside from him, a few female Quidditch yers were also struggling.


    This had nothing to do with skill; it was simply a matter of not having enough weight.


    In a state of elerated thought, everything in Felix''s eyes seemed to slow down. Layers of rain curtains didn''t obscure his view. He rapidly analyzed the dynamics on the field, attempting to predict the uing scores for a certain period of time.


    This was why Felix was intrigued by Quidditch. For him, each match was a high-quality group duel.


    "Harry will crash into his own teammate in two seconds if he doesn''t turn¡ªoh, he turned."


    "Cedric''s speed is not bad. In this weather, his weight gives him an advantage. Huh? He can still manage to direct the team?"


    "This wind doesn''t affect Wood at all. Indeed, he easily guarded the goal."


    "The Bludger is going to hit that witch in the red robes. I remember her name is Angelina Johnson. Her teammate ising from the lower left corner. Will the Bludger be blocked, Fred or George?"


    "A timeout whistle, requested by Wood. They''re leading... so obviously."


    The match paused. Gryffindor was ahead by fifty points, and the packed open-air stands erupted with excited roars from Gryffindor supporters.


    After a moment, the match continued. The sh between the two houses became even more intense. The spectators couldn''t discern the yers'' faces on the field; they could only judge the houses and positions based on the uniforms and actions.


    Commentator Lee Jordan shouted into the microphone, "Gryffindorunching an attack, the Quaffle is in the hands of one of the three girls¡ªI can''t quite see..."


    Cedric had focused his attention on finding the Golden Snitch. His impromptu team wasn''t a match for Gryffindor; the score difference would only growrger.


    His only hope of victory was to catch the Golden Snitch, but that wasn''t easy. His opponent was Harry Potter, Gryffindor''s brilliant Seeker, who had never lost in the realm of the sky.


    Felix continued to analyze the situation on the field¡ª


    "Hufflepuff seems precarious. Direct attack isn''t working against them; Harry''s record in Seeker duels gives him the upper hand. Unless Harry makes a mistake... did he really make a mistake?"


    In mid-air, Harry''s hand slipped suddenly, and he slid a few feet downward. He performed a somersault in the air but quickly regained control.


    The match carried on. Cedric seemed to have noticed something. He reversed his broom one hundred and eighty degrees and assumed a diving posture. But Felix didn''t have time to pay attention because a group of ck Dementors captured his gaze.


    They emerged from a corner of the Forbidden Forest, gliding close to the ground. Some were scattered in mid-air, like ck trash bags caught in the wind.


    The rain suddenly turned icy, and the air fell silent. Cheers and shouts seemed to be cut off at the source. Felix knew that this was the effect of Dementors on young wizards.


    At a height of one hundred feet, several Dementors, concealed by the dark clouds and mist, encircled Harry. They paid little attention to Cedric. As dark creatures born from decay and despair, they could easily discern those who had suffered painful experiences.


    It was clear that Harry still had some awareness. One hand gripped his broom, the other held his wand. A red incantation shed through the clouds, but the effect was minimal.


    His broom plummeted uncontrobly, and Harry fell into unconsciousness.


    "Dumbledore..." Felix murmured softly.


    "I''ll save him," said Dumbledore in a deep voice. He extended a finger and pointed it at Harry. Harry quickly slowed his descent.


    The tip of Felix''s wand in his hand exploded suddenly, a silver stream of light burst through the thick clouds in the blink of an eye, like silver lightning. It mmed into the Dementors surrounding Harry, knocking them back. They tumbled and fell from the sky, but soon floated lightly to the ground, merging into the Dementor horde below.


    The silver stream of light transformed into a delicate and agile rain swallow with scythe-like wings. It hovered in mid-air without pping its wings. From the rain swallow''s mouth came a deafening sound, "Dementors, depart from here."


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 Chapter 233: The Power of the Guardian Patronus

    Chapter 233: The Power of the Guardian Patronus


    The voice rolled forth in a shimmering wave of silver, swiftly sweeping across the entire stadium, instantly freeing the young wizards from the icy grip of the Dementor''s influence.


    Professor McGonagall held her wand, scanning her surroundings and quicklying to a decision. She turned to Felix and Dumbledore, saying, "I''ll go down to the field."


    In that moment, Harrynded smoothly. Madam Hooch hurried over to check on him, while the Gryffindor yers rushed forward. Meanwhile, Cedric looked back at the sudden turn of events on the field, still holding a golden Snitch in his hand.


    The young wizards who had just shaken off the Dementor''s effects, especially the Hufflepuffs, almost turned the entire stadium upside down with their immense cheers, like waves crashing.


    The Dementors, previously hesitant, stirred restlessly. The little entity that posed a great threat couldn''t allow them to give up their readily avable feast. Some Dementors soared into the air, while the rest discarded their tattered hoods and continually absorbed the joyful air...


    Dementorscked eyes; they relied entirely on their senses of smell and emotional perception of the external world. But today, they had a novel experience¡ªthey saw light.


    In the blink of an eye, the Patronus of the Swallow-tailed Guardian rushed into the midst of the Dementor horde, its entire form radiant and dazzling. The burst of silver waves exploded, surging like waves of silver sea.


    The Dementors almost instantly dispersed. They kept retreating, but the lightning-fast Swallow-tailed Guardian in its silver brilliance weaved a intricate web in the air, enclosing all the Dementors within it. Any Dementor that touched the fine web would fall back.


    They werepletely trapped.


    In the wide-eyed gaze of the young wizards, the gaps in the web grew smaller and gradually formed a semi-spherical enclosure. The forms of the Dementors were slowly obscured, and finally, the form of the Swallow-tailed Patronus vanished, revealing a half-moon in the center of the field.


    The radiance of the "Half-Moon" pierced through the misty field.


    A young wizard eximed in a daze, "Professor Harp conjured a moon?!" Hispanion next to him fully agreed.


    Many students looked up at the sky, seemingly trying to confirm the moon''s presence, but all they could see was the ck sky shrouded in dense clouds.


    Felix''s eyes shimmered with silver light. His current emotions were somewhat peculiar. The Patronus was constructed from pure, joyful, and positive emotions, but because itcked human emotions, it couldn''t experience despair. Therefore, the Dementors couldn''t harm it.


    Most importantly, Felix discovered that the radiance emanating from the Patronus seemed to have a significant restraining effect on the Dementors.


    Through the perspective of the Swallow-tailed Guardian, he noticed that the enclosed Dementors seemed to be subtly shrinking in size...


    "Perhaps it''s an illusion..." Felix murmured softly. The radiance of the "Half-Moon" grew even stronger. Indeed, it appeared like a silver moon rising slowly.


    Dumbledore''s expression turned somewhat odd. He was undoubtedly angry, furious that the Dementors had dared to intrude upon the school. He had intended to teach them a lesson.


    But now, it seemed that if he didn''t intervene promptly, who knew what astonishing thing Felix might do.


    The Patronus was a universally acknowledged defensive spell that could repel Dementors but not kill them. However, Dumbledore wouldn''t make such a shallow judgment.


    The simplest logic was this¡ª if the Patronus couldn''t harm the Dementors, why should they fear it so much?


    He spoke softly, "Felix, you may fend them off, but Dementors cannot be killed. They are employees of the Ministry of Magic."


    Felix shrugged and sent a stream of light from the Half-Moon, transforming once again into the silver Swallow-tailed Patronus, hovering in mid-air.


    The glow of the "Half-Moon" gradually dissipated. The young wizards stared wide-eyed, intensely watching. They chattered and discussed¡ª


    "Do you think the Dementors have gotten smaller?"


    "It really seems that way..."


    "Could it be a perspective issue since we''re standing higher up?"


    "Impossible. When I sneaked a nce at the gatekeeper Dementors at Hogsmeade, each was at least six feet tall. Now, no matter how I look, they''re less than five feet..."


    "..."


    When the Dementors emerged into the daylight once more, they barely had time to nce at the motionless Guardian Patronus in the sky. They desperately fled the area, the tattered ck cloth hanging from their lower halves bending almost parallel to the ground.


    The body of the silver swallow expanded in an instant, growing thousands of timesrger, with a wingspan of nearly twenty feet. It trailed far behind the Dementors, asionally bursting forth with a brilliant light.


    The young wizards erupted in tremendous cheers; in their eyes, Professor Harp was standing up for them.


    The fleeing Dementors were moving even faster.


    After a while, the exaggeratedly sized Guardian Patronus of the Swallow-tailed soared back. It hovered at the edge of the Quidditch pitch, basking in the adoring gazes of the young wizards.


    "It''s just so, so cool!"


    "It''s over," Felix sighed but showed no intention of retracting his silver Patronus.


    Dumbledore looked at him with an odd expression.


    "Felix, I must remind you that though Dementors might not be highly intelligent, they possess a vague collective consciousness¡ªas I''ve mentioned before, removing even one of them can alert the others."


    Felix hesitated. "Could we leave just one?"


    Dumbledore seemed to be tickled. "Oh, unless you wish to have the Ministry of Magic knocking at your door. Thousands of people have seen your Patronus. You can''t argue your way out of that."


    "But what if it were ''Sirius ck'' who did it? He learned powerful dark magic from Voldemort..." Felix tentatively suggested.


    "In that case..." Dumbledore smiled, "it wouldn''t be much of a problem, but you would need substantial evidence to convince the Ministry''s investigators. High probability they''d attribute it to ck himself."


    Felix pursed his lips. "Substantial evidence, huh?"


    He waved his hand, and from the gigantic silver swallow perched at the edge of the pitch, a clear call rang out. Two dark shadows were expelled from its beak¡ªtwo malformed Dementors, barely three feet tall.


    They hastily departed. Felix and Dumbledore watched as the Dementors vanishedpletely.


    Dumbledore mused, "Felix, your Patronus has truly astonished me. I thought developing a method tomunicate through Patronuses was a remarkable feat, but I never imagined you''de up with this method of consuming Dementors."


    Felix blinked. "It was a spur-of-the-moment idea, Headmaster. But the results are indeed quite effective."


    In the field, Professor McGonagall had already left with Madam Hooch, escorting Harry. Gryffindor''s spirits were low as its yers trailed behind.


    Just a moment ago, Madam Hooch announced that Hufflepuff had won.


    The young wizards began to leave the stadium one by one, but many kept their gaze fixed on the tform where Felix stood. They discussed among themselves, even though their words were inaudible, Felix could infer what they might be saying.


    "Will you visit Harry, Dumbledore?"


    "I trust Pomfrey and Poppy. And you, Felix?"


    "I trust Weasley and Granger."


    Dumbledore and Felix exchanged smiles. After a while, Felix suddenly thought of something. "I remember Harry''s broomstick seemed to be blown away by the wind?"


    Dumbledore responded uncertainly, "It should be retrieved eventually..."


    "True, it couldn''t just disappear."


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 Chapter 234: "The Profoundness of Professor Lupins Patronus Charm"

    Chapter 234: "The Profoundness of Professor Lupin''s Patronus Charm"


    Later on that day ¡ª


    "Are you saying Harry''s broom crashed into the Whomping Willow?"


    Felix eximed in surprise, while Hermione said sadly, "When we went to look, we only found some wreckage."


    "Harry must be really upset," Felix sighed, and he pulled out a piece of parchment, jotting down a few lines of well-wishing words, then paused to ask Hermione''s opinion, "Do you think I should add some magical effects to the greeting card, like a voice?"


    "It''s better not to," Hermione said firmly, "Ginny gave Harry a Get-Well card that would sing loudly if it wasn''t pressed under a pillow..."


    Felix shrugged, "Very well then," and handed the card to Hermione, "Help me deliver this to Harry."


    In the following days, young wizards tirelessly discussed the events of Saturday, especially Professor Lupin''s spectacr Patronus Charm with its dazzling visuals, which became a favorite topic of conversation.


    The name "Patronus Charm" quickly spread throughout the entire school, bing the center of recent discussions. Almost any student you pulled aside could speak about it with authority, even if their words contained many inuracies.


    Some younger wizards had gained various true and false pieces of information from older students and,bining that with their own understanding, were spreading their versions further.


    Many actually couldn''t differentiate the principle of the "half-moon shape." They mistook it for the second form of this magic and named it the "Silver Moon."


    Felix heard this term one morning while having breakfast in the Great Hall, and nearly choked on his porridge.


    Fourth-year student Cormac McLaggen proudly boasted, "My uncle''s Patronus has a second form, I''m not lying!" He ruffled his coarse hair, speaking loudly and broadly, "My dad said so himself. My uncle''s Patronus is a wild boar, but when I saw it as a kid, it was clearly a long-eared rabbit. I was confused at first... turns out this magic has two forms."


    Felix studied McLaggen carefully. If his words were true, then his uncle must have had a traumatic experience that drastically changed his personality¡ªonly under such circumstances would a Patronus transform.


    There were also those who kept asking where they could learn the incantation. "What a cool spell!" Lee Jordan eximed in themon room. "I mean, even if I can''t do it like Professor Lupin, I can at least protect myself."


    But Fred Weasley poured cold water on their enthusiasm. Standing atop a pile of hefty books, he emphasized multiple times, "The Patronus Charm is not within our exam scope. It''s too advanced; even many adult wizards can''t master it. This magic requires a strong mental strength..."


    Fred wasn''t nning to teach, so some young wizards turned their attention to the Defense Against the Dark Arts and Dueling sses, hitting the mark inadvertently. ording to the course descriptions, both of these sses taught students how to defend themselves.


    On a Thursday evening in the second week of November, during the Dueling ss, Felix was asked about this topic.


    "The Patronus Charm?" Felix repeated.


    "Yes, Professor Lupin. It''s the spell we need most now, isn''t it? Dementors are lurking outside the school, ready to attack us at any moment!" a fifth-year Gryffindor shouted loudly, drawing nods of agreement from the young wizards below.


    Felix chuckled, "Lee Jordan, the Dementors are guarding Hogwarts under orders from the Ministry of Magic. Their target is the Azkaban escapee, Sirius ck."


    "But Professor, what happened during the Quidditch match has proven they''re unreliable. I wrote to my mom about it, and she wrote back saying releasing the Dementors from Azkaban was the most foolish decision the Ministry ever made!"


    "Yeah, they''repletely uncontroble."


    Later that evening ¡ª


    "My aunt told me that even in Azkaban, there were once riots involving Dementors... and some prisoners died," Hufflepuff''s Susan Bones said. She caught Professor Lupin''s gaze and added, "My aunt is the Head of the Magical Law Enforcement."


    Felix Harp hesitated. Honestly, he didn''t think teaching young wizards the Patronus Charm in a Dueling ss was a good idea. It required a long learning period, was quite challenging, and most crucially: it might not even be effective.


    Forplex spells like this, students would find it difficult to master without one-on-one guidance. But to teach it personally, even if he had a dozen Time-Turners, he couldn''t manage it.


    He looked at Professors Snape and Flitwick, "What are your thoughts, Severus, Filius?"


    Snape immediately disyed a resistant expression. He said coldly, "I don''t know that spell."


    Flitwick reiterated his stance, "Felix, the Patronus Charm is exceedinglyplex and has a rather limited function. I don''t believe it''s necessary. Furthermore, Dumbledore has lodged aint with the Ministry. Fudge has assured us that the Dementors won''t make the same mistake again."


    Felix nodded; he was aware of this. In fact, after a group of diminished Dementors returned, there were disagreements within the Ministry, and some even wanted to send people to investigate. However, Dumbledore staunchly opposed the idea.


    With the added noise from some irate students'' parents bombarding the Ministry and even Fudge with letters, they were all so overwhelmed that the topic of injured Dementors was dropped entirely.


    Felix temporarily set aside the matter. But... he looked at Snape. Was it true that the professor couldn''t cast the Patronus Charm? Had he truly delved too deep into the realm of Dark Magic to the point that he couldn''t use it?


    ...


    During dinner, he sat with Snape, discussing the teaching details for the uing Dueling ss. Felixmented, "The students have mastered severalmon dueling moves. For the next few lessons, practical application would be best. Severus, I have an idea. Perhaps we can organize a small duelingpetition."


    "Aren''t you afraid of the hassle, Felix?" Snape remarked.


    "I intend to leave it to the student council to handle. Percy Weasley and Penelope Clearwater are both capable; I trust them," Felix said.


    Snape disyed his familiar sarcastic expression, "Does your trust contain a kernel of truth? Felix, has anyone ever truly made their way into your heart?¡°


    Felix chuckled, "Oh, Severus, are you implying I''m insincere? We''re discussing capabilities here, and in that aspect, I do indeed trust Mr. Weasley and Miss Clearwater. What are you getting at?"


    Snape stared at him expressionlessly, and Felix deliberately gave him a smile that looked very forced.


    At that moment, a voice interrupted their silent exchange ¡ª


    "Professor Snape, I just met Professor Flitwick. He said you''re in the Great Hall." Lupin walked up to them, his tone cheerful. He was wearing a new robe, and it seemed Dumbledore was providing him with ample funds for his day-to-day expenses.


    "Is there something you need, Lupin?" Snape''s eyes narrowed, "Have you finished the potions I gave you? I still have some left; it''s a full cauldron..."


    Lupin smiled, "Not for now, Severus. I''m here for something else¡ª"


    Snape looked at him, his face devoid of any smiles.


    Lupin said, "I appreciate you covering my sses while I was unwell, but the third-year curriculum is a bit too advanced. We''ve skipped over arge portion of the textbook in one go¡ª"


    "Werewolves..." Snape dragged out the word. Lupin''s hand trembled slightly, a motion he managed to conceal well, "This chapter, is there a problem with it?"


    Lupin frowned slightly, "Severus, the third-year students have only just learned the Incendio Charm. Most of themck the necessary foundation. I''m sorry, I''ve decided to postpone covering this part of the material."


    Snape gave him a contemptuous look, "In my opinion, Lupin, werewolves are too dangerous. It''s vital for students to know how to recognize and defend against these dangerous dark creatures as early as possible." He said softly, "Perhaps sooner thanter."


    Lupin regained hisposure, "Thank you for the reminder. I''ll teach ording to the students'' abilities. If there''s nothing else, I''ll be on my way. I have quite a few things to attend to."


    "Wait, Lupin."


    "Is there something else, Severus?" Lupin said in a low voice.


    "Allow me to introduce you," Snape''s gaze shifted between Lupin and Felix, "As far as I know, Professor Lupin''s Patronus Charm is exceptional. Perhaps... Felix, you could invite him as a temporary instructor for the Dueling ss."


    Snape''s gaze flickered, "As the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, you surely have a responsibility to demonstrate how to deal with dangerous dark creatures like Dementors." He said softly, "Perhaps that day mighte sooner than you think."


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 Chapter 235: More Than Just a Little Change

    Chapter 235: More Than Just a Little Change


    In the end, Lupin did not agree either. As a bystander, Felix Harp could clearly see the professor''s reluctance.


    He had a certain spection that the Patronus''s form had a significant connection with a wizard''s state. Being a werewolf, Lupin - despite his efforts to avoid the term - was already deeply affected by his condition. His Patronus was likely to be a wolf or a rted subspecies.


    Felix Harp didn''t know what to say. "Severus really is something..."


    ...


    One evening, Ron crawled into themon room alone.


    "Snape is a total nutter! He *&$..." Ron cursed, using foulnguage, causing Hermione to respond ufortably, "Ron, watch yournguage!"


    He plopped down in a chair next to Harry, the smell of strong cleaning solution wafting off him.


    Harry looked sympathetically at Ron. This wasn''t the first time he lost his temper due to Snape''s actions. When Lupin was sick and Snape substituted, Ron stood up to Snape in front of everyone and was punished by cleaning bedpans in the school hospital, without using magic, and Snape seemed to savor the drawn-out process. He split the punishment into three sessions, and each time Ron finished his punishment, he was as angry as an irritable lion.


    "I''m serious, Snape is seriously messed up. If it weren''t for the fact that he only substituted for one ss..." Ron said angrily, "I didn''t write a single word of the essay he assigned. Ha! Lupin canceled it, just like I expected!"


    Hermione''s expression wasn''t too good. Most of the ss was watching, and only she had finished her paper about werewolves.


    Ron continued sarcastically, "Maybe someone stuck his head in a toilet when he was at school. Look at his hair, Harry¡ª" he turned to Harry, "Aren''t you staying back tonight to ask Professor Lupin if he revealed anything about this?"


    Harry said gloomily, "No, I asked him about Dementors and my mum."


    Ron''s expression softened. He exchanged a look with Hermione and asked in a low voice, "You heard it again on the day of the Quidditch match, didn''t you?"


    "Yeah," Harry said, "It''s the second time. I felt especially vulnerable facing Dementors. Professor Lupin said it''s because I''ve experienced more pain." He whispered, "He''s right. I heard my mum''s voice in her final moments, over and over again."


    "But," Harry''s tone brightened, "Professor Lupin told me a lot about my mum. You know, I''ve only seen her in a photo Hagrid gave me and on the Mirror of Erised. Others hardly ever mentioned her..."


    "Harry..." Hermione looked at him with concern.


    Ignoring everything, Harry continued, "I always thought my mum was gentle, that''s how I imagined her. But actually, she had a strong personality. Professor Lupin said she was headstrong, even a bit fierce. In that era, she maintained a friendship with a neighbor from a rival house¡ªSnape¡ªfor five whole years. Professor Lupin said he admired her."


    "Of course! Mum and Snape went their separate ways in the end because of Voldemort!" Harry eximed excitedly, "My mum had to grow up. When she first entered school, she wasn''t aware of Voldemort''s war, but how can one resist reality? Every few days, a ssmate''s family member or rtive would die. A few students dropped out every month. That''s war, isn''t it?"


    "She must have struggled with it for a long time, but she eventually ended that friendship. Professor Lupin said she was mncholic for a long time. Dadforted her and told her a lot about the Order of the Phoenix. They naturally came together..."


    "Marriage, fighting Death Eaters, evading Voldemort''s pursuit, and then there was me," Harry''s expression darkened, "Until they wrongly believed in Sirius ck."


    Ron said uneasily, "Harry, are you okay?"


    "I''m fine," Harry said, "Professor Lupin promised to teach me the Patronus Charm after Christmas. But he turned down my request for special training. Professor Snape is too busy, and I didn''t want to bother him."


    "While I was writing my Dueling System paper, I kept using ck as my hypothetical opponent, but truthfully, there''s not much I can do, just a few spells. And I''m not proficient..."


    Ron said, "Harry, we can train ourselves."


    Harry stopped his incessant chatter, looked up at Ron, and said slowly, "Train ourselves?" This made Ron somewhat uneasy, and he said, "I know I''m weaker and not your match, but if you need to, I can be your assistant."


    He came up with another silly idea, "If it really doesn''t work, we can use Slytherin students for practice. That lot, including Malfoy, isn''t bad. Crabbe and Goyle look like they could withstand a few more spells with their builds."


    Thinking of the burly Crabbe and the gori-like Goyle, Harry couldn''t help but grin. Heposed himself and said seriously, "Thank you, Ron."


    Ron blushed, "It''s, it''s nothing."


    "So, what are we waiting for?" Hermione looked relieved. She took out a piece of parchment and quickly started writing and drawing on it.


    "If we''re going to train ourselves, we need to be well-prepared. We need to pick the right time, ce, choose appropriate spells, and be ready for any idents... There''s a lot to do!" Hermione said determinedly.


    "Hermione?" Ron looked at her somewhat dumbfounded.


    But Hermione was already in work mode. "My schedule is a bit different from yours, but... I should be able to find some time..."


    "How are you going to find time¡ª"


    "Don''t interrupt me, Ron," Hermione impatiently said, "For spell selection, it''s best to refer to what we''ve learned in Dueling ss. Harry, I need your essay."


    Harry dumbly handed over his finished essay to her.


    "I''ll give this to Professor Harp, but I need to look at it first and summarize your dueling strategy. And Ron, you can''t ck off either. You can''t fall too far behind."


    Ron made a face of anguish, "You''re not thinking of having me write an essay too, are you? Binns just assigned us a two-foot essay, you know."


    "Well, if you''re not nning to... I mean, I could lend you my assignment for reference." Hermione tried her best not to use the word ''copy.''


    Ron whispered to Harry with a grin, "She really surprised me."


    Harry shrugged, sounding rxed, "That''s Hermione for you. How many times has she surprised us?"


    Hermione was still thinking hard, "Maybe we can bring in a few more people. Of course, the three of us will have the most time together, but others might be interested, and their skills are generally good. Dueling ss has really helped!"


    "Dean''s pretty skilled with the Stunning Spell, and Seamus''s Exploding Charm is quite impressive. He''s definitely got a knack for it... And Neville, Ginny''s got a handful of nasty curses down pat. I didn''t expect her to pick them up so quickly when I was teaching her. We could even get Percy''s help; he owes the twins a favor, and the twins..." She chuckled, "They owe me a lot of favors."


    "Wait a minute," Ron eximed, "What''s the deal with Percy and Fred and George?"


    "Remember the Love Potion? They gave Penelope a discount. It was originally meant as a Christmas gift for Percy, but he secretly went to the twins..."


    "How did you get involved with Fred and George, though?" Ron still couldn''t quite grasp it. His two brothers were not easy to deal with.


    "Oh," Hermione said with a brilliant smile, "I''m the assistant for Ancient Runes ss. They often ask me for reference books, down to the page numbers. They said it was to save time, as they didn''t want to waste time on theoretical ancient runes."


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 Chapter 236: Sirius Black

    Chapter 236: Sirius ck


    In the depths of the Forbidden Forest, during the night...


    Arge ck dog was racing desperately through the woods, its lungs ready to burst. The shapes of the trees in the pitch-ck forest seemed toe alive, and the dog leaped over a small stream, swiftly turning around to nce warily behind him.


    The terrifying three-headed dog hadn''t pursued him.


    Copsing onto the ground, he stretched his body. He caught a glimpse of the moon, just past full. He didn''t know how his old friend was doing right now, nor whether he''d draw his wand and hex him the moment he saw him.


    But he had indeed considered it ¨C on the day his old friend transformed ¨C to abduct him and reveal the truth.


    Regrettably, the once lively Shrieking Shack seemed unusually deste. Thickyers of dust covered it, bearing no signs of recent use.


    "Perhaps I''m the only one who remembers it."


    He thought, perhaps this was why the passage to Honeydukes wasn''t sealed.


    However, even if it were sealed, it wouldn''t hinder him. He knew numerous secret passageways. The one-eyed witch on the fourth floor of the castle was his best option, but it led to Honeydukes, and there were too many customers there.


    The Dementors of Hogsmeade patrolled incessantly, so he quickly retreated upon seeing them from a distance.


    He didn''t dare to take chances. There might be only one opportunity, and this wasn''t like school or dueling with that group of Death Eaters; this was war. He reminded himself to endure.


    But he didn''t know how long he could hold on. In the past, there would be someone to remind him, to tell him not to act impulsively. But now, he was alone.


    Just like a while ago, when he couldn''t resist sneaking to the edge of the Quidditch pitch, just to catch a glimpse of that messy-haired boy, looking just like his father. At that moment, he''d had a strong urge to rush out. He was nearly driven mad by the feeling.


    He also didn''t know if information about Animagus form was leaked. His old friend had seen him transform so many times, just as he could recognize that wretched rat at first nce. Surely his old friend could recognize him too.


    Perhaps at this moment, Ministry spies were passing around a photo of a ck dog.


    But they wouldn''t recognize his current form. The ck dog got up, looking at its reflection in the stream, emitting a low, satisfied chuckle.


    In the water, a gaunt andrge dog with a well-defined skeletal structure stared back. Its ck fur was tangled and matted, forming knots and tangles. Not much different from a stray dog.


    Maybe he could return to Diagon Alley, rummage through some trash bins... The ck dog swallowed and shook its head. No, caution was paramount.


    Approaching the stream, therge dog took a few sips of water. His stomach convulsed, and his eyes kept scanning the water, hoping to catch sight of a small fish or even a shrimp. But he was undoubtedly disappointed.


    "I can''t transform into a human. If I''ve appeared in Diagon Alley, I can''t show up anywhere else, especially near Hogwarts," he thought.


    On that rainy night, the opportunity had been too good. He couldn''t resist sneaking into the castle; portraits wouldn''t care about him. He was just a wizard''s pet or maybe apanion that Hagrid had brought for his own dog.


    By the time a professor found him, it would be over.


    Yet the buzzing sound at the castle''s entrance sent him fleeing. He didn''t know what it was, perhaps some sort of rm?


    He''d seen a fair share of such contraptions when he was a child.


    It must be something Dumbledore concocted. He knew Nearly Headless Nick.


    Dumbledore...


    The eyes of the massive dog gleamed, then dimmed quietly.


    He hates me! He thinks I''m a traitor!


    But I did cause James and Lily''s deaths; I truly am the murderer.


    The ck dog''s thoughts leapt incessantly, struggling to form coherent thinking. He began recalling the encounter with the three-headed dog today.


    He had seen it from a distance in Hagrid''s cabin before; it was as small as a coconut back then. Hagrid was ying a game with it, fetching hats. Even the nearby hunting hound could easily knock it over.


    But in just over a week, the little dot that he could''ve swatted away had grown to the size of a door. This was definitely magic!


    He heard Hagrid sobbing, saying he shouldn''t have been so selfish, that he should''ve let it run freely in the Forbidden Forest.


    Damn it! That three-headed dog was now charging toward him. If he had known, he wouldn''t have lent the motorcycle to Hagrid.


    So many years had passed; it was probably scrapped by now.


    Or perhaps set free? He had seen a beaten-up car deep in the Forbidden Forest once; he thought it had been discarded and was considering crawling in to take a nap¡ªeven if it was beat up, it was better than the damp ground. At least there would be a cushion.


    The thing had illuminated, blinding him with its headlights, and charged at him. He had fled once more...


    Half an hourter, the ck dog unexpectedly stumbled upon a mouse hole. Ha! Today was his lucky day.


    After a hearty meal, he regained strength. At least he couldst a couple more days.


    Lying on the ground, he began to think. His dog form prevented him from forming intricate thoughts, and he wasn''t inclined to use his name, but rather remembered faces.


    After a while, he thought of the big ginger cat, a clever creature. Even though he was a dog, he found himself developing a liking for cats.


    Cats could catch mice openly.


    Through it, he''d learned a lot, primarily about the rat. The rat was with that boy. Thinking of this made him restless.


    The ck dog started counting his ribs, a newfound method to keep calm. One, two, three... a total of thirteen pairs of ribs. Thest one was the shortest and thinnest; an ordinary person wouldn''t notice it. He smugly thought.


    He finally settled down.


    No need to worry for now... the rat was a coward, he had realized during school; every time there was a fight, he''d hide in the back and attack from there.


    And that snot-nosed brat, along with his snake offspring students, danger was everywhere, and he was on his own.


    The ck dog got up, casting a nce in the direction of Hogwarts before turning and heading in the opposite direction.


    He was nning to make a trip to the Muggle town; it was rtively safe there, and he could sneak into Muggle houses to find some food.


    Soft, white bread; fresh, delicious vegetables; and of course, meat.


    Saliva gushed uncontrobly from the ck dog''s mouth.


    He jogged leisurely; it was the most energy-efficient way and a recent discovery. Before, he''d always be the one in the lead.


    The sky gradually grew brighter. The ck dog stealthily entered the closest little house, painted in red, his favorite color.


    There was no television in the room, which was even better. He didn''t want to see news reporting him as a dangerous fugitive.


    The ck dog''s nose twitched repeatedly. He walked into the kitchen, where he spotted a snowy white cat. Too tender-looking, not very smart, he thought.


    Ignoring the cat''s bristling fur, he picked up arge bone from the kitchen and patted the white cat''s head before leaving, leaving behind a dirty paw print.


    Exiting the little house, he carried the meat away quietly. On the way, he saw two short, middle-aged men peering around.


    They whispered to each other:


    "Ready to pick a target?"


    "Not sure yet, this town is too poor. How about somewhere else?"


    "No, let''s just pick any."


    Suddenly, they saw a ck dog emerging from the shadows, its bony frame exposed, teeth bared, eyes staring menacingly at them.


    "Run!"


    The ck dog watched them disappear, his mood improving. He let out a howl of satisfaction. The barking of dogs in the town echoed one after another, and a few houses'' lights turned on.


    "Damn it, I''ve done something foolish again."


    This ce wasn''t safe; the ck dog retreated into the bushes, carried the bone in his mouth, and swiftly left.


    Hello everyone,


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 Chapter 237: Gathering of the Magical Runes Club

    Chapter 237: Gathering of the Magical Runes Club


    Aste November arrived, the weather had turned extremely cold. Thick frost covered the windows of the castle, and there had been a few snowfalls, draping the surrounding mountains of Hogwarts with snow-capped hats.


    However, within a rtively small ssroom, the atmosphere was as warm as spring. The firewood in the firece crackled and burned brightly.


    Felix Harp reclinedfortably on a sofa, smiling as he looked at young wizards and witches from different years and houses. They were gathered on several sofas, their eyes filled with curiosity and anticipation.


    "Today marks the first meeting of the Magical Runes Club, and I''m pleased to see that everyone is here."


    "During the past few weeks, I''ve been rather upied. But now, I''ve managed to set aside some time to properly consider the matters of the club." Felix yed with a coin in his hand, a coin of deep emerald green with a unique, substantial sheen. The young wizards observed it with curiosity.


    The coin didn''t belong to any known currency ¨C it wasn''t a Knut, a Sickle, or a Galleon.


    Felix gestured and flicked the coin into the air.


    Before the gaze of the young wizards, the coin transformed mid-air into a slender serpent covered in scales. It suddenly swelled and expanded, its sinuous body twisting and turning, until at one moment, it engulfed its own tail, forming a perfect circle.


    Wide-eyed, the young wizards watched the peculiar serpent continue to loop through the air¡ªa pattern many of them hadn''t encountered before.


    However, Jeffrey, the Slytherin prefect and seventh-year student, spoke in a low and fervent tone, "Ouroboros."


    "Exactly, the Ouroboros. If you''ve ever delved into magical symbols, you won''t have missed this ancient emblem. It signifies many things, with wide applications in alchemy, ancient runic magic, and the study of ancient seals. Even outside the wizarding world, the Ouroboros is quite renowned, though people tend to refer to it as a symbol of mysticism."


    "Many interpret the Ouroboros as a symbol of cycles, infinity, and rebirth¡­" Felix eloquently recounted the history of the Ouroboros symbol. When he paused, sixth-year student Petra Selton raised a question.


    "Professor, how do you perceive it?"


    Petra Selton had a long braid trailing down her back, and Felix recalled her as the student who, prior to the OWL examsst year, had haphazardly bought a talisman that emitted an onion scent.


    Felix exined, "I once considered it a symbol of alchemy, representing the prototype of all things and the cycles of construction and destruction... to some extent, it embodies the alchemist''s pursuit of perfect transmutation."


    "Later, as I delved deeper into magical theory, I saw it as a symbol of vitality, signifying the alternation between death and rebirth. In ancient epochs, many ancient wizards engraved it onto gravestones."


    "As I engaged with ancient runes and used them as my measure of magic, I believed it represented infinity and self-growth."


    Felix spoke leisurely, "Miss Selton, do you grasp my meaning? Human perspectives evolve over time, and how we view things shifts with different stages of understanding."


    He gazed up at the circr serpent, speaking with sentiment, "Each person''s viewpoint won''t be entirely the same. I hope that one day, you will also have your own perspectives¡ªones that aren''t mere echoes of others'', but rather thoughtful conclusions after ample learning."


    The young wizards listened, halfprehending, within the Magical Runes Club. Students ranging from third to seventh years attended, and not all of them could entirely grasp the depth of Felix''s words or the mindset behind his speech.


    Quietly waiting for a while, the firewood in the firece continued to burn, and Felix Harp curled his lips into a smile. "Alright, young wizards. I''ve gathered you here not for idle chatter. Frankly speaking, I have many things to attend to, but discussing trivial matters isn''t one of them."


    "The Sorting Hat ces you into different houses based on your most prominent traits. For example, Ravenw¡ª" His gaze swept over Cho Chang, Penelope Clearwater, Padma Patil, Eddie Carmichael, Marietta Edgbe, Michael Corner, Parvati Patil...


    "Slytherin¡ª" He looked toward Jeffrey, Draco Malfoy, Pansy Parkinson...


    "Hufflepuff¡ª" He signaled to Cedric, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Susan Bones, Petra Selton...


    "And Gryffindor." His gaze passed over Harry, Ron, and Hermione, the Weasley twins, Percy, Alicia Spi...


    Felix smiled. "Your qualities collectively shape the distinct atmospheres of the four houses. Yet, in truth, the atmospheres of the four houses in turn influence you, amplifying these traits. Sometimes, I only need to exchange a few words with someone to roughly guess which house they belong to."


    Felix chuckled. "On a side note, at certain times, I consciously y this game, and my sess rate is quite high."


    "Back to the main topic. This practice has its pros and cons. The benefit is that each house emphasizes admirable virtues, and once a culture forms, it''s easy to be inspired and progress. However, the downside is that some might not learn the best traits and instead adopt various ws unknowingly."


    Penelope Clearwater mused, "Professor, it''s like how Ravenws value knowledge and individuality. These students are intelligent, insightful, and curious... yet sometimes their self-centeredness can make them sh with the outside world or even hurt others?"


    Felix nodded approvingly. "Insightful and courageous, Miss Creevey."


    "Hogwarts'' headmasters realized this a long time ago. Some of you might have had this question before¡ªmany of your sses are with students from other houses, and they''re not restricted to just one. For instance, Miss Granje?"


    Hermione looked up, slightly nervous, and said in a hushed voice, "Our Herbology ss is with Hufflepuffs, Potions with Slytherins, Astronomy with Ravenws."


    "What about after fifth year?" Felix turned to Jeffrey.


    Jeffrey answered, "Most of the sses are with students from all four houses."


    Other young wizards couldn''t help but ponder this question.


    Felix continued, "This practice is to let you see a different group of people, learning about each other''s strengths through understanding."


    "And the clubs enhance these qualities, which is something I like. So, in the future, when it involves cooperation, I''ll have you choose students from different houses as partners."


    Harry almost immediately looked at Ravenw''s Cho Chang, but what shattered him was that her gaze went to someone else. He turned his head and saw the tall and handsome Cedric.


    Instantly, a sense of disappointment and loss filled him. The long-held anticipation burst like a soap bubble.


    Malfoy nced at Harry, then at the others, his thoughts hidden.


    Percy and Penelope shared a smile.


    "Now let''s discuss the Magical Runes Club itself." Felix tapped the armrest of the sofa, quieting the slightly restless young wizards.


    "First and foremost, the club''s teachings are centered around practical runic magic. You''ll learn a great deal about practical runic knowledge."


    "Secondly, you''ll be involved in some of my research, contributing data or forming research teams to tackle experimental topics."


    "At times, we might simply sit down and chat, discussing topics not rted to runes but intriguing nheless. For example¡ªwhy were we able to perform magic unconsciously when we were young, but after entering school, it became difficult?"


    Harry suddenly remembered some of his magical experiences before starting school¡ªlike how his hair always grew back immediately after haircuts. Within the few minutes between leaving the barber shop and getting home, his hair would revert to its original state as if it hadn''t been cut at all.


    Or the time Aunt Petunia tried to force him into an ugly sweater with orange pompoms. He had resisted so much that the sweater kept shrinking until it could only fit a toy puppet.


    And at the Muggle school he attended, when Dudley and his gang chased him, he tried to jump over a trash bin but found himself inexplicably sitting on a chimney.


    And he remembered releasing a giant snake at the zoo when he identally vanished the ss barrier.


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 Chapter 238: Instinctive Spellcasting

    Chapter 238: Instinctive Spellcasting


    The young wizards chattered away, discussing fervently. Harry found that many had experienced simr urrences.


    "My mum told me that when I was little, I got so angry once that I made the dishes explode!"


    "When I was seven, my aunt tried to make me eat fishy greens, and I made them vanish instead."


    "I identally fell into the water, swallowed some, and then I found myself floating!"


    Felix Harp listened quietly. As the discussion gradually subsided, he posed another question, "Can all of you still do simr things now?"


    The group fell into silence.


    Draco Malfoy smirked, his tone haughty, "Professor Harp, for some of us from longstanding wizarding families, it''s not a difficult feat."


    Ron couldn''t hold back, "Are you saying you can do it right now?"


    "Of course," Draco taunted, ncing around, "For families like the Malfoys with ancient legacies..." he emphasized, then cast a challenging look at Harry and Ron, proudly proiming, "I used to undergo such training when I was a child. During summer vacations, I often yed chess like this with my father."


    He turned to Felix, "Allow me to demonstrate, Professor."


    Felix Harp nodded in agreement.


    Draco fixed his gaze on the teapot and teacups on the small table. After a moment, a teacup with blue patterns leapt into the air, floating a foot above.


    The teapot wobbled and then floated up, pouring amber tea as it tilted.


    Draco''s forehead glistened with a thin sheen of sweat as the teapot trembled violently. He controlled it to settle back onto the table with a resounding "thud," followed by the teacup gracefully gliding toward him.


    He caught the teacup in one hand, took a sip of tea, and a pale smile crossed his face. He inclined his head slightly, "Fine tea leaves, Professor Harp."


    Harry watched in astonishment; Malfoy never exhibited this kind of ability before.


    Ron, unconvinced, said, "Malfoy, I never saw you casting any spells when we started first year!"


    Draco grinned, mocking, "It''s not a good thing to be exposed to wands and spells too early, didn''t anyone tell you that? Ha! Weasley?" He sneered heavily on the name "Weasley."


    Given the breadth of his taunting, the twins nearly leaped to retaliate; even Percy gave him a stern look.


    Draco quickly shrunk back.


    "Alright," Felix signaled for them to halt, "Mr. Malfoy has shown us a remarkable example, and he deserves a round of apuse."


    The sound of pping echoed, with Slytherin''s apuse sounding particrly enthusiastic. Pansy Parkinson gazed at him with adoration, whispering to him in hushed tones.


    "Returning to the initial question, in most cases, young witches and wizards unintentionally perform magic due to heightened emotions. This is considered a sign of possessing magical potential."


    However, disying magic in a calm state, to unveil its wonders, proves to be not quite as easy.


    This rtes to the growth stages of young wizards - generally between six and ten years old, your magical abilities will experience a significant surge. The activity of magic will be much higher than it is now, which makes it difficult to control your power, resulting in slight bouts of uncontrolled magic when emotions run high..."


    Felix Harp paused for a moment, allowing them to grasp the meaning of his words, then continued, "After starting school, you''ll be exposed to numerous spells and magical practices, which to some extent, channels this process. And because your initial development has passed, your minds are more mature, and your magical abilities tend to stabilize, making it unlikely for instances of magical outbursts. Except for some exceptions¡ª" he nced at Harry.


    Harry immediately understood what the professor meant; he had experienced a burst of magic just a few months ago, which Professor Harp had described as his magic being "like a bunch of continuously leaping and burning mes."


    Hermione raised her hand, "Professor? Is it because young wizards encounter regted magical education after enrollment, which makes magic more controble?"


    "That''s one factor, indeed. In fact, during your second development stage¡ªbetween the third year and adulthood, you almost don''t sense the restlessness of magic. This is the reason."


    Felix snapped his fingers, conjuring a me from the firece, curling around his hand.


    "Unconscious spellcasting during childhood fundamentally means you unconsciously align with a certain spell. Your magic senses your strong emotions and operates spontaneously."


    "Stable spellcasting after enrollment, and the silent, wandless spellcasting in adulthood... in a way, we are simply reiming the instinct of spellcasting."


    "Reiming instinct..." the young wizards chewed on these words, an exploration into the essence of magic they had never experienced before.


    Felix smiled, "You can try this process." He waved his hand, extinguishing the me, and the tea cup on the table duplicated itself into a pair, then a heap,nding in front of them.


    Harry stared at the tea cup in front of him. I want to make it float. He thought.


    However, the process wasn''t easy; the cup remained motionless.


    Professor Harp''s voice seemed toe from beyond, carrying a certain allure and suggestion. It might have been a trick of the light, but Harry felt like he caught a fleeting glint of silver in the professor''s eyes.


    "Maintain focus¡ªstay sensitive¡ªkeep confidence¡ª"


    Harry redirected his attention to the tea cup before him. This time, it took little effort for the cup to levitate. A rush of immense joy surged within him, akin to when he first learned from Hagrid that he was a wizard or the exhration of sessfully casting a spell for the first time.


    I did it...


    "I did it!" He looked up at Professor Harp, realizing the professor was smiling at him.


    Harry surveyed the room; he seemed to be the only one who seeded so quickly. But Draco also managed it quite soon after, looking at Harry with surprise, hesitating, "Potter..." He did have a foundation in this area.


    Harry didn''t pay him any mind; he turned to the others and noticed that everyone seemed to enter a state of intense concentration. They only emerged from it upon seeding.


    Cho Chang was still trying; Hermione''s face had turned red; Cedric Diggory''s cup was dangerously wobbling but he managed it, barely.


    One minute, two minutes, sess came one after another.


    Hermione was the seventh. She nced at the others, "Oh." Her expression carried a hint of disappointment.


    Felix Harp smiled, "This doesn''t indicate the level of potential. You might be overly rational and rarely have experience in this aspect." He told the sessful ones, "You can keep practicing or observe others, feeling this transformation."


    More and more people seeded. Throughout the process, Felix continued to suggest, "Focus... Sensitivity... Confidence... You can do it!"


    When thest person made the cup float from a distance, half an hour had already passed, yet Harry hardly felt the passage of time.


    This chapter was quite challenging to write...


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 Chapter 239: Dorothia Bopham

    Chapter 239: Dorothia Bopham


    The first gathering of the Magical Text Society concluded in this manner. Young wizards and witches streamed out, their faces adorned with excited silence. Once they had walked a distance away, discussions erupted like a surging tide.


    "Absolutely splendid!"


    "Did you see the mes? In Professor Harp''s hands, they were like toys!"


    "It''s all about instinctual spellcasting¡­"


    "I wonder what the next meeting will entail?"


    Harry and Ron stood in the corridor, Hermione stayed back to ask a few questions. After five minutes, she finally appeared.


    "I inquired about a minor matter concerning Professor Lupin," Hermione looked visibly relieved, as if she had resolved a long-standing question buried within her heart. "And Professor Harp knew the answer, just as I suspected."


    "What are you talking about?" Ron asked, puzzled.


    "Oh, I promised not to divulge it," Hermione hesitated for a moment, "to avoid unnecessary controversy."


    Harry and Ron seemed even more curious, but Hermione quickly shifted the topic, "Professor Harp rmended a series of books to me, quite useful for our dueling study group."


    "A series?" Ron raised an eyebrow.


    "''Charms by Chawick'' - a set of instructional books written by Chawick Boot, one of the founders of Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in America. We can pair it with the textbook for Defense Against the Dark Arts, ''Forces of Darkness: A Self-Defense Guide.'' Additionally, ''Practical Defensive Magic and Its Counteraction Against the Dark Arts'' is quite good, and there''s ''Curses and Countercurses'' by Wendick Winriddian¡­"


    Hermione said with a hint of regret, "I shouldn''t have wasted time on some of those random books before."


    Harry recollected, "You mean that one, the one about degradation and immorality¡­"


    "It''s ''The Degradation of Law: Why Werewolves Don''t Deserve to Live,''" Hermione rattled off the lengthy title. "The book ims that all werewolves are morally corrupt,wless individuals who ought to be eradicated."


    "That sounds quite biased. Maybe there are some decent werewolves too," Ron shrugged, "But Hermione, Professor Lupin already canceled the werewolf-rted essay assignment."


    "I know, I just¡ª"


    A cold breeze swept down the corridor, causing them all to shiver. "Let''s hurry back to themon room; I''m about to freeze," Ron suggested, and they continued their discussion as they left.


    Inside a ssroom, the firewood in the firece burned out and struggled for a moment before finally extinguishing.


    Felix Harp extended his right hand, and a small snake hanging in mid-air dropped suddenly, continuously shrinking until it coalesced into a serpent-shaped ring with its tail in its mouth on his right pinky. He calmly inspected it, then wiggled his finger, and the snake began to slither, coiling together until it transformed back into a coin.


    "So, this was your intention, Severus," Felix Harp murmured softly. Snape had substituted a few lessons for Professor Lupin during his "illness" and taught the werewolf chapter ahead of schedule, ignoring the students'' learning pace. Felix had initially thought Snape did it to taunt Lupin.


    But now it seemed Snape might have been anticipating that some young wizards would discover Lupin''s werewolf identity, providing a logical reason to expel him from the school.


    "Such a pity, Professor. Only Miss Granthampleted the assignment seriously."


    ...


    Back in his office, Felix Harp perused today''s issue of the "Prophet." On a secondary page, he came across an article by a self-proimed retired St. Mungo''s Healer, discussing his previous thesis on fishing.


    "In pure theoretical terms, I find little to contest. Mr. Felix Harp''s understanding of Memory Charms is awe-inspiring. I look forward to more theoretical research and experimental data. In my opinion, the true challenges are more than just two. Here is my perspective¡ª"


    ...


    At the end of his writing, I hope to meet with Mr. Harp. If his theories be reality, it would benefit countless wizards afflicted by memory injuries. However, I must also point out that the process will be extremely challenging. I hope to live long enough to witness the day thises to fruition..."


    "Finally, a substantial healer has arrived," Felix Harp said with delight. Many of the viewpoints in the article coincided with his own, but he hadn''t revealed these thoughts.


    As early as half a month ago, there had been asional critical voices attempting to point out errors in Felix''s theory. However, they probably hadn''t even stepped through the threshold of Memory Charms, and their perspectives were quite naive, each one refuted by Felix.


    But this time was different. With Rita Skeeter''s early warning, he quickly identified the identity of the elderly healer ¨C Dorothia Bopham.


    She was the former Head of St. Mungo''s Hospital for Magical Mdies and Injuries, aplished in various fields of healing. Furthermore, her surname was "Bopham," the same as the founder of St. Mungo''s, Mungo Bopham.


    She had been nominated for the position of Head Healer twice. However, when she was first nominated, she had adamantly refused to give up her hands-on healing work, rejecting the role of Head Healer.


    After twenty years passed, her prestige was incredibly high. Over half of the healers had been trained under her guidance. She reluctantly took on the title of Head Healer at St. Mungo''s, but she neverpletely abandoned her work with patients until her retirement.


    "This is a highly respected healer; my response in the letter must be cautious."


    Felix reread her article, smiled slightly, and picked up a quill.


    Over the next week, Felix and the self-proimed "retired healer" engaged in correspondence. He gradually revealed more details, and soon their discussion attracted the attention of numerous top-level healing experts.


    The name Felix Harp also gained considerable attention within the healingmunity.


    On the weekend, St. Mungo''s Hospital for Magical Mdies and Injuries.


    Felix encountered Dorothia Bopham, surrounded by a group of healers. The woman was quite old, her face lined with wrinkles, but her eyes remained bright.


    Returning to the hospital, she changed into her Healer robes.


    "Mr. Harp, it''s not easy to meet you," Dorothia said with a smile, her teeth nearly all gone.


    "Mrs. Bopham, exchanging letters has its merits, doesn''t it?"


    Dorothia said kindly, "I know that you are a professor at Hogwarts and are usually very busy. Using letters is indeed a good way... Come, tell me how you solved those problems. Lately, I''ve been quite perplexed."


    Understanding her, Felix knew that the news about him secretly treating the Longbottoms had spread. He had foreseen it, even orchestrating the progress of events.


    Looking at the expressions of the surrounding healers, there was no intention to confront him.


    Even if there was, they could only suppress it. During the past few months, he had added the title of "Memory Magic Expert" to himself. If the Longbottoms fully recovered, he would be the undisputed "Master of Memory Magic," the most outstanding memory injury healer of his time, without peer.


    With a smile, Felix said, "Mrs. Bopham, this might take a while. Let''s first check on the condition of the Longbottoms."


    "All right, let''s do that." Dorothia nodded.


    "They''re both in much better shape now!"


    On the fifth floor, the Janus Thickey Ward remained locked. The patients within suffered from persistent curses. Merlin Gemming chanted "Alohomora," and the door opened to reveal shelves filled with books, resembling a library in ruins.


    On the ground, rows of bookshelves stood, with scattered books ced upon them, some even damaged.


    "Another day of hard work." Felix thought to himself. While piecing together memories might sound easy, the process was rather tedious.


    The healers outside stared at him nkly. Felix snapped his fingers, causing the Longbottoms to go into a trance. A momentter, they and Felix remained motionless.


    "Mr. Harp?" a young healer attempted to pat Felix''s shoulder. August Thistle, Augusta Longbottom''s scolding voice intervened, "Don''t touch him!" But the next moment, a burst of light flung the healer away, sending him flying several meters and crashing into a wall.


    "August! Oh my, are you all right?" Meleri hurried over, patting the rash healer''s head. She turned to address the others, "He just fainted."


    "Meleri, please take him away."


    Augusta Longbottom said sternly, "This is why I didn''t want to inform you all in advance!" After a careful look at Felix and her son and daughter-inw, she felt a bit relieved to find no signs of abnormality.


    Dorothia Bopham apologetically said, "I''m sorry, Mrs. Longbottom." She turned to the current Head Healer of St. Mungo''s, "I can''t believe current healers can make such amateur mistakes."


    The current Head Healer awkwardly responded, "This was an ident. August... he''s lively, always full of novel ideas. However, he did act recklessly this time. I will certainly reprimand him."


    Dorothia Bopham nodded authoritatively. As the teacher of the current Head Healer, they had been taught by her hands forty years ago. She surveyed the surroundings, "Do not disturb Mr. Harp in any way. Understand?"


    The St. Mungo''s healers nodded obediently.


    In the subsequent treatments, no more idents urred.


    In fact, Felix was fully aware of what had transpired outside. He could have ignored it, but he feltpelled to do something. There had already been several subtle magical probes on him. Could these be easily probed?


    Hence, he deliberately activated a protective magical item...


    After this interlude, Felix refocused his attention on the Memory Room. Today''s treatment went exceptionally smoothly. Even as he pieced together the memories and condensed them into books, flickers of light were spontaneously drawn to them, blending into the shelves.


    "Perhaps after one or two more treatments, their self-repairing abilities will be triggered." Felix thought to himself.


    At noon, when he opened his eyes, he was met with gazes of awe.


    Three thousand words... well, it looks like it won''t reach four thousand words. Merging them together, two updates for today.


    Hello everyone,


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 Chapter 240: The Refreshed L.C.A Publishing House

    Chapter 240: The Refreshed L.C.A Publishing House


    Felix Harp politely yet firmly declined the current headmaster''s request for a meeting at St. Mungo''s, saying, "I''m sorry, but dedicating a morning each week is the utmost of my avable time. Besides, I still need to spend time summarizing the treatment ns for the Longbottoms."


    Standing at the entrance of St. Mungo''s Magical Mdies and Injuries, Felix shared thetest treatment progress with Madam Longbottom, "After a maximum of three treatments, they will reach the threshold of recovery.


    At that point, I will use the bond formed by Frank and Alice''s emotions to weave together the process of restoring their memories.


    As long as the self-recovery ability of one of them is triggered, the other will benefit as well."


    Madam Longbottom''s hands were intertwined as she suppressed her excitement and sensibly asked, "There won''t be any unforeseen consequences, will there? Could this bond potentially burden the other?"


    Felix smiled and reassured her, "Rest assured, Madam Longbottom. If they were strangers, this approach might indeed be unwise, but Frank and Alice are different. After such a long period of treatment, I am quite certain of one thing¡ªthey are the most important people in each other''s lives..."


    After parting ways with Madam Longbottom, he made his way to Diagon Alley. The L.C.A. building had undergone a remarkable transformation, its worn-out fa?ade now painted in vibrant rainbow colors, capturing the attention of passersby.


    On the re-erected signboard, a young boy peeked out of a Ferris wheel-shaped window, his face lit up with joy.


    He could also see a few seven or eight-year-old children beside him, pointing at the massive signboard, hanging from their parents'' arms, and excitedly shouting.


    "It seems Andis and Dobby have done a good job."


    The ground floor''s foyer had been repurposed. As Felix entered the building, a young witch approached him, "Hello, sir. How can I assist you?"


    "I''m here to see Andis," Felix said briefly.


    "You are¡ª"


    "Felix Harp, a shareholder of thispany."


    The young witch''s eyes lit up, "Mr. Harp, please follow me upstairs to the third floor. Mr. Andis has already been informed. No matter the time, you can find him directly."


    "Isn''t his office on the second floor?"


    "The second floor has been converted into a production office, with twenty skilled artists inside. They were all former employees of L.C.A Comics Publishing," the witch exined.


    "You seem well-informed."


    "My father used to work for Mr. Andis''s grandfather, butter on, the publishing house faced difficulties, and many people left. Now, things have turned around, and thepany is revitalized. A considerable number of people have been rehired," the witch said cheerfully.


    Felix nodded and was led to a narrow office on the third floor. Andis, with stubble on his face, was engaged in an enthusiastic discussion with an elderly wizard. Andis''s eyes brightened as Felix approached, and he opened his arms to embrace him tightly, saying with a hint ofint, "Oh, Merlin, our savior and major shareholder has finally graced us with a visit!"


    "Truth be told, when was thest time you took a bath?" Felix Harp instinctively stepped back a pace; the smell was too overpowering. He cast a cleansing charm towards Andis. "It''s not that I''m indifferent, but we have Dobby, right? He can represent me. Speaking of which, where is he?"


    "Downstairs, wearing several hats, working tirelessly... Where did you find that domestic elf? Get me one as well," Andis replied.


    "Don''t jest." Felix shook his head. "I''m here today to see if you''ve run into any trouble and whether you need assistance."


    "As you can see," Andis shrugged, "we''re short on staff, and that''s the biggest problem. Unless you can find arge number of employees."


    "Do you have any specific requirements?" Felix inquired.


    "Experienced skilled artists would be best, of course. If not, we can train them ourselves, but they need to be diligent... After all, the job can get quite monotonous."


    Felix pondered for a moment and called Dobby over.


    Dobby was still dressed in his little suit, but his demeanor had changed significantly. "Great and generous Mr. Harp!" he eximed excitedly.


    Felix automatically tranted his words into a greeting. "Hello, Dobby." He then spoke earnestly, "Listen, Dobby, I have an idea that I need your input on."


    "It''s my honor to be of service, sir. Dobby is ready!"


    Felix paused; he was still getting used to Dobby''s manner of speaking. "Currently, the publishing house is short-staffed. I want to ask you if you know any domestic elves, the kind without owners?"


    Dobby looked at him hesitantly, his tennis-ball-sized eyes full of uncertainty. He shifted uneasily. "Yes, sir. Some... yes."


    "Is there a hindrance?" Felix asked calmly.


    "Their condition isn''t great. For domestic elves, losing an owner means losing everything. They often suffer greatly and struggle to recover."


    "Dobby, can you persuade them to work for me?"


    Dobby widened his eyes. "Can I? Dobby has always wanted... Oh, Dobby is being too greedy. But Dobby has been hesitating whether to bring it up..."


    Felix chuckled. "They''ll work for me, and I''llpensate them. It sounds fair."


    His idea didn''t stop there. From his earlier conversation with Andis, he had noticed that Dobby''s position was somewhat awkward. House elves found it difficult to directlymand wizards; they were usuallymanded. So Dobby mostly did auxiliary work or was asionally brought out by Andis to interact with pure-blood wizarding families.


    That wasn''t what he wanted.


    "Dobby," Felix looked at him seriously, "I want you to gather those free elves for me¡ªwhether they''re wild or cast out, I don''t mind. You''re responsible for convincing them. Once you gather a group, bring them to me. If everything is fine, they can have formal employment, and you''ll manage them all."


    Dobby blinked hisrge eyes and nodded vigorously, his excitement almost bringing tears to his eyes.


    "Dobby, Dobby is honored beyond words!"


    This reaction somewhat strangely puzzled Felix.


    "It''s merely an exchange of needs. For repetitive work, house elves are entirely capable. And having Dobby manage other domestic elves serves multiple purposes."


    ...


    At three in the afternoon, amidst the snowyndscape, Felix Harp arrived at the Hog''s Head Inn in Hogsmeade.


    This inn tucked away in a side alley didn''t appear notable. Its signboard depicting a pig''s head creaked and swayed in the chilly wind.


    Standing at the entrance, Felix, draped in a cloak and wearing a hood and mask, couldn''t help but smile. Why did he always associate underground dealings with this ce?


    Perhaps because many of the patrons here chose to hide their faces?


    The Hog''s Head Inn functioned as a semi-public ck market of sorts. The innkeeper didn''t interfere much; he allowed discreet transactions to take ce here. This leniency might even be seen as a way to attract customers.


    He also spotted the figures of Dementors in the distance. They moved in pairs, patrolling continuously.


    Amusingly, some of the Dementors were noticeably shorter than theirpanions.


    "Who would''ve thought I''d encounter familiar creatures..."


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 Chapter 241: Montondges

    Chapter 241: Montondges


    Felix Harp stepped into the grimy tavern, his eyes scanning the room. Inside, there were only a few scattered patrons, and one of them was a short, plump witch wrapped in a thick veil.


    "Hmm, looks like he hasn''t arrived yet."


    He settled into an obvious spot by the window. The barkeep approached with a sour expression. "What''ll it be?" he grumbled. Felix smirked and replied in an androgynous voice, "A ss of Fireme Whiskey."


    Before long, the barkeep returned with a tall ss engulfed in bright mes, containing a shimmering blue liquid.


    Felix had no intention of drinking, not with suspicious stains on the ss. But Fireme Whiskey was the secret signal he had arranged beforehand.


    Minutester, the veiled witch rose from her seat. Felix initially thought she was leaving, but to his surprise, she took a seat across from him.


    "Someone''s here, madam," Felix frowned.


    "It''s me," the witch boasted in a deliberately deep voice, muffled and proud. "Though I have no clue who sent you, the Hog''s Head isn''t exactly a prime meeting spot. I was banned from here over a decade ago. I have to keep up appearances."


    Felix stared in astonishment at the "witch" before him. He tapped the edge of the table, causing the area around them to blur, their voices confined to a narrow space.


    Returning to his normal voice, Felix curiously asked, "Montondges y?"


    Montondges muttered, "Who told you? I prefer my alias - Jack of All Trades." With his back turned to the barkeep, he casually loosened his veil to reveal a scruffy face with bloodshot eyes and a drooping eyelid.


    He lifted the Fireme Whiskey. "You won''t be drinking, I presume? Too conspicuous,d. In the real world, you''re undoubtedly a person of status, one who values¡ª" He took a sip, "¡ªunlike me¡ªhiss." He inhaled and exhaled, releasing a burst of heat from his mouth.


    Felix chuckled. "Consider it my treat, but if you haven''t brought what I seek¡ª"


    "Oh, another threat. Montondges has grown quite ustomed to those!" Montondges nced around surreptitiously, an unnecessary habit that seemed deeply ingrained. He retrieved a t package from beneath his robes, grinning slyly. "You''ll be satisfied..."


    Felix let the package unfold by itself, revealing its contents¡ªa dust-covered silver dish. He lightly brushed his hand over it, causing the dust to vanish instantly. Montondges'' cautious gaze fixed on him.


    The dish revealed its true form¡ªa shallow basin adorned with ancient runes and magical symbols. A Pensieve.


    "It seems a bit worse for wear," Felix murmured, assessing its condition while discreetly evaluating the possibility of restoration.


    "Ha, quite fresh actually. Otherwise, I wouldn''t have kept it for two years." Montondges took a swig of his drink, studying Felix. "Are you an alchemist? From Knockturn Alley or perhaps over with Kanoon? Or a rogue element?"


    "It''s none of your concern, Montondges."


    "Oh, don''t mind me. I think we can establish a stable connection, no need for intermediaries. They charge a hefty fee for urate information, you know." Montondges grumbled, "It cost me two knuts, but if it weren''t for hearing that you wanted a Pensieve, I wouldn''t have bothereding."


    Felix grinned. "You''ll earn even more. After all, smugglers are in it for the profits, aren''t they?"


    "Heh! In my youth, I aspired to grand aplishments, fame... I nearly believed I had seeded, got in good with a bigwig. I was loyal to him, but I realized these gray corners suited me better in the end."


    "Or should I say, gray tombs?" Felix quipped, lifting the Pensieve, studying its intricate magical etchings.


    Montondges showed no trace of shame. "One must make a living¡ª200 Galleons at least. We lost one life and left another half-dead to get this."


    Felix Harp nced at him, skeptical that even if he handed over 200 Galleons, Montondges would honestly share with his supposedpanions. In fact, Felix suspected thosepanions were nothing more than a makeshift team.


    He pondered for a moment. "200 Galleons? Maybe a hundred at most. I''m not a fool. In your hands, this thing is practically trash. I can''t guarantee a perfect restoration either. You can have more if you want, but I need you to gather some information for me¡ªancient ruins... and ancient magical creations."


    "An intermediary? No problem! Old Montondges is well-connected," Montondges proudly dered.


    "However," Montondges'' bloodshot eyes widened, "I need a down payment! A down payment..."


    "Bang!"


    A bag embroidered with green and blue patterns appeared on the table, emitting a pleasant "clinking" sound.


    Montondges swallowed hard, opening the bag to reveal blinding golden light.


    "What a charming little thing... listen to their sounds..." He reached out with his dirty hand. "You''re truly generous. I''ll take this job. You just wait patiently¡ªoh, what''s this!"


    As Montondges reached into the bag, a gray-green snake suddenly emerged and bit him. The small snake wriggled its gray body and returned to Felix, transforming into a transparent ss vial.


    The vial still contained a few drops of blood.


    Montondges stared at him with an unpleasant expression, seemingly ready to explode at any moment.


    "I''ve heard of your reputation, Montondges y. A smuggler, cheat, thief, pilferer... I can''t easily trust your words. To prevent any misconceptions, I think¡ªprecautions are in order."


    Montondges, who had been initially furious, seemed to have realized something, and his expression grew calm.


    "I never break my word. All those allegations outside are just nder against me! But... as you wish. Now, there won''t be another snake popping out of the bag, will there?" He nced at Felix, who made a weing gesture. Montondges muttered, "Slytherin." He concealed the bag within his robes.


    Felix said, "100 Galleons for a damaged Pensieve. Another 900 Galleons to fund your collection and purchases of magical items or for information gathering... it''s up to you. I don''t want modern items, and don''t try to fool me with Dark magic artifacts."


    "As long as I find it worthwhile, you''ll have a steady stream of money from me."


    Montondges found Felix''s ck-and-white mask more agreeable. "How do I contact you?" He began to consider this seriously.


    Felix tossed him a stone, a variant of the Heating Charms. "Infuse it with magic. As long as you''re at Hogwarts, I''ll be able to find you."


    "I''m more convinced now that you''re an alchemist." Montondges pocketed the stone, muttering, "Not fair, you know me, but I don''t know you."


    Felix said, "You will know, but we need time to build trust."


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 Chapter 242: Umbridge Redux

    Chapter 242: Umbridge Redux


    Due to the influence of Galleons, the two had formed a loose employment rtionship. But for Mundungus Fletcher, who wandered between the lines of morality, such arrangements weremonce.


    He had encountered many bigwigs; while they might be high and mighty, they could never truly distance themselves from the likes of him, a small-time yer.


    Felix was quite curious as he inquired about the "important figures" Mundungus mentioned. However, Mundungus skillfully avoided the question, never revealing a thing from start to finish. Strangely, this made Felix develop a slight fondness for him.


    After a moment''s hesitation, Felix ventured, "Mundungus, have you ever heard of a Time Turner?"


    "What''s that?" Mundungus asked with wide eyes.


    "It''s something... no, never mind," Felix dismissed the sudden thought. Even if some ancient families possessed Time Turners, they wouldn''t openly sell them. They guarded that secret tightly.


    Despite the stringent conditions for using a Time Turner, it was undoubtedly one of the most magical magical items, and its origin remained one of the deepest secrets buried within the wizarding world.


    Mundungus looked at Felix with a puzzled expression, but he secretly noted down the name. To be mentioned by this mysterious wizard was surely a sign of something extraordinary. He would keep an eye out for any rted information and sell it to Felix at a high price if he came across any!


    "Oh, by the way," Mundungus said, "I can also get my hands on other things¡ªartworks, ancient bronzes, or some confiscated contraband by the Ministry..."


    Felix regarded him with an odd look. "You''ve got quite the diverse connections." But it was Mundungus'' next words that grabbed his attention.


    "...and there are some magical creatures and their eggs or offspring."


    "Magical creatures?" Felix interjected. "Tell me more about this."


    "Oh, um..." Mundungus hesitated for a moment, "they''re creatures you''re not allowed to keep privately, potentially dangerous ones. Like st-Ended Skrewts, Sphinxes, and Erumpents."


    "You can get your hands on these dangerous creatures?" Felix said incredulously.


    "Well, it''s all a matter of luck. Every few years, someone shows up to sell them. I''ve even seen Fire Dragon eggs and Augurey chicks being sold!" Mundungus continued, "In recent years, they''ve be moremon. You know, the Far Eastern superpower fell apart just a couple of years ago, and along with it, their wizarding world descended into chaos. A lot of valuable stuff started flowing out. Honestly, no one cares over there, they''re practically begging to get rid of..."


    Felix nodded slightly. He hadn''t really paid much attention to these things in recent years. Even the ck markets of various magicalmunities around the world had lost his interest. It had to be said that his travels in the first year after graduation were now a distant memory.


    After some thought, he told Mundungus that if there were any exceptionally rare magical creatures, he should inform him directly.


    Mundungus took another swig of his drink, his face sporting an odd flush, and began recounting his "interesting" escapades from all around.


    "A couple of years ago¡ªin the midst of a ck market trade, Ministry Aurors suddenly barged in, they were well-prepared¡ªhic! We scattered like birds and beasts, each making our own escape... I hid in a muddy ditch, and what do you know, another Dark wizard panicked and also dived into the ditch, his backside facing me¡ª"


    "Hah¡ªI couldn''t possibly pass up this opportunity! I threatened him to hand over everything in his pockets, or else I''d unleash the Exploding Charm on his rear end..."


    Felix Harp was truly at a loss for words. Mundungus Fletcher had finally finished his drink, wiped his mouth, and put on the feminine veil again. "If there''s nothing else, I''ll be on my way. Those patrolling Dementors are a real bother¡ª"


    "Ding-a-ling~"


    The bell at the entrance chimed, and a chilling air swept in. The Hog''s Head Inn fell silent instantly, several patrons fixing their gaze quietly on the Dementor that had entered.


    A wizard, wrapped in bandages like a mummy, twitched and tumbled off his seat.


    The owner behind the bar suddenly raised his wand, emitting a silver-white light from its tip. "Back off from my ce, Dementor!" he shouted roughly. His metallic gray hair and beard stood on end, resembling strands of wire, as they expanded outward.


    The cold stream within the pub diminished instantly.


    Felix noticed that Mundungus had lowered his head, shivering incessantly, and cast a wary nce at the bar''s owner. He couldn''t tell if he was more afraid of the Dementor or the irritable old man currently brandishing a wand.


    The Dementor hovered by the door, reluctant to leave. The old man grew even angrier. Tall and with bright blue eyes, the silver-white light at the tip of his wand had a tendency to solidify, with a pair ofrge antlers faintly visible.


    Felix guessed it might be some kind of creature with long horns, perhaps a goat or a deer. Given the lingering scent of goat in the room, it was probably a male goat.


    "No Sirius ck here, you bunch of rotting dimwits!" he bellowed.


    Mundungus whispered, "It''s been nearly twenty years, and he''s still this vtile..."


    The Dementor rose higher into the air, surveying the room''s patrons as it glided past the old man. Their headscarves formed a hollow shape on their heads, presumably representing mouths, as a sound of rushing air emanated from within.


    When their gaze fell on Felix, they strangely froze, then, as if their necks were rusted, they slowly turned their heads away.


    Soon after, they floated away without a backward nce.


    "Have I been discovered?" Felix touched his mask-covered face. "Did they run away because they saw me? Was it due to scent or emotional perception?"


    Felix activated the Concealment Charm within his mind, simultaneously tapping his chest, casting various concealment spells upon himself.


    Stepping out of the Hog''s Head Inn, Felix spotted a few Aurors on the street. They were d in officialbat robes, their eyes constantly scanning the passersby.


    Among them, a plump, short witch in a pink dress stood out. She was scolding someone in her high-pitched, thin voice ¨C it was none other than Dolores Umbridge.


    Felix had seen her once at the Slug Club''s awards ceremony. Slug-horn hadmented that the one thing he was dissatisfied with about the entire event was having Umbridge as the host.


    Felix also remembered her sickly sweet smile and the pink bow she always wore, not to mention the unusually short wand she carried.


    "What is she doing here? Isn''t this woman in charge of monitoring magicalw abuse?" Felix pondered.


    Felix''s gaze met Umbridge''s, and behind his mask, he saw her scrutinizing him suspiciously. Her mouth stretched into a smile, like a giant toad ready to catch its prey.


    She extended her chubby finger and pointed it at Felix, while two young Aurors, one on each side, approached cautiously. Felix recognized one of them ¨C a Hufflepuff student who was two years junior to him.


    He remembered her because her ability was particrly convenient ¨C she was a rare natural-born Metamorphmagus who could alter her appearance at will.


    Beneath his mask, Felix''s lips curled into a smirk. In the next moment, his figure vanishedpletely.


    He had a feeling they would meet again.


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 Chapter 243: Remaining at School

    Chapter 243: Remaining at School


    The next morning, Felix Harp didn''t expect his intuition toe true so quickly. He remembered that he wasn''t particrly skilled in Divination, right? Well, it''s hard to say. He had dropped Divination sses back then because Professor Sibyll Trwney always seemed to be ying tricks with the mystical.


    At that time, Professor Sibyll Trwney had only been teaching at Hogwarts for a few years and hadn''t yet established her stable teaching style as she has now. Sometimes, she tended to go a bit overboard.


    And now Felix was in the limelight ¨C his fame was immense and came with its fair share of troubles. It happened to be a good choice for her to make a name off him. Trwney had once spouted a dozen prophecies for him in one breath, although not a single one turned out urate.


    ...


    Felix saw Professor McGonagall and the toad-like Umbridge standing face to face by the spiral staircase. Professor McGonagall''s expression was far from pleasant, her lipspressed into a thin line.


    "Umbridge... the Inquisitor! I must remind you that Dumbledore does not allow Dementors to enter the school. A little over a month ago, there was a dreadful incident when Dementors stormed the Quidditch pitch."


    Umbridge stepped up a stair, realizing she still wasn''t quite tall enough. She took another step to stand a bit higher, looking down at Professor McGonagall with a falsely sweet smile. "Professor McGonagall, I have no intention of letting Dementors in. I despise those unsettling creatures as much as you do. To be honest, it reminds me of the unfair treatment I suffered in my early years when I was just an intern."


    "But luckily, I proved my capabilities and earned my position, despite my distant rtion to the Selwyn family... I''ve achieved what I have today through my own efforts."


    Professor McGonagall made a "hmph" sound from her nose. "I only hope that once you''ve achieved your position, you won''t seek revenge disproportionately. From what I know..." she didn''t continue.


    Umbridge seemed to not hear that part. She put on a sharine smile. "Considering the dangerous fugitive Sirius ck is still on the run, I hope ¨C on behalf of Minister Fudge ¨C that Hogwarts could host a small outpost, to signify the Ministry''s concern for Hogwarts. Of course, there won''t be Dementors, only myself and two Aurors."


    Professor McGonagall said dryly, "I haven''t received any notice from Dumbledore."


    "I can wait," Umbridge said amiably, waving her hand. "For the safety of those lovely, innocent little ones, I don''t mind wasting a bit of time."


    Professor McGonagall stared at Umbridge, her chest heaving visibly, clearly infuriated.


    "Excuse me, Miller?" Felix descended the stairs and brushed past Umbridge.


    Professor McGonagall stepped back two paces, giving him room. Felix''s tall frame conveniently stood between Umbridge and McGonagall.


    Felix winked at Professor McGonagall, and for a brief moment, a hint of a smile appeared on her face. But she quicklyposed herself, growing more serious. A simr situation had urred duringst year''s Christmas party when Filch used himself as an example to tell her a dwarf joke.


    "Cough cough! Sorry," a pretentiously clear throat sounded behind him. Felix seemed to just notice her. "You''re still here? I thought your conversation had concluded."


    "And who might this be?" Umbridge''s expression wasn''t great.


    Professor McGonagall didn''t show any intention to introduce her. Apologetically, she said to Felix, "Felix, could you do me a favor? I need..." She nced at Umbridge. With Umbridge standing on a step, slightly taller than her, Professor McGonagall''s gazended on the pink cardigan Umbridge was wearing, and the bow embroidered on her cor. She ufortably looked away.


    "I need you to apany this Ministry investigator."


    "What do you need me to do?" Felix asked.


    "Collect the list of students staying at school for Christmas. You only need to handle Gryffindor House, and Percy Weasley can assist you," Professor McGonagall handed him a piece of parchment. "Just have the young wizards fill out the forms. If I can spare the time this afternoon, I wille over."


    "No problem, Miller," Felix Harp said with ease. He inclined his head slightly to both of them, his gazending on Umbridge as he added, "The outfitplements you well, madam."


    Umbridge looked at him incredulously, pointing at his retreating figure with her chubby finger. "Who is this person?"


    Felix overheard Professor McGonagall say in a cheerful tone, "Clearly, he''s a professor at Hogwarts..."


    He followed the spiral staircase up and arrived at themon room of Gryffindor House. However, the entrance was blocked by the portrait of the plumpdy. She had a stern expression. "Password."


    Felix hesitated for a moment and tentatively said, "Luck is on your side?" He recalled that Gryffindor''s passwords often had something to do with "luck."


    "That''s not it," the plumpdy rolled her eyes. "Though you''re a professor, without the password, I can''t let you in. It''s a rule. Who knows if you''re not ck in disguise."


    Felix, quite interested, said, "Forgive me, madam ¨C I''ve always wondered, do you remember anything about ck''s time at school?"


    The plumpdy seemed insulted. She let out a shrill scream, "Of course, I remember..." She rambled on, and Felix smiled, going along with her words, "Is that so?"


    "And such a troublemaker he was..."


    After about ten minutes, the door to themon room was pushed open from the inside, and Neville walked out, carrying his book bag.


    "Neville, are you heading to the library for self-study?"


    Neville seemed startled and stammered, "Professor Harp? Yes, oh no, I''m going to the greenhouse ¨C I mean, Professor Sprout''s ce."


    Felix nodded understandingly, "Right, what''s the password for your House?" As he spoke, the plumpdy had already closed the door with a "thud," showing an expression of someone enjoying a show.


    Neville''s round face froze, and he very slowly nced at Felix, then looked at the closed door to themon room. He helplessly stuck his hand into his pocket.


    Starting from the first pocket, he moved to the second, from his robes to his undershirt, from his cloak to his pants. Then he opened his book bag, which emitted a fresh earthy smell from within.


    From a corner, Neville found a small piece of paper. Excitedly, he read aloud, "Lucky star shines bright, it''s ''Lucky star shines bright''!"


    The plumpdy pursed her lips. "I wanted to chat a bit longer with you." She rotated, making way, and the door to themon room opened.


    Felix suddenly thought of something, "Neville, are you staying at school for Christmas?"


    "No, my grandmother wrote to have me spend the holiday at home." Neville answered, unconsciously clutching his book bag.


    "Understood, Neville."


    Felix stepped into themon room''s door, where voices were bustling.


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 Chapter 244: Trials and Warnings

    Chapter 244: Trials and Warnings


    In the center of themon room, a cleared space had been made, surrounded by chairs and sofas that the young wizards had moved into an irregr circle.


    In the midst of this circle, two enchanted puppets were engaged in a fierce duel.


    From one puppet''s fist, crackling arcs of electricity and sparks shot out. Itnded a punch on its opponent''s face, freezing it in ce.


    "Four enter the semifinals! The first to advance to the finals is Angelina Johnson! Let''s give her a round of apuse!" Fred, acting as the referee, announced. "At the same time, she will receive a coupon for the Pairing Spectacles and participate in the raffle for guessing the oue of the matches..."


    "It''s a lottery," George reminded him. Fred corrected himself, "Right, a lottery."


    "Now then¡ªnext match! Professor... Professor Harp?" Fred spotted Felix and gestured somewhat nervously toward George, who discreetly collected the parchment in front of him.


    "You''re cing bets?" Felix looked at him.


    "No, no," Fred exined, "we''re promoting the Pairing Spectacles, just having a bit of fun."


    Felix regarded him skeptically. Fred swore under his breath, "Absolutely not. Don''t believe me? Ask them." Other young wizards nodded in agreement.


    "Very well, and Percy?" Felix didn''t press further.


    "He''s not here, Professor. I suspect he''s with Penelope," Fred replied without hesitation. "I could give you a few of their favorite date spots."


    "Cough, that won''t be necessary," Felix said, feeling a headacheing on for Percy. He raised his voice and addressed the surrounding students, "I''m here this time to collect the list of students staying over the Christmas holidays on behalf of Professor McGonagall. Come over and check the corresponding options..."


    "Um, the forms are temporarily here. I''lle to collect them this afternoon¡ªif Professor McGonagall hasn''t yet gotten rid of her little troubles."


    The young wizards gathered around one by one.


    Felix stood aside, surveying the Gryffindormon room. It was his first visit, and theyout here was different from Slytherin or Ravenw, primarily using gold and red as its main colors, forming a circr grand living room.


    In this room, there were plush armchairs and sofas as well as sturdy wooden chairs and tables. Noticeboards were covered in various announcements, posters, and information written by the students themselves.


    Currently catching the eye were advertisements for the Pairing Spectacles by the Weasley twins and news of Ravenw defeating Hufflepuff on the Quidditch pitch at the end of November.


    Beneath this news was a line of handwritten, uplifting shing text: "We still have a chance!"


    Themon room had both expansive open areas and smaller divided spaces with partitions in the corners.


    Except for a massive firece that upied one entire wall, the other three walls were adorned with scarlet tapestries featuring portraits of numerous famous witches and wizards, as well as some creatures.


    Felix thought he recognized the majestic me lion he saw there, very much resembling the one Professor McGonagall had demonstrated in her Dueling ss.


    "Professor," Hermione, having just finished filling out the form, approached along with Harry and Ron.


    Felix smiled as he looked at them. "I heard your Dueling Practice Group is doing well?"


    Harry couldn''t help scratching his head. "It''s mainly the three of us practicing. Dean and Seamus asionally join in."


    Felix said, "Harry, I''ve read your paper on Dueling Techniques. It suits you very well. When you can seamlessly incorporate its principles into every fight, then you''ll have truly mastered what''s in the paper."


    Ron began, "I think Harry is¡ª"


    Harry quickly cut him off.


    Felix looked at Ron and smiled as he asked, "Are you trying to say that Harry has already achieved the dueling system outlined in the paper?" Seeing that the professor wasn''t angry, Ron nodded with newfound courage.


    This was Ron''s firsthand experience. Excluding Disarming Charms, he could still hold his own against Harry for a few rounds, having somewhat mastered spells like Impervius and Stunning Spell.


    But when faced with the full force of Harry''s Disarming Charm, all his resistance became futile. His Impervius Charm shattered like aical biscuit, his wand flew out, and he was sent flying, without a second chance.


    Or perhaps Harry altered the trajectory of the Disarming Charm into a magical arc, inbination with the footwork learned in Dueling ss, always easily bypassing Ron''s defenses.


    This made Ron secretly anxious. Even the meals in the Great Hall weren''t as appetizing¡ªhe didn''t want to fall too far behind.


    Felix considered for a moment and decided to test something. "Look at me, Harry." His eyes turned silver-white, and Harry met his gaze. He stared for a dozen seconds, then suddenly stumbled and nearly fell.


    "Professor?" Ron caught Harry, looking at Felix in astonishment. He almost thought the professor before him was an impersonation by ck.


    This thought crossed his mind because they had done something simrst school year. They had slipped into the Slytherinmon room with the help of the Polyjuice Potion, trying to gather information about the Heir of Slytherin from Malfoy.


    They had discussed before that if ck wanted to infiltrate Hogwarts, the Polyjuice Potion was a good option. However, their final consensus was that it was unlikely, as it would be hard for ck to breach the mirrors at the castle entrance.


    "I''m fine," Harry said, panting. "Professor Harp, what... what was that..."


    "It''s a unique magic of mine. While not entirely urate, it serves to test your progress," Felix exined.


    Harry was greatly impressed. "I can''t believe I was able to engage in a mental battle with you..."


    Ron looked at him with shock. What did Harry say? A mental battle? Was it really what he thought?


    "Is it like the Room of Requirement, Professor?" Hermione guessed. She had practiced Ancient Runes in the Room of Requirement before, but she had never fought in there.


    "Um, something like that. To be honest, I''ve been making rapid progress in the field of memory magictely, discovering many novel techniques without giving them names yet," Felix said.


    He moved on from the topic, looking at Harry, Ron, and Hermione. "From the recent test, it''s clear that Harry hasn''t fully mastered the dueling system he devised himself, especially in various details; there are still many issues... In fact, Harry''s issues are your issues.


    Moving from theory to practice requires crossing not just one threshold, and turning it into an instinctive reaction that doesn''t require thought takes even more time."


    He said solemnly, "For some, this time might be a lifetime."


    "Of course, you three are all talented wizards. Your only enemy to defeat iscency, as it will hold you back."


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 Chapter 245: Approaching the Christmas Break

    Chapter 245: Approaching the Christmas Break


    Felix Harp was relieved to notice that Harry, Ron, and Hermione''s attitudes had be more serious.


    Speaking of this, a sudden thought popped into his mind, somewhat unclear but definitely rted to the broken Pensieve he had been studying all night without any progress.


    The Pensieve, memory magic, the arena akin to a thought-filled room... What could happen if they were allbined?


    A scene shed before Felix''s eyes: In ancient runic lessons, young wizards lined up to jump into the Pensieve one by one. The constructed "Felix" proceeded with the ss as nned. Students could even pause, rewind, and elerate the process at will, while their true selves enjoyed reading books and sipping tea...


    Or perhaps¡ª


    He could design aplex maze-like terrain, a forbidden forest, a swamp... The location wasn''t crucial; the point was that he could have young wizards team up in pairs or threes and engage in dueling practice fearlessly within the real scenes.


    Observing Professor Harp lost in thought, the trio shared a nce, and suddenly he mumbled, "We must prevent young wizards from teasing their teachers. They can be quite mischievous, capable of such things..."


    Hermione blinked, wondering what the professor had just said.


    Felix decided that when he returned, he would ask Nearly Headless Nick. Besides Nick, he couldn''t think of any contemporary alchemist who might have cracked the secret of the Pensieve.


    It might be best to temporarily borrow Headmaster Dumbledore''s Pensieve again... yes. He could swear there would be no intention of prying into Dumbledore''s memories.


    "If my idea could be realized, this might be a magical item with even more potential than the magical phones. It could profoundly change the entire wizarding world." This thought shed through his mind, swiftly taking root and growing wild.


    Felix hurriedly left. Before departing, he asked Hermione to keep an eye on the progress of the list of students staying for Christmas. She nodded responsibly; she was ustomed to assisting the professor with various matters.


    After he left, Harry muttered, "Thanks¡ªfor staying behind with me," and both Ron and Hermione chose the option to remain at school.


    Ron mentioned that he didn''t want to see Percy''s face. "He''s already got three internship offers. I can just imagine what the Christmas feast at home will be like¡ªPercy boasting with his Prefect badge, Dad passing him a ss of brandy, Mum smothering him in kisses. Maybe I''ll even catch a glimpse of Penelope..."


    Hermione also felt burdened with many tasks. "I''ve only just gotten to the third volume of ''Enchanting Encounters,'' and there''s never enough time."


    But Harry''s heart remained warm because he knew these were all excuses. "Let''s go practice dueling," he suggested. Ron''s expression immediately turned mournful, and with Harry and Hermione''sughter, they dragged him out of themon room.


    "Can I add an extra cushion? I mean, maybe more than one..."


    ...


    Nearly Headless Nick seemed preupied with other matters. Through the mouth of his younger self in the photo, he assured Felix that he would ask Dumbledore to bring some past research materials.


    Felix had initially thought of visiting Nick during the Christmas break, but since Nick was busy with other things, he had to let go of that idea. However, he still needed to give a Christmas gift. Felix had created a magically marvelous mirror, which Dumbledore could conveniently bring along.


    He was certain Nearly Headless Nick would be utterly delighted by this Christmas gift.


    Apart from Nearly Headless Nick, he had prepared a lengthy list of people to whom Christmas gifts needed to be sent. The list included Hogwarts professors and students, as well as some wizard pen pals he knew. Of course, ardent fans and enthusiasts were not left out.


    Since Felix Harp''s debate with various wizards at the Daily Prophet, his identity as a Hogwarts professor had be well-known to the public. Consequently, naturally, fans sent their letters here.


    When people multiplied, all sorts of odd letters came in, including bold and spicy derations of love. Felix couldn''t help scratching his head. "I''ve never even done a book signing, never shown my face. What if I turn out to be a messy old man?" He imagined himself in Andis''s appearance, sending shivers down his spine.


    What surprised him was that many of these fans'' letters came from young wizards who hadn''t even started school yet. They were faithful readers of "The Little Wizard Mick''s Adventures." The letters were directly sent to the L.C.A. Comic Publications and one day delivered by the house-elf Dobby.


    His Galleon heated up at the time. Soon, several house-elves appeared in his office carrying huge packages. Aside from Dobby, the other house-elves were in tattered attire.


    Inside the packages were various letters and gifts, and it took him quite some time to handle the responses.


    As for the five house-elves brought by Dobby, Felix had carefully examined them one by one, confirming that they were true free elves. With this assurance, he heartily weed them, and after some encouragement, let Dobby take them away.


    Their status would be somewhat simr to the house-elves in the Hogwarts kitchen, maybe a bit higher since they had holidays and wages. Of course, their number wasn''trge.


    Felix had also considered arranging seventh-year Hogwarts students for internships at L.C.A. Comic Publications. However, he eventually dismissed the idea as mastering the art of magical illustration wasn''t something that could be achieved in a short period.


    Hogwarts students were oblivious to this magical branch, and a short internship wouldn''t be very helpful. But he could serve as a mediator between Professor McGonagall and Andis, facilitating cooperation and directing the cultivation of a group of individuals skilled in magical illustration.


    All fifth-year Hogwarts students were required to participate in a brief discussion during the summer term with their Heads of Houses, discussing future employment prospects.


    During this time, pamphlets and brochures on various magical careers would flood in, with somergerpanies¡ªlike Red Books Publishing, the Daily Prophet, Gringotts Wizarding Bank, and the Ministry of Magic¡ªsending representatives every few years to promote their opportunities.


    Felix remembered seeing the goblins from Gringotts while he was still at school. This was actually a rare urrence, as such matters were usually handled by human Gringotts employees. The fairies weren''t satisfied with the treatment they received and held strong caution and resentment toward wizards.


    Leaving aside the rebellions and riots instigated by fairies in history, during every International Confederation of Wizards meeting, they demanded that wizards release their monopoly on wands. Even though the fairies invariably concealed their magic and the secret of enchanting weapons.


    Felix spected that their appearance on campus might be rted to the recent war''s conclusion. Someone had proposed taking back the goblins'' operational rights over Gringotts at the time, treating them merely as workers for minting currency.


    Minister Millicent Bagnold at the time was a strong-willed leader. She took office during the height of the wizarding war and approved the Aurors'' use of the Unforgivable Curses against Death Eaters.


    Being a resolute minister, it was hard to predict whether she would agree to this proposal. Therefore, after weighing their options, the fairies had no choice but to make some gestures, including permanent neutrality and a promise not to incite riots. Their visit to Hogwarts was just one of these gestures.


    ...


    Over the next few days, as the Christmas holiday approached, it was clear that the young wizards'' minds weren''t on their studies. Many were already nning to make the most of thest Hogsmeade visit before the break for some festive shopping.


    Meanwhile, Felix had more leisure time. During thest treatment, the Longbottoms had both entered a deep slumber as their brains underwent crucial self-repair and transformation. It could be a day or maybe a month before they woke up from their sleep.


    Yet, even on the day before the holiday, as the young wizards boarded the train back home, Felix hadn''t received any joyful news from St. Mungo''s. He felt a twinge of regret, but still he earnestly penned a note to Augusta Longbottom¡ª


    "The n can begin."


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 Chapter 246: Nevilles Discovery

    Chapter 246: Neville''s Discovery


    On the eve of Christmas, St. Mungo''s Hospital for Magical Mdies and Injuries was filled with the festive atmosphere.


    The light in the waiting room had been reced with golden and red crystal bubbles that hung from the ceiling, resembling giant Christmas baubles that twinkled incessantly.


    Neville held his grandmother''s hand with one hand, while tightly clutching his school bag with the other.


    They climbed up to the fifth floor, passing by every ward adorned with holly trees and colorful ribbons.


    "Neville, hurry up¡ª"


    Madam Longbottom urged him, and Neville quickly caught up with her. They entered the Janus Thickey ward and made their way to the innermost beds. Drawing back the curtains, they revealed a young wizard and witch lying in the beds.


    Ignoring their pale faces and grey, withered hair, they looked like a young couple who had just overslept, with a natural smile gracing their lips. But Neville could only gaze at them with sadness, pulling out a bouquet of flowers from his bag and cing them in a vase on the bedside table.


    Neville was about to dispose of the withered flowers when his grandmother took them from his hand with a stern look. She gave him aplex nce and said, "I''ll take care of it." Then, without another word, she left.


    Neville sat quietly for a while. He had tidied his mother''s hair, adjusted his father''s nket, and neatly folded towels. Yet, after quite some time, his grandmother hadn''t returned.


    After a moment of hesitation, he stood up and walked towards the door. As he passed two beds, a woman with a furry face suddenly barked at him, startling him so much that he almost collided with the opposite wall.


    Still shaken, Neville opened the door and looked left and right. There was still no sign of his grandmother. The golden stars atop the holly tree outside the door sparkled, making it hard for him to see down the corridor.


    Neville''s expression wavered as he debated whether to turn back, but then he heard faint voicesing from the staircase. He recognized the gentle voice¡ªit was his parents'' healer, the aunt named Miriam.


    "Mr. Harp... Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom... two weeks..."


    Upon hearing familiar names, Neville''s curiosity got the better of him. He approached stealthily, trying not to make a sound. At the corner of the stairs, he saw Aunt Miriam with her back turned to him, engaged in conversation with another healer dressed in green robes.


    "No one can be sure when they''ll wake up. Mr. Harp is quite confident, and Madam Longbottom believes him..." Miriam said.


    The other young healer couldn''t help but ask, "But isn''t it said that this Harp only published some articles in the newspaper? Who knows how skilled he really is?"


    Miriam hesitated a bit before replying, "Madam Pomfrey also believes in him."


    The healer retorted, "But, as you mentioned, it''s been two weeks since that Harpst visited, and Madam Longbottom has been in aa for two full weeks. What if he caused trouble and can''t handle the aftermath?"


    Miriam''s expression grew more worried, but she still searched for reasons. "The patients'' conditions are stable..."


    "Who can be clear about matters of memory? Perhaps it''s simply a prolonged slumber! This Harp is at best a Hogwarts professor, not a professional healer."


    Seemingly convinced, Miriam conceded, "You make a valid point. Once Madam Longbottom arrives, I''ll talk to her." The two of them left together.


    Neville leaned against the corner of the wall, his smile fading. He strained to process the news he had just heard. Hogwarts only had one Professor Harp, so a professor was treating his parents? But why hadn''t he ever mentioned it to him?


    Neville thought, maybe he didn''t want to worry me? But he recalled the conversation between the two healers just now¡ªtwo weeks in aa... His heart clenched suddenly.


    He hurriedly returned to the ward, opened the door, and rushed back to his parents'' beds¡ªthey were still peacefully asleep.


    ''Two weeks in aa...''


    Neville tentatively nudged his mother''s arm, no response. He applied a bit more force, but she remained still, not even a change in the smile on her lips.


    Suddenly, he felt a sense of panic. The words of that unfamiliar healer echoed in his mind like a poison corroding his heart¡ª


    "Who can be clear about matters of memory? Perhaps it''s simply a prolonged slumber!"


    Neville muttered, "A prolonged slumber¡ªit can''t be! The professor doesn''t do things without certainty; he''s so skilled andposed..." Yet he couldn''t help but think again: that healer''s words did make sense, Professor Harp never disyed any healing abilities.


    Like Harry excelling in Defense Against the Dark Arts but struggling in Herbology.


    Footsteps sounded from a distance¡ªhis grandmother''s and another. There was something familiar about it... Neville nced through the crack in the door and saw a pair of exquisite ck-brown shoes¡ªit was Professor Harp!


    He btedly realized he hadn''t closed the door properly when he hurried in.


    Neville hunched over his school bag at the foot of the bed, feigning unawareness, but his ears were pricked up.


    "Professor Harp, we need to talk."


    That was his grandmother''s voice, and she sounded anxious. What had happened exactly?


    "Nothing to discuss! I should''ve quit a long time ago. If you hadn''t found Dumbledore, I wouldn''t havee tonight," a man''s voice said.


    It was Professor Harp... Neville thought, why does the professor feel a bit strange to me, a bit... indifferent?


    "Oh, Frank and Alice haven''t woken up yet. They, they¡ª"


    Neville heard his grandmother choke back tears. His heart tightened. The words of the healer in green robes reverberated in his ears again, impossible to ignore.


    The conversation outside the door grew quieter. Neville couldn''t resist lifting his head. Through the window on the door, he could only see his grandmother''s silhouette. She looked deeply saddened¡ªa look he had never seen on her before.


    In his mind, his grandmother had always been stern and proud.


    "Don''t cry! Someone might see. Let''s find a secluded ce and talk all at once." The man''s voice sounded impatient.


    A shadow passed across the window, and footsteps receded.


    Neville''s heart thudded, and he found it hard to believe the conversation he had just overheard. The man''s voice sounded like that of a viin.


    He leaped up suddenly, not even noticing he grabbed his bag, and tiptoed to the door. He peeked through the crack and caught sight of their backs as they turned at the end of the corridor.


    Neville took a deep breath and hurriedly dashed out, locking the barking woman inside the ward. His face turned an unusual shade of red. It wasn''t until he reached the end of the corridor that he realized his footsteps had been too loud; they might have heard.


    He leaned against the wall, waiting in silence for a few seconds. No footsteps returned. He let out a sigh of relief. Like a thief, he peeked around and saw an empty row of rooms. The corridor was dimly lit.


    Summoning his courage, Neville walked over. He didn''t know which room his grandmother and the professor were in; he could only search one by one.


    He pressed his ear against the first room''s door, causing his ear to ache, but there was no sound from within.


    He tiptoed to the second room''s door. Before he could get close, he heard clear voicesing from inside¡ª


    Thank you for reading this far! You can ess more chapters from HERE by joining my <b>Patreon</b>munity. You''ll gain exclusive early ess to the <b>COMPLETE NOVEL</b>.


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    Don''t let this amazing opportunity slip through your fingers!

 Chapter 247: Magical Outburst

    Chapter 247: Magical Outburst


    "What do you want in the end? I''ve told you, every treatmentes with risks!" said the man''s voice.


    "But you assured me so solemnly! What did you say at that time? Everything was fine ¡ª yet now Frank and Alice have been in aa for two weeks, and there''s coughing up of blood." Grandma''s voice replied.


    "What can I do? Think from my perspective. Those experts in the newspapers are constantly targeting me. I have to get hold of the experimental data urgently¡ª"


    "Experimental data? Those are two lives! They are my son and daughter-inw, and the parents of little Neville! Felix Harp, you are Neville''s teacher!"


    Neville''s heart felt like it had been soaked in cold water, devoid of warmth, and his stomach churned relentlessly. His fists clenched involuntarily.


    The sinister man said, "I too wish for everything to go smoothly, but idents are unavoidable. Think about it, they were just moving bodies, now they''re lifeless bodies, not much of a difference, is there?"


    Neville''s eyes reddened, his teeth ground together, how dare he speak of his parents like that... how dare he!


    But then his grandmother''s voice, filled with sorrow, came through, "I''m begging you, just confirm it again. You caused all of this, only you know the truth..."


    The malicious man responded, "I''m sorry, precisely because I know the truth, I don''t want to waste time."


    Grandmother''s voice turned firm, "I was wrong to ask you, I will expose your actions, reveal what you''ve done¡ª"


    The man chuckled, "Madam, let me remind you, your son and daughter-inw were already sentenced by the Ministry. I just had the notion to try something out. If it seeds, many will be grateful to me."


    "Is that so?" Grandma''s voice dripped with sarcasm, "You care about reputation, that''s your weakness, but soon the public will see through your fa?ade, and you will lose everything."


    The man''s voice became hesitant, "Speaking that way... you''re not entirely wrong. Reputation is like fine wine, and it''s also an alluring poison. I''m always drawn to its fragrance. So, how should I deal with you?"


    "Obliviate? Too simple. I''vee up with a better idea. Honestly, your persistent meddling over this long period has thoroughly annoyed me. There are some spells I''ve been wanting to try... Sectumsempra!"


    "No, no..." Neville widened his eyes, his knuckles went white, his face filled with fear. He heard the thud as his grandmother fell to the ground and her pained groans, "Ah... ah..."


    "No!"


    Rage shattered his rationality, and the door to the room exploded open.


    He saw two figures in the ward, surprise etched across the man''s face. The hand holding the wand froze midway, and an elderly womany on the ground, her pointed hat lifeless by her side.


    "Grandma!" Neville rushed over, attempting to lift his grandmother''s head, but she winced in pain. He stood there, lost, torn between tending to her and confronting the source of all this. The man, his wand still aimed, said urgently, "Stop! Professor."


    "Stop?" The man''s face remained shrouded in shadow, obscuring his expression. "Why?"


    Neville looked at him in disbelief, engulfed by an immense absurdity that rendered reality surreal, as if trapped in a dream. "What are you saying? You, you''re a professor... Why would you use that curse?"


    "The Cruciatus Curse?" the man''s voice said, causing Neville to tremble. The man chuckled softly, "Or perhaps the Imperius Curse? Or... the other two Unforgivable Curses?"


    He continued in a calm manner, almost as if conducting a lesson, "Neville, my association with the Unforgivable Curses goes back a long way. During my schooling, I mastered these three spells ¡ª the Cruciatus Curse, the Dementor''s Kiss, and the Killing Curse."


    "I always wanted to test them on someone, but my conscience was too soft. Now, in hindsight, what curse can''t end a life? Clear water is as deadly as a spring."


    Neville trembled as he stared at him, as if for the first time truly seeing the man''s face.


    "Don''t look at me like that. Learn to respect your professor, shouldn''t you?" the man said.


    "You''re not my professor!" Neville shouted, pulling his wand from his pocket and pointing it at him, but the next moment, his wand was disarmed.


    "The Silencing Disarmament Curse, the one I taught you, Neville. Maybe you should try being angrier?" the man suggested.


    Instantly, Neville pulled out a second wand from behind ¡ª he always carried two wands, his father''s and his own. Fueled by anger, he cast a nonverbal Stunning Spell, but it was blocked by a wave of the man''s hand. "Too weak, Neville. You''re not angry enough¡ª"


    A thinyer of magical shield flew towards Neville, sending him crashing back.


    Neville got up from the ground, his gaze unwavering and defiant.


    "I dislike your gaze... thus, Sectumsempra! Sectumsempra!"


    Grandma let out a cry of pain. Neville''s eyes widened in terror as he positioned himself in front of her, the expected agony not materializing. He had no time to discern; he had to do something, stall for time. Yes, stall for time!


    He wanted to witness this man being apprehended, just like those Death Eaters.


    Neville strained his mind. He had never thought so fast before. "I believed in you so much... I saw you as a role model..."


    He recited without hesitation, the freshest story in his mind, a tale derived from this man himself ¡ª


    "Narle was a clumsy man. This clumsiness was something others told him, and over time, he came to believe it himself.


    Narle enjoyed crafting y dolls. He had a natural sensitivity to the distinct properties of different kinds of y. He relished watching as ck, red, brown, white, and gray y transformed in his hands, gradually taking shape, forming delicate and charming figures.


    This enjoyment brought him sce amid moments of sadness.


    His parents were busy, rarely spending time with him. Even during the most significant event, Christmas, they only managed a fleeting encounter. His biggest wish was for them to spend more time with him."


    Neville continued to recite, his gaze fixed on the now-lowered wand on the other side. Beside him, he heard his grandmother''s low voice, "That''s enough, Mr. Harp, that''s enough..."


    Neville stared nkly as his grandmother got up from the ground, and the professor emerged from the shadows.


    Several minutester ¡ª


    Neville sat in silence, upset. Professor Longbottom was trying to console him while Felix Harp looked at him awkwardly. "Neville¡ª"


    Neville turned his face away, not looking at him, gripping his robe tightly.


    "Why did you deceive me?" he said, anger evident in his voice.


    "It was part of the n," Professor Longbottom said, "for¡ª"


    "Allow me to exin, Professor Longbottom," Felix interjected, looking at Neville. "This originated from a ludicrous idea I had during my schooling. I experienced several magical outbursts, which brought significant benefits. I contemted whether it was possible to induce a magical outburst intentionally..."


    "But I had never seen an instance of this in anyone else until a few months ago, in Diagon Alley, where I encountered Potter."


    "Harry?" Neville asked abruptly.


    "Exactly, he underwent a very painful experience at that time, which triggered a magical outburst. I persuaded him to test with me... until I discovered you again. I deduced that your magical activity during childhood was rtively low, which means ¡ª you were inherently inert, leading to great difficulty in learning magic..."


    "Same goes for you, doesn''t it?" Neville said harshly.


    "Same goes for what?" Felix looked at him.


    "What you were talking about, the magical outburst." Neville spoke, his tone chillinglyposed. "It seems it requires a substantial stimulus. You were trying to enrage me repeatedly. So I ask you, were you in a simr situation?"


    Felix gazed calmly at him. "You''re right, I was."


    Neville stood up with a stern expression. "So, Auntie Mellum''s words were also part of your arrangement? It was all an act?"


    "No, Neville¡ª" Mrs. Longbottom began.


    Neville stubbornly fixed his eyes on Felix. "I want you to tell me yourself."


    "I didn''t make that arrangement, but¡ª" Felix started to exin.


    "Let me rify, Mrs. Longbottom." Felix interjected. "I was present when they were discussing it."


    Suddenly, Neville said, "I''m going back to my ward. I need some time alone." He picked up his bag from the floor, pushed the door open, and walked out of the room.


    The room descended into a deathly silence.


    After a long while, Felix confessed, "In that moment when he sted the door open, I thought we had seeded."


    Exhausted, Mrs. Longbottom mumbled, "Perhaps we shouldn''t have... from the beginning." She pursed her lips. "I expected too much from him in the past. I wanted that child to be like his father, a proud Auror, but in reality, being ordinary would have been just fine."


    "I disagree, ma''am. Dumbledore warned me not to toy with people''s hearts," Felix said. "But who can escape the control of their own heart? I don''t ept this failure. We were so close to seeding. If only we had done better¡ª"


    Mrs. Longbottom looked at him, hesitating, and said, "Mr. Harp?"


    "I didn''t believe there was an issue with my approach, from the initial design to¡ª"


    Suddenly, Felix stopped. His eyes bulged as he turned to the air to his side, incredulously. Then, he sprinted out of the room, rounded a corner, and fixed his gaze on a ward at the far end of the corridor.


    Felix tapped his own forehead, and under the monochrome vision, a potent and gentle surge of magic emanated from within him. The pure white light was free of impurities, continually challenging his preconceptions.


    "This is ¡ª what''s happening?" Mrs. Longbottom followed after him, her voice anxious.


    Felix didn''t answer. Step by step, he approached the ward where the Longbottoms were. He flung open the door and saw Neville, sobbing in the embrace of a woman. A kind-hearted man held the woman and Neville. They looked tired, still in their hospital gowns, but their eyes overflowed with love.


    Various scattered trinkets in the room floated in the air, emitting a faint buzzing sound. Several patients in adjacent beds basked in a warm light, the perfect punctuation to answer Felix''s questions.


    "A magical outburst..." he said, each word deliberate.


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 Chapter 248: The Power of Love

    Chapter 248: The Power of Love


    Ten minutes ago.


    Neville returned to the hospital room with an expressionless face. Seeing his parents still peacefully asleep on the bed, his heart softened.


    "Mom... Dad..." he called softly.


    He knew he wouldn''t get a response, so he just opened his backpack and took out a y figurine. "This is Dad." He took out another figurine. "This is Mom."


    The third figurine. "This is me." The fourth figurine. "This is Grandma."


    Neville arranged the four figurines together and looked at them with satisfaction.


    In truth, there was another figurine in his backpack, but he didn''t want to take it out now, nor did he want to look at it.


    His gaze was fixed on these four figurines. As he looked at them, he smiled, tears streaming down his face.


    "Mom... Dad..." he whispered again and again.


    On the hospital bed, Alice Longbottom''s fingers twitched slightly, as if awakening from a long slumber. She opened her eyes and the first thing she saw in her line of sight was the round-faced boy, tears streaming down his cheeks.


    She also noticed the y figurines on the table and heard the boy''s soft calls.


    "Nar? Is it Nar?" Something deep within her was touched, a surge of strong emotion welling up. She remembered the little baby in the cradle, and how she used to call him like that.


    Neville looked up, tears still glistening on his face, making his vision slightly blurry. He wiped his tears away with the back of his hand, blinking hard.


    "Mom?" Neville felt that today, his mother seemed different, her gaze so tender it could engulf him.


    "Is it my Nar?" Alice Longbottom said excitedly.


    "It''s me, Mom! You... you''ve regained your memories?" Neville said in a daze. If the first part was a nightmare, then the second part was undoubtedly a dream. He wished he could experience this every day.


    Alice Longbottom looked at the hospital room and her own clothes, understanding dawning on her. Tears welled up uncontrobly. "All these years, was it just you..."


    "I''ve been living with Grandma!" Neville blurted out, a long-buried confession. "I''ve been doing well, made many friends¡ªHarry, Hermione, Ron, Dean, Seamus... and the professors like me too, even though I''m a bit clumsy and forgetful..."


    Alice listened quietly, her fingers trembling. Soon, Frank Longbottom also woke up. He shook his groggy head and the first thing he saw was his wife. Then his gaze shifted to a chattering, teary-eyed boy.


    His wife had grown thin, her face pale, as if recovering from a serious illness. Her hair had lost its luster. His heart ached.


    A reserved memory was triggered. He saw a young man with ck hair and blue eyes speaking to him. "Mr. Longbottom, I need to introduce myself..."


    Half a minuteter, he understood everything, including how they had been tortured twelve years ago by four Death Eaters to reveal Voldemort''s whereabouts, how they were driven insane, treated at St. Mungo''s, and some of the major events of these years.


    He murmured softly, "Alice, is this Nar?" He looked at Neville, who resembled his mother greatly.


    "He''s our Nar," Alice said, using Neville''s nickname.


    "Father?" Neville wiped his eyes. Not only had his mother recovered, but his father had too? Was this really not a dream? He felt the surreal sensation once again.


    He pinched himself hard¡ªouch, it hurt. But he was enveloped in immense joy, a powerful emotion that drowned out the pain. He felt like he might burst with happiness.


    Frank Longbottom smiled gently, embracing his wife and extending his arms to Neville. "Nar..."


    Neville rushed into his arms, crying loudly. He didn''t want to hold back; instead, he shouted out his joy, as if he had reached a certain limit¡ª


    Boom!


    A surge of magic erupted.


    ...


    Felix Harp''s emotions were incrediblyplex. Despite his borate ns, it seemed that unforeseen factors had led to the sess of this event.


    He quietly slipped away.


    Longbottom Senior appeared at the doorway, tears of joy welling in her eyes as she witnessed the scene inside. "Frank, Alice, this is truly wonderful."


    Felix watched from a distance, his expression bing quite peculiar. He resisted the urge to flee, instead inching away step by step, until he saw Dumbledore''s figure.


    "Headmaster? What brings you here?"


    Dumbledore spoke casually, "Dilys has her portrait at St. Mungo''s. She informed me. Oh, I haven''t introduced her properly. Before Dilys Derwent became the Headmistress of Hogwarts, she served as a Healer at St. Mungo''s."


    Felix nodded in silence. Each Hogwarts headmaster was an aplished wizard; their portraits were hung in more than one location. In theory, any Hogwarts portrait was Dumbledore''s informant.


    Dumbledore observed the hospital room with interest. "When Dilys told me, she sounded as though the sky was falling¡ªforgive my phrasing. I believe healers from St. Mungo''s possess a sensitive heart. But I arrived at the right time, didn''t I?"


    "Do you wish to go in, Dumbledore? The Longbottoms are awake, and I''m sure you have much to say to them?" Felix now only wanted to leave, to be alone.


    "No, Felix." Dumbledore blinked his sapphire eyes. "I won''t intrude at a time like this. Today, and the entire Christmas break, belong to them. But you, Felix¡ª"


    "I was somewhat concerned about you," Dumbledore said.


    "Concerned about me?" Felix looked at him with surprise.


    "On my way here, I wondered, if you were to fail, would you make another attempt? You''re not one to easily give up. Young and full of spirit¡ªwouldn''t you turn your focus to Potter? Or the Weasleys? Granger? Malfoy?"


    "I won''t."


    "Because you seeded, and that''s one of the best oues I hoped for," Dumbledore remarked.


    "You mean¡ª"


    "Longbottom''s activation oftent magic was driven by love, not hatred," Dumbledore exined.


    "I don''t see much of a difference."


    "Felix, love is the greatest power, but few wizards truly understand this. Voldemort did not, and thus he was defeated by an infant."


    "You sound like you came here specifically to give me a lesson," Felix remarked.


    "Felix, I just believe that you wille to understand the power of love," Dumbledore said. "Hatred might make you stronger, but love and the belief in protection will take you much further."


    Dumbledore soon left, saying he was going to visit Nics mel. Felix suddenly remembered the gift he held in his hand. He took out a small box from a ring. "Headmaster Dumbledore, please give this to Nics mel."


    Dumbledore''s expression grewplex. He said with a touch of sadness, "Nics isn''t in the mood for Christmas, or even receiving gifts, at the moment. Felix, find another time."


    "What''s happened? Is there something I can do?" Felix asked. Nics mel hadmunicated with him much less over the past month.


    "Nics''s wife¡ªPerenelle, her health isn''t good. She might not make it through this winter." Dumbledore said, "We were prepared for this, but when it actually happens, it''s hard not to feel sorrow."


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 Chapter 249: The Origin of Names

    Chapter 249: The Origin of Names


    In the old district of London, within the city cemetery, the evening sun stubbornly clung to the horizon, refusing to descend.


    Felix Harp, draped in a dark overcoat, stood before a tombstone.


    "Locke," Felix murmured, "You must be quite curious about what happened today. Only in front of you can I truly open up..."


    "I did a good deed, saved a pair of war heroes; but it seems I also did something not so good. I meticulously schemed, thinking I could manipte hearts, but the results went against my expectations."


    "I understand what Dumbledore meant, it''s all about the influence of negative and positive emotions on magic, and he said it so cryptically..." Felix shrugged.


    "In my younger years, I advanced in Dark Magic fueled by negative emotions. Even though Iter abandoned it, I found it never truly left me."


    "Seeing Neville, I couldn''t help but envy him."


    "He has parents to apany him, ssmates who care for him. Even though his talent isn''t outstanding, he has friendly peers to help and encourage him. When bullied by students from other houses, there are those who stand up for him."


    Felix spoke softly, "I know I should be happy, as I yed a hand in this, but, Locke, I feel lonely."


    "Why wasn''t I this lucky back in the day?"


    His overcoat swirled without wind, the deep ck magic naturally emanating from him, fanged and wed, yet bound within a certain range.


    Despite Felix''s self-proimedposure and reason, he couldn''t escape the impact.


    Among those he knew, only Snape understood him best. Snape once asked him, "Has someone truly entered your heart?" He had deflected the topic at the time.


    The answer, of course, was no.


    The sky gradually darkened, people asionally passed through the cemetery. They wouldy down bouquets, stay silent for a few minutes, and then quietly depart, until¡ª


    "Felix? Felix Harp?" A stranger''s voice came from behind him.


    Felix turned around in surprise. He wasn''t surprised to see a young couple, but rather that they knew his name.


    They were clearly ordinary people.


    Felix scrutinized the man who had spoken for a moment and tentatively said, "Jim?"


    The man smiled, "Impressive that you remember me. I left the orphanage when you were only nine, right?"


    "My memory has always been good," Felix shrugged, "How did you recognize me?"


    Jim exined, "ck hair, standing by Evelyn''s tombstone, the age matches. I guessed and it turned out right." He introduced the woman beside him, "This is my wife, Reba."


    Reba was a cheerful redhead. She appraised Felix with her eyes and yfully tapped Jim''s chest, "You never mentioned you had such a handsome friend."


    Jimined, "It''s been so long since we''ve seen each other. Back then, he was just a little troublemaker, full of mischief..."


    "A little troublemaker, huh?" Reba grinned.


    In the London old district, within the city cemetery, evening cast itsst defiant rays as the sun lingered.


    Felix Harp, draped in a dark overcoat, stood before a tombstone.


    "Cough cough, what I mean is, mischievous and spirited, he started setting traps to deal with bullies when he was quite young. He was quite famous for that at the orphanage back then."


    Felix looked at them with a yful expression, "You two seem to have a great rtionship... What brings you here today?"


    Jim said, "I just returned to London and apanied Reba to visit a grave. When we came out, we saw you. I wasn''t entirely sure, so I circled around. The light on the other side was a bit dim."


    Felix immediately retracted the magic he had unconsciously dispersed. Jim shook his head. Was it just an illusion? It seemed like the light brightened ever so slightly.


    Jim extended an invitation to Felix, "We''re nning to pay a visit to the old Headmaster. Reba hasn''t met him yet. Care to join us?"


    "Of course," Felix agreed readily.


    The three of them got into a taxi, traversing streets and alleys. Felix gazed at the cityscape with curiosity; some warm orange lights had alreadye to life.


    "Felix, I haven''t asked you. Where are you working?"


    "I was at Neil & Co. in London before, but now I''ve moved to Scond. I cane back once a year."


    Reba eximed, surprised, "Neil & Co., that emergingpany, it''s quite well-known now. Why did you leave?"


    Felix smiled, "I found a more suitable opportunity."


    The taxi stopped in front of an old house in the old district. Shadows streaked across the walls, and the courtyard was covered in snow.


    "Headmaster, we''vee to visit you!" Jim called out excitedly. After a moment, a small, white-haired old man emerged.


    The old man put on the sses hanging on his chest and scrutinized them, "Jim," then he looked at Felix andughed, "Lucky Felix, it''s you. Didn''t you visit a few months ago?"


    "Had some business this time, ran into Jim, so we came together," Felix said, changing the subject, "Let''s chat inside. Jim has brought his wife along."


    Sitting on an old brown sofa, Felix almost reached for the beer in the refrigerator but stopped himself just in time.


    Close call ~ Almost blew my cover ~


    The four of them enjoyed chilled beers and chatted casually. Soon, they got to talking about Felix''s recent life. Felix presented himself as a professional manager, hispany in Scond, but he traveled all over the world.


    He happened to have a wealth of experiences, no risk of exposing himself.


    Jim asked a question, "Headmaster, why do you always call him ''Lucky Felix''?"


    The old Headmaster grinned widely, "Ah, when we found him as a baby, he was in arge water tank, three feet deep. He wasn''t drowned, but instead, he swam joyfully. Isn''t that lucky?"


    ''Felix'' in English does indeed carry the meaning of luck.


    "And what about myst name?" Felix couldn''t help but ask.


    "Hmm, let me think..." The old Headmaster pondered, "You were different from the other children. You would call out when hungry or thirsty, but you wouldn''t when there was nothing wrong. Also, when other kids soiled their pants, you were always eager to alert someone..."


    Felix''s face darkened. Wasn''t it because the smell was overpowering and he couldn''t stand it? He quickly called someone over to deal with it.


    "...So, the caregivers at that time started calling you ''helper,'' as in someone who offers help." The old Headmasterughed.


    Felix was hearing for the first time that his name hade about this way. Indeed, back then, some people called him ''helper,'' but the pronunciation of ''helper'' and his surname were quite different.


    "Transliteration, you know. Can''t be too straightforward, might make me seem unrefined..." The old Headmaster defended himself, though heter admitted when he was tipsy that he never had much education.


    Jim summarized, "So, the meaning of Felix''s name is ''lucky helper''? And mine, mine?"


    "You?" The old Headmaster shot him a nce, "You didn''t stand out at the time, so we just picked one casually."


    Jim pouted, looking hurt, and sought refuge in Reba''s embrace, prompting her to push him away repeatedly.


    The old Headmaster treated them to a meal and promptly sent them on their way.


    "It''s good that you came to see me. Now off you go, tend to your own business!"


    Leaving the old Headmaster''s ce, Felix bid Jim farewell and walked into a dim alley, his figure fading away.


    As he returned to his office, he saw a figure standing at the door. He suddenly remembered he forgot to cancel today''s magical writing tutoring. "Professor Harp!" Hermione greeted enthusiastically.


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 Chapter 250: Chestnut Wood Plate

    Chapter 250: Chestnut Wood te


    In the ancient magical text office, Hermione gazed curiously around. Professor''s office appeared rather cluttered, with two piles of Christmas presents in the corner, one of which had partially unpacked boxes strewn about.


    On the spacious worktable were various odd items in disarray ¨C silver tes the size of palms, adorned with magical symbols around the edges; a dozen emerald-green coins with a heavy metallic sheen; disassembled magical puppets; a stack of parchment; several chestnut wood te-like ornaments and runic knives; along with two or three books.


    Felix Harp noticed Hermione''s gaze. "It''s all recent work, some of which you''ve also been involved in."


    Hermione nodded. The silver tes were meditation basins the professor had acquired and needed repairing. As for the coins, she had seen them transform into a serpent with a tail at the magical script club meeting. She just hadn''t expected so many all at once. Could they be new teaching materials?


    Or perhaps, they were prepared for the magical script club?


    "Have a seat for a moment. I''ll change into a different coat," Felix said, walking into the bedroom and emerging in a loose, sea-blue sweater. Upon returning, he found Hermione cradling a small emerald snake in her hands, absentmindedly toying with it.


    Upon hearing footsteps, she exined a bit flustered, "Professor, it''s the coin you ced on the table. I tried sensing it with magic ¨C and it transformed like this."


    Felix chuckled. "You can touch it with your wand''s tip and silently say, ''Infinite.''"


    Hermione looked down at the small snake in her hand. It didn''t seem threatening,cking the slimy sensation of a real serpent. Instead, it resembled a kind of metallic craftsmanship with itsyers of emerald scales extending all the way to the tip of its tail.


    The snake''s eyes were ck and bright, following her gaze as they moved.


    Drawing her wand, she gently tapped the snake''s head and softly uttered, "Infinite."


    The snake nodded in a rather human-like manner and immediately began swimming. Her palm started to itch, and then it connected at the tip of her right pinky, forming a stationary ring.


    "This is¡­ the Serpent Crest Ring?"


    "Indeed, it''s a symbol of the Magical Script Club. You''ll receive them after Christmas for the meeting. It has two forms ¨C the coin and the Serpent Crest Ring ¨C and can serve as a substitute for Feverfew."


    Felix joked, "More than one person has told me that Feverfew is too easily mistaken for a coin, making them careful not to spend it every time."


    Hermione examined the snake ring in her hand with great interest. She soon figured out the trick. With a wave of her hand, the ring came to life, transforming back into the snake, which then coiled and turned into the original coin.


    Hermione ced the coin back on the worktable and pointed to the chestnut wood te-like ornament. "What''s this? It looks somewhat like the meditation basin."


    "We''re getting close. The process of studying the meditation basin wasn''t smooth, but I managed to create some small ythings in imitation ¨C of course, they can''tpare to the basin, but for some people, they might find them quite amusing."


    Felix gestured for her to give it a try. Many times, as an assistant in Ancient Magical Texts ss, Hermione was the first to try out the magical script creations he made.


    Hermione approached, carefully inspecting the te-like ornament made of chestnut wood. It bore a striking resemnce to the meditation basin, just slightly smaller, with intricate magical runes etched around the edges,yers uponyers interlocking and formingplex circuits.


    Something she hadn''t noticed before was the thinyer of silver sand covering the chestnut wood. Gently shaking it, the silver sand flowed like liquid mercury.


    "These silver things¡ª"


    "They''re nk fragments of memory. You can think of them as necessary filling material."


    After a moment''s thought, Hermione touched the edge of the chestnut wood te with her wand. The runic circuits around the te lit up one by one, and the silver sand invisibly knitted together, floating to about a foot high and forming a slowly rotating cloud.


    She suddenly remembered Professor Flitwick demonstrating bronze-colored smoke in a dueling ss, a magical feat that could also take various shapes, but required manual control.


    However, the silver, sand-made cloud before her seemed more delicate, like liquid silver light, stretching and floating gracefully.


    "What should I do?" Hermione asked.


    "Imagine a memory, just a reminder, nothing too private, as it can ess your thoughts."


    Hermione was startled, but since it was a creation based on the meditation basin, it must be rted to memories. She recalled a memory in her mind, then extended a finger, tapping on the silver cloud.


    The cloud began to surge, and silver sand fell like rain. Gradually, they piled up on the silver te, forming a three-dimensional model: it was the scene from their second year, when she, Harry, and Ron battled the serpent in the Chamber of Secrets.


    Resting her head on the table, Hermione peered closely at the tiny "Hermione" on the chestnut wood te, not even half an inch tall. The sense of oddity she felt was difficult to put into words. Simrly, Harry and Ron were only minuscule, the serpent about half a foot long, thrashing its body and smashing a rge" rock with its tail, appearing vividly lifelike.


    The Chamber''s architecture was replicated as well, including the Slytherin statue, the open space in front of it, the serpentine columns... everything looked so small.


    Everything on the chestnut wood te resembled a pocket-sized sand model, but one that was animated. From this perspective, even the initially dangerous scene became somewhat endearing.


    Hermione stared wide-eyed as the "story" unfolded exactly as it did in her memory, right up to the point where Harry leaped off the Slytherin statue and thrust the delicate Gryffindor sword into the serpent''s head, freezing the scene.


    Hermione stared nkly at the slowly rotating sand on the chestnut wood te, taking quite a while toe back to reality.


    "This is... this is..." She struggled to find words to convey her feelings, ultimately managing to say, "It''s truly magical."


    Felix Harp shook his head, not entirely satisfied. This thing didn''t serve much purpose for him, at most helping him brainstorm.


    "That''s because you haven''t used a meditation basin. It can recreate every detail in your subconscious. If you experience it, you''d be surprised to find your memories hold such richness, yet you remained oblivious..."


    "What you just saw is essentially the chestnut wood te reading your memories and disying them. Many parts are not clear."


    Hermione recalled the scenes she had seen and gradually understood the professor''s intent. "Indeed, that''s right. I didn''t see you, Professor Snape, or Headmaster Dumbledore, but you were all in the Chamber. Additionally, some parts were blurry, but they were so small that I didn''t notice, like the Slytherin statue."


    Felix Harp nodded with a smile. "You''ll realize that you, Harry, and Ron are the most distinct because you''re most familiar with them. Next is the serpent, as it left a strong impression on you. Finally, the surroundings. In a sense, your memory is already quite remarkable. For someone with a less robust memory, the environment might appear as vast blurry areas, or they might not manifest at all."


    Hermione summarized, "So, it merely extracts content we can already recall and then presents it, unable to ess the subconscious."


    "You''ve grasped the essence, Miss Granger," Felix Harp praised.


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 Chapter 251: Demonstration of Ancient Magic

    Chapter 251: Demonstration of Ancient Magic


    Felix and Hermione sat across from each other. He lightly tapped the dark armrest of the couch, and through a small table in front of a young witch, they found themselves silently transported into the Room of Thought.


    "The professor''s spellcasting has be increasingly subtle," Hermione thought to herself. It had been over a year since her first time in here. The colors and shapes had twisted, then transformed, and now she was brought in without a single sound. Professor''s mastery over this magic was evident.


    Hermione was very familiar with the room. She casually surveyed the furnishings, then her brow furrowed.


    The half that belonged to the professor hadn''t changed much: dominated by shades of brown, ck, and deep green, asionally adorned with beige and soft gray, it presented a rich yet dignified ambiance.


    The deep chestnut carpet was soft and inviting, piled high with thousands of weighty books. These booksplemented the ck bookshelves against the wall, the dark, matte-finished square table, and the thick emerald curtains.


    Of course, there were also more and more ancient runic symbols of various colors, dancing like vibrant spirits throughout the room, providing a lively and magically visual spectacle.


    Hermione could almost imagine the professoring into the room alone¡ªsinking into the couch, summoning a book with a casual gesture, a mischievous runic symbol leaping into his view, flicked away by a gesture...


    But today, she felt that something was off. Was it the slightly dimmer color of the carpet underfoot, or the asional stillness of the green curtains in the corner?


    Perhaps it was all in her imagination?


    "Miss Granger?" Felix gave his assistant a curious look as she nervously nced around upon entering.


    Hermione, equally puzzled, said, "Professor, your Room of Thought feels strange to me, like... heavier? Or more solemn." She stood at the boundary between their two halves of the room, scrutinizing her own space.


    Her side was unmistakably modern in decor. Soft sunlight spilled in, illuminating the light brown carpet, butter-yellow curtains, two potted nts on the central round table¡ªunchanged from a year ago.


    "As Ipare the two, the odd sensation bes even clearer," Hermione thought. Finally, she found the word to describe her feeling, "Gothic style?"


    Felix chuckled softly, "However did you arrive at that?"


    Shaking her head, Hermione replied, "It just urred to me. It looks unchanged, but certain details evoke a different sense."


    Felix began to understand. He said thoughtfully, "You remind me of something. This ce is the external projection of our inner worlds. I''ve had some new insights into magictely, it''ll sort itself out in a few days."


    "Shall wemence today''s lesson, Miss Granger?"


    Temporarily setting aside her doubts, Hermione returned to her seat. She and Felix delved into the progression of magical runes.


    "Professor, from individual runes to rune circuits, the rune sphere I''ve seen, and the intricate ovepping and nesting circuits on the chestnut wood te today¡ªdoes this mean that moreplex runic structures are more advanced?"


    "Functionally speaking, yes. Individual runes are simple in attribute. We humans always strive for moreplex functions, which leads us to study how tobine multiple runes."


    "Allow me to provide an example." Felix held a runic symbol in his hand. "Take fire, for instance. This rune already holds significant potential. The effects you and I produce with it would differ significantly due to our varying understandings."


    His magical symbol constantly shifted between the rune and mes.


    Hermione quickly constructed a fire rune. Her transformation was noticeably slower, and after two or three changes, the structure of the runic symbol became unstable, ending in a soft "poof" of green smoke.


    "Understanding magic like this is quite a challenge¡ªit''s either understood or not. There are no shortcuts. However, if you simply wish to enhance the power of fire, there are actually many approaches¡ª"


    Felix Harp conjured a series of runes from the air. "For instance, I''d like to magnify the mes." Over a dozen runes connected to the original one representing fire. The small me that was initially palm-sized swelled to the size of a pumpkin in an instant.


    "I also want it to burn more fiercely..." He added more runes, as if seasoning a dish. The pumpkin-sized fireball erupted into intense mes with crackling bursts.


    "By this point, controlling this magic bes quite challenging, and I must emphasize that the Room of Thought isn''t reality. What I can do here doesn''t necessarily trante perfectly outside... But let''s get back on track. I also want to increase the temperature."


    New runesbined and were poured into the mes. The orange fire became vibrant, transitioning rapidly from bright yellow to brilliant white, and then a hint of blue appeared.


    Felix''s tone remained rxed as he exined, "If this were reality and we had no protection, we''d be on fire ourselves. So, the notion that ancient magic is dangerously powerful isn''t entirely untrue. From what I''ve gleaned from ancient texts, many individuals faltered on their first sessful spellcasting attempt."


    "Continuing on¡ªtechnically, we''ve already achieved a potent magic. However, obviously, we want more: control, umtion of magical energy, or even shaping..."


    "If you have a deep understanding of magic, and you''re adept at manipting magic power, you can skip some steps. In theory, all magic in the world is a result of manipting and transforming magic power. However, for most of us, including you and me, we''re far from being able to bend it to our will."


    Hermione nervously observed as the professor''s blue fireball grew to a meter in diameter. The air around it began to warp. Despite knowing that everything here was a construct of thought, she couldn''t help but feel a sense of apprehension.


    Felix waved his hand, making the blue fireball vanish. "Alright, the game''s over. What you just witnessed was a mental demonstration. In reality, it''s not nearly as easy for me. I hope that doesn''t give you any misconceptions."


    "I must reiterate, ancient magic is very perilous."


    Hermione seemed to ept his exnation. Next, she diligently practiced the ancient runes step by step. Apart from learning new content, she also needed to deepen her understanding of the runes. One major criterion for understanding was "being able to transform runic symbols into corresponding magical meanings."


    She counted on her fingers and realized that she had genuinelyprehended only a few, like "Buffalo Strength," "Lumos," and "Fire."


    The road ahead was long and demanding.


    Felix encouraged her, saying, "At the uing Runes Club meeting, I''ll dissect an ancient spell and integrate it into the lesson. If your progress is swift enough, I''ll teach you thebination of runes for that ancient spell. The same goes for everyone else."


    Hermione''s heart raced. She knew that the professor had always approached ancient magic with great caution. Throughout this past year, their discussions on the topic had been sparse.


    Did this mean that the professor found her learning progress and magical control satisfactory?


    She began to reflect: In her first year, she focused on tranting practical runes and delved into rune circuits in the second semester. Before the term ended, she sessfully restored a broken bead pouch.


    During the summer holidays, she practiced engraving runes and rune circuits with a runic knife.


    At the start of the new term, she had already delved into rune transformation, emphasizing understanding the runes themselves. She couldn''t help but wonder: By the end of her third year, would she perhaps be capable of mastering an ancient spell directly?


    Seeing Hermione brimming with enthusiasm, Felix added, "It''s the simplest of ancient spells, don''t imagine it has any lethal power." But this hardly dampened her enthusiasm.


    As the practice session concluded, Hermione, unusually tired, stood up to stretch. Her gaze swept across the entire room. The unsettling feeling persisted, more pronounced the longer she looked.


    "Although the professor attributes the change to newfound insights, it still appears rather gloomy."


    She decided to shift her focus, standing in one corner of the room and surveying. Suddenly, her eyes lit up. She lifted a potted nt and ced it on the professor''s bookden square table. Squinting her eyes, she smiled.


    "It looks much better this way."


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 Chapter 252: Mocking the Reasons of Pure-Blood Families

    Chapter 252: Mocking the Reasons of Pure-Blood Families


    Felix Harp raised his head from the ck cover of "Magical Traits". "Miss Granger, you''re wasting your efforts here. This is an external mapping of thoughts, not thoughts themselves. Once the magic is undone, everything will vanish."


    The young witch spoke cheerfully, "At least it looks good, doesn''t it?"


    Felix shook his head, burying it behind the book, but he couldn''t help but curl up the corners of his mouth. The feeling of being cared for was quite pleasant.


    Then there were the presents he had unwrapped today, which had put him in a good mood.


    Even though Christmas was tomorrow, some friends from far away had already sent gifts. But he found it strange why Bellby would think of giving him a bottle of Wolfsbane Potion? Bellby had already given it once, hadn''t he? Did I really look like a werewolf? Even if Bellby wrote "the most satisfactory work at the moment" in the note, what did it have to do with him?


    The onlyforting thing was that Little Red Book Publishing and L.C.A. Comic Publishers sent thetest dividends, totaling eight thousand Galleons.


    This time, the lion''s share of the ie went to Andis. In his letter, he mentioned "selling like crazy" three times, and the rest of the words were all suggesting that he "hurry and prepare a new book!"


    Felix tossed his mail aside. Jokingly, one book a year would be enough; any more than that was really unnecessary. By the time the title of "Master of Memory Charms" became deeply ingrained, he intended to extend the frequency of publication to every two or three years.


    Hmm, thinking like this, he should release his new paper. This paper contained the treatment data of the Lumbatons and aplete set of simple treatment methods. He believed the entire wizarding world would follow his quill''s lead.


    However, he should find a professional journal this time. The Daily Prophet waspletelycking in credibility...


    And there was Navie; he also sent a gift. As for the oue, Felix had no way of knowing.


    Hermione''s figure gradually became translucent, resembling the castle''s ghosts to some extent. This was a manifestation of overuse of the mind; she could no longer maintain her consciousness stably.


    Felix lifted the Thought Room spell.


    "No need to rush, Miss Granger. You already have more ''time'' than others," he hinted, conjuring some bottles and jars, "Pumpkin juice, butterbeer, honey water, fruit juice, take your pick."


    Hermione poured herself a ss of fruit juice and added two drops of Elixir of Euphoria and Invigoration Draught. She drank a big gulp, feeling rejuvenated.


    Hermione couldn''t help but ask, "Why do I feel like I''m running out of time?"


    Felix turned away, unsure if he had anything to do with it. After all, he had handed her Ancient Runes papers from third and fourth year. Upon closer consideration, that might not have been appropriate; his little assistant was already busy this year.


    He pondered that he could possibly delegate a part of the exam work to the members of the Rune Club? The sixth-year students had plenty of free time... Idle hands were the devil''s workshop, after all.


    "Have a snack¡ªremember, it''s the holidays. You don''t need to fight for extra time for yourself, right?" Felix said.


    The effect of the Elixir of Euphoria made Hermione''s brow rx. "There are new things added, you know. I need to gather information for Hagrid''s hearing, defend for Buckbeak... if you don''t look, you won''t know, the Ministry has a terrible track record in this regard..."


    Felix''s expression froze. "When did this happen?"


    "Just these past couple of days," Hermione said. "It''s said that Lucius Malfoy found out about Draco Malfoy''s injury, reported Hagrid to the Ministry, and demanded Buckbeak''s execution. Oh my, when we went to see him, Hagrid was so sad..."


    "Didn''t Hagrid consider paying a fine?"


    "Fine?" Hermione looked visibly puzzled. "I dide across examples of fines in the records, but those designated for the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures¡ª"


    "The Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures? It shouldn''t be that department..." Felix Harp furrowed his brow. "Please exin this matter in detail."


    Hermione continued, "Oh, sure¡ªon the first day of the holidays, Harry was in a bad mood, and Ron and I thought it might be a good idea to visit Hagrid..."


    "Harry was in a bad mood?"


    "Yes, because the day before, he¡ªuh, cough!" She suddenly had a severe coughing fit. "Sorry, Professor. I mean, Ron and I overheard a conversation between the Minister of Magic, Professor McGonagall, and Rosmerta before the holidays. They were talking about Harry''s dad, and also Sirius ck, and they mentioned a lot of things..."


    Felix didn''t know what he was thinking, but he nodded. "And then?"


    "And then, well... Harry was in a bad mood¡ªwe went to see Hagrid. Hagrid looked very disheveled, quite intoxicated. He showed us the letter from the Ministry, which essentially said they had epted Lucius Malfoy''s formalint and handed the matter over to the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures."


    "The hearing is scheduled for the 20th of April, at the London branch," Hermione finished, seeing Professor Harp lost in thought. She added, "Hagrid said the people on the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures are all oddballs!"


    Felix chuckled. "Those people... how shall I put it? They are all outsiders, doing thankless jobs. You can tell just by their names that magical creatures put there probably won''t be spared."


    "But, but doesn''t that mean Hagrid is destined to lose?" Hermione said angrily.


    "Nothing is absolute, but I do know at least one thing: the procedure is incorrect."


    "What?"


    "The procedure is incorrect, Miss Granger. Normally, ording to thews set by the Ministry, even if someone appeals, the matter should be first passed to the Department for the Regtion and Control of Magical Creatures¡ªthe superior department of the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures¡ªso they handle it. Unless the case is of particrly heinous nature and requires almost no trial, then it would be directly sent down. And the oue of such hearings is rarely favorable."


    Hermione fell silent for a few seconds, then said with indignation, "It''s the Malfoys! They''ve influenced the Ministry''s decision. I heard the Malfoy family donates a substantial amount of money to the Ministry every year!"


    "A reasonable assumption," Felix nodded. He took a sip of butterbeer. "No need to get angry. Pure-blood families always have an extraordinary influence over these insignificant matters."


    Hermione stared at him nkly. It seemed the Professor had quite a low opinion of pure-blood families?


    "Pure-blood families are like a group of spiders, spinning a massive web over the years. They''re well-informed, have numerous sources, and are adept at steering the wind. When they encounter little insects, even small birds, they can devour them whole... Even when faced with dangers they can''t fight against, they can hide in dark corners and wait patiently for the danger to pass."


    "Professor, are you saying they''re fundamentally powerless againstrge creatures?" Hermione thought she understood the Professor''s train of thought.


    "No, I''m mocking them for being unambitious, for not making their spiderweb unbreakable, imprable."


    Today I''m feeling a bit off. I''ll try to minimize staying upte in the future. Let''s support each other.


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 Chapter 253: Three Pieces of Advice

    Chapter 253: Three Pieces of Advice


    Hermione returned to the Gryffindormon room feeling a bit bewildered. It wasn''t until she saw Harry and Ron idly ying with a set of Gobstones, that she couldn''t quite figure out which of the three pieces of advice the professor had given to Harry was the most reliable.


    "Perhaps the professor was just joking," she thought to herself.


    Ron had his entire face pressed against the table, gesturing with the Gobstone in his hand. "I think this one might work. Dean told me a Muggle technique for ying marbles¡ª" he flicked his fingers, and the Gobstone shot out, curving through the air.


    Harry''s Gobstone suddenly swelled up and erupted with a foul-smelling, sticky liquid that sttered all over Ron''s face.


    "Oh, damn it!" Ron wiped his face, his eyes stuck shut by the goo.


    "Can you two ever act mature?" Hermione snapped, not in the best mood. She drew her wand and pointed it at Ron, saying, "Scourgify!" The sticky substance on his face disappeared instantly.


    "Care for a game, Hermione?" Ron said yfully.


    Hermione frowned. "I won''t waste my time on childish games."


    Ron retorted, "This isn''t a kids'' game. My dad told me there''s an official Gobstones Club on level seven of the Ministry of Magic. They win honors internationally. Hogwarts actually has a Gobstones Club too, but you''ve never paid attention..."


    He stopped talking when he saw Hermione''s expression.


    Harry changed the subject. "What did Professor Babbb say about Boggart Bakbuk?"


    "She gave me three pieces of advice," Hermione said, counting on her fingers. "First, use the excuse of incorrect procedure to dy the hearing and try to get the case transferred to the Department for the Regtion and Control of Magical Creatures."


    "Sounds good. How do we do that, write a letter to the Ministry?" Harry said excitedly, relieved that this seemed easier than poring over countless dry precedents in the library.


    "Ordinary people won''t do, the Ministry probably won''t pay attention," Hermione said. "Professor Harp''s suggestion is to gain the support of a person of influence, not be afraid of the Malfoy family''s power, preferably someone connected to magical creatures and knowledgeable about the relevantws."


    "That sort of person wouldn''t know us," Ron said dejectedly, picking up a Gobstone from the floor.


    Harry thought hard. The only person he knew rted to magical creatures was Hagrid.


    "Second method, secretly release Boggart Bakbuk," Hermione said, raising a second finger.


    Harry was tempted by this suggestion, but he shook his head quickly. "The Ministry''s letter said to keep an eye on Boggart Bakbuk. If he goes missing, Hagrid will be in trouble. Malfoy''s probably hoping Hagrid will do just that, so he can throw him in Azkaban."


    He hadn''t quite understood Hagrid''s fear of wizarding prison before, but after dealing with Dementors a few times, he fully understood Hagrid''s perspective.


    Hermione couldn''t confirm or deny, revealing the final piece of advice: "Thirdly, to make Lucius Malfoy withdraw thewsuit voluntarily." She hesitated for a moment, then proceeded to convey Professor Harp''s words in full, "At the time, the professor might have been joking, so just listen¡ªhis suggestion was to have Hagrid arrange a meeting with Malfoy and pressure him into submission. He also mentioned that if we wanted to try this approach, he could offer limited support..."


    Ron''s eyes lit up, "This idea''s not bad. I''ve got a mental picture already." He had seen his father brawl with Malfoyst year, and now he just had to substitute his dad with the towering figure of Hagrid. He muttered, "Chickens..."


    Harry magically caught his drift¡ªnext to Hagrid, Lucius Malfoy did indeed resemble an underdeveloped little chick.


    Hermione sharply said, "The professor must have been joking!" As she spoke, she grew uncertain herself, "Or was he? It''s supposed to be a joke? But either way, this method is far too risky."


    "Professor Harp was definitely teasing us, knowing you''d never agree to something like that," Harry said gloomily, "So, it seems that aside from going to the library to research, the only feasible advice is the first one¡ª"


    "But where do we find a relevant person of influence?"


    "Maybe we could ask Hagrid?" Ron suggested, "He should at least know one or two friends with simr interests, right? He is the Care of Magical Creatures professor."


    "Hold on¡ª" Harry suddenly stared at Ron, "Did you just say the Care of Magical Creatures professor?" He lowered his voice, "Hagrid only got that position this year. Do you remember the previous professor... who was it?"


    "Silvanus Kettleburn," Hermione replied without hesitation, "I heard he retired to spend more time with his mischievous creatures."


    She paused, then realized, "Right, why didn''t I think of it? Hagrid must know Professor Kettleburn!"


    ...


    Hogwarts Kitchen


    Felix addressed a house-elf gently, "I''ve inquired with Professor McGonagall and learned that I can request your help in sending out Christmas gifts."


    "Yes, sir," a house-elf in a tea towel uniform replied, bowing deeply, "However, we''re limited to the castle''s premises and can''t easily leave our duties."


    "No problem, I''ve already sent gifts outside of the school," Felix said in a rxed tone, "Thank you for your assistance."


    "It''s our honor," the house-elf said.


    Felix led the house-elf back to his office and pointed to a small pile of gift boxes in the corner. "They''re all here. Names are on top, not too many to deal with... but I''m not sure if you''re familiar with specific locations."


    "Rest assured, sir, we clean the castle''s rooms every day, and we know the wizards'' names well."


    Felix nodded with a smile, "Thank you, then."


    The house-elf got to work, disappearing and reappearing multiple times. After a dozen or so trips, he returned empty-handed. "It''s done, sir."


    Felix curiously watched him, "Where did you ce them? At the foot of their beds?"


    "For some students'' gifts, I put them at the foot of their beds so they''ll see them as soon as they wake up. But for the professors, we''re not allowed to enter their bedrooms, so I ced them under the small Christmas trees in their offices or by their bedroom doors."


    Felix nodded. This was how he received his giftsst year.


    The house-elf said, "If there''s nothing else, Yumbly will take his leave."


    "Yumbly is your name?"


    "Yes, sir."


    Felix took a book from his ring and conjured colorful paper and ribbon from the corner. He wrapped the book, securing it with a neat bow.


    "This is your Christmas gift, Yumbly."


    "This, Yumbly can''t ept¡ª"


    "Please take it. It''s just a collection of recipes from around the world. I''ve been wanting to rmend it to you."


    Yumbly took the gift with a deep bow and looked up at Felix withrge eyes. "Thank you, sir." He disappeared suddenly.


    Felix gazed at the gifts in his corner, with nearly half of them still unopened. He decided to leave the surprises for tomorrow.


    Before going to bed, he left a window open for his owl toe and go freely. Then he turned and entered his bedroom, looking forward to the arrival of Christmas Day.


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 Chapter 254: The Gift

    Chapter 254: The Gift


    On the morning of the next day, Christmas finally arrived.


    Felix Harp woke up early and emerged from his bedroom to find the small Christmas tree in his office surrounded by various gifts.


    With a cheerful mood, he began to unwrap the presents. "A book, not bad," he said as he set aside "Forgotten Ancient Magic and Spells". "Unfortunately, I''ve already read it."


    "Oh, Trixie sent me a gift?" Felix Harp thought his eyes might be ying tricks on him. He looked at the signature on the note again, and yes, it was indeed from Sybil Trwney. He opened the wrapping to find a long string of pearls, a piece of jewelry that could fit three of him inside.


    Reading the contents of the note, as cryptic as usual - "To offer protection in the darkness." Felix Harp shrugged. "You truly have your ways. I''ve dropped out of your ss, and yet you find a chance to give me a prophecy."


    He decided to mail a barrel of Honeyed Firewhisky from his three broomsticks as a thank-you gift. Well... note it down forter, tackle it along with the rest of the gifts.


    He then opened another package, which turned out to be "The Quidditch Beater''s Bible" from Professor McGonagall. He casually flipped to a page that boldly stated, "First Principle: Knock the Bludgers out of the way," and he couldn''t help but burst intoughter.


    Felix continued to open the gift boxes, most of which were books, and a considerable portion of them he had already read. In that moment, he empathized with Dumbledore''s dilemma.


    He muttered to himself, "Many people think they should give me books, assuming I''ll love them."


    Fortunately, Dumbledore had given Felix a handcrafted silver item, simr to the trinkets on the Headmaster''s desk. When touched gently, it sprayed out clusters of mist. Hagrid gifted him arge bottle of Acromant venom, and he wasn''t quite sure how to use it. Perhaps he could pass it on to Professor Snape next year? Snape gave him a small bottle of potent antidote. "A perfect pairing with the Strengthening Solution you receivedst year," he mused.


    Professor Flitwick presented a fancy hat, and even Lupin contributed some magical creature materials. Judging by their processing methods, Felix guessed that Lupin had "acquired" them himself.


    Among these gifts, he found one unmarked gift box that had just arrived that morning. Upon opening it, he discovered a y figurine inside.


    From the figure''s ck hair and blue eyes, Felix recognized it as a representation of "himself."


    Though there was no signature, the distinct earthy smell of the y was familiar to Felix. He picked it up and examined it for a moment before putting it away.


    The unwrapping process continued for an hour, and he noted down a list of names on a parchment next to him. These were the ones he needed to give gifts to.


    "Hmm, even Christmas requires work."


    ...


    At the same time, Harry and his twopanions arrived at Hagrid''s cabin.


    "Hagrid, open up! It''s us!" Harry knocked hard on the door as Fang excitedly pushed his way out, his slobbery tongue licking their hands and leaving a cold sensation as the wind carried the moisture away.


    The door swung open, revealing Hagrid''s disheveled beard-covered face. "You''re here pretty early today, don''t really need to be¡ª the hearing''s not till summer, gotta get myself together... hic!" He burped, a sour breath that hit Harry''s face.


    Harry quickly squeezed through the gap in his arm, finding the cabin''s firece roaring with mes. Stacks of firewood were piled nearby, and Buckbeaky in the corner, arge iron bucket in front of him.


    Ron followed, brushing off the snow from his feet. "Hey, Buckbeak, how''s it going?" He nced at the bucket, where squirming, finger-sized white worms were visible. He looked nauseated. "Hagrid, what is this? Looks like giant maggots or something..."


    Hagrid lifted Hermione up, as if he were carrying a small creature. "Oh, thank you!" Hermione eximed in a flustered tone. Hagrid nced in the direction Ron was pointing, and in his booming voice, he exined, "Those are st-Ended Skrewtrvae, something you''ll be learning about. They''re easy to care for, eat just about any nt, I''m off to the kitchen to see what''s left to feed ''em."


    Ron stammered, "Don''t tell me you''re nning to make us raise these in ss?" His face turned as pale as Draco''s.


    Blushing, Hagrid replied, "I might not have much focus for teaching in the ssroom for a while, you see, because of Buckbeak... but actually, st-Ended Skrewts are quite good, safe, and they''ve got value all over. Their slime can be used in potions, and they can serve as food for other creatures."


    Concerned, Hermione interjected, "Don''t do this, Hagrid. We¡ªwe''re here for Buckbeak''s case."


    Harry and Ron nodded together, attempting to dissuade Hagrid. "Don''t lose hope, Hagrid. You''re still quite popr," Ron said, "Except among Slytherins."


    Since the incident in the first ss, Hagrid had worried he might be dismissed. However, after Felix Harp reassured him, he felt at ease. Following Felix''s advice, he taught sses on creatures like unicorns, Crups, Bowtruckles, Doxies, and Snidgets.


    Except for the sses about Acromants and Augureys, the feedback had been rather positive.


    For instance, the young unicorns, with their golden fur, were utterly charming and looked like creatures straight out of the most wonderful fairytales.


    The Crups, chubby and covered in fur, were flightless birds, but they were remarkably agile and could teleport from one ce to another in an instant. While their moves weren''t long-range, they were effective at evading most dangers.


    As for the Doxies, they had a human-like appearance with the addition of insect wings on their backs. Despite their generally low intelligence, their tendency to bicker over trivial matters unexpectedly struck a chord with many young witches, especially the girls.


    Hagrid regarded them skeptically, but the trio immediately bombarded him with their exnation of Felix''s suggestion.


    "Will this work?"


    "Give it a shot, Hagrid! It can''t get worse."


    So, Hagrid penned a letter to Professor Kettleburn. The ink on Hagrid''s note was nearly solidified on the windowsill, but it was Hermione who conjured a bright blue me to melt it.


    As they exited Hagrid''s cabin, Hermione said with hope, "I really hope Professor Kettleburn can influence the Ministry."


    Harry and Ron wore expressions of agreement. However, in the next moment, Hermione''s demeanor turned serious. "Harry, I still want to discuss the matter of the Firebolt with you."


    "Oh,e on, Hermione. Today''s Christmas," Ron protested.


    "And so what? You don''t mind trying the Firebolt? I need to remind you¡ªit arrived anonymously, no sender''s name, no note, nothing!" Hermione eximed sharply.


    "Is that so? Do you know what I think? I hope you''ll take better care of your cat and stop letting it sneak into the dormitory!" Ron''s volume also rose. "Crookshanks has had it tough!"


    Harry looked resigned. The two of them had argued multiple times over Hermione''s cat¡ªCrookshanks. The cat was truly peculiar, always eyeing Ron''s pet, Scabbers. While it wasmon knowledge that cats ate mice, Harry genuinely wished Crookshanks would try a different diet¡ªeven if it was a juicy spider.


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 Chapter 255: Christmas, Diverse Experiences

    Chapter 255: Christmas, Diverse Experiences


    The trio made their way back to themon room, Hermione notably quiet. However, she had resolved to tell Professor McGonagall about the Firebolt incident.


    That morning, Harry received a brand-new Firebolt, and Hermione had heard him mention the broom''s name several times. The Firebolt was touted as the "fastest broom in the world," not yet in production and without a price tag¡ªits mere contemtion hinted at an extravagant cost.


    Harry had recounted numerous times his time in Diagon Alley, admiring the Firebolt''s enchanting curves with Professor Hagrid after their training sessions. It had be one of Harry''s treasured thoughts amidst the arduous training.


    But Hermione believed Harry and Ron were oblivious to the danger. The broom could have been sent anonymously by a dark wizard, possibly harboring an unknown curse. Especially after the incident in their first year when Quirrell jinxed Harry''s broom, she couldn''t fathom why Harry would be so careless.


    "What if it''s from Sirius ck?" she mused.


    It wasn''t until Harry mentioned Professor Lupin''s peculiar gift that Hermione joined the conversation. "The professor gave you a Boggart?"


    "It''s a Boggart figurine!" Harry emphasized. "It''s just like the real thing, that sudden chill and awful memories..." He shuddered.


    "Did you check inside for a note? Maybe there''s an exnation," Hermione spected, though she couldn''t imagine what that might be.


    Shaking his head, Harry replied, "I only nced inside and quickly closed the box... Honestly, I''d rather trade with Ron." He looked at Ron, who grinned. "Professor Lupin gave me an entire set ofic books."


    Unable to resist her curiosity, Harry asked Hermione, "What did the professor give you?"


    "It''s a Chestnut Memory te," Hermione said.


    "Chestnut... what?" Harry puzzled.


    "It''s hard to describe. Wait, let me show you. Also, Harry, bring your Boggart figurine; let''s study them together. The professor surely has a purpose."


    A minuteter, they regrouped.


    Harry stared at the Chestnut Memory te. "Is this... a crafted te? I''ve seen something simr at the Dursleys'', used for important clients."


    "Oh, no, it''s not that. Let me demonstrate. Professor Lupin wants my input... It might feature in next semester''s sses," Hermione said, tapping the te with her wand. Intricate magical patterns lit up, silver sand forming clouds, and Hermione closed her eyes, recalling details before pointing at the cloud.


    The sand cascaded down, presenting a vivid three-dimensional scene to Harry and Ron.


    "Merlin''s beard, this is... the Chamber, the Chamber within..." Ron''s eyes widened.


    "It''s a reenactment of our past memories," Hermione whispered.


    Harry, revisiting the scene from a year ago, couldn''t help but ask Hermione, "Did I really jump like that?" He gestured, realizing the Slytherin statue was almost five or six times his height. If he''d misjudged, aside from the basilisk''s tail, he''d plummet and be its prey.


    "We were all quite brave," Ron, watching the clumsy attempts to lure the basilisk, nervously told Hermione, "Um, Hermione¡ªcan I try? I mean, select a different memory; one that''s clearer might work better."


    "Of course. Choose a more memorable one; the effect will be stronger," Hermione said.


    Harry was relieved they were speaking again; he''d expected Ron and Hermione to remain at odds for a day or two, based on his experience.


    "Let me think, something vivid..." Ron muttered. His wand tapped the edge of the Chestnut te, and soon, a new three-dimensional scene appeared. The background was blurry, vaguely showing a car speeding directly into a tall tree¡ªa Whomping Willow.


    The Willow''s branches thrashed violently,shing at the car like a furious storm. The car managed to escape, but with two heavy thuds, luggage and two figures¡ªHarry and Ron¡ªwere thrown out.


    "Other than the Chamber, this was probably the closest to feeling doomed," Ron observed the miniature figures, "But there are many unclear parts; I can''t recall the car''s details. I hope it''s doing well in the Forbidden Forest."


    Harry attempted his turn. "Here''s something for you to see, Voldemort''s real appearance..."


    Momentster, Ron and Hermione finally saw the scene from Harry''s first year when he faced Voldemort alone¡ªthe unveiling of Quirrell''s turban, revealing a face deathly pale, red eyes with snake-like slits below.


    Ron and Hermione gasped, both grabbing onto Harry''s arms, startled. "Did you exaggerate when you told usst year? It wasn''t this dramatic, was it?" Ron''s attention always went to the oddest things.


    Harry almostughed but managed topose himself, trying to be objective. "Um... he was indeed quite ugly. I used to have nightmares about him for a while."


    Then the trio turned their attention to the box, a gift from Professor Lupin.


    Ron couldn''t resist confirming, "Are we really opening it? Your expression the first time nearly scared me to death." He exined to Hermione, "Imagine opening a present happily and then your mate falls off the bed, looking ghostly pale..."


    Harry nced at Hermione, and she nodded. "We need to be sure."


    Harry took a deep breath and opened the box¡ª


    At first nce, it seemed like a finely crafted Boggart figurine, nothing out of the ordinary. But in the next second, a wave of coldness swept over them. The figurine seemed toe to life; the Boggart''s robe started fluttering, and they even saw such an image: a gray, dposed hand emerged from beneath the ck robes, like a body soaked in water for too long...


    Before Harry could suffocate in the eerie feeling, he hastily closed the box, panting, "You both saw it." Ron looked genuinely concerned.


    "The card," Hermione suddenly said.


    "What?"


    "The card, Harry, there''s a card beneath the Boggart figurine."


    Harry and Ron exchanged looks as Hermione retrieved the card. "Hermione, you''re brilliant," they praised.


    Hermione waved it off, "Oh, I just¡ªoverthought a bit; you both jumped to conclusions." She read aloud from the card¡ª


    "Harry, heard you''ve been learning the Patronus Charm from Lupin. Maybe this could help you.


    P.S.: The figurine''s enchanted. As long as you avoid eye contact, it won''t affect you."


    She looked at them, "That''s all it says, quite clear."


    "Wow, that''s cool!" Ron said. "Let''s try it again."


    Harry felt a weight lift off his chest. He nodded, opening the box. The chill returned, but as soon as he shut his eyes, the terrifying cold, damp feeling abruptly vanished. He heard Ron''s excited voice, "It works! Just look away."


    Opening his eyes, Harry watched Ron repeatedly swivel his head, ncing at the Boggart figurine and then swiftly turning away¡ªit wasical. Harry finally couldn''t contain hisughter.


    ...


    Malfoy Manor


    Draco Malfoy was unwrapping his gift, neatly stacked inside a boxbeled "Felix Harp''s Gift to Draco Malfoy" were a whole set ofic books he was quite familiar with - "The Adventures of Little Wizard Mickey." For a while, this book had stirred quite a bit of conversation.


    His mother, Narcissa Malfoy, entered. With her blonde hair and blue eyes, she gently rested her hand on Draco''s shoulder. "Draco, it''s lunchtime. Have you finished opening your gift? What did Pansy give you?"


    Draco muttered, "A set of formal robes."


    "Oh, our Draco is growing up," Narcissa chuckled. Her gazended on the book in Draco''s hand. "Whose gift is this, aic book?"


    "A gift from a professor at school," Draco said, flipping a page casually.


    ...


    Longbottom Residence


    The old house rejuvenated, dark tapestries cleaned to reveal their original crimson and gold hues. Christmas trees adorned almost every corner, colorful ribbons hanging from their branches.


    A round-faced boy attempted to hang a golden ball onto the Christmas tree.


    "Nev, Nev!" Alice Longbottom called from afar. "Your Uncle Algie and Aunt Enid have arrived."


    "Comiing, Mum!" Neville responded. He tiptoed, spending seconds trying to finally hang the ball, beads of sweat forming on his nose.


    As he turned around, Alice stood behind him, watching quietly.


    "Mum¡ª" Neville blushed, feeling embarrassed about his earlier struggle.


    Around the dining table, a bunch of rtives gathered, celebrating Frank and Alice''s return. Mid-feast, Algie, gaunt and sporting a goatee, eximed, "Great! Absolutely great!" Downing two hefty sses of spirits in quick session, his face flushed.


    He looked at Neville. "Kid, I heard you''ve made progresstely, show us what you got!"


    Neville, hesitant, shrank behind Alice. She patted his shoulder, encouraging him. Neville stepped forward, drew his wand, and a red light sparkled from the tip, casting a spell.


    "A silent charm!" Algie gasped, nearly toppling from his chair. "Easy there, Frank, no need to help me¡ªI never had that skill at his age!"


    Neville scratched his head, grinning sheepishly.


    ...


    Muggle World, London Suburbs


    "Justin, it''s eleven o''clock. Remember our agreed-upon excuse for when the guests arrive."


    "Got it," Justin, with his curly hair, replied, looking somewhat unhappy. "The reason I couldn''t attend Eton was due to poor health. We had to hire tutors, and every year we had to visit ces with fresh air... Mum, don''t you think this excuse is toome? Every time they see me, I''m perfectly fine."


    "Who would have thought we''d have a little wizard in our family, unable to attend Eton? I''m more disappointed than you, but¡ª" Mrs. Finch-Fletchley yfully winked, "after the guests leave, tell me about your school days. I still can''t believe Lockhart turned out to be a fraud despite his captivating books..."


    Justin discreetly rolled his eyes.


    ...


    Hogwarts


    Exiting his office, Felix strolled through thevishly decorated halls, holly and mistletoe gands guiding the way to the Great Hall. Armor throughout the castle gleamed.


    Entering the hall, four long tables had been shifted against the walls, leaving only one in the center for a dozen or so people to dine. Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Sprout, and Flitwick were present. Felch had donned a slightly worn-out tailcoat.


    "I hope I''m notte," Felix smiled.


    "Merry Christmas, Felix! I love the woolen socks you''ve gifted, twelve colors in total, I can rotate wearing them," Dumbledore eximed joyfully. "We''re waiting for the students; they might think it''s regr timing, but we''re slightly early¡ª"


    "To pass the time, we''re taking turns telling jokes. It''s Severus''s turn," Flitwick added.


    Felix nced at Snape, who wore a stern face, his expression full of resistance.


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 Chapter 256: Interlude

    Chapter 256: Interlude


    Severus Snape ultimately didn''t share his joke, which, Felix Harp thought, was quite regrettable. He believed that the professor indeed possessed a talent for telling witty, icy jokes.


    Felix quietly made a mental note; he had a Christmas present idea for next year.


    Seated next to Snape, Felix was about to make a yful remark when the great doors of the hall suddenly swung open, ushering in a gust of wind and snow.


    A short, plump witch dressed in pink entered. Felix heard Professor McGonagall, two seats away, inhale sharply, her ck eyebrows furrowing.


    The short, plump witch was Dolores Umbridge. She was apanied by two individuals. One was a lean, dark-skinned wizard of middle age. An earring adorned one of his ears, and he exuded an air of arrogance ¨C Felix recognized him. When Minister Fudge visited the schoolst year to inspect the serpent-like creature, this person apanied him. Minister Fudge referred to him as "Kingsley."


    The other was a witch, simrly dressed in an arrogant fashion. Her face was wrapped in a thick scarf, and her youthful energy showed through her lively gestures. Walking beside Kingsley, she appeared quite young.


    Dumbledore''s smile faded, reced by a fleeting look of surprise. He rose gracefully, saying, "A rare visit indeed. I didn''t expect you on this special day."


    "Elusive as ever, Professor Dumbledore," Dolores Umbridge''s toad-like face creased with a conspicuous false smile. "I must say your Deputy Headmistresscks diligence and responsibility. All in the name of fulfilling duties, just like me ¨C even during Christmas, I can''t escape concerns over Minister Fudge."


    Dumbledore replied calmly, "I have full faith in Professor McGonagall. She has carried out her responsibilities exceptionally well."


    Umbridge seemed entirely unfazed by the awkwardness, but the young witch behind her turned her head away, unable to meet anyone''s gaze.


    Kingsley stepped forward, his voice low and deliberate. "Dumbledore, we''vee to share new information."


    Umbridge immediately shrilled, "Kingsley! I''m the appointed Investigator by the Minister ¨C"


    Kingsley didn''t acknowledge her. His next words provided an exnation. "I answer only to Minister Fudge and Scrimgeour. Dumbledore, there''s been progress regarding Sirius ck."


    "Eager to listen, Kingsley," Dumbledore said gently.


    "Someone has sighted a figure resembling Sirius ck in Knockturn Alley. ording to our sources, an unfortunate wizard was attacked from behind, and the assant took his wand."


    "So, he''s rearming himself?" Dumbledore mused. "I had thought he might linger between the school and Hogsmeade."


    Kingsley continued, "We assumed the same initially, which led us to rx our vignce there. But he might be even more cunning than we imagined. I''ll be headed to London tomorrow ¨C and this is Tonks. Scrimgeour hopes she can convey the message."


    "Tonks?" Dumbledore smiled as he looked at the young witch.


    "That''s me, Headmaster Dumbledore. It''s truly an honor to meet you," the young witch, Tonks, removed her scarf, her enthusiasm evident.


    Kingsley exined, "Tonks spends most of her time at Hogsmeade, mostly as a precaution." He nced briefly at Umbridge, who impatiently fiddled with the pink bow on her sleeve. "And she''s adept at restraining Dementors as well."


    Dumbledore nodded, saying, "No objections here. Hogwarts and the Ministry share the same interests in this matter."


    Kingsley fell silent. With an air of calmness and few words, he seemed to diminish in presence after addressing the matter at hand.


    In contrast, Umbridge finally seized her chance. With an awkward, girlish tone, she said, "Thank you for your input, Kingsley. Professor Dumbledore, I hope you will reconsider Tonks¡ªshe''s somewhat unconventional. The Ministry is keen on sending a dedicated team..."


    "We needn''t discuss this matter further, Umbridge," Dumbledore persisted. "Tell Fudge that if he has any thoughts, he shoulde directly to me."


    Felix, standing nearby, grasped the situation fairly well. Umbridge and Kingsley weren''t allies. Umbridge had Fudge''s backing, perhaps as a trial or because of her own initiative. Regardless, she aimed to meddle with Hogwarts affairs but was thwarted sessively by Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore.


    While Kingsley followed Fudge''s orders, he clearly disregarded Umbridge''s investigator role. He was here on Scrimgeour''s behalf, the Head of the Auror Office.


    They departed swiftly, leaving behind an interlude that dampened the professors'' moods for lighthearted conversation. The topic inevitably shifted to Umbridge. Sirius ck''s threat was distant, but this toad-like woman was hard to like.


    Professor McGonagall remarked sharply, "I''m not one to badmouth others, but Umbridge¡ª" Her nostrils red, a sign of her obvious annoyance. "If you knew how she treated her subordinates and her own family, you''d understand my sentiments."


    "Umbridge mistreats her family?" Felix inquired.


    "Hah! She repeatedly ims her te'' father was a prominent figure in Wizengamot. But he''s alive and well, I assure you."


    Flitwick furrowed his brow as he recalled, "I seem to recall something. The name Umbridge is rather rare. I remember over a decade ago, there was a cleaning staff member at the Ministry by that name..."


    Just then, students began to arrive. Two first-years appeared together, followed shortly by a sullen sixth-year Slytherin¡ªhis only reason for staying was family matters.


    The topic among the professors gradually lightened, interrupted when Dumbledore left momentarily and returned with a handful of silver crackers. "These are Cracker Caps, much like Bertie Bott''s Every vor Beans. Each one holds a surprise."


    He distributed one to each person at the table and cheerfully inquired, "Who would like to give it a try?"


    Felix nced at Snape. Dumbledore followed his gaze and then winked, saying, "Severus, you absolutely wouldn''t want to miss this."


    In the midst of their conversation, Harry, Ron, and Hermione hurried over, astonished as they watched Snape, clearly irritated, pull the cord of a silver cracker. With a bang, the cracker burst open, revealing ady''s pointed hat.


    Dumbledore handed the hat to Snape, who promptly pushed it away without a second thought. In response, Dumbledore swiftly exchanged his wizard''s hat for thedy''s hat.


    "Merry Christmas,dies and gentlemen."


    Harry and his friends stared in astonishment at Dumbledore''s new appearance, momentarily lost for words.


    The feaststed a good two hours, everyone enjoying themselves. No one dared to bring up Umbridge, the conversation now avoided the distasteful topic. Midway through, Trwney arrived, insisting on counting everyone before taking a seat. She counted twice and still ended up with the number thirteen. Unable to contain herself, she let out a loud exmation.


    It was only when Felix politely reminded her that she might have forgotten to count herself that Trwney sat down in silence.


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 Chapter 257: The Reply from Catterburn

    Chapter 257: The Reply from Catterburn


    As the banquet came to an end, Felix Harp rose from his seat, holding his own cracker hat, preparing to leave. He noticed Hermione hadn''t departed with herpanions but stayed behind alone.


    "Is there something on your mind, Miss Granger?" He thought Hermione hade to talk to him.


    "Oh, Professor," she hesitated for a moment, "I have something to discuss with Professor McGonagall."


    "Is that so..." Felix nodded, "Well then, I''ll be on my way. By the way, I enjoyed the music box you gave me. It seems it''s more than just a simple alchemical creation?"


    Hermione''s worried expression softened, and she happily exined, "That was something I brought from home. I used the original mechanical structure and applied magic to it. For the music part, I referenced Parseltongue scrolls. The magical script loops storing sound on them were quite useful..."


    Felix understood. After the Chamber of Secrets incidentst year, Harry spent several days refining his Parseltongue pronunciation, and Felixter organized the corresponding sybles into a book, stored in his Pensieve.


    For a while, he did see Hermione working on a scroll by herself and even asked him for some crafting techniques...


    Back in his office, he managed to respond to a few more letters. One official letter in particr caught his attention.


    "It''s from the Ministry of Magic."


    Felix looked at the emblem on the letter and spected on its content. Could it be about his Memory Healing thesis? But he had only sent it out yesterday. When did the Ministry react so quickly?


    Opening the letter, he first nced at the signature at the bottom, Waldric Sidric of the Office of the Minister for Magic, before reading the contents.


    "Dear Mr. Harp, it hase to my colleagues'' attention that your new book, ''Magic in the Muggle World,'' has been rmended reading by the magical ministries of twelve countries. Coupled with your previous two publications on Muggle studies, it is evident that you possess a profound understanding of the Muggle world. We cordially invite you to deliver an internal lecture for the Ministry of Magic''s members...


    ...


    The proposed time is the first Thursday afternoon after the Christmas break, at 2 o''clock, in Reception Room 2. If you have any objections or scheduling conflicts, please contact me promptly.


    Yours faithfully,


    Waldric Sidric, Office of the Minister''s Advisor, Ministry of Magic."


    Below were several departments listed. If he epted, these would be his audience, including the Muggle Rtions Mediation Committee, Muggle Liaison Office, Prohibition of Muggle Artifacts Office, Reversal of idental Magic Incidents Unit, Memory Modification Command, and other interested parties.


    "Reasonable enough, all dealing frequently with the Muggle world."


    Felix pondered for a moment. He was quite eager to propagate his ideas and also wished to learn more about the Ministry of Magic''s actual situation. Among the people he had interacted with, Fudge was a standard politician, Umbridge was equally divisive, even more nauseating, and Kingsley Shacklebolt wasposed and capable.


    As for the rest, either he didn''t know them or they had only corresponded through letters, making it hard to judge urately.


    He took out a piece of parchment, dipped his quill, and wrote: "Dear Mr. Sidric, I am delighted to ept your invitation. However, regarding the timing, I propose shifting it to Friday. I have no sses in the afternoon that day..."


    Once the letter was sent, all he could do was wait. In thest few days of the holiday, he didn''t immerse himself in the library or study magical texts in his office. Instead, he developed a new habit.


    Several runic symbols were always by his side, about the size of his pinky, and he would pick them up and y with them from time to time. He maintained this even during meals and sleep.


    At this stage, simply increasing the quantity of runic symbols had limited effect. Many ancient runes he learned from various texts and alchemical items were not deeply understood.


    He decided to set aside time to organize his knowledge. Creating a magical rune book would be far more beneficial than acquiring a few hundred new practical rune effects.


    He also visited several ancient runic experts¡ªhis friends in this field were few and far between. Even his most amicablepanion, Tofodi, had a quite limited understanding in this area.


    In Felix Harp''s view, he might as well impersonate an alchemist and blend into the alchemical circle. Previously, Nearly Headless Nick had introduced him to a few people, and they exchanged some letters expressing their interest inmunication. However, gradually it faded away because their focuses werepletely different, making the exchange feel awkward.


    Alchemists paid more attention to the selection and proportion of alchemical materials, as well as the fusion of different properties. A rare form could fetch a high price or remain a closely guarded secret. They also focused on so-called alchemical forms, particrly unique ways of achieving specific functionalities.


    Felix exchanged some knowledge with them but then maintained a lower frequency ofmunication.


    He wasn''t in a hurry either. If he couldn''t find a suitable circle, he would create his own. There were eight or nine students who had graduatedst year and kept in touch with him through letters. Among them, a girl named Clemi Vire was the most enthusiastic.


    She had be a curse breaker at Gringotts. Curse breakers had a fairly dangerous and serious profession. They could be killed by ancient curses, dark hexes, or curses during their work. However, the rewards were also substantial.


    Clemi Vire wrote to him, informing him that she was currently working in Egypt, where there were vast numbers of ancient tombs and historical sites, and her colleagues were friendly.


    She even discovered a practical application of runic magic. Many ancient defenses and traps were inseparable from alchemy, and practical runic magic outperformed other alchemical symbols due to its superior magical properties and greater capacity to store magic. As a result, ancient wizards often selected it as the core of their defense and counterattack systems.


    In one recent operation, Clemi discovered a practical runic inscription hidden in decorative patterns within a pit, and she used it to bypass a perilous curse, sessfully bing a full-fledged curse breaker.


    Felix was generous with his guidance. In his reply, he pointed out that for some alchemical entity traps that weren''t highly aggressive but were temporarily difficult to crack, one could attempt to ovey a runic circuit, drawing out the magical energy and rapidly depleting its power.


    ...


    On the other side, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were far from idle. Since Hagrid had written to Professor Catterburn asking for assistance, they had been visiting Hagrid''s hut every day to see how things were progressing.


    Having something to do somewhat lessened Harry''s resentment towards Hermione. He knew she meant well, but his newly acquired crossbow bolts had been confiscated by Professor McGonagall to be examined for potential dark magic or curses. And now he had to endure the old Comet series broom, which left him feeling quite aggrieved.


    It was nearing the start of the term when Hagrid finally received a reply.


    "Read it, Hagrid, read it!" Harry couldn''t contain his excitement.


    Hagrid tore open the letter and cleared his throat. "Hagrid, delighted to receive your letter and sympathize with what happened to Buckbeak. But I''m powerless in this regard. I don''t have much influence at the Ministry, can''t expect a wretched old man who was kept on the school''s staff for 62 years before receiving honorary tenure upon retirement to have much sway, unless you want to meet one or two giant friends¡ª"


    The expressions of Harry and his friends were quite peculiar. They felt both regretful that Professor Catterburn couldn''t help and amused by his witty self-deprecation. They were struggling to suppress theirughter, and Ron''s eyebrows were about to fly off his forehead.


    "What do we do then¡ª"


    "Wait, there''s more." Hagrid said, "Let me continue¡ªthough I rmend one person to you. He holds enough prestige in the field of magical creatures, and coincidentally, he''s very interested in Hippogriffs. It''s said that he inherited this fascination from his mother. I''m including his address. You can write to him soon, and I''ll also send a letter exining the situation. Yours faithfully, Silvanus Catterburn." Hagrid finished reading the letter and looked up at them.


    "Who? Who''s the person he''s rmending?" Hermione asked hoarsely, as she had caught a cold recently.


    Hagrid lowered his head again and looked at the bottom of the letter, staring at the name as he read it out, "Newt Scamander."


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 Chapter 258: The Sudden Attack of Black

    Chapter 258: The Sudden Attack of ck


    As Hagrid uttered that name, the air grew still for a moment¡ª


    "Who''s that?" Harry asked, perplexed. He looked at Ron, who wore an innocent expression, and then at Hermione, who was desperately trying to recall the books she had read.


    Finally, they all turned to Hagrid. Ufortably, he said, "You should''ve known, but I switched your textbooks¡ªonly for the third years, wanted to try something..." Hisst sentence was barely audible.


    Harry and the others were still puzzled. Hagrid had to continue exining, his face turning visibly redder by the moment; even his bushy beard couldn''t hide it. "Mr. Scamander wrote ''Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.'' Before I took over Care of Magical Creatures, that book had been the textbook at Hogwarts."


    With that, the trio understood. No wonder they didn''t know about it, because Hagrid had introduced a new textbook this year, and it happened to be only for the third years.


    Harry couldn''t help but think: Perhaps the creatures in ''Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them'' weren''t ''interesting'' enough, which led Hagrid to consider recing it with ''Monster Manuals''.


    They finished writing their letters in Hagrid''s hut, ready to go to the Owlery to send them via Hedwig. Passing the Whomping Willow, Harry suddenly heard a sinister gust of wind behind him. Instinctively, he lowered his head, drew his wand, and nced upwards, catching sight of the silhouette of arge, ck-furred dog leaping high.


    Harry''s eyes widened in fear¡ªit was an omen of death! He could even see the light eyes and inch-long teeth of the Grim. Before he could react, it had flown past him, turned around, and pounced on Ron, its wide mouth gripping Ron, about to drag him toward the depths of the Forbidden Forest.


    "Expelliarmus!"


    The intensive summer training and recent dueling practice paid off, as Harry employed one of his most adept spells.


    ...


    Headmaster''s Office at Ravenw House.


    Felix Harp picked up a piece of peanut brittle, observing Professor Flitwick''s diligent spellwork. His wand was raised at an angle, left hand assisting, as blue magic continuously took shape, attempting to form a spherical structure.


    It wasn''t until Felix finished his seventh piece of peanut brittle that the spell still hadn''t taken shape. He had to stop, feeling a bit choked.


    "It''s still not working," Flitwick sighed, waving his hand to dispel the magic. "My understanding of the Shrinking Charm is still rooted in modern magic."


    "How did you master those ancient spells then?"


    "Through umted time. I spent three years to master a defensive spell." Flitwick shook his head. "Actually, my pursuit of this was more out of curiosity than envying its power."


    "But I don''t think simplifying magic necessarily makes it inferior to ancient magic, especially when I''ve mastered over a thousand spells."


    "A thousand?"


    Felix clicked his tongue in awe; he knew quite a lot of spells, but he was nothingpared to the old professor. And this was just from a certain period; he had no idea how many spells Flitwick knew now.


    "Spells are like Philemon''s Runes?" Felix tried to understand the professor''s perspective.


    Flitwick waved his wand, making the floor rise into steps. Sitting on the steps opposite Felix, he said, "Among the spells I''ve mastered, many are practical magic. But in reality, a spell is a spell, and each one reveals the mystery of magic, even if it''s minor."


    Felix pondered this statement. "Philemon, is my recentck of progress in magical theory due to this?"


    "Progress?" Flitwick said in surprise. "Can you urately gauge your own progress? Most people improve without realizing it... Every spell cast, every bit of learning, can contribute."


    Felix blinked. "So, it''s like a sudden enlightenment, as if all the past knowledge has suddenly converged."


    Flitwick chuckled, "This kind of state is hard to seek but easy to find. I still remember when I was thirty, I was always vexed about learning so many spells that I couldn''t apply. But I truly loved spells. Until one morning, I woke up and my understanding of magic had taken a step forward. Since then, I''ve never doubted my choice."


    Felix could only think of one word: opportune.


    Having experienced the Memory Charms of Ravenw, the bloodline research of Slytherin, and Dumbledore''s Transfiguration, he now realized Flitwick''s path of magic. He couldn''t help but wonder: Perhaps every professor at Hogwarts was to some extent on a journey of magic?


    In his view, the so-called path of magic was a way of perceiving the world¡ªa more straightforward way, it was an instrument to understand magic.


    Flitwick used spells to observe andprehend the architecture of the magical edifice, while he, on the other hand, used magical inscriptions to aplish this step. In Felix''s spection, if possible, he''d rece all spells with incantations.


    Although there seemed to be no hope for that at the moment.


    Felix wanted to learn Flitwick''s perspective on spells, but at that moment, a silver cat suddenly appeared in the office. It opened its mouth, and Professor McGonagall''s anxious voice came out, "Philemon,e quickly to the hospital wing. Suspected Sirius ck attacked Harry Potter."


    Felix and Flitwick exchanged astonished nces, then hastened to the hospital wing. Along the way, Felix couldn''t help but doubt if this might be a false report?


    To ensure Harry''s safety, he had deliberately borrowed the Sneakoscope from Harry, enchanted it anew. As long as the Sneakoscope detected any trace of Sirius ck, he would receive a synchronized alert.


    But in the current situation, he hadn''t received any feedback from the Sneakoscope.


    In the hospital wing, Professor McGonagall paced at the door, her hands entwined together. "Oh, you''re here." As they approached, they saw Dumbledore deep in conversation with Madam Pomfrey, his expression stern.


    Dumbledore insisted, "Poppy, I need five minutes; this is crucial." Madam Pomfrey relented.


    Seeing Flitwick and Felix, Dumbledore said in a solemn tone, "Let''s go in together."


    Inside the ward, Rony on the bed, one of his legs suspended, wrapped in bandages. Harry and Hermione sat nearby.


    Seeing the professors enter, they all started talking at once.


    "Headmaster, it''s ck. He''s the big ck dog¡ª"


    "He can turn into a human, no, an animal!"


    "Professor, he¡ªhe''s an Animagus!"


    The room suddenly fell silent. Dumbledore spoke softly, "Animagus? Are you saying it''s Sirius ck and not someone else?"


    "It''s him, I definitely didn''t mistake it. Ron and Hermione saw it too, didn''t you?" Harry turned to seek their support.


    "Absolutely!"


    "That''s right."


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 Chapter 259: Growing Clarity

    Chapter 259: Growing rity


    "I have a question," Felix Harp interjected, "Why didn''t I receive the Mirror''s alert?"


    The initially excited trio fell silent abruptly, and the air was filled with an uneasy quiet. After a few seconds, Harry said with embarrassment, "I forgot to bring it, Professor. I changed into new clothes."


    "It seems that the short-lived tranquility made you all lose your vignce," Felix said calmly. He appeared not to be angry, but Harry felt even more guilty, his face burning.


    Dumbledore looked at Harry and his friends. "So, you failed to detect Sirius ck because you forgot to carry the Mirror. What happened next? Why did you use him of being Animagus?"


    Harry looked up. "We wereing back from Hagrid''s because of Buckbeak''s case...," he paused, "as we passed by the Whomping Willow, arge ck dog suddenly leaped out. He... he attacked Ron, trying to drag him away."


    Felix noticed a hint of doubt flicker in Dumbledore''s gaze, a doubt he shared. After all, wasn''t ck supposed to be after Harry? Why give up an easy opportunity to attack Harry and instead go after hispanion? To make Harry experience the pain of losing someone dear to him? It didn''t add up.


    "My mind went nk at that moment. I instinctively cast the Disarming Charm, and it hit the big ck dog, sending him flying. It was then..." Harry stared, his eyes wide, "I saw the dog''s head flicker for a moment, turning into ck''s face. I''ve seen his wanted poster many times, I couldn''t possibly mistake it."


    "The ck dog rolled on the ground twice, and then Hagrid burst out of the house and yelled in our direction. ck turned and fled."


    Harry left something unsaid. The ck dog had looked at him strangely, with a mix of resentment and... something resembling satisfaction. Was he seeing things? Why would he think like that?


    He continued, "Hagrid carried Ron to the hospital wing, and then he left, saying he was going to search the entire Forbidden Forest."


    It sounded like an exaggeration... the Forbidden Forest was not just the small patch next to Hogwarts. It could house Acromants, Centaurs, Unicorns, Giants, and Werewolves all at once, definitely not something "small."


    In fact, Hagrid''s emotions seemed much more intense than what Harry had said. From the way he was seething, it looked like he wanted to tear ck apart.


    Dumbledore said softly, "I see." He closed his eyes and sat quietly. Flitwick couldn''t help but ask, "Felix, can your Mirror detect Animagus forms?"


    Felix nodded. "In theory, it''s possible. I designed it to target names, bloodlines, and magic simultaneously." He hesitated and looked at Professor McGonagall. "Of course, I am not Animagus myself..."


    "If that''s the case..." Professor McGonagall pondered, "it should work. Animagus transformation is not the same as a regr animal transformation; wizards retain their magical abilities and human thinking."


    "Moreover, it''s unclear in what form ck was attempting to infiltrate the castlest time. If it was his Animagus form, then it rifies a lot. Animagus forms don''t change easily," Dumbledore agreed.


    "And what puzzles me is why ck was so fixated on Mr. Weasley," Dumbledore looked at Ron, "Is there a special reason?"


    Ron uneasily replied, "I, I don''t know, sir. I didn''t have anything on me...," he looked down at himself and suddenly realized, "Scabbers is missing!"


    "Your pet rat?"


    "Yes, he was just here. Maybe he got scared and hid somewhere."


    Felix nced at Ron, pulled out his wand, and quickly summoned, "Scabbers,e here!" but there was no response. "He''s not nearby..."


    ck''s inexplicable fixation on Ron, the sudden appearance of Animagus, and if Ron was fine, then what could be the issue...


    He looked at Dumbledore and said solemnly, "Headmaster, things might be different from what we initially thought."


    Dumbledore refrained from making hasty judgments. "There''s someone who might have the answers... Minerva, is Lymes still in his office?"


    "He''s been there all along, but he''s been having a rough time these days," Professor McGonagall said vaguely.


    Hermione piped up in a high-pitched voice, "Headmaster Dumbledore? Do you know that Professor Lupin is, well, a-"


    "Yes, I''m aware," Dumbledore cut in, his tone signaling that the topic was closed. "Lymes has been in his office these past few days, dealing with some old ailments. He hasn''t had the energy to focus on other matters. Nevertheless, I need to have a thorough conversation with him. He might provide us with some information we''re not privy to."


    Dumbledore stood up, his gaze shifting down from his high nose bridge to Harry. "For the next while, I''d like you to stay within the castle, not venture outside, and carry the Mirror with you."


    As the professors left, Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged nces. Just as they were about to speak, Madam Pomfrey entered. She reapplied ayer of white ointment to Ron''s wound, causing him to grimace in pain. However, the pain soon lessened, and the area around the wound began to itch.


    "This child needs time to recover. Don''t overstay," Madam Pomfrey cautioned, pursing her lips. She wore a stern expression. "Why do you always get yourselves into such a state?"


    Harry said gloomily, "I also want to know the answer to that question."


    With only the three of them left in the infirmary, the room fell into a quiet stillness, intermittently broken by Ron''s sharp inhales. His wound, though both painful and itchy, seemed to be healing at a rate several times faster than normal.


    Hermione suddenly spoke up, "Harry, have you ever thought that ck''s target has never been you?"


    Harry wanted to refute it, but the words wouldn''te out. He did consider that possibility, and that embarrassed him; it was as if all the preparations he had made for so long were a joke.


    But then what about Ron?


    Hermione pulled out her beaded bag and retrieved the memory vial made of chestnut wood. "We could try piecing the memories together, merging what we saw."


    After a moment¡ª


    "Look here, isn''t it obvious? ck''s target is clear ¨C it''s Ron. But Ron... he shouldn''t have even been born when ck was locked up."


    Hermione was deeply perplexed. "Could someone in your family have a history with ck?"


    "Or maybe the Dementors messed up his mind," Ron mumbled dully.


    "Do you remember the conversation we overheard at the Three Broomsticks? Fudge mentioned that ck speaks coherently and even asked him for a newspaper. Doesn''t sound like the actions of a lunatic," Hermione pointed out.


    "What does that prove? There''s a rumor that the hooded figure secretly had contact with Dementors. Those cloak-folk might have given him some leeway for their master''s sake," Ron countered.


    "Ron, put your rusty brain to work," Hermione snapped in exasperation.


    Harry, however, thought of something crucial. "The newspaper. You mean, he saw a newspaper... just a few days before he escaped. The key is the newspaper, Ron. Remember the letter you wrote me during the holidays? It had a clipping of your family winning the Daily Prophet''s Annual Prize."


    Ron''s expression turned astonished. "So, ck saw news about our family winning an award and got so jealous that he went mad and came specifically to kill me? Merlin''s beard, it was just seven hundred Galleons! And we''ve almost spent them all..."


    Then he added with a disgusted look, "Why would Fudge be carrying a newspaper around? Did Barty Crouch Jr. stomp on his brain?"


    Hermione said, "That can''t be the reason, Harry. I don''t understand it yet, but we need to find the newspaper from back then and see if there''s any overlooked information."


    Harry added, "And Professor Lupin. I bet he knows something. You can tell from Dumbledore''s demeanor."


    Hermione appeared somewhat hesitant. "Oh, Harry, I think it might be better if we wait a couple of days until the professors confirm that everything is okay before we pay him a visit..."


    Meanwhile, Felix had parted ways with Dumbledore mid-way. Dumbledore didn''t want anyone interrupting his conversation with Lymes.


    However, for Felix, some clues were alreadyid out in front of him. He just needed to reorganize the information at hand and extract the most likely spections.


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 Chapter 260: The Nicolas Flamel of rats

    Chapter 260: The Nics mel of rats


    Felix Harp sifted through the currently known information¡ª


    "Based on today''s events, it''s clear that Sirius ck''s primary target isn''t Harry, but Ron Weasley. Could it be that the Ministry of Magic got it wrong from the beginning?"


    "But that doesn''t make sense. Twelve years ago when ck was imprisoned, Ron was just one year old... Is this some kind of personal grudge, a feud from a previous generation?"


    Felix Harp recalled the impression he had of Arthur and Molly Weasley when he saw them at the Leaky Cauldron. They seemed very friendly, warm wizards, despite having quite a few children.


    "No, my thinking is off track. If ck and the Weasley couple had a feud, he could have easily found them. The Weasley house doesn''t have the double protection of Dementors and Hogwarts."


    "So, Ron Weasley is the key!"


    Felix Harp attempted to recall what made this student stand out. Apart from the remarkable courage disyed during the Chamber of Secrets incident, he seemed quite ordinary afterward, with homework that showed clear signs of patchwork and a seemingck of intelligence...


    Getting off track.


    He shifted his focus to Ron Weasley''s life and circle of friends¡ªhis friends, parents, brothers, and even the sister who had been briefly bewitched by Voldemort''s Horcrux. Naturally, his thoughts led to Ron''s pet rat, Scabbers.


    If Ron wasn''t ck''s true target, the only suspicious point about him, or rather the living being, was his pet rat, Scabbers.


    "A rat, hm!" Felix Harp sighed. "Normally, I wouldn''t suspect, but since ck managed to hide the fact that he was Animagus, could the same be true for this rat? Or is it a victim of a curse?"


    Felix Harp pondered for a moment and inclined toward the possibility that the rat was Animagus, not under some malicious forced transformation. This could be inferred from ck''s multiple daring assaults on Hogwarts despite the risks.


    "ck certainly despises that rat."


    Felix Harp sensed a prickly situation. Though all these thoughts were built upon assumptions and reasoning, they seemed highly likely.


    In fact, if Scabbers were a victim of malicious transformation, it wouldn''t be too difficult¡ªFelix could find it, send it to St. Mungo''s for treatment, and be done with it. However, if it were an illegal Animagus, that would mean it could turn back into a wizard at any time. The problem was that Felix couldn''t determine whether it was friend or foe.


    "He might be evading enemies or maybe due to some circumstances, he''s forced into hiding. But¡ª" A sense of absurdity surged within Felix Harp. "Yes, indeed. If he truly wanted to disappear, he could easily choose to avoid the wizarding world altogether. A wizard can live quitefortably elsewhere. Yet, he chose not to, instead subjecting himself to this charade of being a pet rat. This is definitely not a benign gesture."


    The only reason Felix could think of was that this wizard didn''t want to sever ties with the magical world; Mr. Weasley worked in the Ministry of Magic, which conveniently fulfilled his requirement.


    By this point, Felix had a general understanding. The rat was likely not a good person. He decided that when they met, a Stupefy charm would be the first thing he''d cast. Whether it was to extract information or to administer Veritaserum, it would depend on the rat''s true identity. As for Sirius ck...


    "It''s hard to say. The enemy of one bad person isn''t necessarily a good person. Reality can be far tooplicated. Besides, ck escaped from his hands twice... though there were reasons each time, it''s still an ufortable feeling of being led by the nose."


    Felix had always thought that ck wasn''t particrly clever. Those involved back then¡ªSnape called him foolish, Lupin said he was impulsive, McGonagall mentioned his liveliness, the Fat Lady hadn''t offered an opinion, instead revealing quite a bit about his "adventures" and "achievements" during school. Some of those ideas were beyond the realm of ordinary thinking.


    "But this time, he''s been quite clever, seizing the opportunity of the Christmas break. If it weren''t for Harry''s considerable strength, he might have seeded."


    Next, Felix Harp did two things.


    The first thing: He went to the nest of the Acromant in the Forbidden Forest.


    The forest was covered in thick snow. Felix Harp wore a dark cloak as his figure appeared in a sunken clearing, and around him, there were clicking and cking sounds.


    This clearing was also nketed in snow, with the central hemisphere-shaped spiderweb nest being quite conspicuous.


    "Gok,e out to see me." Felix Harp projected his voice into the spiderweb nest.


    Snowkes gently fell, and a few eight-eyed Acromant emerged from inside.


    Gok had be the new king of this group of spiders. He upied the best spot in the colony''s center, surrounded by severalrge spiders, bearing the air of a monarch.


    "Wizard." Gok growled impatiently, "Is there something you want?"


    "That''s not the right tone for a conversation, Gok. Have you forgotten what I said?" Felix Harp inquired.


    Gok''s body stiffened. "I didn''t mean anything by it. I was just resting."


    "Do Acromants hibernate?" Felix Harp asked curiously, considering whether someone might capture a few during their hibernation or extract venom.


    "Winter makes us ufortable. We prefer to stay in the caves, rarely venturing out," Gok exined, "but that doesn''t mean we''re oblivious to the outside world. After all, I''m out here now."


    Felix Harp nodded. "I''ve heard you can control the spiders in the Forbidden Forest." From his vantage point, he could see quite a few fist-sized spiders crawling about on the white webs, snow, and fallen leaves.


    "They''re hibernating. Many won''t survive this winter. What you''re seeing are the younglings of the Acromants. Their thick fur helps them withstand the cold." Gok waved hisrge pincers.


    "Actually, I need some clever assistants." Felix Harp smirked. "Listen, Gok, I need you to look for a big ck dog or traces of a stranger in the Forbidden Forest. There''s a good chance it has a designated spot, like an abandoned beast den. Once you find it, no need to take action, just remember the location and contact me."


    Gok pondered for a while. "I can send the younglings out. Our size is too conspicuous; it might provoke a centaur retaliation."


    "Agreed," Felix Harp consented. Just before parting ways, he gave Gok arge bucket of firewhisky¡ªa leftover from the Christmas gift for Hagrid, not particrly to his taste.


    "A bted gift, Gok."


    The second thing he did was visit the infirmary. He extracted some information about the rat from Ron. Scabbers, it turned out, had been passed down to him from his brother Percy.


    "How long has it been at your home?"


    "For quite a few years," Ron said, scratching his head in confusion.


    "Could you be more specific?" Felix Harp coaxed gently. "Around what age were you when you first became aware of its presence? Five or six, or maybe seven or eight?"


    ording to his assumptions, since it was Percy Weasley''s pet, seven years seemed reasonable, given that the Weasley family were pureblood wizards¡ªit might even have been a year or two earlier.


    Ron thought hard. "I think Mum mentioned it. It was when Percy was about five or six. One morning, he found Scabbers and decided to keep it. Mum wasn''t too keen on the idea because it looked like a regr rat, and it was missing a toe. But Percy had an unusual fit, crying and throwing a tantrum, and Mum had to give in. It''s one of Percy''s secret embarrassments; he won''t talk about it."


    Ron grinned, then winced as he touched his injured leg.


    "A regr rat, missing a toe¡­" Felix Harp repeated softly. He looked impressed. "So, you''re saying Scabbers has been around for at least eleven or twelve years? I recall regr rats usually don''t live more than three years."


    "This is like the Nics mel of rats," Ronughed.


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 Chapter 261: Lupins Thoughts

    Chapter 261: Lupin''s Thoughts


    Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts'' Office.


    The room was dimly lit, with scarce light filtering through. Remus Lupin sat quietly on the couch, the Wolfsbane Potion continuously suppressing his body, as if some dreadful ethereal creature was sapping away his strength, bit by bit.


    The full moon hadn''t arrived yet, but he was already utterly exhausted.


    "Gurgle~"


    The kettle in the corner boiled, releasing bursts of steam as it danced. Lupin lifted himself up, avoiding magic as much as possible around the full moon. After two minutes, he brewed a pot of tea for himself.


    He tossed the tea bag into the bin, a white mist hovering above the cup. Lupin''s eyes sparkled in the dimness.


    "Sirius..."


    He had always been reserved in his emotions, rarely disying his true feelings. But under the double strain of his body and spirit, he found himself sinking into a lingering mncholy. He once again found his thoughts drifting back to that person.


    The photo on the wanted poster barely captured his true likeness. Lupin always subconsciously superimposed the young Sirius onto it, making his emotions even moreplex and sorrowful.


    "Should I reveal Sirius''s Animagus form to Dumbledore?"


    This question had been tormenting him for a long time, yet he couldn''t muster the courage to confess to Dumbledore. He hadn''t just betrayed Dumbledore''s trust during their student years, leaving the Shrieking Shack and wandering with three others...


    Dumbledore''s trust meant everything to him. When he was just a child, Dumbledore had walked into his home, convinced his father and mother, and secured his enrollment. In the initial year or two, Dumbledore or Professor Pomfrey apanied him during his transformations. As he grew, he persuaded Dumbledore to allow him to transform independently during the full moon.


    The chains of the Shrieking Shack were exceptionally sturdy; that was one of the reasons he mentioned.


    Dumbledore reluctantly agreed, setting rules. Professor Pomfrey would take him to transform, but she wouldn''t watch over him all the time. asionally, she allowed him to go to the Shrieking Shack alone.


    He carefully guarded this secret, even though a couple of perceptive students had discovered it as early as his second year. The number of people who knew he was a werewolf gradually expanded to six: Dumbledore, Professor Pomfrey, Professor McGonagall, James, Peter, and¡ªSirius.


    Once, James had a whimsical idea. He wanted to learn Animagus transformation so that he could apany the werewolf as an animal, since werewolves posed danger only to humans. Sirius immediately embraced this idea, and for a time, their enthusiasm ran high.


    At the time, Lupin hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, he was quite "pleased" to provide them with some statistics, informing them howplex Animagus transformation was. He told them how many wizards had tried and failed over the century, and how the names of the sessful ones barely filled two lines on paper.


    "I absolutely adore your dry humor, Remus," James had said then.


    In their fifth year, things took a turn. On the first full moon after returning from the holidays, he locked himself in the Shrieking Shack as usual. He had be very skilled at it, but as the full moon waned and he slowly returned to his human form, he opened his eyes to see two massive creatures:


    Arge ck dog and a stag. In his astonishment, they transformed back into familiar faces, James and Sirius. Grinning widely at him, they said, "We kept it a secret all summer just to see the look on your face."


    It was hard to describe his feelings at that moment¡ªjoy mixed with sorrow. They had injured themselves quite badly to get across the Whomping Willow, and there was even some reproach¡ªwhat if he had hurt them? But looking at their smiles, hepromised once again.


    Two more months passed, and with the help of James and Sirius, Peter finally seeded. Theirpanionship brought a greater sense of calm to his state as a werewolf. He wasn''t always irrational anymore. Perhaps it was because both James and Sirius had Animagus forms that could subdue his werewolf side, preventing him from going berserk.


    They embarked on adventures. A werewolf and several animals running amok in the night! In hindsight, Lupin still felt puzzled by his youthful recklessness, but at the time, they treated it as a joke, a source of pride...


    Yet, he couldn''t help but feel guilt¡ªfor breaking Dumbledore''s safety rules with his own hands. Though he had been uneasy for a long time, he didn''t refuse to participate in the next adventure.


    In his office, the tea had grown cold.


    Lupin deceived himself, thinking, "At the right moment, I will tell Dumbledore everything, including my hypocrisy and cowardice." He told himself that, then self-disgustingly thought, "Oh, forget it, you should have told Dumbledore long ago, during the incident when Sirius attempted to breach the castle."


    Subconsciously, however, he repeatedly postponed this decision and, much like an ostrich, naively believed that Sirius had been deterred and wouldn''t show up again.


    "Perhaps he learned dark magic from Voldemort... But with Dumbledore at Hogwarts, he won''t seed."


    Lupin''s expression turned to self-loathing. He picked up the cup and gulped down the cold tea.


    He thought of Neville and Harry, his attention drawn to them almost involuntarily. His attitude toward Neville was more sympathetic. His parents had been hisrades, and though their interactions had been limited, the Longbottoms were friendly people.


    He could see Neville''s timidity quite clearly. He hoped Neville could ovee his fear, but Snape''s counterattacks seemed to subject the boy to even more reprimands. He wasn''t sure if his attempts atforting had made any difference.


    As for Harry, he resembled a nephew... though he concealed such feelings well.


    Right, he needed to teach Harry the Patronus Charm. Lupin collected himself. He should find a Boggart. He was quite knowledgeable about these creatures due to the bedtime stories he''d heard as a child. His father was an "authority on non-human paranormal phenomena," well-versed in mischievous poltergeists, Boggarts, and other kinds of spirits.


    Even his parents'' bond was connected to a wild Boggart...


    Suddenly, Lupin thought, Harry would surely inquire about his parents. When that timees, how much should he reveal? And Sirius, the more he said, the moreplicated things became.


    "Knock, knock."


    The deep knocking interrupted Lupin''s thoughts. He opened the door to find Dumbledore standing outside.


    "Dumbledore¡ªwhy are you here?" Lupin asked in surprise.


    Dumbledore''s tone was grave. "Bad news, Remus. Sirius ck attacked Harry and his friends while they were visiting Hagrid."


    "What!" Lupin''s eyes widened, his mind reeling. "Harry¡ªAre they alright?"


    "Nearly, very nearly. He almost seeded, Remus," Dumbledore said. "Harry''s best friend is currently in the hospital, and no one can guarantee when the next attack will ur."


    Lupin leaned against the door frame, seemingly drained of all strength. After a while, he sighed and said, "I will tell you everything I know, Professor Dumbledore, including ck''s secrets and my deception towards you... I just hope you can hear the entire story without storming out in anger."


    "That is precisely why I''vee to see you, Remus," Dumbledore said calmly.


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 Chapter 262: Responses

    Chapter 262: Responses


    Emerging from the infirmary, Felix stood by the window in the castle corridor. In the distance, he could see the young wizards and witches returning from the holidays, appearing from below the long slope. Even though he couldn''t hear their voices, he could imagine their excited conversations from their gestures.


    "School starts tomorrow. I should probably ask Percy Weasley during the feast, the seventh and sixth years. This time period tends to evoke certain thoughts..." Felix murmured to himself. "And there''s Dumbledore''s conversation with Lupin. Though I''m not privy to the specifics, one can infer from the Headmaster''s demeanor afterward."


    "It''s as if I''m standing at a crucial juncture of a y. What lies ahead ¨C an ordinary resolution or a mind-bending twist?"


    "Felix¡ª"


    Professor McGonagall''s voice echoed from the other end of the corridor. She was hurrying, her robes trailing behind her.


    "My Patronus couldn''t find you..." She reached Felix, her chest heaving, and rapidly spoke, "Dumbledore has arranged a series of tasks. Hagrid and Snape went to the station to pick up students, Filch is adjusting the school''s protective enchantments, and a few secret passages need to be temporarily sealed... Dumbledore himself is meeting with the centaur chieftain¡ª"


    A flicker of realization crossed Felix''s mind, and he cautiously asked, "Did Headmaster Dumbledore mention anything about the rat in his orders?"


    "Oh," Professor McGonagall gave him a strange look. "Dumbledore said you might know and instructed me not to keep it from you. But it''s best not to spread this information¡ª"


    "I need to go to the infirmary and themon room, check if Weasley''s rat is still there. Merlin''s beard, when Dumbledore told me, I could hardly believe it ¨C it turns out Scabbers might actually be an Animagus, possibly a ck wizard."


    "Is there anything I can do, Miller?"


    "There are two secret passages directly connecting to Hogsmeade within the castle. We need your help to seal them..."


    Later, in the staff room next to the Great Hall, Felix once again encountered Dumbledore. He was engaged in an intense conversation with Professor McGonagall, both wearing grave expressions.


    "Percy Weasley told me, it was twelve years ago..."


    Apart from McGonagall, Felix also noticed Lupin, whom he hadn''t seen in a while. He appeared tired, even more so than before.


    McGonagall was reporting the tasks assigned by Dumbledore, "...Hagrid and Snape carried out their duties perfectly, without any mishaps. Filch will need some more time. As for the seven secret passages, four were sealed a long time ago. The other three, the one under the Whomping Willow ¨C I was advised to leave it be ¨C and then the remaining two..." She looked at Felix.


    Felix responded, "The one leading to the one-eyed witch statue on the fourth floor has been sealed with a spell. The copsed passage behind the mirror on the fifth floor."


    After a brief pause, he couldn''t help but inquire, "Dumbledore, I''m having a hard time understanding. Are you concerned that ck might use these passages to enter the castle? Why not set traps in them?"


    Dumbledore shook his head gently, "The risks are too great. They directly lead into the heart of the castle. I''ve only left the one near the Forbidden Forest, hoping it might reveal some trace of ck."


    He looked at the three present, his voice low, "Until matters be clear, I''d rather not have too many people know. The three of you ¨C one entangled with the past, one my trusted deputy, and another who might have caught a glimpse..."


    "I must tell you: Sirius ck''s betrayal of the Potters is in doubt. The presumed-dead Peter Pettigrew might still be alive, and he might have been living as Ron Weasley''s pet rat, Scabbers, for twelve whole years."


    McGonagall eximed, "Merlin''s beard! Is that true, Albus? You mentioned a dark wizard before..."


    Lupin gazed at Felix, his expression calm andposed, devoid of any surprise. Just as Dumbledore had mentioned ¨C Felix Harp was an exceedingly perceptive individual, perhaps the most exceptional Slytherin student in decades.


    Half a term had passed, and he had developed a certain understanding of this astonishingly young professor. When he first learned of Felix''s achievements during his school years, he was utterly taken aback.


    These aplishments far surpassed anything they themselves had done, including the dueling event that had caused a sensation in the wizarding world. Lupin had heard a moreplete version of that story, and since then, he had maintained a respectful distance from Felix. He believed that getting too close could lead to his own identity being uncovered...


    Dumbledore responded in a hushed voice, "I''m uncertain, Miller. The two most crucial figures ¨C ck is still atrge, and Scabbers is nowhere to be found. He might even have vanished for good..."


    Lupin interjected, "That possibility is quite low. I know him. If Scabbers truly is Peter, he''d be observing from a distance he deems safe, waiting until events align with his expectations before revealing himself."


    Dumbledore nodded, "That''s another reason why I''ve refrained from disclosing this secret. Aside from theck of evidence, I''m secretly hoping Ron Weasley''s pet might emerge on its own. It would save us a great deal of time."


    Uneasily, Professor McGonagall inquired, "Albus, should we inform the Potters?"


    "It''s better not to." Dumbledore rejected her suggestion. "Miller, for every additional person who knows the secret, the risk of leaks multiplies tenfold. Besides, should the Potters show even a hint of involvement, that rat might vanish forever."


    He paused, "And the worst possibility is that the rat might harm them."


    Felix suggested, "Perhaps we could disclose some of this to Miss Granger. We can''t keep a constant watch on them, and based on my understanding of these three students, they''re likely to take matters into their own hands."


    Dumbledore looked troubled, "That is indeed a concern, Felix. You are well acquainted with Miss Granger. Do you believe she''s up to the task?"


    "I believe so," Felix nced at Lupin, "She''s adept at uncovering truths and keeping secrets."


    At the conclusion of this brief conversation, Lupin couldn''t resist asking Dumbledore, "Could we inform the Ministry, so they''ll exercise some leniency when facing Sirius?"


    "And on what grounds?" Dumbledore countered, his bright blue eyes shining in the dim room.


    "All of this is based on assumptions, spections about our existing questions. But ck has always been the secret-keeper for the Potters. You agree on that point as well, Remus? I provided crucial testimony to the Ministry back then. From the information I''ve received, he offered no defense during private questioning. Hence, I''m thoroughly disappointed in him..."


    "Weck evidence. Relying solely on a photograph of amon rat, the Ministry would find it difficult to ept your testimony. Moreover, once they learn of your identity¡ª" Dumbledore continued, "Your words would be severely discounted."


    Lupin''s expression dimmed. To testify, he would inevitably have to reveal what happened in the past, and his status as a werewolf wouldn''t be spared. The wizarding world knew all too well the Ministry''s stance on werewolves.


    "Remus, we''ve done our best under the circumstances."


    The short meeting ended, and both Professor McGonagall and Lupin left. "Felix¡ª" Dumbledore called him from behind, and Felix looked at the headmaster with confusion.


    "If you apprehend ck ¨C and I have no doubt you will ¨C I hope you can keep him under control, without letting anyone else know, especially Severus and the Ministry."


    "The Ministry I understand, but Professor Snape¡ª"


    "The misunderstandings between them run deep. I fear Severus might act recklessly. For now, I must weigh my options more carefully, Felix."


    "...I promise you, Headmaster."


    Felix left the staff room and entered the bustling Great Hall. Waves of excited voices filled the air as everyone chatted loudly. He spotted Fred and George tapping their goblets and empty tes with their utensils, creating a crisp sound.


    ...


    The banquet concluded amidstughter and cheers. Felix returned to his office and reyed the day''s events in his mind. He realized that the crux of the mattery in Sirius ck and Scabbers. Capturing either one of them could unveil the long-buried truth.


    Shaking his head, he decided to focus on his teaching for the new term. The Room of Requirement had undergone significant changes, giving him a great idea.


    "As I attempt this in the Ancient Runes ss for seventh years, the world of thought is bing increasingly marvelous. What it will transform into by the end ¨C even I cannot predict."


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 Chapter 263: The Seed of Miracles

    Chapter 263: The Seed of Miracles


    On the first day back from the holidays, the students appeared in the ssroom with full spirits.


    Felix stood at the podium, gazing at the seventh-year students below and uttered words that filled them with excitement, "Today''s lesson is a bit different."


    The students'' attention swiftly focused on the professor. If there was something they cherished the most, it was the Ancient Runes ss fromst year. Back then, the professor had just arrived, the sky was still blue, and they were carefree sixth years.


    Professor Harp''s ssroom was always filled with novel and intriguing experiments, especially when it came to practical runic magic. But when seventh yearmenced, all of that had been swept aside like leaves in the wind, due to the looming NEWTs exams.


    Yet today, the former Professor Harp had returned.


    "Professor, are we going to the Practical ssroom?" an excited Hufflepuff student shouted. Privately, they referred to the Room of Ancient Runes as the Practical ssroom.


    "No need for that. We only need..." he gently snapped his fingers.


    The students were captivated; their gazes seemed momentarily distant, but in the next moment, all was normal again, making them wonder if they had imagined it.


    They looked around, noticing perplexed expressions on others'' faces as well. Clearly, they weren''t the only ones who noticed the peculiar urrence.


    "Alright," Felix pped his hands, "Next, we need to make a little improvement to the ssroom¡ª"


    The students watched as the professor raised his arms, and the ssroom''s space expanded, the walls seemingly sprouting legs and stretching far away. Before they could fullyprehend, the ssroom had grown a hundredfoldrger, with distances between each person spanning several meters.


    "Profes¡ªProfessor¡ª"


    The transformation wasn''t over. Lush green grass sprouted from the ground, wand trees emerged from the earth, and golden sunlight spilled from an unknown source. The distant sound of melodious bird songs reached their ears.


    The desks before the students twisted and transformed into square wooden tforms, resembling artist''s easels.


    A student tentatively plucked a handful of grass from the ground, watching as they gently drifted down before him. He sniffed them carefully, savoring the lingering aroma.


    Felix''s podium vanished, and he stood amidst the students, saying, "I''ve been researching the role of emotionstely. Although theoretically, each emotion is equal, positive emotions significantly contribute to one''s mental and physical well-being. Unless, of course, you''re quite content immersing yourself in a foul-smelling, ck and decaying jar."


    "That''s also why people abhor Dark Magic. Though, in my opinion, learning a bit of it doesn''t hurt much. Durmstrang Institute tends to have a more lenient approach toward Dark Magic..."


    But I digress. I''ve been attempting to create a more rxed and enjoyable learning atmosphere starting from the environment. Not only that¡ª"


    He looked at these students with a hidden sense of anticipation:


    "I also thought, if you were to bypass the arduous stages of learning and briefly possess knowledge not originally yours, would things be different?"


    Felix extended his hand and made a few movements in the air. Ancient-looking rune scrolls materialized from thin air,nding lightly in their hands.


    As the witches'' and wizards'' fingers touched the runic scrolls, faint golden light emanated from the unfamiliar parchment. Suddenly, their minds were flooded with extensive knowledge about Ancient Runes. One student uttered a string ofplex and obscure words.


    Upon speaking, even he was surprised, for the words flowed smoothly in Ancient Runes. At that moment, he felt like a true ancient wizard.


    The air stilled briefly before exploding into enthusiastic chatter, as they discussed excitedly.


    "What just happened? Did I awaken sometent talent? Why does Ancient Runes feel as easy as breathing?"


    "I think I could easily score an ''Outstanding'' now. Who needs those N.E.W.T exams? They''re no challenge at all!"


    Felix waved his hand again, dampening the surrounding voices. Only his voice remained clear, "To the student who just said scoring ''Outstanding'' was easy, try removing your hand from the runic scroll and give it another go..."


    The obedient student followed his instruction. In the next moment, his eyes nearly popped out, "I¡ªI..."


    "What''s wrong? Spit it out!" A neighboring student looked at him, anxious and eager for an answer.


    Beside them, a trembling girl spoke, "The knowledge, it suddenly vanished... no, not vanished, but it never belonged to us in the first ce." She looked at Felix, who remained calm. "This knowledge belongs to Professor Harp."


    Felix nodded gently, his voice imbued with a magical charm, "I can''t simply cram knowledge into your minds, but I wonder, if you can experience this kind of erudition at a young age, would you be content with mediocrity?"


    "In my view, every wizard is a seed of miracles. If you''re merely plucked and put in a vase as decoration when you''ve only grown a foot or two, you''ll never be a towering tree. That would be a shame."


    The students stared at the professor, their thoughts thrown into disarray like never before.


    Seventh-year students had received career counseling in fifth year, and some exceptional ones already possessed rmendations from professors. However, in this moment, they felt bewildered.


    Gringotts, the Ministry of Magic¡ªthese were top career choices in the wizarding world. But was that all they should aim for? Was it truly what they desired? They had never doubted before, but Professor Harp presented another path.


    He told them that they were seeds of miracles, with boundless potential.


    Each of them was moved, not only by his words themselves but also because Felix had allowed them to experience what it felt like to be an "Ancient Runes expert" ahead of time. Coupled with his speech, the impact was profound. It was akin to nting a magical bomb in their minds.


    Felix pped his hands. This time, paper exams descended from the sky. He wore a pleased smile, "Twelve papers, the questions are quite astonishing... but for you now, they should be straightforward."


    He addressed the students, "Memory can''t be forced, that''s an irond rule. But we can attempt to sidestep it. In this realm of thought, you can briefly use my knowledge of theoretical runic magic¡ªjust the knowledge itself. In essence, it merely saves you the effort of flipping through books. But consider, between struggling to find answers through tedious research and instantly having the answers, which one gives a greater sense of aplishment?"


    "But Professor," Percy raised his hand, "if the knowledge isn''t truly ours, what''s the purpose of this? Does it merely broaden our horizons?"


    Felix skillfully persuaded, "Think about it. When do we learn the fastest?"


    Percy adopted a thoughtful expression, and other students strained their brains as well.


    "When we use it!"


    "Exactly. Although you''re borrowing my knowledge, your learning speed has also significantly increased. ording to my estimate... let''s say, hypothetically, if you don''t ck off and maintain focus, after half a year, you''ll likely grasp about thirty to forty percent. Theoretical Ancient Runes tend to be simpler because they don''t involve practical practice."


    "In the end, it all depends on your effort. The more you use it, the more familiar it bes, and the more knowledge you retain."


    The students were already eager to dive in. While they would still need to put in the effort themselves, the professor''s message was clear: this could elerate their learning speed. Could anything be better?


    Among them, quite a few had bought Baruffio''s Brain Elixir and consumed dragon w powder!


    Felix was pleased with their change in attitude. He reminded them, "This kind of ss won''t happen every time. I''ll maintain a certain ratio. But at least I can promise that every few lessons, you''ll experience this magical sensation..."


    Eagerly, they spread out their exam papers. In this realm of thought, writing became effortless. Quills appeared before them, moving quickly.


    "The seven types of transformations in Ancient Runes are quite simple. Let me think, the first one..."


    "The evolution and development of runic magic symbolizing ''thought''... Huh? There are actually eleven variations? I wouldn''t have known in my normal state! Haha, this is so intriguing. I''m a genius now."


    "This question''s repetitive, I just did it. Even without the runic scrolls, I can remember... Oh, another repeated question?"


    Percy didn''t rush to answer. He ced his hand on the runic scroll, attempting various sentences in Ancient Runes. A string of unfamiliar andplex pronunciations flowed from his mouth. Minutester, he astonishingly said, "I''ve tranted the entire Magical Creatures Protection textbook. Only a few words don''t correspond. Could it be because they''re missing?"


    The crisp sound of bird song became even more melodious. Flowers of various hues emitted fragrant scents.


    Felix watched them eagerly tackle the questions, a smile ying on his lips. He couldn''t help but wonder: how many of them would dive into the study of Ancient Runester on?


    Even if they were learning theoretical runic magic, his influence ensured they wouldn''t disregard the existence of practical runic magic.


    He didn''t expect all of them to contribute to the field of Ancient Runes, that was unrealistic. But in a decade or so, when they spanned various professions, who could hinder the rise of practical runic magic research?


    As the ss concluded, Felix dispelled the Thought Chamber magic. The students wore expressions of wistfulness; they seemed to have suddenly be less capable. Feeling the ''loss'' of knowledge was diforting, but many students were invigorated, eagerly anticipating the next lesson.


    Felix smiled as he looked at them, "You have two assignments for today. Hand them in next week. First, write a two-foot-long essay discussing how you might appropriately utilize today''s lesson; Second, using what you''ve learned in the past five years, create aprehensive map of Ancient Runes knowledge. In the next lesson, I''ll guide you to view this knowledge from a ''different perspective.''"


    "Trust me, yourprehension will bepletely transformed. ss dismissed!"


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 Chapter 264: The Room Behind the Curtain

    Chapter 264: The Room Behind the Curtain


    Seventh-year wizarding students streamed out of the ssroom, their faces still bearing a dazed look, as if they hadn''t fully returned to reality. As they reached the corner of the corridor, a Ravenw girl with brown skin announced loudly, "I''ve already reserved an Outstanding in the N.E.W.T. exam for Ancient Runes!"


    Her words acted as a switch, igniting a torrent of discussion among them.


    "Ha, I thought the same!"


    "This ss was truly spectacr. I can''t believe the next one is scheduled for Friday..."


    "Yeah,pared to Professor Harp, my mind feels like it''s overrun with weeds."


    "Do you think Professor Harp''s words make sense?"


    "Well, I had ns to join the Ministry of Magic, but now I''m wavering. My parents both work there, and their lives aren''t as good as outsiders might think."


    "Really? Care to share..."


    Penelope leaned in to Percy and asked in a hushed tone, "Is your goal still the Ministry of Magic?"


    Percy hesitated for a moment or two, then grew resolute. "Yes, I also yearn for the future Professor Harp envisions, but I have to seize the reachable opportunities right in front of me."


    "But you won''t miss Professor''s sses, will you?"


    "What a joke," Percy said, "I will give it my all!"


    Over the next day, these seventh-year students appeared in other ssrooms, their heightened excitement and detached state catching the attention of other professors. Felix''s actions and his words spread among the faculty.


    Felix thought someone would approach him for a conversation, but everything remained calm.


    In the evening, he sat in his office, jotting down his thoughts ¡ª


    "The Room of Thought''s magic is growing stronger, to the point where even I find it somewhat unfamiliar. Without resistance or obvious defense, I can instantly pull the surface consciousness of a dozen or more people into the Room of Thought. This was the basis of today''s lesson. Two branches can extend from here ¡ª"


    "First branch, the offensive direction; however, the Room of Thought can''t truly harm the opponent. After all, what''s brought over is just an external mapping of true consciousness. If the opponent resists, the attempt fails. It''s challenging to use in actualbat in the short term."


    He paused, heavily underlining the phrase "challenging to use in actualbat." The faintly terrifying prospect presented by this direction alone made it impossible for him to give up.


    Imagine, at some point in the future, him toppling an array of wizards with just a nce...


    "Second branch, the auxiliary direction, used for elerating thought and teaching Ancient Runes. The former is incredibly useful for bothbat and learning, while thetter¡ª"


    Felix stopped to contemte. "Combining the Room of Thought with Memory Charms yields equally astonishing results. I have a real chance to be one of the greatest teachers in history."


    He thought again: "Whether it''s a cause for celebration or regret, knowledge can''t be forcibly infused. A person''s memories are intricate, and hasty alterations can lead to unforeseen consequences. Even with my ''Obliviate All'' spell, it only minimizes the side effects, not eliminates them."


    "Most Memory Charm operatives at the Ministry of Magic usually erase memories from the past few hours, but those whose memories are erased generally suffer from a day or two of forgetfulness and sluggish reactions... I''ve tested this firsthand on a dark wizard."


    "And to instill knowledge isn''t a slight, subtle change. Its impact on a person is immense..."


    "For now, I''ve barely maneuvered around this limitation. Its true effect is in expediting learning."


    A series of names shed through Felix''s mind: Severus, Dumbledore, Lockhart, Professor Vector, the Longbottoms... whether active or passive, they all contributed to improving and advancing the Room of Thought. This was why, in just a year and a half, Felix had transitioned it from a reluctant use to one of utmost fluidity and mastery.


    Not to mention, he had undergone a major upgrade in Memory Magic and received substantial support from the Restricted Section of the Hogwarts Library...


    Felix delicately picked up the parchment and silently watched as they turned into ash without a sound, only to reform within the Room of Thought.


    Rolling them into a cylindrical parchment tube, Felix secured it with a thin, silver-green cord drawn from thin air.


    Skillfully navigating a stack of books piled upon a deep chestnut carpet, he stood before emerald-green curtains. The curtains, devoid of any breeze, rolled up high to reveal the towering portal behind them.


    Touching the door''s handleless surface, Felix gently pushed, and the door opened soundlessly.


    Beyond the doory his true inner world, harboring his deepest secrets and memories.


    Stretching out before him was a lengthy room with a central aisle extending straight ahead, seemingly without an end. On either side of the aisle stood tall bookshelves, filled with books of various shapes and styles, each cover depicting different stages of himself.


    In the corners of the shelves, various letters, photographs, memory orbs, and simr odds and ends were on disy.


    Taking strides forward, Felix found the room brightening gradually. He stood before one of the bookshelves and, aided by the gentle glow, patiently counted thebels: "Memory Magic ¨C Room of Thought ¨C Theoretical Deductions ¨C Got it!"


    He ced the small parchment tube on the shelf, muttering with a hint of frustration, "Hmm, this room keeps changing. It takes forever to find things every time..."


    Exiting from the room behind the curtains, Felix watched the deep-green curtains descend once more, obscuring the heavy door, before turning back to the real world.


    In the Ancient Runes office, he checked the time and waited in silence¡ª


    "Knock, knock!"


    "Come in¡ª"


    The office door swung open, and Hermione entered with an almost conspiratorial air.


    "No one saw you, Miss Granger?"


    "No, Professor. You told me to keep it a secret." Hermione said lightly. She had been at dinner when Professor Harp''s guardian spirit suddenly appeared, clutching a nk card in its beak.


    As her magic touched the card, it filled with tiny words: "Time Turner, tonight at eight, keep it secret."


    Hermione had anxiously waited until past nine, then used the Time Turner to travel two hours back, arriving at this point.


    Felix nodded, beginning with a question, "What are your thoughts on yesterday''s attack by Sirius ck?"


    He intended to use this question to lead into his suspicion about Scabbers, but Hermione surprised him by going straight to the point, or rather, to the shock.


    "Professor, we suspect¡ªRon''s rat might be a problem!" Hermione whispered, her voice trembling with excitement.


    "How... did you figure it out?"


    "It was Harry," Hermione said, "the night before our third year started, he overheard a conversation between Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Mr. Weasley said, and I quote, ''He''s at Hogwarts, he''s at Hogwarts...''"


    Hermione''s voice sharpened, "We thought ck''s target was Harry initially, but yesterday''s attack proved otherwise, at least not the primary target. And when webine ck''s odd behavior, which urred right after Scabbers was given a newspaper by Percy¡ªthat''s what Fudge said, during the time when he gave the three broomsticks and the teachers speech¡ªwhen we add all this to ck''s attack on Ron, we specte it''s the article about the Weasleys winning the Daily Prophet''s prize..."


    Hermione was still sharing her thoughts, but Felix had already sighed in admiration. It was an appreciation for Hermione''s sharp mind but also a sigh of disappointment towards Fudge''s negligence. After all, all of this traced back to him.


    Though, to be fair, Harry and his friends had acquired these pieces of information earlier, it was only yesterday that they truly connected the dots. Felix hadn''t been that fortunate; he had linked these clues based on Sirius''s Animagus form and his abnormal attack on Ron.


    The most crucial lead in all of this was Animagus, and following that thread, many things could be deduced.


    "...Harry and I haven''t told Ron yet, Merlin, if this is true, he''ll be so devastated."


    "Miss Granger," Felix sighed, "there is indeed a possibility, which is why I brought you here. I originally thought¡ª"


    He shook his head lightly, "I need to change my approach."


    "Since you''ve reached this point in your investigation, I hope you realize the potential danger and prioritize your safety."


    Felix summoned three coins that could transform into serpent-fighting rings and ced them in Hermione''s hand. "I prepared these for the Runes Club, a few days ahead of time shouldn''t be an issue."


    "You can use these to contact me in case Harry forgets to carry his Sneakoscope again... Three of you are more reliable than just one.


    Also, keep your bead pouch on you at all times. It can momentarily ward off a snake¡ªunder sudden provocation, an ordinary dark wizard wouldn''t stand a chance against you.


    If you spot Scabbers, knock him out immediately, no hesitations. Then find a nearby professor to alert them, or contact me directly."


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 Chapter 265: Twins and the Whomping Willow Trap

    Chapter 265: Twins and the Whomping Willow Trap


    The next morning, freezing rain mixed with snowkes fell from the sky, forming a smooth and transparentyer of ice on the ground. Young wizards had to carefully navigate through the courtyard and open spaces.


    "Ouch!"


    Just out of the infirmary, Ron stumbled and fell to the ground. He struggled to get up, but the ground was incredibly slippery. Luckily, Harry extended a hand to help him.


    He watched enviously as the twins conjured a pair of ice-skating shoes for themselves and glided around the courtyard.


    "Wanna give it a try, Ron?" Fred appeared in front of him, winking.


    "Nah, thanks," Ron grumbled. He knew he would end up even worse if he tried, "Don''t you guys have ss?"


    "Don''t talk nonsense, of course, we do," Fred said, "Hey, George, watch out¡ª"


    Harry watched as George slid over rapidly, waving his arms desperately, "Oh no¡ª" He ended up tumbling with Fred, both of them diving into a snowdrift. Their clothes, cuffs, cors ¨C everything was covered in snow. Even their eyebrows had turned white. They pointed at each other''sical faces and burst intoughter.


    Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged nces. "Let''s go, we still have quite a few sses today."


    "Wait, Harry!" Fred caught up, his arm draped over Harry''s shoulder. He spoke quietly to him, "Listen, the secret passage is blocked..."


    "What?" Harry said incredulously, not immediately grasping the situation.


    "The secret passage, the one leading to Hogsmeade, Harry." Fred gave him a meaningful look, and suddenly, Harry understood.


    He stammered, "That map..."


    "It''s not about the map. Yesterday, we wanted to sneak into Zonko''s for some supplies, you know¡ª" Fred winked at him, "Dungbombs, fireworks, and the like. But the statue of the one-eyed witch on the fourth floor seemed to have died, and then Filch''s cat appeared. We had to make a quick escape."


    Harry suddenly realized. It was a chain reaction after the ck attack. The professors were on high alert for any sudden intrusions into the castle. If something like that were to happen, the castle''s defenses would bepromised, and either he or Ron could easily get stuck in the dormitory.


    "Harry!" Ron called from a distance.


    "Anyway, we''ll have to rely on the passage behind the Whomping Willow. George and I are nning to explore it. Wait for my good news," Fred said before leaving.


    "Wait¡ª" Harry reached out, watching the twins run off. He wanted to tell them that he had been grounded by Dumbledore, confined to the castle except for sses and asions with professors around. He couldn''t even visit Hagrid''s hut casually anymore.


    Afternoon brought clear weather atst. Harry and the others finished lunch and stepped out of the Great Hall, breathing in the fresh air.


    "By the way, Harry, what did Fred tell you?" Ron inquired curiously.


    Harry informed Ron and Hermione about the situation. Ron looked disappointed, "So, that means you can''t even use the Invisibility Cloak to go to Hogsmeade?" Hermione, on the other hand, visibly rxed.


    She told Ron, "Don''t forget, you can''t either. Professor McGonagall told you directly, until they catch ck, your treatment is the same as Harry''s."


    Ron''s face contorted, "I''ve been trying to forget that."


    Harry exchanged a nce with Hermione. They hadn''t told Ron about their suspicions regarding the rat yet. Despite Ron''s constantints about Scabbers being useless, Harry knew Ron still cherished the rat. He changed the subject, "Maybe we can check out the Ancient Runes ssroom this weekend. I heard it''s quite popr, and we barely got to explore during thest club meeting."


    "I''m actually more interested in trying out your Firebolt," Ron said.


    Harry''s mood grew gloomy. "Don''t dwell on it. Wood went to see Professor McGonagall, but it was no use. We can only wait."


    Hermione immediately turned her head elsewhere, pretending to be very interested in the distant scenery. But suddenly, she pointed in the distance, "Oh my goodness, look at that¡ª"


    They were standing on a slope in the open area, and from their vantage point, they could catch a glimpse of Hagrid''s hut and a corner of the Forbidden Forest. At this moment, the irritable Whomping Willow was thrashing its whip-like branches wildly, and two small ck figures were running towards it frantically.


    "It''s Fred and George!"


    They hurried towards the Whomping Willow, but due to the slippery ground, they fell multiple times along the way. When they reached the scene, they found Professor McGonagall angrily scolding the twins.


    "What on earth were you thinking¡ªhaven''t you had Herbology ss? How dare you provoke the Whomping Willow... Gryffindor loses fifty points and a week of detention. Can''t you show some sense at this crucial time¡ª"


    McGonagall''s anger hadn''t subsided, she turned her head, "And you three, Potter, Weasley, Granger, what are you doing here again? I told you just yesterday to stay within the castle."


    "P-P-Professor, we saw Fred and George in danger..." Harry said.


    McGonagall''s tightly knit brows eased slightly. "Very well, there''s a reason behind this, but I hope you won''t resort to such excuses in the future. Come back with me."


    The Weasley twins hung their heads and followed behind McGonagall. As they passed the three, Fred exaggeratedly mouthed:


    Trap~


    It wasn''t until evening that they saw the unlucky twin brothers again.


    Fred plopped himself down between Harry and Ron, showing no sign of being sullen from his detention. He said with enthusiasm, "You can''t even imagine what we encountered today."


    "A crazy Whomping Willow?" Ron said with a teasing tone.


    "Much more interesting than that," Fred''s eyes sparkled. "George and I were being cautious, ready to retreat at any moment. Until we saw an entrance near the Whomping Willow''s roots, very well hidden. George spotted some strange green stuff..."


    "It seemed to be some kind of branch, slightly familiar, but not much of it was visible, so I couldn''t identify it," George regretfully said.


    Fred continued, "So, we decided to get closer, and the Whomping Willow started thrashing like a gnome that had swallowed Weedkiller. We quickly ran away, hoping it would calm down. But..."


    "We got surrounded. The professors descended upon us from the sky," George said with a mixed mood. "Headmaster Dumbledore, Professor Snape, and of course, Professor McGonagall."


    Harry and the others listened in astonishment. This was far more thrilling than anything they had witnessed.


    Ron looked incredulous, "So you''re still alive?" He reached out and lifted Fred''s arm, but it suddenly dropped, and Fred made a mocking face at Ron.


    Finally, George said, "Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor Snape left after a nce, leaving Professor McGonagall to sort things out ¨C which means us. I bet she regretted bing Gryffindor''s Head of House at that moment..."


    The twins soon departed, having gleaned some information from Harry, like the fact that the Whomping Willow trap was likely meant for ck. "Cool~" However, they also unusually turned serious and focused their attention on the uing Dueling Club that had been rumored before the holidays.


    "We can make some money from this."


    Ron stared at his two brothers'' retreating figures and suddenly said, "I know what they want. A shop in Diagon Alley. The family can''t afford it."


    Harry''s lips parted, but he didn''t voice his willingness to lend them money. He knew the twins wouldn''t ept it.


    The door to themon room swung open, and Neville walked in.


    "Have you noticed Neville''s a bit different?" Hermione said thoughtfully.


    "Have we?"


    "I can''t quite describe it, maybe he seems more spirited?"


    Harry stared for a while and judged, "He''s probably gained more confidence. I had a simr expression after my special training."


    "Did Professor Lupin say something to him? Only Neville was kept after ss today."


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 Chapter 266: Reconciliation

    Chapter 266: Reconciliation


    In the office, Felix Harp was still reminiscing about the recent events ¡ª


    He and Narvaez stood before the clock tower, gazing at the distant scenery. The overcast clouds had transformed into freezing rain and snowkes, making this evening''s twilight unusually splendid. Although there were no colorful hues refracted by the clouds, the orange sunlight seemed vast and all-epassing, an unobstructed spectacle.


    "A magnificent sight, isn''t it?" Felix whispered.


    Narvaez nodded. He opened his mouth to say something, but it felt like his lips were glued together; he couldn''t seem to open them no matter how hard he tried.


    "I believe I owe you an apology, Narvaez," Felix began, although Narvaez''s gaze remained fixed on the outside world, he could sense the professor''s eyes upon him.


    "I, ahem! I mean, Professor Harp, it should be me who should express gratitude. You cured my parents, inspired my talents... I, I..." he trailed off, his face reddening.


    Felix changed the subject, "How are your parents?"


    Narvaez seemed to exhale in relief, "Mom and Dad are doing well. They spent Christmas at home, and everyone was joyful. Grandmother got tipsy, even though she didn''t have more than a few sips... Uncle Algernon mostly drank most of the alcohol."


    "After the holiday, Mom and Dad returned to Saint Mungo''s for follow-up treatment. These years took a toll on their vitality; they need to recover for a while. But Aunt Merriam said these were minor issues. The previous treatments were hindered by memory damage, and many methods couldn''t be employed..."


    Narvaez paused and continued, "Before school started, they asked me to convey their gratitude to you." He pulled out a parchment from his pocket and handed it to Felix.


    Felix took the letter, sealed with a golden-red wax emblem. The emblem bore a three-dimensional L-shaped design, quite formal-looking. His fingers lightly brushed the wax seal, and the parchment opened on its own. Inside was a sincere thank-you letter and a golden-red card woven from metallic threads.


    The card bore a list of names ¡ª


    Augusta Longbottom, Algernon Longbottom, Enid Longbottom, Frank Longbottom, Alice Longbottom, Narvaez Longbottom...


    Felix solemnly put away the card and thank-you letter, "I will reply with a formal letter, and if necessary, I will pay a visit in person." Narvaez looked at him nkly, "Oh, uh... I will pass it on to Grandmother ¡ª and Mom and Dad."


    For the next while, they both silently watched the sun setting in the west, starting as a hazy half-sky tint and gradually descending until the sun''s shadow disappeared. Yet its brilliance remained gilded on the distant horizon.


    Felix suddenly spoke, "Narvaez, you''ve taught me a lesson."


    "What?"


    "It''s incredibly hard for a person to transcend all they''ve experienced. Most decisions they make are rooted in scenes from the past, like a mental cage that''s invisible and intangible. But when you want to make a choice, it''s constantly influenced by that cage."


    "The frightening part is, the person inside the cage isn''t self-aware. If, at such a moment, someone can be there to wake them up, to offer hints, to show them a broader world, their perspective can take a significant step forward."


    "Narvaez, you''ve yed that role before."


    Narvaez''s breath quickened; he turned to face Professor Harp.


    Felix continued, "Your feelings toward me must be quiteplex ¡ª gratitude, resentment, respect, disdain... a mixture of emotions that leaves you unsure how to face me, am I right?"


    Narvaez lowered his head, looking at his shoes; he suddenly had so much to say, but he held it all back.


    "I just said, a person''s actions are influenced by the past, and I''m no exception. The more profound the past, the more far-reaching the impact. When I was nning this scheme, subconsciously, memories of my student days came to mind. I tried to use myself as a temte, attempting to replicate my experiences onto you."


    "Professor, was your magical outburst... really terrifying? But you did defeat the entire Slytherin house, didn''t you?" Narvaez whispered.


    "Ah... even Dumbledore wasn''t born invincible. When he was eleven or twelve, he might not have been able to beat Harry either. Of course, we''re only talking aboutbat ability, not wisdom."


    Narvaez found this statement a bit odd. Was Professor Harp saying that Harrycked wisdom or just acted recklessly? But considering that they wereparing him to Headmaster Dumbledore, the greatest wizard of their time, Narvaez let it go. Instead, it felt like an honor and praise.


    "I''ve actually been quite fortunate," Felix Harp chuckled. "Students in my year couldn''t best me, and the upper years were restricted by school rules, only able to watch. After all, the punishments were quite severe back then..."


    "But if you can''t resist attacking older students, you''re no longer under protection. People should be allowed to defend themselves, right? So, for a long time, they kept nagging in my ears. Initially, I thought they were immature, just skilled at running their mouths, like buzzing flies. But over time, some negative feelings umted."


    "Coincidentally, due to certain special reasons, perhaps because of talent... my magic is more active, much more active than an average person''s. That''s why I''ve experienced several magical outbursts."


    "Actually, it hasn''t affected me much, but I naturally attributed it to the product of negative emotions."


    Narvaez suddenly grasped the insight. So that''s how it was. He had been thinking so hard for the past few days, but he couldn''t quite figure it out. Professor Harp was incredibly powerful, yet he had been pushed to multiple magical outbursts. Now he understood ¨C it was because of his unique talent.


    He couldn''t help but envy the fact that Professor Harp and he wereplete opposites ¨C his magical ability was too inert, and his talent wascking...


    However, now everything was improving.


    Felix Harp carefully observed the expression on Narvaez''s face and smiled, "Well, I''ve revealed quite a few of my secrets. Will you keep them for me? Do you feel more at ease now?"


    Narvaez bashfully lowered his head. He hesitated before saying, "Professor, I''m just temporarily trying to wrap my head around this."


    Felix kindly said, "I hope to address the issues openly. I admit there were some improper considerations on my part. I hope to gain your understanding."


    "Professor, I guess I''ve been overly fixated." Narvaez scratched his head, giving a simpleugh.


    "Well then, like a true man, how about a handshake?" Felix extended his hand.


    Narvaez blinked his eyes and shook hands with the professor.


    "Narvaez, I''d like to invite you to join my magical literature club. Would you be interested?"


    "Can I, even though... my grades aren''t outstanding?"


    "Everyone notices your diligence, and besides, I believe I have the authority to select suitable members."


    "I''d definitely love to!"


    Finally, thest trace of light was swallowed by the earth, and night descended.


    A slightly distressed voice echoed from the clock tower, "I''ve noticed something ¨C we seem to have missed dinner. Shall we head to the kitchen? I''ll introduce you to a friendly house-elf named Yunbo. Hopefully, he''s read the cookbook I gave him... there are a few dishes I''ve been longing to have."


    ...


    As the reminiscence concluded, Felix Harp sat on the couch, his tone rxed, "Isn''t this quite nice?"


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 Chapter 267: Dueling Competition Registration

    Chapter 267: Dueling Competition Registration


    On the third day after the end of the holiday, Felix Harp finally received a response from the Ministry of Magic. The letter was from Walther Cedric, the advisor to the Minister of Magic. He expressed no objections to rescheduling the speech for Friday and suggested Felix arrive half an hour early as there were some matters to discuss beforehand.


    "If you don''t have time for a meal, the department will provide a hearty lunch," Walther wrote in the letter.


    ...


    The contents on the school bulletin board always stirred discussions among the students. As the Thursday afternoon sses concluded, young wizards noticed a new notice posted on the bulletin board: there would be a small-scale duelingpetition during the first Dueling ss of the uing month.


    At the bottom of the notice was the emblem of the Student Council, along with the signatures of the male and female Student Council presidents.


    Students read the rules aloud: "All students from first to seventh year are eligible to participate. They need to sign up with their respective House Prefects, and the lists will bepiled and given to the Student Council President every day."


    "The duelingpetition will be held by grade level, with participants within the same year facing off in pairs until the top student of each year is determined, earning them a prize. The first-ce student from each year can challenge upwards, while seventh-year students can only wait to be challenged... Wow! I love this rule; it really takes care of those little first and second-year troublemakers."


    Several second-year students next to him gave him angry res.


    "Are you going to sign up, Draco?" Pansy Parkinson, dressed in a deep green skirt, asked in a soft voice.


    "Why not participate when it''s a legitimate way to show people their ce?" Draco''s gazended on a few Gryffindor students. "I happened to learn an interesting spell during the break."


    He and Pansy strolled away leisurely, his drawling voice echoing behind them, "That Weasley actually embarrassed me in the club, iming I only cry out for daddy''s help and cheat... It was that big oaf Hagrid''s pet chicken that injured me first, and I had bandages on my hand for two weeks!"


    News of the duelingpetition spread quickly. Rumors suggested that the winner could receive a prize of a hundred Galleons or choose anything from the prizes prepared by Professor Harp ¨C from advanced magical puppets and mirrors with unique functionalities to magical potions, and even Professor''s own creations of unknown magical writings.


    On that afternoon, Penelope Clearwater, the Ravenw female Student Council president, confirmed the news, and the young wizards were exhrated.


    The Weasley twins added fuel to the fire, announcing that the first-ce seventh-year student would receive a pair of Lover''s Spectacles for free. These were the trendiest items at the moment, with orders backed up until April; they were practically impossible to get.


    The twins didn''t lose out either; they sessfully marketed their idea and introduced a second design for the Lover''s Spectacles.


    The Heads of Houses had never felt their houses were so full before. Now they were constantly surrounded, answering various questions. When the time came for actual sign-ups, the young wizards hesitated.


    Mostly because many of them felt they didn''t stand a chance. They naturally switched from the perspective of participants to that of spectators. That evening, fresh lists were published, listing seed yers from each grade and promising young wizards from different houses.


    The ranking function on the parchment provided a strong reference, particrly in Dark Arts Defense ss, as it was closely rted to dueling and was seen as a barometer for thepetition''s oue.


    Although the duelingpetition was still far off, they had already organized private bets among themselves.


    On Friday morning, the seventh-year students arrived for their second Ancient Runes ss of the week. As Felix walked into the ssroom, he noticed the students were already gathered ahead of time.


    Increased enthusiasm, eh?


    However, ording to the n, he had to wait until next week after the students hadpleted their assignments before starting the practical lesson on Mind Room magic. After all, too much of something could devalue its worth.


    "Today, we''ll proceed with the theoretical portion¡ª"


    "Professor," Percy raised his hand and stood up to represent the whole ss, "We havepleted the assignment from the previous ss, including the essay and the knowledge map." He approached the front and handed over a stack of parchment.


    "Hmm?" Felix Harp epted it with surprise, and Percy said earnestly, "Not a single one missing, I''ve checked thoroughly." He looked at the students below, and they nodded vigorously.


    Felix quickly nced through the stack; it was indeed true. He even found Marcus''s essay, though the spacing between words was a bit excessive and there were many paragraphs, but it was genuinely two feet long.


    Setting the assignments aside, he smiled, "Very well, then I shall advance next week''s material."


    The students found themselves once again drawn into that magical ssroom. The space stretched into the distance, flowers and nts sprouted from the ground, wand trees emerged one by one... They watched in astonishment, chattering and whispering to each other. Several students couldn''t wait and left their seats to explore around.


    Wood was particrly eager to see if he could snap a branch of the wand tree. But it started growing rapidly, throwing him far away.


    "Aaah!" Among the surprised expressions of others, he quickly got up from the ground, grinning, "Not painful at all!"


    Inspired by his demonstration, many couldn''t resist trying it themselves.


    Felix cooperated with keen interest, controlling the wand trees and sending those who dared to try flying into the air. They screamed as they fell from dozens of feet high, hitting the ground with a "thud."


    After some yful moments, everyone''s attention soon returned to the professor, their eyes filled with hope.


    Before they could speak, a magical parchment with an ancient aura condensed from the air and lightly fell into their hands.


    "Today''s lesson is quite simple. We will examine the knowledge we''ve previously learned from a different perspective."


    Felix waved his hand, and the assignments the students had just turned in appeared in front of them. "Take another look at your own essays and identify the issues. Later, I will guide you through these concepts, and you will discover that they form a clear and intricate connection..."


    Felix intentionally ended the Mind Room magic half an hour earlier, allowing them time to organize their insights.


    As one of the few in the ss who struggled academically, Marcus Flint discovered for the first time that he could easily follow the professor''s reasoning. Learning wasn''t about racking one''s brain but about passionately advancing forward. He finally understood the joy of learning.


    As a repeat year student, his requirements weren''t high¡ªhe just wanted to pass and graduate smoothly. But now, perhaps he could be a bit ambitious, aiming for an E?


    ...


    At noon, Felix Harp arrived a bit earlier than the appointed time at the visitor entrance of the Ministry of Magic¡ªa red telephone booth.


    "Wee to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and purpose of visit."


    A female voice spoke, identical to what Felix had heardst time he attended Bellby''s awards ceremony, even the indifferent tone hadn''t changed.


    "Felix Harp, invited to give a speech for the Ministry of Magic staff."


    After a moment, a square, silver badge slid out from the coin slot. Felix pinned it to his chest, and as the floor slowly descended, his expression grew expectant.


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 Chapter 268: Unexpected Encounter with Newt

    Chapter 268: Unexpected Encounter with Newt


    The door of the telephone booth swung open suddenly, and Felix strode into the opulent and magnificent foyer, making his way to the inquiry desk.


    "Good day. Could you please tell me where the Second Meeting Room is?"


    A middle-aged witch with golden hair nced casually at the badge on his chest. Various signs were posted on the bulletin board behind her, but these were obscured by an exaggerated wanted poster. "Felix Harp... Oh, Mr. Harp, Mr. Cedric has instructed. Please follow me."


    "Apologies, madam, but I haven''t registered my wand yet."


    The witch said warmly, "That''s not a necessary step, dear. I''ve heard you''re a Muggle Studies expert? I have a copy of ''Simple Spells to Confound Muggles'' at home, but I haven''t really looked into it. Can''t tell the good from the bad... Little Tim always makes a mess of the house."


    With Felix in tow, she led him to the area with elevators, ncing at the floor numbers. "We''re headed to the fourth floor... Oh, watch out!" As she spoke, a group of paper airnes flew into the elevator through the gaps in the goldenttice door. She exined, "These are notes the Ministry uses to pass messages¡ª"


    Once these paper airnes entered the elevator, theyzily circled on the ceiling. They were a pale shade of purple, bearing the stamp of the "Ministry of Magic" on their wings.


    "¡ªWe used tomunicate with owls before. You can imagine the air quality here... and the problem of droppings. After switching to these little things, the cleaning workload for the Ministry has been reduced by a third."


    "Forgive me, but I haven''t learned your name yet?" Felix had to interject to catch a breath in the conversation.


    "I''m E Defina. Now, where was I? Oh, right¡ª" She began to tell the story of how her five-year-old son managed to draw the entire Quidditch League emblem using a bag of flour. "He''s going to lead the national team to victory," she said proudly.


    "Mrs. Defina, I''ve heard that L.C.A. Serial Publications recently released a popr new series ofics."


    "Really? I haven''t paid much attention. What''s it called?"


    "It''s called¡ª"


    The elevator stopped, and two wizards entered from outside. One was a red-faced man with short brown beard, wearing a ck wizard robe. The other was an elderly man with graying facial hair, dressed in a coarse gray tweed overcoat over a brown vest.


    The elder tilted his head slightly. "Amos, your procedures are wed, seriously wed. And you''ve been beating around the bush all this time. I can tell Tina taught me a lot."


    Amos, the wizard in the robe, said uneasily, "I know you care deeply about the environment for the Hippogriffs, but this matter really doesn''t concern you, does it? You''re not even their owner."


    "I can''t simply ignore it because they have an owner. I''m just fighting for their legal rights."


    "But you''re retired, Mr. Scamander."


    "In theory, I''m just not going out much... but I haven''t stopped working. If you knew how much work I do in a day, you wouldn''t think that way."


    "Your ''Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them'' has already been revised up to the 52nd edition. Why notplete another edition?"


    The old man gazed at the side of the other''s face. "I do have that n, but... we''ve gone off-topic. To reiterate, I''ve beenmissioned by friends, including three caring youngsters, to scrutinize the workflow of the Ministry. I believe you hired me as a consultant not to remain silent."


    "Of course, many magical creature reserves in the Ministry need your insights."


    The elevator stopped on the fourth floor, and the two walked out¡ª


    "Mr. Harp, we''ve arrived as well," said Defina from the front desk. Felix nodded his head in acknowledgment. "Thank you. Is it on this level? I can find my own way."


    He took a few steps, then turned back. "By the way, the name of the book is ''The Adventures of Young Wizard Micky.'' Several bookstores carry it."


    Felix followed the two wizards, watching as they halted before the door of a spacious office. He looked up at the sign that read "Department for the Regtion and Control of Magical Creatures."


    The wizard in the ck robe entered the office, leaving the elder waiting outside. Felix approached, "Mr. Newt Scamander?"


    The elder turned his head slightly, his gaze sliding over Felix. "You are..."


    "Felix Harp, Ancient Runes Professor at Hogwarts," Felix introduced himself. "We just met in the elevator."


    Newt''s gaze settled on him. "Yes, yes, that''s right... Mr. Harp, I''ve heard your name. Rolf mentioned you."


    Felix continued, "I was quite interested in your research during my school days. I collected some clippings, but unfortunately didn''t find much content."


    "In my early years, I did publish a few articles, but they weren''t taken seriously then¡ª" Newt said, "That was a long time ago."


    "For a period during my school years, I was fascinated with how to interact with them, of course, while ensuring I wouldn''t get hurt," Felix exined.


    Newt''s eyes lit up. "That''s the essence of my research ¨C rescuing, nurturing, protecting... I also teach other wizards to understand them rather than fear them¡ª"


    "So, Potter and the others eventually found you?" Felix said. "I overheard a few things in the elevator. I assume you were discussing the case of the Hippogriff attacking students at Hogwarts."


    "Potter? Harry Potter?"


    "Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and, of course, at the heart of it, Rubeus Hagrid and his Buckbeak."


    Newt nodded. "That''s correct. They wrote to me, saying a Hippogriff was being treated unfairly and asking for my help. Honestly, I''ve been away from the Ministry for many years, and things have changed since I left. Sorry¡ªthings have changed a lot."


    He tilted his head back, adopting a disappointed expression. "Tina advised me to focus on writing, but when you see certain things, you can''t just ignore them. If the Erumpent horns start glowing, there has to be a response. Do you get what I mean?"


    The Erumpent is arge, rhinoceros-like magical beast. It stores a deadly fluid in its long, sharp horn that causes anything injected with the peculiar venom to explode.


    "We can''t tolerate injustice that happens right before our eyes," Felix expressed his understanding.


    "Exactly. You summed it up well. Oh, wait a moment, I need to deal with a little trouble." Newt swiftly reached into his pocket, producing a silver pocket watch. The watch abruptly expanded and contracted, looking as if it was about to explode.


    "Mr. Scamander¡ª" Felix widened his eyes, quickly casting a human transfiguration spell on himself.


    "Don''t worry, it''s not a bad thing," Newt hurriedly reassured. The front lid of the silver pocket watch sprang open, revealing a beak-like, pink snout that extended outward. The next second, a palm-sized Snidget crawled out of the watch, deftly climbing onto Newt.


    In quick session, two more Snidgets appeared. One of them immediately faced the smooth cover of the pocket watch, smoothing its ck, soft fur, while the other seemed interested in the silver chain of the watch.


    Felix observed them with curiosity. These were small, furry creatures, resembling a cross between a mole and a Niffler. They had an extraordinary obsession with shiny objects.


    "Hey! Valen, Sall, Sop, calm down a bit," Newt muttered softly. He skillfully caught the Snidget perched on his shoulder, struggling to unfasten the silver button. He then tucked it back into the pocket watch. The other two Snidgets were also tossed inside, and the front lid was closed.


    Newt looked around to make sure no one was watching before slipping the pocket watch back into his pocket. He winked at Felix. "Technically, I''m not supposed to bring my magical animal friends along... but they were just born not long ago, and I can''t help but worry."


    Well, I can''t finish this anymore. More tomorrow, I promise!


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 Chapter 269: Avery

    Chapter 269: Avery


    Recalling the palm-sized Snidget he had just seen, Felix Harp understood that the adult Snidgets were at least a foot in size.


    Newt nced at him, then peered back into the office where Amos''s voice sounded rather exasperated, "Where are those forms ced, anyway?"


    "Can I be of assistance?" Newt asked.


    "What?" Felix looked at him somewhat bewildered.


    "I need to administer some potion to them... These three are a bit frail, not as strong as their fellow siblings."


    "Of course," Felix thought for a moment and said, discovering a unique quality about the old man. It was a mixture of seriousness and innocence, a feeling he had only seen in underage children.


    "What should I do?"


    "Just hold on for a momentyes," Newt shifted his body, taking out a silver pocket watch from his pocket, then retrieving a thumb-sized ss bottle from another side. He unscrewed the lid, and Felix noticed that the cap wasbined with a dropper.


    "Just three drops..." Newt focused on the watch, "I''m about to open it, Mr. Harp."


    Click.


    The front cover of the watch popped open, and a small ck creature immediately sprung out, agilely leaping in Newt''s palm


    "Herees Snidget!" Felix whispered, watching Snidget''s t palm pping continuously, but it futilely flew back, caught in Newt''s hand.


    "Thank youonce again, you, Valen, you should be feeling better now." Newt looked at the little creature and said, while Snidget in Felix''s hand turned away, murmuring a few words.


    "Hey, you can''t talk like that," Newt said, then he looked up, "You''re holding her a bit ufortably, Mr. Harp. Not gripping, I know you''re not using forcebut it''s better to cradle her."


    Felix adjusted his grip.


    "Excellent, now open up, Valen. You wouldn''t want to fall ill, would you?" Newt addressed Snidget Valen, who reluctantly opened its mouth, and Newt dripped three drops of transparent potion into it.


    Subsequently, he ced the little creature back into the watch, but Valen immediately stuck out half its head, "Oh, no no!" Newt pointed his finger at its pink snout, locking eyes with its shiny ck ones, "Summon your two brothers."


    Snidget remained unresponsive, Newt tilted his head, "I insist, Valen."


    With reluctant hums, it retreated its pink snout and vanished inside the watch. A cacophony of noises emerged from within the watch, as if Newt was exining to Felix, "Their sibling rtionships areplicated."


    Soon, another half of a Snidget''s body peeked outalthough Felix couldn''t discern their differences.


    "Sar, here you go" Newt dripped three drops of potion into its mouth, "Now, it''s Sop''s turn."


    As hepleted the task, he finally let out a sigh of relief. Newt noticed Felix''s gaze and said to him, "Snidgets are lively creatures, quite lively indeed. They''re friendly with humans, of course, I don''t rmend personal ownership, they might wreck your house"


    "They''re interested in coins as well?"


    "Yes, if you''re not careful, they can cause a mess. You always manage to shake out a bunch of shiny things from them," Newt said, "However, being around them is joyful, you canpete with them in finding coins, see who''s faster... Their sense of smell is also extremely sensitive, they can help you find people or some old items."


    Newt suddenly stashed the watch back into his pocket, adopting an appearance of tidying his clothing corners. After a couple of seconds, a young man walked out of the office, dressed in an exquisite and vibrant green wizard''s robe, a round badge adorning his chest.


    "Mr. Scamander, I heard from Diggory that you''re here."


    "I feel like I''ve seen you somewhere before," Newt said.


    "Indeed, because I''ve been working here... for quite a few years," he looked up, indicating the sign on the office door, "I''m Mr. MacNair''s assistant."


    Newt furrowed his brows, "Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures?"


    "We''re often misunderstood, but someone has to do this job," the young man suppressed the arrogance in his eyes, "Mr. Scamander, the Hippogriff herd in Iy, Anterim County, is getting restless. It''s best you go take a look."


    The Iy Hippogriff was a type of flying horse with chestnut mane, and along with Thestral, Granian, and Nightmares, it was recognized as one of the four mostmon breeds of flying horses.


    "Oh... this shouldn''t be... the mating season," Newt said puzzled.


    "Who knows what those beasts are thinking?"


    "Has their leader changed?"


    "Probably not... so I suggest you pay a visit and investigate."


    "What about their environment?"


    "Nothing there either."


    Newt earnestly posed one question after another, the young man struggling to respond. His words became increasingly concise, and sweat formed on his forehead. By the end, even Felix, who wasn''t that familiar with these Hippogriffs, could sense the contradictions in his words.


    Newt looked into the young man''s eyes for the first time, "Perhaps... my knowledge tells me that you''re lying... you want me to stay away from here."


    The young man averted his gaze unnaturally, but he immediately realized it and forced himself to meet Newt''s eyes. "That''s a serious usation, Mr. Scamander, as a pureblood"


    "Forgive me," Felix couldn''t help but interrupt him, "I''ve always felt that your way of speaking is familiar. Are you Chesterton?"


    Chesterton turned to look at Felix, a hint of impatience in his expression, "And who are you? Can''t you see us, weFelix Harp?"


    His tone twisted with excitement.


    "Yes, it''s me, Chesterton." Felix greeted.


    The young man appeared a bit flustered, "Oh... hello, I didn''t know..." After a dozen seconds, he finally calmed down, "Long time no see, Mr. Harp."


    Felix nodded, "Indeed, it''s been a while. You were a Prefect when I started at Hogwarts, and your words left quite an impression."


    "Is that so... I, I don''t quite remember." Chesterton said.


    "By the way, what family are you from?" Felix asked bluntly.


    Chesterton muttered something.


    "I didn''t catch that..." Felix fixed his gaze on his eyes.


    "It''s... cough, Ever... EverChesterton stammered, "Everard."


    "The head of the Everard family is your..."


    "Maternal uncle."


    This wasn''t a particrly pleasant conversation, at least not for Chesterton. After exchanging a few words, he attempted to leave, "Mr. MacNair might need me..."


    Felix watched his departing figure, while Newt stood silently at the side, asionally casting a curious nce.


    At this moment, Amos finally emerged, sweat dripping from his flushed face, "These forms haven''t been used in years, found them in the previous member''s cab, infested with bugsWho are you?"


    "Felix Harp, I work at Hogwarts," Felix said.


    "Goodness," Amos''s eyes widened, "You''re the Professor of Ancient Runes and the head of the Dueling Club?"


    Felix curiously nced at him, was this someone''s parent? He said, "That''s me"


    "Over the holidays, Cedric mentioned you, Cedric Diggory, my son." Amos excitedly said, "That boy''s a bit shy, but he really admires you. He told me you''ve given him a lot of extra pointers in the Dueling sses... and about the power of spells, it''s remarkable..."


    "Cedric, indeed, he''s quite outstanding and excelled in Ancient Runes as well."


    "He''s also the captain of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team! I was talking to his mother recently, whether he should join the Ministry or the national team after graduation... she told me to ask for the child''s opinionhaha..." Amos continued to chatter away like all parents in the world until a tall man hurriedly walked over from the other end of the corridor.


    "Mr. Harp?" the tall man said, "I''m Walsh, the one who''s been corresponding with you. You finally made it"


    "What happened? I arrived an hour early."


    "Minister Fudge is waiting for you," Walsh Siddlewick said, grabbing Felix''s arm, "Sorry, Diggory, but I have to take your friend with me."


    "No, no problem, urgent matters take precedence," Mr. Amos said.


    Felix halted his steps, causing Walsh to stumble a bit, "Oh, wait a momentI need to say something," he looked at Newt, "Mr. Scamander, regarding Hagrid''s case, I''ve also been keeping an eye on it. We''ll have a chance to talkter."


    Newt hadn''t spoken yet, but Amos beat him to it, "The lecture at two o''clock today? They said the Muggle expert is you? I''ll definitely go to see that, Mr. Harp."


    Felix smiled at him and then left with Walsh.


    Newt spoke thoughtfully, "Muggle expert? His attire is indeed quitefortable."


    Thank you for reading this far! You can ess more chapters from HERE by joining my <b>Patreon</b>munity. You''ll gain exclusive early ess to the <b>COMPLETE NOVEL</b>.


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    Don''t let this amazing opportunity slip through your fingers!

 Chapter 270: Speech

    Chapter 270: Speech


    Welsh Sidrick led the way ahead, hurrying forward. "We need to hurry. Minister Fudge can''t wait much longer."


    Felix said, "I didn''t know I would have to meet with him."


    "It was ast-minute decision. Minister Fudge has a busy schedule every day. Originally, he wouldn''t have paid attention to these small matters, but... here we are."


    He pushed open a heavy door, revealing an ancient and dignified reception room.


    The decor in the reception room was simr to the third reception room Felix had visited before. There were rows of glossy ck chairs, and at the front of the room stood a small podium.


    "This way," Felix was led under the curtains at the side of the podium, passing through an inconspicuous door, into a more private room.


    Fudge was solemnly engrossed in reading a newspaper, a thick stack of clippings beside him. Hearing the sound, he looked up and smiled warmly, "Felix Harp, delighted to meet you."


    "Minister Fudge, I believe we''ve met before. What brings you to me?"


    "Ah, of course... when Dolores wrote to me, I realized I had missed an outstanding individual." He patted his protruding belly, and the shiny copper buttons struggled to keep his dark red vest from popping open. "An expert in ancient magicalnguages, a Muggle studies specialist, and a master of hidden-memory trauma therapy. I must say, I envy you."


    Felix understood. It seemed that news of him curing the Lumbatons had finally reached the ears of the Minister, courtesy of Dolores Umbridge.


    "Bernie in the Wizengamot Office has already submitted a proposal, now we''re waiting for the confirmation from Saint Mungo''s. If all goes well, you''ll receive a Second-ss Order of Merlinthis is the basic level. The First-ss Order isn''t out of the question either."


    "Sounds promising," Felix said slowly.


    "I need to persuade some people, pull some strings..." Fudge said, his chubby fingers intertwining. "I enjoy making deals."


    "Such as?" Felix asked curiously, wondering what ns Fudge had in mind.


    "Dolores has run into some trouble, and I want her to take on the role of Deputy Minister. But her qualifications fall short at the moment. She needs an irrefutable achievement, like... capturing Sirius ck, of course, under my guidance." Fudge said, toying with his quill.


    Felix patiently replied, "I can''t help you catch him. The Ministry has plenty of Aurors and operatives for that."


    "Well, what I mean is... if you can convince Dumbledore to have Dolores bring a group into Hogwarts... believe me, it''s for the good of the students. ck is an extremely dangerous criminal. He''s capable of anything." Fudge said indignantly.


    Felix looked at him deeply. "I will consider it, Minister Fudge." ncing at the time, he continued, "The speech is about to begin. I need a few minutes to prepare."


    Fudge clearly hadn''t expected such a straightforward refusal. He hesitated, "I await your response. I''ll have Dolores contact you."


    "I might not have the time in the near future," Felix said. "Perhaps I could arrange a meeting with Dumbledore for you?"


    "Or... actually," Fudge hesitated, his voice a bit embarrassed, "It might not be necessary... well, I will talk to Dumbledore."


    Exiting the room, Felix shook his head. He couldn''t quite tell if Fudge had genuinely stumbled upon his visit or had nned it all along. But from the emotions he sensed through Legilimency, Fudge wasn''t one to give up easily.


    He couldn''t help but wonder: Did Fudge truly ce so much trust in Dolores Umbridge? Didn''t he know how unpopr she was? Standing at the podium in Reception Room Three, looking out at the sea of people below, Felix suddenly had a thought:


    Perhaps it was precisely because of Umbridge''s unpoprity that Fudge chose to rely on her. At least in the eyes of outsiders, anything vile she did wouldn''t reflect directly on Fudge.


    He thought of the rtionship between ancient monarchs and their sycophants. How many of the sycophants'' deeds were truly inspired by the rulers themselves?


    Felix''s gaze swept over the audience. He began his speech.


    "Some of you may know me or have heard my name, but many might be unsure of my role. So far, I have written three books on Muggles, making me somewhat of an expert in that field." He raised his wand, causing his name to appear in the air.


    Felix swiftly moved through the introduction and delved into the topic of the day.


    "I assume you''re all here today out of pure interest or perhaps willing to gain some fresh insights due to your work..."


    "From the guest list, you are likely the group most closely connected to the Muggle world. In a way, you and I are aligned. We are the wizards looking outwards."


    "But how many of you truly realize this?"


    The crowd murmured, Newt Scamander in the corner watching the cracks in the walls, his ears perking up.


    A tall, well-proportioned wizard with sparse stubble on his lips spoke in a rigid, indifferent tone, "Why should we care about these lesser beings?"


    "Sir, what''s your name?" Felix calmly asked.


    "You can call me McNair," he grinned, "Mr. Harp, do you have an issue with what I said?" Chester next to him tugged his arm, but McNair still locked eyes with Felix.


    "Lesser beings..." Felix mulled over the phrase. "You need to provide me with a concrete reason, Mr. McNair. You''ve just expressed your emotionsyou''ve let us know that you despise Muggles very much. But that''s not a reason."


    McNair''s expression changed. He sneered, "Ignorant, powerless, chaotic... do I need to continue?"


    "Ah," Felix looked at the others, "Does anyone else share this view? I''d like to see."


    No one expressed agreement. On the contrary, many were unhappy with McNair''s words. Most of them were half-bloods or wizards with Muggle heritage.


    Felix waited quietly for a few seconds, allowing time for contemtion. The air was filled with noise, but no words were discernible, like listening to a tape with its sound washed away.


    Finally, Felix spoke, "I will address your question, Mr. McNair, at the end of my speech."


    He waved his wand, casting a shimmering silver light that quickly spread like mist throughout the Third Meeting Room. With a gentle flick of his finger, the mist vanished instantly.


    Using fragments of nk memories, Felix had managed to conjure the Room of Thought temporarily into reality.


    "Today, I''d like to introduce some simple things: clothing, food, shelter, transportation for non-magical people."


    "The ''Secrecy Act'' signed in 1682 is an intriguing milestone. Since then, our understanding of the outside world has seemingly been frozen in time. Even as new blood joins the wizardingmunity every year, this situation hasn''t changed much," Felix said, seemingly reflecting.


    "But back to the point, clothing in the Middle Ages was rather in in terms of color and material, mainly ck, white, gray, and brown. The materials were primarily linen, wool, and leather. The styles were somewhat akin to the snug wizarding robes we''re familiar with. Some nobles and elites of that time would also wear cloaks. Does this sound familiar to you?"


    From thin air, figures of people materialized, their faces vague but their clothes distinct. A wizard couldn''t resist reaching out to touch, but his fingers went through the apparitions.


    "In the centuries that followed, more elements were added: capes, embroidery, patchwork..." Felix exined, and the corresponding clothing styles manifested rapidly. borate and exquisite garments drew the attention of many witches.


    "From the 14th to the 17th centuries, people focused on curves, reaching an almost unhealthy extreme with hoop skirts, corsets, and shoes several inches high" With a flourish of his wand, the images appeared, ter, there were sashes,ce cors, long-buttoned coats, feathered hats, voluminous skirts..."


    "And we mustn''t forget the smaller details like bows, floral decorations,ce, and so on."


    The discussion in the room grew lively.


    "In the 18th and 19th centuries, there was a preference for natural simplicity," Felix continued. Architecture styles and interior designs representing various eras appeared one by one; the closer they got to the present, the more sophisticated and enticing they became.


    "As for the following periods, there are too many to cover. I''ll let you see for yourselves," Felix smiled, giving a nod. He pushed his hand forward, conjuring hundreds and thousands of garments of varying styles. They soared toward the wizards below, causing many to instinctively lean back until they realized these were mere illusions.


    "So incredibly lifelike," someone eximed in awe.


    Felix continued, "Starting from the simplest clothing, we can draw many interesting conclusions: the constant evolution, the ongoing creation of novelty..." he lightly touched on this, not delving too deep. He then changed the topic and posed a question, "Has anyone considered how these clothes are made?"


    "Hand-stitched?" someone joked, "Surely not with magic?"


    But no oneughed.


    Except for Felix, who chuckled, "My new book, ''Magic in the Muggle World,'' exins this question in detail. Those interested can take a look. If I were to exin it now, it might take three days and three nights. Let''s continue"


    The pace of his speech increased: "Developments in food" he waved his wand, showcasing various dishes from different eras, bing more delectable and enticing the closer they were to the present;


    "Housing" a variety of architectural styles and furnishings appeared one by one;


    "And transportation" vehicles onnd, sea, and sky emerged.


    With the groundworkid, no one questioned the authenticity of these three aspects, but due to the sudden influx of information, many felt dazed.


    After a few minutes, people began to regain their senses.


    Felix raised another question, "Why am I talking about all of this,dies and gentlemen?"


    His gaze turned sharp, fixed on each person present. Subconsciously, they looked at Felix, seeking an answer.


    "Change. The only thing I want to convey to you is change."


    He looked at McNeill, the man with the sparse beard, who seemed lost in thought. Felix addressed him, "Regarding the question you raised, Mr. McNeillwhy should we look at the outside world?"


    Step by step, Felix approached him, standing before the man.


    "Because the world never stops moving forward due to a single person or group. If you fail to perceive this change, terms like ignorance, powerlessness, chaos... they could all be applied to you as well. Do you understand now, Mr. McNeill, following your own logic, can I despise you? Or manipte you at my whim?"


    McNeill''s heart turned cold, as if plunged into icy waters. He trembled uncontroblythis feeling, he''d experienced it decades ago, from the Dark Lord.


    Walsch Sidrick had to step forward, whispering, "Mr. Harp, you can''t"


    Felix smiled at him, "Mr. Sidrick, this is also a part of the lecture, a carefully prepared example. You see, I haven''t even taken out my wandMr. McNeill is cooperating with me."


    McNeill suddenly realized he could move again. Felix returned his wand, saying, "Keep hold of your wand, it''s your greatest pride."


    McNeill stood still, if the wand was pride, then what did that make the person who had taken it away? Felix returned to the small podium, preparing to conclude today''s lecture.


    "Just as I said, time always moves forward, and change follows closely behind. This is the trend. Just like waves crashing ashore, the best response is to move forward with them."


    A young wizard raised his hand, as if in a ssroom, "But Mr. Harp, what should we do?"


    An intense emotion surged within Felix; he wanted to vent, to passionately expound, maybe even forcefully imnt his thoughts into their minds. But he did nothing, merely calmly stating, "Perhaps this is a question that needs exploring by our generation together."


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 Chapter 271: The Thoughts of Fudge

    Chapter 271: The Thoughts of Fudge


    "I detest change."


    In a small room behind the curtains, Fudge sat gloomily on the other side of a door, deep in thought. When alone, his expressions were unguarded, and anyone seeing his face would never associate him with passivity orck of initiative.


    Only after the visitors in the reception room dispersed did he step out from the room. Walworth Sidrick returned once more, standing before Fudge.


    "Minister, Mr. Harp has already left. He departed with Mr. Scamander; they seemed to be acquainted."


    "Is that so?" Fudge murmured softly. Scamander, another name that didn''t evoke pleasant feelings. His breathing grew heavy, as if trapped in a web, sinking deeper with each struggle, unable to break free.


    And at the center of this web stood an old man with silver-white beard and deep blue eyesthis man was Albus Dumbledore.


    No one wanted to be a puppet. Though in the beginning of his tenure, to secure his position, he made three trips a day to Hogwarts, positioning himself alongside the greatest wizards of the time. After years of such gestures, he finally cemented his ce as the Minister of Magic.


    Yet, in the past year or two, he''d done so less frequently. Especially after his outstanding performance duringst year''s protests at Beauxbatons, where he earned himself several points. Interestingly, Felix Harp was present there too, a significant figure at the time.


    Thinking of this, Fudge scratched at his growing unease. He inquired of Sidrick, "Has Barty Crouch made any recent moves?"


    Sidrick understood his implication. "Not really. He''s been preparing for next year''s Triwizard Tournament, or should I say, the Quadwizard Tournament... Who knows? There have been suggestions to involve more countries. They''re definitely going to have to readjust the Triwizard Cup, why not add a few more?"


    Fudge nodded gently. Barty Crouch was a formidable contender just below him. In fact, had it not been for the scandal involving his son''s coboration with three other Death Eaters in torturing the Longbottoms, which tarnished his reputation after the war, Fudge wouldn''t have caught the opportunity to take over.


    Not long afterward, Crouch''s wife passed away, and his son died in Azkaban. This left Crouch in a slump, confined to the International Magical Cooperation Department. But Fudge wouldn''t forget how the iron-handed Head of the Magical Law Enforcement during the war had made his mark.


    Equally strong-willed, the former Minister of Magic, Mirasen Bagno, had favored Barty Crouch as her sessor. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, certain events came to light.


    Fudge pondered and then asked about the organization of the Quidditch World Cup. Sidrick''s expression turned sour this time. "Progress isn''t smooth. Mr. Bagman has just started, he sent his subordinate Bertha Jorkins to investigate the site''s environment. But Miss Jorkins is notorious for her poor memory; she can''t even keep simple reports straight..."


    Fudge'' face turned red; he looked as though he wanted to punch something. He clenched his anger and said, "What''s Bagman doing himself?"


    "Um... he attended a fan gathering for the Wimbourne Wasps a couple of days ago. You know, even though he''s retired, he''s still one of the most popr Beaters."


    Of course, Fudge knew. Ludo Bagman had been a remarkable Beater in his youth, which was why he eventually became the Director of the Magical Sports Division. Bagman had even faced usations of passing information to the Death Eater Augustus Rookwood, but due to his ster performance in the Quidditch match the previous week, people held him in such high regard that he managed to escape unscathed.


    Barty Crouch was the judge in that trial...


    A thought stirred in Fudge'' mind. He inquired softly to Sidrick, "What do you think about putting those two together?"


    "What?"


    "Barty Crouch and Ludo Bagman, there''s no need for them to divide our interests. Let''s have them work together on the Quidditch World Cup and the Triwizard Tournament."


    "This..." Sidrick was tempted to scratch his head. These two individuals didn''t seem to match well at all. He couldn''t help but recollect the impressions they left on him


    Barty Crouch was extremely solemn and serious, a man of strict discipline. The impression he left on Ministry members was one of resolute toughness during the war and impartiality during post-war trials. He had even personally convicted young Barty Crouch.


    On the other hand, Ludo Bagman was the exact opposite. An international athlete with boundless energy and a simple mind, despite not being young, his round blue eyes, short golden hair, and rosyplexion attracted anyone who saw him. All of this made him appear like a big-hearted boy.


    Sidrick attempted to imagine the two of them working togetherMr. Crouch would be preparing to discuss important matters, only to find that he couldn''t locate Mr. Bagman. Thetter would either be meeting fans or busy cing bets on some Quidditch match.


    But speaking of which, Mr. Bagman did have an uncanny knack. Half of his wealth had been acquired through gambling. Maybe Fudge should also consider participating in this year''s Quidditch World Cup betting. Rumor had it that Bagman was quite generous and enjoyed involving others...


    "Wilkins?"


    Walworth Sidrick snapped back to reality. He pondered carefully and finally offered a vague suggestion, "Mr. Crouch is serious and Mr. Bagman is enthusiastic. Their cooperation might... yield unexpected benefits?"


    "Then it''s settled," Fudge said decisively. "You bring it up in the next meeting, and I''ll support your proposal."


    "Understood."


    "Also, what''s Umbridge up to? Why did I hear that she went to Diagon Alley, and I''ve received severalints."


    "Minister, it''s actually Knockturn Alley. We received urate intelligence that Sirius ck appeared there, attacking a wizard. It seems to be a dark wizard... Anyway, he managed to steal his wand."


    Fudge frowned; this wasn''t what he had expected. "Send her back to Hogwarts," he wanted to say Hogwarts, but Dumbledore was strongly against it, and given the unpleasant incident with the Dementors running wild before, this matter brought back some headaches. And to think this could be rted to Felix Harponly Merlin knew how surprised he was when he learned the Dementors had shrunken.


    Since then, he had been paying attention to this person. His previous titlesa Muggle expert, a Hogwarts professordidn''t amount to much, at mostmendations for his potential. But recently, this man''s name had been frequently mentioned in his ears.


    Suppressing the attack by Beauxbatons students on the international conference venue; curing the Longbottoms, sentenced to death by the Dementor''s Kiss; and drastically shrinking Azkaban''s Dementor guards...


    On the surface, there was no connection, but all of this actually represented one thing: strength. This Felix Harp possessed remarkably strong practical abilities.


    ''Is he another Dumbledore? How can I make him work for me?'' These thoughts churned in Fudge''s mind.


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 Chapter 272: The First Collaboration of the Club

    Chapter 272: The First Coboration of the Club


    Felix and Newt exchanged addresses. Felix learned that after retiring, Newt and his wife lived in the countryside of Devon County, where they had a "spacious" underground sanctuary for magical creatures in need.


    "I don''t always keep them, more like a healer. Once the ''patients'' are well, I let them return to nature," Newt told him.


    Although he had guessed the answer, Felix still inquired, "Mr. Scamander, if you don''t intend to gain something from them, how have you maintained your love for them over the years?"


    Newt smiled and replied, "How do you maintain love? It''s because of the love itself, of course."


    ...


    The next weekend, at the meeting of the Magical Arts Club, Felix presented the Ring of the Serpent''s Embrace to the members.


    He flipped the emerald green coin in his hand, deftly maneuvering it between his fingertips. His actions quickly captured the attention of the students. In the next moment, the coin transformed into a small snake, coalescing into a serpent-shaped ring on his right pinky.


    With a wave of his wand, dozens of coins flew out from a corner table, uratelynding in front of each young witch and wizard.


    "Consider it your bted Christmas present."


    "It can rece the copper knuts I gave you before. It has two formscoin and ringyour choice. If you want it to transform into thetter, just think ''unlimited'' and infuse it with magic. You can try it now"


    The club members extended their hands, letting the coins fall into their palms, feeling their weight. Navimol, attending her first gathering, traced the patterns on the coin''s surface. It exuded a unique and substantial sheen, yet didn''t feel like metal. She looked up at Harry, who mouthed to her, "Basilisk scales."


    Harry had learned this from Hermione, who had learned it from Professor Snape. When Harry first heard about this, he was surprised. He thought the Basilisk had been returned to the Chamber of Secrets after the incident. But Hermione informed him that Basilisk materials were valued magical ingredients and had been divided among the professors...


    Navimol''s heart raced as ifpleting a ritual. She enunciated clearly, "Unlimited." The coin in her hand transformed, bing a slender, emerald green snake in the blink of an eye.


    Cradling it, Navimol tentatively asked, "Do you know how to do it?" The little snake slithered onto her right pinky, coiling twice and twisting into a Serpent''s Embrace ring.


    The most excited ones were the Slytherins. Draco Malfoy, as soon as he saw the snake-shaped transformation, grew fond of it. He couldn''t help but touch its head with his index finger. It didn''t feel slippery as expected; instead, it was a warm touch, like being carved from an emerald gemstone.


    The little snake raised its head, its shining ck eyes meeting his gaze.


    Draco extended his finger, and the snake swayed its body, winding around his finger and forming a circr loop. He gleefully looked left and right, catching sight of Pansy Parkinson and Daphne Greengrass. Their eyes were wide open,pletely captivated.


    Others reacted more calmly. They didn''t reject the snake motif, but they didn''t show excessive fondness either. Cedric contemted asking if he could have a different form, but he realized that this "snake" wasn''t the emblem of Slytherin House; rather, it was the symbol of alchemy, representing the philosophy endorsed by the Magical Arts Club and Professor Harp himself, so he refrained.


    Then he heard Professor Harp''s voice


    "Its materiales from a thousand-year-old Basilisk. You should have some impression of it, the one in the Chamber of Secretsst year. I discovered that Basilisk scales possess extremely potent magical inertia, making it difficult to channel magic through them. However, they also serve as excellent materials for isting and storing magic."


    "I used Basilisk scale as the vessel, inscribing runic symbols with powdered African tree snake skin and bird snake eggshell. That''s how you have the Ring of the Serpent''s Embrace you see before you."


    When African tree snake skin was mentioned, Hermione swiftly nced at the professor. She knew that this material was an importantponent in brewing the Antidote to Common Poisons, but she didn''t know it could also be ground into powder for runic inscriptions. Considering that Professor Harp had spent a considerable amount of time pondering the usage of Basilisk scales, trying various approaches, she found this exnation quite eptable.


    Felix began his demonstration. Waving his hand, he revealed a set of practical runic symbols near his wrist. Then, he brought the ring on his right pinky closer to them. Suddenly, the Ring of the Serpent''s Embrace started to move, the snake''s mouth opening and swallowing each of these symbols. It then returned to Felix''s hand, transforming back into a ring.


    "In my experiments, I found that it can store magical runes for an extended period, significantly slowing down the process of magical diffusion. Although I haven''t discovered how this benefits me yet, it''s quite apparent that it''s advantageous for all of you"


    Under the gaze of everyone, he tapped the snake''s head, and the snake spat out the sequence of runes it had just swallowed. Felix unveiled the answer, saying, "As long as you sessfully outline a runic symbol, you can retain and analyze it for an extended period until you''repletely familiar with the structure of the rune."


    Felix''s lips curled up. "So, we have our theme for todaycoboration and exchange."


    "In the previous club meetings, you all have mastered at least one practical runic symbol. Now, I need you to exchange with others, acquiring runes that others excel in. A minimum of twenty each."


    He nced at Hermione and added, "You can exchange with the same person for up to three runes." Otherwise, these students would only need to find Hermione.


    Draco couldn''t help butin, "Professor, this isn''t fair. Slytherins here are the fewest."


    "Hmmvalid point," Felix responded readily. "In that case, let''s add another condition. You can''t exchange with someone from your own house."


    The other students exchanged puzzled nces. Felix smiled and exined, "You should have realized that I want you to get to know each other. In the previous meetings, you all sat with your housemates. But that''s not conducive to future coborations..."


    "Now, let''s begin."


    The club members sprang into action. It was evident which house was the most popr. Gryffindor, Ravenw, and Slytherin students gathered around the Hufflepuffs, implying that they were in demand.


    Sixth-year Hufflepuff student Petra Selwyn couldn''t help but exim, "This is an unexpected turn of eventsOh, Warren, you''re here too!" She giggled.


    Ravenw''s Warren Partis wore a straight face. "Stop teasing. I''ve helped you quite a few times..."


    Ever sincest year when Professor Harp had called them up to participate in an Ancient Runes knowledgepetition before they even had answer parchment they had engaged in a friendly rivalry. asionally, they would work on assignments and research together in the library. It was a unique camaraderie they had built.


    At least, that''s how he saw it.


    Harry stood on the outskirts of the crowd. He was never good at handling such situations, especially ones where he had to initiate social interactions. However, when he noticed that Draco Malfoy didn''t seem too pleased either, his mood instantly lifted. It felt like being back in Diagon Alley, enjoying an ice cream at Florean Fortescue''s on a sunny day.


    Draco caught Harry''s gaze and sneered softly, "Potteryou''re as annoying as Macadamius, why don''t you roll back to your Punching Telescope?"


    Harry looked at him in astonishment. He didn''t care about Malfoy''s sour attitude their rtionship had never been amicable. But what came out of Malfoy''s mouth was quite unexpected


    "Have you read ''The Little Wizard Mick''s Adventures''?"


    "No, no way!" Draco immediately denied.


    Harry stated with certainty, "You definitely have. Macadamius and the Punching Telescope are both things from the book," he suppressed a smile, "And you''ve at least read the third volume."


    Draco''s face darkened abruptly. He opened his mouth several times but couldn''te up with a retort.


    Celebrating the third Patron of this bookthanks to Patron AD98 for the support!


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 Chapter 273: Unexpected Events During the Patronus Charm Practice

    Chapter 273: Unexpected Events During the Patronus Charm Practice


    The verbal spat with Draco Malfoy temporarily pushed aside Harry''s inner turmoil. However, Professor Harp seemed intent on keeping them on their toes, casually remarking, "Time is not always abundant, children. You must make the most of it."


    The crowd dispersed further, individuals pairing up like headless flies.


    "Which incantations have you mastered?"


    "Illumination, mes, and Severing. What about you?"


    "I only know Illumination and Livestock."


    Pressed for time, they shared the core meanings of the most essential incantations. Luckily, their thoughts aligned. Until Harrypleted an exchange, he remained oblivious to the identity and house of the person across from him.


    He discovered that it wasn''t as difficult as it seemed, prompting him to seek out unfamiliar individuals for the next three rounds. This time, he even remembered to politely inquire about their names. As for their houses, they all tacitly agreed to omit that detail.


    As he shared his thoughts with Ron midway, Ron widened his eyes. "You don''t think everyone knows who you are, Harry?"


    Harry pped his forehead, the question never having crossed his mind. He spotted Hermione approaching gleefully and immediately grabbed her. "How many have you swapped?"


    "Fifteen," Hermione said joyfully. "The trick is to find older girls. They''re friendly and have less ovep with your knowledge. Wait a moment!"


    Hermione''s eyes gleamed as she approached Daphne Greengrass, whispering something with an air of triumph. Harry watched for a while and eventually noticed the two of them sneaking into a corner.


    "Are they friends?" Harry asked, aware that the girl was a Slytherin.


    "Came out of dueling practice or something," Ron said. "At least that''s what Hermione says."


    Felix Harp quietly observed, mentally noting down students who could be grouped together. While he wanted to break down the barriers between the four houses and encourage interaction, he wasn''t interested in forcing ipatible individuals together.


    Fortunately, except for a few groups, most students'' thoughts weren''t as intense as they had initially anticipated. They just needed a suitable excuse. With this realization, his uing arrangements wouldn''t appear too abrupt.


    When thest studentpleted their exchange, most had already attempted to capture runic symbols using the Serpent''s Crest Ring. Felix pped his hands, signaling them to stop.


    Silently and seamlessly, their seats rearranged, once distinct clusters now mixed.


    "Let''s discuss how to perceive the structure of objects.


    You should have encountered this in other sses, particrly Transfiguration. Sensing runes is simr in concept. There are some tricks to it, allowing your magic to gently touch them, not forcefully inject magic, as that would cause them to burst


    Imagine raindrops falling into a pond, creating ripples."


    Felix''s fingertips tapped the air, and the air seemed to take shape, slightly indenting before a faint blue magic spread outward.


    "Channel your magic, delicate but unbroken. I must remind you, this is not an incantation"


    "Boom!"


    A student caused the runes to explode, resembling an orange firework.


    "Eddie Carmichael, listen to me," Felix ushered them into a Mind Chamber, "practice here first. Otherwise, the runes you just acquired will vanish even faster than a Disillusionment Charm."


    After the gathering concluded, Felix turned to Neville. "Are you able to keep up with the pace?"


    Neville scratched his head, saying, "It''s a bit challenging, but much easier than I thought. I managed to decipher four runes."


    Emerging from the Mind Chamber, Felix finally allowed them to begin deciphering the runes themselves. The subsequent ssroom resembled a fireworks disy, though after struggling seven or eight times, most managed to find the key. They adapted the techniques honed within the Mind Chamber to real-world scenarios.


    Neville, however, was new to this, having no prior exposure. He hadn''t even mastered a single practical rune.


    "You''re doing well. I noticed you signed up for the duelingpetition?" Felix inquired.


    Neville blushed and replied softly, "I thought I''d give it a try"


    "Very well, prepare thoroughly. I recall Potter and his friends have a dueling practice group. That might be helpful for you," Felix suggested.


    Neville looked up and informed him, "I''m already a regr member there. My Stunning Spells work quite well."


    "A regr member?" Felix questioned, puzzled.


    "Um... Harry and the others don''t exclude anyone from joining. Many students have yed once or twice, and they also invite some older students," Neville exined.


    "People whoe often are given a copper Knut. If the Knut heats up, it means there''s an activity," Neville retrieved a coin from his pocket. Felix nced at it and chuckled; it was the same self-heating Knut he had crafted before.


    Except the emblem on it was changed to a lion''s head.


    As the Magical Runes Club curriculum delved deeper, some students began falling behind and chose to withdraw voluntarily. This was inevitable since, when selecting members, Felix had only genuinely qualified seven in mind. He had to lower his standards to amodate more.


    Those who dropped out midway hadn''t prepared to invest significant time and effort. Once the novelty wore off, they chose to leave. Before departing, they returned the copper Knuts that were used to notify meeting times.


    For Felix, these Knuts were transitional items. During their crafting, he hadn''t even added basic protective spells. Now, they had been reced with the Serpent''s Crest Ring.


    He casually ced the self-heating Knut in the discard area, nning to dispose of them when he found the time. It seemed his assistant had discovered them and even studied them privately...


    Gryffindor Common Room.


    Harry recounted the unexpected encounter from his visit to Professor Lupin''s office, where he practiced the Patronus Charm, to Ron and Hermione.


    Hermione eximed, "You saw Voldemortyou saw the mysterious person?" Others in the room nced over, and she muffled her voice, "How is that possible? Weren''t you afraid of Dementors?"


    "I thought so too," Harry said with a shudder, "Professor Lupin found a Boggart in the staff room. He said there are ways to fool a Boggart, but I declined."


    "I genuinely believed my worst fear was Dementors, but then the Boggart turned into Voldemort clinging to Cho''s back, thenter into a serpent...," Harry exined.


    Ron marveled, "It must have been confused or something. Who would have two worst fears?"


    Harry elucidated, "Professor Lupin suggested it''s a possibility. Usually, it''s fears of the same type, like if you''re scared of spiders, the Boggart might transform into different spider forms. My case seems to be rare. He theorized it might be because the Boggart couldn''t find something that would truly drive me to lose control, so it''s alternating between them" he concluded with a wide grin.


    Hermione raised an eyebrow, "I think it might be due to that Dementor toy''s influence... how many times have you yed with it?"


    Ron emphasized, "It''s not ying, Hermione. It''s about getting used to facing the feeling of Dementors. Look, Harry''s not that afraid now."


    Hermione huffed, then turned to Harry, "But how will you practice the Patronus Charm?"


    "Professor Lupin managed to fool the Boggart temporarily, making it believe my greatest fear was still Dementors. However, he asked me to bring the Dementor toy next time to show him...," Harry shrugged. "He said he''s never heard of anything like it."


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 Chapter 274: "Absolutely No Thorns"

    Chapter 274: "Absolutely No Thorns"


    "Perhaps Professor Lupin... hiss~"


    A sudden gust of cold wind swept into Ron''s cor, causing him to swallow the remaining half of his sentence. He examined the window of themon room and cautiously picked up a piece of broken ss. "There''s actually a hole here, hasn''t anyone fixed it?"


    Impatiently, Hermione said, "It''s just a matter of casting a spell, can''t you give it a try?"


    Back in their dormitory, Ron said to Harry, "Maybe it was her cat, I find it a bit odd, especially the way it looked at me..."


    Harry didn''t pursue this topic, nor did he tell Ron about the fact that he had tossed Crookshanks off his bed two or three times. In his mind, the cat seemed to have a peculiar fondness for Scabbers'' scent. Even after his disappearance, it often came around, perhaps regretting not getting a snack? But Harry couldn''t be certain that if Scabbers were still here, he wouldn''t have been driven to suddenly be a dark wizard due to the cat''s pestering. "Maybe he couldn''t bear Crookshanks'' harassment, so he left," he thought. In a way, this cat seemed to have saved both him and Ron''s lives.


    As Harry took off his clothes and searched for a new topic, he asked, "By the way, what were you about to say just now?"


    Ron''s hands, which were about to take off his shoes, paused, and he furrowed his brow, carefully recollecting, "I was going to say, maybe Professor Lupin intended to use your Boggart-banishing spell doll instead of the boggart."


    After a few seconds, Harry suddenly realized, and he eximed excitedly, "You''re right, Professor Snape wrote on the card that the doll could help me. I originally thought I could use it to ovee my fear of the boggart, to prevent another mishap during the Quidditch match. But now, it seems that Professor Snape had foreseen this day long ago."


    Ron chuckled as he changed into his pajamas, "Well, the difference isn''t that big. You used it to convince Wood to let you continue in the match. Remember, the first time he saw that thing, he nearly passed out..."


    Even though Ron was exaggerating a bit, Harry couldn''t help but burst intoughter, especially when he imagined the burly Wood shrinking into the chair like a kitten.


    From the bed across the room, Neville mumbled sleepily, "Harry? What''s going on?"


    "Nothing, just go back to sleep," he quickly replied.


    Lying in bed, Harry hoped fervently that he wouldn''t miss the uing Quidditch practice, just like how Hermione never missed any of her elective sses - it was magical, but he wanted the results.


    ...


    In the following days, besides attending sses and going to the library, Felix spent a considerable amount of time sorting through ancient magic - the instructional steps for the Lumos spell - which he had borrowed from Dumbledore.


    He was preparing this as an end-of-term reward for the club. Although this magic could only be considered an infinitely enhanced version of the Wand-Lighting Charm, both its effects and safety were satisfying.


    The only consequence of this magic going awry was draining the magic of careless learners. Compared to the examples of spells backfiring and reducing someone to ashes or desating them into mummies, this one was quite friendly.


    Felix nned to break down this ancient magic and incorporate the knowledge into the uing club meetings, teaching it after the end-of-term exams.


    Additionally, hismunication with Nearly Headless Nick resumed. Even though they onlymunicated through photos, Felix keenly sensed a hint of mncholy in Nick''s words. His heart sank involuntarily, Dumbledore''s words resurfacing in his mind: Nick''s wife might not make it through this winter...


    But Nearly Headless Nick avoided discussing this, and Felix could only pretend not to know, avoiding reopening the old wounds of the elderly ghost.


    Perhaps during the summer break, he could talk to Nearly Headless Nick about staying with him for a while.


    During this period, Mundungus contacted him several times, sending over a few ancient alchemical products. He even presented an exquisite piece of silverware. From its craftsmanship, Felix deduced that it was crafted by the hands of a fairy, and such items were always valuable. It was clear that the owner had used it frequently. Felix spected that it might havee from a pure-blood family.


    Montague tentatively inquired if he wanted more. He had a stable supply, which only further confirmed Felix''s suspicions. He couldn''t help but reflect that even some seemingly prestigious pure-blood families were discreetly selling off their assets.


    In the first Dueling ss of January, Felix exined the rules of a small-scale duel and arranged for some older students to demonstrate. Besides the prohibition on using Dark Magic, the restriction on using semi-permanent Transfiguration, high-risk curses, and potions, there weren''t many limitations.


    "In thispetition, we''ll strive to mimic real-life conditions. The venue won''t be a dueling stage. With the coboration of several professors, we''ve decided to make full use of ssroom Seven. Yes, the one that was converted from the Ancient Runes ssroom."


    "There''s still a month until the official duelpetition begins. You can prepare adequately."


    In this Dueling ss, apart from the information Felix divulged, the most eye-catching figure was Neville. His Silencing Charm sessfully incapacitated several opponents, surprising those who knew him.


    Neville''s heart was pounding. It was the first time he had won so swiftly and cleanly. Seeing Harry give him a thumbs-up, he grinned. After being awakened by Nearly Headless Nick, he yfully thumped Neville''s chest, "Hey, mate, did you swallow some potion or what?"


    Although everyone was happy for Neville''s progress, his transformation also triggered a sense of crisis in many. The most immediate consequence was the intense activity within the Dueling practice group formed by Harry, Ron, and Hermione.


    In an abandoned ssroom, Ron''s face was determined. "Come on, Harry." A small group encircled him, making his expression even more solemn.


    Harry hesitated a bit but eventuallyplied. He pointed his wand at Ron and shouted, "Impedimenta!" A magical rope formed and wrapped around Ron, binding him from head to toe. Ron crashed onto the cushion with a thud.


    Running over, Harry lifted the spell and helped Ron up, whispering, "Are you up for another round?"


    "Bring it on, I want to experience your magic a few more timeshiss~" Ron grimaced, "Did your magic mutate? I feel like my arse got pricked by thorns."


    The students surrounding them all took a step back. A few girlsLavender Brown, Parvati Patillooked at them with disdain.


    Harry hastily exined, "No, it''s probably just his skin swelling, which caused the sensation. I''ve experienced it" He stopped short, realizing he was digging himself into a hole.


    Now even Ginny''s gaze towards him turned odd.


    Harry gave up on exining, and he red at Ron, irritated, and said, "Are you ready?"


    "Wait"


    "Bang!"


    Ron fell to the ground again. Harry earnestly addressed the others, "You can check, there are absolutely no thorns..."


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 Chapter 275: Confiscated Items

    Chapter 275: Confiscated Items


    Felix descended the spiral staircase, his hands empty as usual. Unlike other professors, he never carried books or parchment with him.


    Passing the office of the castle''s administrator on the first floor, he heard Lupin''s voice.


    "...I''m really sorry to bother you. If you find it, please let me know."


    Lupin''s thin figure emerged from the office, brushing past Felix. "Hello, Professor Harp," he said with a brief pause and a smile.


    "Hello, Professor Lupin. You look well," Felix replied.


    After Lupin left, Felix knocked on Flich''s office door. "Mr. Filch, are you there?" The door swung open, revealing Filch''s face from the shadows, his eyes fixated like those of a pair of goldfish.


    "It''s Professor Harp. I thought..." he mumbled, then stepped aside to let Felix in. It was a rather cramped room, adjacent to the castle''s entrance hall.


    The room had no windows, appearing dim and confined even in daylight. The sole source of light was a greenish hangingmp from the ceiling. Wooden filing cabs lined the walls, some of them packed so full that yellowed and worn corners of parchment peeked out from the crevices.


    Several chairs upied the office, but Felix had no intention of sitting. He discreetly cast a Fresh Air Charm and finally dispelled the pervasive fishy odor.


    Felix locked eyes with a cat, extremely emaciated, on the desk. Its eyes wererge and bulging, gleaming brightly.


    "She seems quite personable," Felix remarked.


    Filch was pleased that Felix used the term "she." His chin trembled as he said, "You won''t find a smarter cat than her anymore. In my opinion, she''s more human, even better than humans... At least she won''t break school rules and she''ll lend you a hand."


    Felix patiently listened as Filch recounted how Mrs. Norris patrolled the corridors. When Filch wheezed to a pause, Felix interjected, "Although she does seem a bit malnourished."


    Filch cleared his throat, seemingly surprised by the question. He stammered, "She''s a picky eater. I''ve advised her, but she only eats the fried fish I make..."


    "I have some nutritional supplements here, a very clever form, and importantly, no side effects." Felix said, brushing his right hand over his left, and a small wooden box appeared.


    He opened the box, nced at its contents with some regret, and said, "Only half remains..."


    Filch hesitated, "Liz might not like..." He retrieved a small ss bottle from the box, uncorked it, and a strange aroma wafted, overpowering the room''s fishy smell.


    Mrs. Norris immediately raised her head, staring at the ss bottle with a longing expression.


    But instead of drinking, she gazed up at Filch. He reassured her, "It''s alright, Liz. Go ahead."


    The cat emitted a contented, eerie purr, leaping off the desk and hurrying to her owner. She extended her tongue top up the bright red liquid in the bottle, not stopping until she had savored thest drop. With a satisfied stretch and a series of "purr" sounds, she curled up.


    Filch''s eyes shimmered oddly. He couldn''t help saying, "Liz has never done this. She wouldn''t touch the remedies from the pet store."


    Felix exined with a smile, "The formes from a Potion Master who earned the Order of Merlin, Second ss. It''s a creation of Professor Burbage''s, and though it was made casually, its effects surely surpass anything on the market."


    "The form"


    "I can give it to you. The preparation is quite simple, and you won''t even need a wand, although you might need some dragon blood."


    "That''s not a problem," Filch quickly responded.


    "Do you have any parchment?"


    "There" Filch swiftly opened a drawer, revealing a stack of nk parchment. Felix beckoned a piece of parchment to float in front of him with a flick of his finger, and as he stared at it, a smooth string of letters appeared on its surface.


    During this process, Filch''s eyes remained fixed on the parchment suspended in the air, his knobbly hands clenched together. Felix casually inquired, "By the way, I just saw Professor Lupin."


    "Yeah," Filch absentmindedly replied.


    "He came over"


    "To retrieve confiscated items," Filch said, his gaze still on the parchment. "Professor Harp, don''t me me for stirring things up... He can hardly be considered a good person."


    "Why do you say that?"


    Filch realized, and he nced cautiously towards the door before lowering his voice, "He wasn''t honest during his student years, always breaking school rules... Of course, he wasn''t as bad as his two friends, but I recognized him well; he was the one behind all the mischief."


    He looked at Felix and praised, "Unlike you. You were an upstanding student"


    Felix chuckled slightly, "I caused my fair share of trouble during school."


    Filch cunningly said, "Differentsir, it''s different. You never brought trouble to others unless trouble sought you out first," he pointed at the wall of cabs, "There''s a drawer for themLupin and his interesting friends. If it weren''t for Hogwarts abolishing corporal punishment..."


    He grumbled discontentedly, "Mr. Pringle timed his retirement well. Unlike me. Oh, Pringle was the former caretaker. He left behind a lot of tools; I''ve kept them."


    Felix looked at the polished iron chains hanging on the wall, shaking his head. It was understandable why young wizards disliked Filch. He had known for a long time that Filch enjoyed punishing students, and even though physical punishment had been abolished, the psychological punishment lingered.


    And Filch was constantly finding new ways to reinvent this craft and carry it forward.


    "Mr. Filch, you mentioned that Professor Lupin came to reim his belongings"


    "That''s right. Over a decade ago, he and his friends were wandering around. I searched them and found a suspicious piece of parchment,yered uponyers. I suspected it concealed a secret, so I confiscated it."


    As Filch spoke, his facial tic twitched. "You don''t know how despicable they were. After I confiscated the parchment, they acted as if it didn''t matter at all," he said with a fierce tone, "They must have thought I couldn''t decipher the secret within and would just toss it away, allowing them to sneak it back. ButI didn''t. Instead, I kept it all these years, locked in the drawerbeled ''Highly Dangerous.''"


    "And now, that piece of parchment... did you give it back to Professor Lupin?" Felix inquired curiously.


    "...It''s lost," Filch sighed in frustration. "I can''t remember when I lost it. Maybe they took it back themselves."


    "But you said Professor Lupin came to retrieve"


    "Who knows? Maybe his friends didn''t tell him, or other young wizards stole it from me over the years." Filch said regretfully.


    The parchment in mid-air descended, and Felix handed the form to Filch. "Please keep this safe."


    "Thank you, thank you"


    "You''re wee, Mr. Filch. I also got what I wanted."


    Filch stared at him in astonishment, and Felix grinned, "You see, Mrs. Norris seems quite satisfied, doesn''t she?" He gestured to the cat at his feet,zily rubbing against his trousers.


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 Chapter 276: Fame and Fortune

    Chapter 276: Fame and Fortune


    Emerging from Filch''s office, Felix was pondering over what Lupin wanted to retrieve. At present, he only knew that this item was connected to his schooldays and likely involved the secrets of ck or the enigmatic Peter.


    Removing Filch''s subjective lens, Felix extracted two particrly useful pieces of information: firstly, Lupin and his friends didn''t seem to care much when the item was confiscatedwell, at least not on the surface. But now, Lupin was fervently eager to reim it. Secondly, the item was lost, lost in the distant past, making it difficult to ascertain who took it.


    Many of the former illicit young wizards had graduated long ago.


    Lacking crucial information, Felix could only silently note it down forter use. He made his way to Hagrid''s hut where Hagrid was clearing snow from his pumpkin patch. Fang was bounding around him, exuberantly running to and fro.


    A gray Hippogriff, with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a horse, was tethered not far away. It clicked its sharp beak like clinking des as it saw Felix approach, its gaze following his footsteps.


    "Hagrid!" Felix called from a distance and patted Buckbeak''s pointed beak. The creature had grown quite familiar with Felix, tilting its head back and emitting a resonant snort, then contentedly half-closing its eyes to enjoy his touch.


    The burly man straightened up, casually nting his shovel in the ground. He strode over, beaming with joy, and said, "Felix, Mr. Scamander has responded! He did it! The case has been sent back for retrial!"


    Felix nodded. "That was my purpose ining as well. I received a reply too, Hagrid. Now, what do we need to do?"


    "Do?" Hagrid blinked, looking at him with confusion.


    "Yes," Felix affirmed, "Buckbeak''s case has been sent back. With the back-and-forth of reassignment, it might take ten days or half a month. We can''t just sit idly during this time..."


    Observing Hagrid''s baffled expression, he sighed and continued, "No reassignment means the case isn''t categorized yet, which is advantageous for us. If we can change it to a fine payment, this matter might end sooner than expected."


    Hagrid grasped the idea. "So you''re saying... no hearing, no trial, all of that is gone?"


    "Provided we proactively get involved," Felix said seriously. "My suggestion is to pay a visit to the Ministry of Magic, inquire about the progress of the case, and if possible, propose the fine. Even if that''s not feasible, we must advocate for the nature of the case: this wasn''t a sudden aggression by a tamed magical creature, but an ident caused by improper teaching."


    He concluded, looking at Hagrid, "We can''t let the initiative slip from our hands. If the Ministry''s focus isn''t on whether Buckbeak is guilty but rather on the severity of the charges, we''ll be in an extremely passive position."


    "Then I''ll head to the Ministry this afternoon!" Hagrid said excitedly, ncing out at Buckbeak. Joyfully, he added, "Did you hear that, Buckbeak? We see a glimmer of light..."


    As February arrived, Felix found his interactions with the outside world bing increasingly frequent. Mrs. Dorotia Pomfrey, the Bellbys, and the Lumbatons were understandable, but steadily, he received letters from pen pals whomunicated through correspondence.


    In these letters, they expressed their congrattions. Felix patiently waited, and not two dayster, on the same day, three exquisite letters arrived at his doorstep. One was from the Saint Mungo''s Magical Medical Association. Though it bore the name "Saint Mungo''s," it wasn''t much rted to Saint Mungo''s Hospital for Magical Mdies and Injuries. At best, it could be said they were both established tomemorate the same personMungo Pomfrey.


    The Saint Mungo''s Magical Medical Association was simr to the Wizarding Courts of Wizengamot, except it was a circle of elite healers. However, the members of this association had a closer bond and their own journal, "Dragon''s Bile and Mandrake Essence."


    Within the official letters, there was an overflowing enthusiasm for Felix Harp''s outstanding contributions to the magical medical field. It emphasized two points. First, it requested Felix to name his therapeutic method. Second, it intended to bestow upon him the "Saint Mungo Medical Badge" and extend an invitation for his membership in the Magical Medical Association.


    Regarding the former, Felix couldn''te up with anything particrly appealing, so he settled for the conventional nomenture, naming it "Harp''s Memory Healing Technique." As for thetter, Felix dly epted, responding with a letter of gratitude.


    The second letter arrived from St. Mungo''s Hospital for Magical Mdies and Injuries. The letter detailed the clinical application data of his treatment method, highlighting its remarkable effectiveness, even on stubborn memory impairments. The current head of the hospital invited him to create a magical portrait, an "honour for every founder."


    Felix struggled to imagine how his portrait would look when hung. However, considering that each portrait was akin to a pair of eyes and ears, his mild difort faded away. He inquired if he could take charge of the portrait himself, with St. Mungo''s providing the dimensions.


    The final letter hailed from the Ministry of Magic''s Wizengamot Administration, its tone serious, announcing his nomination as a candidate for the Order of Merlin, First ss. It required him to submit the necessary materials ording to the attached form, to be reviewed by all Wizengamot members.


    Felix followed each step meticulously. This was the process every recipient of the Order of Merlin in the academic realm needed to undertakeBellby had gone through the same procedurest year.


    Newspapers started to frequently feature his name. The Daily Prophet dedicated three full pages to showcasing his remarkable contributions over three consecutive days. His deeds in France were recounted anew, along with the assertion that "this is a bted honor."


    During meals in the Great Hall, Felix would often notice Hogwarts young wizards carrying various clippings and whispering in corners. Apart from the newspapers, this was also tied to his frequent reception of owl post. Felix toyed with the idea of casting a shielding charm on himself, but it was just a fleeting thought.


    One afternoon, Professor McGonagall brought in a young witch with a peculiar expression. She introduced her as, "This is a journalist from the Wizarding Weekly, and she''s here to interview you..."


    Once the routine interview concluded, the journalist started directing him to pose in various ways. Felix felt like a puppet, and after enduring a dozen or so photographs, he firmly put an end to the ordeal.


    The witch journalist looked somewhat forlorn. "We could''ve taken even better pictures, Mr. Harp. You would''ve been a strong contender for this year''s ''Most Enchanting Smile Award''..."


    Felix shuddered. "I''m sorry, but that''s not something I''m interested in." He swiftly concluded the interview and, during a meal with Severus Snape, couldn''t help but remark, "I haven''t had time for researchtely. The realm of fame and fortune is indeed an arena~"


    Snape snorted in response to his sentiment.


    It wasn''t until early February that Felix finally found some respite. By then, the ice and snow had gradually melted, and the open space in front of the castle was teeming with vibrant life.


    Young wizards shed their heavy winter garments and cloaks, took off their scarves, and loungedzily in groups along thekeside on the castle''s south side, basking in the sun. They watched the giant squid swim in theke.


    In this leisurely ambiance, Valentine''s Day arrived.


    In celebration of the fourth chapter''s ascension as the leader, and with gratitude for the support of the Flying Carpet Society!


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 Chapter 277: A Surprise Appearance

    Chapter 277: A Surprise Appearance


    At Hogwarts, Valentine''s Day wasn''t emphasized by the professors, and there wasn''t any reduction in the Friday assignments from the day before. However, for young wizards and witches, this was quite a significant holiday.


    "Think about it, just one day a year, girls dressing up in their finest clothes, waiting with bated breath for someone''s invitation..."


    Early in the morning, Harry sluggishly stepped out of the dormitory. He saw the Weasley twins promoting enchanted mirrors to a tall, freckled boy.


    "... We have two styles avable now. If you feel that hearts are too passionate for you, you can try the rectangr design. We can add some little Cupid decorations."


    "But... I don''t have anyone to give it to," the freckled boy hesitated.


    "Opportunities wait for no one! Buy our product, change into formal attire, and send out invitations during the morning hours," Fred said in an enticing tone.


    George chimed in, cing his right hand over his heart and bowing deeply, "Madam, would you apany me for a stroll?"


    The boy happily purchased their product.


    Harry gave the twins a thumbs-up, and they responded with radiant smiles.


    "Will more people buy them?"


    "Valentine''s Day symbolizes sweet love, like mushrooms sprouting after the rain. Even those who didn''t n on buying will find themselves tempted..." Fred exined.


    Harry walked over to Hermione''s side, pleased to see that she appeared just as she usually did. She was grading a stack of thick parchments. He nced at them and noticed they were Ancient Runes papers from the third year. The graded papers held a peculiar allure. The first paper belonged to Dean, with six errors circled. Harry secretly wondered how many red circles his own paper would have.


    He reached out to flip through the papers, but Hermione pped his hand away, saying, "Don''t mess it up. This is the result of my whole morning''s work."


    Before long, Ron emerged. One of his pant legs was trapped in his sock, and when Harry pointed it out, Ron yawned and adjusted his pants.


    "Any ns for today?" he asked.


    "We''re meeting Neville by the ck Lake to read. Remember, it''s one of the few things we can do," Harry said. Initially, Professor McGonagall seemed intent on keeping him confined to the castle, but after his persistent arguments, some areas outside the castle were begrudgingly allowed.


    For instance, the ck Lake was a nice spot. It was adjacent to the castle and offered a clear view of the surroundings. ck couldn''t imagine why anyone would want to be seen in this ce.


    "Perfect," Ron brightened up. "I can practice the new Impediment Jinx I''ve learned. The duelingpetition is about to start, and I don''t want to get knocked out in the first round."


    Due to the high number of participants, the duelingpetition had been moved to the following day, Saturday, starting at ten in the morning andsting the whole day.


    Harry stated matter-of-factly, "You''re pretty good in the dueling group." At least Ron was the third person, after Harry and Hermione, to master the spell. Though it came at a significant cost.


    The small jar of bruise-healing ointment he had gotten from Madam Pomfrey had run out.


    Ron''s enthusiasm visibly picked up. For the next while, he shared his insights into mastering the spell. "As Professor Harp says, you must truly understand the spell. How do you understand it? I personally think you need to experience the feeling that magic brings you..."


    Ginny and Neville emerged shortly after. Hermione had quickly finished grading thest paper by this point. She checked the time and said, "Let''s go."


    As they left themon room, they were surprised to find that the corridor was already bustling with people. Couples strolled hand in hand. And around every boy or girl who seemed lost in thought, there was someone they were yearning for in their line of sight.


    They walked past a group of second-year girls, and the wind carried snippets of their conversation, "... Professor... my card?"


    "What are they all thinking?" Ron said incredulously.


    Hermione understood, "Perhaps they just want to offer a festive greeting..."


    They waited outside the castle gates for a few minutes, and then Luna came bouncing along, holding Ginny''s hand. "Leaving the castle is a good idea. That way we can avoid the Nargles in the mistletoe."


    "Nargles... what?" Ron asked.


    "Nargles. They make people dizzy and their minds go all fuzzy..."


    "That exins why witches like kissing under the mistletoe," Ron teased. Harry wanted tough, but both Ginny and Hermione were ring at him.


    On the grass by the edge of the ck Lake, young wizards and witches sat in groups of two or three, enjoying a leisurely time. It wasn''t until the third girl, encouraged by her friends, handed Harry a card that Ron sourlymented, "Why aren''t you epting their invitations?"


    Harry''s face reddened, and he stammered, "I, uh... it''s just that..."


    Luna chimed in cheerfully, "Do you have someone you like?"


    The words had barely left her lips when Ron and Ginny fixed their gaze on Harry''s face, as if trying to find a flower in bloom. Harry blurted out in exasperation, "No"


    Luna stared at him, surprise evident in her eyes.


    "You startled her," Hermione chided. Ron came to Harry''s defense, "Luna''s always like that, right?"


    Luna mused, "I don''t think she meant me." She pointed towards a distant weeping willow by thekeside, and everyone followed her gaze.


    Ron squinted, "Looks like a bloke." He shot a meaningful look at Harry.


    Harry, feeling awkward, mumbled, "It might be because of my shouting just now... that''s all..."


    However, after about ten minutes, the boy was still staring in their direction, and even Harry felt it, a growing unease.


    Hermione stood up, "Why don''t we go and ask him? Perhaps he has something important to tell us." She walked over to the willow tree and engaged in a silent conversation, gesturing towards Harry.


    After a while, Hermione returned, looking puzzled, "He wouldn''t say a word."


    Ron chuckled, "Looks like it''s up to Harry."


    Getting up from the grass, Harry shrugged, "It''s definitely not what you''re thinking. Just wait; I guess he might be asking about the dueling club?"


    He approached, almost seeing the boy''s face, likely a first-year student, in a loose, old robe, frayed at the edges.


    It reminded him of Ron. Harry forced a smile, pondering how he''d make his tone both tactful and firm if this boy really was an admirer. He''d had enough trouble with Colin Creevey already.


    Sixty feet, fifty feet  the boy across from him also seemed delighted to see Harry, opening his mouth as if to say something.


    "Buzz~ Buzz~"


    Harry''s pocket began to vibrate. Abruptly, an ear-piercing buzzing erupted, loud enough to be heard half across the ck Lake.


    Harry''s smile froze, time seemed to slow down, and he could see every fleeting expression on the boy''s face, even guessing what he himself must look like.


    But the next second, a realization hit him  the Sneakoscope! The Sneakoscope had gone off!


    "It''s Sirius ck, run!" Harry shouted loudly, agilely leaning to the side while drawing his wand and sending a red jet of light flying.


    Yet the spell went awry, hitting the willow tree. The boy  no, Sirius ck  also pulled out a wand and deflected the spell with a rope, turning to flee.


    Without thinking, Harry charged after him, the piercing buzzing making it hard to hear anything else. His heart raced, and he was consumed by the need to catch ck.


    "Harry, don''t risk it!"


    Percy clutched him in a hurried embrace, still holding a bag of Bertie Bott''s Every vor Beans. Harry struggled, "Let go  let me  catch  him "


    His gaze stayed locked on ck, growing smaller in the distance. Students nearby stared in confusion. Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Ginny ran over, panting, "Harry, oh  is that, is that?" Hermione yelled, trying to make herself heard over the buzzing.


    "It''s Sirius ck!" Harry yelled, though he couldn''t hear himself properly.


    Neville looked bewildered, "What are you guys saying?"


    "Swoosh!"


    Everyone saw Professor Harp descending from the sky on his Firebolt, his wand pointing at Harry. The buzzing noise abruptly ceased.


    "Professor  Sirius ck, he''s here!"


    "Disguised as a student, it''s Polyjuice Potion"


    "He still has a wand!"


    Felix Harp said calmly, "Which way did he run?"


    Harry hastily pointed in a direction. Then it dawned on him  around Hogwarts, Apparition was impossible, as Hermione had informed him. That meant  he still had a chance!


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 Chapter 278: The Pursuit

    Chapter 278: The Pursuit


    At the edge of the Forbidden Forest...


    Felix Harp spotted a young wizard desperately fleeing toward the Forbidden Forest. He raised his wand, gauging the distance, and with a flick of his wrist at the moment of impact, he cast a spell.


    The young wizard, as if anticipating it, twisted his body and deftly avoided the curse, moving with an agility far beyond his apparent age.


    "Sirius ck, perhaps we should have a little chat," Felix called out.


    Step by step, Felix approached him. The effects of the Draught of Living Death that ck had ingested earlier were wearing off. His body began to change gradually, growing taller and broader, stretching and elongating.


    Gasping for breath, stumbling forward, ck entered the forest. As he stepped within, it was as if a powerful blow struck him. He stiffened for a few seconds, then finally copsed.


    The transformation had begun.


    Curling his body, he trembled all over. His skin erupted with tiny bubbles like hot molten wax. His fingers erged and thickened, the bony joints protruding as he wed into the damp brown soil. His nails sunk into the earth.


    ck let out a low roar. His shoulders broadened, and his loose robes expanded without tearing, despite the fact that there was no flesh on this man.


    Felix waited in silence. It would take the others two to three minutes to arrive, providing him ample time.


    The transformation concluded. cky sprawled on the ground, panting heavily. He seemed to have given up resistance. Hoarsely, he asked, "Who are you? So young, you must be"


    Interrupting, Felix swiftly tapped the ring on his left hand. A broomstick materialized out of thin air, and Felix mounted it, soaring into the sky.


    Beneath him spread a blurred expanse of brown and gray. He gripped the broom handle, ascending higher, fifty feet, a hundred feet. In the distance, he spotted arge ck dog sprinting along a rugged path within the Forbidden Forest. Its speed was astonishing, resembling a wisp of ck smoke.


    However, spring had just returned, and the trees in the forest still bore sparse, brown branches. Leaves were scarce, incapable of shielding or obstructing the view. Thus, Felix had no trouble keeping up.


    By a small stream, he caught up with ck. A fiery red beam struck therge ck dog, sending it flying.


    Stopping at a distance of six or seven meters, Felix dered, "Change back, transform into a human, Sirius ck."


    The struggling ck dog lifted its head to meet Felix''s gaze. After a moment, the second transformation began, rapid yet peculiar. The body shrank, and a disheveled man emerged where the dog had been.


    If he stayed still, he could easily be mistaken for a corpse, one that had suffered inhuman torturesdirty, tangled hair cascading to his elbows, neglected for a long time; his body coated in dirt, revealing a pale skin that clung to a face devoid of flesh.


    ck chuckled softly, his eyes wolf-like. He rasped, "You''re a student of Squibbler? Felix Harp... Quite the famous name. I''ve seen you on the cover of ''Wizarding Weekly.'' Honestly, you''re not as good-looking in person."


    Calmly, Felix responded, "Though I have many questions for you, however"


    He pointed his wand at ck, saying, "Purify!" Bubbles poured out of ck''s mouth. He coughed and sputtered for a while before stopping.


    Leaning down by the stream, ck casually examined his teeth. "Quite an inventive idea. We used this on Snivellus when we were young. James ended up with a scar on his face from it."


    Felix Harp shook his head. "I''ve heard your story from many sources. The Sirius ck they speak of is handsome, recklessly wild, with a touch of elegance in his casualness. But looking at you now"


    With a wave of his wand, Felix conjured a whirlpool-like vortex from the stream,pletely swallowing ck.


    ck''s eyes widened, and he managed to utter, "Rat" before being silenced by the rushing water. He choked on the water instead.


    The currents flowed around him. After about a dozen seconds, a murky whirlpool threw a muddy mess back into the stream. Cleansed from the ordeal, he looked much improved though still thin as a skeleton, a faint shadow of his younger self still visible.


    Suspended in the air, ck tilted his head, surprised. "You don''t want to kill me?"


    "Why should I? As I''ve said, I have much to discuss with youyour betrayal, your escapeoh, thetter is quite evident, Animagus. It''s all too clear."


    "Take me to Dumbledore! I''ll confess everything without holding back."


    "Why not tell me now? I''m quite curious. However, there are questions not suitable for a public settinglike the feuds between Severus and the Potters, or some of Voldemort''s secrets."


    "Ha! Are you nning to sell me to the Ministry or gift me to Squibbler? You must be his favorite student, to be trusted with these secrets..." ck mocked, just as a sudden gust of wind picked up, causing his body to tremble uncontrobly.


    "I dislike the way you address me. If you persist in provoking me" Felix gestured with his wand and raised an eyebrow, "you''ll surely regret it."


    ck shrugged nonchntly. "Torture? To someone who''s spent twelve years in Azkaban? Everything you do only makes me feel alive"


    Though shivering from the cold, he kept his eyes fixed on Felix.


    Felix''s wand pointed at ck''s chest, and steam billowed forth, drying him in an instant.


    cknded on the ground, testing his limbs. He looked at Felix with puzzled suspicion. "Aren''t you afraid I might escape? Why not bind me?"


    "You could consider it an act of goodwill, for the sake of our forting conversation," Felix replied.


    ck''s sunken eyes stared at him, and he grinned wryly. "I''m starting to like you, butI still can''t trust you. You''re too close to Snape."


    Felix noticed his expression had eased. Tentatively, he asked, "Does it matter whether you trust me or not? Do you have any choice?"


    "Of course, never underestimate anyone. Go back and tell Dumbledore that kidthe one in the same year as Harry, from the Weasley familyhis pet rat is an Animagus." ck spoke, unaware of the news of Pettigrew''s disappearance.


    "An Animagus?" Felix repeated.


    "Yes, he''s Peter Pettigrew. He didn''t diedamn it! I thought he was dead!" ck suddenly erupted with anger, cursing wildly. After a while, he struggled to regain hisposure. "Sorry you had to witness that. But I''ve suppressed it for too long."


    "I suppose you want to say that Pettigrew is the traitor? Despite your role as Secret Keeper?" Felix said.


    "Not meit was an exchange! He and I, we switched! He became the Secret Keeper! Dumbledore will understand. Once we catch Pettigrew, everything will be revealed."


    "I believe it''s best for you to tell Dumbledore these things in person," Felix said.


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 Chapter 279: Grimmauld Square

    Chapter 279: Grimmauld Square


    "I will appear before him, I will go myself, but not today, and still the same wordsI don''t believe you," ck spread his hands, "I don''t know if you might hand me over to the Ministry through Snape''s connections, I dare not gamble."


    "Your meaning isif I haven''t misunderstood, you don''t believe me, yet you want me to tell Dumbledore about the news regarding Pettigrew, to clear your name? Don''t you find your logic quite peculiar?" Felix asked with a hint of amusement.


    "Ha~ Clear my name? That topic is far from my concern; I have my methods, a second n, you understand? I don''t trust you, but I''m not worried you''ll divulge information, because Snape is also Pettigrew''s enemy, provided he knows the truth. You can discuss this with him."


    Felix fell silent. Peter had escaped, and ording to Lupin''s words, he was likely hiding near Hogwarts, closely monitoring the situation''s progress, but no one could catch a rat.


    Moreover, the Secret Keeper... the Potters had unexpectedly changed the Secret Keeper for their safehouse, even Dumbledore wasn''t aware of it. This is why everyone firmly believed ck was the traitor. The biggest mystery was now unraveled.


    The next step was to wrap things up, to secretly hand over Sirius ck to Dumbledore and let him worry about it.


    As for ck''s unwillingness... stunning him was a good choice. He could extract a bit of his blood while at it, breaking the enchantments of Grimmauld Square No. 12.


    Felix raised his head. "I insist on going with you." He raised his wand, a delicate Stunning Spell flew out. Since ck wasn''t a traitor, this level of power was sufficient.


    But what surprised him was that ck actually blocked his magic.


    ck stepped back several paces, retrieving a wand from behind him, and looked at Felix with a triumphant grin. "You see, I told you..." The next moment, his entire body twisted into smoke


    Apparition!


    A second wand!


    In an instant, Felix understood everything. He disappeared from the original spot at a faster speed and reappeared in front of ck in the blink of an eye. He reached into the smoke, he could even see ck''s surprised face as it transformed.


    The next second, both of them vanished simultaneously.


    Space changed and twisted. Felix stumbled out; he had followed ck''s Apparition, unable to control the destination. Before him was an unfamiliar slope, trees growing oddly, ck stones scattered around.


    In the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a pitch-ck opening, was it the den of some creature where ck had hidden? He oriented himself; this should still be the Forbidden Forest, only far deeper, perhaps closer to the other side.


    ck rolled on the ground twice, but he didn''t bother to look around. The instant he regained consciousness, he used Apparition once again. If it was twice, then that dreadful person wouldn''t be able to catch up, right?


    He could hardly believe that such a person existed, someone who could intrude the moment someone else Apparated, achieving an almost simultaneous Disapparition...


    His body began to twist into a mass of smoke. He knew he had seeded, which was incredibly rare. Using this magic repeatedly ced a tremendous burden on him, and he was far from his optimal condition right now.


    However, what made his scalp tingle was the feeling of a hand gripping his throat. He opened his eyes, surrounded by hazy mist, scenery shing by rapidly. But he knew, the speed of Apparition had been forcibly reduced.


    He saw Felix''s calm gaze; their eyes locked. ck understood his meaning: You can''t escape!


    The next moment, ck was flung out. His stomach churned, almost causing him to retch, but he immediately forced himself to use Apparition for the third time.


    This time, he was nearly exhausted. A corner of his tattered robe was sliced silently, a sharp pain in his forehead, warm liquid covering his eyes. Splitting, this was splitting...


    Apparition concluded; his vision turned pitch-ck. He couldn''t help but pray, it must work.


    Then he heard a familiar voice, "Why did you think ofing here? Can''t forget even after so many years?"


    ck rolled over and sat up, wiping his eyes. Through blood-red eyes, he found himself surrounded by a Mugglemunity. Everything here was both familiar and strange. He hadn''t been back here since he left at sixteen.


    This was Grimmauld Square, the old ck residence was hidden here.


    ck got up from the ground, touched his forehead, blood stains between his fingers. He had indeed split, but it wasn''t severe, he hadn''t lost limbs or been anchored to the spot.


    The young man opposite him observed him, showing no intention of attacking. Did he want me to surrender voluntarily?


    Dream on! He had juste up with a good idea.


    ck swung his wand, curses mixed with bursts of crimson mes flew out. He shouted, "Crucio!"


    Felix''s heart skipped a beat, slowing down his attack. An ugly, aged house-elf suddenly appeared beside Sirius ck. "Take me in!" ckmanded,unching a forceful offensive, but the asional retaliation from the opposite side had already weighed him down.


    Kreacher stood by ck''s side, incessantly muttering, "The young master is a detestable, ungrateful scoundrel, breaking his mother''s heart. He disappeared for over a decade, returning with powerful enemies, failing to fulfill the slightest responsibility"


    "Shut up, Kreacher! Can''t I enjoy this victory for a moment?"


    ...


    Grimmauld Square. Felix walked to where Sirius ck had disappeared, crouching down, and picked up a drop of blood from the ground.


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 Chapter 280: Reunion in the Study

    Chapter 280: Reunion in the Study


    The next day, Sirius ck woke up from his bed, his mind heavy and foggy. It felt as though Kreacher had been banging his head all night, causing a splitting headache.


    "Even though I know it''s the consequence of overusing the Disillusionment Charm, I can''t help but suspect it''s rted to Kreacher''s incessant chatter!"


    Sirius walked into the shabby bathroom and washed up in front of the mirror with suspicious dark red marks. He tidied up his hair, shaved off the dirty stubble, and as he showered, the mirror in the bathroom remarked, "You look like a walking skeleton."


    He angrily pulled the curtain shut, and memories of his miserable days living here came rushing back.


    Half an hourter, he dug out moldy clothes from an old wardrobe. He changed out of the dirty, ragged strips of fabric that once resembled clothing, and he managed to look presentable.


    But carefully, he took out a tattered old piece of paper from his pocket. After being soaked in water yesterday, it looked wrinkled. He gingerly unfolded it, trying not to damage the moving photograph on it: It was a picture of the Weasley family winning a prize, with a fat old rat perched on Ron Weasley''s shoulder.


    He stared at the photo expressionlessly for a moment and then turned away.


    "Kreacher, prepare breakfast for me." Sirius called outside, then after a pause, he added, "No spitting, no intentionally making it taste bad, and no... He listed a series of conditions.


    Kreacher bowed deeply, muttering curses under his breath as he left.


    Sirius took a moment to step outside again, scanning for any suspicious figures. Instead, he spotted a Muggledy out early for groceries.


    "Maybe he''s gone," Sirius thought, closing the door. The silver serpent-shaped door knocker "thudded" against the weathered ck door. He felt a twinge of unease, staying quiet for a few seconds; nothing happened.


    "Something just doesn''t feel right..." he pondered.


    But he couldn''t pinpoint anything unusual. He sniffed the air, still catching the musty, dusty smell of decay. Everything in the hallway, from the peeling wallpaper to the threadbare carpet and the dimly lit magical chandelier overhead, seemed eerie. Even the portraits hanging crookedly on the walls appeared exceptionally quiet today, quiet...?


    Sirius scrutinized the figures in the portraits carefully. They seemed to be asleep. He approached one, standing before a portrait that might have depicted an illustrious ancestor from the ck family. He lightly tapped the frame.


    The aristocrat depicted in the painting had long, flowing curls that reached down to her waist, and she was leaning back in her chair, softly snoring.


    Suddenly, Sirius felt as if a piece of ice had been shoved into his stomach, icy and convulsing, and his forehead started to ache. He became restlessly anxious, taking a fewrge strides to a curtain and yanking it aside.


    Behind the curtain was a massive portrait  a depiction of an old woman. Her face was gaunt, with high cheekbones, bearing some resemnce to the current Sirius, though he didn''t want to admit it. It was his mother.


    The same woman who had argued with him for half the day yesterday, who had been so lively, was now sound asleep. She hadn''t suddenly woken up to curse him as a "filthy and sinful child." Her drool hadn''t even soaked half of her clothes.


    Sirius retraced his steps to his room, wand in hand. He felt a bit more at ease. "Maybe I just scared myself," he thought. He began searching room by room, starting from the ground floor, and to prevent any surprises, he called Kreacher back.


    "If that man from yesterday shows up, don''t ask questions, just get me out of here immediately," Sirius warned the house-elf.


    Kreacher looked thoroughly displeased, muttering in a voice Sirius could definitely hear, "Running away from home for over a decade, and now the spoiled young master is ordering old Kreacher around, heard he even killed someone..."


    "Shut up!" Sirius roared.


    "Creak"


    Sirius grasped his wand, the tip emitting a faint glow as a spell poised for release. With his other hand, he rotated the serpent-shaped door handle. The door creaked open. He waited two seconds, then cautiously peeked inside. The room was empty.


    Hunched over, Kreacher shuffled in behind him, ncing around near his feet. "Nothing here, the prodigal young master''s been locked away for over a decade, even his sanity''s forsaken him. Oh, poor mistress, if she were aware from beyond, I wonder what she''d think. Poor old Kreacher..."


    Sirius retorted without much patience, "She''s doing well. We had quite a row yesterday, and she slept soundlyst night, drooling all over."


    They ascended the stairs; the aged wooden floor, long neglected, had been hollowed out by insects, and their footsteps produced creaking and groaning sounds. Sirius''s heart couldn''t help but tighten.


    "It''s as if I''ve returned to the war era," he mumbled, though excitement sparkled in his eyes.


    His movements became more sinct and efficient. Each time he opened a door, he checked the doorknob for signs of recent use. After inspecting the dining room, storage room, and second-floor bedrooms without incident, he began to rx his tense nerves.


    Even when he encountered an old ghoul in the second-floor restroom, Sirius found room for jest, "That ugly face of yours isn''t the worst I''ve seen. Azkaban is the real hub for monsters and demons, though I''m something of a specimen myself..."


    At the doorway of the third-floor study, though Sirius remained cautious, his wariness had started to ease. He pushed the door open and entered. The study was empty, the lighting brighter. He saw the old, worm-eaten bookshelves lining the walls, adorned with tarnished silver and green decorations.


    Behind a heavy desk stood a high-backed armchair. He recalled his childhood when his father would often sit there. Yet, whenever he got close, it would lead to a reprimand.


    "Whoosh, whoosh!"


    "What the"


    Suddenly, the candle holder by the door came to life, twisting and winding around Sirius. He clutched his wand, but the hand holding it was pulled to the side. Sirius struggled, but the candle holder, as though alive, pried his fist open, causing his wand to fall to the ground, spinning uselessly.


    Sirius''s chest heaved violently, gasping for breath, and in his peripheral vision, he saw Kreacher simrly bound. From behind the desk chair came the sound of pages being turned.


    Consumed by fury, Sirius roared out a name, "Felix Harp!"


    The high-backed chair swiveled around, revealing Felix''s figure. He held a hefty book bound in ck leather, carefully flipping through its brittle, cracker-like pages, not bothering to look up as he said, "Wait a momentI''m at a crucial point."


    "Kreacher..." Sirius muttered almost inaudibly.


    Kreacher seemed to have just figured out the situation. His form blurred for an instant as if he wanted to use Apparition, but in the next second, he was imprisoned.


    Sirius wanted to continue speaking, but the pointed tip of the silver candle holder inched closer to his mouth, silently issuing a threat. He could only stare helplessly, as if trying to kill Felix with his gaze.


    For ten minutes, the study remained silent, the only sound being Sirius''sbored breathing. Just as he began to feel his wrist numb from constriction, Felix closed the book "Secrets of Dark Magic Revealed." He sighed and said, "Utterly wicked... I''ve lost my appetite for breakfast."


    Unable to resist a hint of sarcasm, Sirius remarked, "Not very much like your... mentor, are you? Snape used to adore these things when he was young."


    "Who doesn''t have a hobby?" Felix responded, deflecting lightly.


    A brief silence settled between them. Sirius lifted his head to fix his gaze on Felix, demanding, "How did you get in?"


    Felix smiled and replied, "I had a little help from the ck family."


    "That''s impossible!" Sirius retorted, "Though I hate to admit it, I''m thest descendant of the ck family. Only I can enter."


    Felix cast a nce at Kreacher.


    "He... he''s different..."


    "Exactly!" Kreacher proudly proimed, "Old Kreacher has served the noble House of ck for generations upon generations. For generations upon generations!" Then, his gaze turned malicious as he shot Sirius a look. "The current master doesn''t count; he''s nothing but blood and no substance. Poor Kreacher has no choice..."


    Sirius red at him, his heart almost ready to strangle him.


    Felix rose to his feet and scrutinized the wound on Sirius''s forehead. "Potter''s scar is on the right, yours is opposite. Quite strange, is it a coincidence?"


    "You"


    Sirius''s eyes widened. He wasn''t too concerned about his safety now; he instinctively believed that Felix wouldn''t kill him. However, he also realized a more sinister aspect of Felixpared to Snape  his words held even more power.


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 Chapter 281: Maps and Magic

    Chapter 281: Maps and Magic


    Half an hourter...


    Sirius ck sat on the sofa with a grim expression. He had just received some terrible news: Peter Pettigrew had escaped or, more urately, was hiding in a ce unknown, feigning death to avoid detection.


    Disheartened, he thought to himself, had all his efforts been in vain for all this time?


    Felix picked another book from the shelf. To his astonishment, it contained details about an ancient magic spell. The portrait of Headmaster Phineas ck hadn''t lied to him  the collection here was truly exceptional, even if some of it had been moved from the restricted section at Hogwarts.


    It seemed that the old man had worked to benefit his family during his tenure as headmaster.


    But s, how unpredictable life was. The ck family had fallen to such depths...


    "Have you ever tried a Marauder''s Map?" Sirius suddenly asked.


    "A Marauder''s Map? What''s that?" Felix looked up from the book.


    Sirius mumbled, "It''s a moving map that shows the locations and secret passages of Hogwarts. It looks like a folded parchment and was something we created when we were students  me, James, Remus, and... Peter Pettigrew."


    "The Marauder''s Map can track the movements of everyone within Hogwarts, even Dumbledore."


    Felix blinked; he now understood what Lupon wanted from Felch. With certainty, he said, "This map must have been confiscated by Filch."


    "It was intentional," Sirius smirked. "We were about to graduate and desperately wanted someone to carry on our noble legacy of mischief. So, we created a suitable opportunity, caught Filch''s attention, and let him take the map."


    Felix nodded knowingly; there was indeed an interesting backstory.


    "Why didn''t Remus tell you?" wondered Sirius.


    Felix spoke softly, "The map is lost. Pettigrew admitted it himself."


    "That treacherous git!" Sirius eximed in frustration, mming the wall and then sighing, "Even if we had the map, it might not work. Pettigrew can conceal his own name."


    "Conceal? Did you use Tracking Charms?"


    "More than that. Tracking spells, footprint reveals, Name-Tag Charms, Micro Illusion Hexes, Disillusionment Charms, Anti-Jinxes, Protective Spells. Later, we even integrated Transfiguration, Divination, and Alchemy... Too many things."


    Felix looked at Sirius in astonishment. He himself only knew a portion of those spells.


    Sirius exined, "Initially, James brought a magic map-making book from home. With its help, we created the basic Marauder''s Map, though, back then, the names weren''t animated. Later, we scoured the library, finding spells to lock onto tracks, continually adding them. In the end, even we lost track of how many spells were on the map."


    He opened his palms. "You know, when we saw Dumbledore''s name appear on the map, we felt invincible. No one could escape the Marauder''s Map, because you could evade one spell''s detection, but not the second, third, fourth..."


    Felix couldn''t help but apud silently. Without Sirius revealing this, who would know? Through Sirius, he saw the shadows of the other three creators.


    This remarkable magical creation emerged in the hands of four students who hadn''t even graduated.


    Their subsequent fates were equally poignant. War disrupted their normal lives, and if not for Sirius mentioning it, the existence of the Marauder''s Map might have quietly faded into history.


    "How did you four divide the work?" Felix couldn''t resist seeking more information. If he could replicate it, it would rival any known magical item.


    Sirius gave him a peculiar look. "James was skilled in Transfiguration, I excelled in curses, especially nonverbal casting. Many spells were added by me. Remus knew everything; he brought together the scattered elements. As for Peter Pettigrew..."


    He frowned, fighting disgust. "He was more meticulous, finding ws and fixing them."


    Sirius finished, then thoughtfully paused, staring at Felix. Slowly, he said, "Perhaps he might not be able to shield himself from the Marauder''s Map."


    "Why?"


    "I rememberthere''s a spell, known only to James and me. During our seventh-year Halloween break, while we were both at home, James found an intriguing magic from the old manor."


    He looked at Felix, a glint in his eyes. "It''s a curse, or rather a binding magic. No, that''s not urate," he furrowed his brow, "it''s more like a contract."


    "A magical contract?"


    "Exactly," Sirius affirmed, ncing at the study door. He spoke in a hushed tone, "It''s from an ancient book, authored by someone who was involved in the House Elf Wars. Back then, wizards invented a spell specifically designed to bind house elves."


    Felix raised an eyebrow, speaking in a manner of exploring magic, "How does that rte to the Marauder''s Map? Wait... I think I get it. Is it about the connection between masters and servants?"


    Sirius was impressed by his insight. "You''re right. House elves and their masters share a close bond, a bond that runs deep in their bloodline, passed down through generations. Very few people know about this now. That''s why house elves never betray their masters."


    Not necessarily...


    Felix thought, magically enving beings was always beneath true magic. There''s no eternal, unbreakable magic. The Imperius Curse was an example. Even one of the Unforgivable Curses, the Cruciatus Curse, had its side effects cracked. In his mind, the Cruciatus Curse was no longer effective. Pain? He had countless ways to shield himself from it. What made the Cruciatus Curse truly terrifying was that it transcended the physical and delved into the deepest recesses of one''s mind.


    When he safeguarded his memoriesyer byyer, the effect of the Cruciatus Curse on him became severely limited. It could even serve as a disguise...


    Sirius continued, "Think about it, wherever you are, your house elf can be summoned by you. Well, except for Azkaban; I tried that once, probably too far away..."


    "Maybe the Ministry has documented this and taken precautions," Felix spected.


    "Anyway, James and I attempted to incorporate a part of this magicthe house elf senses the master''s location when summoned due to the contractinto the map. We devised a clever trick," Sirius grinned, "when you enter Hogwarts, you essentially enter into a temporary, nk contract. It''s not binding, and you can even refuse!"


    Felix smiled, "Provided the person discovers this contract. But I assume you never intended to make it effective; it''s more like a waiting game..."


    "That''s right!" Sirius eximed excitedly, emitting an odd cry, "Completely harmless, but your location is unmistakably exposed."


    "The most ingenious part is that Peter Pettigrew doesn''t know this. Just a few days after returning from the Halloween break, we decided to leave the map at Hogwartsusing Filch''s involvement to find the next owner. His office would only attract the most adventurous students. We even set some restrictions for that."


    Sirius delved into joyful memories, squinting his eyes and murmuring softly.


    After a while, he said with a touch of mncholy, "Too bad we lost the map."


    Felix pondered, "If I help you recreate a Marauder''s Map, could you do it? Lupon is also at the school; he might be of assistance."


    "I know he''s here," Sirius said, thinking for a while. "Recreating it would be difficult. There are many things I don''t remember..."


    "We can attempt it together. I''m quite intrigued."


    "We?" Sirius stared at Felix, baffled.


    Felix didn''t answer, checking the time. "There are still two hours until ten o''clock. We have plenty of time."


    He said cheerfully, "I''m nning to take you to Hogwarts. Of course, we need to get in touch with Headmaster Dumbledore first. Hmm, we might also face questions from the Ministry. I''ll im I didn''t capture you and that you escaped. I wonder if anyone will believe that..."


    Sirius stared at Felix in disbelief, feeling thoroughly mocked.


    "Excuse me, where is the portrait of Phineas ck? I didn''t see it among the portraits on the wall."


    "...Second bedroom on the right of the second-floornding."


    Felix walked away, and a few minutester, he returned. "It''s all arranged. Dumbledore wants us to proceed discreetly." He lightly touched the ring on his left hand with his wand, taking out a candy box imprinted with the words ''Honeydukes''.


    "What''s this?"


    "A Christmas present from a little wizard. I haven''t finished eating it, it''s a bit overwhelming... but I think it could be used to conceal someone."


    "Did you apply the Disillusionment Charm?"


    "Oh, no," Felix questioned, "who would apply a Disillusionment Charm inside a candy box?" He looked at the bewildered Sirius and continued, "I just happened to think of an appropriate spell"


    He pointed his wand at Sirius. The tip of the wand burst into intense blue light.


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 Chapter 282: The Miniaturized Sirius

    Chapter 282: The Miniaturized Sirius


    Hogwarts, Office of the Ancient Runes Professor.


    A firece.


    A burst of bright green mes leapt up, and Felix Harp emerged, carrying a box of candies. With a single-handed p to dust off his robes, he pushed open the office door.


    Today marked the final day of the weekend, and the corridors were bustling with young wizards, chattering and lively.


    Felix rapped on the candy box''s packaging and whispered, "You''re inside the castle now. What are your impressions?"


    "I''m going to be overwhelmed by the fragrance in here." Aining voice emanated from the box, "I had intended to indulge in a feast of sweets."


    ...


    Felix entered the Headmaster''s office, where Dumbledore had been waiting for some time. With a "thud," the candy boxnded on the tall desk, apanied by a scattered tter and a yelp of pain


    "Ouch!"


    Dumbledore looked at Felix in surprise, and Felix responded with an affirmative look. "Just as you thought... our guest is a young child." With that, Dumbledore tapped the candy box, and its lid immediately popped open.


    The box contained an array of overly sweet candies: exploding bonbons, Bertie Bott''s Every vor Beans, ice mice, candied pineapple, chocte frogs... most of Honeydukes'' products were there.


    A hand emerged from the pile of candies, and the palm-sized Sirius ck grimaced as he pushed aside the chocte ball that had been sitting atop his head. He awkwardly pulled himself out of the candies, inch by inch, until he stood atop the candy mound.


    He looked up, and Dumbledore''s magnified face smiled down at him. A phoenix with golden and red feathers emitted a soft coo, and Fawkes circled the circr office beforending on the desk, tilting its head to scrutinize the little Sirius within the box.


    Sirius eyed it warily. "Don''te any closer, Fawkes. I''ve fed you, remember?"


    Fawkes let out two short calls, then turned its head away, refusing to look at him.


    Dumbledore''s deep blue eyes curved slightly behind his half-moon sses. He said gently, "How extraordinary, I didn''t expect to meet under these circumstances."


    "Neither did I," Sirius muttered. He propped himself against the edge of the candy box, pushed with his arms, and somersaulted onto the desk. He surveyed his surroundings; the peculiarly shaped silverware on the table emitted a faint wisp of smoke, resembling a fearsome creature.


    "Turn me back quickly," he demanded in annoyance.


    In contrast to Dumbledore''s subtlety, Felix was visibly delighted. He pointed his wand at Sirius''s head, causing his body to involuntarily swell and erge. Sirius hurriedly leapt off the table as he regained his original size upon hitting the ground.


    Sirius stood erect, his back straight, as he looked at Dumbledore. With aplex expression, he said, "I''m back."


    Dumbledore nodded slightly. "Sirius, despite receiving some information from Phineas, I still wish to hear your story from your own lips."


    Sirius didn''t refuse. After a moment of silence, he took a seat and began his tale. He didn''t look at anyone, but both individuals in the office, including the portraits on the walls, stared at him without blinking.


    "... And so, I escaped from prison, swam back to Ennd, and made my way north, like a vengeful ghost traveling thousands of miles."


    Dumbledore summarized, "So, you came for Peter Pettigrew. What about Harry?"


    "I haven''t had the chance to figure that out yet," Sirius candidly admitted.


    "When I found out that Peter Pettigrew was alive, all I could think about was revenge. But I''ve actually seen Harry several times. Before the start of term, the day he left his aunt''s house, on a Muggle streetI wanted to catch a glimpse of him before heading north, but my transformed appearance might have frightened him. The second time was at the Quidditch pitchhe''s a good flyer, just like James, but I didn''t dare stay long; I left midway. And then during the Christmas holidays, I ambushed the Weasley boy near the Shrieking Shack, hoping to catch Peter Pettigrew. Truth be told, I was quite startled at the time. Harry''s reflexes are lightning-fast."


    "Thest meeting was just yesterday. I disguised myself as a Muggle child using a Polyjuice Potion." He nced at Felix Harp. "This little gadget of Professor Harp''s foiled me twice."


    Felix inclined his head slightly.


    "How did you know where Harry lived? The ce was cursed... Ah, yes," Dumbledore smiled. "James must have mentioned it to you. I should''ve realized."


    Sirius shrugged. "James paid a visit in seventh year. But that family hardly qualifies as friendly. When he mentioned his favorite broom and Quidditch, they treated him like a vagabond." His words dripped with sarcasm.


    "Mr. Dursley might not have been open to magic," Dumbledore said regretfully. "I''ve had a brief encounter with him. If I may say, he''s quite a conventional man."


    Next, Felix mentioned the Marauder''s Map, emphasizing its remarkable abilities in locating individuals. "Whether it''s Animagi, Polyjuice, invisibility cloaks, or standard concealment charms, none can shield it."


    He earnestly suggested, "I believe we could attempt to recreate another Marauder''s Map."


    Dumbledore contemted in silence, tapping his long fingers on the table. He hinted, "Felix, have you considered the possibility that the Marauder''s Map might still be at Hogwarts?"


    Felix responded thoughtfully, "I have indeed considered that, and it''s not entirely impossible..."


    "But the scope is vaststudents, professors, or perhaps concealed within a book in the library... putting myself in someone else''s shoes, if I possessed it, I would definitely keep the secret well hidden."


    Dumbledore blinked. "I think you may have overlooked one possibility." He turned to Sirius. "Your ideal heir in the realm of mischief should be a Gryffindor, right?"


    Sirius nodded. "You''re right."


    Felix''s eyes lit up. "So, the Weasley twins?" It was the first name that came to his mind.


    "Quite possible. In truth, I have a few candidates in mind. I n to write a few letters to confirm, won''t take much time." Dumbledore said.


    Felix felt a touch of regret but quickly rallied. Whether the map was found or not, he was optimistic. If found, he could borrow it for study, increasing efficiency. If not, he could assemble a team, research and develop anew, perhaps even add more functionalities.


    "Then there''s the worst possibility: Peter Pettigrew might have stolen the map." He reminded them.


    "That''s also a concern of mine. He had ample time and motive," Dumbledore said. "The only possibility is if he doesn''t believe he''ll show up on the map, hence no action."


    Felix agreed with this perspective. He checked the time. "Headmaster Dumbledore, there''s a small duelingpetition at ten o''clock today. If there''s nothing else, I''ll take my leave." He gestured at Sirius. "He''s in your care."


    Sirius''s eyes lit up suddenly. "A duelingpetition? Harry might be participating? Can I go watch?"


    Felix hesitated, looking at Dumbledore. Dumbledore furrowed his brows. "Sirius, you''d better stay at Grimmauld ce. It guarantees your safety the Ministry is still after you. If you''re discovered, weck evidence to prove your innocence."


    "Just this once" Sirius pleaded, looking pitiful. "Let me see Harry up close. I can pretend to be a doll; no one will suspect."


    His words rendered Dumbledore silent. Felix cast the spell again, and this time, Sirius willingly hopped back into the box. Felix lightly cast a Muffliato charm on the outside of the box.


    Sirius was cut off from the external world.


    Felix turned to Dumbledore. "He probably isn''t skilled in lumency, right?" Dumbledore smiled at him, and Felix understood the Headmaster''s implication.


    Lifting the candy box, he walked briskly out of the office.


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 Chapter 283: The Dueling Competition

    Chapter 283: The Dueling Competition


    Felix carried a box of sweets as he walked toward ssroom Seven, still reflecting on his recent conversation with Dumbledore.


    Both he and Dumbledore were not easily persuaded individuals. Hoping to make them believe Sirius was innocent with just a story was not an easy task.


    Both of them were masters of Legilimency, though they rarely used it in everyday life. In crucial moments, however, there was no hesitation.


    The difference was that he wasn''t very familiar with Sirius, and much of what he knew came from hearsay. That''s why he needed to confirm with Dumbledore about the concept of lumency.


    Since Sirius was not skilled in lumency, his words were highly credible.


    ...


    Felix reached a quiet corridor, opened the candy box, and the shrunken Sirius was sitting on the pile of sweets, holding a piece of treacle tart and asking in confusion, "Have we arrived?"


    "Not yet - we need to make some preparations. You probably don''t want to encounter Severus, and Harry is carrying his Sneakoscope with him, so we need to address these issues."


    "How should we do that?"


    Felix didn''t answer but touched a few sweets in the box with his wand, and they transformed into a set of full-body armor under the influence of magic. The armor resembled the suits of armor in Hogwarts Castle,plete with a closed helmet.


    "Put this on," he told Sirius.


    "I like your idea," Sirius said eagerly, as he changed into his new outfit. He tested his movements, "I feel like a real knight, although I''m missing a knight''s sword."


    Felix fulfilled his request, and his liquorice wand transformed into a longsword.


    Sirius, wearing the well-protected armor, deftly waved the sword. If you ignored the fact that he was only the size of a palm, he indeed looked like a medieval ssical knight.


    "This way, you look like a knightly magical puppet, and I can introduce you to the other professors. Now, I need to think about how to block the Sneakoscope..."


    A magical glow began to appear on the armor covering Sirius. Finally, at the location of his helmet''s visor, Felix allowed Sirius to choose between ck and red, and he chose red.


    Thus, the knight''s eyes were covered with ayer of crimson smoke, giving him an extra touch of fierceness and majesty.


    At 9:40 AM, Felix entered ssroom Seven, where people were bustling, with hundreds gathered around arge open space, passionately discussing.


    The open space was divided into seven sections, each with different terrain: t ground, forest, hill, rocky beach, swamp, winding maze, and a small ice surface.


    To the east, with the best view, stood a high tform with seats. Flitwick and Snape had already arrived, and apart from the two regr Dueling professors, some other professors hade voluntarily. They conjured their own chairs and looked excited and expectant.


    Felix went up to the tform and casually ced the palm-sized knight on the table. He greeted them warmly, "Filius, Severus... Professor Lupin, you''re here too?"


    "I came to join in the fun," Lupin said. "We didn''t have these novelties when I was in school."


    Snape said leisurely, "But your extracurricr activities were quite rich, traveling here and there, getting into mischief..."


    Lupin tactfully added, "Looking back at our young selves, weren''t we all ignorant fools?"


    Sirius, in his enclosed armor on the table, moved awkwardly as if protesting against Lupin''s statement.


    Flitwick was about to change the subject, and his eyes kept scanning the surroundings. When he saw the "knight," his eyes lit up. "Felix, can this magical puppet move on its own?"


    Felix smiled and said, "This is an old experiment. I tried to make them perform some simple tasks, like freeing my assistant from grading assignments. She no longer needs to review these basic knowledge."


    "Miss Granger, right?" Lupin asked. "She''s a very clever witch, excelling in ss."


    Flitwick examined the knight on the table, and Sirius, in his nervousness, even distorted the armor. However, it made him look more like a rusty metal puppet.


    "Am I mistaken, or did I sense embarrassment in its movements?"


    Felix took out some magical puppets from his ring and distributed them to the professors. "I tried to make them understand simplemands, simr to the principles of magical portraits, but the results are not satisfactory. I need your opinions."


    He casually picked up the "knight," and with a casual shake, he exined to Flitwick''s puzzled expression, "This guy isn''t very clever."


    Time quickly reached ten o''clock, and Percy and Penelope stood in the center of the open space. Percy seemed very excited, losing his tone twice, "Ladies and gentlemen, the Dueling Contest is hosted by the Student Union. I, Percy Weasley, and Penelope Clearwater will be responsible for maintaining order."


    "First, a bit of basic information: there are a total of 218 participants, and they willpete on seven different terrains randomly. Seven matches will take ce simultaneously, starting from the first-year students."


    Penelope Clearwater said, "You are all familiar with the rules. What I want to emphasize is that the professors willment on some exciting duels or speak out against rule vitions. Please adhere to the rules, especially the prohibition of using dark magic."


    She looked stern as she surveyed the surroundings, while Percy cleared his throat and said, "That''s right, that''s how it is."


    "When your name is called,e to me to draw lots for the terrain. Once the terrain is determined, your opponent will also be confirmed."


    The crowd erupted in a tsunami of cheers. Harry nervously gripped his wand, feeling like his heart might leap out of his chest, and his blood surged wildly. But the people around him seemed even more nervous. Ron''s lips were trembling, and Hermione kept muttering to herself. He took a step closer to hear her quickly reciting her Dueling Systems essay, which she had just revised for the third time.


    On the other side, Draco Malfoy appeared even paler than usual, and his twockeys, Crabbe and Goyle, were constantly swallowing hard. Goyle choked on his own saliva and coughed repeatedly.


    Draco furrowed his brow, then moved to the other side. When Harry came into his view, Draco shed a malicious smile  at least that''s how Harry interpreted it, and his nervous emotions strangely calmed down.


    If given the chance, he''d be more than happy to wipe that smile off Malfoy''s face.


    The match officially began.


    The first-year matches were rather dull, except for one student who sessfully cast a curse, earning sparse apuse. Most of the others were grimacing while repeatedly muttering ineffective spells.


    After only three rounds, it was time for the finals, and a charming little girl became the first-year champion.


    Next were the second-year matches. Ginny decisively knocked out her opponent with a Stunning Spell and then won several more times, securing her victory.


    "Ginny is so talented?" Ron eximed in amazement.


    "Yeah, it''s not surprising, actually. She''s been participating in group activities with us," Harry exined.


    Percy''s stern voice resounded


    "Third-year has more participants; the first group has fourteen students. Millicent Bulstrode, Hermione Granger, Daphne Greengrass... ise Zabini, Justin Finch-Fletchley, will the participants please step up."


    Hermione walked shakily to the front, nearly tripping over a shoce, and made her way to the drawing area. Surprisingly, she found that the others were in a simr condition, with Zabini looking like he was walking on a pile of cotton.


    Hermione drew the rocky beach terrain and couldn''t help but breathe a sigh of relief. If she had drawn the ice surface, she wouldn''t have been able to keep her bnce.


    After the fourteen third-year students took their positions, Percy announced in a drawn-out tone, "The duel begins."


    Facing Hermione was Daphne Greengrass, with whom she had some history. Their previous disputes had been limited to magical puppets, and this was their first real duel.


    "Disarm your opponent!" Hermione shouted loudly. She quickly recalled the contents of her Dueling Systems essay, thinking that her speed was faster, and she had to dodge. Next, she would have the upper hand...


    But things didn''t go as expected. Even though Daphne was slower by more than a step, she still stubbornly chanted a spell, "Stupefy!"


    Hermione watched in disbelief as her Disarming Charm hit Daphne, causing her wand to fly out of her hand. But at the same time, a red spell narrowly missed her hair and hit a nearby rock.


    Hermione was stunned for a few seconds, instinctively catching her wand that was flying back to her. It was only then that she realized she had won. However, Hermione didn''t feel the joy of victory. She couldn''t help but approach Daphne and whisper in frustration, "Why didn''t you dodge? You should have dodged..."


    Daphne gave her a sideways look. "Why should I have dodged?"


    "But, but" Hermione was filled with question marks. "Your casting speed was slower than mine, and ording to..."


    "Whose ''ording to''? You used a Disarming Charm, and I used the Stunning Spell. As long as it hits you, I win."


    Hermione wanted to continue arguing that what Daphne did was too risky and had no practical value, but Percy had already reminded the students to leave the arena as soon as the match ended. She red at Daphne, then went downstairs, fuming.


    Back in the Gryffindor crowd, Hermione was still grumbling, "She was just gambling. I can''t believe she would do the same thing in a real duel"


    Harry tried to cate her, "Actually, what she said makes sense. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn''t stand a chance against you. On the contrary, if her strategy had worked"


    He wisely closed his mouth because Hermione looked like a furious lioness.


    "Next, the second group, please step forward  Draco Malfoy, Simon Phinnegan, Ron Weasley, Gregory Goyle..."


    "We''ll watch the matches," Harry said, "I''ll be up soon."


    However, Harry''s name was not called in the second group. He had to wait patiently, and an ident happened in this group. A young wizard mispronounced a spell, causing his opponent to sprout a pair of snail antennae on their head. The boy, with a quavering voice, said, "What spell did you want to use, anyway?"


    Madam Pomfrey quickly came over, observed for a moment, and said, "It will take at least three hours for you to recover, dear."


    The young wizard touched the tentacles on his head and didn''t seem too upset. "Can I stay here and watch the match, Madam Pomfrey? I don''t want to go to the hospital."


    Madam Pomfrey stared at him in bewilderment. "You can stay, but aren''t you afraid of being ridiculed?"


    "That''s fine."


    After drinking a potion, the boy enthusiastically returned to his house and showed off his new headgear to his peers. A chorus of astonishment and envious looks erupted around him.


    Ron also returned triumphant. He said, "Actually, my first spell failed, but I hid behind a rock while Goyle stood there foolishly, and I tied him up like a dumpling with my next spell..."


    "Next, the third group: Dean Thomas, Neville Longbottom, Vincent Crabbe, Ernie Macmin, Harry Potter..."


    The duelingpetition was in full swing. Even the senior students couldn''t help but watch with seriousness.


    "Who''s that round-faced kid? He''s putting up quite a fight against Potter."


    "I''m not sure, seems like he just appeared out of nowhere."


    "He must be one of Potter''s friends. Look how happy they are."


    "I vaguely remember seeing him in Potter''s dueling group..."


    In the third-year finals, Harry stared at Draco Malfoy across the field in surprise. "I didn''t expect to see you here, Malfoy." They had drawn the forest terrain, with several ancient trees scattered around.


    Draco smirked, "You should see how I''ve taught that Weasley a lesson with the new spell I''ve learned."


    Harry nced back at Ron, who was sitting dazed on the ground, looking bewildered and somewhat reminiscent of Luna.


    "The match begins," Percy, sounding somewhat weary, announced, and Penelope''s voice was chillingly clear.


    Harry instinctively took a step to the side, casting a Silent Disarming Charm at the same time. The first spell was not intended to be powerful; he just needed to gain the upper hand. Draco, in response, retreated, hiding himself behind a sturdy-looking tree trunk. "Potter  Impedimenta!"


    Harry quickly jumped away as the spell went terribly off course. He estimated the distance and retaliated with a Binding Charm. A magical rope shot out and tightly coiled around the tree trunk. He heard Draco grunt and was about to approach when he felt a surge of danger.


    Quickly, he cast a Shield Charm on himself, shouting, "Protego!" An invisible barrier formed in front of him, blocking Draco''s meticulously prepared spell.


    "Swinging Hex!"


    "Boom!"


    A heavy ringing filled the air, and Harry felt as though he had been struck by a giant hammer. The magical barrier cracked like a spiderweb. Even behind the Shield Charm, he was affected, his ears ringing and his vision momentarily blurry.


    He gritted his teeth, keeping his eyes fixed on Draco, who was hiding behind a tree and asionally shooting "Swinging Hex" spells. His frustration grew. He closed the distance between them rapidly. A red light shed, narrowly missing him and hitting a tree instead. Harry was startled and quickly moved behind another tree. The arena fell silent.


    "Malfoy, weren''t you going to show me your new spell? I''ve certainly seen it. Need a reminder? I just thought of construction workers swinging hammers everywhere..."


    Harry crouched and waited for two seconds, then cast the Shield Charm in advance. As expected, a red light came flying at him but was intercepted!


    Without hesitation, he stepped out of the protection of the Shield Charm. Draco was leaning out half of his body, shooting the exaggerated red beam from his wand. Harry fired back with a spell of his own, and the red beam struck Draco squarely in the chest.


    Draco was thrown backward, crashing into a tree. He fell unconscious, his eyelids flickering, and he made no sound.


    "I won!"


    Harry shouted in excitement. This battle was much more challenging than he had anticipated, mainly due to the limitations of the terrain. His spellscked the power to damage the three-foot-diameter trees, rendering his advantages almost useless.


    He remembered the advice Professor Harp had given him  mastering more spells meant being able to handle different situations. He couldn''t help but think: If he were proficient in the sting Curse and the Fireball Charm, would he be able to deal with battles more simply?


    He knew what he had to do next.


    "Spectacr!"


    The onlookers held their breath, enjoying the high-level duel. When the result was announced, they erupted in enthusiastic cheers and apuse.


    Harry scratched his head and looked up at the judges'' seats. Professor Lupin smiled at him, Professor Snape stared down expressionlessly, Professor Flitwick was very excited, and Professor Harp chuckled, a steel mannequin in front of her waving at him vigorously, no, waving a sword.


    Was that a new magical puppet created by the professor?


    Harry suppressed his inner joy, trying not to let his mouth curve too much. He waved back in return.


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 Chapter 284: Lupin and the Knight

    Chapter 284: Lupin and the Knight


    "An astonishing match!" eximed the diminutive Professor Flitwick with excitement. "Malfoy skillfully utilized his surroundings, constantly seeking opportunities to counterattack. Potter''s quick reflexes were exceptional, and his responses were truly ingenious..."


    Draco, just awakened by Madam Pomfrey, disyed a slight smile on his previously gloomy face.


    "... Both of them disyed remarkable skill. This is exactly what I hoped to see. Perhaps in a few years, even a decade, a new dueling champion might emerge from among you," choked up Professor Flitwick. Felix patted his shoulder, and he sat down.


    Apuse echoed all around as Harry and the students enthusiastically pped together. "Well said! I look forward to that day," Harry eximed.


    Several professors also stepped forward to offer theirments. Snape, in his usual nonchnt manner, praised Malfoy''s quick-wittedness and his ability to leverage the terrain while avoiding any mention of Harry.


    "I don''t expect you to understand what I''m about to saythis knowledge will only truly be necessary after you graduate..."


    Standing from a neutral perspective, Lupin praised both contestants. Felix then reminded the young wizards that when only a pair of wizards are dueling, they can disregard the limitations of the arena and expand the battlefield to the seven designated terrains.


    Harry paused, caught off guard by this suggestion. He hadn''t considered it before. Reflecting on his duel with Malfoy, he realized he could have bypassed therge tree, perhaps taking a route around the rocky shore. Of course, Malfoy could have climbed the hillside, gaining a vantage point over him. This would have made the situation far more intricate.


    Felix''s advice was applied in the fifth-year championship duel. Cedric Diggory and Hufflepuff''s Prefect Mel Bradley engaged in a captivating pursuit.


    In the early stages, they upied opposite corners of the rocky shore and the hillside, exchanging spells. Later, Cedric used Transfiguration to turn a stone into his likeness. Stealthily, he circled around the ice, emerging suddenly from behind the hill. Had it not been for the gasps of the audience, Bradley might not have realized the attack in time, potentially ending the match prematurely.


    Percy had to shout loudly to maintain order among the cheering students.


    "Such a pity," Navid eximed, his eyes wide.


    "Yes, indeed," replied Harry beside him, his gaze locked onto the ongoing match, pondering how to break the deadlock. After a long while, he realized he had unconsciously ced himself in the shoes of the Hufflepuff Prefect, constantly strategizing on how to counter Cedric.


    Anxiously, he nced around, relieved that no one had noticed. Qiu Zhang gazed worriedly at the field, fixated on that dashing figure. Suddenly, the match seemed mundane to Harry.


    After rounds of testing, counterattacks, changing terrains, more testing, and more counterattacks, Cedric, with superior reflexes and spellcraft, triumphed over his opponent. The matchsted a full ten minutes, and as it concluded, a wave of cheers erupted from the young wizards.


    Unable to suppress a sour thought, Harry mused, "I could do that too, perhaps even better."


    From the stands, Felix spoke with an easy tone, "The first-year winner is Slytherin, second and third years are Gryffindor, fourth year is Ravenw, fifth year is Hufflepuff. So far, their skill levels seem quite evenly matched."


    "Bradley yed too conservatively. He wanted to win too badly, too scared to take risks," Professor Flitwick objectively evaluated the just-ended match.


    "In truth, Davies'' actual skill is decent, but sadly, his mistakes were too basic."


    Professor Flitwick referred to Roger Davies, the fifth-year captain of Ravenw''s Quidditch team. Though tall and sturdy, and remarkably handsome, he cared too much about his appearance. During his duel with George Weasley, he actually took the time to smooth his hair, only to be hit with a Stunning Spell and knocked unconscious.


    Victorious George unexpectedly encountered Fred afterward. The twins refused to yield to each other in the maze area, resulting in a stink pellet suddenly bursting, leading to a five-minute interruption of the match. Percy, holding his nose, stepped forward and cast several Cleaning Charms.


    Upon emerging, he appeared particrly disheartened, leaving the task of maintaining order to Penelope.


    Because the twins refused to admit who had thrown the stink pellet, both were expelled from the field.


    Felix observed the mischievous duo. Did they have a Marauder''s Map on them? Professor McGonagall hadined about them spending a lot of time on pranks, but she hadn''t mentioned nocturnal activities.


    Had they not engaged in nighttime mischief, or had they not been caught... It was indeed a thought-worthy question.


    Felix spoke gently, "Professor Lupin, my knight seems to have wandered over to your side. Could you pass it to me?"


    Lupin paused, lowering his head to look at the palm-sized knightIt had somehowe over to his side, right beside his left hand. Its pair of crimson eyes seemed rather disconcerting.


    "Of course." Lupin picked up the knight. The knight rapped his knuckles with its sword three times, and Lupin''s hand halted in midair, eyes widening.


    "Professor Lupin?"


    "...Oh, here you go."


    Subsequently, Lupin fell silent, asionally ncing at the knight puppet: it didn''t approach again. And when it attempted to jab Snape''s fingertip with its knight''s sword, it was pped over to the young Professor Harp''s side.


    "Mind your belongings, Felix."


    Lupin scrutinized Felix''s expression closely. The young professor smiled and addressed Snape, "Severus, have you felt your mood improve suddenly?"


    Snape looked puzzledly at Felix, but couldn''t discern anythingthis student''s thoughts were always elusive. He retorted sarcastically, "You should focus on how to face Umbridge, young man."


    "Why her? Wasn''t Tonks Dumbledore''s chosen contact?"


    Snape''s lips curved upwards, eyes fixed on the field, and he muttered softly, "Everyone saw you chasing after ck, and Potter himself admitted that he saw you using the Patronus to track ck''s ghost formshe must be furious. Did you catch him in the end?"


    Felix blinked, unaware of this development?


    "ck employed the Patronus Charm for a second time..." Felix began exining, but Snape''s imagination raced ahead, and he sneered, "That''s his modus operandi."


    Flitwick interjected, "So, the news from the Ministry is true? He acquired a wand at Knockturn Alley?"


    "Seems that way, and not just one wand, but two."


    Flitwick understood implicitly. He eximed, "The Ministry won''t give you trouble, Felix. Just look at them; in the past six months, they couldn''t even touch a strand of ck''s hair."


    As the matches continued into the seventh year, Professor McGonagall appeared in haste, her demeanor slightly exasperated.


    "Oh, Felix, something''se up. The Ministry''s investigator is here, and she insists on speaking with you. I couldn''t stop her; she has the Minister''s warrant"


    Felix rose to his feet, chuckling, "Well then, I might as well go meet her. I was just wondering where ck obtained the Polyjuice Potion and his second wand."


    He picked up the knight from the table, getting ready to follow Professor McGonagall out.


    "Wait, Professor Harp" Lupin called after him. When Felix turned back, Lupin asked gently, "I happen to have some knowledge of alchemy. Can I take another look at the magical puppet in your hand?"


    Felix stared at him and gestured with the knight in his hand, "Do you have any suggestions?"


    Lupin cautiously responded, "I need time for verification."


    Felix gazed at the knight in his hand, and he nodded in agreement to Felix''s unspoken question. "Very well, Professor Lupin. If you have any good ideas, feel free to find me. I think... I''ll be avable this afternoon."


    He tossed the knight, and Lupin hurriedly caught it.


    Though the match carried on, Lupin''s thoughts were no longer with it. He dared not look at the knight; that thing was close to poking holes in his hand. He hastily concocted an excuse to leave early.


    Snape watched Lupin''s retreating figure, his expression thoughtfully enigmatic.


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 Chapter 285: False Memories

    Chapter 285: False Memories


    In the corridor, Felix inquired, "Did that woman visit yesterday as well?"


    "Twice," Professor McGonagall replied with a meaningful look. "That''s why she moved out the Minister of Magic this time."


    Outside the Deputy Headmistress''s office, Tonks faced a shiny suit of armor, looking at her reflection. She held her breath, and her face swelled like a round, puffy ball.


    Her hair, once bubblegum pink, swiftly turned deep brown.


    "Tonks"


    Tonks turned her head toward the source of the voice, her eyes meeting McGonagall''s. "Mc-McGonagall!" She jumped in surprise, hastily patting her own head to revert everything to normal. "I, uh... was a bit bored, needed some fresh air."


    "I can tell, Tonks. Is she still in there?" McGonagall asked.


    "She''s still in there, which is why I felt breathless." Tonks said, spotting Felix by McGonagall''s side. "Hello, Harp."


    "Hello, Tonks." Felix nodded at her. "Shall we go in together?"


    "Oh, no, you don''t." Tonks declined, adding, "You might want to cast a Bubble-Head Charm on yourself beforehandjust kidding."


    Felix pushed the door open, suddenly understanding Tonks'' implication. The room was filled with a sickly sweet scent of perfume, and pink bubbles floated through the air one after another.


    One pink bubble burst, releasing a cloud of fragrant mist, causing Felix to furrow his brow.


    "Oh, Merlin''s beard, you''ve turned my office" McGonagall stared, Umbridge standing up, her wide mouth grinning. "Milverwa, I''ve waited too long, needed something to upy myself. I told Corrie I had thetest Hooch fragranceyet to be released." She giggled.


    McGonagall wore a stern expression. "If you don''t get rid of these bubbles, I''ll take matters into my own hands." She briskly walked to the window, breathing in the fresh air outside.


    Umbridge fetched a delicate bottle from her pocket, tapping the mouth with her wand, and the bubbles in the air floated into it. "I rmend you try it. Of course, you''ll have to wait for three months..."


    McGonagall rolled her eyes discreetly, deciding to ignore the situation. She left with the young staff member named Corrie.


    The sweet scent lingered in the air. Felix waved his wand, conjuring a whirlwind that swept away the pink-tinted air.


    "Madam Umbridge?" He sat across from her. "I heard you wanted to see me."


    "Indeed, dear." Umbridge intertwined her hands, politely saying, "Where shall we begin? Minister Fudge has mentioned you several times, a young prodigy, the future of the magical world."


    "Kindly convey my gratitude to him, Madam. Unfortunately, your timing isn''t great; I have hundreds of students waiting for me."


    Umbridge spoke gently, "You mean an intra-school littlepetition? Yes, Milverwa told me, one of the excuses to evade. Oh, Mr. Harp, allow me to finish. I bring Minister Fudge''s directive, clearer than before, not mere words... Each sentence I utter represents Minister Fudge''s personal intentions."


    Felix''s lips curved upwards. "So, what is it? You''re here on behalf of Minister Fudge to issue me amand?"


    "It''s Minister Fudge, Mr. Harp," Umbridge corrected. "I believe youck proper reverence for authority; it''s amon ailment among Hogwarts folk. Oh, pardon my digression. I heard an interesting factMr. Potter is still a children''s author, one of the books..."


    She retrieved a book from her pocket, her pudgy fingers flipping a page, a smug expression on her face. "A picture book? How childlike. Had I not checked, I''d be unaware that Mr. Potter had ties with the Ministry long ago."


    "And so?" Felix smiled. "I am still a recipient of the Order of Merlin, a candidate for the Order of Helga Hufflepuff, a member of the Wizengamot, and I maintain correspondence with high-ranking officials of multiple countries..."


    Umbridge''s smile faded.


    "...but that doesn''t prove anything. I''ve willingly let go of someso-called connections," Felix said, "all for the sake of reducing unnecessary interactions."


    "Then, why did youe to teach at Hogwarts? If you want to"


    "No, I don''t want to," Felix nced at her. "That''s my answer. Let''s get to the point, shall we? I have about... seven minutes."


    Umbridge''s hand holding the wand trembled, a stack of old-fashioned rings on her fingers squeaked and creaked, not out of fear but anger. Her chest heaved, resembling a toad with a puffed-up belly.


    However, she spoke softly, "Let''s begin then, Mr. Harp."


    "Where is Sirius ck now?"


    "Who knows? Probably with his associates."


    "You didn''t apprehend him?"


    "Apparently not."


    "But someone saw you using Side-Along Apparition with him, can I deduce that he received your help? I''ve heard you''re friends with Damocles Belby, a star pupil of Severus Snape, and have close ties with two Master Potioneers. You''d easily acquire the Wolfsbane Potion."


    Felix chuckled, just a while ago he had told Professor McGonagall about using Wolfsbane Potion to interrogate the Ministry, and now he found himself in the hot seat.


    So, he said, "I could have made you provide evidence, and if you couldn''t, I''d give you a profound lesson on speaking responsibly. I''d be pleased to see your eyes widen." He was delighted to see Umbridge ring at him. "But, perhaps it''s better to show you the scene at that time, so you won''t bother me again..."


    Felix stared at her, images shing rapidly through his pupils.


    "Where is this? I warn you, kidnapping a high-ranking Ministry official" Umbridge shrieked, panic in her eyes as she looked around. They were in a clearing amidst a forest. She saw the scenes of ''Felix'' and ''Sirius'' battling from afar.


    "You wanted to know what happened, didn''t you?"


    Soon, she saw a wizard''s battle, not mere spell dueling, but a breathtaking disy of magicmes, lightning, and various magical lights intertwined in a spectacle.


    Trees bent, boulders emitted heart-stopping wails as they flew past her, leaving sharp roars in her ears.


    ''Felix'' held a bright me in his hand, ancient symbols faintly visible. The next moment, a torrent of mes poured like liquid mercury, instantly engulfing the entire forest. Magic mes surged out hundreds of feet, turning trees and rocks into ashes. Almost in the blink of an eye, it appeared before them.


    Umbridge let out a piercing scream, and then her entire being was swallowed by mes...


    "Ahhhh"


    Umbridge screamed, jumping up. Before her was Professor McGonagall''s office. False, all of it was false... She repeated to herself that the fiery scene was a reflection in her pupils.


    She heard Felix''s voice still going on, seemingly not noticing her distress. He was saying with a touch of awe, "Sirius is terrifyingly strong, isn''t he? I suggest you send more enforcers..."


    Umbridge swallowed hard. She sat back down, readjusting her posture, "I, cough, this is what happened at the time? If I wanted to have you testify"


    "I should remind you that memories can be fabricated. The Wizengamot doesn''t consider memories as evidence. So, you could assume I was just having a bit of fun with you," Felix said.


    Umbridge stared at him, bbergasted. She heard him continue, "Now, the question is, do you believe I can aplish the things in those memories?"


    Believe? She didn''t want to believe, but the sensation was too real. Every time she tried to mentally refute it, the image of being engulfed by mes would abruptly reappear.


    She hurriedly concluded the interrogation, dragging her squat figure away. As she left, she muttered, "Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Harp."


    Now, she desperately needed her cute kitten teacup and colorful bows to soothe her wounded soul. She didn''t want to do anything else today.


    Felix kicked his legs up and couldn''t help but think, "Who says the Room of Requirement has no offensive capabilities? It''s quite effective for scaring people, after all."


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 Chapter 286: Professor Harps Reward

    Chapter 286: Professor Harp''s Reward


    When Felix returned to ssroom Seven, the duelingpetition had already concluded, and only a few top-ranked students, Percy, and Penelope remained.


    Percy reported what had happened since his departure. It had been less than half an hour since he left, but the developments were enough to furrow his brow in concern.


    Around ten minutes after he left, Lupin was the first to depart. Then, just five minutester, Snape abruptly left as well. Apart from a few students lingering around for the excitement and to pass the weekend, only Professor Flitwick, a constant fixture in dueling sses, remained.


    "As per the n, after the seventh-year matches ended, there were supposed to be awards and inter-grade challenges, but you weren''t present..." Percy said awkwardly. "Professor Flitwick allowed the other students to leave."


    Felix nodded, intrigued by whether Snape had figured something out. He decided to follow Lupin. Could they be getting into a fight at this point?


    He raised his wand, and from its tip emerged a slender, graceful silver swallow. Several young wizards'' eyes turned towards it, staring at the professor''s Patronus. Ever since its awe-inspiring disy on the Quidditch pitch, the young wizards had been talking about it incessantly.


    A few clever young wizards had even peddled information about Patronuses and Patronus charms, sessfully earning a bit of profit. From what Harry knew, the Weasley twins and their friend Lee Jordan had dabbled in such business.


    The Patronus swallow circled around the group and transformed into a streak of silver light that disappeared. Well, if they did get into a fight, he could at least try to mediate or help Dumbledore clean up the mess. The headmaster was bound to have a headache, wasn''t he?


    Felix thought mischievously, a subtle smile tugging at his lips. He refocused his attention and looked at the top-ranking students, speaking cheerfully, "Nowes the part you''re all interested inthe selection of your prizes: Galleons or a magical text creation."


    With each wave of his wand, a prize materialized before him.


    Golden Galleons, advanced magical puppets, scrying mirrors, memory discs, Serpent Ring of Obedience, an unnamed book, shimmering silverware, protective amulets... There were more than twenty options.


    "Professor, what''s this?" A golden-haired girl with adorable dimples pointed to a small snake the size of a palm. She instantly fell in love with itit resembled her family crest.


    "A means of transportation. You stand on it like this..." Felix tossed the little snake out. With a soft "pop" sound, a fifteen-foot-long snake appeared seven or eight steps away from them.


    The snake was entirely ck, its head raised, its wide wings on either side of its head ring open like a hood, its emerald eyes resembling two embedded green gemstones.


    It lowered its head, and towards the back of its head was a inconspicuous t area where one or two people could stand. Felix smiled, saying, "No need to worry about falling off. I based its stability on the Firebolt design."


    Harry couldn''t help asking, "Professor, did you also participate in dismantling and investigating the Firebolt?" He had only recently retrieved his Firebolt from Professor McGonagall, but the Firebolt had performed excellently, helping him easily defeat the Ravenw team.


    "Credit goes to Flitwick and Professor McGonagall. I just happened to see it and studied it casually," Felix replied.


    By this time, the little girl had excitedly jumped onto therge snake. She eximed, "What do I do? How do I do this? I want this!"


    "You can give it a try, but once you choose, you can''t change your mind," Felix reminded her. This girl seemed to be from a prominent family, and he wasn''t worried about the family itself, but their children could be quite troublesome.


    He was grateful that he was teaching students no younger than third years.


    "I want this one!" the girl yelled at the top of her lungs.


    "Astoria, where''s your manners?" another girl, Daphne Greengrass, scolded sternly.


    The girl pouted, "Oh..."


    Felix chuckled softly, "Is it a Greengrass?"


    "Professor, she''s my sister, just starting her first year. Her name is Astoria Greengrass," Daphne said.


    "Ah," Felix nodded, not saying more. He tapped his wand on the snake''s head, and it hissed. Only Harry understood the meaning of the hissit wasn''t meaningless, it was the snakenguage for "bind this lively girl." He suddenly wanted tough.


    The next moment, therge snake twisted its body and suddenly shot out, "Wow!" Astoria eximed. The area under her feet was stable, and the slight sway of the snake''s head and body movements didn''t affect her.


    Everyone watched as Astoria stood on the snake''s body, smoothly gliding over hills and rocky terrain, shouting and cheering in excitement, her long golden curls swaying.


    Daphne attempted to salvage her sister''s image, "Astoria has always been physically weak since childhood. Our family wouldn''t allow her to engage in sports. But she''s always loved Quidditch. Today, she''s, uh, excited..."


    After a minute, the snake returned to its original spot, and Astoria hopped off, rushing into Daphne''s embrace. "Sister, I love it!"


    "Professor, are there simr things? I don''t want a snake. How about something in the shape of a lion?" Percy asked, the top-ranked seventh-year student.


    Others'' eyes were also shining with excitement. Harry had already begun to imagine himself riding a majestic lion, parading around the school.


    The only Hufflepuff, Cedric, was feeling a bit perplexed. Of course, he also wanted his House''s emblem, a badger. But it wasn''t quite suitable as a mount.


    How about switching to an eagle?


    Felix smiled and said, "Don''t rush into a decision. Let me introduce them first so that you won''t be in the dark about other rewards after making your choices."


    "Golden Galleons, I don''t need to exin much. The quantity is one hundred."


    "Advanced magical puppets that can understand certainmands, like fetching things, holding conversations, reminding you of unfinished tasks. Theyck human intelligence but can give vague responses. Inside, they store textbooks from different seventh-year subjects. The advantage is that you won''t need to flip through books while doing your homework."


    Excitedly, Percy asked, "Professor, can I store new books in it?" He felt this would be immensely helpful.


    "Of course, it has that function, but it takes time. For one book, it''d take about two or three hours," Felix exined. He retrieved a book from his ring and tossed it to the magical puppet.


    The puppet independently opened the book, starting from the first page. Using the term "read" wouldn''t be urateit was more like recording. Its hand brushed every corner of the pages, then turned to the second page.


    "Professor, how many books can it store?"


    "Uh... You''ve stumped me there. I don''t know its limit," Felix spread his hands, "You can try."


    Percy chose that without hesitation.


    "I''ll continue introducing: Scrying mirrors, you all should know about them; Memory discs that can rey a memory; Serpent Ring of Obedience. Currently, it only has the function to store magical symbols. However, if you choose it, you''ll automatically be a member of the Runes Club."


    Ginny and another Slytherin student chose the Serpent Ring. Ginny was a second-year, originally ineligible for the club, but now she advanced half a year and didn''t need to take the test. She had heard from Hermione that the selection process would only get tougher.


    After weighing her options, she reluctantly gave up the idea of a ming lion mount.


    Another sixth-year Slytherin student was also excited. His parents had encouraged him to establish a good rtionship with Felix, but unfortunately, he hadn''t had a chance over the past year.


    Cedric and a fourth-year Ravenw boy chose the Memory disc.


    Now, only Harry was left without a choice. For him, the previous prizes were all good, but none could make him wholeheartedlymit. Hermione would undoubtedly love the advanced magical puppet for storing book knowledge, and Ron would undoubtedly choose the lion mount without hesitation. However, he still wasn''t entirely convinced.


    Felix continued to introduce the items, all of which he had crafted as side projects during his studies of rune magic. To him, the process of turning inspiration into tangible creations was the important part. Once the items were made, they held little use for him, as he had no personal need for them.


    "Shimmering silverware that can blow bubbles, well, just kidding. I got the idea from Headmaster Dumbledore. It can be used to train magic. The color of the bubbles changes with the type of magic infused. Comes with simple instructions..."


    "Talisman that can resist seven or eight conventional curses and less advanced dark magic..."


    ...


    "Professor, what''s this book?" Harry pointed to the unnamed book. It looked somewhat familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere. After thinking for a while, he realized that during his second-year Christmas break, he and Ron, along with the twins, had seen Professor Harp looking at something simr by the ck Lake while they were having a snowball fight.


    The only difference was that the book back then had a titleit seemed to be a collection of jokes. But what they had inmon was their pearl-white, ghost-like transparency.


    Could this be a book for ghosts?


    "Oh, I''m d you asked," Felix said cheerfully, "It''s an experiment, although it''s far from the finished product I have in mind. In fact, you could say I''ve only taken the first step, but it''s still quite magical."


    "It''s primarily made from memories, mixed with some other materials like Nightstrider''s tail hair," Felix touched the unnamed book, and it automatically opened. Harry and the others leaned closer, revealing a nk silvery screen inside, with silver and blue lights dancing between pages like fleeting lightning.


    "What''s in it?" Harry held his breath and asked.


    "Currently, nothing. However, if you choose it, you can ask me to infuse a memory, any memory rted to a magic spell," Felix made a gesture, "From first to fifth-year spells, it can substitute for me, teaching you how to master the magic."


    Harry''s heart raced. His first thought was Disarming Charm, followed by Patronus Charm. He had spent a month with Professor Lupin learning, but his Patronus still hadn''t fully taken shape; he only knew it was a big one.


    But he didn''t want to choose this way, because he was confident in mastering the spell. More importantly, he cherished the time spent with Professor Lupin.


    Harry hesitated for a moment, then his eyes lit up. "Professor, I''ll choose the Animagus transformation"


    "Oh, that''s not possible," he heard Professor Harp say to him, "You won''t be introduced to this spell until at least sixth year. I can''t vite the rule..."


    Harry felt disappointed, but then he saw Professor Harp wink at him. He seemed to understand something. "I''ll choose this book, then. As for the spell, I''ll think about it when I get back, is that alright, Professor?" He asked tentatively.


    "Of course, you can." Felix smiled. He intended to add a few more words, but suddenly froze in ce, scenes rapidly flickering through his pupils. Harry caught one of them


    Snape and Professor Lupin pointing their wands at each other!


    "Professor?!" Harry shouted. Was this real?


    But Felix didn''t respond to him. "Percy Weasley, take them away." He moved to the side, his eyes shimmering with silvery light. Utilizing the Patronus''s perspective, he whispered, "Severus, Professor Lupin, stop it..."


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 Chapter 287: Unexpected Events

    Chapter 287: Unexpected Events


    A Few Minutes Ago -


    The atmosphere inside the office of the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor was tense.


    Severus Snape''s wand was pointed directly at Remus Lupin, his eyes gleaming with an eerie light as he whispered, "What are you hiding?"


    Next to a desk, Lupin also held a wand, sighing, "You startled me by appearing out of nowhere."


    "Is that so...?" Snape''s gaze fell to a palm-sized knight''s armor at Lupin''s feet, its crimson eyes fixed on him. Considering his earlier suspicions, he had a strong desire to crush it since it was too distracting.


    "Armor, attack!" Snape pointed his wand at it, but in the next moment, Lupin swiftly interrupted his spell, "I can''t let you do that, Severus."


    Snape''s eyes filled with danger as he took a few steps to the side, and Lupin mirrored his movement. The two faced each other squarely.


    "I''ve already informed Dumbledore," Snape slowly said, "There''s a traitor at Hogwarts."


    Lupin urgently replied, "Think, Severus. Things aren''t as you imagine. Why don''t you go ask Professor Harp and clear things up?"


    "Hand him over to me!"


    "I don''t think so," Lupin said. Suddenly, a thick snake-like rope shot out from Snape''s wand, but Lupin precisely hit one section of the rope with his own wand, causing it to snap into five or six pieces.


    "He''s likely innocent. Think about it. I can apany you to investigate."


    Severus Snape grew increasingly hostile, saying, "You want to prove his innocence? Hand him over to me, and I will personally"


    "Severus, you''re under the influence of dark magic. There are things you don''t know. We believeDumbledore also knowsthat a boy named Ron has a problem with his pet rat."


    Lupin dodged a spell, and bottles in the office shattered.


    "Time to tell a story, Lupin? We don''t have much time, you need to hurry." Snape conjured a cloud of ck mist that rapidly transformed into a dozen chittering birds. With a sword-like swing of his arm, these dark birds flew at Lupin.


    "You''ve incorporated dark magic into regr spells?" Lupin said in surprise. He was more familiar with these dark spells than the average person, but not for learning, rather for understanding how to defend against them.


    He waved his wand, and the rolls of parchment on the desk flew up, forming a solid barrier in front of him. The ck birds clung to it, pping their wings furiously, turning into wisps of ck smoke.


    These wisps coalesced into arge serpent with its head rearing up to the ceiling, then suddenly lunged down.


    The giant snake broke through Lupin''s defense. He grabbed the "knight" and threw it out of the office window. "Go find Professor Harp!" He dodged the snake.


    "Buzz."


    The entire office trembled, and the furniture inside jumped.


    "cks fly"


    "Phew!"


    A red beam grazed Snape''s cheek and struck the cab behind him. Lupin stood up from the dusty floor. "Can''t let you do that, fool. I''ve been wanting to duel you for a long time."


    Snape smiled, but no one would mistake it for a friendly expression. "Is that so? No longer pretending to be the nice guy? A tamed werewolf?"


    "I''ve never pretendedArmor, protect me!" Lupin blocked a suspicious blue spell. Reason was out of the question at this point. He waved his wand, sending a continuous stream of red beams. Snape waved his wand repeatedly, deflecting each spell one by one. He took a step back, then thrust his wand forward.


    "Shadowless Divine de!"


    "Swoosh!"


    A row of wooden boxes was sliced neatly. Lupin quickly evaded. A minor cut appeared on his cheek. "This spell... quite memorable!"


    He flicked his wand, and Snape hastily raised an invisible barrier, redirecting the spell toward a locked chest.


    "Don''t!" Lupin cried.


    A redhead woman walked out. "Severus, why"


    Snape''s eyes widened, and he stumbled backward, dropping his wand. His body shrunk away. "No, no..."


    "Why..." Lupin anxiously stood in front of Snape, the illusion before his eyes vanished, reced by a full moon. He sighed withplex emotions, then raised his wand, "Ephemeral Glidewards"


    "Boom!"


    The full moon exploded abruptly, shattering into pieces. Lupin turned around in shock and saw Snape, emotionlessly holding his wand.


    "Remus Lupin!" Snape gritted his teeth.


    "Severus, that was an ident. Bogart was there to help Harry practice the Patronus Charm." Lupin stepped back cautiously; Snape was not acting rationally.


    "Swoosh!"


    Intense mes ignited the office, consuming everything. Snape wildly swung his wand, and Lupin struggled to maintain his footing. He could only defend himself and use a Stupefy spell during Snape''s brief pauses.


    "What''s happening here? Oh, dear!"


    A cheerful female voice appeared at the door. Lupin saw someone with bubblegum-pink hair, but she was soon hit by a Stunning Spell and disappeared from his view.


    "Severus, stop! Someone''s hurt!"


    But Snape, unusually unhinged, ignored Lupin''s shouts. He continued to cast increasingly powerful spells, using dark magic recklessly. His face emitted a ck aura.


    Lupin began to falter, and Snape''s expression remained cold as he wielded his wand.


    Just then, a clear chirping sound suddenly rang out, and a silver swallow materialized in mid-air, dividing the battlefield in two.


    "Severus, Professor Lupin, please stop..."


    A ck spell shot towards them. The silver swallow''s wings fluttered slightly, evading the attack. "Severus, you"


    "Get lost!"


    Lupin hastily said, "Snape hit the box where I kept Pettigrew, and he came out."


    "Shut! Up! Lupin!" Snape angrily interrupted, brewing a terrible magic that made the room tremble, corroding the ground around him.


    The Patronus, a swift, suddenly expanded and radiated a bright light, creating a giant ripple. Snape''s unformed magic produced a sizzling sound, and a dark red electric light burst out at the boundary. On one side was corrosion and darkness, on the other, warmth and light.


    The Patronus spoke gently, "Severus, calm down."


    Lupin quickly exined, "Severus, we found new clues. Pettigrew didn''t die; he''s alive and orchestrated everything."


    Severus seemed to regain his senses, he voluntarily dispelled the magic. The Patronus''s light washed over him, cleansing the darkness on his face. He leaned against the wall and sat down slowly.


    After a moment, Felix appeared in the office. Most of the room was destroyed, some furniture was corroded, and a small fire was still burning. A row of wooden boxes was neatly cut, with smooth incisions.


    Felix frowned; it seemed that real fire was used. Was it because of Sirius ck? He looked around but didn''t see Sirius in the Knight''s Armor. Had he been eliminated?


    Severus showed no intention ofmunicating with anyone. Felix could only approach Professor Lupin. "What happened here?"


    Lupin said with a bitter smile, "It was all an ident, a series of idents."


    Felix looked at Tonks on the sofa, "Why is she here?"


    "I don''t know; it seems she suddenly rushed in, maybe to stop the fight? But she was hit by my Stunning Spell."


    "Just a Stunning Spell?" Felix looked at Tonks''s face; she showed no sign of awakening.


    "She''s fine," Lupin exined, "I didn''t remove the spell. Given the current situation, it''s not appropriate... I can''t take her to the infirmary."


    If he dispelled the Stunning Spell, he might reveal the ongoing conflict between Professors Snape and Dumbledore. It was best to leave her be for now.


    "I see," Felix added another Stunning Spell to Tonks, "I''ll take her to the infirmaryter. No need to say anything."


    Felix took a chair with a cut-off backrest and sat down. He gave a nce to Lupin and increased his voice, "Professor Lupin, please exin. What really happened? Haven''t you told Severus that Peter Pettigrew is the true culprit?"


    He mouthed the words and gestured for Lupin to point to Peter Pettigrew.


    Lupin understood and provided a detailed ount, "On the day we returned to school after the Christmas holidays, in the staff lounge near the Great Hall, Dumbledore and I spected that there were significant discrepancies in the murder of James and Lily Potter. Sirius had a perfect opportunity to kill Harry but didn''t. His target was Ron Weasley, Harry''s friend."


    "I don''t recall," Felix said.


    "Let me exin. Sirius ck is an Animagus, he can transform into a big ck dog. James, on the other hand, could be a stag, and Peter Pettigrew, a rat. I''ll mock myself; they were there to apany me during my transformations as a werewolf."


    "In that case, Sirius escaped from Azkaban for a reason, but why did he attack Ron Weasley?" Felix continued, and Snape''s eyes flickered in the background.


    "Ron had a pet rat, or rather, it was their family''s pet rat. This rat suddenly appeared at the Weasley''s house and stayed there for a full twelve years until Sirius attacked during the holidays, causing it to disappear. But we saw its image, and it looked exactly like Peter Pettigrew''s Animagus form!"


    "So, he didn''t die? Peter Pettigrew, recipient of the Order of Merlin, a war hero, didn''t die but chose to hide in a wizarding family as a pet?" Lupin self-mockingly said, "They kept him for twelve years without realizing it."


    "Didn''t you ask him?" Felix questioned.


    "No, I didn''t get the chance."


    "Alright," Felix thought it was a good opportunity to rify the situation. And Snape needed to hear this too, "Because they changed Secret Keepers, Sirius thought he was too conspicuous and secretly switched the Secret Keeper to the inconspicuous Peter Pettigrew."


    "I see," Lupin muttered, "Back then, the Order of the Phoenix''s operations frequently leaked information. Everyone suspected a traitor, and there was much unrest."


    "Does this mean..." Snape stood up, "Peter Pettigrew was Voldemort''s true spy?"


    Lupin looked at Snape in surprise, and his previous suspicion vanished. Dumbledore had strongly defended Severus back then, and this was quite shocking.


    Severus said coldly, "Changing the Secret Keeper? Foolish!"


    "Severus..." But he ignored Lupin and left the office, saying, "What do I need to do about Peter Pettigrew? Let Felix tell me."


    Lupin opened his mouth but didn''t say anything and watched him leave.


    "Leave him alone for now," Felix suggested, surveying the room, which was utterly destroyed. Apart from Tonks lying on the couch, there was nowhere to stand.


    "Ah, it was all idents," Lupin sighed. He had sighed too many times today.


    "This office can''t be used anymore. Talk to Dumbledore and get a new one," Felix advised.


    "It seems we have no choice." Lupin said. Fortunately, a few days ago, he had released some magical creatures he used for teaching, or not many would have survived. The only living thing, Bogart, was blown to pieces, not leaving a trace.


    "By the way, where did you hide Sirius ck?" Felix asked.


    Lupin was startled, as he had forgotten about that, "During the fight, I threw him out of the window... I told him to find you."


    "Alright," Felix shrugged, "Let''s hope some young wizard doesn''t pick him up."


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 Chapter 288: Tonks and Lupin

    Chapter 288: Tonks and Lupin


    St. Mungo''s Hospital.


    Tonks woke up from the hospital bed, reaching out to touch the clean linen sheets that covered it, feeling a bit disoriented.


    What''s going on?


    She remembered shaking off that old toad, having no one to bother her. She decided to take a stroll around the campus, with ns to lie down on the yellow and ck-striped sofa in themon room and have some Yorkshire pudding at the kitchen. So, how did she end up in the hospital?


    "Cough, you''re awake? I got your name from Professor LupinFelix Harp, that is," a voice said.


    Tonks turned her head abruptly, looking towards the other side of the bed. There was a middle-aged (?) wizard, his face still young, but weathered, his hair streaked with gray and white. He was currently looking at her apologetically.


    Well, let me think... What was I doing before I cked out? There were sounds of fighting and arguing, and I thought of going to check it out...


    "You''re the one who knocked me out?" she said incredulously.


    Lupin coughed awkwardly. While Professor Lupin''s advice was to leave her at the hospital and not worry, he still decided to stay. At the very least, he owed her an apology.


    "It was an ident..." he suddenly paused, realizing he had said that four times today already.


    Tonks shrugged and jumped off the bed. "Hold onMadam Pomfrey suggested you observe me a bit longer," Lupin said.


    "Observe what, the awakening time from the Stupefy spell?" Tonks looked quite proud. "I''m guessing it''s ten minutes. I''ve donebat training with the department; my best time is seven and a half minutes, though it usually takes ten."


    Lupin''s mouth slightly opened, and he wisely didn''t tell her the truth. She had been hit with more than just one Stupefy spell, and she had been unconscious for more than ten minutes. Hopefully, this would remain his secret alone. But...


    "I''ve been lying here for two hours?" Tonks stared at Madam Pomfrey in astonishment. When she was about to leave, the responsible matron stopped her, insisting on another check.


    "And what if you were?" Madam Pomfrey said impatiently. "Some people sleep for a whole day. If it weren''t for Flitwick suggesting you might have official business, I wouldn''t have bothered... You''re fine now."


    She rambled on and left, and Tonks turned to Lupin, confirming again, "I''ve been lying here for two hours?"


    "... That''s right, I was just about to tell you," Lupin said, steeling himself.


    "Ah, well, never mind~" Tonks said cheerfully. "You''re the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, right? Quite skilled, I must say..."


    "It wasn''t me... well, how did you know I''m the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor?"


    "Otherwise? One of the things I looked forward to when I was in school was seeing what the new professors looked like."


    "Miss Tonks"


    "Just call me Tonks, I haven''t introduced myself formally yet. Nymphadora Tonks, but please don''t call me by my first name," she muttered softly, "silly mum." In English vocabry, "Nymph" is not the most ttering word.


    "Hello, Tonks, I''m Remus Lupin."


    ...


    Gryffindor Common Room.


    Harry was toying with his new acquisitiona nameless book with a very ghostly style. Ron curiously reached out to touch it; the surface of the book seemed like water, forming lightning-shaped patterns when touched.


    Hermione asked worriedly, "Are you really going to learn the Patronus Charm?"


    "Absolutely," Harry said decisively. "I think it suits me best. Listen, Hermione, I''ve thought about it for two hours, and I still believe my choice is the right one."


    Coming back from ssroom seven, or rather being escorted back by Percy, he was originally quite upset. He even had the urge to sneak into Professor Lupin''s office wearing his Invisibility Cloak to have a look. But two seats away was Percy Weasley, watching him like a hawk, or rather, protecting him ording to Professor Snape''s orders.


    Especially after the attack on him just yesterday, the whole school now knew that Sirius was still after himlike a thousand other rumors and legends in the school, it wasn''t true.


    He had to let go of this enticing idea and instead focus on the prize he got from Professor Lupin''s duelpetition. He shared his thoughts with Ron and Hermione, "I''ve had this idea while writing my duel essay. Professor Flitwick said we need to find what we excel at, make the most of our strengths. What am I best at?"


    "Quidditch," Harry muttered softly. "And Professor Lupin told me privately that he admired my reflexes..."


    "Whizzing around, eh?" Ron smacked his lips, mimicking the motion of consecutive Patronus Charms.


    Harry said, "That''s also what I hope for..."


    "Hermione!"


    The twins entered from outside, Fred carrying a ginger-colored cat. "Crookshanks has been lurking by the door. I think he''s got a gift for you." He said with a mischievous grin.


    Hermione lowered her head. "Crookshanks,e here."


    The ginger cat had something in its mouth, and she just hoped it wasn''t a big spider; she would have to clean up after it again. Crookshanks leapt onto the table and spat out the thing in its mouth.


    "This is" Hermione''s eyes widened.


    "It''s a magical puppet Professor Lupin had with him today," Harry confirmed, tinkering with it. "Looks like a castle''s armor design. He even greeted me with it."


    Hermione patted the big cat''s head. "How could you take something from the professor? We should return it to him."


    "Absolutely," Harry immediately agreed, wondering if it was a good time to inquire about Professor Lupin. If he had a valid reason, Percy wouldn''t stop him, right?


    On the table, a knightor rather, Siriuslooked frustrated. He had been thrown out by Lupin and knew he was of no help, just causing trouble. So he hurried to find Felix.


    He first went to ssroom Seven, but there was no one there. Then he went to Lupin''s office, dodging the dirty paws of small wizards along the way, pounding on the door. No response. He crawled up the window after much effort only to find the room empty.


    He didn''t know what to do for a moment. Perhaps finding Dumbledore was a good choice? But he didn''t know the password at all. Exiting the office, he encountered Crookshanks.


    Crookshanks was his ally, providing him with a lot of information about the castle. He was grateful. This cat was intelligent enough to recognize him, not only as a human but also to gauge his intentions.


    This time was no different. Crookshanks recognized him and kept trying tomunicate, but he had been hit with a spell that prevented him from speakingunless he got rid of the candy armor.


    He could only gesture, but unfortunately, Crookshanks, though smart, wasn''t that smart yet.


    After an ineffective attempt atmunication, Crookshanks carried him to themon room.


    Ron looked at him with great interest. "Can you talk? Hey! Percy has one that talks." He held the knight''s foot and shook it. "Do you have any skills?"


    "Ouch!"


    Sirius poked Ron''s finger irritably with the knight''s sword, and in Ron''s moment of pain, he let go, causing the knight to fall onto the table, making him feel dazed.


    "Stop it, Ron!"


    Sirius heard a voice like a siren; what was her name again? She was Crookshanks'' owner, a truly kind person.


    Hermione picked up the knight, "Come on, let''s return it to the professor."


    They walked towards the door, and Harry nervously stared at Percy, but he didn''t intervene. Maybe he thought that two hours had already exceeded Professor Lupin''s expectations?


    Harry was relieved to see him lower his head again, fiddling with the advanced magical puppet, while the twins kept circling him.


    "You should let us have a look; we might add some new features, like suddenly pulling out dung bombs and smearing them on someone''s face?"


    Harry closed themon room door, leaving behind the bickering of the Weasley twins. Two older students approached them excitedly, "Have you heard? A Slytherin girl caused quite amotion..."


    "What happened?" Harry''spanion asked, quite intrigued.


    "You''ll never guess; she released a giant snake in the Slytherinmon room!"


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 Chapter 289: Shall We Have a Drink Together?

    Chapter 289: Shall We Have a Drink Together?


    As Harry and the others knocked on Professor Snape''s office door, they heard a steady voice from within say, "I understand, Felix."


    The trio exchanged nces. "It''s Headmaster Dumbledore!"


    However, when Professor Snape opened the door, the room was empty, devoid of anyone.


    "Professor, was Headmaster Dumbledore really here just now?" Harry couldn''t help but ask.


    Felix smiled knowingly. "That was just a message from him. He isn''t actually here." He gazed at the knight figurine in Hermione''s hand and hesitated. "But how did it end up with you?"


    He wasn''t sure if the three of them knew something, and he inwardly sighed, thinking, ''Sirius, you''re really not that subtle.''


    Fortunately, the ensuing conversation made him realize they hadn''t discovered Sirius'' presence, and it was just the magically animated puppet he had identally "lost." Hermione apologized for her mischievousrge cat, Crookshanks, "Crookshanks probably mistook it for a toy. We cleaned it beforeing here..."


    Felix stared at the knight figurine, its crimson eyes flickering, seated on a saucer, its silhouette appearing somewhat lonely.


    "...Thank you all."


    With pleasantries out of the way, Harry took an untitled book from his pocket. "Professor Snape, I''ve made my choice; it''s the Patronus Charm."


    Felix didn''t rush to decline, instead, he looked at Harry intently. "Do you understand the risks involved in this magic?"


    Harry nodded.


    "Do you know how to deal with splinching?"


    This time, Harry was at a loss for words and turned to Hermione for help. Once again, Hermione didn''t disappoint, "For minor splinching, White Essence treatment is sufficient, preferably White Essence Elixir. But for more severe cases, likeplete separation of the head and body"


    Harry looked at her in shock, but she continued earnestly, "That''s when professional assistance is needed. ording to the information I found, it''s the Ministry''s asional Incidents Unit."


    Ron added, "And there are fines. I meanif the Ministry catches you practicing without a license and causing trouble, you''ll be fined a hefty sum."


    Felix nodded slightly, approvingly. "That covers most of it. So, Harry, are you still determined to choose the Patronus Charm?"


    Harry mustered his courage. "Yes, Professor, I am."


    Felix looked at him. "Don''t rush. I have one more question for you to answer: What do you think is the most crucial preparation when practicing this magic, given the information you now have?"


    Harry hesitated, then blurted out, "Um... having White Essence Elixir ready?"


    Felix chuckled softly. "That''s the basics. If you didn''t know that, I''d have to suspect you have giant blood. Think again!"


    Frowning and racking his brain, Harry, Ron, and Hermione contemted. Hermione''s eyes lit up as she raised her hand and looked at Felix. Felix shook his head at her, and she disappointedly lowered her hand.


    "I guess... having someone to guide you?" she ventured.


    "Very close, Harry."


    Another minute passed. "I''ve got it! When practicing the Patronus Charm, you must have someone watching nearby to prevent a serious splinching without rescue!"


    Felix smiled, "Exactly. The most serious issue with the Patronus Charm is splinching. Over the past century, there have been twenty-one documented cases of fatal splinching, all from attempting the Patronus Charm alone, trapped in ce, unnoticed..."


    "Their fate was watching their own blood drain away in regret."


    Harry shuddered harshly. How could the professor say something so horrifying with a smile? And the imagery was just too vivid. He worried that the next time he faced a Boggart, his fear would transform into his splinched self.


    "So," Felix turned to Ron and Hermione, "will you two supervise Harry, to ensure he doesn''t act recklessly?"


    Ron and Hermione vigorously nodded, the severity of the consequences weighing heavily on them too.


    "Very well, let''s discuss my n next," Felix said to Harry. "Firstly, you need to grasp the theoretical knowledge of this magic. I require you to write a paper about the Patronus Charm"


    His finger tapped on the untitled book, and his fingertip emitted a sparkling silver light. Various scenes started appearing on the book''s pages, showing Professor Snape''s figures vanishing and reappearing abruptly.


    "This book can assist you, Harry. I''ve added some restrictions that you''ll need to unravel, quite simple, like ying a game. By the way, do you know what games are?"


    "Are you talking about video game controllers? Dudley got one as a birthday present a few years ago," Harry replied, recalling how he had seen Dudley unbox the gift, filled with envy.


    However, Dudley''s precious game controllersted only a few days before Harry found one of the buttons in the trash bin.


    "Yes, somewhat simr to advancing through game levels."


    Felix continued, "Writing the paper and breaking the restrictions will be your first steps. The second step involves practice. I will train you a few times until you have a basic grasp of this magic."


    "After that, it''s up to you. Be cautious and make sure someone is nearby for every practice session, understood?" He looked at Harry seriously.


    Harry nodded eagerly, relieved. After hearing the professor''s exnation, he had a clear understanding of whaty ahead.


    "Professor, are we going to practice in the Forbidden Forest? I''ve heard that performing the Patronus Charm within Hogwarts is forbidden, and there''s a, uh, anti-Patronus Charm spell ced on it."


    Hermione nodded in agreement with Harry''s words.


    "No," Felix refuted that notion. "There''s a ce where you can bypass this restriction."


    Seeing their intention to inquire further, he pped his hands. "Alright, young ones, you''ll find out when the timees."


    Lastly, Harry tentatively inquired about Professor Lupin''s condition and was reassured that everything was fine.


    As they exited the office, Ron muttered, "We''re not little kids anymore. In another half a month, I''ll be fourteen."


    Harry said regretfully, "I still have almost half a year." He teased, "Ron, are you reminding us to prepare birthday gifts?"


    Ron''s face turned red, and he tried to trap Harry''s head in his armpit, while Harryughed and dashed away.


    ...


    Inside the office, a now human Sirius sat on the couch, grumbling, "Harry is too young. You shouldn''t have taught him that magic. You should''ve been more cautious."


    Felix looked at him with interest. "I''m surprised; you actually know the word ''cautious.''"


    Sirius red at him in frustration. Then, Felix continued, "Did you know Harry is learning the Patronus Charm from Lupin?"


    "What?" Sirius asked in shock, "The spell that repels Dementors?"


    Felix conjured a bottle of butterbeer, and Sirius started chugging it down. "Nostalgic... it almost brings tears to my eyes. Life was quite something."


    "You''re not objecting anymore?"


    Sirius leaned back on the couch,zily saying, "You actually thought it through quite well, even better than me. Just now, I thought about it. If it were me, I''d either refuse or start practicing with him immediately."


    "Knock, knock!"


    A knocking sound came from outside the door. Sirius choked on his beer. He looked nervously at Felix and mouthed, "Shrink me quickly!" He nced at the candy on the table, realizing he had just eaten a piece, and he wasn''t sure if it was part of his helmet or armor. Regardless, the knight''s sword had ended up in his stomach.


    "Professor Snape, it''s me, Lupin," a voice from outside said.


    Felix gave a teasing look to Sirius. Sirius stormed to the door, "Snaoh?" He pulled Lupin inside in one swift motion.


    "Padfoot...?" Lupin blinked in surprise and then hugged Sirius tightly, whispering, "Forgive me; I''ve misunderstood you all along."


    "Oh, Moony, please forgive me too..."


    "Growl~!"


    Both of them looked up to see Felix, who was fiddling with his wand, igniting a fire in the firece. "Temporary Floo connection line. If you have anything to discuss, do it over there. If Harry suddenly changes his mind, news of Professor Snape harboring a fugitive can''t be hidden for long."


    Sirius grabbed a handful of Floo Powder and muttered, "You''re just jealous..." The next second, he was tossed into the firece, shouting, "You! #@%... Number 12, Grimmauld ce!"


    Half an hourter, Felix and Lupin returned through the firece. Lupin thanked him, saying, "Thank you for everything, Professor Snape."


    "You''re wee; I''m just doing what I was asked."


    Before saying goodbye, Lupin couldn''t help but ask, "When did you figure out I''m a werewolf?"


    "Why do you ask?"


    "When I mentioned I was a werewolf before, you didn''t seem surprised at all. If you couldn''t guess, then I''d be quite dull," Lupin self-deprecatingly said.


    "It doesn''t matter. So far, you''ve been a good colleague."


    As Lupin left, Felix sat on the couch, reflecting, "A long weekend... um," he pulled out his wand, and a Patronus charm in the form of a swallow flew from its tip, "go."


    After a while, he murmured, "Sirius, youoh, your Patronus is a doe?"


    After a brief pause, he muttered, "Oh, that might be a bit hurtful... What I wanted to ask was, would you like to have a drink together?"


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 Chapter 290: Obtaining the Map

    Chapter 290: Obtaining the Map


    In the evening, Felix, carrying a box of candies, walked through the underground corridors of the castle.


    "Professor Harp"


    Felix looked at Draco Malfoy and the two hefty boys behind him, nodding in their direction.


    "Professor, I''ve just mastered a new magical inscription," Draco eximed with excitement. He extended his right hand, and the serpent-shaped ring on his index finger began to move, releasing a light blue magical inscription from the snake''s mouth.


    Holding the magical inscription, his face slightly reddened. After seven or eight seconds, the light blue symbol transformed into a gushing stream.


    "Your progress is impressive. This is your sixth magical inscription, if I recall correctly?" Felix inquired.


    "Yes, Professor."


    "Well," Felix reminded, "you should dedicate more effort to the magical inscriptions we discussed during our previous gatherings. They will prove quite useful."


    Draco hesitated for a moment, "I understand, Professor."


    Felix continued down the corridor, still carrying the candy box. Malfoy called after him, "Professor Harp, are you nning to visit the Headmaster''s office? I checked earlier, and the door is locked."


    "Perhaps Severus is brewing a potion? In any case, I''d better go and see." Felix muttered vaguely.


    Draco watched Professor Harp''s retreating figure and mused to himself, "I can''t help but feel that the Professor is acting strangely today."


    Crabbe and Goyle grinned in agreement, and Draco, ustomed to such situations, shrugged and led the way to themon room. "What do you think about Daphne''s sister, Astoria?"


    Professor Harp''s office: Felix tried several unlocking spells and managed to open the door.


    He walked in unceremoniously. The room was not small, with both office space and Severus''s private storage room, as well as an inner bedroom.


    Passing through the dimly lit ss specimen wall, he pushed open the door to the bedroom, where the flowers were in full bloom.


    "Severus, I''m covering for you in front of your students. If they were to see you brought back by the Levicorpus curse... tsk, tsk!"


    He opened the candy box the same one Sirius had used. Inside, there was an unconscious, palm-sized person Severus Snape.


    "Madam Rosmerta was curious about how a full-grown man like you suddenly disappeared, but luckily, I managed to deflect her questions."


    With a wave of his wand, Felix restored Severus to his original state and then levitated him onto the bed, cing Severus''s wand on the pillow.


    Severus rolled over and muttered drunkenly in his sleep.


    The next day:


    After Ancient Runes ss for fifth-year students, Felix detained the Weasley twins.


    "Is it the Marauder''s Map?" The twins exchanged nces,municating with various small gestures.


    Felix could tell there was something more to this!


    Fred hesitated, "Professor, this is something we"


    "got from Mr. Filch," Felix nodded.


    "Um..." Fred looked somewhat embarrassed, "You knew about that?"


    "I knew a bit. What concerns me most is whether it is still in your possession?"


    "We gave it to" George started to say, but Fred quickly covered his mouth, making frantic eye signals. Then he awkwardly said to Felix, "We gave it to a friend. If you need it, we''ll get it back for you. Rest assured, it won''t cause any trouble."


    George winked, understanding that they had given the Marauder''s Map to Harry, and this matter couldn''t be discussed in detail.


    Although they often broke school rules, they still tried to avoid revealing too much.


    "Do you know Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs?" Felix asked.


    The twins widened their eyes, and Fred eximed in surprise, "You know about them too? Professor, are you one of these four people?"


    "Or perhaps a former user of the map?" George spected.


    Felix smiled and said, "Back when I was in school, I didn''t have this opportunity, but I know two of them. I''m here today on behalf of one of them, who has requested temporary use of the Marauder''s Map. Rest assured, it will be returned to you."


    Fred''s eyes sparkled as he eagerly asked, "Oh, Professor, could you introduce him to us?"


    "Yeah, which one is it? We owe them a lot of favors!" George inquired eagerly.


    "I can only tell you that the person goes by the code name ''Prongs.'' As for whether he''s willing to meet you," Felix looked at their eager faces, "it''s not possible at the moment. He can''t show himself."


    He watched the twins with great interest. Their expressions were like devoted followers, and although they hadn''t met him in person, they already considered the map''s creator as a prankster elder and a role model.


    They hurried off, saying, "Professor, we''ll be on our way to find the map!"


    At noon that day, Felix obtained the Marauder''s Map. It was the first time he had seen theplete map; he had only heard of it before.


    It was quite an old parchment, not looking particrlyrge, but it was actuallyyered. When unfolded, it resembled a tablecloth.


    "This is our secret sess," Fred said with a lot of emotion, patting it and reminiscing about their youthful days.


    Felix smiled and remained silent. He tapped his wand on the map while silently reciting, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."


    This was the password he had received from Sirius. Now, as Sirius could only stay at Grimmauld ce, Felix had discreetly connected his office''s firece to the ck family house. It could be opened as needed and sealed when not in use to avoid detection by the Ministry of Magic.


    Lupin had also promised to visit Sirius on weekends. As he left, Sirius and the house-elf Kreacher were busy cleaning the ce with enthusiasm.


    In Sirius''s words, "At the very least, we should tidy up the living room and prepare two guest bedrooms."


    The password, coupled with the wand, made dark ink lines appear on the nk parchment, resembling a spider''s web. These lines intersected and extended, with just a few strokes outlining the buildings within Hogwarts Castle and some surrounding areas, including the greenhouse, Hagrid''s hut, the Forbidden Forest''s edge, and all the intricate details.


    What was most astonishing were the numerous and chaotic ink dots on the map, each with tiny letters next to them indicating names.


    Felix found his name right away, and beside it were two other dots with "Fred Weasley" and "George Weasley" written above them.


    As he scrolled through, he saw Dumbledore in his office, Snape in the Potions ssroom, Professor Sprout in the greenhouse. He also wanted to check the location of the Room of Requirement but didn''t find it; it was likely concealed, which he expected and wasn''t surprised about. However, he did see Trwney alone in her attic quarters, and from the ink dot''s movement, he guessed that the Divination professor was performing some kind of dance.


    Above the center of the parchment, a row of elegant script in a curly font began to appear: "Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs proudly present the Marauder''s Map."


    Felix studied the map, lost in thought for a while. "A cleverly structured piece. I need to examine it more closely..."


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 Chapter 291: Brewing

    Chapter 291: Brewing


    "Professor, are you nning to catch Sirius ck?" Fred asked.


    Felix looked at him surprisingly, "Guessed, did you?"


    Without hesitation, Fred said, "George, Lee Jordan, and I, we thought you must be up to something after that day... You know." He winked.


    "There''s been a lot of talk going around, quite unnerving," George chimed in, his face impressed. "ck appeared boldly in the open space in front of the castle, even disguised as a Muggle boy. Quite audacious!"


    Felix wasn''t quite sure how young wizards were viewing the attack. His weekend had been rather eventful, he hadn''t gone to the Great Hall, so he was unaware of thetest gossip.


    It seemed Dumbledore had no intention of refuting these spections. This sort of public opinion would put Peter, who was hiding in the shadows, at ease. However, there were pros and cons; the Ministry of Magic had more than once tried to exploit this as an excuse to pry open a gap.


    In times of peace, the Ministry represented authority, and its reputation was more powerful than its actual strength. But when war loomed and the Ministry faltered, personal power would overshadow everything. Its reputation would shine across the entire wizarding world, like a glorious sun.


    Castle''s Great Hall.


    Harry speared a potato with force, smothering it in sauce, suddenly losing his appetite.


    "They look at me as if I''m some sort of rare magical creature!"


    "No, more like a lucky bloke," Ron said, cutting into his sausage on the te and taking a big sip of the thick soup. He grinned mischievously. "In their eyes, you''re the one who managed to escape the jaws of a three-headed dog."


    Harry grinned, picturing the image of a shrunken three-headed dog while Ron went on a furiously petting spree.


    Hermione gave them both a sidelong nce. "Speaking of magical creatures, we can meet Hagrid in Care of Magical Creatures ss and ask about the progress on the Buckbeak case."


    "Didn''t they already pay the fine?" Ron asked, evaluating objectively. "That''s the best oue they could hope for, Hermione."


    Harry agreed. It was just a bit of money to resolve Buckbeak''s trouble, and he believed Hagrid wouldn''t mind.


    "Hard to say. Despite taking the money, the Ministry has been dragging its feet on giving a formal conclusion. Hagrid''s been a bit absent-mindedtely."


    Harry recollected, "I thought Hagrid was in good spirits. He hasn''t produced any more st-Ended Skrewts." He and Ron were still under the ban, so they could only meet Hagrid during ss. Last lesson, they learned about Fire Crabs.


    Despite the name, this magical creature from Fiji looked more like arge turtle, its shell studded with jewels.


    At the time, Hagrid introduced it with enthusiasm, "If it weren''t for the different habitat, Fang would absolutely love these creatures. Oh, Fang is fond of treasure hunting. I''ll introduce them to you sometime..."


    "That''s because Professor Snape and I kept an eye on things," Hermione waved her fork. "I can''t believe he actually managed to sneak a sphinx into the curriculum."


    "Wait, a human-headed lion-bodied scorpion-tailed beast... what''s that?" Harry asked in bewilderment.


    "It''s a human-headed lion-bodied scorpion-tailed creature," Ron correctly rattled off the name in one breath. He said with a shiver, "Charlie told me about it when I was little. It''s one of the few magical creatures that can rival a dragon. Its tail is venomous, its teeth are incredibly sharp, and their hides naturally repel most spells!"


    Harry believed Ron, as he rarely managed to fluently exin the traits of a magical creature. He was just curious, "Do these creatures exist in the Forbidden Forest?"


    He had asked a simr question when he learned there was a nest of Acromants in the forest.


    "The Forbidden Forest is vast, Harry," Hermione exined, then sighed with frustration. "Hagridter tried to excuse himself, saying he made a mistake and that he was simply studying. I''d like to see what he could possibly study..."


    Harry and Ron exchanged nces, focusing on their food. Hermione in this state was not one to be persuaded. She had a whole arsenal of arguments ready.


    Harry took a moment to nce at the teachers'' table. Snape was sitting far from Professor Harp, his body angled away. Even when he reached for food, he picked dishes only from his left side. He wasn''t entirely sure, was he avoiding her?


    What had happened exactly? He remembered the scene he had glimpsed in Professor Harp''s eyes  a confrontation between Professor Lupin and Snape. However, when he inquired about it, Professor Harp dismissively said he was overthinking it and that everything was fine.


    Staring at Snape''s face, he thought to himself that this was far from fine. He felt like he had another task added to his list  to observe Professor Lupin''s state in this afternoon''s Defense Against the Dark Arts ss...


    He got lost in thought for a moment, only to find Snape staring at him, a very unsettling look in his eyes. Harry quickly lowered his head.


    "Hmph~"


    Snape snorted. He felt a fleeting satisfaction, but soon, his ill temper took over once again. He suspected he might have been Confunded. Why else would he have agreed to apany that brat to the Three Broomsticks?


    More importantly, he couldn''t remember if he had said something he shouldn''t have.


    His memory was a bit hazy. He vaguely recalled Rosmerta rmending a honeyed mead, "You absolutely must try it. It''s infused with various flower petals  roses, violets, hibiscus, iris, and acacia... It''s absolutely delightful and won''t make you too drunk." She said with enthusiasm.


    ''Liar.''


    As the evening approached, Felix sat quietly in his office, studying the live-point map.


    From the firece, mes suddenly red up, coalescing into a vague face of orange fire. "Let me through, Felix!"


    He raised his head from the desk. "You can''t abuse the Floo Network; you might be caught by the Ministry."


    "Are you talking about yourself? You were reading herest night, reeking of alcohol..." The voice rambled on from the other end.


    Felix waved his wand and, the next moment, Sirius emerged from the firece.


    "Cough cough!"


    Sirius''s robe was covered in dust, his face grimy. "Clean up!" He pointed his wand at himself, bing clean again.


    Seeing the live-point map in Felix''s hand, he widened his eyes and eximed, "You got it?"


    "Yes, luck was on my side."


    "Have you found him?" Sirius asked in a hushed tone, holding his breath, his body tensed.


    "Not yet. I''ve checked, but found nothing." Felix continued to study, tapping the parchment lightly with his fingertip. "I specte that the diminutive one, Peter, is hiding deep within the Forbidden Forest, or perhaps he''s found another wizarding family altogether."


    Sirius slumped onto the couch, saying dejectedly, "So, what''s your n? Should I turn myself in to the Ministry? Dumbledore can vouch for me; they might at least listen, right?"


    Felix nced at him and remained silent.


    "Alright." Sirius got up, surveyed the room''s furnishings, and muttered under his breath, "Stodgy old man."


    He stood before a half-finished portrait about half his height. He clicked his tongue twice. "You have this hobby too, hanging yourself up?"


    "That''s for St. Mungo''s," Felix said without lifting his head.


    "Because... you''re a Healer? Studying how to tie people up?"


    "There are clippings on the desk. Besides, stop the chatter or I''ll kick you out."


    Sirius scoffed, picked up a newspaper, and after a while, fell into a slight silence. He murmured, "Frank and Alice, I didn''t know they went through all this... damn war!" He cursed under his breath, "Voldemort was utterly rotten; luckily, he''s dead."


    Setting the newspaper aside, he spotted a golden trinket on the workbench, his eyes brightening. "Can I take a look at this?"


    "As long as you don''t use your mouth to bite it. It''s seen quite a bit."


    Sirius gave a derisive snort. "Animagi in dog form don''t chew. Just saying," he said guiltily, reaching for the worn golden Snitch on the desk. One wing was broken, while the other intact wing fluttered feebly after a long pause, looking quite weak.


    After a while, Sirius leaned over and cautiously asked, "About this Snitch... do you n to fix it?"


    "Perhaps," Felix replied absentmindedly. "I found it in a massive junk heap, thought I''d take it apart and study it."


    "In a junk heap? A golden Snitch? Alright... how much?" Sirius asked.


    "What?"


    "I''m asking how much for this thing. Of course, I want it fixed, and it''d be great if you could add some quirky magic to it, make it more interesting. I''ve got some ideas; consider it a joint project."


    "Are you nning to give it to someone?" Felix stared at Sirius, a smile ying on his lips. "Harry?"


    "In half a year... I don''t know what changes might happen by then. Perhaps I''ll still be in hiding," Sirius evaded his gaze, and then said cautiously, "I may not be a proper godfather, but I still want to do something, you know, like the Firebolt. Even if I can''t be by his side, at least"


    "The Firebolt was from you?" Felix said, surprised.


    "It was, delivered by owl. Crookshanks helped a lot." Sirius exined.


    After some thought, Felix agreed, "Sure. Now,e over here. I need your input." He pointed at the live-point map. "I''m nning to cast an rm spell on it. If a specific person enters the map''s area, it will trigger an alert."


    He had other ns in mind, but the rm spell was the most convenient and had the highest sess rate. Once they caught Peter, he''d have ample time to verify his other ideas.


    "Great idea!" Sirius was instantly drawn in. "We can''t be watching the map all the time. What if he sneaks in at night? Although we could leave it to Kreacher," he said with malicious intent, "His mind ispletely unhinged, filled with too many crazy thoughts from my mother''s portrait..."


    "Let''s not digress. Back to the rm spell, there''s a challenge at hand..."


    Sirius looked at him, and Felix continued, "You''ve already added several spells, and their magical forces have intermingled over time. It''s difficult for me to intervene now; I''m concerned it might disrupt the existing structure and turn it into ashes."


    "I can provide the method for crafting a live-point map," Sirius immediately offered.


    "It''s not that simple. I''m more interested in the sequence of spells you applied." Felix stated.


    Sirius thought seriously for a moment, then slowly said, "I can only recall part of it; the Dementors had a significant impact on me. You''d best ask Remus; he''s more meticulous."


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 Chapter 292: The Nameless Tome

    Chapter 292: The Nameless Tome


    Memory is a truly wondrous thing. If the owner themselves have forgotten, then what Felix could do was rather limited.


    This was different from the situation with the Lumbatons  he wasn''t seeking a specific treasure, but was piecing together as many memories as possible, not constrained by a single day or event. To him, every memory was a brick to construct the mansion of thought.


    With the addition of Lupin, Felix''s deciphering of the live-point map took a positive turn. In just a few days, he could add the rm charm to it.


    ...


    Gryffindor Common Room.


    In a secluded corner, Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat around a small round table.


    "Give it a try, Harry," Ron urged, "let us witness the Phantom Book."


    "It''s the Nameless Tome," Hermione habitually corrected, her gaze fixed on the table where a transparent book emitted a blue-white glow.


    "Don''t you think ''Phantom Book'' is a more fitting name?" Harry asked, looking at both of them. A sudden unease gripped him for no apparent reason. He reached out and opened the Nameless Tome. Professor Harp''s silhouette appeared amidst a pale blue mist. He took a deep breath and pressed his palm onto the page.


    Ron and Hermione noticed that Harry suddenly froze, his expression bing rigid. Ron extended his hand tentatively, "Don''t move!" Hermione cautioned, thinking of the purpose of the Pensieve, "Harry''s consciousness might have entered the book."


    Ron stared at Hermione in astonishment, then back at the book on the table. "Harry''s consciousness is in there?" He held his breath, leaning down to examine the page, and indeed, he saw a small, blurry Harry.


    "Merlin''s socks!"


    Ron looked slightly terrified, ncing around before Hermione refocused her gaze on the page. "Don''t be so jumpy, Harry is fine."


    "What if someone just nudged Harry, moved his hand, and he got trapped in the book?" Ron earnestly suggested, "Shouldn''t we press his hand to help?"


    Hermione hesitated for a moment. "I think it''s unlikely to be that dangerous..." Half a minuteter, she was convinced. She and Ron reached out, each cing a hand on Harry''s.


    The next second, everything spun


    "Ahhhhh!" Ron shouted as if he had fallen into a long tunnel, helplessly tumbling. Involuntarily, he recalled the scene fromst year when he jumped into the Chamber of Secrets tunnel.


    "Alright, alright, stop yelling, Ron."


    Hermione''s voice came from beside him. Ron opened his eyes and slowly got up from the ground. "Where are we?"


    The sky along with the ground beneath his feet carried an unreal, ethereal quality, as ifposed of light blue smoke. He stomped his foot, and the ground erupted into a cloud of mist along with his stumbling.


    "I think this is the world inside the book, look over there!"


    Hermione pointed in the opposite direction of Ron. He turned around and indeed saw the figures of Harry and Professor Harp.


    Not far away, Harry was staring at them in astonishment. He jogged over, "How did you get here? No, wait, you can enter as well?"


    "We saw you suddenly freeze, thought we''d help well, maybe we overthought it." Ron surveyed his surroundings excitedly, "Looks like the professor didn''t refuse others froming in here. It''s really quite vast..."


    "I asked the same question," Harry said, "the professor''s response was that space doesn''t hold meaning in the world of thought."


    "Follow me!"


    Ron and Hermione followed Harry to their previous spot, Professor Harp seemingly unaware of the events from before, continuing his lecture nonchntly.


    "...We''ve covered the objectives and determination. Nowesposure. When casting the Phantom Transfiguration, never get nervous or fearful. In other words, don''t let your mind wander. Distraction is the primary reason for translocation failure or even splitting. It affects your concentration on the objective and the steadfastness of your determination..."


    Harry paused for a moment, "I missed the second point... but that''s okay, I can review it."


    Ron marveled, "Really cool! Is all of this fictional?" He cautiously stretched his arm out, passing it through the professor''s ethereal form. "Yet it feels so real..."


    Snap!


    "Ouch!"


    A pale blue mist coalesced in mid-air, forming a lightning bolt that knocked Ron onto his back, his hair standing on end.


    "I think," Harry suppressed augh as he helped Ron up, "the professor doesn''t like people getting too close."


    Ron nced guiltily at Felix Harp, who hade to a halt. Muttering to himself, he said, "Ron Weasley, no further incidents."


    Ron''s eyes widened. "Him, him, him"


    Hermione scrutinized for a while before hesitatingly saying, "It seems to be a programmed routine, like the magical puppets the professor has. There''s a certain level of autonomy. But whether the professor will know when Harry returns the book, that''s hard to say."


    Ron''s face was sullen as he said, "I was genuinely just curious."


    Meanwhile, Professor Harp finished his exnation.


    "...We''ve covered the basic knowledge. The first assessment is for you to recap what I''ve just taught. It''s quite straightforward, even if you have a basic understanding, you shouldn''t make mistakes."


    Harry hesitated for a moment, he had indeed read some materials beforehand.


    "Uh, let me think Learning Phantom Transfiguration involves following the 3D principles: Objective, Determination, and Composure. Firstly, we need to concentrate our awareness on the destination, that''s the objective. We must have a good understanding of it, it could be a ce you''ve been to or within your line of sight..."


    Harry ruffled his hair. "Thenes determination  I didn''t hear it clearly earlier, but... from what I read in the book, when using Phantom Transfiguration, you need a strong desire. This desire should fill your whole body and smoothly channel your magical power."


    "Lastly,posure. The book mentioned spinning in ce, but you clearly didn''t..." Harry said, and then somewhat nervously added, "Maybe I read it wrong, maybe you don''t need to spin... ahem! Anyway, visualize your body bing insubstantial, and don''t be distracted."


    Harry finished, looking expectantly at Professor Harp.


    Professor Harp smiled approvingly at him. "Well done, Harry."


    Harry still couldn''t help but be amazed. Was this professor in front of him truly just a memory? He could even counter Ron''s behavior, even though Hermione said it was pre-set, he still had doubts.


    "Now, moving on"


    "Wait, Professor, can they learn too?"


    "They?" Professor Harp looked at Ron and Hermione. "Do you want to give it a try?"


    "Can we, Professor?" Hermione asked with delight.


    "When I left these memories, I considered the possibility that Harry might let you both learn as well. However, it should follow Harry''s pace, you can''t get ahead of him or help him through the challenges."


    Ron hesitated. "How about letting Hermione try first? I''m still not proficient with the spells we learned in Dueling ss."


    "It''s fine, Ron. We have plenty of opportunities." Harry encouraged him.


    After about fifteen minutes, theypleted this step. Ron had to hear it twice to recite it urately, and when Professor Harp nodded at him, he breathed a sigh of relief.


    "I was even more attentive than in ss, really!" Ron said. He didn''t want tog behind and hinder Harry''s progress.


    "Next, is the second task." Professor Harp continued ording to his predetermined memories. "You''ll probably like this one  Familiar Transfiguration."


    "Familiar Transfiguration?" Harry heard a new term.


    "Phantom Transfiguration can be performed withpanions, the one being taken along is the familiar. This mode of movement is known as Familiar Transfiguration. During the wartime, the Ministry of Magic advised every child to learn Familiar Transfiguration. It''s actually quite simple, as long as you don''t yell or suddenly burst into magical conflict, sess is almost guaranteed."


    Harry nodded and asked, "Do I need to recap this content? Is this the second task?"


    "No, Harry." Professor Harp shed a bright smile, "That was just background. The actual assessment is adapting to the difort of Familiar Transfiguration."


    "I think that once you adapt, you''ll have a more authentic experience with this magical art."


    He looked at the three. "Since all of you want to learn... um... let''s do it randomly."


    His figure abruptly disappeared and reappeared in front of Ron. Ron slowly opened his mouth, eyes bulging. Professor Harp''s palm rapidly erged in front of his eyes...


    The next second, their bodies twisted and vanished.


    "Profe... Professor?" Harry whispered, looking around, surrounded by a faint blue mist.


    Hermione said, "Professor probably took Ron to experience the sensation of Familiar Transfiguration."


    "Experience?"


    "After all, all this is artificial, a world constructed by thoughts. You can''t ess magic, form facts, or habits." Hermione exined with experience.


    After two or three minutes, "Ahhh" Professor Harp appeared in the air with Ron.


    Ron was panting, fear still lingering in his eyes. After a while, he came to his senses, "I felt like I was desperately squeezing out from a rubber pipe, always on the verge of beingpressed into a walnut..."


    But after a short while, he was encouraging Harry and Hermione to try, "That feeling is unforgettable, you definitely don''t want to miss it."


    Professor Harp stepped forward at the right moment, smiling, "Who''s next?"


    Harry and Hermione simultaneously stepped back, the professor''s smile was just too unsettling.


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 Chapter 293: Admonition

    Chapter 293: Admonition


    Harry finally experienced the sensation Ron described as "being squeezed out of a rubber tube." He felt that description was an understatement; pressure surged from all sides, his eardrums gave a sharp warning, and his chest felt as if it were encased inyers of iron bands, making it hard to breathe.


    If this were happening in the real world, his clothes would be drenched in sweat.


    Not only Harry, but Ron and Hermione also struggled. After enduring two more attempts, they decided to call it quits. Harry inquired, "If we can''t adapt, are we going to be stuck at this stage?"


    "Even if you can''t adapt to bing visible, let alone maintaining focus and manipting magic," Professor Harp reassured, "you''re young, there''s no need to rush."


    In themon rest area,


    The three simultaneously opened their eyes. "Pretty cool, isn''t it?" Harry said.


    Ron grinned. "More than just cool, it''s downright awesome!" He ced a hand on his forehead, striking a peculiar pose. "I''m the silly country boy."


    Harry burst intoughter, leaving Hermione utterly baffled.


    "Gentlemen, is this thetest popr joke?"


    "Oh, Hermione, this is a line from ''The Little Wizard Mick''s Adventures.'' Whenever Mick encounters something unfamiliar, he says it like this..."


    Hermione shrugged and dryly remarked, "Quite amusing."


    Subsequently, days turned into weeks. Felix sessfully integrated the Alert Charm into the Marauder''s Map. The rest was left to time, to let everything simmer.


    When Harry handed him the paper on Transfiguring Illusions and the unnamed book, he was surprised to realize that a month had already passed.


    Entering March, the weather grew clearer. Looking towards the Forbidden Forest from the castle, distinct greenery could be seen. However, the wind had picked up, a biting breeze that stung the face. Every time an owl appeared in the Great Hall, its feathers were ruffled. This irked these responsible creatures, making them testy. If you didn''t promptly unwrap the letters and provide a few owl treats, they''d angrily peck at your hand.


    Felixpleted his own portrait and sent it to St. Mungo''s Hospital for Magical Mdies and Injuries. For him, the most time-consuming part wasn''t infusing memories but applyingyers of protective spells.


    If anyone dared to use a Stunning Spell on his portrait, that person would surely be in for a massive ''surprise''  originally, Felix hadn''t thought that far, but after numerous visits to the ck residence to read, this concern naturally arose.


    It was his first time delving so deeply into the history of a pure-blood family. Almost every couple of steps, he could spot traces of magic. He treated this ce like buried and rediscovered relics,plemented by the half-truths and tall tales he''d heard from Mundungus. It was indeed quite fascinating.


    Felix also incidentally rified one matter: Kreacher had known him all along. The unpleasant, shrill scream he heard during his first attempt to force his way into the ck residence belonged to this elderly house-elf.


    "What could Kreacher do? When he discovered someone attempting to break in, his only recourse was to trigger the defensive enchantments within the house."


    ...


    Grimmauld ce, Number Twelve.


    "So, you''ve known about this ce for a while!" Sirius eximed in astonishment.


    "As I mentioned, I received a bit of assistance from the ck family," Felix replied, a faint smile forming on his lips.


    "Who told you?" Sirius inquired, then realization struck him. "WaitPhineas Nigellus ck, my great-great-grandfather! You asked me where his portrait was!"


    He sarcastically continued, "His portrait seems to possess more reason than he did when he was alive. Was there an error during the memory infusion?"


    Felix spoke softly, "He hoped I would spare you, spare thest descendant of the ck familyunder Dumbledore''s watchful eye, despite the fact that you were once Azkaban''s most infamous escapee."


    "..."


    "Though you still are," Felix added.


    Sirius looked at him wordlessly and grumbled, "Thanks for the reminder. You make me feel like an ungrateful jerk, but if you knew what my childhood was like... Anyway, nothing''s up; I''ll keep an eye on the Marauder''s Map."


    "The Map has the rm Charm on it, no need for someone to watch."


    "In that case, I''ll tidy up my room!" Sirius snapped.


    Felix stopped teasing him and turned serious, "Speaking of important matters, I wanted to tell you not toe to my office recently, and I won''t being either. Officials from the Ministry of Magic are here."


    Sirius paused, puzzled, "The Ministry? At Hogwarts? Why?"


    "Because of you," Felix said, "There''s no bolder fugitive than you. The Ministry cast a wide, and yet you still appear at Hogwarts, less than three hundred steps away from the castle gates."


    "Dumbledore''s earlier reasons have been overturned like this. The school is no longer safe. Parents have been writing to him one after another, and he had topromise... Now, the abandoned ssroom next to Flich''s office has be the temporary Ministry outpost."


    Sirius awkwardly admitted, "I didn''t think that far. I stumbled upon two wands from the knocked-out wizard in Knockturn Alley, along with some contraband potions. The n naturally took shape."


    Felix shook his head and extended his arm. "Maruader''s Map,e forth!" A roll of parchment flew in with a swish. He turned and walked into the firece. "I''m taking the map. Also, I''m not sure if I have the authority to advise you, but life is like a game of chess. When you make a move, you must always allow for countery."


    His figure vanished into emerald mes.


    Sirius stared at the firece, dumbfounded, muttering, "Chess? Does he think I can''t y?"


    "Kreacher!" he shouted.


    "Bang!"


    A decrepit, ugly house-elf appeared. Kreacher hunched over and bowed deeply, his nose touching the ground. "Respected wastrel young master, what orders have you?"


    Sirius'' eyelid twitched as he suppressed his anger. "I''m going out for a bit. You keep tidying up the house. I don''t care where you put those worthless things, just make sure I don''t see them, or I''ll throw them all out."


    "Mr. Harp strongly advises against you going out. If he finds out..."


    "Kreacher! Who is your master, after all?" Sirius snapped irritably. "Maybe I should send you to him!"


    Kreacher muttered under his breath, but his voice was just loud enough for the other to hear, "Old Kreacher has served the noble House of ck for generations. If you insist, I might even prefer Miss Narcissa."


    Sirius was so infuriated his nose nearly skewed. He left in big strides.


    "Where are you going?"


    "To the Muggle neighborhood! To learn how to y chess! You can go tattle!"


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 Chapter 294: Practice Exam

    Chapter 294: Practice Exam


    The following morning, Felix Harp was enjoying his breakfast in the Great Hall.


    "Swoosh!"


    A newspaper-delivering owlnded on his table. He gave the owl a treat and casually unfolded the newspaper. Before he could read the contents, a second and third owl joined the scene, jostling and ttering dishes and tes.


    "Congrattions, Professor Harp," said Lupin, seated nearby. He pointed at the headline spread across the newspaper  "Youngest Recipient of the St. Mungo''s Medical Badge!"


    Felix graciously replied, "Thank youoh!" He dodged a grumpy owl''s beak and retrieved a letter attached to its leg. But soon, seven or eight more owls arrived, pping their wings and ring at Felix, urging him to retrieve the letters quickly.


    Drawing his wand, he tapped the rim of his goblet, and letters from the owls rained down. With agility, he caught them all in his hands and turned to Lupin, saying, "Actually, I received the badge quite a while ago; it''s just being announced now."


    The owls helped themselves to some orange juice, took a couple of biscuits, and then flew away. The table was in a mess, and Felix decided to forgo his meal, instead organizing the letters.


    He first nced at the "Prophet," where his photo was disyed, holding the St. Mungo''s Medical Badge. He was standing amidst a group of older-looking healers, with the St. Mungo''s Magical Medical Association insignia as the backdrop.


    Positioned in the center of the group, he was smiling warmly, holding a blue-green shield-shaped badge in his hand, featuring a serpent wand in the center with a light green letter ''M'' in the background. Dorothy Pomfrey stood beside him.


    Subsequently, Felix began to open one letter after another. Most were from fellow healers, with greetings from novice healers and exchange invitations from well-known colleagues. He put these letters aside, nning to reply to each one when he had the time.


    One letter with a gray envelope caught his attention. It was an official letter from the Ministry of Magic. Upon opening it, he wasmended for his exceptional contributions in the field of memory damage treatment and was awarded the Second-ss Merlin Order of Chivalry.


    At the bottom of the official document, there was a long list of signatures, all from current members of the Wizengamot. He recognized quite a few familiar namesAmelia Bones, Barty Crouch, Tibertus Ogden, Gilderoy Lockhart, Albus Dumbledore, Cornelius Fudge...


    "A Second-ss Merlin Badge, not bad," Felix remarked, though he suspected that Fudge might have dyed this intentionally to cause inconvenience.


    The award ceremony was scheduled for two weekster, providing him with ample time to prepare.


    Leaving the Great Hall, Felix spotted a plump, short witch in pink robes. He furrowed his brows but didn''t say anything. Umbridge didn''t frequent the school often, but her presence couldn''t be ignored. Her aura even seemed more prominent than that of the resident Tonks and another male auror.


    Many young wizards knew about the Ministry official who liked to wear pink robes around the school. Sometimes apanied by two aurors, other times by just one, she seemed to exude a girlish charm when she smiled.


    Umbridge carried herself discreetly. She stood with Fleur Dcour, and as Felix nced over, Lady Lestrange scurried over, brushing against his leg.


    "Lady, you look quite well," Felix said, noticing how her once scruffy fur had be sleek, and she seemed to have gained some weight, making her eyes look less bulgy and odd.


    "Meow~"


    Lazy andnguid, Lady Lestrange emitted a voice that was, as always, unnerving.


    Umbridge turned around upon hearing Felix''s voice. Spotting him, she quickly turned back and whispered to Fleur. Fleur then nudged Scrimgeour, who cleared his throat loudly and said, "Professor Harp, well... You''vee to the right person. He''s truly a good man..."


    "Lower your voice!" Umbridge squeaked, pinching her throat. Anxious, she turned back, meeting Felix''s smiling gaze. In haste, she handed a bag to Scrimgeour and gave a few instructions before hurrying away.


    "What did she ask you to do?" Felix approached and inquired.


    Felix Harp "tsked," "Inquiring about the professors at school, and even about you, all secretive. She had me ce some detectors around the school perimeter. I asked her whose orders they were, but she wouldn''t say."


    "Give it to me, Mr. Felch," Felix said, "I''ll ask Millicent. Oh, and is there enough of Lady Lestrange''s medicine left?"


    "Enough, enough, we still have some of the previous batch. I also asked Madam Pomfrey to make a new batch, just in case I made a mistake... You see, Lady Lestrange looks so lovely now. None of those young wizards who messed up can escape anymore!"


    "Cough, cough!" Felix cleared his throat, "If you have any questions, feel free toe to me. I have to go now, still have sses..."


    ...


    Seventh-year Ancient Runes ss.


    Felix scanned the students below, "Concentrate as much as possible, students. We''re simting N.E.W.Ts exams. Although you''ve done well over the past few months, still... approach this with reverence."


    The wizards belowughed and joked until he reminded them, "Ten more minutes." Students busied themselves with final checks.


    Sunlight streamed through tall windows, casting dappled spots of light onto their papers. Marcus, towering in stature, hunched at his narrow individual deskimitating the N.E.W.Ts format. His head was low, eyes swiftly scanning the entire parchment. asionally, he amended his answers with his quill, his other hand locked in a battle with a pimple on his face.


    Jeffrey, Penelope, and Percy finished their papers early, though Percy continued frowning as he reviewed. Only at thest moment did he rx, his face breaking into a satisfied smile.


    "Time''s up. Everyoneput down your quills, and let the papers fly."


    Dozens of papers swished towards Felix. He ced them on the lectern, and a hand-sized magic puppet leaped onto the stack. Holding a golden quill, it began grading the papers.


    Penelope sighed, "Every so often, you can clearly see progress. Professor''s magical puppet can already grade papers in his ce."


    Percy nodded, "You know how advanced my magical puppet is. I''ve stored over a hundred books in it already. But whatever I ask it to find, it can instantly provide me with feedback."


    Regret tinged Penelope''s voice, "Too bad I didn''t sign up for the duelingpetition. I missed this chance. Next year, I''ll be graduating."


    "All right, ss, we need to wait a few minutes," Felix observed them, "I''m d to see all of you finishing the papers. Normally, this exam would take up the entire morning, but our simtion is just two hours... a bit less."


    "Thanks to your Thought Chamber!" Wood eximed loudly, his excitement entirely justified. From being an Ancient Runes underachiever, he''d finished the paper early within just a few months.


    Moreover, he would score no lower than an E. If he was lucky, an O.


    Wood''sment was met with apuse, whistles from two boys, and exuberant cheers.


    Felix waited until the ssroom quieted down, then smiled and said, "Knowledge is there, but not all choose to learn. With this remaining time, let''s chat... What are your ns after graduation? Have you decided?"


    "I''ll be helping out at home," Jeffrey said.


    "Ministry of Magic," Percy said with anticipation, in hushed tones.


    "Um, I haven''t decided yet... but Woodmill United sent me an invitation to be a reserve Quidditch yer. I''ve been hesitating." Wood scratched his chin.


    Many students were still uncertain, voicing their aspirations


    "I want to work at Gringotts!"


    "I think traveling around would be nice, experiencing magic from different countries..."


    A few minutes slipped away, "Okay, let me see your results." Felix picked up the papers, flipping through them one by one, "Hmm..."


    The students stared at Professor Harp, the ssroom unusually silent, not even the rustle of pages turning. They listened intently to every word he spoke.


    Felix announced the scores, "Everyone met the standard! No one scored lower than an E, and as for Os, there are a whopping twenty-three."


    A Hufflepuff wizard spoke out loudly, "By the time the real exames, everyone getting Os won''t be impossible, Professor! Hogwarts is about to produce new legends!"


    Felix couldn''t help but chuckle, "Legends... You mean all of you, or me?"


    "Of course, all of us!" The student winked, endearing himself to the ssroom, which filled with a joyful atmosphere.


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 Chapter 295: The Event Youre Worried About Will Happen in April

    Chapter 295: The Event You''re Worried About Will Happen in April


    "This one''s got talent."


    On a Saturday morning, Felix watched Eddie Camille demonstrate his newly acquired magical writing skills and thought to himself.


    Eddie held a cluster of small mes in his hands, disying it to the others. Then, dramatically closing his palms and amidst the astonished gasps of the onlookers, he slowly opened his hands, revealing a continuously flickering orange-red magical script.


    "Look, this is me Script. Want to learn?" he said mysteriously to hispanions, "Just two Silver Sickles."


    ...


    Exiting the Great Hall, Felix encountered Harry, Ron, and Hermione, who seemed to appear out of nowhere. "Professor, we had an arrangement" Harry panted.


    Felix looked at them. "I was actually nning to notify you with Patronusester, but alright,e with me."


    He led the trio up to the eighth floor of the castle, standing opposite a tapestry. Harry nced at the amusing depiction of a ''Troll Chasing a Ballet Teacher'' before turning his attention back to Felix as they faced the nk wall.


    "The castle has many hidden rooms, some of them quite magical, unaffected by anti-illusion spells. The Chamber of Secrets is one such room, and this is another," Felix exined.


    "Throughout Hogwarts history, many have identally stumbled upon itin times of need. However, afterwards, they found themselves unable to locate it again. So, it got a name, the Room of Requirement."


    The trio repeated the name.


    "But in reality, it has always been here, or rather, this is one of its fixed entrances." Felix continued. At this point, he seemed to drift off, lost in thought. The Room of Requirement was integrated into Hogwarts'' magical defense system, relying on the castle''s magic to function.


    And as far as he knew, the entrance of the Room of Requirement could appear anywhere within the castle. If he could harness this power, could he bypass the restriction of the Anti-Disapparition Jinx?


    He pushed that thought aside and continued, "The method to reveal the entrance is quite simple. Concentrate on the ce you need, then pass by here three times. A door will appear on the wall, just like..."


    He paused as a silvery door truly materialized on the wall. As the door swung open, a slightly tipsy woman emergedit was Sybil Trwney.


    Felix couldn''t help but marvel at his luck. It seemed this was their second meeting in front of the Room of Requirement; the first time, she had emerged carrying a bottle of spirits from her office, and he had casually inquired about the Room of Requirement. Now, they were face-to-face again.


    "Felix... Harp?" Trwney''s gaze was hazy, and it took her a while to recognize him. "You, uh... hup~"


    Felix took a step back. "Professor Trwney, you''re quite intoxicated, and it''s morning."


    "What does that matter? I don''t have sses anyway!" She staggered a couple of steps and fixed her gaze on Hermione. "Child, I''ve seen you again. I''ve long foreseen, um, your departure, your eternal departure..."


    Hermione''s face tightened. "You should have directly mentioned my name at that time, Professor Trwney."


    Felix blinked; he happened to know about this. Hermione''s assistant had recently dropped Divination, likely due to her underwhelming performance in the subjectshe couldn''t even match the level of those making things up. Before that, Trwney had vaguely mentioned a "prophecy" in ss: "Around Easter, one of us will depart forever~" It was hard to say whether these two events were connected.


    Trwney seemed to snap back to reality, raising her scarf slightly, making the shiny beads on it jingle. "The Inner Eye might be burdensome. I don''t want to appear peculiar. You know..." With that, she drifted away slowly.


    "Oh, by the way." Trwney turned back, "Dear, the thing you''re worried about will happen in April."


    Harry and Ron looked at her skeptically, Ron taking a deep breath and asking softly, "Who''s she talking about?"


    Hermione''s response was sharp, "There are four of us. If any one of us has a small incident in April, we''ll know who she''s talking about."


    Felix''s tone remained casual, "I am, in fact, attending the Order of Merlin ceremony in early April. I wonder if Sybill is referring to that... Honestly, I''m not too concerned."


    They entered the Room of Requirement, finding themselves in a spacious ssroom, devoid of upants. The ceiling reached fifty feet, and the floor was impably clean, not a single hair out of ce, painted in various colors like a field of colored squares.


    Each square was marked with a number, repeating from one to ten.


    "Professor, what do I do?" As the moment of truth approached, Harry suddenly felt nervous. He held his wand, attempting a somewhat goofy stance. Hermione and Ron were relieved they didn''t need to participate today.


    "Apply what you''ve learned from ''The Unnamed Book,''" Felix said. "I''ve taught you everything I can. Also, your essay was excellent."


    "Really?" Harry was a bit embarrassed, but he did feel a surge of relief and joy. He wasn''t sure if the professor was trying to reassure him, but he decided to go along with it.


    "While the farther the Disapparation distance, the harder it bes, we don''t have to worry about a few feet," Felix stated. "So, pick a number you''re interested in, Harry."


    "Uh, I''ll go with..." He hesitated, looking at the squares in front of him. "How about the number seven?"


    "Very good," Felix encouraged, "You can close your eyes and listen to me read a guiding passage: Imagine yourself in warm sunlight... You hear birdsong, smell the fragrance of flowers. You''re incredibly rxed now, maintain that state. Imagine the square with the number seven, try to visualize it clearly. Now, begin to channel your magic. Suddenly, a strong desire wells up in your heart, you want to upy the space in front of you. You can''t wait any longer... right now!"


    "Bang!"


    The air burst with a crackling sound, like a firework igniting. Ron and Hermione watched in astonishment as Harry disappeared, only to reappear at the edge of the red square marked with the number seven.


    Losing his bnce, Harry stumbled forward, quickly reaching out to steady himself before embarrassing himself. Excitedly catching his breath, he looked down at his feet, "I, I did it"


    "Fantastic," Felix praised, "Next, let''s try again. This time, without the guiding words, try it on your own."


    Harry''s confidence was soaring. He stared at the original spotthe white square marked with the number one. He focused on his goal, his determination steady.


    He closed his eyes, feeling light and ethereal. Had he seeded? He didn''t hear any sound, so he opened his eyes, realizing he was still in the same spot.


    "Give it another try, Harry. The feeling is crucial."


    The third attempt failed again, making him anxious. The fourth, fifth


    "Bang!"


    Hermione let out a shriek. Harry opened his eyes, finding himself inside the number one square. The only issue was thathis right leg remained twenty feet behind.


    He had thought he might panic, fear rendering him unconscious, but he didn''t. Besides the fact that Professor Harp was present, another reason was that he had experienced being fragmented numerous times from "The Unnamed Book."


    "Fragmentation, a very normal phenomenon," Felix said calmly, walking over to Harry. With a wave of his wand, a burst of purple smoke dissipated, revealing Harry, seated on the ground, breathing heavily, sweat glistening on his face.


    "Would you like to rest or continue?" Felix asked.


    "Continue," Harry grinned, "Professor, I''m getting the hang of this special training thing."


    "Bang!"


    "Bang!"


    "Bang!"


    "Still fragmented, this time it''s the ear. Can you hear meof course, let''s continue."


    "Bang!"


    "Phew!"


    "Not bad, you''re bing more skilled. Notice how the volume of the spellcasting sound is decreasing? We''re on the right track!"


    Ron and Hermione remained quiet like quails. Hermione whispered, "Is this the special training Harry mentioned? It''s simply, simply..."


    "Like self-torture, isn''t it?" Ron described his feelings, "But it''s effective. Apart from oveing the psychological difort, oh no, fragmented again, this time it''s the arm..."


    Half an hour passed. "Let''s take a break for a while, grab a bite to eat." Felix stopped Harry from continuing his Disapparition practice. He looked around the empty room and specified, "I need a table and four chairs."


    The Room of Requirementplied, presenting a small brown table and four cozy armchairs.


    Felix winked at them, "I''m demonstrating for you. You might find it useful in the future. Actually, you can just mentally request it." He waved his hand, and a few tes of appetizers and choctes, along with arge jug of fresh orange juice, floated out from his left-hand ring.


    Harry walked over, feeling light as air, legs like cotton. He slumped into the armchair, feeling utterly drained.


    Felix conjured a straw and levitated a ss of orange juice in front of him. Harry lowered his head, took the straw in his mouth, and began to drink, "Gulugulu."


    "Professor, if I want to practice Disapparition, do I need to do this too?" Hermione asked hesitantly.


    "You''re different from Harry," Felix said, "He leans toward feelings, you lean more toward rationality. So, for you, it''s better to practice while thinking, summarizing the sesses and failures of each spellcasting."


    "Hermione is the smartest witch I know," Harry said, lifting his head, and Ron nodded in agreement.


    "It''s not about being smart or not, Harry," Felix said gently, "Everyone excels in different ways. Some people simply rely on intuition to learn magic, like you. You can consider it a kind of innate talent."


    Ron pondered for a moment. "I think I also rely on intuition, no, more on experience. I learned a lot of magic by experiencing it firsthand. Like the Impediment Jinx, Stunning Spell, Disarming Charm..."


    Felix looked at Ron strangely. He had heard from Hermione that Ron had developed his own "experience-based learning method," physically experiencing the effects of spells, which greatly expedited his learning process. Once, while learning the Impediment Jinx, he had let Harry bind him over twenty times. By the end of that day''s Dueling Club session, he managed to conjure a finger-thick rope with the spell.


    It was said that quite a few people attempted to replicate his feat, but no one managed to reproduce Ron''s achievement.


    Felix spected that either Ron had an innate talent for "growth through self-inflicted suffering," or his potential extended beyond that, but he didn''t usually show it, so he unconsciously found such an outrageous excuse for himself.


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 Chapter 296: You Can Trust Him!

    Chapter 296: You Can Trust Him!


    After the day''s practice concluded, on their way back, Hermione walked in silence with a furrowed brow.


    "Hermione, you''re not still thinking about Trwney''s nonsense, are you? She''s just an old fraud," Ron advised her. "I was nearly taken in myself, but after I made up a month''s worth of bad luck and got an ''Outstanding,'' I stopped believing in her."


    Then, he turned to Harry, excitedly saying, "I''ve learned a trick or two from Professor Harp. If you ever get sorted again, I can help" he gave Harry a meaningful look.


    Harry shivered slightly, finding littlefort in his words.


    He held a Muggle coin in his hand, a fifty-pence piece with seven sides, glinting slightly in the sunlight.


    Ron stared at the coin and said, "I still have the one you gave mest year. But... Professor Harp really is interesting. Who would''ve thought of this?"


    Before the practice ended, Professor Harp had asked Harry for a coin. Harry had intended to pull out a bronze Knut, but unexpectedly found this silver coin in a corner of his pocket. After confirming it wouldn''t cause any issues, he handed the silver coin to the professor for him to perform a spell on it.


    At the time, the professor had told him, "I can''t keep an eye on your progress every day, so let''s make a deal. Until it turns into a dazzling gold color, you won''t use the Patronus Charm outside of the Room of Requirement."


    Back in themon room, they saw the twins transfiguring a table.


    It had be a dazed-looking lion, with soft, ginger-yellow fur and a droopy face, like it had been punched. Harry thought the twins must''ve taken inspiration from Hermione''s pet Crookshanks.


    "It''s still not right!" Lee Jordan squeezed the lion''s drooping ear and said in a deted tone.


    "You have to makepromises," Fred said. "At least it''s movable, right?"


    "I don''t want to ride this thing around, I''d beughed at for sure!" Lee Jordan said fearfully.


    Harry asked Seamus, who was enthusiastically watching from the side, "What are they doing?"


    Seamus eagerly exined, "They''re trying to create a lion mount, exclusive for Gryffindor. Unfortunately, the effects of the Transfiguration aren''t quite up to par..."


    Harry couldn''t help but recall the Slytherin girl who had paraded around the corridor on a giant snake, even though she hadter been put in detention by Professor McGonagall. Her name had be known in an instant.


    Many people secretly envied her and wanted to achieve something simr.


    "Bang!"


    "I still don''t understand why Dumbledore doesn''t cancel Divination ss," Hermione said solemnly, her gaze fixed on the lion conjured by the twins. After staring at it for a while, she turned to Harry and Ron.


    During the evening magical writing tutorial, Professor Harp provided more information


    "Because this branch of magic has indeed had its moments of brilliance, and it truly has its uses," Felix exined.


    "But Trwneyshe"


    "I''m not sure what Dumbledore was thinking back then, and I''ve never witnessed a true prophecy, but... Sibyll''s ancestor, Cassandra Trwney, was undeniably confirmed to possess the gift of divination. She was called the ''Seer who sees the future.''"


    Hermione stared wide-eyed as Professor Harp''s finger traced through the air before her, and golden smoke materialized into a sheet of paper. The words on it sparkled brightly, forming a self-written passage:


    "I can see vague shadows on a person, more hidden than ghosts they don''t always appear; most of the time, they have no effect. Until a certain moment, they transform into a scene, and that''s when I glimpse the future... Once, I saw an endless tide of darkness on a dark wizard, and two monthster, he orchestrated a massacre... I deeply me myself for this; the Inner Eye might be a burden..."


    Hermione stared nkly at the golden paper, which gently swayed in midair. She softly whispered, "This is..."


    "A letter sent by Cassandra Trwney to a friend, which I obtained by chance, a centuryter," Felix said. "Cassandra didn''t live long, and maybe that''s partly why. Having a gift doesn''t necessarily bring happiness. In the years leading up to her death, she distanced herself from her family and became a recluse."


    "So, you believe that Professor Trwney inherited her ancestor''s gift?"


    "I''d guess she inherited it partially, judging from her daily performances."


    Hermione sighed, realizing she didn''t dislike Sybill Trwney as much anymore.


    After a quiet moment, she pped her cheeks lightly, rallying herself. "Professor, should I continue practicing the Lumos spell today?"


    "Yes, after all, this is the first ancient magic I n to teach in the club. It''s best to be cautious. Throughout Hogwarts, only you possess all the magical writing required for this spell."


    Hermione nodded, took a deep breath, and before her appeared magical runes. These symbols revolved around the core concept of ''light,'' continuously arranging and converging like apleted jigsaw puzzle.


    Light bloomed at her fingertips, a gentle, non-blinding milky glow. Hermione carefully controlled the magic, her magic power pouring forth uncontrobly...


    Magic must not control her. "Oh, still not quite right" The light in Hermione''s hand shattered. She sighed in disappointment. "My magic can''t handle more attempts, even though I can do it in the Room of Requirement."


    Felix chuckled. "You''re a fast learner. I expect you''ll have it mastered by the end of the Easter break."


    Hermione wiped her brow and noticed the Marauder''s Map on the worktable. She couldn''t help but ask, "Professor, has that dark wizard not shown up yet?"


    "That''s right," Felix said, a touch of helplessness in his tone. "All we can do is wait."


    After a long pause, Hermione bit her lip, her expression conflicted. "Can the Unbreakable Vow be broken?"


    Felix fixed his gaze on her. "Miss Granger... what have you deduced now?"


    "Oh, I..." Hermione pressed her lips together, her voice trembling. "Sirius ck''s usation for being locked in Azkaban, apart frommitting shameful murders, is that he was a loyal spy for the mysterious figurehe betrayed Harry''s parents!"


    "If I''m not mistaken, you have a ''but''ing," Felix calmly said, his eyes on her.


    "But it doesn''t make sense! Even if ck hated Ron''s rat more, for instance, due to Death Eater infighting or personal feuds, he wouldn''t spare Harry. I''ve thought of a possibility, and I''ve looked into information privately, but the Unbreakable Vow can''t be broken by external forces..."


    Felix fell silent for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "Miss Granger, if... and I say ''if,'' unforeseen changes were to ur, if you were to encounter himSirius ckGranger, you can trust him, especially when Harry is in danger!"


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 Chapter 297: Homework

    Chapter 297: Homework


    As Hermione emerged from the office, her mind was still spinning.


    Though the professors hadn''t explicitly said so, the implication was clearSirius ck was innocent. Or at least, for Harry, he was harmless.


    She wasn''t sure if she should tell Harry, but not knowing the truth, sharing it would only cause more worries, and she had enough of those already. With the Easter holidays approaching, the professors had all coincidentally piled on the assignments, keeping Hermione as busy as a spinning top.


    She had pushed the Time-Turner to its limits, but even so, she still inevitably missed some sses.


    Hermione was somewhat relieved that the Dueling Club had been temporarily canceled. Harry''splete focus was on Quidditch training every day, and in the moments in between, he had to discuss various strategies with Wood. Homework could only be squeezed into fragmented time.


    This resulted in a steady decline in the quality of the essays Harry turned in, but at least he wasn''t the only one receiving reprimands.


    Harry and Draco Malfoy were summoned to the Transfiguration professor''s office. "Gentlemen, I understand you''re preparing for the Quidditch finals, but that''s no excuse for letting your homework be a mess," Professor McGonagall said sternly.


    Yes, the Quidditch finals. Harry thought with a distant look. Tomorrow marked the first day of the Easter holiday, and the first Saturday after the end of the holiday was the Gryffindor versus Slytherin match.


    He snapped back to reality, staring at Draco Malfoy. Draco''s pale face was marked by obvious dark circles under his eyes, giving off a challenging look. This tension between the two houses and the two teams was just a microcosm of the recent conflicts between Lions and Snakes.


    A hint of gloom passed through Draco''s eyes. He was under immense pressure in the team, seen as a hindrance to Potter''s speed of attack. He had been indignant about it for a while, but when he considered the speed of the Firebolt, his irritation faded away.


    He had written to his family to inquire about the price of the Firebolt, but his father unusually refused him. The thing cost more than seven Nimbus 2001 broomsbined for his entire team. He was incredulousjust who had given Potter this thing?


    It couldn''t be one of Potter''s dim-witted admirers, could it?


    "...Never before have we had this situationtwo students still in the hospital, ears sprouting leeks, seven students in detention..." Professor McGonagall''s voice seemed to serve as the backdrop to a tense exchange between the two, and it was clear that Professor McGonagall had noticed this.


    She said angrily, "Off you go. I''ll only say this once, but if you don''t shape up..." Her face turned red, and after a moment''s hesitation, she persisted, "I''ll put you in detention, yes, before the finals! I''ll talk to Flitwick about it."


    Harry hastily assured Professor McGonagall, and Draco''s expression softened too. He managed a smile at Harry, who refrained from making any sarcastic remarks and instead shook his hand.


    Exiting the Transfiguration ssroom, the two who had been standing close together separated from each other. Draco snorted contemptuously and turned away. Harry returned to themon room and just happened to hear Seamus shout, "And they call this a holiday? Exams are still far off!"


    Approaching themotion, he discovered them tallying up the assignments from various subjects.


    Dean Thomas, counting on his fingers, had been at it for a good while. "...History of Magic, three two-foot-long essays; Potions, three essays, one of them is three feet longSnape''s brain must be addled! The title islet me seeAn Analysis of Wolfsbane Potion Enhancement Form..."


    Dean muttered a curse under his breath, protesting, "We''re not even being tested on this for the final! Why make us write this stuff?" He grumbled, "Understanding thetest developments in the field of potions...he just wants to show off his research."


    Harry couldn''t agree more. Dean continued, "Transfiguration, two essays, plus animate to inanimate transfiguration practice; Astronomy, twelve star charts..."


    He heard a retching sound nearby and turned his head to find Neville, who said with a pale face, "Sorry, feeling a bit queasy..."


    The twins leaned over, asking, "Want some Peppermint Elixir?"


    Harry looked puzzled. "Isn''t that for curing colds?"


    Invigoration Draught was Madam Pomfrey''s specialty, having an immediate effect on colds and flu. The only downside was that after drinking the potion, smoke would continuously emit from one''s ears for the next few hours.


    "We''ve made some improvements to it, making it live up to its name," Fred said with a grin. "Let me show you." He pulled out a sweet and popped it into his mouth. "We''ve turned it into a solid form, making it easy to carry, so you can take it even in ss. Well, it''s a bit nasty, George, take note, we can make it taste like fruit..."


    "Got it, mate," George said, taking over the exnation and addressing the young wizards around them. "For the next few hours, you''ll be bursting with energy, with just a tiny side effect..."


    "Woo-hoo!"


    Fred seemed to have been hit by something. Smoke poured out of his ears, apanied by a loud whistle from his mouth. He dered spiritedly, "See that? Instant fatigue relief, a worry-free pill, seven Sickles a pop."


    Dean was quite intrigued, and Harry looked at the stack of homework on the table, feeling a bit tempted. By now, quite a few young wizards had gathered around, pushing him to the outer edge. After waiting in line for five minutes, he realized that every two minutes, Fred would emit a train whistle sound, as if he were imitating a lotive.


    After considering it for a while, he backed out and found Ron and Hermione in a corner. Hermione''s eyes were a bit red, and she was yawning in small, frequent bursts. He thought that Hermione needed the Invigoration Draught, or rather, the Invigoration Sweets.


    She was scribbling and drawing on a piece of parchment. Harry took a quick look and realized it was a study n for the final exams.


    After a while, Hermione finally finished her immediate tasks. Biting on her quill, she said, "We should make full use of the Easter holiday. I''ve alreadypleted the assignments for History of Magic and Astronomy."


    Ron was puzzled. "Don''t you usually finish Ancient Runes first?"


    "The professor exempted me from that assignment, said it wasn''t worth the time," Hermione exined.


    Ron let out a wail. "How could they... I was counting on using your essay as reference!"


    "In fact," Hermione said with a serious expression, "in the top ten of the parchment leaderboard, everyone''s been excused from their assignments."


    Ron''s gaze turned to Harry, full of anticipation. Harry shrugged, "Most of my holiday will be spent training. We have an advantage, but there''s still a chance of a reversal. It''s the worst scenarioWood''s gone mad."


    "Alright, I''ll write it for you, and once it''s done, I''ll lend it to you," Ron sighed.


    Hermione snorted but didn''t say anything, just getting up and leaving themon room. After a while, she returned with a yawn, looking even more fatigued.


    Harry continued the previous conversation. "Speaking of which, it''s a bit strange. Professor McGonagall isn''t stopping me from going out anymore..."


    Hermione jerked upright, suddenly alert.


    "What''s up, Hermione?" Harry looked at her strangely. "Do you know the reason?"


    "Not yet, it''s another matter. I can''t be sure," Hermione hesitated. "I''ll talk to you after the Quidditch match."


    ...


    The next morning.


    Felix Harp, well-dressed, attended the award ceremony.


    The plot of the third year was drawing to a close, and it was progressing a bit slowly. I''m not sure if I can finish the third update today, so you might have to wait until tomorrow to read several chapters.


    Thank you for reading this far! You can ess more chapters from HERE by joining my <b>Patreon</b>munity. You''ll gain exclusive early ess to the <b>COMPLETE NOVEL</b>.


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    Don''t let this amazing opportunity slip through your fingers!

 Chapter 298: Crouch and Bagman

    Chapter 298: Crouch and Bagman


    The Ministry of Magic.


    Felix pushed open the door of the telephone booth and watched it rise to the surface, joining the crowd as they made their way to the atrium.


    "Mr. Harp, greetings."


    "Mr. Harp, congrattions."


    Felix nodded in response one by one. After giving a speech at the Ministry of Magic, he had gained several acquaintances. He walked confidently to Room Three in the Visitor''s Area, where an elderly wizard sat alone. With shaky movements, the old wizard raised his head. "Felix Harp?"


    "Are you... Augustus Gray? I remember you from the Order of Merlin ceremony in Bellby."


    The old wizard grinned, his mouth devoid of teeth. "Rare indeed, to see an outstanding young man before I retire."


    "You''re too kind, Mr. Gray," Felix said with a smile.


    The two chatted, with Augustus Gray having worked in the Wizengamot Office of Magical Law Enforcement for seventy years. He handled routine paperwork and had risen from a reckless young man to the head of the office. He was well-versed in the workings of the Ministry of Magic, knowing many anecdotes and gossip.


    "...That young girl, Berta, so innocent and helpful. She asked me if I needed a walking stick..."


    Felix blinked. "Berta Jorkins? I think I''ve heard that name."


    A cheerful voice came from behind them. "Ha~ What are you discussing?"


    Felix turned around to see arge wizard. It was evident that he had once been tall and strong, but he was now on the decline, his figure more round, making it hard to associate him with the word ''burly.''


    His gestures were grand, with his arms swinging as he talked. His voice was full of emotion, incredibly engaging.


    "Hello, I''m Ludovic Bagman. You must be Felix Harp? I''ve heard about you from people in the departmentArthur, Arthur Weasley. I don''t know if you''re acquainted, but he was quite impressed by yourst speech." Bagman shook his golden hair and leaned in close, whispering, "Well done, I mean, I also can''t stand McNair, really can''t stand him..."


    Felix spoke mildly, "Mr. Bagman, I just gave a regr speech"


    "Yes, yes," Bagman eagerly interrupted, his face lighting up, "Who''s to say otherwise? I wasn''t at the department then, I had a fan gathering, these people are so enthusiastic... Merlin, I love them, but, well, I knew what it was all about from the first time I heard, you know, I''m quite familiar with some pure-blood families, through my father''s connections... they told me quite a bit."


    Felix smiled, "I''m curious to know what they said."


    "Cough cough, I can''t say, I promised them, but," Bagman paused for a moment, unable to restrain himself, and then said mysteriously, "You have quite a reputation in the pure-blood circles, they hold you in great awe, I think even more than they do Barty Crouch, speaking of which"


    He suddenly called out into the distance, and Felix followed the sound of his voice to a man around fifty years old, standing straight, movements rigid, his spotless robes without a single crease.


    Crouch walked over, moving in a perfectly straight line. "Bagman, hello." Crouch spoke politely, his short beard immacte, as if it had been trimmed with a ruler. "I''ve been looking for you, work-rted matters."


    "Let''s set work aside for a moment and have a chat," Bagman said enthusiastically. "Allow me to introduce you. This is my new friend, Felix Harp, today''s star, a unique talent in the field of memory treatment!"


    Crouch calmly extended his hand. "Hello, Mr. Harp, a pleasure to meet you. However, I''m pressed for time; I have a meeting with the Bulgarian Minister about the Quidditch World Cup shortly."


    "Hello, Mr. Crouch, if you have matters to attend to, feel free to leave at any time."


    "Absolutely," Bagman said with a beaming smile. "Who else but you can understand their convoluted and entric ents? You''ve really gone through a lot..."


    "You''re joining me too, Bagman. There''s a lot of work over there that needs attention. Otherwise, it''s two hundred grains of sand; the numbers keep growing, and I''m stretched thin."


    "I know," Bagman said awkwardly, but he quickly found a reason. "I''m upied with something else, not the Quidditch World Cup. You know,munication with the United States isn''t as smooth. They want to change the rules, but who am I? I certainly won''tpromise"


    Crouch raised an eyebrow. "We promise not to reveal any details before the official announcement."


    "Oh, details!" Bagman waved his hand dismissively. "But the event is happening at Hogwarts during our holidays. We have to talk to them about the detailssee, I bet Harp here knows something."


    He turned to Felix with anticipation. "You must know. Some things are inevitable. Dumbledore has held several meetings, vetoing some interesting proposals."


    "Are you talking about the Triwizard Tournament?" Felix asked.


    He found it strange; it seemed that Ludovic Bagman and Barty Crouch were simultaneously responsible for the Quidditch World Cup and the Triwizard Tournament. An odd arrangement, one that might lead to more internal conflicts. What was Fudge thinking?


    As for the Triwizard Tournament, he was familiar with it. It was a friendlypetition between the threergest European wizarding schoolsHogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstransting for many years. It had been discontinued due to high casualties, but


    "The Triwizard? Now it''s the Quadwizard, or perhaps more. Old Fudge wants to bring in more people, like that Vagadu from Africa. Honestly, I think he''s gone mad."


    "Bagman!" Mr. Crouch''s tone was stern. "We should change the topic."


    "Oh, uh, alright." Bagman was somewhat flustered, shrinking back and shrinking his shoulders. "As you wish. Let''s talk about today''s star then, my good friendFelix Harp."


    His eyes lit up. "The youngest ever recipient of the Order of Saint Mango''s Healing Medal. Not an easy feat. I always remember it being old men, I mean, experienced healers."


    "...And the Merlin Medal, I''m not sure if he''s the youngest." He looked at Barty Crouch.


    "I believe that was Peter," Crouch said slowly. It was clear he didn''t want to discuss the topic.


    "Admirable, he was a hero," Bagman said, his tone less respectful. "But Mr. Harp is no slouch either, and he''s only" he nced at Felix, who sinctly stated, "23 years old."


    "Exactly, 23 years old, and aplished through genuine skill. Memory injuries, I''m not very familiar with that area. It''s about treating memory deficiencies, right? I think Berta Jorkins could use a visit; her actions are truly headache-inducing. She couldn''t even find a venue, spent a week wandering around."


    Barty Crouch didn''t speak, maintaining his stern expression.


    "What do you think, Barty? She should be at the department today. It''s best to have her drop by..."


    "She''s not here," Crouch said stiffly.


    "What?"


    "She''s not here; I approved her vacation. I told her to take a break."


    "Well, um, but she''s under my purview, Barty..."


    Barty Crouch suddenly became irate. "Then you take responsibility. Use the time you spend meeting fans to take care of venue matters instead of leaving everything to me."


    Bagman''s momentum immediately waned, like a deted balloon. "I didn''t mean that. Okay, you''re right. Let her have a break, one more person won''t make much of a difference..."


    Crouch left in haste, and Bagman looked somewhat uneasy. He chatted awkwardly for a few more moments and then excused himself. "I better talk to the Americans again. Honestly, their ideas aren''t... aren''t that oundish."


    More and more people flooded into the reception room, and Felix had to greet each one, exchanging empty words. It took him quite a while to finally dismiss Cornelius Fudge. Fudge, whether due to some peculiar medication or not, was persistently introducing him to high-ranking officials in the Ministry who were part of the pure-blood faction. Fortunately, he recognized some familiar faces.


    "Phileas, Mirabel, Zephyrus, and Damocles, are you all together?"


    "You''ll be quite busy today," Damocles Belby said understandingly. "We''ll pass the time on our own. It''s been a while since we''ve all been together; there''s much to catch up on."


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 Chapter 299: Unexpected Developments

    Chapter 299: Unexpected Developments


    The award ceremony went smoothly, and there were no "worrisome incidents" as Felix perceived. He felt Professor Trewney had once again misjudged things. Nheless, he couldn''t enter the Hall of Prophecies at the Department of Mysteries to check if any new prophecies had been made.


    Located on the ninth level of the Ministry of Magic, the Department of Mysteries was a division dedicated to researching specific enigmas. Most of its operations were highly ssified, even concealed from the employees of other ministry departments.


    Wizards working in the Department of Mysteries were known as Unspeakables. They were forbidden from disclosing any details about their work or location. Felix spected that they must have entered into strict secrecy agreementsable to conduct perilous research while bound by more stringent limitations.


    However, rumors circted that within the Department of Mysteries, there existed a chamber where a prophecy orb appeared for every prophecy in the world. Since the establishment of the Ministry of Magic, thousands upon thousands of prophecies might have been recorded, awaiting verification by future generations.


    ...


    Felix toyed with a gold medal in his hand, adorned with a purple ribbon tomemorate his "outstanding achievements and efforts." Bellby had told him that the first-ss medals featured green ribbons, representing Slytherin House.


    "Wasn''t Merlin from the early Middle Ages? How does he connect to Slytherin?" Felix curiously inquired.


    "Heh, some pure-blood families, when tracing their ancestry, im their forebears followed Merlin..."


    "Is that true or just a fabrication?"


    "Who knows! Though some families do have ancient lineages."


    Returning to his office, Felix had the uing two-week Easter break to properly organize his recent work. But first, he had to deal with the half-roomful of Easter eggs; he suddenly felt a pang of difort. These chocte treats could easilyst him a decade.


    He selected some to give to Sirius, and incidentally handed over the results of his recent analysis of the hotspot map.


    It was a rather crude map, only palm-sized and irregrly shaped, like a child''s hasty doodle. It simply marked the castle, the Forbidden Forest, the ck Lake, and Hagrid''s hut.


    Sirius took it with a slightly disdainful expression. It was covered in countless tiny dots, dizzying to look at. However, some names were marked in golden letters, the people Sirius cared aboutHarry Potter, Remus Lupin, Severus Snape, Albus Dumbledore...


    "Actually, Wormtail is on here too, just invisible."


    Sirius tore open the wrapping of an Easter chocte egg with his teeth, taking a hearty bite of the chocte. "Thanks, otherwise I''d have gone mad." He kept staring at the palm-sized paper.


    Kreacher whispered, "The spendthrift young master goes to the Mugglemunity every day to y chess,ing back smelling foul..."


    "Shut up, Kreacher." Sirius snapped in embarrassment.


    Days went by, and Felix took some time to reorganize the magical objects he had researched this year,piling the research materials in the Pensieve.


    Mundungus had gone on a nned trip to the Far East, bringing back a plethora of magical artifacts. Felix had just one requestancient ones.


    As he expanded his horizons, he increasingly felt like a younger Flitwick, having mastered too much magical knowledge, yet only a small fraction of it was applicable.


    "This is exactly why I wanted to write the Book of Magic Runes."


    Felix thought to himself. With each flicker of his thoughts, magical symbols appeared in the airgold, red, blue, green... like colorful rivers flowing through his office.


    "Next upthe Nameless Tome. Ha, I remember Ron Weasley calling it the Phantom Book. It really is somewhat reminiscent."


    In front of Felix Harp, a semi-illusory book appeared. The first few pages were tangible, while the rest were ethereal. It was simr to the Nameless Tome Harry held, but the two were iparable.


    Turning to a new page, magical symbols leapt from the colorful rivers, diving into the pages. Various forms of runes materialized on the page


    A cascade of falling water, lightning slicing the sky, a bridge connecting two ces, ever-expanding green mist...


    Felix watched all this contentedly. If he included all these runes, it meant he would fullyprehend the magical symbolism behind them, even if the process might take a considerable time.


    Suddenly, a question arose in his mind: How did ancient magice into being?


    Were wizards born with it? That seemed unlikely. He leaned more towards the idea that ancient wizards stumbled upon this inspiration while studying magical creatures and nts.


    The distinctiony in the fact that, for magical creatures, their talents were instinctive, not learned, much like how humans naturally ran and jumped. They inherently released lightning, changed shape, but unavoidably, their bodies restricted them.


    Yet, ancient wizards managed to liberate these inherent talents through ancient magic. They inadvertently broke free from these confines. Their challenge shifted to controlling these talents so they wouldn''t go awry. From another perspective, they made this magic more potent.


    Felix had a realization and took out a stack of parchment. These were Slytherin''s manuscripts. He had sealed them away due to Szar Slytherin''s brutal methods and the ipatibility with his own path in runic magic. However, now it seemed these paths converged.


    Unknowingly, he could now decipher others'' paths with his own.


    Skipping the gruesome, brutal methods, Felix gazed at the records of magical creatures, especially the three pieces of parchment he had previously chosen as suitable for himself. They documented Slytherin''s early research into blood magic: how to extract magical creatures'' innate talents and transform them into spells usable by wizards.


    This seemed to coincide with Felix''s spectionSzar Slytherin once contemted retracing the steps of ancient wizards, drawing inspiration from the broader magical world.


    Regrettably, he eventually abandoned this path.


    Felix couldn''t help but wonder, if Szar Slytherin gave up on this, what was he pursuing? His mind drifted to Helena''s revtionSzar Slytherin delved deeper into forbidden domains, his appearance growing more terrifying. This hinted that Slytherin had experimented on himself, integrating magical creature bloodlines, and likely more than one.


    Did Szar Slytherin ultimately lose his humanity?


    Rowena Ravenw''s words echoed in his mind, "We ourselves can be considered magical creatures."


    What truly constituted a magical creature? Or to phrase it differently, what changes would ur when a wizard was called a magical creature? Felix couldn''t know for sure, but he believed that if Professor Ravenw had solemnly told him, it must be a significant threshold.


    And quite possibly, Szar Slytherin had crossed that threshold by transfusing bloodlines. But what about the other three founders? What had they relied upon?


    So far, he only had some understanding of Rowena Ravenw. From the manuscripts she left behind, she was indeed a polymathproficient in alchemy, transfiguration, spells, and potions. Yet her deepest researchy in memory magic.


    As Felix delved deeper into the realm of memory magic, a question arose within him: Was the Rowena Ravenw he saw in the Room of Requirement merely a memory?


    Or was it her true self?


    What did memory nodes eventually evolve into, and did it rte to the soul?


    He had too many questions, but no one to answer them. He could only continue walking his path alone.


    On the final day of the Easter break, Felix gathered himself, preparing to face thest segment of the academic year. However, Dumbledore suddenly appeared with a grave expression, bearing bad news.


    "Nearly Headless Nick is leaving. He wishes to see you onest time."


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 Chapter 300: Entreaty

    Chapter 300: Entreaty


    Felix''s heart felt heavy. Though he had only met Nichs mel once, they had exchanged messages through magical photographs several times. To Felix, Nichs was more akin to a teacher.


    "Wait a moment, Headmaster Dumbledore, I''ll fetch something."


    France, Paris.


    Felix revisited an old ce, guided by Dumbledore, to a quiet street where, separated by two roads, stood the Bsresles Hotel  the ce where the Muggle conference was held during summer vacation.


    Here, he had witnessed a group of spirited young people. Their youthful faces were still vivid in his memory: the student leader Uriah, the captured yet unyielding Matt, the friendship- and family-oriented Byers, the innocent and lively Bethany...


    Dumbledore handed Felix a piece of paper with "7 Montmorency Street" written on it. As Felix thought of this address, a white cottage suddenly materialized between two patches of grass.


    "Fidelity Charm." This thought flickered through Felix''s mind.


    He nced at the magnificent fiery clouds on the horizon and followed Dumbledore into the house. Inside was a medieval-style sitting room adorned with various odd-shaped ss containers, candlesticks, a brass globe, and several sofas covered with white sheets. The edges of the firece in the corner were ckened from smoke.


    On the other side of a rotating staircase in the corner was an exquisite bookshelf filled with books. Opposite the bookshelf, on a table, sat arge crystal ball emitting light through ayer of thick dust.


    Guided by Dumbledore, Felix ascended to a bedroom on the second floor. A small wooden sign hung on the coffee-colored door, bearing the names "Nichs and Perenelle."


    Pushing the door open, an elderly many quietly on the bed. His chest didn''t rise or fall, his face rmingly pale. Only when Felix approached did he hear faint snoring.


    "Nichs," Dumbledore whispered, "Felix hase."


    After a long while, the old man opened his eyes. A filmyyer covered his eyes, and his trembling voice asked, "Felix?"


    "It''s me, Nichs. Long time no see," Felix said casually. He discreetly held the Sneakoscope hidden in his pocket. This bted Christmas gift might not be given now.


    "Felix... I''ve been looking forward... to the day we truly meet," Nichs struggled to open his eyes wider, but all he saw was a blur. "However, things got dyed..."


    "You had the Philosopher''s Stone. How could it...?"


    "Destroyed, my boy. I''ve lived almost seven centuries. Death... is not a bad thing."


    Nichs quivered as he extended a hand from under the nket. "Felix... oh!" He let out a painful cry.


    Felix heard a crisp crack sound. He remained silent for a moment. Even though it wasn''t the right time, he found himself wanting tough. He recalled the image of their first meeting, with Nichs gingerly moving away. He subtly twitched his fingers, causing the nket to shift slightly downward.


    "Thank you..."


    Nichs opened his palm, revealing a golden key.


    "I know my time is short, but that''s not important... Perenelle and I have no children. Before I pass, I need to find someone to inherit my knowledge."


    "Why me?" Felix asked. He specialized in magical linguistics, not alchemy. Nichs mel must have been well aware of that.


    "I hope for a better world. You are the most suitable candidate, meeting all my requirements. This is a carefully considered decision."


    Felix''s heart quickened. Nichs mel''s centuries of research  what an immense knowledge that was! Their paths were remarkablypatible, a natural connection existed.


    "Have you thought this through?" Suppressing his emotions, Felix confirmed once more, subconsciously ignoring the old man''s earlier words.


    "Except for a little concern... I''ve attached a condition to it." Nichs mel turned his cheek toward the window, the faint sound of passing cars barely audible.


    Felix''s expression grew cautious. He knew it wouldn''t be so simple. Yet, he didn''t want to miss this rare opportunity. Whatever difficult condition Nichs mel proposed, he would strive to fulfill it. Moreover, he didn''t believe Nichs would ask him to do something he couldn''t aplish.


    So he gently inquired, "What do you need me to do, Nichs?"


    The old man struggled to catch his breath, his chest heaving like a worn-out bellows. Dumbledore whispered, "Nichs, you" but the old man shook his head. "Don''t stop me, Albus."


    "Felix, do you rememberdo you remember what I said when we first met? Old folks like to carve a niche for themselves in the world, seek a sense of security."


    His eyes suddenly widened, his face devoid of color, appearing somewhat ghostly.


    A sinking feeling gripped Felix''s heart. He knew what Nichs was about to say! And indeed, after a few breaths, the old man spoke,boring, "Over this time, I''ve been studying you. The more I learned, the more worried I became about you taking the wrong path. Therefore... ah, cough cough! As long as... as long as you enter into a contract, everything I have... will be yours."


    "An Unbreakable Vow?" Felix shaded his face in the shadow, his voice devoid of warmth.


    The Unbreakable Vow was a powerful magical oath between wizards. Its potency was immense, and the consequence of breaking it was death. Felix had entered magical contracts before, butpared to the Unbreakable Vow, the degree of constraint was worlds apart.


    With the former, he could find ways to escape or redirect the magical effects. But thetter, he had no way to escape it.


    He couldn''t bear to be caged like that!


    Nichs gasped, not saying anything. He fully confirmed Felix''s guess and struggled to raise the key in his hand, but it seemed hecked the strength.


    "After careful consideration, you came up with this solution. You really outdid yourself," Felix remarked sarcastically.


    "I, cough!... I know. If I had time... I would''ve observed you for decades. But, Felix... I''m dying."


    "That''s your issue," Felix''s pale blue eyes stared intently at Nichs mel, and he continually tried to lift the golden key in his hand. "Here''s some advice for you. While you still have time, find another person willing to make the deal."


    Nichs seemed to gain some spirit. His words flowed more smoothly: "If... if you agree, you''ll inherit all my possessions. Not just what you see here... I have twelve safe houses around the world, seven libraries. They hold almost seven centuries of my umtion: alchemy, ancient magicalnguages, spellbooks, ancient magic... And I''m a governor at Bauxbatons. If you agree, everything will be yours..."


    "Believe me, the conditions aren''t harsh." His eyes gleamed with hope.


    Felix retorted coldly, "I''m not foolish. Aside from refusal, I have nothing to say."


    Felix looked to Dumbledore, his gaze full of inquiry. "So, are you here as a witness?"


    "No, Felix." Dumbledore sighed sadly. "I''m not sure of Nichs''s intentions." He turned to the old man and said gravely, "Nichs, we both know this isn''t a good solution."


    Nichs didn''t argue. "I... I know. If I had time... I would''ve observed him for decades. But, Felix... I''m dying."


    "This is your business," Felix sat on the only chair, his right leg crossed, his ck wand deftly twirling in his hand. He spoke nonchntly, "What do you want to do? In your current state, you can''t do much."


    Nichs smiled. "That''s actually my advantage. I''m dying; this is my advantage." He emphasized the point.


    Felix looked at him in surprise.


    The old man continued gently, "Your answer has never changed. You detest external constraints. Therefore, I have a backup n." He extended his hand, and a series of magical symbols formed in his palm, coalescing into a golden eye.


    "Do you know ancient magic?"


    "Living for a long time has its benefits. You can draw parallels. In fact, I''ve never practiced..."


    Felix asked cautiously, "What do you want from me?"


    "From you? No, no. I just thought of paying a visit to your home..."


    "Don''t even think about it!" Don''t even think about entering my mind.


    "I''m dying, Felix." The old man extended his hand, looking at him with a pleading gaze. "No one will hear your secrets from me."


    Silence enveloped them. In the stillness, Felix seemed to see the old man''s life slipping away bit by bit. Each breath came with a hiss akin to a serpent''s, and he suddenly softened. Angrily, he said, "I''ll watch you die. You won''t die in peace!"


    Nichs mel burst into heartyughter. For him, at this moment, death was a blessing. His tone carried a contented resignation, "You won''t be disappointed."


    Felix stood up and walked briskly to the side of the bed, scrutinizing the frail and pallid hand. Just as it was about to descend, he grabbed it firmly.


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 Chapter 301: Memories

    Chapter 301: Memories


    The Pensive Chamber


    Nics mel gazed around, his eyes curious as he took in the furnishings of the room. He appeared rejuvenated by a few hundred years.


    "You possess such magic? It truly astonishes me," he said with a smile. "My preparations seem unnecessary."


    Felix''s expression remained stern, as if he was meeting an unwee guest. He stood before a deep green curtain, which he rolled up to reveal arge portal behind it.


    Felix stared at the door, and it swung open automatically. Inside, shadows danced, concealing the contents from clear view. Behind the doory his inner world, holding his deepest secrets and memories.


    They stepped inside, onto a long corridor nked by towering bookshelves. Each item on the shelvesbooks, scrolls, memory orbs, and various odds and endsrepresented their truest selves.


    Against the light, only the brightness of the Pensive Chamber was visible. Felix and Nics mel''s faces were obscured by darkness. Then, Felix''s silhouette gestured, and the corridor transformed into a sea of clouds. The bookshelves contorted and transformed into thick, heavy clouds,yer uponyer, iming the original positions.


    The sky seemed pulled beneath their feet as dense clouds hung low. They were enveloped in a sea of clouds, with dark golden clusters extending forward from where they stood, vanishing into the unknown distance.


    "Please,e in," Felix courteously said, "Shall we start from the recent days'' memories?"


    "Felix..." Nics mel shook his head, burdened by guilt. There were things he hadn''t revealed to anyone, not even Dumbledore. He had glimpsed half of a prophecy; the world was on the brink of another transformation, more impactful than anything before.


    Regrettably, he couldn''t see the conclusion, nor the path ahead. His hopes rested with those who woulde after.


    The dark golden clouds swirled, disying images and voices.


    Amidst the shifting clouds, a man exuding a sense of elegance raised a palm-sized piece of parchment. With conviction, he dered, "Felix, I will keep watch endlessly..."


    Nics mel briskly moved past this segment and paused before a tumultuous cloud. He observed closely. The scene contained only Felix, seated quietly in an office, perusing a stack of parchment. The images on the parchment made him furrow his brows involuntarily.


    "What is this...?"


    "The path Szar Slytherin abandoned. I picked it up for a look."


    Nics mel remained silent, nodding as he continued forward. He wasn''t interested in trivial details; his focus was on the roiling clouds that stirred his emotions.


    He traversed a not-so-short path, his clothes trailing a mist that caused the gathered images to disperse. "I can only tell you that the person''s codename is ''Bigfoot''..."


    Near a continuously churning area, Nics halted, curiosity in his eyes. "Is this the Three Broomsticks?" He observed the figures in the imageFelix and a middle-aged man with a hooked nosesitting together. The middle-aged man seemed disinterested, numbly downing one drink after another.


    "Severus, we should look ahead," Felix consoled the man in the image.


    "Can you forget the past?" the middle-aged man asked. "Can you forget Chesteron Avery? Carrow, Nott, Parkinson, Selwyn... and the Shafiq family?"


    Felix fell silent, clinking sses with the man. When he brought the man back to Hogwarts, Felix watched the man lying in bed, muttering drunkenly. Gently, he said, "That''s why I''m thankful to you, Professor."


    Nics mel inquired, "Who is this?"


    "My headmaster from my school days."


    "He helped you?"


    "Yes."


    "He seems like a warm-hearted person."


    "...Perhaps not."


    Nics understandingly said, "I''ve oversimplified. People areplex."


    They continued forward, stopping and starting along the way. While Felix''s chase of Sirius ck and his banishing of Dementors garnered only a brief pause, Nics watched Felix''s entire speech at the Ministry of Magic.


    "What''s your view on the Statute of Secrecy?" the old man asked.


    "I''m pessimistic."


    "Would you work towards its abolition?"


    "It''s aborious endeavor with little reward. It won''t hold for many more years anyway."


    Nics sighed, "My thoughts align with yours. The magical world has remained closed off for too long, while the outside changes rapidly..."


    Changing the subject, he said cheerfully, "Don''t judge me by appearances. I have a safehouse right in the Mugglemunity, with no magic involved. Though it disrupts all modern electrical appliancesfridges, air conditioners, ovens... even household gaming consoles. Do you know about these? Peeves adores them... I also hold another title: Expert in Mystical Studies!"


    ...


    Inside the Pensieve.


    Nics mel looked around with keen interest, observing the furnishings of the room. His demeanor had aged by several hundred years, yet he appeared curious and lively.


    "You still possess such magic? It truly astonishes me," he said with a smile, "My own preparations seem unnecessary now."


    Felix Harp stood with a stern expression, as though he was expecting an unwee guest. He stood in front of deep green curtains, which were pulled back to reveal a grand entrance beyond.


    Felix''s gaze fixed upon the door, which swung open on its own. Insidey a shadowy realm, where the contents remained obscure and concealed. Beyond the doory his inner world, hiding all the deepest secrets and memories.


    They stepped inside, onto a long corridor nked by towering bookshelves. Each item on the shelvesbooks, scrolls, memory spheres, and various trinketsrepresented his truest self.


    Against the light, the brilliance of the Pensieve was visible, with Felix and Nics mel''s faces shrouded in darkness. Then, Felix, with a wave of his arm, caused a surge of wind down the aisle. The bookshelves twisted and transformed into thick, heavy clouds,yer uponyer, upying the space where they once stood.


    The sky seemed to descend to their feet, with thick clouds hanging low. They found themselves amidst a sea of clouds, golden on either side, extending forward from their position and disappearing into the unknown distance.


    "Please,e in," Felix said courteously, "Shall we begin with memories from recent days?"


    " Felix..." Nics shook his head, a guilty expression on his face. Some things he hadn''t revealed to anyone, not even Dumbledore. He had seen half of a prophecy, and this world was on the brink of change, more impactful than anything before.


    Regrettably, he couldn''t see the conclusion or the path ahead; he could only ce his hopes in those who woulde after.


    The golden clouds swirled, giving rise to images and voices.


    As the clouds gathered, a man exuding an air of elegance held up a small piece of parchment in his hand. With determination, he vowed, "Felix, I will keep watch..."


    Nics mel quickly walked past this segment, stopping in front of another swirling cloud of gold. He observed attentively as a scene unfolded: Felix sitting quietly in his office, poring over a stack of parchment. His brows furrowed at the images depicted on the parchment.


    "What is this...?" Nics asked.


    "The path Szar Slytherin abandoned. I picked it up to take a look," Felix exined.


    Nics nodded in understanding, continuing on, focusing on the surging clouds that held emotions he could sense.


    They moved forward, and Nics''s attention was drawn to Felix''s ssroom discourse in his seventh year. Nics murmured, "The seeds of miracles..." contemting their significance.


    Continuing their journey, they listened to memories of Felix speaking to a freckled boy, saying, "This is Nics mel in a rat''s body." Nics couldn''t help but chuckle, finding the metaphor intriguing.


    Felix felt a tad embarrassed; he hadn''t expected the main presence to catch his yfulment.


    Nics mused, "So, the infamous Sirius ck was innocent, and the unassuming Peter Pettigrew was the traitor? Animagus... The only uncertainty is the Fidelius Charm, yet Secret-Keepers can be transferred. Perhaps the Potters had deceived everyone from the very start."


    Felix calmly stated, "You should have realized this sooner; you skipped over some crucial details."


    Nics smiled wryly, saying, "I can''t exactly glue my nose to your face and observe every minute detail. Although not very convincing, I still aimed to restore a part of your image in my heart."


    "Is that so?" Felix muttered.


    Next cloud cluster, Nics pointed to a young girl in the scene, asking, "And who is this youngdy?"


    "Hermione Granger, my assistant in Ancient Runes ss," Felix exined.


    "Very thoughtful," Nics observed as he saw Hermione cing a potted nt on a deskden with books, adding a touch of life to the dim space.


    "But what happened before this? You seem to have been affected by something... Ah, I see it now. A magical outburst, an unusual approach..."


    In response to Nics''s curiosity, Felix recounted his memories of the confrontation he had initiated in his fifth year.


    In a corner of the Great Hall at Hogwarts, after Dumbledore''s weing speech, a young Felix calmly donned his gloves. There were empty seats on either side of him, making it easy for him to stand up and walk withposure toward a blond-haired student.


    As Felix slowly removed his gloves, he spoke in a deliberate manner, "Szar Shafiq, one of the sacred twenty-eight pure-blood families? Nobility, honor... or perhaps just a pile of rubbish that hides in the shadows and strikes from behind? I guess every inch of your veins must be tainted with filth. I''m curious to see if it''s true." He tossed the gloves onto the blond student''s face.


    The blond student was already tense, his face dripping with sweat. The white gloves adhered to his neck and fell to the ground due to his trembling. He struggled to speak, "Felix..."


    "Very well, I''ve said it all, don''t disappoint me." Felix''s eyes bore into him, mocking as he said, "You''re Shaafik, aren''t you?"


    "I, I ac... I" Golden-haired Shaafik tumbled off his seat, his body going limp.


    "Felix Harp!" Snape strode purposefully from his professor''s seat, his voice a low growl. "What do you intend to do?"


    "Professor," Felix slightly inclined his head, "as you can see, I want to see whether the blood of this family runs red or ck."


    Seething with anger, Snape''s hand trembled, his voice low. "Cease your petty revenge game. Dumbledore has intervened, in ways unseen by you! Believe me, he will make the Shaafik family pay."


    "I want more," Felix said, a peculiar glint in his eyes. "Why let this decaying family continue to be a nuisance?"


    "Felix Harp," Snape suppressed his inner dread, seeing a shadow of someone else in his young student''s eyes. "I forbid you from doing this."


    Felix toyed with his wand, saying nothing.


    Dumbledore approached. "Miller, take Shaafik away. The rest," his voice raised, "led by the prefect, return to themon room."


    ...


    In a memory corridor, Felix inquired, "Do you have any insights, Nics? Do you think I went too far?"


    Nics remained silent on this unpleasant topic and continued walking. He saw, at the end of their fourth year, Felix walking out of the school gates, toppling those who attacked him with various curses.


    It was hard to muster sympathy, even if one of the attackers'' heads had doubled in size  because it was a curse he himself had cast.


    The memories of the entire fourth year were pale and monotonous, filled with scenes of Felix practicing spells in various secluded corners, forming the entirety of that year''s memories.


    In a dim cave within the Forbidden Forest, a brilliant green light illuminated the narrow, damp space, revealing a tightly drawn face.


    "The Killing Curse..."


    "Yes, it''s said to be quite effective. I put a lot of thought into finding it," Felix said nonchntly.


    Nics shook his head, disapproving of his words. "The Unforgivable Curses corrode the soul. Even Dementors, the proud ones, must undergo regr psychological counseling, let alone you, a child at the time."


    "The circumstances were exceptional, I didn''t think that far, and you missed something  my spectral friend intervened."


    "You mean thedy, I recall you called her Helena?"


    "Another one, the one covered in silvery blood."


    Nics mel persisted, "Nevertheless, you shouldn''t have delved into dark magic, especially at such a young age..."


    "Well, thank you for your concern."


    The old man said sternly, "I can tell, it''s a lie."


    ...


    Nics mel stood before a massive ck cloud, his mood sour. The cloud exuded a deep ck mist, resembling a beast with bared fangs and ws. He felt as if he could hear the beast roaring, but it was all his illusion  a scene from the start of their fourth year


    Dozens of owls circled above the empty long table. Only young Felix sat with his back turned to them. The owls dropped red letters, which contorted into malicious shapes, spewing venomous words.


    "Filthy mudblood! Slytherin''s shame. Don''t let me see you, I''ll crush your bones one by one..."


    "Have you heard of the Unforgivable Curses? Mind-piercing agony, mind-piercing agony!" Followed by gratingughter.


    "...curse your name, curse your blood!"


    The sounds of shouting letters echoed in the hall, intertwining into an iprehensible cacophony. The whispers of the other three houses, Slytherin students'' cold gazes, and the cowering of the younger wizards created a tumultuous scene.


    "Boom!"


    All the letters exploded into ashes. Felix stood up expressionless, a path forming through the crowd.


    "Merlin''s beard!" Professor McGonagall rushed over, flustered. The Slytherin table was a mess. She ranted angrily, "Wretched, despicable creatures who only lurk in the gutter! Utterly vile..."


    "Are you alright, Harp?" She said cautiously, reaching to touch Felix''s shoulder, recoiling as if shocked.


    "I''m fine, Professor." Young Felix stated calmly. "Better than ever, actually."


    In the corridor,


    "This is?"


    "The day I received my Hogwarts eptance letter."


    "Let''s stop here, Felix." Nics mel murmured, and they returned to reality.


    ...


    "This way, Felix." Nics mel strode forward, leaving the annoying voices behind. Felix followed, unhurried. "Slow down, I''ve realized something. Sharing the past with someone doesn''t seem so bad. To be honest, I''m tired of making up lies, but finding the right person is quite challenging."


    The old man paid no mind to Felix''s chatter. Finally, they passed through that area. Shallow golden sunlight appeared, enveloping them in immense joy.


    Golden, airy clouds floated like marshmallows, refracting colorful light. Nics mel stared fixedly at the scene above:


    A ck-haired young boy sat in the yard, quietly reading a book. Over a dozen boys and girls yed andughed, working up a sweat around a makeshift basketball hoop.


    "Hey, little Felix,e y with us!"


    The boy with short ck hair raised his book. "After I finish these two pages" He suddenly looked up, eyes bright as if meeting Nics mel''s gaze.


    Felix caught up leisurely. "You''re not slow at all. Oh? Is this..."


    He looked at the boy on the scene. The boy blinked his light blue eyes, his smile radiant. He extended his hand toward Felix.


    Felix blinked back and extended his hand too, as if their hands were really touching.


    "Pow!"


    An owlnded on the boy''s hand, holding a letter in its beak.


    It was a brown letter crafted from parchment, green ink spelling out an address on one side. On the other, a wax seal and a coat of arms  a lion, an eagle, a badger, and a snake encircling a capital ''H''.


    In the corridor,


    "What''s this?"


    "The day I received my eptance letter to Hogwarts."


    "Let''s stop here, Felix." Nics mel whispered, and they returned to reality.


    This chapter enriches Felix''s past experiences. It won''t be mentioned again and there won''t be any more extras like this, so if you''re not interested, please ignore. It''s quite crucial though, marking a key turning point. Subsequent plot should be quite exciting.


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 Chapter 302: Demonstration

    Chapter 302: Demonstration


    Felix opened his eyes as if awakening from another world. He looked at the elderly man on the bed and took out a Sneakoscope from his pocket, cing it beside him.


    The Sneakoscope started to spin, emitting a pleasant and clear musical sound.


    "Is this... a Sneakoscope?" Nics asked in a soft voice. "For what purpose?"


    They had discussed this question before. Felix knew that he had found the methods to make seven Sneakoscopes from ancient texts, and he had even turned them into magical creations, seeking Nics''s advice.


    "Just a prank, really. It can sense a person''s body temperature and makes a sound when released."


    The old man chuckled, "If you hadn''t said, I might have puzzled over it for a while." He listened quietly for a while before reaching out to grasp the Sneakoscope, causing the sound to stop.


    "Albus... fetch Albus for me."


    Felix waved his wand, a silvery light disappeared, and soon, Dumbledore appeared at the door. He quickly came to the bedside, bending down slightly to observe Nics mel, who appeared unharmed. Dumbledore visibly breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Headmaster Dumbledore, you don''t think I''m up to something, do you?" Felix''s expression was peculiar, and he was right there, having witnessed that there was nomunication between the two, it was purely Dumbledore''s concern for Nics mel''s safety.


    "You''re overthinking, Felix." Dumbledore straightened up with a smile.


    Nics mel gripped the Sneakoscope tightly with one hand, his voice trembling, "Al... Albusplease bear witness, everything I have belongs tobelongs to Felix Harp."


    Dumbledore said in a deep voice, "I will respect your wishes, Nics."


    "F-Felix" The old man''s gaze turned to Felix, trying to widen his eyes, looking at the blurry figure through ayer of haze.


    "I''m here, Nics," Felix said.


    A golden key floated toward him, and he opened his palm, letting the key fall into his hand, still warm from the old man''s touch.


    "I hope... you won''t me me, the setbacks of youth... might not necessarily be a bad thing. I believe... believe that you... cough, cough!" Nics mel started to cough violently, his eyes bulging, and he continued with gasps, "I believe you will be... a legend of a new era..."


    Dumbledore looked at Felix in astonishment. What had happened in the past half-hour? How did his old friend suddenly ept him? A legend... Dumbledore could distinctly sense the intense anticipation hidden within that evaluation.


    Felix didn''t avoid Dumbledore''s probing gaze; he looked somewhat dazedly at Nics mel. After the old man finished speaking, he continued to gasp for breath, muttering his wife''s name, "Perenelle..."


    After a while, the Sneakoscope in his hand suddenly made a sound, and a melodious tune resonated through the small room.


    The key in Felix''s hand began to shine brightly. At this moment, he became the master of this safe house. Simultaneously, a series of hidden addresses flowed through his mind.


    ...


    Half an hourter, Felix and Dumbledore stood in front of a gravestone. At Nics mel''s request, he and his wife, Perenelle, were buried together in a ce full of birdsong and floral fragrance. Not far away was Nics''s and his wife''s first residence after graduating from Beauxbatons Academy.


    They stood in silence for a while before Dumbledore cast a protective spell to conceal the area. Felix extended his finger and lightly touched it; the air in front of him rippled like water.


    The two walked along a path


    "Do you want to talk about it, Felix?" Dumbledore asked gently.


    "I''m not that fragile," Felix muttered discontentedly. "You should spend your time looking for Voldemort''s Horcruxes."


    Dumbledore smiled, "Ah, I have indeed been held up by trivial matterstely. Tom''s life has been quite eventful, having encountered many people. But" he winked mischievously, "I''ve managed to find a useful lead."


    "About the third Horcrux?"


    "I suspect so, and perhaps it also holds the secret of the fourth Horcrux. I''ve made an appointment with a poor house-elf, but her condition is not good, so I must act quickly..."


    Felix nodded, pondering for a moment before he couldn''t help asking, "How powerful is Voldemort really? Can''t you face him because of the property of Horcruxes that make him unkible?"


    "That is one reason, but apart from the Horcruxes, he himself is a Dark Magic master. Not to mention, he conducted various experiments on himself during the years he was missing." Dumbledore calmly said, "In his own words: he pushed magic to unprecedented heights."


    "Sounds rather arrogant."


    "Indeed, but I must admit that his words hold some truth," Dumbledore said. "That phrase can be amended to say, he pushed certain forms of magic to unprecedented levels. And others"


    "Quite shallow?"


    "Exactly, forgive me for being blunt... ignorance is quite pitiable."


    Felix pondered for a moment and tentatively said, "Lady Rowena Ravenw once said that she and the other three founders could be considered magical creatures."


    "Is that so?" Dumbledore replied, his tone not showing surprise.


    "Felix, I can''t offer you much insight. When I was young, I did, for a considerable time, believe myself invincible... Magical creatures? That notion is too modest, and I was too arrogant then."


    "So, you''re saying" Felix held his breath, "you did enter a remarkable state?"


    Dumbledore smiled faintly, "I can demonstrate a bit, of course, just a demonstration."


    "What should I do?"


    "Cast a spell at me, well, not too powerful. I must remind you that you''re facing an old man of a hundred years."


    Felix grew somewhat excited. This was his first chance to experience the magical prowess of the most powerful wizard, Dumbledore. He took a few steps back, stood straight, contemted for a moment, and carefully cast a Level Three Stunning Spell.


    He looked at Dumbledore expectantly, wondering how Dumbledore would demonstrate the next level of magic.


    "Ding!"


    A red light shot like a meteor towards the other side. Dumbledore deftly extended his right hand, flicking his index finger to deflect the spell, as if flicking away a fly or something.


    Then he nodded politely, "Thank you for being considerate, my dear fellow. By your standards, that should be a Level Three spell, right? If it were any stronger, I might have embarrassed myself."


    Felix stared at Dumbledore in astonishment. He could withstand several Stunning Spells himself, but he keenly recognized the difference between their methods: his own approach was simr to that of a Ministry Hit Wizard, resisting specific curses, whereas what Dumbledore did was more wondrous.


    He had a feelingthe figure in front of him was like a magical creature wearing a Dumbledore disguise, perhaps like a sphinx or a chimera. As far as he knew, the skin of these magical beings was almost impervious to all known spells.


    "Headmaster Dumbledore, you"


    "It''s not as magical as you think. I''m old, and I barely retain a few tricks that could be considered magical. I have no doubt, just as Nics believes, that you''ll go farther than I ever will."


    Felix understood that this marked the end of their conversation. He could only remember what had just transpired and ponder it in detail when he had the time.


    "Are you returning to the school, Headmaster Dumbledore?"


    "I still have some matters to attend to."


    The two parted ways on a small hill covered in pale yellow wildflowers. Felix was bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun, shedding hues of rose-tinted light. He walked toward the castle from the edge of the Forbidden Forest. As he approached the castle gates, he heard hurried footsteps. Looking in the direction of the sound, however, there was no one there.


    "Oh, Professor, I''ve finally found you!" Hermione suddenly materialized in the air, panting as she spoke. She held a silvery invisibility cloak in her hand.


    Felix withdrew his wand into his sleeve, "What''s happened?"


    "Sirius! You need to save Sirius, and also Harry, Professor Lupin, and Snape," Hermione''s expression was one of fear as she spoke urgently, "There are countless Dementors... they''re blotting out the sky!"


    I rmend a book titled "Unscientific Magical Beasts" by the author Light Quanliu. The previous book, "Master of Elves," was very well received. This time it''s a ssic magical creature story, full of interesting ideas and strong bonds with magical pets. It''s a great read. It will be released on August 1st (tomorrow). If you enjoy this type of story, please show your support~


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 Chapter 303: Conversation Inside Hagrids Hut

    Chapter 303: Conversation Inside Hagrid''s Hut


    "Trapped on the causeway"


    "Pettigrew''sing to get Harry, and another Death Eater!"


    "Sirius is injured!"


    Hermione exined in a fluster until Felix''s hand rested on her shoulder. "Calm down, Granger. I have only one question," his eyes bore into her, earnestly asking, "Do we still have time?"


    Hermione blinked. "Oh" she stammered, "Of course, that''s why I came back. We have... about an hour, I suppose."


    "Right, you used a Time-Turner," Felix said calmly. "Let''s walk and talk. Where do you think we should go now?"


    "Hagrid''s hut!"


    Hermione answered without hesitation. Felix nodded, tapping Hermione''s shoulder with his wand. She felt herself blend into the surroundings, just like the professor. She realized it was the effect of the Disillusionment Charm.


    "If we''re to do something, we must first conceal ourselves," Felix said.


    They hurried toward Hagrid''s hut. Felix asked the question he cared about most:


    "Did you see the oue? I mean, did you witness the dire consequences firsthand, like... deaths?"


    "No, I only saw them trapped on the causeway, surrounded by Dementors attacking them. The Ministry also sent a group of Aurors, and some students"


    "Ministry''s Aurors? How did they arrive?"


    "The woman in the pink robes, Umbridge! She summoned the Dementors and alerted the Ministry!" Hermione eximed sharply.


    In the pumpkin patch behind Hagrid''s hut, a Thestral with an eagle''s head and wings snorted, lifting its head alertly, sniffing the air.


    "Buckbeak, easy now, we''ve met before," a gentle voice said.


    "Oh, it''s me, Hermione, I''ve fed you" a slightly trembling female voice said.


    Buckbeak stared into the air, recognizing the owner of the voice but unable to see them, which made him impatiently stomp the ground.


    The window of Hagrid''s hut swung open suddenly, and a voice asked, "Who''s out there?" Soon, a furry head poked out, it was Hagrid.


    He nced outside warily, and Felix and Hermione were hiding behind arge pumpkin. Combined with the Disillusionment Charm, Hagrid could only see Buckbeak''s restless behavior. He shouted in the direction of the Thestral, "Don''t let strangerse close, Buckbeak!"


    Hagrid pulled his head back in, and his roaring voice came from inside the hut, "Exin yourself, Pettigrew! Why did you hide at Ron''s for so many years and then attack Harry!"


    A trembling voice replied, "No, it''s not what you think. I''m worried about Harry, he''s in danger... I had to get him out of the school!"


    Lupin''s calm voice added, "It''s strange. If I''m not mistaken, your fugitive friend is wearing a Death Eater''s hood."


    The frightened voice stumbled, "It''s, it''s a disguise..."


    Outside Hagrid''s hut, behind arge pumpkin, Felix asked Hermione, "Now, can you tell me what happened?"


    Hermione collected her thoughts and began, "This afternoon, Harry returned from the Quidditch pitch, around five o''clockit was Professor McGonagall''s request. He couldn''t practice toote."


    "I know about that, but you were there too?" Felix inquired, knowing Hermione wasn''t particrly interested in Quidditch training.


    "Um, we had ns, a serious mistake. We intended to visit Hagrid. To avoid being seen, I used Harry''s Invisibility Cloak."


    In reality, Harry and Ron were bound too tightly, and they wanted to chat with a friend. So, they made preparations in advance, concealing themselves with the Invisibility Cloak.


    "And then?"


    "We heard noises near the edge of the Forbidden Forest, two people talking. They were discussing taking Harry to someone," Hermione paused, "Butter we found out they intended to bring Harry to the mysterious person."


    "And one of them was Pettigrew, the rat."


    "Yes," Hermione said sadly, "They mentioned Harry''s parents and Neville''s parents, they said a lot. The other person mocked Pettigrew for being a coward, betraying the Potters and pretending to be good."


    "Who''s the other person?"


    "Not sure, they had a hood on," Hermione shook her head, "Likely another Death Eater."


    Felix contemted, "No wonder we couldn''t track down Pettigrew for so long. I thought he wasying low, but it seems he used this time to find his old master. And now he has a newpanion..."


    Hermione continued, "Harry saw this as an opportunity. He wanted to ambush these two individuals, to force out the truth from the past. We were close to seedingthree Stunning Spells hit Pettigrew, and he fell unconscious without a fight. However"


    She widened her eyes, "The other one retaliated swiftly, their spells were fast and powerful. We were utterly outmatched. Ron''s leg got injured, and we could only retreat among the trees in the Forbidden Forest."


    "In the urgent situation, a tree trunk in front of us suddenly came to life, like a Whomping Willow. Its branches bound us."


    "The Death Eater became less vignt. He gloated, saying he would bring Harry to the Dark Lord, and that the Dark Lord would resurrect through him, and he would be the hero."


    "It was at that moment Sirius suddenly appeared. Oh, I almost didn''t recognize him; he doesn''t look much like his wanted poster. But... he engaged the Death Eater quickly. They fought for a while, but the Death Eater woke up Pettigrew. Two against one, Sirius was quickly overpowered; he bled a lot... Later, Professor Lupin and Snape arrived together. Amidst the chaos, they stunned Pettigrew again. The Death Eater took advantage of the confusion and escaped."


    "After that, we came to Hagrid''s hut, tended to Sirius''s wounds, and wanted to question Pettigrew while we had the chance."


    Felix began to grasp the events that had unfolded. Notably, the information revealed by the Death Eater indicated that Voldemort''s order was to bring Harry to him alive, with the intention of using Harry''s resurrection. Felix pondered deeply, considering what kind of magic this could be...


    ...


    Hagrid''s gruff voice said, "So, you secretly transformed the Secret-Keeper, allowing this wretched man, this traitor, to find an opportunity to betray. And youSiriusthinking the traitor was dead, chose not to defend yourself due to guilt."


    He let out a loud, snorting sniff, grumbling under his breath. At this point, a timid voice spoke from the room, "Oh... Mr. ck, how did you manage to arrive in time today?" It was Hermione, nervously inquiring.


    Sirius seemed somewhat surprised, "Uh, you''re Granger, right? Because of this" apanied by rustling sounds, like something being retrieved from a pocket.


    "A tattered piece of paper?" Hagrid asked.


    "It''s not just some tattered paper, it''s a crude version of the Marauder''s Map created by Felix Harp. It''s a bit rudimentarypared to the actual Map, but I can see key individuals. And that''s enough... When I had free time, I kept my eyes on it. Today, I unexpectedly saw Pettigrew''s name. I thought I must have been mistaken, you can imagine how shocked I was. Then I saw Harry''s name getting closer to his. I immediately tried to contact Felix Harp, but there was no response! That guy, he promised he''d be there!"


    "Professor Harp?" Harry''s puzzled voice asked.


    "Yeah, he caught me. Remember that time I tried to give you the Polyjuice Potion and got caught?" Sirius awkwardly exined his less-than-pleasant escape.


    In the pumpkin patch, Felix thought for a moment and said, "He asked for my help when I should have been in a safe house, cut off from the outside world."


    "Was it the same kind Harry''s parents used? The one requiring the Fidelius Charm?" Hermione asked softly.


    "That''s right."


    Inside Hagrid''s hut, Sirius continued, "...That''s how it went. I was imprisoned in the ck family house, couldn''t go anywhere. This afternoon, when I couldn''t get in touch with anyone, I realized something was amiss. I used Apparition to get near the Forbidden Forest and, using that lousy map, looked for a few minutes until I finally found you guys. Pettigrew had copsed on the ground. I really wanted to give him an Avada Kedavra on the spot, to end his wretched life..."


    The room echoed with Pettigrew''s attempts at justification. With a sobbing voice, he said, "I wanted to be brave like you all, but he caught me, kept pressuring me"


    Sirius roared angrily, "So you chose betrayal!" The room erupted into chaos. Apanied by a bang, Pettigrew let out a painful groan, as if he''d been hit hard. He sobbed softly.


    Lupin''s soothing voice advised, "Calm down, Padfoot. We need to let Harry uncover the truth."


    "Listen to him," Sirius gasped, "I''ll continueI intended to kill Pettigrew, but the danger was greater with Harry involved, so I joined the fight. You know what happened next."


    Lupin exined why he hade, "I didn''t have a replica of that map, but Professor Harp gave me a Galleon linked to the Marauder''s Map. If Pettigrew appeared, it would respond. Luckily, I was with Severus at the time."


    "How did you end up together?" Harry asked.


    "I came to deliver potions to Lupin..." Snape''s distinctively cold voice said, "Do you want to know what kind of potions, Potter?"


    "I''ll exin, Severus. There''s no need to keep hiding. It''s Wolfsbane Potion, Harry. I''m a werewolf," Lupin said.


    "What? Professor, you''re..." Harry asked in astonishment.


    "That''s right, I''m a werewolf. Dumbledore gave me a chance to study and see a wider world. Last year, he invited me toe to Hogwarts and promised to provide the Wolfsbane Potion for freeit helps me endure the full moon a bit better. It''s hard toe by outside. I have to thank Severus..."


    Felix and Hermione waited quietly for over ten minutes. The door of Hagrid''s hut swung open.


    Hermione providedmentary on what followed, "Next, we split into two groups. Hagrid took Ron to the hospital wing; the wound on his leg had started to fester. I went with them. The rest of us took Pettigrew to the Great Hall in the castle, ready to hand him over to the Ministry''s stationed Aurors."


    "Isn''t that good? Why did things go wrong?"


    "It was Umbridge! She secretly set up a lot of detectors in the school, monitoring every move. She admitted it herself, all to gain favor in front of Fudge..."


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 Chapter 304: Ignition

    Chapter 304: Ignition


    Hagrid emerged from the house first, carrying Ron in his arms. Right behind him was another Hermione. Following her, a tightly bound, short man floated out, upside down and in a topsy-turvy position, asionally knocking his head on a rock. "Ouch!"


    The face of the short man was swollen, his hands tied behind his back and entangled, his clothes tattered. To avoid the rocks, he tilted his head oddly to the side.


    "Sirius, I implore you"


    "You deserve your punishment, Peter! You should be grateful Harry is so kind..."


    A wand emerged, revealing Sirius''s alert face. He limped along, supported by Harry and Lupin on either side. Bringing up the rear was Snape, his expression intriguing, his wand always aimed at the short figure, Peter.


    "Sirius, you should go to the hospital," Harry whispered.


    "No! I want to witness his conviction with my own eyes!" Sirius gritted his teeth, a disturbing smile on his face. "It''d be best to give him a Dementor''s kiss while we''re at it." His wand lowered, and Peter emitted a piercing cry of pain.


    ...


    Hermione hid behind a giant pumpkin, peeking out curiously. "Professor, should we do something? Professor McGonagall warned me not to alter the past."


    "I agree that caution is needed, but..." Felix gently flicked his finger, and a small pebble silently attached itself to Peter as he fell again.


    As they moved away, Felix and Hermione emerged from the shadows.


    "Professor, what did you just do?"


    "I magically marked Peterjust in case. As you mentioned earlier, they will be trapped on the bridge. If he tries to escape by turning into a rat, I''ll be able to find him!"


    Hermione thought seriously and realized it was a good idea.


    The two of them walked at a leisurely pace, maintaining a distance of two to three hundred feet from Harry''s group. Felix inquired, "I have a few more questions. How did you overhear Umbridge and Fudge''s conversation?"


    Hermione exined, "I followed Hagrid to the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey said Ron wasn''t in danger, so I turned back to check on Harry and the others. That''s when I unexpectedly saw Umbridge greeting Fudge. There was a group of Aurors behind him."


    She said indignantly, "That woman is so rude, using the Minister''s power to be particrly insolent to Professor McGonagall. If it weren''t for Headmaster Dumbledore not being around..."


    "She had a conflict with Professor McGonagall?"


    "Yes, Professor McGonagall questioned her about why she brought Dementors into the school, but Umbridge didn''t even nce at her. She only fawned over Fudge."


    "I see..."


    Felix looked ahead. With Sirius injured, the group was moving slowly. Especially since they had to climb a hill, their pace slowed even more.


    The wind carried snippets of their conversation. Sirius''s voice, filled with hesitation, reached them: "I don''t know if anyone has told you, Harry, but I''m your godfather..."


    Ten minutester


    "They''re here!"


    Felix suddenly broke the silence. Hermione looked in the direction of his gaze and faintly saw a pink, round, bobbing shape. She asked in astonishment, "Is that woman?"


    Then they heard a long whistle. Hermione shivered as a ck object floated out. It looked like a ck stic bag caught by the wind. It flew rapidly toward Harry and the others, who were still some distance away from the bridge.


    Hermione took a deep breath. More and more Dementors were appearing. They seemed like a ck gue, answering Umbridge''s call, covering nearly half the sky.


    "It''s Dementors!" She heard Professor Lupin''s voice in the distance. "How could Dementors appear in the school? The Ministry guaranteed... Cast the Patronus Charm quickly!"


    As the sun neared the horizon, the twilight painted the scene with a half-shrouded rosy hue. Half the light was devoured, and the Dementors loomed high in the air, emitting a ck mist, as if night had fallen prematurely.


    Silver light pierced the darkness, Lupin''s incantation. He conjured a silver barrier, but it wasn''t aplete Patronus.


    "Not far from them," Felix said. He cast a shallow silver glow over both of them.


    "Professor, what is this?" Hermione looked at her glowing hand in wonder.


    "Unpleasant memories. Dementors instinctively avoid us, of course, if they have better choices." Felix remarked.


    They moved closer, close enough to see the expressions on Lupin and the others'' faces. Lupin urgently called out, "Harry, Sirius, quickly cast the Patronus Charm, and Sev... if you can!"


    The silver barrier he had conjured kept gathering, forming a massive corporeal Patronus, a wolfLupin''s most dreaded form, now reluctantly called upon.


    With the appearance of the Patronus wolf, the crisis was momentarily eased. The giant silver wolf silently howled, leaping and batting away Dementor after Dementor.


    Harry''s mind cleared momentarily. His lips quivered, and he subconsciously uttered the incantation, "Expecto PatronumEx, ExpectoExpecto Patronum!" A silver mist emerged from his wand, and with the faint light of the Patronus forming, he felt somewhat better. The initial suffocating feeling vanished, and he took deep, gulping breaths.


    "Not enough! Not enough..." Lupin shouted urgently. "Sirius, Sev!"


    However, Snape remained motionless. His expression was stiff, his wand gripped tightly, his knuckles white.


    Sirius lightly tapped his leg on the ground. Raising his wand, he kept chanting, "Expecto Patronum! Expecto Patronum! Expecto Patronum... Damn it, I can''t do it!"


    "What do you mean you can''t? We all learned it together," Lupin called.


    "I can''t... those happy memories are all rted to James." Sirius painfully covered his face. Under the influence of the Dementors, his lips turned as blue as Snape''s.


    Harry looked at Sirius, as if seeing the man for the first time and truly acknowledging his role as godfather. Gathering his courage, he recalled numerous joyful memories. The silver light surged continuously, and something started taking shape.


    But there were simply too many Dementors. "Let''s get on the bridge!" Lupin said decisively.


    Peter Pettigrew, who had been bound, was now set free. He shifted his gaze around, contemting an escape route. "Behave, Peter! There''s a cliff below..." Sirius threatened, giving him a shove to make him walk on his own.


    The green light on Snape''s wand vanished. He red at Sirius hatefully, leaving him utterly baffled.


    They ascended the bridge, fighting and retreating. On the field, only Lupin remained as apletebatant, but his Patronus couldn''t fend off the hundreds of Dementors, especially with their constant emission of dark smoke, their chilling cold causing everyone''s breath to form white clouds, almost freezing them.


    Snape sent several red sparks into the sky, his face grim. "Others wille, they will..."


    ...


    Seizing the opportunity when all Dementors were distracted, Felix whispered to Hermione, "When time returns to normal, you should appear on the other side of the bridge, right?"


    "Yes, I followed the Ministry''s people here. I watched from a distance and hid using the Time-Turner." Hermione exined, anxiously looking towards the bridge. "It should be soon... the Ministry people are arriving."


    "You should be worried about yourself! When the Ministry people arrive, how will you cross the bridge and get to the other side?" Felix calmly said, "If I recall correctly, when you use a Time-Turner, you should return to your initial position?"


    Hermione looked at him in surprise. "You''re right, Professor. I have to create a closed loop in time and space." She suddenly realized the problem, screaming, "What do I do? Oh my God! If I can''t make it back in time, I... I..." She remembered the consequences of misuse of the Time-Turner that she had read about, shivering in fear.


    "How long was it from the moment youst saw Harry and them until you used the Time-Turner?"


    "About seven, eight minutes! Many students had rushed over then, so I had to avoid them and hide in a restroom to use the Time-Turner."


    "Enough time. I''ll create an opportunity for you... when the timees, you''ll be wearing an Invisibility Cloak and with the added effect of the Disillusionment Charm, you should be able to sneak by." Felix looked at her seriously. "You must seize the opportunity."


    Hermione nodded vigorously. She didn''t know what the professor was nning, but she trusted himpletely.


    "Stay here for now, and you better put on the Invisibility Cloak now, stay ready..."


    Hermione quickly put on the Invisibility Cloak. Felix cast various spells to shield her scent and sound. She looked as if she ceased to exist.


    Then, with a Disillusionment Charm cast on him, Felix stepped onto the bridge.


    Footsteps echoed from the other side of the bridge. Umbridge''s pink attire was highly conspicuous. Smirking, she led a group of Aurors, shrilly announcing, "Minister, it''s just ahead!" The stout, short figure at the front was none other than the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge.


    Beside him was Professor McGonagall. She nced at the scene on the bridge and her eyes widened. "Minister Fudge, you must stop these Dementors! They''re attacking Hogwarts professors, two of them!"


    Umbridge giggled, "That''s because they''re in cahoots with Azkaban''s most notorious escapee. See? They''re even attacking Ministry personnel... Millicent, I thought you wouldn''t shield them."


    "Sirius and Severus wouldn''t shield a fugitive!" McGonagall said with restrained anger.


    Fudge patted his belly, "Rest assured, Millicent. We can control the Dementors. They won''t harm these two professors. Otherwise, I''d have trouble exining to Dumbledore..."


    He signaled Umbridge with his eyes. She pulled out a ck whistle from her pocket and blew into it, puffing her cheeks like a puffed-up toad ready to strike.


    The whistle sounded, and the Dementors received themand. Their attack intensified, shuttling and swirling through the gaps on the bridge, chilling frost crystallizing in the air.


    A thread of ck mist wafted over towards the Ministry personnel due to the wind. Fudge shivered, muttering, "Detestable creatures." He tightened his cor, staring at the scene on the bridge. Professor Snape shot an unseen curse from his wand, astonishingly managing to slightly hinder the Dementors'' advance.


    But... Fudge extended his thick fingers, "Who''s that bound person?"


    Professor McGonagall scrutinized for a moment and eximed, "It''s Peter Pettigrew!"


    "How''s that possible? Isn''t he dead?" Fudge asked, skeptical. He felt something was off, that something had gone awrysomeone who had been dead for over a decade suddenly reappeared. It just didn''t make sense.


    Umbridge''s eyes flickered, "Minister, maybe this hero didn''t die back then; perhaps he lost his memory. Recently, he learned about Sirius ck''s escape, had his memory restored due to the shock, and decided to confront the enemy he faced over a decade ago..."


    Fudge''s eyes lit up. "You''re making sense"


    "No!" Professor McGonagall interrupted suddenly. "Peter Pettigrew is the illegal Animagus, he disguised himself as a rat, lived with one of my students for over a decade! Dumbledore suspected there was another traitor alongside betraying the Potters. Minister Fudge, you should cease the attack and uncover the truth."


    Fudge furrowed his brow. Anxiously, he said, "What are you saying? Peter Pettigrew is a Ministry-recognized hero, a First ss Order of Merlin recipient. How could he possibly..."


    But he knew Professor McGonagall''s character. She never spoke falsehoods. Fudge hesitated, gazing uncertainly at the ongoing battle on the bridge.


    At this critical moment, Snape had been using discreet Dark Magic. Its effect against the Dementors wasn''t overly apparent, only barely holding them off.


    The Dementors grew increasingly agitated. The mes Sirius was conjuring were growing weaker. Finally, one Dementor glided past him, carrying away his remaining happy memories.


    "No" his wand drooped.


    A gap appeared in their defense, and more Dementors swarmed in. The silver mist that Harry was conjuring grew thinner and thinner. He felt like he was holding up a mountain, bending down under the weight.


    Various illusions began to cloud his mind. Once again, he heard his mother''s voice, clearer than ever before. He struggled against it, but his resistance was growing weaker.


    Then, Harry found himself enveloped in a warm power, and he heard a gentle voice say, "Harry, gather yourself, think of happy memories..."


    Harry sensed himself breaking free from the influence of the Dementors. He came back to his senses, quickly scanning around. He noticed Snape''s wand tip glowing with a silver light, but before he could think further, just seven or eight steps away, he saw his godfather lying on the ground, a Dementor leaning in close, lifting the tattered hood on its head to reveal a rotted hole that resembled a mouth. Harry even caught a whiff of its putrid breath.


    "No, no!" Harry desperately tried to imagine the feeling of having a new home, the image of living with his godfather. "Expecto Patronum!" he shouted loudly. An unprecedented surge of power welled up within him, magic converging continuously. The silver mist rolled like endless waves, forming a dazzling silver creature. It stood still, and ripples of silver spread outward, hurling the Dementors far away.


    In the following moments, it began to circle around Harry, its magnificent silver antlers knocking Dementor after Dementor away. The Dementor army was pushed back, disorganized and defeated.


    Umbridge and Fudge were left speechless. "Is this Harry Potter?" Fudge asked incredulously.


    Umbridge was taken aback for a moment and then blew her whistle vigorously, urging the Dementors to attack.


    "You insolent toad! What do you think you''re doing!" A curse shot out from a corner, hitting Umbridge''s ck whistle directly, causing it to explode with a loud bang. Umbridge screamed and fell to the ground.


    "Who! Who dared to attack a high-ranking Ministry official!" Fudge shouted in anger.


    Professor McGonagall raised her wand, joined by the students behind her. She suppressed her anger and said sternly, "Minister Fudge, order the Dementors to cease their attack immediately. If anything goes wrong, you will regret it."


    Fudge''s attitude softened as he hesitated, looking around. He had never experienced so many wands pointed at him before. He saw young, angry faces all around, and even his elite Aurors seemed to have lost their spirit. They couldn''t harm the students.


    Fudge''s voice trembled as he tried to defend himself, "I actually... I didn''t mean to..." He stood there dumbfounded for a few seconds, then turned and loudlymanded, "Call back the Dementors, Aurors, do not harm anyone!"


    One of his subordinates reminded him in a low voice, "Minister, the whistle controlling the Dementors exploded."


    Fudge erupted in anger, "So you''re telling me that the damn whistle is the only thing controlling the Dementors?"


    The man looked terrified, "Under normal circumstances, yes. But now, they''re severely wounded and urgently need to feed..."


    Fudge''s pupils dted, seemingly responding to his words. The dispersed Dementors began to gather again. They weren''t dead, but their cloaks were tattered, some of them had prominent holes in their chests.


    These wounds were inflicted by Harry''s Patronus, but they weren''t fatal, not even minor injuries. For Dementors, physical forms were secondary. What mattered to them was their hunger, and a feasty before them.


    They targeted the students behind the Aurors, circling and swooping like ominous ck birds. However, facing their former captors, they seemed hesitant. They hovered around, drinking in the air, causing the temperature to plummet visibly. White clouds of breath formed as many students paled in fear.


    On the other side, Harry leaned against the railing, gasping for air. He was utterly exhausted, barely keeping himself from copsing. His Patronus trotted back to him. It wasn''t a horse or a unicorn but a stag. Its entire body glowed, and when Harry reached out to touch the antlers on its head, the Patronus dissipated.


    He had seeded! He had saved Sirius, Professor Lupin, and... Snape. Harry''s gaze swept around, finding his godfather lying on the ground, breathing heavily, the expression of a survivor on his face. Lupin was sitting on the ground, worn out.


    He turned to look at Snape and saw Snape, wand wavering, sending a chilling green curse shooting from his wand. Harry''s eyes widened, reality seemed to ovep with a dream. He heard his mother''s scream once again, followed by a blinding sh of green light filling his vision...


    It was the Avada Kedavra curse!


    Why would Snape use that curse? No, who was he using it on?


    Only now did Harry realize that Wormtail was gone. All that remained were his clothes on the ground. His gaze followed Snape''s spell, and he saw a rat frantically fleeing.


    Snape wanted to kill Wormtail!


    But just then, a hand emerged from thin air, grabbing Snape''s wand. "Severus, he''s not worth it," Felix said, his voice calm. Felix cast a spell, and suddenly the rat began to glow, its body elongating, transforming. It shed its Animagus form and fell to the ground, now kneeling and trembling.


    Wormtail''s luck had run out. He had just managed to reach the other end of the bridge. Several steps away stood a group of Aurors and students, who had been watching the restless Dementors. They were now captivated by this sudden turn of events.


    Seven or eight Dementors glided in, and one of them grabbed Wormtail by the neck, lifting the tattered hood on its head


    "No! Spare me! I shouldn''t have betrayed you all, James, Lily, it was Voldemort who forced me, he was too powerful... you don''t know what he''s capable of!" Wormtail cried out in despair.


    The Ministry''s Aurors stared wide-eyed, wands held aloft, including Professor McGonagall. Everyone froze in ce, shocked by Wormtail''s sudden revtion.


    In his final moments, he had finally awakened. He cried desperately, "He''sing back! The one whose name we must not mention ising back! I did wrong, forgive"


    His voice cut off abruptly as the Dementor sucked away his soul.


    Snape stepped back a few paces, his body slumping to the ground in a daze. He sat there, seemingly paralyzed, covering his face, muttering to himself.


    After a while, Fudge shouted loudly, "Absurd! What nonsense is he spewing!"


    Professor McGonagall retorted sharply, "Only you would think that. He was perfectly clear. And your Dementors have gone berserk!"


    The Dementors had indeed gone out of control. Wormtail''s soul had agitated them. No longer satisfied with circling around the feast, they began to approach.


    Fudge retreated in fear, cowering within the crowd. "Protect me! Use the Patronus Charm!"


    Unfortunately, the Patronus Charm wasn''tmon knowledge, and even the Aurors wouldn''t necessarily know it. Among the people present, only four knew how to cast a Patronus, including Professor McGonagall.


    McGonagall frowned. She hadn''t expected the Ministry to be so ill-prepared, especially Minister Fudge. He seemed utterly terrified. She followed Harry''s lead, summoning a powerful Patronus, an intense light gathering. But then she heard Felix''s voice.


    "Now''s the time!"


    What time? She turned around in surprise, her eyes widening. Felix stood at the edge of the bridge, an invisible vortex held in his hands. His body radiated blue magical energy, and one by one, Dementors were torn away, shrinking into the vortex.


    One by one, ten by ten... The Dementors, now out of control, were drawn away from them and plummeted from the sky like a torrential ck rain.


    Felix maintained the magic, light shing around him. Gracefully, Hermione, hidden under her Invisibility Cloak, slipped past the Aurors and Professor McGonagall. She navigated through the crowd of students. "Who bumped into me?" someone grumbled. "Don''t push, we can all see clearly. Professor Harp is just too cool, and Harry''s Patronus, Merlin, it''s unbelievable!"


    After a dozen seconds, the sky was void of Dementors. Felix held the spherical vortex and looked at the dumbfounded Ministry officials and Aurors. He said softly, "Since these Dementors have gone berserk and attacked students and Ministry officials, there''s no need to keep them around..."


    "Ventus!"


    White mes ignited within the spherical vortex. It spun violently, spewing thick ck smoke that morphed into distorted faces. But the mes quickly consumed them, and one after another, the ck spots within the vortex disappeared as if they had never existed.


    Umbridge, bloody and unconscious, opened her eyes and witnessed Felix incinerating the Dementors. Memories from the past flooded her mind, and she screamed before fainting.


    "Mr. Harp..." Fudge trembled.


    Felix smiled, his teeth gleaming white. "No need to thank me. It''s what I should do."


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 Chapter 305: Sirius and Kreacher

    Chapter 305: Sirius and Kreacher


    A Few Days Ago


    Number 12, Grimmauld ce, the ck family mansion.


    Sirius ck loungedzily on the couch, appearing utterly idle, his jet-ck hair casually tousled.


    Compared to a little over a month ago, he looked much better now. His face had regained some flesh, no longer resembling a skull freshly dug from a grave. Instead, he appeared as a slightly underweight but normal individual.


    His feet rested on an elegantly crafted vintage coffee table. At intervals, Sirius would nce at a palm-sized piece of paper covered with intricate lines and densely packed tiny ck dots. Only a few names, asionally stirring, were written in golden ink on this parchment.


    This state of affairs continued until noon when the house-elf Kreacher, who attended to the household, appeared with a sluggish demeanor. Sirius''s eyes shifted as Kreacher made his way towards him.


    Kreacher held a dirty rag in his hands, making it hard to determine whether the rag or the tattered cloth he wore was dirtier. Perhaps the rag was once his worn-out garment?


    Thoughts meandered curiously in Sirius''s mind. Just then, Kreacher slowly, step by step, approached, while Sirius observed him from the corner of his eye. Kreacher hopped onto the coffee table, brandishing the rag and muttering, "The wasteful young master, not knowing where he learned such bad habits. cing his feet on the table like that. The Mistress used to enjoy her tea here, hosting many noble guests"


    "Kreacher, your feet are dirtier than my shoes!" Sirius snapped in irritation.


    "...Bearing so many precious memories. If the Mistress knew, how heartbroken she would be..."


    Sirius''s brows twitched erratically, his usual elegance giving way. He suddenly jumped up, grabbing the strip of cloth around Kreacher''s neckthe makeshift cor, if you willready to throw him out.


    Kreacher didn''t resist. He continued rambling, "Cannot bepared to his brother, truly shouldering responsibilities"


    "Are you talking about Regulus?" Sirius halted mid-step, saying, "He''s a fool. I always thought he was clever enough to look out for himself but no, he went and joined the Death Eaters!"


    "Master Regulus is not a fool!" Kreacher struggled vehemently, his body jolting back and forth like a wound-up toy. "He''s a thousand times better than you. He joined the Death Eaters in your ce"


    "What did you say?" Sirius widened his eyes, lifting Kreacher to meet his gaze, "Exin yourself"


    But Kreacher kept squirming, a tangled mess of snot and tears, prompting Sirius to disdainfully toss him back onto the couch.


    "Let me tell you, Kreacher! He''s been a Voldemort worshipper all along. Do you know why everyone at home preferred him? Because he became the noble, dignified ck they wanted."


    "I even wrote him letters, asking him to stay away from Voldemort, to hide. But what happened? The moment he graduated, he joined the Death Eaters. My parents must have been thrilled, finally cleansing the stain I am. They can now tell the world that a brave little hero has emerged from the family, right?"


    Kreachery on the floor, softly sobbing, muttering a string of profanities, "No shame, fraternizing with Muggle friends filthy, cowardly, reeking"


    Furious, Sirius interjected, "Reeking? Then I''ll let you experience Muggle methods. Honestly, I''ve wanted to do that for ages."


    Sirius gripped Kreacher and ascended to the second-floor washroom, tossing him into the bathtub. He twisted the tap adorned with a small snake pattern, muttering, "You''re disgustingly dirty! Even after twelve years in Azkaban, I never encountered something as absurd as this!"


    With Sirius pinning him down, Kreacher was thoroughly cleansed from head to toe. Sirius even conjured a brush with his wand, diligently scrubbing. He cleaned every crevice, even the dirt lodged in the wrinkles of Kreacher''s hairless scalp. Proud of his work, Sirius said, "Now, are you satisfied? Your master serving you"


    One minuteter, he began to regret it. The water in the bathtub turned as if gallons of ink had been poured into it. A foul stench emanated, prompting him to gag, his stomach churning. Astonishingly, he raised Kreacher''s hand, asking, "Did you cook using this stuff?"


    Sirius removed the bathtub plug, allowing water to drain. Half an hour passed


    Clean as a whistle, Kreacher sat on the sofa. His skin was rosy and even the hair in his bat-like ears was as white and fluffy as cotton. He looked ufortable, scrutinizing his toes incessantly.


    Exiting the bathroom, Sirius, having taken a bath himself, didn''t carry any odd odors. He nced at Kreacher, contentedly lying on the sofa, readingics Felix Harp had given him. It was meant to kill time, apanied by a heap of Easter chocte eggs. Sirius had picked the ugliest one and handed it to Kreacher.


    The afternoon was pleasantly spent, the air had a newfound freshness. Sirius stayed until the afternoon, timing his departure from Grimmauld ce. He reached an activity room in the Grimmauld Squaremunity.


    "Well, young man, back again today?" a skinny old man remarked.


    "Yes," Sirius nonchntly replied as he arranged a few chess pieces. "May I begin?"


    "You should be ying with the white pieces," the old man suggested.


    "What difference does it make?" Holding a ck knight, Sirius muttered, "If only these pieces could move."


    The old man chuckled heartily. "You''re quite the character... but no!"


    They yed two games, both ending with Sirius as the loser. During the third game, he scratched his chin thoughtfully, struggling, "I remember this not being so hard. Remus and I used to y, and we couldst for sixty or seventy moves..."


    An old woman carrying a cloth bag entered the room. She nced around and came over, grabbing the old man''s ear. "Our son and daughter-inw are back, and you''re here ying chess?"


    "Let me finish this game, just this one" the old man pleaded.


    So the old woman sat beside them, observing their game. The old man furrowed his brow, entering a crucial phase. Both sides were locked in a tight contest. Suddenly, the old woman said, "Old man, move your queen."


    "Right." To Sirius''s astonishment, the old man moved his white queen to capture Sirius''s ck knight.


    "This isn''t fair!" Sirius protested. "It''s two against one!"


    The old woman smirked. "You can ignore him. After all, I taught him." Nevertheless, she fell silent. The game was irredeemable. Sirius watched helplessly as he was checkmated.


    The old man scattered the chess pieces. "This round doesn''t count. We''ll y again some other time." He left with the old woman.


    "Did our son have a fight with the neighbors?"


    "No, and he even brought them a gift. There''s a saying for this, right? Turning over a new leaf In these six months, they haven''t yed loud music at night. You won''t believe it, but I followed a young person''s advice and slipped a card under their door. Just like the young man from earlier, both of them had ck hair"


    Meanwhile, in a gloomy, dpidated inn


    A piercing voice softly spoke. It was as cold as an icy breeze, cutting through the air, "Go, Barty. Inform Peter bring Harry Potter to me. I must survive."


    "As youmand, my master! I''m willing to give my life for you!" the wild-eyed Barty Crouch Jr. fervently dered.


    "No, my dear Barty," a voice behind the chair responded. "Remember, this is a dangerous endeavorin Dumbledore''s watchful eyes. First, ensure your own safety."


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 Chapter 306: Aftermath and the Pendant Box

    Chapter 306: Aftermath and the Pendant Box


    Fudge''s face had fallen.


    His expression was quite the spectacle. It was the look of someone who had been basking in joy, relishing his aplishments, and suddenly being struck by a club. Fudge wiped away the sweat that kept forming on his forehead and stuttered, "I-it was truly remarkable."


    Felix spoke earnestly, "Now that the matter is concluded, the Auror team stationed at Hogwarts by the Ministry"


    "Ah, you''re talking about that. Of course, they''ll be withdrawn. The Ministry is seriously short-staffed these days" Fudge quickly agreed, "As you know, we''ve been hosting two major events in session."


    Felix contentedly stored his magic away and concealed the Dementors he had intercepted from the Aurors beneath apartment in his ring. He had used this ringst year to store ckthorn roots, one of the treasures he and Bellby had acquired during their adventure in the Forbidden Forest.


    As for the number of Dementors, they weren''t manyjust a dozen or so. After all, putting on a show still required some investment.


    Following that, Felix and Fudge chatted idly. Fudgeplimented and even ingratiated himself a bit, agreeing to provide the best Quidditch World Cup tickets for this year''s summer vacation. Though not entirely necessary, Felix epted the offer with a smile.


    "This was indeed a mistake on our part, or rather, the mistake of certain individuals," Fudge said with disgust, casting a disdainful nce at the unconscious Umbridge. "We will minimize the damages and reassure you..."


    As he spoke, Umbridge''s body began to tremble.


    Feigning unconsciousness, Felix thought. It seemed he had truly left a significant psychological scar on this high-ranking Ministry official. She would rather lie on the ground than face him. Hard to say, she probably wanted to avoid confronting this harsh reality...


    Fudge left in a hurry, taking his subordinates with him. He had a mess to clean up and, in his characteristic style, even arranged for reporters toe. However, his n had been to have the front-page photo show him leading Sirius ck out of Hogwarts, solemnly announcing that no ground would be left for evil to thrive. But this performance took an unexpected turn halfway through, spiraling out of control like a wild horse running in an entirely unpredictable direction.


    Umbridgey on a conjured stretcher, levitating away, with the lifeless body of Peter Pettigrew beside her. She felt utterly defeated in this moment, likely to be sidelined upon her return. She didn''t know when she would regain Fudge''s trust.


    When they reached the entrance of Hogwarts, Fudge gestured for one of his subordinates to go ahead. The unfortunate Auror walked out of the school gates expressionlessly, facing the blinding shes of cameras. He hurriedly shielded his face and waved his other hand in a plea, "No more photos! No more photos!"


    After a few minutes, Fudge cautiously revealed half of his face, making sure all the reporters had been shooed away before swiftly departing with his team.


    In stark contrast to the Ministry''s hurried exit, Hogwarts was a scene of jubtion. Students cheered and raised their wands, sending sparkling fireworks shooting from their tipsred, green, yellow, blue... It looked like a grand fireworks disy.


    Hermione appeared discreetly, signaling Felix with a gesture of sess. She then joined the students in some exuberant jumping, pretending she had been there all along.


    At this point, several figures arrived on the bridge. Harry was supporting Sirius, while Lupin trailed behind, guiding Severus Snape.


    "Harry! Your Patronus was amazing!"


    Quidditch captain Oliver Wood enthusiastically pulled Harry over. Before he could react, he found himself hoisted onto shoulders. The crowd cheered, tossing Harry into the air. "We''ve won!" "We''ve won!" The excitement in the air was palpable. As Harry reached the peak of his toss, he turned to nce at Sirius. Sirius smiled back at him, and Harry felt something stir within him, a surge of pure happiness. Drawing his wand, he summoned the silver stag Patronus once again, leaping and frolicking in the air.


    In the midst of it all, a few audacious students attempted to pull Felix into the celebration. If he hadn''t stopped them, they might have dared to toss Professor Snape into the sky. However, when Professor Snape leveled a calm gaze at them, they sheepishly retreated, turning to find Harry instead.


    Later on, Dumbledore returned. In his office, he patiently listened to everything, smiling as he said, "It seems I missed quite the spectacle." He looked at Sirius, speaking cheerfully, "I''ll pay a visit to the Ministry tomorrow and discuss the matter of your pardon with Fudge."


    Professor McGonagall added, "The Ministry will surelypromise. Too many people heard what Peter Pettigrew said before he died."


    Dumbledore nodded slightly. "I agree with you, Professor McGonagall. However, I also know how malleable Fudge''s ears are." He paused briefly, bypassing that topic, "Did Peter Pettigrew truly mention Voldemort''s return? It seems that during the months he was missing, he was quite active."


    Felix interjected, "He also found an aplice for Voldemort, and we have no knowledge of this person''s identity."


    Dumbledore said gently, "You are correct. Voldemort had been clinging to life in the Albanian forest... but it won''t be long before, if all goes as expected, he will appear in the open."


    "The Albanian forest?"


    "ording to my sources, he''s hiding deep within the forest, possessing various small animals," Dumbledore said thoughtfully. "Perhaps Peter Pettigrew received help from his little friends."


    Felix understood the Headmaster''s implicationhe was referring to rats. Peter Pettigrew couldmunicate with rats.


    "ButAberforth," Professor McGonagall eximed in astonishment, "if he''s been there all along, then why..."


    "Because we have no means to deal with him. He''s less substantial than a ghost, like a fleeting shadow. Trust me, Professor McGonagall, that feeling must be agonizing," Dumbledore exined.


    Exiting the Headmaster''s office, Sirius found Felix. His expression was quiteplex. "I know you''re well-versed in old artifacts..."


    Felix looked at him, teasingly asking, "Are you considering gifting me something from the ck family collection?"


    Sirius rolled his eyes. "Pick whatever you like. Enough joking. Kreacher told me something, something rted to Voldemort and also to my... brother."


    "My brother?"


    "Regulus Arcturus ck. He had different ideas from mine. In any case, he stole something from Voldemort and ended up sacrificing himself in the process. I believe it''s crucial to Voldemort."


    Felix''s expression grew serious. "What is it?"


    "A golden locket, rather dirty, with a small snake on it. If not for Kreacher''s confession, I wouldn''t have paid it much mind. There are far too many simr trinkets in the house..." Sirius described its appearance meticulously.


    He continued, "But upon closer inspection, I realized it''s truly extraordinary. Kreacher couldn''t destroy it, and neither could I. Even with the most powerful magic, I could only manage to make a small cut, and it quickly healed itself."


    Felix stopped in his tracks. Unbreakable, self-repairingthese were the characteristics of a Horcrux! He remembered from his reading of "Secrets of Advanced Dark Magic" at the ck household that Horcruxes were described in great detailtheir creation methods and characteristics. Aside from being nearly indestructible and resistant to most spells, they possessed an exceptional ability to magically repair themselves. Even tearing them apart, smashing them, or grinding them into dust was futile unless one knew the proper method.


    The known methods of destroying a Horcrux were the Killing Curse or an immense surge of magicmethods only wizards of the caliber of the Four Heads of the Magical Schools possessed.


    "We need to go there now!" Felix decisively stated.


    They turned down a corridor and saw Harry at the corner, his head lowered in thought.


    "Harry!" Sirius called out. "Why are you alone here? Aren''t you celebrating with your friends?"


    Harry stuttered, "Not really celebrating. I went to check on Ron. He''s doing well, except Scabbers'' business made him a bit queasy... When I came back, I heard you were in the Headmaster''s office, so I came to see. How''s your injury?"


    "Nothing major, see? Just some minor wounds," Sirius exaggeratedly kicked his leg.


    Harry smiled and asked eagerly, "Do you have time now? Are you staying at Hogwarts tonight? I could give up my bed."


    Sirius hesitated, looking at Harry. Felix kindly interjected, "Harry can join us. We''ll bring him back before lights-out."


    Harry looked at them perplexed. Leave the school thiste? Where were they going?


    When he saw the firece in the office ignite, realization dawned upon him. "Floo Powder? I''ve seen it at Ron''s home and used it..."


    He remembered his not-so-pleasant experiences of traveling using Floo Powder. He despised the sensation of spinning around the firece, disoriented. However, he had to admit thatpared to Apparition, Floo Powder was a ratherfortable way to travel.


    "Don''t worry, Harry," Sirius said. "Hold your breath and remember, Number 12 Grimmauld ce."


    Harry grabbed a handful of Floo Powder, sprinkling it into the firece. mes surged up instantly, turning emerald green. Holding his breath, he mentally uttered, "Number 12 Grimmauld ce." His figure disappeared.


    In the office, Sirius remained motionless.


    "Do you have something to say?" Felix inquired.


    "I actually need your help," Sirius took a deep breath, clenching his fist tightly, "I want to bring Regulus back."


    "Regulus? You said earlier..." Felix realized, "He didn''t take the locket from Voldemort but hid it somewhere?"


    Sirius nodded. "I went there, but I couldn''t even get through the door."


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 Chapter 307: Parseltongue and Locket Box

    Chapter 307: Parseltongue and Locket Box


    "As the Easter holidayes to an end tomorrow, and the weekend follows in two days, how about we n for that day?" suggested Felix Harp.


    "Could we not do it tonight? Just the two of us, getting started," Sirius impatiently replied.


    "If that ce is Voldemort''s secret horcrux hiding spot, do you really think he''d let us leavefortably?" Felix retorted, especially since Felix was already quite certain in his mind that it was where Voldemort had hidden a horcrux. Caution was key.


    "Sirius, I need to make some preparations, and so should you. You seem a bit too eager right now."


    "You''re right, Felix," Sirius conceded atst.


    Felix offered a faint smile. "Let''s go, Harry is waiting for us."


    Walking one after the other, they stepped into the firece.


    Inside the ck family house.


    Harry curiously examined this aged and quite frightening house-elf. He couldn''t help but drawparisons to Dobby, even though they looked entirely different, and dressed in dissimr clothing. Yet, there was a strangely simr demeanor between the two  as if they were both butlers he had seen in Muggle TV shows.


    Dobby''s butler-like demeanor was even more pronounced, with the addition of a small suit jacketpared to the house-elf before him.


    "Hello, what''s your name?" Harry greeted amiably.


    Kreacher pouted, muttering something under his breath, but Harry didn''t catch it. Kreacher adjusted the clean white cloth that covered him and respectfully bowed, saying, "You may call me Kreacher, esteemed guest. Wee to the ck ancestral home."


    Harry felt a bit bashful, not quite ustomed to house-elves'' weing speeches. "Actually, uh, wait a moment. The ck ancestral home? This is Sirius''s house?"


    "Indeed," Kreacher confirmed, "Young Master was born and raised here. Though he left home foolishly in his youth" Kreacher''s eyes gleamed with mischief, "when danger arose, he immediately thought of this ce."


    Harry, intrigued, asked for more details. He wanted to know more about his godfather. When Kreacher learned that Harry was Sirius''s godson, his attitude turned even more respectful, and he was willing to reveal more hidden information.


    "Young Master has been quite tearful these days, Kreacher has heard it, but he stubbornly denies it"


    "Kreacher! Enough!" The firece flickered again, and Sirius emerged from it. He had overheard Kreacher badmouthing him and was visibly annoyed. He strode over, lifting Kreacher up from the ground, and said loudly, "You''re not to mention"


    Kreacher respectfully interjected, "But Mr. Potter is the young master''s godson. As your heir, he has the right to know"


    "I said no!" Sirius''s lips trembled. "Go make tea."


    "At yourmand." Kreacher''s figure blinked out of sight.


    Felix, standing nearby, observed for a while before a slight smile crept across his face. "So, I suppose your rtionship has improved?"


    "In which eye did you see that? He''s still as annoying as ever" Sirius grumbled.


    Harry blinked, considering that he should tell Ron about what he had observed. Ron always thought of house-elves as obedient servants to the noble families, but the two house-elves he had encounteredDobby and Kreacherhad distinct personalities of their own.


    They entered the living room, Harry''s first visit. He was curious about everything and inexplicably had a favorable impression. Although the house seemed a bit dim, maybe it was just because the lights weren''t on? After all, it was evening, and Sirius lived alone; no need to be wasteful...


    The air was somewhat damp, carrying a hint of mustiness, which wasn''t much of an issue. A little cleaning would fix that. Harry felt he could help with that.


    Entering the living room, it was a bit brighter here. Candles along the walls burned quietly, and an exquisite golden chandelier hung from the ceiling. Harry suspected it might be made entirely of gold.


    "Feel free to sit, the room''s a bit messy," Sirius gathered up scatteredic books and piled them aside. He stood there for a moment, somewhat lost. "Oh, right, I need to fetch something."


    Sirius left, the creaking of floorboards echoed in the distance. Soon, he returned, carrying a heavy golden locket box.


    Kreacher timely delivered hot tea, standing at the doorway.


    "This is it... Regulus entrusted Kreacher with it, to destroy it. But there''s so much magic on the box, poor Kreacher tried everything, and there was no way to leave even a trace..."


    "Kreacher suspects it needs to be opened from within, but I can''t do it."


    Harry looked at Kreacher, who was tearfully recounting, worried he might suddenly punish himself any second. But then, a thought crossed his mind. Opened from within? He vaguely grasped something.


    Felix Harp leaned in, scrutinizing the locket box carefully. It looked clean, likely cleaned by Sirius. On its surface, a splendid, S-shaped serpent was embedded, crafted from multiple small green gemstones, emitting a subtle glow.


    "The letter ''S.''" "A snake?"


    Felix and Harry spoke simultaneously, and as they looked at each other, Felix smiled. "We''re both right." He tapped the locket box with his index finger, and his perspective shifted. Colors seemed to wash away like rain, turning into a murky gray, reced by dazzling magical radiance,yered uponyers, dense and intricate. Within theseyers of protective magic, a tremendously evil darkness loomed, writhing like a monstrous entity.


    It was a horcrux, no doubt. Moreover... Felix noticed that this horcrux was more active than any he had seen before. It was as if it might jump out the next second.


    Felix pondered. It seemed Voldemort arranged each horcrux differently. The diary horcrux was quite lively, but it was the memories of the young Voldemort hidden within it that were active, not the fragment of his soul inside.


    As for the diadem, it was even more secretive. Felix couldn''t find any ws. Combined with the characteristics of Ravenw''s diadem, perhaps this was part of the deceptioncatching the person who obtained the diadempletely off-guard.


    Sirius stared at Felix and Harry, both suddenly silent. "What have you figured out?"


    "If I''m not mistaken, this should be Szar Slytherin''s locket. Voldemort used it to" Felix stopped himself, the locket box trembled slightly, indicating restlessness.


    "I''ve never seen it do this." Sirius stood up, uncertain, and pulled Harry aside, watching the locket box closely. The gold chain attached to it twisted frantically, as if trying to strangle someone among them.


    "Sirius, Professor..." Harry struggled to swallow, "I want to, want to try something."


    "What are you saying, Harry?" Sirius asked, concerned that the locket box might be affecting Harry, and he looked at his godson with worry. "Do you feel unwell?"


    "No, not that," Harry found his own idea rather incredible, "It''s Parseltongue. I want to try speaking Parseltongue!" Sirius looked at Harry in confusion; he had no idea Harry had this ability.


    "Go ahead, let''s see what happens." Felix said calmly.


    So, Harry stared at the locket box, imagining the pattern on it as a little snake. That was quite easy, especially since the locket box was still vibrating and making a buzzing sound. He opened his mouth and emitted a series of hissing sounds.


    Felix was familiar with the sound. He had heard it several times in the Chamber of Secretsst year. Its meaning should be


    "Open." Harry spoke in Parseltongue.


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 Chapter 308: Horcruxes and the Tale of Harkiss

    Chapter 308: Horcruxes and the Tale of Harkiss


    The golden pendant box suddenly ceased its trembling, and the wildly twisting golden chain lost all its strength, crashing onto the table. Immediately following, with a clear "clink" sound, its small golden lid popped open.


    They saw the internal structure of the pendant box, behind each of the two small ss windows, there was a living eye blinking. They were ck, shiny, and full of vitality. Harry felt that if the eyes'' owner weren''t sealed within the small box, they should belong to a living person.


    A ck mist permeated the air. From inside came a hoarse, chilling voice, "I see into your heart..." The pendant box addressed Felix, who was closest to it.


    "Oh? Is that so?" Felix initiated lumency, his mind closing off.


    "...Felix Harp, I know you. I can sense everything around me. What was in the book you looked at on your first day here? Don''t deny it. I see your deepest desire, for power, immortality, to transcend deathyou want to be the next me."


    "Who is this?" Harry eximed. Sirius, holding him, stepped back a few paces, saying withplexity, "It''s Voldemort. I never thought he''d hide himself in a box the size of an egg."


    Harry''s mouth dropped open. This was the one he encountered in his first year? Compared to sticking on Cho''s back, his days had be much more unfortunate.


    The owner of the eyes inside the pendant box continued in a whisper, "You have this potential. Why don''t we cooperate? Rule over wizards and Muggles together... and I, the greatest wizard of all time, am willing to share with you the secret of my immortalityHorcruxes."


    Something like a soap bubble twisted and distorted, and a humanoid figure appeared, rising from above the pendant box. It was a rather handsome young man, with a lean face, jet-ck and shiny hair, and a tall stature. He smiled warmly, spreading his arms as if wanting to embrace Felix.


    Yet his feet were still in the pendant box, unable to step out. He smiled even more kindly, speaking in a gentle tone, "How about starting now, from this moment, on the path to immortality... Just a gentle wave of the wand, and there will be two insignificant sacrifices."


    However, Felix replied calmly, "I thought you''d offer more ingenious insights, Tom. Close it, Harry."


    "What?" A flicker of red light shed and vanished in Voldemort''s eyes. If one wasn''t staring directly, they might think it was an illusion. He raised his tone, still attempting to persuade him steadily, "You don''t know what you''ve missed. I''ve walked further on the path to immortality than anyone else, and together"


    But Harry emitted a hissing sound. The next second, the lid of the pendant box closed, and the hate-filled ck mist billowed and dissipated, Voldemort''s image abruptly vanishing.


    Harry''s heart pounded intensely, his breath ragged. He really thought Voldemort was about to jump out and start a fight.


    Felix retrieved the pendant box, knocking on it for a while before finally putting it in his pocket. "I''ll give this to Dumbledore," he said with a sigh. "The headmaster hasn''t gotten his hands on one yet. I''ve seen three."


    They sat back down on the couch, neither speaking. Kreacher clung to the door, trembling, and said, "Mr. Harp, will you destroy it? This is Master Regulus'' finalmand for old Kreacher."


    "I promise you, Kreacher. The pendant box will be destroyed," Felix said.


    "Thank you, thank you..." Kreacher choked and vanished with a "pop."


    Harry calmed his emotions a bit, then asked curiously, "Voldemort mentioned a Horcrux just now. What is that?" His gaze shifted between Sirius and Felix, hoping for an answer. He felt he had delved deeply into Voldemort''s secrets.


    Sirius also looked at Felix.


    "A Horcrux... a very dark kind of dark magic. It involves splitting the soul and storing the soul fragments in an object. This thing is called a Horcrux," Felix exined simply. "As long as the Horcrux exists, Voldemort won''t die, although he''ll be miserable. But there wille a day when he returns."


    "So that''s Voldemort''s secret to immortality?" Harry said in shock. "No wonder he ims to have conquered death, actually splitting his soul. What a sinister practice."


    "It''s not just that, Harry. Splitting the soul is the result. The process requires a ritual, murder, to rip the soul apart through killing, and don''t be fooled by my simplified exnation; it''s far moreplex than that," Felix said.


    "So the thing inside the pendant box is just a fragment of Voldemort''s soul?" Harry understood, realizing that the two Voldemorts he encountered weren''t the same soul.


    Correct.


    "So if we destroy the pendant box now, will Voldemort silently die in some dark corner?" Harry''s thoughts wandered as he spoke, and the idea excited him immensely.


    It''s unlikely, Harry. He made more than one Horcrux. I''ve destroyed two Horcruxes I''ve seen, and Dumbledore is still seeking more information," Felix said.


    Harry listened, baffled. "Have you all been doing this? Fighting Voldemort?" He had no knowledge of this.


    It''s been Dumbledore who''s been doing this all along. He''s been actively uncovering Voldemort''s hidden past," Felix said, "and I''ve just coincidentally been involved."


    "Harry, even when you''re asleep, the world keeps turning. You just haven''t seen it," Sirius added.


    Harry nodded. He understood the professor''s meaning; there was no need to shoulder all the me himself. He had been a bit impulsive, not foolish. After all, the professor had exined the purpose of the Horcruxes to him. He wouldn''t lose his perspective. He wouldn''t try to confront Voldemort until all the Horcruxes were destroyed.


    He felt invigorated, as if he had taken on an additional task in his life. If, by the time he graduated, Voldemort''s Horcruxes still existed, he was prepared to spend his entire life seeking them.


    Thinking about that future wasn''t so bad, especially since this path wasn''t a solitary one. There was Dumbledore, there was Professor Harp... and perhaps even more people. Images of individuals shed through Harry''s mind.


    He posed a critical question, "If there''s not just one Horcrux, well... I can see at least three now, or maybe four. Could there be more, like seventeen or eighteen?"


    Felix chuckled, amused. "Are you treating souls like cookies? Break them apart at will, and they crumble?" He thought carefully for a moment and then said, "Honestly, I can''t be sure. ''Secrets of Advanced Dark Magic'' doesn''t specify a limit on the number of Horcruxes. Maybe the person who wrote the book didn''t anticipate that future generations would go this mad."


    "Does ripping apart a soul hurt?" Harry asked.


    "Hmm, an odd question," Felix tilted his head. "But the book says it''s excruciatingly painful. I haven''t tried it myself. Perhaps Voldemort doesn''t mind much?"


    "Alright," he stood up, "let''s call it a day for now, Harry. We should head back." He looked at Sirius again, "Our appointment remains unchanged."


    The two returned to Hogwarts. After bidding farewell to the inquisitive Harry, Felix made his way to Dumbledore''s office.


    Dumbledore was still poring over documents. Upon hearing Felix''s ount, he scrutinized the pendant box carefully.


    After a long while, he took off his sses wearily and wiped them with a small piece of velvet. "This conveniently confirms the spection I acquired from Harkiss."


    "Harkiss?"


    "I''ve told you about him, the poor house-elf."


    "You returnedte today because you went to..."


    "Azkaban, yes."


    Dumbledore recounted the story he had heard from Harkiss. The story itself was quite simple. Around fifty years ago, Voldemort, who was working as a clerk at Borgin and Burkes at the time, visited a very wealthy witch named Hepzibah Smith, who happened to be Harkiss''s mistress. Two dayster, she died suddenly.


    "In this matter, two points are worth noting. First, following Hepzibah''s death, her two most prized possessions vanished. Coincidentally, they were heirlooms of Hogwarts'' four foundersSlytherin''s locket and Hufflepuff''s cup."


    "Voldemort''s doing," Felix said with certainty.


    "Unfortunately, it took Hepzibah''s family a long time to discover the treasures were missing because she had many secret hiding ces and kept her collection meticulously guarded. By that time, Voldemort had already left Borgin and Burkes."


    "You mentioned... Harkiss is in Azkaban?"


    "Yes, she''s an obvious scapegoat. However, Harkiss herself admitted to slipping something into her mistress''s cocoaa substance that wasn''t sugar, but a rare and deadly poison. The verdict was not premeditated murder, but rather failing eyesight due to old age."


    "Her memories were tampered with?"


    "Delighted we''re on the same page," Dumbledore said. "Harkiss is currently not in a good state. I''m considering reopening an investigation into this long-standing case."


    "However, after all these years, Harkiss''s memories have be a mess, making it hard to ascertain whether she was involved. I can only point out inconsistencies in the case itself..."


    Felix found it quite difficult too. There was no evidence now, everything was based on logical deduction. Nevertheless, just now, Fudge had been startled enough. Felix wondered if he had the courage to refuse Dumbledore again.


    They moved on to discuss other matters


    "Headmaster Dumbledore, how many Horcruxes do you think Voldemort actually made?"


    "This is quite the headache. Based on what I know of him, Voldemort would choose a significant number. Three, seven, nine, thirteen, any of these could be possible. I need to determine his thought process and find some evidence. Aside from that, we''re also unsure whether he actually fulfilled his nned goal on the night he went to the Potters''..."


    In other words, the number is uncertain, and whether that number was achieved is uncertain. A number popped into Felix''s mindsevenbut he didn''t voice it. Speaking it out would be futile; Dumbledore had to explore and verify on his own.


    However, a thought came to him. "The diadem of Ravenw, Slytherin''s locket, Hufflepuff''s cup... Dumbledore, could Gryffindor''s sword also be a Horcrux?"


    Dumbledore shook his head. "I happen to know where the sword is, and Voldemort didn''t acquire it."


    Leaving the office, a light rain had begun to fall. Felix walked on the damp earth, his mind still dwelling on the appearance of Hufflepuff''s cup that Dumbledore had conjured.


    Dumbledore said with a cheerful tone, "It''s strange, but I feel you and Voldemort share a certain connection. Perhaps in the future, you mighte across more Horcruxes. It would be best for you to know what the cup looks like."


    Felix couldn''t help but think cynically. You''re the one with the connection to him, Dumbledore. Are you trying to hand over the task of dealing with Voldemort to me?


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 Chapter 310: Voldemorts Mistake

    Chapter 310: Voldemort''s Mistake


    The terrain by the seaside abruptly rose, revealing a ck cliffside sculpted by the relentless pounding of the waves, forming a straight, plunging precipice.


    The waves crashed against the rocky shore, producing white foamy crests and emitting a resounding roar.


    "Bang!"


    On the exposed rocks, three figures suddenly appeared - two adults and a child. One of them, Felix, stumbled and nearly fell.


    "Dragging your Animagus form is like dragging a mountain, Felix," panted Sirius.


    "Forgive me, perhaps I''ve overloaded myself with magical items," Felix replied uneasily. Within his ring, he concealed several Dementors, these prisoners squeezed together in a cramped space without any magical barriers. Consequently, it was as if Sirius was carrying a group of people with his Animagus transformation.


    Now they had a moment to observe their surroundings - the abrupt ck cliffs, the ocean with its roiling waves, and the snaking mountains on the other side. Felix gazed into the distance and faintly saw a vige halfway up the mountainside.


    Apart from that, thendscape was bare and deste. Other than the vast sea and rocks, not a single tree, grassy area, or beach was in sight.


    Sirius pointed towards a reef in the water. "The entrance is right beneath the cliff. We can Apparate to that stone in the middle of the sea and then proceed..."


    "Let''s go."


    This time, with Felix leading, they swiftly Apparated to the narrow crevice at the base of the cliff. They took a few steps forward before the surging seawater could reach their feet.


    Soon, the crack transformed into a pitch-ck tunnel. The rock walls on either side, covered in sticky mud, were only a couple of feet apart. asionally, they stepped on crushed shells or other simr trinkets. The air carried a salty, decaying odor.


    "This was brought in by the tide," Sirius exined as he raised his illuminated wand, kicking a fish out of their path, along with a small stone that hit a blocking rock wall, "I cleared this before, but within a few days, it reappears."


    Felix carefully examined the rock wall. In his ck and white vision, powerful magic wasyered onto the dark surface. He detected the scent of potent curses.


    It was evident that Voldemort was proficient in curses and dark magic.


    "I was blocked here. When I asked Kreacher, even he didn''t know. When he and Regulus came here, they didn''t encounter this wall..." Sirius exined.


    "Kreacher, I recall you''ve been here twice?" Felix asked softly as he ran his hands over the magical inscriptions on the wall.


    "Yes, Mr. Harp," Kreacher said with a fearful expression. "The first time, young Master Regulus found Kreacher. He said the Dark Lord needed a house-elf... It was an honor. Young Master Regulus instructed Kreacher to fulfill the Dark Lord''s task, and then... return home."


    "Kreacher followed the Dark Lord here, without encountering this wall, and went straight to a ckke. There was a boat... On the ind, there was a basin filled with potions. The Dark Lord forced Kreacher to drink from it..."


    "Kreacher remembered many terrifying things - memories of punishment, illusions of being cast out... Agonizing pain in every fiber of his being... Kreacher pleaded with the Dark Lord, but he onlyughed and made me drink all the potion..."


    Sirius fell silent. He had heard this story before, yet the taste it left behind was still bitter. Felix whispered, "It was a test. He was testing his protective measures."


    "Kreacher felt like he was dying. The Dark Lord abandoned Kreacher, leaving on the boat alone... But Kreacher remembered young Master''s orders, to return home. Young Master Regulus found Kreacher, deeply worried, and hid Kreacher away. He took care of me alone..."


    The house-elf''s voice quivered.


    "After a while, young Master Regulus came to find Kreacher... His behavior was strange at night. I knew he was troubled during that time, as if he worried about something... Young Master asked Kreacher to take him to the cave. There was no wall then. We boarded a boat and reached the ind in theke, then... then..."


    Sirius clenched his fist; he knew what happened next. Regulus drank the potion himself, made Kreacher return home, forbidding him toe back andmanding him not to reveal this secret to the mistress of the house. Apart from instructing Kreacher to destroy the locket, the Horcrux, Regulus himself was dragged into the darkke...


    Felix was also deeply moved by this past story. It''s hard to imagine a pure-blood sacrificing his life for a house-elf, but he was conflicted. He had once fervently followed Voldemort, sincerely believing that Voldemort could bring a better life to wizards.


    "My brother - Regulus, he was young at the time, believed Voldemort''s lies, he was only eighteen..." Sirius''s voice rasped, "Truly... a fool."


    Drips of water fell from the cave entrance, masking Sirius''s inhtions. Felix pretended to be engrossed in the magic inscriptions on the wall, staring intently, not speaking for a while. After a long time


    "Voldemort was quite confident. When heter added outermost protective measures, he didn''t check"


    "No, Mr. Harp, young Master Regulus crafted a fake locket, a replica... When he arrived, when he drank the potion, he threw the locket into theke, then let the potion pass over it again..."


    "Hmm," Felix murmured softly, "That makes sense. He missed a chance to correct his mistake."


    Sirius asked, "How do we get through this wall? I''ve tried various spells, all in vain, and the closer I get, the more interference my spells face. Look"


    He pointed his wand at the wall, a delicate incantation flew from the tip, and the outline of an arch appeared on the wall, emitting a dazzling white light, as if a strong light was shining behind the crack. But soon, that outline disappeared, and the rock remained as solid and imprable as before, devoid of any change.


    "My theory is that the wall conceals malicious intentions. It''s a rare curse - making visitors pay a price, weakening themselves. Voldemort wants us to mark the wall with blood infused with magic. However," Felix''s expression turned scornful, "All his efforts have been in vain... We have a better approach."


    Felix took off his ring and ced it on a seashell nearby. He said gently, "Kreacher, would you be willing to help us cross?"


    Kreacher looked at him in surprise, "C-Can I? I''m just a humble, obedient servant"


    "No, Kreacher. In certain aspects, you''re more clever than Voldemort."


    Kreacher stared, his bat-like ears twitching uneasily. He didn''t even have decent clothes, but someone was telling him he was cleverer than the feared Dark Lord.


    "Are you willing, Kreacher? To do your part for Regulus?"


    "Of-of course! Kreacher is willing!"


    Trembling, Kreacher extended his hand, Felix took hold of it, and then the aged, wrinkled house-elf looked up at Sirius with expectant eyes. Sirius extended his hand too.


    The next moment, the three of them disappeared in front of the wall.


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 Chapter 311: Return

    Chapter 311: Return


    Felix gazed upon a hazy emerald light. He squinted his eyes as the verdant glow emanated from a basin-like stone basin resembling a Pensieve, connected to a pedestal underneath.


    Clusters of crystal-like stonesy beneath his feet, scattered across the ground, casting a faint shimmer. Felix scanned his surroundings; a dense, imprable darkness enveloped them, heavy with an air of destion.


    Sirius helped Clitch to his feet, raising his wand high. The light at the tip of his wand illuminated only a small area, leaving even half of his face concealed in the darkness, rendering his visage indistinct.


    "We have delved deep into Voldemort''s heart," Sirius said quickly, a hint of excitement and vengeful pleasure in his tone. "But the impact here is greater, magic holds less sway."


    "Some magic doesn''t work," Felix cocked his head, indicating Clitch beside him; the fingertip of the house-elf glowed even brighter, "This has given me some inspiration..."


    Felix extinguished the light on his wand, melding into the darknesspletely. Though they were mere feet apart, Sirius couldn''t discern any outline of him. An eerie silence shrouded the ce, a growing sense of danger closing in.


    He heard Felix emit strange sounds, like a peculiarnguage with unique rhythms and cadences. Then, he saw light. An abundance of soft, milky radiance burst forth before him. It left a minuscule dot in his eyes, but in an instant, the light poured forth, spreading across the earth, the air, filling every inch of his field of vision.


    The light wasn''t blinding; Sirius could even peer past Felix and glimpse whaty behind him. His eyes widened  an endless expanse of mirror-smoothke stretched out, something he had subconsciously overlooked earlier. Theke, concealed in darkness, was tranquil, unruffled, devoid of ripples or sound, as though it were an even in.


    But the most astonishing aspect was what rested within theke''s waters: corpses! One after another, bodies floated beneath the mirror-like surface. He surveyed his surroundings, the nearest corpse mere three or four feet away, almost within arm''s reach.


    Sirius could clearly discern the corpses'' pallid, marble-like faces, adorned with brown tops and blue or ck trousers... An icy shiver ran down Sirius''s spine  Regulus might have been dragged underwater like this...


    "Ssh!"


    The pitch-ckke waters churned, a hand emerged. "Careful! These aren''t corpses, they''re Voldemort''s created Inferi army!" Sirius stepped back, his voice loud with warning, "And many of them were Muggles... damn it, it''s that vige! He destroyed an entire vige to amass this force!"


    Sirius had no time for cursing; he raised his wand, ready to strike back. Hindered by his own constraints, and with the added burden of avoiding harm to Regulus''s remains, it wasn''t an easy task.


    Yet Felix said calmly, "It seems they''re not intent on attacking us." Indeed, these Inferi hadn''t climbed onto the isle; instead, they moved farther away. To be precise, they were retreating from the light emanating from Felix''s wand.


    "Averse to light, fearful of fire  these are Inferi''s traits. Voldemort must have restricted these two types of magic. Also, he couldn''t employ Disillusionment Charm, a masterful move..." Felix noted, "But just as he didn''t consider house-elves'' magic, he hasn''t factored in ancient spells reliant on runes. Of course  perhaps he considered but couldn''t control them."


    Felix raised his hands, conjuring a round white light orb. The cave was tall, its roof obscured; thus, the light ascended to its zenith like the sun, casting a warm radiance.


    Voldemort''s dark trap design faltered. Light and darkness intertwined and eventually expelled the dark, the cave aglow as if it were day.


    At this moment, they saw their surroundings clearly  standing on a small ind in the heart of ake. The isle was enveloped by a vast expanse of ck waters, though now they were translucent and shining.


    Hundreds, even thousands, of Inferi hid beneath theke''s surface, relying on instinct to shield themselves.


    Felix turned to Sirius and Clitch, saying, "Now you can search for Regulus. I''d like to study this stone tform." After a few seconds, he looked at the man and the house-elf with surprise, "Do I need to cast an ''Aqua Bubble'' for you?"


    The Aqua Bubble Charm created a bubble-shaped pocket of air around the caster''s head, allowing wizards to explore underwater or avoid unpleasant odors. As far as Felix knew, the Weasley twins were quite adept with this spell.


    "You''re not expecting me to join the search, right? I don''t even know Regulus..." Sirius waved his hand, having exerted considerable effort to cast Aqua Bubble on himself and Clitch. He spoke in a muffled tone, "Are you sure these Inferi won''t suddenly attack?"


    "As long as they remain Inferi," Felix surveyed the area with ck-and-white vision, "I don''t see any hidden magic. You needn''t worry."


    Clitch immediately jumped into theke, swimming nimbly. Sirius grumbled but followed suit, enduring the bone-chilling water. Their vision remained unaffected, and they began to locate Inferi. The task quickly became monotonous  Sirius had been submerged in the ckke for twenty minutes, his body stiff, his clothes soaked through, dragging him downward. Clitch fared no better; Sirius had to pull him out to recover.


    The icy water cascaded down Sirius''s robe, step by step he ascended the steps, trembling all over.


    Chattering, Clitch''s teeth trembled, his speech slurred, yet he insisted, "Clitch has seen 47, no, 48..."


    Sirius scowled, "Are you trying to get sick so I''ll have to take care of you? Come eat something!" He was amazed; scattered around the campfirey various foods, even two bottles of butterbeer. This wasn''t a camping trip! He didn''t know how he managed to eat, but he replenished his energy.


    "You could use a Warming Charm, it''ll help." Felix suggested, his head still bowed.


    ...


    Felix caught sight of a hazy green light. He squinted as the emerald luminescence emanated from a basin-like stone dish, nestled atop a pedestal.


    The ground was scattered with crystalline-like stones, chaotically embedded into the earth, reflecting a faint glow. Felix scanned the surroundings; darkness thick as tar enveloped them,den with an aura of death.


    Sirius helped Kreach up, brandishing his wand aloft. The light at its tip illuminated only a small patch, his face half-obscured in shadow, rendering his features indistinct.


    "We''re delving deep into Voldemort''s heart," Sirius eximed, his tone a mix of exhration and a vengeful edge, "but the effects here are more pronounced, magic doesn''t work as well."


    "Some magics aren''t effective," Felix tilted his head, indicating Kreach by his side, the tip of the house-elf''s fingers glowing brighter, "this has given me a notion..."


    Felix extinguished his wand''s glow, immersing himself in the shadows. A mere few feet separated them, but Sirius couldn''t make out his form. The eerie silence was nerve-wracking, danger inching closer.


    Felix emitted an odd sound, akin to anguage with peculiar rhythm and cadence. Soon, light emerged. Copious, soft milky-white radiance bloomed before him, leaving an insignificant dot in his eyes, but swiftly, the brilliance cascaded, filling the ground, the air, every inch within his vision.


    This light wasn''t blinding; Sirius could even see beyond Felix, perceiving whaty behind him. His eyes widenedendless, mirror-likeke stretched before them. He had unconsciously ignored this earlier, the water concealed in darkness, tranquil without ripples or sound, like a level expanse ofnd.


    Yet, the most astonishing sight was within thekecorpses! One after another floated beneath the mirror-like surface. Sirius surveyed his surroundings, the nearest cadaver a mere three or four feet away, as if he could touch its feet by stretching out his hand.


    He could discern the faces of the corpses, pallid as marble, dressed in brown coats, blue or ck trousers... A chill coursed through Sirius; Regulus might have met the same fate...


    "Ssh!"


    Dark waters surged, a hand emerged. "Be cautious! These aren''t corpses, they''re Voldemort''s Inferi army!" Sirius shouted, his voice echoing in the cavern, "And many of them were Muggles... damn it, it''s that vige! He destroyed a vige for these troops!"


    Before Sirius could utter more curses, he raised his wand, ready to retaliate. Constrained himself, and mindful not to harm Regulus'' body, it was no easy feat.


    However, Felix calmly stated, "It seems they have no intention of attacking us." Indeed, the Inferi hadn''t ascended the ind in theke''s center; they instead distanced themselves from the light, or more urately, Felix''s light source.


    "Fearful of light, averse to firetraits of the Inferi, and Voldemort surely has curbed these types of magic. Add to that the inability to Apparate, and it''s quite the strategic move..."


    Felix continued, "But just as he didn''t consider house-elf magic, Voldemort might not have ounted for ancient spells rooted in runic magic. Of course, perhaps he did consider it but couldn''t restrict them."


    Felix raised his hands, conjuring a round white light. The cave was high, its ceiling hidden from view; the white sphere ascended, akin to a sun, casting warm radiance around.


    Voldemort''s devised trap of darkness malfunctioned. Light and shadow tangled, light eventually vanquishing the dark. The cave illuminated as if it were day.


    By now, they could clearly see everythingthe small ind they stood upon was engulfed by the darkke''s expanse. The ck waters appeared transparent under the light''s influence.


    Hundreds of Inferi lurked in theke depths, relying on instinct to conceal themselves.


    Addressing Sirius and Kreach, Felix said, "You can search now. I''ll examine this stone basin." After a few seconds, he looked at the man and the elf with curiosity, "Do you need me to cast the Bubble-Head Charm on you?"


    The Bubble-Head Charm created a bubble-shaped air pocket around the caster''s head, allowing wizards to breathe underwater or avoid foul odors. Felix knew that the Weasley twins were quite adept at this spell.


    "Surely, you won''t have me search as well. I don''t even know Regulus..." Sirius waved dismissively, his effort evident as he cast the charm himself, resulting in a muffled voice, "Are you sure these Inferi won''t suddenly attack?"


    "As long as they remain Inferi," Felix surveyed with his grayscale vision, "I haven''t spotted any concealed magic. Rest assured."


    Kreach promptly leapt into the water, moving nimbly. Sirius mumbled, following suit.


    Braving the icy water''s chill, sight undisturbed, Sirius found an Inferius hiding behind a reef. He pried the corpse''s hand from its face, trying to discern its appearanceuntil he started seeking the next target, untouched by attack.


    "Bizarre magic," Sirius muttered underwater. While the Inferi feared light,mon luminescence didn''t possess this effect.


    Subsequent events grew monotonousSirius spent twenty minutes in the darkke, his body stiffening, his clothes soaked, each move dragging him down. Kreach fared no better; Sirius pulled him up to recover.


    The frigid water cascaded off Sirius'' robes. Trembling, he climbed the steps.


    Kreach''s teeth chattered, words stumbling. "Kreach has seen 47... no, 48..."


    Sirius'' face darkened. "Are you aiming to get sick and have me care for you? Come, eat something. He even conjured a fireridiculous."


    A scatter of foody around the fire. Two bottles of butterbeer stood amidst the makeshift camp. It wasn''t a wilderness setting! Sirius couldn''t fathom how he managed to eat, but he did refuel.


    "You can use a Warming Charm; it''ll make things morefortable," Felix suggested nonchntly.


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 Chapter 312: The Evil of Horcruxes

    Chapter 312: The Evil of Horcruxes


    ck Manor


    Sirius, Felix, and Dumbledore each upied their respective seats, the atmosphere within the room heavy and somber.


    "He deserves a proper funeral," Sirius insisted.


    "Ipletely agree. Regulus was a hero  he even saved an innocent life and had a heart as pure as gold... truly deserving of this honor," Dumbledore said gently. "However, we must not reveal the existence of the Horcruxes; that would cause a lot of trouble."


    His gaze, framed by half-moon spectacles, rested upon a young man lying quietly on a long couch beside Sirius. With hands folded across his chest, his ck curly hair fell about, as if he were asleep.


    Regulus looked strikingly simr to his brother, especially from the profile. He appeared young and unburdened, as if he hadn''t suffered the twelve years of imprisonment that Sirius had. Regulus remained forever eighteen, yet he had aplished feats that most people couldn''t achieve in a lifetime.


    "WhyI don''t understand!"


    Sirius felt that the honor that rightfully belonged to his brother had been stolen. Regulus deserved more  like a grand funeral. A white marble coffin, wreaths, and a green grassy field  all under the watchful eyes of people, recounting the life and glory of Regulus Arcturus ck. They would praise his outstanding contributions...


    And taking on Voldemort, sacrificing himself to destroy a Horcrux, was a crucial part of his achievements. Sirius wished everyone could know this.


    "Sirius," Dumbledore''s voice was grave, "I have been doing my utmost to prevent the spread of this dark magic, even its mere name. Imagine, if people knew of this magic that required only killinga simple task for some, forgive my wordingthen they could attain immortality. What a tempting trade that would be!"


    "I don''t think"


    "That''s you, Sirius. No one denies your courage and conviction. If Voldemort were to return someday, would you take up your wand again?"


    "Of course! I''d fight to the end!" Sirius responded without hesitation.


    "That''s the spirit," Dumbledore nodded. "But could you face death calmly?"


    "I wouldn''t split my soul, Dumbledore!"


    "Of course you wouldn''t," Dumbledore soothed. "But what if, under extreme circumstances, someone you care about is dying, or certain to die, and you desperately want to save them... At that moment, when you hear of a magic that can bring someone back to life, would you care if it''s dark or not?"


    Sirius hesitated. In that instant, faces of several people shed before him. He had already lost too much; he didn''t want the same thing to happen again.


    "People would flock to it, using every means to unearth the secrets of Horcruxes. Selfish dark wizards for themselves, the righteous for family and friends, brave Aurors forrades, vile power-seekers for eternal dominion... Imagine, Sirius, how dreadful that scenario would be."


    Sirius gasped for air, his rationality sumbing to the horrifying image. Despite being convinced, he couldn''t shake off his unease.


    After a moment, his voice hoarse, he said, "So, that means"


    Felix, who had been quietly listening, spoke up, "Regulus could be honored within the Order of the Phoenix, with an undercover identity, restoring his reputation..."


    "No, Felix. I don''t want that," Sirius declined. "Regulus was a lone warrior. I want people to see the incredible courage he disyed in defying Voldemort''s decisions. Look at Dumbledore, at least don''t ignore his fight against Voldemort, even if you don''t mention the Horcruxes."


    Dumbledore nodded. "I am willing to announce this at the funeral."


    "Thank you," Sirius said. Without a credible witness, the funeral could easily be a rumor. Dumbledore''s endorsement was crucial to affirm Regulus''s contributions.


    As for Sirius himself, many still didn''t know he had been exonerated. If he suddenly appeared in Diagon Alley, it would undoubtedly evoke screams of fear.


    "Well, then, I, uh," Sirius began slowly, "I''ll take care of the arrangements. I''ll handle it myself, including the guest list for the funeral." He made a disgusted face suddenly, muttering, "My rtives, hardly any of them are decent."


    "I can invite some friends, Sirius," Felix offered.


    "Thank you, thank you," Sirius said. "Even though I haven''t been the best of brothers, being locked up for over a decade, the ck family name is worth a visit to them."


    "The influence of pure-blood families shows itself at times like this," he said without emotion, leaving it unclear whether it was pride or irony. He continued in a hushed voice, "Just this once..."


    Dumbledore bid his farewell, and the mes ignited in the firece.


    "Wait, Headmaster Dumbledore, let''s leave together," Felix said, rising from his seat. "By the way"


    Felix retrieved a pendant box from his pocket, holding it by its golden chain, causing the box to tremble.


    "This is the fake Horcrux I took from the basin. I examined it; there are no additional spells on it. Inside, there''s only a note left by Regulus."


    Sirius reached out and epted it. This replica pendant was crafted by Regulus based on Kreacher''s description, but Kreacher had only glimpsed it briefly. Hence, the imitation was far from perfectnot only was its size off, even the symbol of Szar Slytherin, the "S" mark, was missing.


    He mechanically opened the lid of the pendant box. Inside was a small folded piece of parchment. As he opened and read it, his eyes instantly welled up. His voice quivered as he read the words written on it:


    "To the Dark Lord,


    As you read this letter, I am already dead. But I want you to know: I discovered your secret. I have taken the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as possible.


    I am willing to die just so that you face a mortal, flesh-and-blood opponent when you encounter your destined foe.


    R.A.B."


    Kreacher let out a mournful cry and copsed to the floor.


    Dumbledore sighed and turned to the firece, and Felix followed suit. In Professor Ancient Runes'' office, the two engaged in a brief conversation.


    "Do you ever find my methods less humane, Felix?" Dumbledore wore a weary expression.


    "You just need to consider a lot of things, weigh the pros and cons, and n for the bigger picture, Albus."


    Dumbledore nced at him in surprise and then smiled faintly. "Let''s talk about something more cheerful. Well, I owe you my gratitude. In fact, apart from the Hufflepuff Cup line, I''ve also been investigating the Wools Orphanage where Voldemort spent his childhood. It''s just that the ce has been demolished due to its age. But I never gave up. Without you, I might have stumbled upon that cave."


    Felix smiled. "With your magic, you will undoubtedly unravel its secrets... One thing is worth noting, though. I''ve noticed Voldemort is extremely skilled in curses and often ties curses to human desires."


    Dumbledore nodded slightly. "Indeed, that''s worth considering. He might exploit people''s weaknesses and set traps."


    Finally, Dumbledore advised Felix not to reveal the existence of the Horcruxes unless absolutely necessary, using the same reasoning and persuasion as with Sirius. Felix didn''t consider it mere rmism.


    "About Harry..."


    "I''ve already talked to him," Dumbledore''s expression turned troubled. "He and his friends want to learn more about the secrets of Horcruxes. They even nned to ask Irma for information. Thankfully, I discovered this ahead of time."


    Felix also heaved a sigh of relief. He had no interest in Horcruxes himself and hadn''t thought about the possible consequences pointed out by Dumbledore. Combined with Harry''s inevitable confrontation with Voldemort, Felix didn''t feel a burden when he revealed this information.


    Harry probably hadn''t considered it either, as he intended to consult Madam Pince, the librarian.


    ...


    Time flew by swiftly. Before they knew it, June arrived. At the beginning of the month, Felix proctored the final exams for the third, fourth, and sixth years and observed the new batch of Wizarding Levels  O.W.Ls and N.E.W.Ts.


    The examiners from the Wizarding Examinations Authority were the same asst year. When the exams concluded, fifth and seventh-year students reveled and celebrated the end of what had felt like a year in purgatory.


    In the week before the end of the school year, Felix held the final meeting of the Ancient Runes Club for the semester.


    All the members of the club were excited because an open secret had been circting among them for a while: Professor Harp was nning to teach them an ancient magic!


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 Chapter 313: Dangerous Ancient Magic

    Chapter 313: Dangerous Ancient Magic


    Inside the Magical Texts Club, young wizards and witches satfortably on various-sized sofas, chatting animatedly about their ns for the holidays.


    "I''m definitely going to the World Cup... I''ll also be visiting rtives with my family. My uncle has a strange beast with a high humped back and a pair of long horns..."


    In a corner of the sofa, Hermione whispered, "I think he''s talking about an Erumpent. They''re usually found in mountainous regions, all purple and quite aggressive"


    "Oh, Hermione, we''re done with exams," Ron interjected.


    "This isn''t exam material"


    "I know, you''re just so excited about getting a response from Newt Scamander that you''re practically bursting, and you''ve memorized all his notes," Ron teased.


    Harry couldn''t help but chuckle, while Hermione shot them an embarrassed nce.


    Harry fiddled with a seven-sided Muggle coin. Professor Harp had told him that he could use the Animagus Transfiguration outside the Room of Requirement only when the entire coin turned into a bright gold color. But there was still one missing corner, and Harry hoped to fill it before the holidays.


    Ron cast an envious nce at the coin. He had tried a few times while practicing with Harry, but without sess. He harbored a wish to master the spell before the twins did and then tease them about it.


    "Harry, when is Professor Lupin''s farewell gathering? Is it confirmed?" Ron inquired.


    "Day after tomorrow," Harry replied, "It''s a small gathering, some professors... and us."


    "It''s strange," Ron mused, "I thought Snape wouldouch!" Harry hurriedly stomped on Ron''s foot, reminding him, "I mean, considering Snape''s attitude towards Professor Lupin, he wouldn''t mind revealing his secret, would he..."


    Hermione added, "Professor Snape knew about it long ago, right from the start. He had no reason to expose it."


    "What I meant was"


    Harry, deep in thought, said, "Perhaps he''s a bit embarrassed. After all, Professor Lupin did help him out, didn''t he? He doesn''t need a Patronus Charm." Though he said this, he still couldn''t be sure if the silver light he had glimpsed on Snape''s wand that day was real or just his imagination.


    Or perhaps it was entirely unrted to the Patronus Charm?


    At that moment, Professor Harp walked over, holding a shallow basin in his hands, and the young wizards and witches gathered around curiously.


    "What''s this... a Pensieve?" a sixth-year student eximed excitedly. "Professor, is this a Pensieve?"


    "Just a replica," Felix chuckled, cing the basin on a small table so everyone could see. "We''ll be using it shortly."


    The gray basin contained some silvery substance that looked like liquid clouds or molten silver, swirling slowly.


    Harry remembered, during his first Ancient Runes ss, the professor had introduced this ancient magical creation that could store and view memories. He thought of his unnamed book and couldn''t help but specte if it served a simr purpose.


    Felix sat down, smiling at everyone. "Many of you are aware that I''ll be teaching you an ancient magic during the final part of this year. I''m pleased to see that you''ve all mastered the necessary runicponents."


    "Illuminum Lumenmy own name for it. Originally, I thought it could only be used for illumination, but I recently discovered it has some restraining effects on dark creatures as well. It can dispel magical dark mists... in summary, it''s a useful spell that falls under the category of defensive magic."


    With that, Felix pronounced some peculiar incantations, gesturing forward. He deliberately slowed down the process, making it traceable. The young wizards craned their necks, afraid of missing any details.


    One ancient rune after another materialized out of thin air, as if they had always been there but hidden from view. They were smaller than the tip of a little finger, intricately interwoven into aplex pattern. The next moment, milky-white light blossomed from the professor''s fingertips.


    "I''ve only demonstrated the casting process, not its true power. In fact, the upper limit of this spell is hard to gauge." Felix grinned. "But I don''t think anyone will get so bored as to deplete their magic"


    He suddenly paused, as more than one young wizard looked eager to try it out. He rubbed his forehead in exasperation. Well, that was boring for him, but for the young witches and wizards, it was quite an amusing entertainment.


    So he warned them once again, "Even though this spell is safe enough, the worst danger is feeling drained of magic afterward. It''s quite ufortable, I must say. I can only tell you that if you faint, you''ll be d you did."


    The professor''s solemn tone made the students somewhat more restrained. Felix continued, "It''s immensely powerful, hard to control. That''s the hallmark of ancient magic. But why is it like that? Has anyone thought about it?"


    The club members started a lively discussion. Over the past half-year, they had progressed far beyond novices in the field of Ancient Runes. When it came to practical runic magic, they were among the best in the wizarding world.


    Although Felix still considered them rather weak.


    "Perhaps it requires a great deal of magical power?"


    "It''s clearly not that. I guess when the magical runes converge into a pattern, any mistakes could trigger an explosion."


    Draco Malfoy suddenly spoke up, "My father says ancient magic is quite malevolent. Once it takes form, it gains its own consciousness, drawing on the caster''s magic, even their life..."


    The discussion grew quieter, and everyone looked at him with wary eyes.


    Felix pped his hands, "Hmm, Malfoy, to some extent, I can''t say you''re entirely wrong. This brings us to the question of how we can master an ancient magic..."


    "First step, you need to master all the corresponding ancient runes of the spell, preferably to a level of expertise, understanding the magical symbols of the runes themselves."


    In the air before him, runes appeared one after another, taking on various forms and then disappearing without a sound.


    "Taking Illuminum Lumen as an example, it has a core meaning of ''light.'' There are six secondary core runes representing different attributes of light. Around these are seventeen less important runes."


    Felix disyed all these runes one by one. Everyone present mastered them, at least the seven core runes, to an expert level.


    "Second step, you need to arrange the runes in a specific sequence. In ancient times, this was a wizard''s most closely guarded secret, only revealed to immediate family members."


    "The logic is simple. Wizards back then didn''t have a vast array of spells, and many were simr. Once these secrets got out, enemies could easily target them."


    "Toplete this step, while not simple, it isn''t terribly difficult. The best way is to practice extensively. Except for certain obscure ancient spells, this step isn''t very dangerous, especially for the Illuminum Lumen spell we''re discussing today."


    Hermione nodded along. Her practice process had gone quite smoothly. Even if a runic sequence copsed, it simply transformed into pure magic. After each practice, she would jot down her insights and review them regrly.


    "Lastly, we reach the crucial point, where the distinctive trait of ancient magic truly shinesshaping."


    Felix surveyed the room, satisfied to see all the students listening intently. He continued, "The form of ancient magic isn''t fixed. The same spell might manifest as a phoenix of fire for one person, a firebird for another, a fiery lizard, or even a fire crab."


    He gave an exaggerated example, eliciting chuckles from the young wizards.


    "The first half of Malfoy''s statement is quite urate. Once ancient magic takes form, it''s as if it gains its own consciousness. It instinctively draws on the caster''s magic to strengthen itself, much like a voracious creature. At this point, you must possess the ability to control your magic, to counteract this pull."


    "Furthermore, since ancient magks a fixed form, you need to make it heed yourmand, following your will... How much magic do you want to pour into it? How long should itst? What form should it take? What attributes do you enhance? How do you make it end?"


    Felix posed a series of questions and waited a few moments in silence. He then spread his hands, saying, "Regrettably, there are no fixed answers to any of these. It all relies on your judgment."


    "So, once you''re learning a powerful offensive ancient magic, you can imagine the consequences if it spirals out of control."


    Harry followed the professor''s train of thought, envisioning what it would be like for an ancient fire-based magic. If it didn''t take form, that was fine, but if it identally seeded and then couldn''t be controlled, draining his magic, he could only watch as the magic consumed him...


    "But fortunately" Felix raised his voice, snapping the young wizards out of their dreadful reverie, "the Illuminum Lumen you''re learning isn''t that dangerous. At the very least, you won''t have to worry about being incinerated by mes, corroded by toxic mist, or struck down into a dry husk by lightning."


    The young wizards stared wide-eyed, not finding much constion from the professor''s words.


    "Does anyone know the lesson this holds for us?"


    One of the twins muttered, "Don''t let it take form."


    "Absolutely right," Felix said, giving him an approving look. Fred grinned widely; he had just blurted out a thought.


    "Don''t let your ancient magic take form easily. Repeat the second step over and over until you feel extremely confident. Only then can you proceed to the next phase of experimentation."


    "Each one of you will undergo an assessment before leaving the school. I''ll also be writing to your parents to exin the situation. Private practice is strictly prohibited. Even draining your magic is foolish behavior, understood?"


    The young wizards fell silent like startled crickets. The professor had never been this stern. They nodded fervently.


    "Very well, you have about a week to grasp the basics of Illuminum Lumen," Felix gestured to the basin, "Utilize it."


    Felix stood up, surveying the room. "Who wants to go in first? Although it''s a replica, I''ve retained some of the characteristics of the Pensieve. Entering it is a bit like diving, and personally, I find that quite amusing."


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 Chapter 314: The Prophecy

    Chapter 314: The Prophecy


    "Fred and George must have no idea that one day their noses will be on public disy." Ron chuckled, staring fixedly at the small patch of light above him. Harry, Hermione, and the people around them did the same.


    They stood on an empty floor, or rather, within the space of a stone basin. The lighting here wasn''t very bright, resembling the scene of twilight as dusk approached.


    Above wasn''t a ceiling but a circr bright light, very much resembling the shape of the edge of the stone basin. At the moment, a part of that bright light was blocked offa straight nose bridge, as if a giant outside was peering in at them.


    Ron said with a satisfied expression, "Guess whose nose this is? I think it''s George''s, though not very clear, his nose looks a bit crooked."


    Harry grinned, finding this quite an amusing perspective. They could also hear a buzzing voiceing from a distance, echoing:


    "I see lots of little figures, little Ronnie would be the easiest to recognize, our family''s redheadoh!"


    The people within the stone basin watched as one of the Weasley brothers tumbled from the air, performing a dozen somersaults beforending solidly on the floor. George Weasley lifted his head, seeing his younger brother extending his hand with a mischievous grin, teasingly saying, "Your hair stands out quite well too."


    George immediately got up, patted non-existent dirt off himself, and pretended, "me Fred, he held down my head, oh, here hees."


    Everyone looked up as another person dropped from above, a duplicate of George, and Frednded with a loud "thud."


    "That''s settled!" George asked excitedly, "Harry, who do you think had a more gracefulnding between the two of us?"


    Harry tried to sound objective, holding back hisughter as he seriously assessed, "I''d say you, although Fred''snding sound was louder..."


    The students descended one by one like dumplings into a pot, andstly, it was Professor Harp''s turn. He floated down gently,nding on the ground with a smile, "Appetizers before the grand feast, I hope you all have fun."


    "Next, I''ll demonstrate the true power of this magic."


    As Felix spoke, he waved his hand, just as described in fairy tales. "The sky dimmed, darkness shrouded thend, and you couldn''t see your hand in front of your face." Harry felt a little anxious, his heartbeat involuntarily speeding up. He tentatively called out, "Ron? Hermione? Professor?"


    There was no echo, not even his own voice. In his panic, he bumped into someone, someone who seemed about to fall. He instinctively pulled them up.


    "Calm down"


    Professor Harp''s voice said, "This is the Magic Mist, it can block ordinary light and sound. Normally, experienced individuals would choose to stay away from this area, as they don''t know what they might encounter. However, if you''re already trapped within it, you can use specific magic to dispel the mist, such as the Lumos spell I''ve taught you."


    Chanting the magical sybles, light gathered in his hand, piercing through the darkness, bringing light. However, the straight and bright beams of light intertwined with the darkness, each at a loss against the other. Harry thought of a scene, a shlight beam piercing through the darkness at night.


    Just that in the professor''s hand, there might be countless smaller shlights...


    At the same time, Harry recognized who was beside him. The only second-year student, "Oh, Ginny, are you alright?"


    Ginny''s face was as red as her hair, "I-I-I''m fine!"


    Felix said, "This is the initial manifestation of this magic, and it''s the minimum requirement I have for youyou can stably control it, prevent it from sapping your magic, and maintain a basic form. It looks like arge lightbulb."


    "Once you be proficient, assuming your control is strong enough, you can change the form of this magic as you wish, such as a light sphere"


    He extended his hand, holding a milky-white light sphere. In the Magic Mist, it exuded a warm, gentle yellow, reassuring sensation. The light grew brighter, and Harry could see vague shapes of others.


    "Or an animal form"


    A glowing owl pped its wings, casting their faces in sporadic shadows. Harry suddenly thought of his Hedwig, but the next second, it turned into an eagle, and various unknown birds of prey.


    "Or perhaps, just a simple light beam"


    Felix said, and his monkey-shaped statue shot into the sky, leaving a long, bright vertical trail. Eventually, it transformed into a beam of light.


    "These variations can be used for private practice, helping you be familiar with this magic. Afterward, you can infuse it with magic at will, increasing its power and range."


    The beam as thick as a wrist seemed to break free from its constraints, rapidly expanding1 foot, 2 feet, 10 feet, 20 feet... the column of light extended continuously, swallowing them. The magical mist in the entire space was shattered, and the sky became brilliantly lit.


    Felix retracted the magic, "Now then, nextI will provide one-on-one guidance."


    Everyone stared at the professor, not quite understanding the meaning of his words. One-on-one, did that mean each of them would receive guidance individually? Harry and the others had a vague guess; perhaps the professor had prepared in advance, much like the Professor Harp constructed from memories in the unnamed book.


    They were right about half of it.


    Hermione suddenly covered her mouth, her eyes widening in surprise, and the others also showed startled expressions. The second head emerged from Professor Harp''s neck, and soon his chest split into two, as if two professors were ovepping.


    Amid the group''s bewildered looks, the secondplete "Professor Harp" stepped out from Felix. This Professor Harp pointed to someone, "Malfoy,e with me."


    Draco walked mechanically in front of the two professors, ncing back and forth,pletely unable to distinguish which was real and which was an illusion. But soon, something even more surprising happened. The third "Professor Harp" appeared, casually twirling his wand, "Hmm, you there, Diggory."


    Cedric followed him awkwardly, and as he walked a distance away and couldn''t resist turning back, the fourth and fifth Professor Harps had begun selecting students. He finally understood what "one-on-one guidance" truly meant.


    It really was one-on-one!


    "Jeffrey"


    "Percy Weasley"


    "Miss Grinss"


    One after another, members of the Magical Text Club were led away by the Professor Harps. Each wore a perplexed expression on their faces. Harry could rte to them quite well; even after the encounter with the unnamed book, he was still shaken by all of this.


    He realized that Professor Harp was always generous in showing them the wonders of magic, integrating it into every aspect of life and teaching. Magic had be a part of the professor himself.


    "You seem to have something to tell me, Harry?"


    Harry opened his mouth, thinking of Professor Trwney''s unusual state during the exam. In his mind, it was either that Trwney had some unknown ailment, or she had truly made a prophecy.


    He used to think the Divination professor was a fraud, but since the night the Dementor horde attacked the bridge, he changed his perspective.


    "You''re worried about something that will happen in April."


    He got hit right on the mark! This sentence wasn''t directed at someone specific, but at the four people presentRon, Hermione, Professor Harp, and Harry himself!


    Ron had always held out hope for his pet rat to return somedaynot as the wizard traitor or the form of the small, unremarkable rat Scabbers, but as the rat he had lived with for over two years. Unfortunately, his fears had undeniablye true.


    Hermione had been worried about an attack on them, which was one of the reasons she actively organized the Dueling Club. The attack had actually urred, and if not for Sirius'' sudden appearance, they might have been captured by the traitor, Scabbers, himself, and only he himself could imagine what might have happened to Hermione and Ron.


    And Professor Harp? One of his respected elders had passed away that day, as Hermione had told him.


    As for himself, he had even more worriesworries about what Ron worried about, worries about what Hermione worried about. Upon reuniting with Sirius, he began to worry if he was worthy of such a wonderful family. And, of course, something unexpected happened in the middle of it all...


    When Harry exined these spections to Ron and Hermione, they were equally astonished.


    "Harry, this is just a coincidence!" Hermione said, still in shock, but with a hint of pride in her voice.


    "Maybe, maybe it is, Trwney the old dragonfly really does have some skill, Hermione, didn''t you say before that her ancestors possessed genuine divination talents?" Ron skeptically said.


    In private, he had given unliked professors nicknamesSnape was the greasy old bat, and Trwney, with her penchant for theatrics and bug-like sses, was referred to as the old dragonfly...


    The two friends'' reactions werepletely opposite, leaving Harry torn between their attitudes. It wasn''t until the exam day when Harry was thest to leave the ssroom, returning the crystal ball that had fallen to the floor to Professor Trwney, that things got even stranger. She rolled her eyes, stiffly supporting herself on a chair armrest, and spoke some inexplicable words. Her voice sounded as if it had gone through a rough file, hoarse and eerie:


    "An unprecedented upheaval... a legendary drama unfolds from this... haclowns return to the beat, warriors stand ready, the lion ages, the phoenix is reborn... Time! Time!"


    Harry was dumbfounded at the time. He was considering whether to call for help when Professor Trwney''s head drooped to her chest. She hummed and quite suddenly, her head snapped back up, standing as if nothing had happened.


    "Apologies, dear child," she said as if in a dream. "It was too hot in the day, you knowI fell asleep for a bit."


    Harry remained rooted to the spot, utterly speechless.


    Professor Trwney looked at Harry with astonishment, as if he had done something strange.


    "What are you thinking, child?"


    ...


    "What are you thinking, Harry?" Felix asked.


    "N-Nothing," Harry hesitated for a moment, snapping back to reality. "I was just wondering, is the Pensieve''s principle also rted to the unnamed book?"


    "Quite simr," Felix said. "Rather than the unnamed book, it''s more abination of the Room of Requirement and the Pensieve," he winked, "I received gifts from two elders."


    Thank you for reading this far! You can ess more chapters from HERE by joining my <b>Patreon</b>munity. You''ll gain exclusive early ess to the <b>COMPLETE NOVEL</b>.


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    Don''t let this amazing opportunity slip through your fingers!

 Chapter 315: Flames and Smoke Divination

    Chapter 315: mes and Smoke Divination


    From morning till afternoon, the members of the club emerged one by one.


    "This is amazing!!!" eximed a student in excitement. "It''s as if the professor belongs to only me..."


    "We all feel that way," chimed in hispanion with a cheeky grin.


    But he didn''t quite catch that and exaggeratedly said, "Professor Harp even discussed with me which spell-casting posture looks more dashing, did you hear?"


    "I''m a hundred feet away from you, mate!"


    A girl spoke up, "Professor Harp was very patient. While exining the magical runic sequence structure for the Lumos spell, he said it looked like a lily of the valley..."


    "Huh? Professor told me it was a tulip," another girl interjected.


    "Clearly, it''s a rose..."


    Several people exchanged puzzled nces, debating with each other. Ron couldn''t help but say, "Maybe Professor Harp just wanted to convey a curved structure; these flowers all look somewhat alike, don''t they?"


    The spirited girls debating the matter stared at Ron, huffed, and left.


    Ron scratched his head and puzzledly said, "Did I say something wrong?"


    "No, you just ruined their mood for the day," Hermione remarked casually.


    They arrived at a courtyard, where nts grew lushly along winding paths. Harry absentmindedly plucked the orange-red spherical fruits from the bushes, next to which were mistletoes adorned with white pearls.


    "How''s Sirius, Harry?" Hermione asked.


    "He''s fine. He''s been busy preparing for his brother''s funeral, and he doesn''t want anyone else involved," Harry replied softly.


    "I remember, his name is Regulus ck?" Ron eximed with excitement. "He''s really cool, a lone hero..." He lowered his voice, "Being a Death Eater but ying a trick on one of them, he deserves that treatment."


    "Yeah, but we definitely can''t mention the Horcrux at the funeral. Headmaster Dumbledore specifically talked to me about it, as you both know..."


    Ron chuckled, "He must have been quite troubled then. Maybe he even considered using the Obliviate spell on us"


    "Ron!" Hermione interjected sternly.


    "Uh, I was just speaking off the cuff. Of course, none of that would actually happen..."


    Hermione nced around worriedly, feeling this wasn''t a safe topic. "Harry, we better not mention that term out here."


    "Horcrux?"


    Harry mumbled quietly and thought for a moment, "You''re right, but most people don''t even know what that is... Luna?" Harry stared in astonishment at the young girl in the garden. She held a lunchbox in one hand and was halfway through weaving a mistletoe wreath with the other.


    Luna''s gaze was elusive, and she tossed the wreath aside, acting as if she had just noticed them. "Hello, Harry, Hermione, Ron. It''s so nice to see you," she said in her sing-song voice.


    "What are you doing here?" Harry asked, suddenly regretting discussing the topic in the garden. How much had Luna overheard?


    "I''m waiting for Ginny, you know. Her tummy will get hungry, and a pic is absolutely essential," Luna said, swaying her waist-length, golden hair.


    "Is that so?" Ron looked skeptical. "Did you overhear"


    "Luna"


    Ginny ran up from a distance, panting and breathless. "Sorry I''mte. Fred and George insisted I try their new products. It was a struggle to get away. Can''t let them find out... Going to visit FirenzeRon?"


    Ginny widened her eyes, remaining in a daze for a few seconds before realizing her slip. She eximed, "What are you doing here? Trying to eavesdrop, aren''t you? Oh, Hermione, Harry, you''re here too..." Her expression turned puzzled. "What''s going on?"


    Harry and his friends exchanged nces, a genuine ident it seemed.


    Luna hummed lightly, picking up the discarded wreath and idly weaving it again.


    A few minutester, they headed toward Hagrid''s hut.


    "We care about you too, Ginny," Ron said. "There was an attack near the Forbidden Forest two months ago..."


    "Yeah, you got hit by some dark magic, and your leg swelled up twice its size," Ginny said nonchntly.


    "And it was oozing pus! Ginny, don''t you care about your own brother at all?" Ron protested.


    "Worried? Naturally, I''d be worried the first time I heard it," Ginny said, maintaining her poker face. "The second time, I''d worry. Third time, fourth time, fifth time..."


    Ron''s face turned red, his ears almost glowing.


    Harry changed the subject, fully aware of how Ron boasted about it afterward and how often he''d heard the story. But that curse was meant for him, and Harry believed Ron deserved every bit of his own boasting.


    So, he said, "Uh, so you''re going to visit a Centaur, right? Well, we''re actually heading to Hagrid''s to see Buckbeak. Maybe they could be friends..."


    Harry halted, realizing he wanted to smack himself. Centaurs had strong pride. He stammered, "I mean... they''re our friends, of course."


    Luna chirped, "You''re right, Harry. I think you''ll be friends. Ferenzor is very friendly."


    "Ferenzor?" "Ferenzor?"


    Harry and Hermione both eximed in surprise simultaneously. Harry said, "I know him, Ferenzor. We met in our first year! I encountered a dark wizard hunting unicorns, only to discover it was Quirrell, who worked for Voldemort. Ferenzor helped me escape and guided me out."


    He carefully chose his words, avoiding the word "ride," as his experience taught him that Centaurs were sensitive about that.


    Luna gazed dreamily at Harry as he continued, "It''s true. He looks quite young, with tinum hair and a strong build..."


    Luna''s eyes lit up with a smile.


    The group arrived at Hagrid''s hut to find the burly man removing weeds from the pumpkin patch. As they approached, Hagrid held a red umbre, gesturing around in the ground.


    "Hagrid!"


    Hagrid turned around, "Harry, Ron, Hermione! Oh, and two young girls, one of them is a Weasley, what''s your name?"


    "Ginny, Ginny Weasley."


    "And you?" Hagrid looked at Luna, his umbre hitting a nearby pumpkin, causing it to explode with a "bang," sttering them with yellow juice. "Oh, sorry!"


    Hagrid fumbled, holding Harry and Ron, who were closest, to the side. "I''ll go get a cloth, can''t use magic on you all, you know," he whispered, "Not so good with household spells, missed the timing..."


    "Wait, HagridScourgify! Scourgify! Scourgify!"


    With Hermione''s help, they managed to clean up in no time and got down to business.


    "Buckbeak? He''s back with his herd. His kin missed him greatly," Hagrid said, waving his arms around. While Harry and his friends were a bit disappointed, they were still d for Buckbeak.


    When they mentioned their n to visit the Centaur, Hagrid''s eyes widened as he roared, "Are you all out of your minds? Just two months ago there was an attack! And the Battle of the Bridge, if I hadn''t been in the hospital wing, I would''ve missed"


    He looked at them in a daze for a long while, then sighed, "I can''t help much either, I don''t know that spell."


    Harry andpany rushed to console him, "You saved me, Hagrid, remember? Madame Pomfrey said if we waited a bit longer, my leg would''ve been chopped off and regrown." Ron said sincerely.


    "Hagrid, your Engorgement Charm worked a treat," Hermionemented while looking out of the window at the pumpkin patch.


    Harry racked his brain, but unfortunately, he couldn''te up with a fitting reason. "They''re right, Hagrid. You can''t underestimate yourself."


    "Thanks, thank you all..." Hagrid pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his moist eyes emotionally, then suddenly realized, "Hold on! You haven''t said why you''re going into the Forbidden Forest!"


    "We''re going to see Ferenzor. I haven''t seen him in months," Luna said. "Also, big guy, I love how you''ve arranged things here. It''s so much like my home."


    Hagrid chuckled, "Call me Hagrid, young miss. And what''s your name?"


    "Luna, Luna Lovegood," she said while shaking her head.


    Hagrid rummaged through a dusty bag and pulled out several dirty objects, handing one to each of them. "What''s this?" Harry asked, it looked like bones from some creature.


    Luna had puffed up her cheeks and started blowing, producing a loud whistle. After a while, she stopped and breathed slightly heavily.


    Hagrid boomed, "You see, Luna demonstrated. It''s a bone whistle. I use it when training the creatures of the forest. In case of danger, it mighte in handy. Of course... kiddos, I don''t rmend you going into the forest..." He said with great conflict.


    Finally, Hagrid led them to meet Ferenzor. Luna ced the mistletoe wreath on the Centaur''s head, and they all shared the contents of the lunchbox. Due to the crowd, everyone got only a little, and Harry felt even hungrier after eating.


    He missed the Great Hall in the castle but reconnecting with Ferenzor was also intriguing, as long as he didn''t delve intoplex star readings.


    "The recent aura from Mars has been peculiar. We believe it signifies something," Ferenzor said, strongly suggesting Luna use sage and valerian for a mes and smoke divination. "You''re the most intuitive human I''ve encountered."


    Lunaplied. Harry was surprised that she carried these items with her. They were even more unexpected than her cork ne and dirigible plum earrings. So they had to sit around and observe as the choking smoke rose. When Hagrid sat down, he was taller than when he stood, and when the breeze blew, the thick smoke mixed with incense wafted toward him, making him sneeze incessantly.


    Ferenzor remained unaffected. "Fate has brought us together to form a prophecy." Hey down and carefully observed, trying to discern certain shapes and symbols.


    "Looks like the magic Professor Harp taught us," Ron whispered to Harry. Harry didn''t see the resemnce between the two, but he thought it resembled Buckbeak''s wing ps.


    "Looks like a cloak of mes," Ginny added her interpretation, treating this as a game.


    Hermione chose to watch coldly, sitting quietly without speaking. She had never been interested in these strange things.


    "Human beings have never been quite good at this, even Centaurs took many years to develop this ability." Ferenzor said in a steady voice, "And it''s also easy to make mistakes. Luna, what did you see?"


    "I saw a gathering, everyone was joyous, shooting fireworks into the sky." Luna said happily. "I wish I could be there too."


    Ferenzor sounded a bit disappointed, "I thought it was an omen of war..." Others looked at him in puzzlement, so he exined, "Mars presides over war, and in the past decade, various signs indicated that the wizarding world was just experiencing a brief period of peace between two wars. But there have been recent changes. The elders in our tribe are puzzled"


    He shook his head and didn''t continue this heavy topic.


    Afterward, they returned to the castle, ate heartily, and left everything behind.


    They returned to the Gryffindormon room, where Percy stood before the notice board, studying the job advertisements. "Wasn''t he going to the Ministry?" Harry asked.


    Ron shrugged, "Penelope hasn''t decided yet. She''s received a few rmendations, but her dream job is abroad. Percy''s trying to persuade her to stay."


    After a few minutes, Percy left with great enthusiasm.


    Before heading to the dormitory, Harry nced at the advertisements on the board and,bining Percy''s recent position, he found an inconspicuous cutout in the corner. He didn''t read the fine print below but remembered thepany''s name


    Future World.


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 Chapter 316: Choices of Different People

    Chapter 316: Choices of Different People


    Harry never could have imagined that he would hear the name "Future World" multiple times in the days toe.


    On the third morning, he hurriedly joined Ron and Hermione on their way to the Magical Texts Club. With only a week left, every member of the club felt a sense of urgency, even Harry and Ron, who had been restricted before, resisted the temptation of the final trip to Hogsmeade this term.


    Of course, this also had something to do with a genuine underlying concern Hermione pointed out, "Opportunities like this are hard toe bywhat if we don''t meet the professor''s expectations? Not only will we get letters sent home by the professor, but the chance for the next school year will also be uncertain. You wouldn''t want to see Malfoy''s smug face, would you?"


    Harry had to admit that Hermione''sst sentence had convinced him, and Ron felt the same way.


    "Look at his arrogant demeanor, hepletely forgot about Babbity Rabbity!" Ron eximed indignantly.


    Yesterday, when Draco Malfoy left the ssroom, he was bragging about his progress in studies. Ron chose to counter with news of the Babbity Rabbity case''s victory. However, Malfoy didn''t remember the name at all and mocked, "Did you make up that doll yourself, little Ronnie?"


    Several Slytherin students burst intoughter because of George''s mistake. The whole club now knew Ron''s nickname.


    ...


    They arrived at the headquarters of the Magical Texts Club. Hermione traced a magical symbol in the air with her finger and stuck it on the door. The door opened silently. As they entered the room, the door behind them closed automatically.


    Professor Harp was sitting on the couch, chatting with Nawe. Sharp-eyed Hermione noticed Nawe handing a golden and red patterned invitation to the professor.


    "I''ve received it, Nawe," the professor said.


    Nawe smiled shyly at Harry and his friends, then extended his finger towards the nearby stone basin. He got absorbed into it, leaving Harry imagining a scenario where hended and suddenly Professor Harp appeared.


    Harry and Ron followed, entering the space within the stone basin. Hermione stayed behind, looking at Felix with a clear intention to speak.


    "Please, have a seat, Granger."


    Hermione sat beside him. "May I have a word with you, Professor?"


    "Of course, you''ve already walked their path ahead of them. I designed this teaching process based on your progress," Felix said with a smile. He leaned over, allowing his palm to glide over the stone basin, sprinkling it with tiny points of light. "Very well, no one will overhear our conversation."


    Hermione pulled out the Time-Turner concealed in her clothes and hesitated. "Professor, do you think I should return this?"


    "Why do you say so?"


    "I broke the agreement with Professor McGonagall and used it for things other than studying. She trusted me so much, and if she finds out" Hermione said sorrowfully.


    "Miss Granger," Felix''s tone grew more serious, "do you believe that only you and I know about this? Perhaps we should also consider your two good friends?"


    Hermione''s eyes widened. "Professor, are you saying that others know, too, know?" Her hands and feet grew cold. On the day of the Battle of the Bridge, she had vited numerousws set by the Ministry of Magic.


    "Let''s do a simple rey of that day''s events: we did manipte time, or more precisely, we justpleted a missing part of history."


    Calmly, Felix continued, "In order to achieve the scene you described, I never appeared, even in times of crisis. I was observing from the sidelines. Even recently, I was less than a foot away from Harry... until your experience became everyone''s experience. Then I guided Harry, and he sessfully cast a powerful Patronus. Afterward, other events followed."


    Hermione nodded. The professor had already told her all of this, and she agreed wholeheartedly.


    Felix continued, "However, there is a loophole in all of thisI suddenly appeared in front of everyone. For those who know you possess a Time-Turner, it''s easy to deduce a lot from this tiny detail, like Albus Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall..."


    "What about the Ministry of Magic?" Hermione held her breath.


    "The Aurors probably aren''t privy to such confidential matters. They might not be able to connect the dots to you, at least not easily. But as for Fudge... I''m not sure if his power-driven mind coulde up with it, but he can''t verify it." Felix spread his hands.


    Hermione sighed in relief.


    "I''m not trying to frighten you, just pointing out something you overlooked. So, if Professor McGonagall pretends not to know, you don''t have to reveal everything. It would make everyone ufortable. However, I do suggest you drop some elective courses; you''ve had a busy year."


    Hermione bit her lip, her expression conflicted. After some calctions, she had already dropped Divination, and if she gave up another course, she could have a regr timetable. She already had an answer in her mind.


    She had initially chosen Muggle Studies, thinking it would be fascinating to look at ordinary people from a magical perspective. But after a year, beyond the novelty, she realized the professor of that course wasn''t any more knowledgeable than she was in certainmon-sense aspects. The viewpoints in the textbooks were outdated and stuffy, and they didn''tpare to what Professor Harp''s books had offered her.


    "Professor, I''ve made up my mind. I will return the Time-Turner to Professor McGonagall."


    Later in the day, she would have an appropriate opportunityat Professor Lupin''s farewell party.


    ...


    When the day''s lessons were over, Harry overheard Percy and Penelope quietly discussing as they left the ssroom.


    "Penelope, how are you thinking about it?"


    Penelope hesitated, "I want to do something meaningful. Thatpany you mentioned, Future World, it''s a newly establishedpany. It might just be a small shop."


    "Their advertisement is quite enticing, isn''t it?"


    "Maybe they''re just making empty promises..."


    "No, look at the pay they''re offering, fifty Galleons per month. That''s a lot more than what Ministry employees get. I can''t even earn that much"


    "I didn''t choose a job for the money!" Penelope eximed angrily.


    "I know, I know, but it also indicates that thepany is sincere and really in need of people," Percy persisted, trying to persuade his girlfriend. "Don''t rush into a decision, Penelope. During the break, let''s go take a look together, in Diagon Alley."


    In the evening, Harry visited Professor Lupin''s office.


    The office of the Dark Arts Defense professor had been moved to the third floor. Harry had always suspected that Lupin and Snape''s duel had destroyed the previous office. On the day of the Dueling Club, he had glimpsed a brief scene of their confrontation in Professor Harp''s eyes.


    However, neither Professor Lupin nor Professor Harp confirmed it, and Harry didn''t have the courage to ask Snape either the result would be predictable: he''d lose fifty points and get a week of detention.


    Lupin''s office door was open. He had already packed most of his belongings. The empty crate of Grindylow stood next to his worn-out suitcase, which was nearly full.


    "I saw youing," Lupin said with a smile, pointing to a piece of parchment on his desk. Harry leaned over and realized it was a Marauder''s Map. The map moved around and eventually returned to its creator.


    Lupin said, "Professor Harp gave it to me a few days ago. He has deciphered its secrets. Sirius and I both believe it belongs to you."


    "For me?" Harry eximed in surprise.


    "You''re just as restless as your father. I dare say that you, Ron, and Hermione will find a good use for this map. If James''s son never discovered any secret passages in the castle, James would be sorely disappointed."


    "But the passages are sealed now..."


    "Only the passage to Hogsmeade," Lupin rified, "The castle has far more passages than that."


    Harry smiled as he picked up the map, looking closely at it for a while. He couldn''t find Professor Harp''s name no matter how he looked. He grinned; Professor Harp had indeed cracked the Marauder''s Map''s secret.


    He absentmindedly slipped the map into his pocket and noticed a corner of a newspaper folded nearby. The recruitment notice on that page caught his attention, and he read it carefully


    ''Future World Wees Your Joining!


    Open to all, regardless of background. Skill-based selection. Those who excel in three out of the six fields: Ancient Runes, Alchemy, Charms, Transfiguration, Magical Theory, and Muggle Studies are invited to apply. Once selected, generouspensation awaitsfifty Galleons per month.


    Ourpany is dedicated to practical magical research, creating a better life for all wizards.


    Join Future World, Join the Future. Awaiting your letter.


    Note: Experience in Muggle-rted matters preferred, as thepany deals extensively with Muggle items.''


    Harry put down the newspaper, hesitatingly asking, "Professor Lupin, are you nning to"


    "Ah, you mean this," Lupin fastened his old suitcase and looked up. "After leaving Hogwarts, I''m not sure what to do yet. I happened toe across this information... I thought, even if I can only work for a few months before getting kicked out, it''s still a decent ie."


    Harry felt sorry for Professor Lupin, not for a sudden surge of emotion, but for the hidden undercurrents beneath the calm surfacea kind of irretrievable, faint sadness, puncturing his heart, one beat after another.


    Professor Lupin had carried the identity of a werewolf throughout his life, never staying in one ce for more than half a year. After leaving Hogwarts, he''d also lose a stable source of Wolfsbane Potion.


    "You''ll definitely seed!" Harry encouraged him loudly.


    Lupin looked surprised for a second or two, then smiled, "No need to worry about me, Harry." He didn''t provide a reason, perhaps because there was no reason to give. He ced the suitcase in a corner, straightened his robes, and said, "Shall we go?"


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 Chapter 317: End of the School Year

    Chapter 317: End of the School Year


    Outside the staff room, Ron waited quietly by the door. As he saw Harry and Lupin, he excitedly waved to them.


    "Harry, Professor Lupin, you finally came!"


    "Where''s Hermione?" Harry asked curiously, looking around. He spotted Hermione''s figure around a corner, whispering with Professor McGonagall.


    Soon, they approached with smiles, walking together into the staff room. The room had been rearrangeda long table now stood where the old ck wooden chairs used to be piled near the firece.


    Fawkes had cast a spell on the ceiling, causing colorful ribbons to hang down. Felix conjured a small white ball that floated up to the ceiling, emitting a gentle light that warmed and brightened the room. Hagrid carried arge bucket of mead, Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall turned the decorations on the table into miniature animals withughter.


    Harry momentarily forgot the sadness of parting and dug into the food. Upon Hagrid''s rmendation, he even tried a small ss of homemade elf-made grape wine. Just as Professor McGonagall shot a reproachful look, Hagrid took his ss away, saying, "You''re still young, Harry..."


    Apart from various piping-hot dishes and sweet puddings, there were also several novel dishes on the table. Ron speared a meatball dripping with sauce and asked curiously, "What''s this? Haven''t seen it before." He put the fork in his mouth and his eyes lit up. "Harry, Hermione, you have to try this!"


    Harry picked up a yellow square that tasted sweet and tangy. "It''s pineapple," he said with certainty.


    "What''s this dish called?"


    A house-elf, wearing a chef''s hat, respectfully answered, "This is Pineapple Sweet and Sour Meat, a recently developed dish. Mr. Hagrid received a cookbook from Professor Snape as a Christmas gift, and it contains many magical recipes."


    Hesitatingly, Hermione said, "Are you a house-elf from the kitchen? Why not join us..."


    The house-elf named Yuenbo stepped back a few paces. "We''ll dine in the kitchen," he bowed, "The dishes are ready, please enjoy." With a loud pop, he disappeared.


    "You scared him, Hermione," Ron chuckled.


    At this point, Professor McGonagall began to inquire about Lupin''s ns after leaving the school. Lupin shared his intention to apply for a job he saw in the newspaper. "I''m qualified in most areas except for Ancient Runes. I''m preparing to submit a resume."


    Professor McGonagall smiled warmly, "Whichpany is it? Maybe I know them and can help you write a rmendation letter."


    Lupin replied gently, "It''s a newpany called ''Future World,'' though I don''t know much about them yet"


    "Future World?" Felix repeated with an odd look. He examined Lupin with a curious gaze, leaving Lupin somewhat puzzled. After a while, Felix raised his ss. "You''ll surely seed, Lupin."


    "Thank you."


    "Cheers!"


    Their goblets clinked.


    ...


    The next morning, Harry got up early and hurriedly dressed. Ron was sound asleep, murmuring something about delicious food, "This is tasty, Harry..."


    Harry put on a robe and stepped out of the bedroom, disturbing Fat Lady''s pleasant dream due to his early exit.


    "Child, it''s finals time now," she said with a weary tone as she rotated to open the passage.


    "I''m not confused, just have something important to do," Harry exined. He descended the spiral staircase, and as he hade out so early, he disturbed the Fat Friar''s good dream too.


    "Morning, Harry," he greeted, yawning.


    Harry gasped for breath and caught up with Lupin, who was carrying a suitcase. "Professor, I''m here to see you off!"


    They strolled across thewn, facing the golden dawn until they reached the front doors of Hogwarts. They chatted like true friends, sharing stories openly. When the time came to part, Harry felt even more reluctant.


    Lupin smiled and said, "I''m slipping away quietly to avoid making the farewell more emotional. Besides, we won''t be apart for long."


    "You mean, for Sirius''s funeral?"


    Lupin nodded. "A worthy man..." With a wave, he departed gracefully.


    Harry watched as he disappeared into the distance along the path before returning to the castle. The time that followed passed quickly. He invested all his energy into the study of ancient magic, to the point that he couldn''t spare time for the Disillusionment Charm. Except for Hermione, some members of the club had learned the spellPercy Weasley, followed closely by Geoffrey and Penelope.


    "They''re all seventh-year students, the advantage is too obvious," Ronmented.


    "Cedric''s also got the hang of it," Harry said sensitively, "I always fall just a bit short."


    "Mate, he''s two years ahead of you. Whypare yourself to him?" Ron asked puzzledly.


    Harry didn''t respond. He also found his thoughts a bit silly, yet he couldn''t help but feelpetitive.


    In the blink of an eye, it was thest day before the holidays. On this day, the school announced the exam results. Harry, Ron, and Hermione passed all their subjects.


    Harry received an ''Exceeds Expectations'' in Defense Against the Dark Arts. He also received ''eptable'' grades in Ancient Runes, Charms, and Care of Magical Creatures. Ron nced at his report card, "I''m just a bit short in Defense Against the Dark Arts, everything else is the same."


    He looked at Hermione''s grades, still struggling with the one ''eptable'' in Defense Against the Dark Arts amidst all the ''Exceeds Expectations''. "Defense Against the Dark Arts... it reminds me of that Boggart you encountered during the exam."


    During the practical exam, Hermione had encountered a tricky Boggart that transformed into a professor telling her she''d failed all her exams and would need to repeat a year. Calming herself down took a considerable amount of time, leading to a ten-minute interruption of the exam.


    Hermione nced at Ron and reminded him, "I''ve mastered the Disillusionment Charm."


    Ron frowned, muttering under his breath, "I''ve seeded twice as well..."


    "Once losing half an eyebrow, and the other time, my robes got shreddedyes, if you consider those as sessful."


    "I should go find Fred and George, their bottoms are going to be bruised by Mum..." Ron said.


    When they entered the Great Hall, they saw Professor Lupin already surrounded by excited students. Percy announced loudly, "All Exceeds Expectations!"


    Jeffrey reminded him, "You forgot Marcus."


    "Alright, there''s one ''eptable''... I''ll try my best to overlook that."


    Felix was stuck in the center of the crowd, taking a while to extricate himself, but it was a happy annoyance. The seventh-year graduates continued to celebrate fervently. Even Snape didn''t take any points from them, which was unimaginable in the past.


    "Severus, I need a stable supply of Wolfsbane Potion."


    "For that werewolf?" Snape said disgustedly. Since the night of the battle on the causeway, he had not mentioned Lupin''s name in conversations with Felix, referring to him as ''that werewolf''.


    "You don''t strike me as one to meddle in others'' business," he remarked.


    Felix sighed, "He would be an excellent employee."


    "Yourpany?" Snape asked, not immediately refusing, but rather considering seriously, "Are you still epting investments?"


    "If it were anyone else, I would decline, but you''re different, Severus."


    "Give me a title, it better be higher than that werewolf''s, and I will personally interview him." Snape pinched his fingers, revealing a sinister smile.


    "Your expression looks terrifying, the little wizard almost dropped his fork."


    Snape nced and said disdainfully, "A foolishd eating pie in my ss. I had him dissect tworge buckets of Bundimun''s guts."


    "Is that so? No wonder he looked familiar..."


    The third-year campus dramaes to an end. Today, there will be two updates.


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 Chapter 318: The Dragon Sanctuary

    Chapter 318: The Dragon Sanctuary


    The next day, the Hogwarts Express left the station, disappearing from Felix''s sight.


    Standing with Dumbledore, he gazed into the distance, his eyes shimmering with a watery light. "Truly moving... empty minds filled with abundant knowledge, enjoying a splendid holiday."


    "Yes, and a backpack full of assignments," Felix said. "Albus, why did you send me to Romania?"


    "Because you''re not any of the four Heads of House, we need to avoid suspicion. This year''s Triwizard Tournament is bigger than ever, with five schools participating," Dumbledore said gently. "It should have been my responsibility, but I''ve been far too busy"


    "Five schools? Besides Durmstrang, which one?"


    "Vague as a doodle, direct from the moonlit mountains of Uagadouthanks to Ugadou''s influence," Dumbledore said. "These past two months have been difficult for him. The Dementor incident damaged his reputation, and parents have been sending letters of condemnation. The newspapers have been relentless in their coverage."


    "Didn''t you say Ugadou was quite skilled"


    "Intriguing?" Dumbledore smiled. "Have you seen the news about Sirius and Wormtail in the papers? Including Sirius''s final message?"


    "He did it on purpose?" Felix asked in astonishment, having only seen a small notice about the Dementor incident in the newspapers a long time ago, which didn''t really cause much of a stir.


    "I believe it was a calcted move... the Dementor incident was something all students witnessed, but few know the full history behind it. To Ugadou, perhaps Sirius''s case was more sensitive," Dumbledore said. "An untried hero imprisoned for twelve years, while a traitor enjoys the First ss Order of Merlin and livesfortably... even though these events didn''t ur during his tenure, the public doesn''t care much about that. And besidesit involves Voldemort."


    Felix nodded, understanding Ugadou''s strategy: since the Dementor incident was already out in the open, they would let it be, especially with Umbridge as a scapegoat. But when it came to wrongful convictions, falsehoods, and Voldemort, they had to keep the public in the dark.


    "I suppose he''s pinning all his hopes on those two events, the Quidditch World Cup and the Triwizard Tournament."


    Dumbledore agreed, saying, "Distract from the pallor with splendorthat''s Ugadou''s specialty. So, he wants to involve more schools, expand his influence. In fact, he extended invitations to ten magical schools, but received few responses."


    ...


    Felix found himself in the midst of a mountain range. This was the Carpathian Mountains, also known as the "Backbone of Romania," and nestled within was the Romanian Dragon Sanctuary.


    Although dragon reserves existed around the world, the Romanian Dragon Sanctuary was the most unique. Here, the dragons were in a semi-wild state, with over a hundred professionals from around the world working, including dragon tamers, breeders, and dragon research experts.


    Here, one could find almost all known species of dragons in the world.


    Felix watched as seven or eight wizards surrounded a Romanian Longhorn Dragon. Half of its wing was torn open, bloodied. The dragon tamers were trying to calm it down.


    He descended the slope, observing the dragon up close. It had deep green scales and sparkling golden horns, its eyes alert and irritable, stamping its feet anxiously.


    "Rxwe mean no harm, you need healing," a wizard yelled. Hispanions stood watch, wands trained on the dragon, especially after their previous failed attempt. The dragon was probably in no mood for more trouble.


    The Longhorn Dragon pped its half-wounded wing, emitting a few sparks from its nostrils.


    "Watch out, it''s about to breathe fireCharlie, use the Stunning Spell!" another wizard shouted.


    Charlie, the dragon tamer, yelled, "Wait for the right moment, when its belly is exposed, we''llnow!"


    "Stupefy!" they all yelled in unison, Stunning Spells rocketing onto the dragon''s thick skin. Its hind legs buckled, wisps of smoke rising from its nostrils. It lowered its head in bewilderment, then slowly copsed.


    "Well done!"


    A middle-aged wizard patted Charlie''s shoulder, pleased. "I can trust you to lead a team on your own." Hispanions gathered around. Their skin, rough and weathered from years of outdoor life, had turned a deep shade of brown, bearing the marks of wind and frost.


    "He''s the one," Felix thought, Charlie Weasley, two years his junior, remarkably talented in Quidditch, once the captain of the Gryffindor team and a Triwizard Cup winner.


    But back when Felix was in school, he hadn''t cared about Quidditch, so he hadn''t recognized him. He couldn''t even remember who the Slytherin captain was at the time.


    Moreover, Charlie Weasley was quite different from Felix''s memory. Although he still had that gentlemanly broad face and the Weasley family''s characteristic freckles, his skin hadn''t been this dark when they were in school, and his arms hadn''t borne the shiny, burn-scarred scars from fire.


    Felix stood quietly to the side, startling the others. They had been focused on the dragon, not noticing the sudden appearance of another person.


    "Who are you? Don''t you know this ce is dangerous? And you''re standing so close?" The middle-aged wizard frowned, sizing up the young man in front of him. Felix''s face was perplexing, making him think he was a reckless fellow driven by excessive curiosity.


    Such individuals appeared every year, often fresh out of school, traveling around various ces. The dragon sanctuary was an enticing choice for them.


    "Felix Harp, the Ancient Runes professor at Hogwarts," Felix said casually, "representing Headmaster Albus Dumbledore to review the alternative tasks for the Triwizard Tournament."


    The middle-aged wizard looked at him skeptically. Were professors this young nowadays?


    "Captain!" Charlie Weasley stepped forward. "I know him. Let me take care of him."


    "He''s really a professor?" After receiving confirmation, the captain waved his hand. "Very well, if you''re friends, then I''ll leave him in your hands. Everyone else, let''s cast the Levitation Charm and move the dragon."


    Charlie looked earnestly at Felix. "The captain means no harm. He''s a good person."


    Felix chuckled softly. "Charlie Weasley, I''m curious about what image you have of me."


    Charlie didn''t reply. What image? Of course, it was the shadow of a generation. As a true Gryffindor, he had found it quite satisfying to watch Felix put Slytherin students in their ce during their school days.


    This led to Felix having a favorable reputation among the other three houses back then, but his aggressive nature was also acknowledged, causing people to keep their distance out of respect.


    "Our camp is over there. I''ll take you there," Charlie pointed down the mountain. "By a stream, where the tents are."


    Along the way, Charlie introduced him to the surroundings. "The Carpathian Mountains are vast, covering forty percent of this country''snd. Besides forests, there are rocky beaches, swamps, and caves..."


    "Wouldn''t the dragons start forest fires?" Felix asked with interest.


    "That''s quite rare. They don''t rely on breathing fire to hunt. For instance, that Romanian Longhorn Dragon from earlier prefers using its horns to kill prey and then brings it back to the nest on the mountain to roast it with fire," Charlie said. "They only use fire-breathing attacks or intimidation when they encounter agile opponents or during inter-dragon conflicts. And usually, the victor will extinguish the mes afterward."


    He said emotionally, "This is their home." Both of them looked up as a silver-blue dragon flew across the sky.


    Charlie led Felix to a tent area. It was clear that he had a good rapport with others, as many people greeted him when he arrived, and he responded to each one.


    "We need to register here. How long do you n to stay?" Charlie took out a notebook.


    Felix thought for a moment. "Maybe two or three days. I''m quite interested in this ce."


    Charlie frowned. "I thought it''d be half a day... I need to request permission from the captain. Please wait." He hurried away, and it took a while for him to return, his face marked with confusion. "They''ve gone out again. In the meantime, I''ll show you around the vicinity."


    As night fell, on the other side


    Harry, Ron, and Hermione disembarked from the train, walking out of King''s Cross Station together. Harry''s mood wasn''t particrly good; even though he now had a godfather, he still had to return to the Dursleys as requested by Dumbledore, something he couldn''t refuse.


    It had also been some time since he''dst seen Sirius. If Harry hadn''t received a letter on the train, he might have thought Sirius had forgotten he still had a godson.


    Mrs. Weasley embraced him warmly and invited him to watch the Quidditch World Cup with them. This improved Harry''s mood somewhat, but as they parted ways and he walked alone towards Uncle Vernon, pushing his luggage, his mood turned gloomy again.


    Two whole months...


    Uncle Vernon greeted him in his usual manner. "What''s that?" he roared, staring at the envelope Harry was still clutching. "If it''s another form for me to sign, you better"


    "It''s not a form," Harry said, his face serious. "It''s a letter from my godfather."


    "Godfather?" Uncle Vernon spewed, "You don''t have a godfather!"


    "No, I do," Harry said, his mood magically improving. "He was my mum and dad''s best friend, a convicted murderer, but he escaped from Azkaban. This is from him. I can show you the name on the letter..."


    Uncle Vernon''s face twitched, and his small eyes filled with fear.


    Harry continued to enthusiastically weave his tale about Sirius, trying to negotiate some benefits for his long summer break. "Sirius ck, he''s been on TV before. He''s still on the run, not caught yet. But he''s willing to keep in touch with me to make sure I''m having a fast, fast"


    Harry''s eyes widened. Looking past Uncle Vernon, who was as wide as a wall, in a corner of the station, not far from them, was a man dressed in hippie attire, leaning against the wall. The man wore a pointed hat that covered half of his face, with a smile that was more of a smirk.


    The man tipped his hat, revealing Sirius ck''s radiant smile. "Harry, you''re breaking my heart with that," he said.


    "Sirius!" Harry shouted with delight.


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 Chapter 319: Protection

    Chapter 319: Protection


    Uncle Vernon was driving in the front seat, his face turning a shade of purple. His small eyes stole nces at Harry and Sirius in the back seat using the rearview mirror.


    Harry could hardly believe his luck. Despite being caught lying by his godfather, he was overwhelmed with happiness. The minutes leading up to leaving the train had been filled with anxiety about spending a miserable six weeks with the Dursleys. He could already envision the days ahead  enduring res for a couple of days, then sneaking downstairs to work on his summer assignments in the dead of night, opening the cupboard under the stairs to retrieve his belongings.


    Then there would be the endless countdown of days, hoping the Weasleys would rescue him from this misery. Perhaps there''d be letters from Ron, Hermione, Dobby, and Sirius  he was most certain about those  at least a birthday card, if nothing else. He even started to consider the logistics: the Dursleys were in Surrey, the Burrow in Devon, Hermione was in London, and if the Grangers weren''t off on vacation, maybe they could all meet during the summer...


    Sirius''s words cut through Harry''s reverie: "I''ve got a birthday present for you, something you''ll love."


    "What is it?"


    "I can''t tell you, I''ve held onto this secret for a long time. But I can tell you it''s something truly remarkable, something James would have loved..."


    Uncle Vernon turned a corner, his grip on the steering wheel tense. His mind was racing with various thoughts: a wizarding hippie who looked pretty much the same as he did fifteen years ago, perhaps even worse. Could he be nning to stay at his house?


    Vernon wasn''t one for helping impoverished rtives, especially not a convicted murderer. Even if he wasn''t, he had a stint in prison, didn''t he?


    BANG!


    The car suddenly had a t tire, causing a loud bang. The upants inside were thrown to the side due to the force. "Careful, Harry!" "Ouch!" "Damn it!"


    Uncle Vernon mmed on the brakes, and the three intact tires screeched to a halt, sparking against the road. The car came to a stop. Uncle Vernon''s patience reached its limit as he vented his frustration with a string of profanities, spittle flying. Harry stared at him, dumbfounded. His mind seemed to be smoking by this point; perhaps the next couple of days would see him quiet down from overuse?


    It wasn''t until Sirius, his face darkened, said, "If you don''t shut up, I''ll stick your mouth shut," that Uncle Vernon finally fell silent. However, after a pause of two or three seconds, he muttered under his breath, "You''re not a murderer, you said it yourself."


    "You don''t need to remind me! Would you like a taste of what I learned in Azkaban?" Sirius roared, but his threat didn''t have the desired effect on Uncle Vernon, who had no idea where that was. Harry whispered to remind him it was a wizarding prison, causing Uncle Vernon''s carrot-like fingers to tremble. He finally fell quiet.


    Uncle Vernon struggled to open the car door and got out. Unable to squat down due to his size, he had to lie on the ground and grumbled, "Front tire blown, halfway from home, calling for a tow truck will cost a fortune... Everything''s going wrong..."


    Sirius stepped out of the car, his hippie attire attracting curious looks. Uncle Vernon muttered under his breath to him, "Can''t you just sit quietly? I''ll call for a tow truck. In case someone asks you..."


    Sirius drew his wand from his jeans and used Uncle Vernon''s hefty frame as cover. "Excuse me, could you block for me?" A faint light shed, and the car tire was immediately restored.


    Uncle Vernon stared at everything in astonishment, wiping his eyes in disbelief. He shouted, "Magic!" The first two sybles were so loud, like a lit firecracker, but he quickly noticed the anomaly. His small eyes scanned around rapidly, and the sound got swallowed.


    "Do you think I''ll be grateful to you? Freak, maggot from the gutter! Just like a little monster"


    Sirius directed his wand toward Uncle Vernon''s triple chin and coldly said, "I can already imagine how you''ve treated Harry."


    The rest of the journey was silent. It continued that way until they were about to enter Privet Drive. Suddenly, a thought urred to Uncle Vernon: how could he discreetly bring this trouble into his home?


    Harry thought they were hardly moving at all, he could walk faster than this. The car was crawling along.


    Sirius also realized his unwee status, perhaps he''d known from the start, but he wanted to see how Harry was doing. Suppressing his temper, he held back, though he was on the brink of eruption.


    "Stop the car," Sirius said. The car immediately came to a halt.


    He handed Harry a mirror. "This is a two-way mirror, there are two in total. I have one with me. If you ever want to reach me, just call my name into it, and you''ll appear in my mirror, and I can appear in yours to talk to you. Back when James and I weren''t together, we used this to stay in touch."


    He nced at Uncle Vernon. "You''re not nning to interfere, are you?"


    "Of course... not."


    Harry took the mirror, examining it from side to side. It bore some resemnce to the twin''s Pairing Mirror that George and Fred sold, which he considered buying to give to some friends. But the twins refused to take his money, making him a bit ufortable about taking more.


    Harry whispered, "Are you leaving?"


    "Yes, I know this ce. Number 4, Privet Drive." Sirius said, Uncle Vernon shivered at the mention. Sirius continued, "Dumbledore told me that your uncle''s house is enchanted, to protect you from prying eyes..."


    He turned to Uncle Vernon, his tone icy. "This is for your protection too, you should be aware of that."


    "Enchanted? What have you done to my house?"


    Sirius said, "Dumbledore didn''t go into specifics, but I guess it''s some kind of strong protective spell. Maybe simr to the Fidelius Charm? I''m not sure..." He hurriedly changed the subject.


    Sirius lied. He had engaged in a heated argument with Dumbledore about Harry''s guardianship, and to calm him down, Dumbledore had revealed more insider information.


    There were twoyers of protection on Harry, one of them from his mother.


    It was an ancient magic, requiring an incredibly long preparation time. It belonged to the same category of magic that powerful curses did, tapping into the power of love, only it was even more difficult. It involved turning one''s overflowing love into a protective force, something Lily Evans had done for her unborn child.


    But this was only the first step of this magic. The blood connection formed as a bond for the spell, and while not rare in the magical world, what was truly rare was the subsequent aspect of this ancient magic. By willingly offering the blood of a rtive who cast the spell, its power could be greatly amplified. Any malicious spells would be automatically repelled.


    "This magic protected Harry once, and it was meant to expire then. I extended its effects. At that time, I had a choice: to protect a group or an individual? What was there to hesitate about? Even though Voldemort had vanished, yes, I admit he was only gone, for five years, ten years, twenty... He would return, and I needed to make a decision by then. While others celebrated their hard-earned victory, I was already contemting Voldemort''s return.


    So I naturally made the choice, the most powerful protection I could offer Harry. As long as he still calls the ce where he has the same blood as his mother ''home,'' he won''t be harmed by Voldemort."


    "For this reason, he needs to return there at least once a year, for a while."


    The secondyer of protection came from Dumbledore. He usedyered magic to conceal Number 4, Privet Drive. But it couldn''t bepletely sealed off. He set a condition: anyone from the magical world with malicious intentions wouldn''t find it. Even if the address got leaked, they could only pinpoint a nearby area. Like headless flies, they would blunder about, but long before that, Dumbledore would be alerted.


    This was to prevent any lingering Death Eaters from seeking revenge. It was both protection for Harry and the Dursley family.


    "I left this information in Harry''s crib, exining everything. Once I was sure they had epted Harry, I left with a heart full of hope for the future. I knew the Dursleys weren''t the friendliest, but that''s what I needed then. I didn''t want Harry to grow up in an overly pampered environment or be blinded by the fame he couldn''t remember."


    "Sirius, I hope you fulfill your role as godfather, bringing more love to Harry. But at the same time, you must be cautious..."


    ...


    Sirius left, telling a disgruntled Harry before he departed, "I''m thinking of renting a nearby ce, you cane over anytime. You can do anything you want except stay overnight!"


    This chapter turned out to be unexpectedly difficult. Originally, I nned to write about Sirius and the Dursleys having dinner with some interesting events in between, but no matter how I thought about it, it just wouldn''t connect with the word "interesting."


    As for Dumbledore''s exnation to Sirius, it was necessary because, unlike in the original text, Sirius is no longer a fugitive. He has more rights to take care of Harry than the Dursleys do.


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 Chapter 320: Hungarian Horntail and the Contract Transfer

    Chapter 320: Hungarian Horntail and the Contract Transfer


    "The Hungarian Horntail Reserve doesn''t always offer a view of Hungarian Horntails. They have a strong sense of territory," Charlie exined. "But we do bring injured Horntails back to the camp for treatment."


    Felix followed him to a fenced area within the camp. There, several Hungarian Horntails were bound by chains and fire-resistant materials. When they saw someone approaching, they restlessly tossed their heads. Among them, a ck dragon with a injured leg half-closed its eyes, observing them.


    "This is the Hungarian Horntail, highly dangerous. To capture it, we had a team of twelve. Breathing fire is their usual means of attackbest to keep a distance," Charlie said. "I''ve seen them breathe fire up to forty feet away."


    Felix''s gaze swept over the ck scales of the dragon. It looked like a lizard with bat-like wings attached. Its skull bore sharp ridges, like spears, extending all the way to its tail. Whether it was the bronze horns, the row of spikes on its back, or the hooked and powerful ws, all indicated this creature was not to be trifled with. Even the tips of its wings were sharp hooks.


    Among the dragons present, it was thergest, even twice the size of the smallest one. The other dragons held a respectful distance around it.


    After observing for a while, Felix inquired, "If all goes well, the first task of the Triwizard Tournament will involve dragons. Do you have any ns?"


    Charlie thought for a moment, then said seriously, "We''ve prepared five dragons, each representing one of the five schools: the Welsh Green, the Norwegian Ridgeback, the Antipodean Opaleye, the Swedish Short-Snout, and the Chinese Fireball."


    "Only these five?"


    "You''re looking for dragons that are nesting mothers, which is hard to find. I don''t quite understand why..."


    Felix guessed, "Perhaps it''s to let the champions steal the mother dragon''s eggs?"


    Charlie looked somewhat uneasy. "Don''t joke about it. They are already dangerous, and nesting mothers are a whole new level of danger. See the scar on my arm? Left by a mother dragon rearing her young."


    "We excluded the particrly dangerous Peruvian Vipertooth and a massive Hungarian Horntail. The former has venomous fangs, and thetter is considered the most dangerous dragon."


    Felix nodded. "Maybe we just need to pass by the dragons."


    As evening neared, Felix and Charlie discussed the details of dragon cement inside a tent. "Hogwarts can clear an area in the Forbidden Forest, and the kitchen can provide food. However, we don''t know much about dragon behavior, so we''ll need your experts to care for them."


    "No problem, that was our n anyway," Charlie readily agreed. "During transport, we''ll assign extra personnel to ensure safe arrival."


    "You''ll lead the team?"


    "I''ll do my best. It''s a rare event."


    "Charlie," a wizard entered the tent, a middle-aged captain whom Felix had seen once before. "I heard the young professor wants to stay a few more days. There''s an agreement for him to sign."


    Seeing Felix, the captain paused. "You''re here too, good. This is for you."


    Felix took the parchment, somewhat surprised. "A secrecy contract?"


    "Exactly. For fairness'' sake," the wizard shrugged. "While cheating has always been a tradition in the Triwizard Tournament, at least some surface work needs to be done. Our Minister is begging them."


    Felix carefully examined the content. "The contents are nothing unusual, except for not revealing dragon secrets." Felix brushed his fingers over the parchment, feeling the magic imprinted on it. "This contract seems to have monitoring properties."


    The middle-aged wizard exined, "Provided by the Ministry of Magic, we''re just following orders. ording to them, when the signer of the contract mentions dragons or simr words, they''ll be notified."


    Felix didn''t say much and quickly signed his name. Though he didn''t intend to follow the rules set by the Ministry of Magic, there was no need to make things difficult for these people.


    Charlie appeared relieved. He hadn''t been this nervous even facing dragons. Thankfully, Felix agreed.


    In the evening, torches were lit in the camp. The ck shadows of hills and trees stretched long. Felix spent the night in his tent without any incidents. Come morning, he walked through the dew-kissed woods to the enclosed area behind the camp.


    The Hungarian Horntail with the injured leg was the first to notice him. It restlessly snorted, emitting a low growl. Not far away, a Welsh Green dragon raised its head for a moment, then lowered it back to sleep.


    "Quiet."


    Felix said, his eyes turning silvery-white. The Hungarian Horntail angrily lifted its body, ring at him with fierce yellow eyes. Then, its gaze seemed to flicker for a moment. It shook its head. Other than the wizard getting closer, it didn''t sense anything unusual.


    Unbeknownst to it, Felix had already pulled it into the realm of his thoughts. Unlike other applications, he had crafted an environment identical to the outside world and seamlessly connected the two.


    The dragon was clueless about this; its nostrils started emitting sparksdangerous sign, indicating an impending attack. But the wizard had arrived beside it, tilting his head to examine its metallic-like ws.


    "Boom!"


    The Hungarian Horntail spewed thick mes, engulfing Felix. He seemed to melt without any resistance. The dragon snorted triumphantly and lowered its head.


    The next second, it noticed Felix standing right where he was, as if he hadn''t moved at all.


    Its intelligence was limited, and it couldn''tprehend this behavior at all. It only grew angrier, exhaling another burst of mes. This time, the fire was fiercer andsted longer. The Hungarian Horntail was convinced that the arrogant wizard had been reduced to ashes. It even saw a scattering of ck dust.


    Yet, in the blink of an eye, Felix stood unharmed before it, even reaching out to touch its w.


    "Swoosh!"


    A w, glinting with an icy sheen, sliced through Felix''s body, cutting him into pieces. "Mmm, that''s rather gruesome," Felix remarked. As though unbothered, he pushed away the dragon''s w.


    For a brief moment, Felix was certain he saw bewilderment in the Hungarian Horntail''s eyes. Despite being the aggressor, it was evidently confronted with something beyond its understanding.


    "Stay still, I''m figuring out how to transfer the contract to you..." Felix leaned down, tapping the dragon''s ck scales, "It''s quite an interesting experiment, isn''t it?"


    Unlike the unbreakable vow and the Ministry''s contract, he had no way with the former, but he could maneuver around thetter. That''s why he willingly signed it.


    The Ministry''s contract operated on specific keywords. The problem was, he wasn''t sure if there were hidden uses, which introduced significant uncertainty. During the summer break, he''d spent most of his time wandering Nics mel''s hidden library. He didn''t want to expose those ces. Furthermore, some of his nned trips were sensitive: the ck market, Beauxbatons Academy, for instance.


    An interesting fact was that, based on his connections, he was closer to Beauxbatons, given that he was a trustee of the school.


    For safety''s sake, he decided to transfer the contract. He had considered using just any deer or rabbit as a substitute, but that would pose an issue. What if the rabbit got eaten? His status in the Ministry would then be marked as deceased.


    Fortunately, the dragon reserve had no shortage of dragons. This particrly fierce Hungarian Horntail was his chosen target.


    The dragon was futilely attacking, breathing fire, swiping its ws, thrashing its tail, biting. But Felix kept recovering in the next second, methodically checking. In just a few minutes, Felix had endured hundreds of fatal attacks.


    Eventually, the vicious Hungarian Horntail panted, looking at him without options. It was utterly helpless. Dejectedly, it lowered its head, slumping onto the ground, hot puffs of air emanating from its nostrils.


    "Excuse me, just turn around." Felix told it.


    The Hungarian Horntail stared at him with its vertical yellow pupils for a good while, then slowly exposed its belly. As it turned, its eyes seemed to blur, as if its sight experienced a subtle shift. But the awful and persistent wizard was still there, prodding it with his wand, urging it to hurry.


    Then, Felix followed the path of opened ck scales on the dragon''s body, walking up to its back and standing there.


    "The scales beneath its neck are quite good, and the magical radiance is strong enough."


    ...


    Charlie emerged from his tent, unable to find Felix. Subconsciously, he went to the back of the camp and was taken aback by the scene before him. The fierce Hungarian Horntailzily opened its mouth, emitting a thin trail of mes.


    "Don''t be hasty, needs anotheryer of oil." Felix patted its reaching mouth, flipping the meat on the grill, "I have a secret sauce. Want some?"


    The Hungarian Horntail nodded eagerly.


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 Chapter 321: A Sniffing Encounter

    Chapter 321: A Sniffing Encounter


    When Felix extended an invitation to Charlie, Charlie''s adventurous nature kicked in. Without much hesitation, he dly epted the proposal.


    "You''re as heartless as Norbert, you know that?" Charlie stretched out his rugged hand and patted the spines atop the Hungarian Horntail. The dragon rolled its eyes, unperturbed by his usation.


    Charlie took over Felix''s work, applyingyers of sauce. "In my experience, brushing in one direction"


    "Will make it more vorful?" Felix inquired.


    "No, it''ll make it more visually appealing," Charlie chuckled. "Like melted amber. Alright"


    The two sliced a tenth of the roasted meat, and the rest vanished into the belly of the Hungarian Horntail. "Charlie''s tent-brewed wine to the rescue!" Charlie shouted, as two jugs of wine flew in like projectiles. He said to Felix, "Our homemade wine, made from local fruits you can''t find anywhere else."


    Felix shared some school anecdotes, especially about Hagrid and Ron. As he mentioned them, Charlie became even more rxed, asionally bursting into heartyughter. He enthusiastically said, "Hagrid and I got along well during my school days. We both had an interest in dragons. He kept talking about wanting to own a dragon, and he managed to do it in the first year after I left."


    "You mentioned Norbert earlier?"


    "Yeah, a Norwegian Ridgeback dragon not even three years old. We released it back into the wild." Charlie grinned, "These dragons grow fastest in the first few months after birth, and their ability to breathe fire as hatchlings develops early. Hagrid quickly realized it was a troublesome burden to keep it, so he asked me to take Norbert away."


    "We got quite friendly with Norbert. It often came for food and then left after eating." Charlie said, "We wonder if it''lle back with its own offspring someday."


    "It also has a habit of sneaking drinks of firewhisky from the camp. That''s the captain''s favorite. He pretends to be annoyed, but secretly he doesn''t mind. We have an alert system in ce."


    "Firewhisky? You mean Hagrid"


    "Exactly, Hagrid''s a bad influence." Charlie chuckled softly, "I guess he read some odd trick in a book, thinking firewhisky would enhance its fire-breathing abilities."


    ...


    Felix spent another two days in the dragon reserve. On the day of departure, he finally met Norbert, the famous Norwegian Ridgeback dragon of the camp. It was merely twelve or thirteen feet long, quite smallpared to adult dragons.


    Norbert resembled the Hungarian Horntail in some ways, with lizard-like bodies andrge wings. However, their tails were smooth. The young dragon named Norbert had a white snout, prominent orange eyes, and its ck, spiky wings pped incessantly.


    The camp''s inhabitants prepared a sheep and a cask of firewhisky for it. The captain with his dark skin watched Norbert drink all the firewhisky with a sorrowful expression. The dragon let out a loud belch and spat out a few sparkling sparks.


    Afterward, Norbert let out a cheerful roar towards the crowd, grabbed the sheep, and flew away.


    "Cunning creature," grumbled the middle-aged captain.


    At the appropriate time, Felix bid his farewell and Disapparated. Over the next week, he dedicated his time to visiting friends. Some were nned visits, like the Lestrange couple, while others were more spontaneous, like Newt Scamander.


    Returning from Newt''s ce, Felix had a newpanion with hima baby Snidget.


    Newt had always intended to release these magical creatures regrly. When Felix arrived, Newt was about to release three Snidgets, which Felix recognized from his time at the MinistryValen, Sal, and Sop.


    "I suggest you choose just one. Their destructive power increases dramatically with their numbers." Newt advised.


    "Valen it is. I remember it cursed at me." Felix chuckled.


    The lively Snidget wiggled its rear end excitedly, snatching shiny gold coins from its two siblings. Upon hearing Felix''s words, it froze in ce.


    Newt and Felix seemed to hear the faint creaking of its neck as it turned its head, and the Snidget Valen gazed at them innocently.


    "Mr. Harp..."


    "I''m joking. I''ll take good care of it."


    Newt shook his head, watching as Felix used a feathered quill to conjure a pearl ne and deceive Valen with it. He wasn''t entirely sure if he''d made the right choice.


    However, he still produced a silver pocket watch and handed it to Felix. "You''ve seen it at the Ministry. To activate, gently flick it open. It''s about the size of a ssroom, which Valen will enjoy."


    ...


    At this moment, Felix was reading in a secret book cache belonging to Nics mel. Valen the Snidget was lying on the carpet, its tiny hands incessantly scribbling, attempting to stuff the shiny magical runes before it into its pocket.


    After about a week had passed, Felix found a way to interact with the little creature. He would cast a sturdy locking charm in the room and then release the magical runes from the Thought Chamber for Valen to y with.


    He had also created an intricate dream a mountain of Galleons stored within his Order of Merlin, Second ss, now one of Valen''s prized possessions. Another treasure was a defunct Time-Turner.


    It had been previously concealed in an old box, unearthed by Valen. Inside, there was a note left by Nics mel detailing its origin, narrating its story.


    This thoroughly damaged Time-Turner had been acquired by Nics mel at great cost three centuries ago. It was said to have been confiscated by the British Ministry of Magic as contraband. Its former owner had misused it, getting trapped in a temporal rift and starving to death, her plight undetected by anyone.


    She had written down the ount in her own blood. Eventually, the Ministry found the Time-Turner, which was also confiscated. Somehow, it circted and was purchased by Nics mel.


    He had conducted extensive research on the Time-Turner, trying to repair it, but ultimately failed. He did, however, leave behind extensive records about temporal magic.


    Felix, skeptical, had repeatedly attempted to use it but found it truly broken. It was now merely an hourss-shaped decorative piece. In the end, it became one of Valen''s collectibles.


    July 16th, Saturday.


    The sky was overcast. Felix was dressed in ck formal attire. He removed the emerald ring from his left hand and the Serpent-Ring from his right, tucking them into his pocket. Valen, too, was ced inside a silver pocket watch, kept close.


    Today marked the funeral of Sirius ck''s brother, Regulus. Felix finished his preparations and stepped out.


    Raindrops began to fall as Felix, wearing his man-shaped armor, arrived at the funeral site. Many people were already there, dressed in ck robes or formal wear. Among the adults, a few children stood outRon Weasley with his red hair, Harry Potter with his ck hair, and Draco Malfoy with his tinum blond hair.


    He also spotted several familiar facesTonks, Barty Crouch, the Malfoy couple, the Lestrange couple, the Longbottoms, and others.


    Furthermore, there were a few people seated together who wore uneasy expressions when Felix approached.


    Felix offered a smile. He saw Parkinson''s face, tinged with a purplish shade of beetroot, a peculiar hue on his features.


    "All acquaintances, I see."


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 Chapter 322: Lucius Malfoy

    Chapter 322: Lucius Malfoy


    Felix cast his gaze around the room. Some people smiled in greeting, others eyed him warily, and a few averted their eyes as if they hadn''t noticed his presence.


    "Felix! I''ve been eagerly awaiting your arrival," Sirius strode over, embracing Felix in a tight hug. He whispered, "Thank goodness, I was starting to think I had identally infiltrated the Death Eater camp."


    Felix smiled softly and replied, "You''re the one who invited me, aren''t you?"


    Sirius sighed, "It''s all family ties, written on the family tree, can''t be helped... Frank and Alice are quite ufortable too." He released Felix and Harry, Ron, and Draco approached.


    "Professor." "Professor Harp." "Hello, Professor Harp," they each greeted.


    Felix nodded at them, and Draco gave a fleeting nce at the other two before softly saying, "Professor, my father would like to speak with you privately..." Harry and Ron''s eyes widened immediately, reacting as if they had caught a glimpse of a cat near a mouse hole.


    "Now?" Felix looked surprised in the direction of the Malfoy couple. Lucius Malfoy had Narcissa in his arms, his other hand gripping a serpent-headed wand, engaged in an animated conversation with Mr. Crouch. Crouch had an unyielding expression, meticulous and sparing in words, mostly listening with asional responses of "Indeed," "I agree," "Perhaps there''s a better way."


    In the midst of conversation, Lucius turned his gaze toward them, aposed smile on his lips. "Please pardon the interruption, Mr. Crouch," he walked over, shifting his wand to his left hand, and extended his right hand, "Greetings, Mr. Harp. I''ve been looking forward to officially meeting you."


    "Mr. Malfoy"


    "Call me Lucius, and I''ll call you Felix. My rtionship with Severus is quite close." Lucius Malfoy said as their hands shook. "I was his prefect when he started at Hogwarts." His gray eyes fixed on Felix.


    "Very well, Lucius. Are you interested in discussing your son''s performance at school?"


    "It''s actually... a private matter," Lucius said.


    "Alright then," Felix nodded, "This way"


    The two of them went to a secluded spot, behind an oak tree, with half of Lucius'' face in shadow. In the distance, Harry and Ron unabashedly craned their necks to peek, and Ron said to Draco, "What conspiracy are you two up to?"


    Draco looked at him disdainfully. Ron''s robes looked like a modified old suit, the edges of the cuffs were faded, and the color wasn''t a pure ck. "If I were you, I''d be embarrassed to be seen in those robes  Ronniekins," he drawled.


    Ron was shaking with anger, and Harry quickly held him back. Today was Regulus'' funeral, and he didn''t want them to fight here. Harry stood between Ron and Draco, intending to mock Draco Malfoy a bit, but a surprised voice behind Draco made him freeze.


    "Draco, you just, just" Narcissa hesitated as she looked at him, her gaze shifting between her son and Ron, an expression like she had stumbled upon a monumental secret, her blue eyes wide.


    "Mother! It''s not what you''re thinking" Draco hurriedly exined. The nickname he used was just mocking, nothing more.


    "Draco Malfoy,e with me," Narcissa straightened her clothes, her face stern.


    Draco opened his mouth but followed his mother with a dejected look.


    Harry and Ron exchanged looks, and after a moment, Ron suddenly shivered. His face twisted, "She wouldn''t have thoughtugh, so disgusting!" Harry suppressed augh and said, "At least Malfoy won''t call you that anymore."


    They peeked around therge oak tree where Professor Harp and Lucius Malfoy were talking, guessing what they might be discussing. But the truth was, they were circling around the topic on the outskirts.


    "... I''ve written to Dumbledore, expressing my concerns. Muggles and wizards are two parallel worlds. Unfortunately, stories like ''The Fountain of Good Fortune'' that encourage unions between wizards and Muggles are still circting," Lucius struck a sanctimonious pose.


    He whispered, "I don''t want my son to be influenced by such stories and tarnish his pure bloodline. As a father, I''ve been trembling with fear, trying to shield him from the distractions of theplicated world outside... But suddenly, I found that someone''s influence on Draco surpassed mine, as a father. It was his first time contradicting me. Using the content from aic book."


    Felix smiled and said, "People grow, and they don''t always follow in their parents'' footsteps. As a professor, winning the affection of students is quite an aplishment."


    "But don''t you think you''re being too lenient?" Lucius Malfoy said coldly.


    "What do you mean, Christmas gifts, or something else?"


    "Forgive my candor, Felix, but you''re Severus''s prized pupil, and naturally, we''re on the same side," Lucius said, his gray eyes narrowing slightly. "I have some shallow, inconsequential reputation within the pure-blood circles. We''re not closed-minded, and we equally wee fresh blood."


    "Lucius, you must have heard about the things I''ve done..." Felix said, feeling that their conversation was finally getting to the point.


    "Threatening some foolish, short-sighted idiots?" Lucius said. "They don''t hinder us from forming a friendship. You and the Malfoy family have never shed."


    "I have Muggle-born rtives..."


    "As long as it doesn''t affect Draco."


    "Some pure-bloods would strongly oppose..."


    "I will mediate."


    "I''m half-Muggle..."


    "To be precise, you''re an orphan from a Muggle orphanage," Lucius said cunningly. "Based on the talent you''ve shown, we have reason to believe your bloodline is quite pure. If you''re willing, I can arrange for a ''satisfactory'' investigation and grant you justice."


    Felix chuckled; he understood Lucius''s intentions. Lucius might represent a faction that, as Felix''s presence and influence grew, felt unsettled and were attempting to send friendly signals. If they could pull him to their side, it would be an excellent choice.


    He believed that with a word from him, the families that had offended him would silently decline, and thepany he hadn''t even started yet would experience rapid growth with the support of hidden forces. Perhaps, a few years or even decadester, after his time at Hogwarts, he could freely choose between the positions of Hogwarts Headmaster and Minister of Magic.


    Seeing Felix seeming to hesitate, Lucius warned in a feigned tone, "The past shouldn''t be an obstruction. We should look ahead, don''t you think?"


    "There''s just one question"


    "What?"


    "There''s just one question, Lucius," Felix looked into his gray eyes, saying, "You reminded me to look forward... but I see more, farther than you anticipate"


    Lucius furrowed his brow.


    "Can you perform the lumency?" Felix suddenly changed the topic.


    Lucius wore a puzzled expression, and Felix concluded with advice, "Learning a bit more wouldn''t hurt; you might find it useful. Perhaps we have a chance to cooperate."


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 Chapter 323: Proclamation

    Chapter 323: Promation


    The number of attendees continued to increase. It wasn''t just the rtives of the ck family present, but also some officials from the Ministry of Magic. Felix''s friends were there as well. He even spotted the figure of Rita Skeeter discreetly standing to the side. Ever since her Animagus revtion, she had be one of the most unwee journalists.


    Sirius wasn''t very familiar with this woman, and he probably didn''t know these details. But Harry was quietly reminding him.


    The funeral ceremony began formally.


    Lush green grass surrounded the coffin of Regulus. It was adorned with flowers, and hey peacefully inside, his sharply defined face serene, as if in deep slumber. He wore a dark green robe embroidered with the crest of the ck family. One corner of the coffin bore the motto of the ck family written in French: "Toujours Pur"  Always Pure.


    Sirius looked at the solemn faces below the dais, knowing that today was going to be a tough battle, even though he might not be the main yer. He took a deep breath and began to recite the eulogy calmly.


    "I thank all of you for being here today. Among you are old friends and rtions of the ck family, my friends, mentors, and wizards of renown from various fields."


    "I''ve heard that a person''s life is not only about the days they live, but also about the time they remain in people''s memories after their passing. Yet, I''ve been pondering this, and I believe there''s something more to add. The image a person leaves behind in people''s memories is equally important. From a courteous young nobleman to a follower of the Dark Lord who incited war... It would be grossly unfair to freeze-frame him at just those moments. I am honored, today, at the funeral of my brother  Regulus Arcturus ck  to speak of his achievements. He dedicated his life to the noble cause of fighting against the Dark Lord. On the long and lonely path he walked, he disyed a courage and determination far beyond ordinary mortals."


    Ignoring the murmurs in the audience, Sirius continued his eulogy with a steady voice.


    "His deeds were witnessed by Albus Dumbledore and Felix Harp. They will speak after me... At school, Regulus excelled as a Seeker, bringing honor to his House. He was sincere, upright, passionate, and courteous in his interactions..."


    Sirius finished reciting the eulogy and stepped down from the podium. Harry offered him aforting word, but he shook his head, his gaze fixed on Dumbledore.


    Whispers spread among the guests, startled by Sirius''s words. Someone sneered, "Is he trying to whitewash his brother''s name?" Yet, more eyes were on Dumbledore. If Sirius''s speech was considered self-serving, then Dumbledore''s uing words carried considerable weight.


    Dumbledore nodded slightly, stepped forward, and shared his perspective, "Regulus Arcturus ck showed us the journey of a young person''s growth. In his childhood, he was deeply influenced by his family and parents, carrying those impressions with him as he entered school and made friends..."


    "He encountered new ideas, learned to think for himself. Perhaps he wasn''t fully mature, perhaps he was still naive. But let us not disregard his growth during this process and the potential he disyed. As he stepped out into the world and saw its reality through his own eyes, he faced the sh between reality and ideals. It was then that we witnessed how a noble soul contemtes: doing what is right, regardless of personal cost. He had to battle against deeply ingrained beliefs, stand alone, and ultimately triumph."


    "He saw Voldemort for who he truly was, striking back with courage. His death might have been unnoticed, but we shall not forget this young, passionate soul who died at the age of eighteen."


    "War has never been far from us. Perhaps one day, it will erupt unexpectedly in ways we cannot fathom. As long as a breath remains in us, we shall never cease to fight. Those pioneers who sacrificed themselves for love and the greater good, as we hold our wands, they shall bestow upon us an endless legacy of strength."


    Dumbledore''s words stirred even greater waves of emotion. Rita Skeeter hid herself in a corner, retrieving a quill and parchment from her pocket. Excitement caused a thinyer of sweat to form on her nose as her quill danced across the parchment.


    Felix strolled over. "Rita, heroes shouldn''t be vilified."


    Rita''s body tensed briefly, but then she smiled, "Of course, Mr. Harp. Do you intend to reveal more secrets?"


    "Storytelling is your forte. As long as you don''t tarnish Regulus''s memory, I have no objections."


    Rita ced one end of the quill in her mouth, continuously nibbling on it. Within seconds, an idea formed, and her eyes gleamed, "I''m nning to write from Regulus''s perspective, depicting Voldemort through the eyes of a Death Eater  from admiration to disillusionment. What do you think?"


    Felix looked at her in surprise, "Aren''t you afraid of repercussions?"


    "Sir, Voldemort''s truly fanatic followers are in Azkaban. Those outside are just a bunch of cowards," Rita Skeeter said disdainfully. "A group of fence-sitters, there''s no better way to describe them."


    "I''ll be looking forward to reading your masterpiece," Felix said.


    Meanwhile, skepticism towards Dumbledore was beginning to surface among some attendees


    "Is what you''re saying, Dumbledore, true?" Bartemius Crouch frowned. Regulus joining the Death Eaters had been widely believed because his parents didn''t hide it. However, after the war, the Ministry hadn''t tried Regulus. He had disappeared even before that, and not even the captured Death Eaters knew what had happened to him  he might have diedmitting some dark deed, or Voldemort might have killed him for displeasing him.


    "On my honor, it is," Dumbledore said with a smile.


    "Do you have any evidence?" Bartemius Crouch said. "Without evidence, the Ministry won''t acknowledge"


    Sirius''s voice was cold, "My brother didn''t fight against Voldemort to gain your recognition."


    Bartemius Crouch''s face twitched sharply. He had issued the untried and life-imprisonment order for Sirius all those years ago. Now, after thirteen years, it had been proven that Sirius was innocent.


    Tonks leaned over, whispering to Lupin, "There have been a lot of rumorstely, old stories resurfacing. They say Mr. Crouch achieved his current position through a cruel heart. Apart from the illegal trial of Sirius, he also imprisoned his own son in Azkaban without evidence. All of this, supposedly, for the Minister''s position."


    "Weasley seems to be reconsidering his membership."


    Lupin shifted ufortably to the side. He wasn''t used to such intimate conversations.


    Soon, Felix stood before the gathering. Scanning the room, he waited until the murmurs had subsided before speaking, "I endorse the earlier statements made by Sirius and Headmaster Dumbledore, without needing to reiterate them. Today, I happened to hear a phrase, which I wish to share with all of you..."


    "Someone told me that one must learn to look forward and not dwell on the past, as the world inevitably moves forward." He spoke softly, "Very wise words..."


    "We often act based on our own judgment of the future, thinking that only we see it clearly, see it far. But the question is, with all of us looking ahead, whose vision of the future will ultimately be reality?"


    His gaze swept over Lucius Malfoy, who stood with his wife and son, expressionless, pondering the words Felix had just given him.


    "I haven''t lived through a war, but I''ve been deeply affected by its aftermath. To me, every war is a collision of different wills  genuine, passionate, selfless, as well as cruel, vile, and greedy..."


    Felix spoke gently, and in contrast, his eyes bore into a select few like knives.


    "From past experiences, when faced with choices, some calcte meticulously, driven purely by profit; some tter and ingratiate to climb the ranks; some cunningly y safe, some hide...


    "But fortunate are those who, in the face of adversity, step forward, regardless of personal cost, to protect all that they hold dear."


    All eyes were locked onto his, seeking to uncover the deepest corners of his thoughts. Felix, however, continued in a steady tone, "What I''m curious about, friends, is this: When the choicees again, are you prepared? Which side would you choose?"


    "Felix Harp! What are you inciting?"


    A rotund wizard roared, his voice distorting out of fear. "You want to give orders,mand us! And that mad old coot, spewing lies. I shouldn''t have joined this cursed"


    His words abruptly ceased. His flesh quivered, and a "hehe" sound escaped his throat as he twitched and copsed. In a matter of seconds, Felix had pulled him into a Pensieve seven times, scorching the surfaceyers of his consciousness with searing mes. Although it was only a projection of true consciousness, the painful sensations were undeniably real. He''d be lying there for at least two weeks.


    "...I''ve glimpsed the future I''ve envisioned, and I''ve resolved to embrace it, regardless of the obstacles ahead. I''m prepared," Felix concluded his address.


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 Chapter 324: Imagination Becomes Reality

    Chapter 324: Imagination Bes Reality


    Tiny beads of sweat formed on Draco Malfoy''s nose, his nostrils ring in excitement. His pale cheeks had a faint flush, stirred by the thrill of the speech he had just heard. Professor Harp''s performance was simply perfectconfident, graceful, and effortlessly engaging. It was the epitome of his ideal Slytherin image.


    Especially the part where, right in front of everyone, he somehow managed to put that pompous bloke to sleep using some sort of magic.


    Although, Draco had been called in by Headmaster Dumbledore for a talk after the funeral...


    Draco stood beside a freestanding flower tower with a white spire, discreetly stealing nces toward a quiet corner. There stood Dumbledore and Professor Harp. Dumbledore''s expression was serious, while Professor Harp was exining something with a smile. Fragments of their conversation reached Draco''s ears, "...only recently mastered... a lesson, that''s all..."


    On the other side was a small, awkward grouphis own parents, Potter, Sirius ck, the pink-haired woman, Professor Lupin, the Weasleys, and even Aunt Andromeda and her family, who rarely visited from their future home. Most of these people had some sort of connection to the Malfoy family, and Draco was used to the various rtives popping up unexpectedly. Except when his father specifically introduced someone, he paid little attention.


    The only exception was Aunt Andromeda. The memory of her arguing with his mother when he was a child had left a deep impression. Even after all these years, he still remembered her. Especially in Astronomy ss when the professor talked about the constetion Andromeda, he would think of his rtive with the same name. She resembled another unfamiliar aunt, even though his mother never mentioned her two sisters. But he had seen their young photos while flipping through albums.


    These three were easy to tell apart. The outgoing, slightly sharp-tongued eldest sister had ck curly hair. Second sister Andromeda had soft, blended light brown hair and gentler features. The youngest was his own mother, with flowing golden locks.


    Draco scrutinized the wizard next to Aunt Andromeda, his gaze evaluating him. This was the Muggle-born wizard she had chosen? He didn''t seem all that impressive... blonde, a bit chubby. Other than having aforting voice that was gentle and patient, there was nothing particrly remarkable about him.


    "Draco, let''s go!" Narcissa called to him, her voice annoyed. Reuniting after a long time wasn''t always pleasant, and the two sisters were parting ways again on less than amicable terms. Draco hurried to catch up with them as they left.


    Soon, Felix and Dumbledore concluded their conversation too. Felix walked over with a rxed expression, finding the Weasley couple who were nning to leave with Ron. He engaged them in a conversation about the Weasley twins.


    "I don''t know if they''ve told you, but I made a promise to them to show them some exciting things during the summer."


    Mrs. Weasley looked a bit conflicted. She had always been against the twins'' mischievous creations, but on this point, she didn''t have much say. And within the family, aside from Percy, she couldn''t find many supportersunless she got angry, then the whole family backed her up unconditionally.


    "Arthur" She looked at her husband.


    Mr. Weasley wore a serious expression. "Oh, of course, of course. Fred and George mentioned it, when Molly was trying to tan their hides... ahem! You know, the O.W.L.s results," he ran his fingers through his slightly thinning hair, "everyone got four N.E.W.T.s, not as many as their older brother though... Can I ask what it''s about?"


    "It can be seen as a special kind of social practice," Felix said. "I want to show them Muggle factories, machinery, concepts, and coincidentally, my newpany has a need for this"


    "Can I join?" Mr. Weasley quickly asked, earning an elbow jab from Mrs. Weasley. He nced nervously at his wife. "Um, I mean... it sounds very meaningful, Molly. I have to admit that. It could benefit Fred and George."


    Mrs. Weasley puffed up like a bullfrog. "Arthur, they still have two years before graduation. If they started taking things seriously from now"


    "Molly, you and I both know their hearts aren''t set on that path. We can''t make decisions for them," Mr. Weasley insisted.


    He left an address. "Professor Harp, you''re wee to visit anytime." He departed with his family.


    In the evening, L.C.A. Tower.


    In a temporarily partitioned office on the third floor, Felix saw Severus Snape.


    Severus sat in a swivel chair, lightly turning his body. "So, the interview is tomorrow, and you haven''t prepared for yourpany yet?" His words carried a clear tone of reproach.


    "The space is purchased, and I have building materials. I''m nning to construct it from scratch." Felix sighed, "I''ve been busy reading. It feels like entering a treasure trove and finding treasures everywhere you look."


    "Have you sent out the interview invitations?"


    "Of course, I had them send their applications to Andis at L.C.A. Tower. But, it was actually Dobby who received them. I''ve gone through them when I had the time. Some I recognize and can decide easily, others will need your expertise, Severus."


    Snape disyed a surprised expression. "You really want me to assist with the interviews?"


    "Oh, it''s me and you together."


    Felix extracted a silver pocket watch from his chest pocket. He pressed the sp, causing the lid to pop open slightly, and a Snidget poked its head out, its pink beak twitching incessantly.


    "This is... a Snidget."


    "You can call her Valen," the Snidget crawled up Felix''s arm, agilely surveying the surroundings. It then retrieved a Merlin''s Medal from its pocket, hugging it closely and attaching itself to Felix. It entered a blissful dream.


    "Vespertilio would regret awarding you, seeing this." Snape remarked.


    "True honor can''t be taken away." Felix smiled.


    The next morning, the two stood in a spacious area at Diagon Alley''s far end. The previous structures had been leveled, reced by heaps upon heaps of brick and stone materials. Just a conical sand dune was as tall as the adjacent two-story building.


    "How do you n to proceed?" Snape inquired.


    "I''ll conjure a house with magic." Felix said, extending his palm. Fine golden lines appeared on his hand, weaving and forming an ethereal three-dimensional castle structure. It was transparent, and if viewed through a magnifying ss, even the internally dividedyers and intricately carved patterns on the towering support pirs could be seen. Spiral staircases connected various points, the central hall extending straight upward, allowing someone standing there to see the massive crystal-like chandelier hanging from above.


    Felix tossed the miniature structure from his hand. It transformed into a stream of light,nding in the center of the area. It rapidly expanded and grew, overtaking the formerly drab, gray-brown ground, emitting a bright magical radiance.


    People on the street paused, pointing and talking. A young couple turned their astonished gazes toward the spectacle.


    Felix waved his ebony wand. The building materials piled on the ground melted like water, white marble, brown sand, gray pebbles... A vortex appeared on the ground, sucking everything in. Then the ground heaved, producingrge, murky bubbles.


    "It reminds me of the scene of brewing potions." Snape disguised his genuine sentiment.


    Under their watchful eyes, a structure began to grow upward.


    The illusionary three-dimensional image materialized into reality, various materials emerging from the whirlpool like little snakes, being incorporated into the building that existed solely in imagination. They stackedyer uponyer, starting from the very foundation and ascending upward, until a hundred-foot-tall vertical castle emergedan exact replica of the miniature model Felix had previously held.


    Each straight line, each pattern from bottom to top converged upward and inward, harmoniously intertwined, creating a collective force. Finally, all united at the apex of the structure, pointing straight towards the sky. When viewed from afar, it resembled a drawn sword, awe-inspiring.


    A ck stone tablet emerged from the ground, bearing a string of gilded letters"World of Tomorrow."


    "By the way, there are seeds rmended by Professor Sprout."


    Felix said, carefully retrieving two dark brown seeds from his pocket and tossing them at the building''s entrance. Under the effects of magic, they swiftly sprouted, growing branches that twisted and transformed into ancient, sturdy azure steps, extending all the way to their feet.


    "Severus, allow me to formally introduce you," Felix smiled, politely extending his hand. "You''re the first guest."


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 Chapter 325: Penelope

    Chapter 325: Penelope


    "Percy, did you see it?"


    "...I saw it."


    In a corner of Diagon Alley, Percy and Penelope stared at each other dumbfoundedly. Percy asked her, "Do you think Professor Snape is here as a guest?"


    "Don''t be silly," Penelope eximed excitedly, clenching her fist. "We should have realized it earlier. The job posting revealed a lot of information"


    "You mean the ancient magical texts and the admiration for Muggle items?" Percy caught on. "We''re lucky we came back onest time. The previous times we came, it was just an empty space here."


    Percy and Penelope hade here more than once, and they had even followed the recruitment advertisement to find the L.C.A. Building. The staff of this newly thrivingicpany led them to a domestic elf. This domestic elf, dressed even more elegantly than them, had a separate office. He didn''t reveal much information, only insisting that the interview location hadn''t changed and asked them toe on time. "You won''t regret it."


    Percy was about to start at the Ministry of Magic in a few days, and today was theirst visit. They happened to witness this scene.


    ...


    Felix and Snape entered the Future World Building. Felix''s fingertips brushed against a copper Knut. "Dobby," he called softly.


    "Squeak!"


    With a slight sound, a domestic elf dressed in exquisite butler''s attire appeared. He gave a deep bow. "Mr. Harp, Dobby is at your service." He looked up, gazing around. "Is this our newpany? It looks a bit dim..."


    "Of course, it stillcks illumination," Felix said. He extended his hand forward, magical script converged, forming a palm-sized milky-white sphere of light that spiraled upward. Itnded in the enormous crystalline fractal chandelier at the top of the building, instantly illuminating the whole ce.


    "It canst for a while. I''ll create a stable magical item with simr properties in a couple of days." He said thoughtfully, "Perhaps this could be thepany''s first product."


    "Magicmp?" Snape pondered. "A good idea."


    Felix pped his hands. "The interview time is at nine o''clock. We have about two hours. We can use this time to make some adjustments"


    He stopped mid-sentence as a young man and woman pushed the door open from outside. "Professor?" Penelope said nervously.


    Felix nodded at her. "You''re earlier than I expected. Hmm... I''ve seen your records. It''s not really necessary, but let''s go through the process."


    He said to Dobby, "If someone arrives early for an interview, please take them to the room on the second floor." He pointed to a spacious room on the second floor. It had a huge double-door made of wine-red chestnut wood with intricate carvings.


    "Very well, Mr. Harp," Dobby said cheerfully.


    The group walked up the broad spiraling staircase. Percy took the opportunity to inspect the bas-reliefs on the dome above, depicting various scenes. Alongside wizards with wands, there were people in Muggle attire. Some were holding different types of ss tubes, some were contemtingplex mechanical structures, and others held a brass bnce scale.


    It was hard for him to understand why these people were brought together. They seemed toe from various professions. Percy focused on the images of the wizards and recognized a few individuals who had amon traitthey were renowned for discovering or inventing significant spells.


    For instance, he saw Samobi, the inventor of the Cheering Charm; Flewellyn Belby, who discovered a method to repel Hinkypunks; and Grover Hipworth, the inventor of the Pepperup Potion. Percy spected that the Muggles he didn''t recognize were likely simr figures. People who had discovered or invented something?


    "Miss Cleavat, take note. We can make the staircase move." Felix, who was leading, said.


    "What? Oh, alright." Penelope replied, rummaging in her pocket. Percy kindly handed her a small notebook and a quill. "I prepared these in advance..."


    "Thank you, Percy." She jotted down the information swiftly.


    Felix Harp offered some more suggestions. "We need some decorations... that''s not urgent. Employees can arrange their workspaces ording to their preferences. However, we do need to prepare some tables, chairs, stationery, ink, and perhaps some greenery. Prepare a list, and you can discuss it with Dobby."


    He nced at Penelope and added, "I''m sorry, we''re short-staffed at the moment, so we''ll need you to handle some misceneous tasks for now."


    "No problem, Professor. I can quickly familiarize myself with things around here." Penelope said, jotting down the requirements. "Is Dobby the domestic elf we met earlier?"


    "That''s right. It''s important to note that, like you, he''s an employee of thepany, not someone''s servant."


    "He''s a free elf?" Penelope said in surprise.


    "He prefers to call himself, Dobby the Free Elf." Felix smiled in response.


    They entered therge room on the second floor. Despitecking decorations like tables, chairs, and carpets, it was hard to imagine that everything had just materialized. Percy caressed the delicate carvings on the windowsill, seemingly sniffing at something...


    Felix conjured some long tables and chairs in a Hogwarts-style. He and Snape sat on one side of the table, while Penelope and Percy sat on the other. However, the interview quickly turned into a discussion about thepany''s scope of business, management system, and daily operations.


    Percy was quite enthusiastic about the Ministry of Magic''s management methods and suggested replicating them entirely. But this met strong opposition from his girlfriend.


    "Percy, the Ministry''s way of management is too cold and rigid. For a long time, our workforce won''t be thatrge..." She nced at Felix, who nodded gently. She turned back and continued, "You see, if there are only a dozen or so, maybe a few dozen people, a friendly atmosphere is more important."


    "Exactly because of the small size, certain rules should be established early on. It''s good for everyone." Percy insisted.


    "Rules are necessary, but they don''t have to be so rigid." Penelope patiently exined, "Future World''s main focus is on research and development. It''spletely different from the Ministry of Magic..."


    Felix and Snape sat quietly on the side, watching them argue. Both of them had a streak of stubbornness in their personalities, but they were also rational individuals. After half an hour, Percy was persuaded.


    At that moment, Felix smiled and said, "Looks like you''ve reached a consensus."


    "Let me share my thoughts. Just as Miss Cleavat said, Future World''s mission is to provide convenience for all wizards, to make their lives better. In other words, our mindset should be ahead of the entire wizarding world. We are the future."


    "A rxed environment is essential. I won''t impose too many constraints. However, some practices from the Ministry of Magic can also be beneficial. Like the paper airnes Percy mentioned to pass messages. I found it intriguing the first time I saw it."


    "Knock knock!"


    Dobby knocked on the door and appeared. "Mr. Harp, there''s an applicant. He says his name is Lems Lupin."


    Snape stood up abruptly. "I''ll go bring him in." Without waiting for Felix''s response, he hurried out of the room.


    Felix shook his head and quickly followed. These two had just had a quarrel not too long ago, their rtionship was indeedplex. But another round of argument wasn''t a big deal. He just needed to keep Percy and Penelope upied.


    Turning to the two of them, he said, "You''ve been hired, Miss Cleavat. Enjoy your break, and report for duty tomorrow..."


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 Chapter 326: Lupins Confusion

    Chapter 326: Lupin''s Confusion


    Remus Lupin attached great importance to today''s interview. He arrived half an hour early and silently reviewed the prepared materials on his way here. In his pocket, he carried precious clippings he had carefully collected.


    "Regardless of background, it''s all about ability. Those who excel far beyond the ordinary in any three of the following fields: Ancient Magical Scripts, Alchemy, Charms, Transfiguration, Magical Theory, Muggle Studies..."


    Regardless of background, it''s all about ability!


    This phrase was exceptionally rare in the magical world''s recruitment process. While the conditions were rtively strict, Lupin believed he wasn''tcking in anything except Ancient Magical Scripts. In truth, his greatest strengthy in matters rted to Dark Magic defense. During his years of wandering, he had plenty of practical experience.


    Upon receiving the interview invitation, the reply letter he got emphasized once again thepany''s dedication to practical magical research involving the improvement and transformation of numerous Muggle items. Lupin spent half a month specifically studying all sorts of novel things from the non-magical world.


    His exploration led him into fascination. Lupin discovered a system entirely different from magic, one filled with precision and logic. Everything was traceable, yet regrettably, there was no room for magic here.


    He wasn''t sure if the owner of this ''future world'' had recognized this, but even if he wasn''t epted, Lupin felt that witnessing the philosophy of thispany was worthwhile. As he arrived ording to the address, he saw an impressively upright castle surrounded by arge group of people.


    He listened for a few minutes from the side and still found himself puzzled. What did it mean for a building to suddenly appear an hour ago? Was this ce an empty space just two hours ago?


    He even spotted a house-attired house-elf, which was strange in itself, but the serpent-shaped emblem on his chest caught Lupin''s attention. Did it represent an ancient family, or alchemy? Or... a Runes Club?


    After revealing his identity, the house-elf led him into the building. Lupin really liked the simplistic and unadorned interior style. They ascended a winding spiral staircase, with Dobby bouncing ahead.


    "Please wait"


    Lupin, near the banister on the second floor, gazed at the bas-reliefs on the ceiling. After cramming over the past few days, he might not recognize all the figures on the dome, but he could discern their professions, especially the one manipting intricate machinery, possibly an engineer?


    Lost in thought, he heard a rush of wind. Turning around, he unexpectedly met the cold face of Severus Snape. Snape stood two steps higher, his ck robes pulled close in front of him, resembling a bat folding its wings. He looked down on Lupin from a higher vantage point.


    "Lupin," Snape said softly, a smile tugging at his lips, "Wee... to our establishment."


    Lupin suddenly recalled Snape''s expression when he first sent him Wolfsbane Potion; it was the same expression. After drinking it, he couldn''t eat for two whole days.


    "Hello, Severus," Lupin said gently, ascending thest two steps, "What a coincidence, meeting you here."


    "A coincidence? No..." Snape said yfully, "I''ve been waiting for you for quite some time."


    "You were waiting specifically for me?" Lupin frowned. The image of the serpent emblem on Dobby''s chest resurfaced in his mind: pure-blood, the job requirement putting Ancient Magical Scripts as a priority...


    "Perhaps your surname, Lupin, implies your identity," Snape''s smile grew colder, "I''ve been studying the science of names recently, overlooked something in the past; names possess magic."


    Lupin felt stung. He disliked it when this aspect was brought up. In certain cultures, the term ''Lupin'' held the meaning of a wolf.


    Snape sneered slightly, about to say more, but amotion came from behind. Felix appeared with Percy and Penelope, both surprised by the tense atmosphere between them.


    "Leave this ce" Snape''s cold aura filled the room.


    Percy and Penelope exchanged nces, and Felix nodded at them with a smile. They quickly left.


    Felix waved his wand, and the building''s main doors mmed shut.


    He leaned against the wall, calmly saying, "I''ve always been curious. Both of you professors were exceptional in your eraone a dueling master and the other a master of Dark Arts defense. So, who truly excels between you?"


    "I had a chance to witness this scene, but I interrupted it. Now I finally have the opportunity to confirm it."


    Lupin frowned and looked at Felix, "I''m here for an interview, not a fight."


    Felix lowered his head, staring intently at his own nails, "You misunderstand, Professor Lupin. I admitted to you at your farewell party, yes, this is mypany. I''ve gained enough understanding of your abilities throughout this year of coboration. So, consider this a wee activity for new colleaguesshow your skills, foster mutual understanding. Perhaps you could even curse me."


    A red sh flew towards him, "Enough with the chatter, Felix," Snape said with a deadly tone. He looked at Lupin, "I rarely seem to interact with you; you always hide behind Potter and ck..."


    "Oh, Severus," Lupin drew his wand, unable to suppress his anger any longer, "Dealing with them should be enough for you. Adding me to the mix would likely scare you into wetting your pants."


    Snape''s face contorted into a chilling smile, "Well said..." A red light shot out.


    Lupin agilely dodged and swiftly cast a Disarming Charm in return. The two equally fiery individuals engaged in a fight, spells flying, illuminating the room. Snape felt a long-lost excitement; he genuinely felt alive again, though there was someone incessantly talking beside him


    "No one''s watching here, don''t hold back, Severus. Where''s your Dark Magic?"


    "Oh, nearly got me there, Professor. Your aim''s off"


    Felix tilted his head and a spell exploded nearby. He smiled, "You started this with me, so don''t say I''m unreasonable..."


    He pushed himself off the wall, arms stretched out in a rxed manner, a dark wand appearing in his hand. A gentle wave sent three bright rays of light simultaneously flying towards the two.


    Lupin was surprised by his sudden entrance into the battlefield. He blocked the spells, looking a bit disheveled. He retreated a couple of steps cautiously and was astonished to see Snape also conjure a translucent barrier emitting a faint glow.


    Both of them exchanged looks and watched Felix approach with his arms wide open. Snape said impatiently, "Deal with the nuisance."


    But Felix was quicker. He advanced steadily, casting spells like rain, each not particrly strong, but their sheer quantity was overwhelming. The magic''s light illuminated his body.


    "Professors, you need to put in more effort."


    Snape and Lupin exchanged a nce. Snape swiftly conjured a rapid burst of ck mist, corroding the spells flying toward him. Lupin''s wand shed down like a de, making a "whoosh" sound as stones from the floor quivered and shot towards Felix.


    He felt somewhat lost at the moment,pletely unable toprehend what was happening. He came in nervously for an interview and ended up encountering his arch-nemesis Snape, who immediately poked at his sore spots. Another former colleague slyly provoked them, urging them to fight. Even he found ame excuse to join in, and now he was forced to team up with Snape...


    How did thingse to this point, exactly?


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 Chapter 327: The Enchanted Foundry

    Chapter 327: The Enchanted Foundry


    Once the battlemenced, it was difficult to put a halt to it. Professor Lupin strained to control the spells, while Felix Harp wrestled with him for control over the transfigured entities. Half of the debris on the field turned into cat-lynxes, and the other half transformed into plump Snidgets. They waddled amusingly, sitting on the cat-lynxes'' backs, causing them to emit pitiful cries.


    On the other side, Snape''s incantations were both rapid and urgent. Instead of dodging the spells flying toward him, he met them head-on, deftly deflecting them at thest moment with remarkable reflexes. His casting speed was at least twice that of an average wizard.


    Yet, Felix was equally relentless. He seemed to have no limits, not only suppressing Lupin but also managing to retaliate against him. asionally, he used gestures to weave spells, conjuring forth moving golden shields.


    A queasiness settled in Snape. He couldn''t think of a better term; the golden shields had exceptional resistance against spells. He found himself facing two or three spells deflected onto him by the shields. In desperation, he employed more powerful spells to immobilize the shields, but in the next second, the shields transformed into agile serpents, slithering across the ground.


    What surprised him even more was that, for some simple spells, when he managed to hit Felix, the spells simply slid off his chest.


    "The Human Armor Charm... Professor, I must admit, I underestimated it. It isn''t my most potent defensive magic. If you had used that Cutting Curse just now, I might have shed some blood."


    As the battle reached its climax, Snape and Lupinbined their efforts to release a small ck whirlwind. The building vibrated with a humming sound as the debris on the ground was swept up and drawn into the vortex, intensifying its menacing appearance.


    It stood some fifty or sixty feet tall, upying a third of the castle''s space. It emitted a "whooshing" howl as several people were forced to retreat.


    "Now it''s getting interesting," Felix Harp remarked with a smirk. Dodging would be quite simple, but oveing it head-on required a bit more effort. Besides, winning was never his true intention.


    At that moment, the castle''s interior began to shimmer incessantly. Felix looked up; the chandelier at the very top was being tugged by the miniature whirlwind, swaying violently and emitting strained groans.


    A milky-white sphere was pulled down, drawn into the whirlwind. Under the external force, it started to twist and expand... Bright beams of light pierced through the ck whirlwind, as if countless beams of light swords had pierced through a tear in a bag. The light illuminated the dim space, falling upon their uncertain faces.


    Finally, the beams of light and the whirlwind vanished together.


    Snape stood dazed for a moment. "Unimpressive," he muttered, sheathing his wand and preparing to leave.


    "Don''t be in such a hurry, Professor," Felix Harp held him back, grinning. "After the weing ceremony, it''s time we discussed the future of thepany."


    "That''s your futurepany," Snape retorted coldly.


    "It''s our ''future''," Felix Harp replied, looking directly at him.


    Ten minutester, Felix Harp nodded toward Dobby, expressing apology. "Thank you for your help, Dobby."


    "Leave it to me, Mr. Harp. Dobby finally has something to do," the house-elf said, tapping his chest. The tips of his long, slender fingers glowed, restoring the rubble to its original ces.


    Snape, Lupin, and Felix Harp made their way to the grand room on the second floor, taking their respective seats.


    Felix Harp spoke earnestly, addressing Lupin, "Professor Lupin, most of the time, Severus and I are upied with teaching at Hogwarts, leaving us with limited energy for this endeavor. I can only formte strategies at a higher level; the day-to-day management will fall to you."


    Perhaps due to exhaustion, Snape did not voice his objections.


    Lupin pondered seriously for a moment. "What do you need me to do?"


    "Learn."


    "Learn?" Lupin asked, puzzled.


    Felix spoke, "Even back when Dumbledore interviewed me, he mentioned that he wished to introduce the wisdom from the non-magical world. The magical world has been closed off for far too long. Thingsmonce in the outside world, even if slightly modified, can profoundly transform the entire magical realm. Therefore, learning is essential."


    Snape gave Felix a meaningful look. In the temporary office at L.C.A headquarters, he had seen some materials. Even if only a tenth of them were realized, it could bring about a revolutionary change in the wizarding world.


    Starting from the lives of wizards as a whole, it was, as always... cunning.


    Felix unfurled a stack of parchment, letting them drift over to Lupin. "I don''t intend to create something shockingly unconventional. Instead, I hope to achieve somethinghow should I put it? Like spring rain, quietly nourishing, so that thepany''s products be an indispensable part of every wizard''s life without them even realizing it."


    "We can begin with wizarding households, like magicalmps, and magical air conditioners. Imagine this, a small box that can maintain the temperature within a twenty-foot radius at the mostfortable level."


    Lupin toyed with the small box that had floated in front of him. He tried infusing a bit of magic, and the temperature around him immediately dropped, like a breeze on a March day, bringing a hint of coolness.


    "That''s just an example. In reality, I''ve created some simr gadgets, you can think of them as prototypes. You can build upon these, envision different applications."


    "What about profits..." Lupin was being persuaded; he saw this as a good thing. He began to consider thepany''s development.


    "For now, don''t worry about profits," Felix nodded. "Apart from what I just mentioned, I''m more interested in you finding suitable magic. Don''t confine yourselves to ancient runes, alchemy, or obscure spells. It would be better if you can establish effective standards and processes."


    "Lems, we''re forging a new path in history."


    Lupin admitted he was convinced. His heart gradually regained its fervor, and he rediscovered his purpose.


    "How many people are currently in thepany?" Lupin asked.


    "You, me, Severus, Dobby, and Miss Kritov who just left," Felix counted on his fingers. "I''ve scheduled more interviews for the uing week. There should be... around three hundred people."


    Lupin''s vision darkened. "Are you implying that I..."


    "Well, since you''ll be in charge of the R&D team, it''s best for you to personally review them. But I can provide a list of individuals I believe are promising. It might be of some use," Felix said.


    "I''ll help too, during this summer break," he added.


    Lupin found the term "help" a bit grating. This wasn''t hispany at all. "What about the full moon nights..."


    "Severus will be responsible for providing Wolfsbane Potion and coordinating the preparation of certain alchemical materials," Felix said. He had inherited a wealth of alchemical knowledge from Nics mel, and among that, what best exemplified the depth of a great alchemist''s expertise was a collection of forms for various enchanted materials.


    Some alchemical symbols only worked with specific enchanted materials. Originally, this was a disadvantage, but with continuous development, various forms became more refined and they had truly be mainstream.


    "Besides that, during this summer break, we also need to do one more thing," Felix said, "Create a magical factory."


    "A magical... factory?" Lupin asked. He understood both of these words individually, but together, they were a bit baffling.


    "Yes," Felix waved his wand, casting a golden mist. An image of an automated assembly line appeared. "For now, consider it a concept I''ve envisioned. The real world doesn''t yet have such unmanned production lines, at least not now."


    "This conceptes from the non-magical world. We don''t need to fully embrace it, but rather pick what''s suitable, ideally something thatplements magic. Like high-precision engraving... or batch repetitive tasks..."


    "I''ve contacted a equipment manufacturer. Once you''re done with the hiring process, we can go take a look together," Felix said with a smile.


    Thank you for reading this far! You can ess more chapters from HERE by joining my <b>Patreon</b>munity. You''ll gain exclusive early ess to the <b>COMPLETE NOVEL</b>.


    As a member of my <b>Patreon</b>munity, here is what you''ll get:


    <b>For $5</b><ul><li>Early ess to 100s of chapters before they go public. </li><li>You also get ess to all the novels I''m tranting, you can find them here HERE<b>.</b></li><li>Your name will be featured on the "<b>Wall of Gratitude</b>".</li><li>The power to vote on which novel I trante next.</li><li>You Get Ad-free Chapters.</li></ul>


    <b>For $10</b><ul><li>You get to suggest a Novel for me to trante.</li><li>You get ess to Digital art.</li><li>Your name featured on the "Wall of Gratitude" (in <b>gold</b>).</li></ul>


    <b>For $20</b><ul><li>You get to <b>rmend</b> a Novel and I will immediately start tranting it.</li><li>Your name featured on the "Wall of Gratitude" (in <b>blue)</b>.</li></ul>


    Don''t let this amazing opportunity slip through your fingers!

 Chapter 328: The Humble Abode

    Chapter 328: The Humble Abode


    One weekter.


    On the outskirts of Ottery St. Catchpole in Devon County, therey rolling hills and fertile meadowsthe very backdrop for the Weasley family''s abode.


    A touch of crimson appeared on the horizon as a tall, slender young man emerged from the lush green fields.


    Felix, with light and nimble steps, followed a winding path, passing ramshackle sheds, and stood before a small yard. Before him stood a crooked, multi-story house that leaned precariously, with a sign that read "The Burrow" jutting out askew.


    Beside the entrancey a pair of tall boots and a rusty cauldron. Several plump brown chickens pecked around the yard.


    Felix surveyed the scene. Theyout of the house alone hinted at many tales. The ground floor, the most delicate from the outside, likely resembled the original Burrow, topped with a charming red roof. However, the young Weasley couple, as their family grew, found the space insufficient. They added a second floor, then a third...


    As a result, the house evolved in a whimsical direction.


    The door suddenly swung open. Arthur Weasley weed Felix inside. They entered the cramped kitchen, where a spotlessly clean long wooden table upied most of the space. Cabs and cupboards surrounded them. Mrs. Weasley, wearing an apron, bustled by the sink, cooking away. An old radio emitted a quirky tune.


    "Professor Harp, hello!" Amid her busyness, Mrs. Weasley turned with warmth. She pointed her wand at the cauldron, producing a burst of heat, and its lid jumped up. Mrs. Weasley added chopped sausages and vegetables, saying, "Let''s have breakfast together. I made a hearty soup, some hard cheese, and buttered bread."


    Felix smiled and thanked her.


    She then turned to Mr. Weasley and said, "Dear, wake the children." Before a response came, a loud "pop" and explosion echoed from upstairs. Mrs. Weasley''s hands trembled, causing a te to collide with the sink, chipping a corner.


    "Don''t be upset, Molly. I''ll go deal with them." Mr. Weasley rushed upstairs.


    "Again... They mess around with their prank products all day, only toe back with four certificates," she huffed. Using her wand, she repaired the te. "They won''t evene down to help when they wake up..."


    Directing the cleaned dishes to fly onto the table, she exined, "Charlie and Bill won''t be back for a few more days. Right now, we only have five children at home."


    Felix remarked, "I saw Charlie some time ago."


    Mrs. Weasley''s attention was piqued. She inquired about her second son''s well-being, expressing concern, "He keeps assuring me that the job is safe, but after all, it involves dragons..."


    "He has a reliable team," Felix reassured. He steered the conversation to lighter topics, like feeding dragons roasted meat. However, Mrs. Weasley was clearly shaken, so he switched to talking about Charlie''s captain, and how he and a cute Norwegian Ridgeback dragonpeted all day for brandy.


    "That doesn''t sound very smart," Mrs. Weasley mused.


    "Cough cough! They get along well. It''s more like a game..." Felix said, walking into the living room. His eyes fell on a wall clock. Unlike the ordinary clock in the kitchen, thisrge clock had nine hands, each ending like a spoon, pointing toward a family member''s photograph. Instead of numbers, the clock face was marked with possible locations for each family member, including "home," "school," "work," "on the way," "missing," "hospital," and more. At the typical 12 o''clock position, it read "fatal danger."


    Felix spected about the magic used in this enchanted objectthere had to be a tracking spell, perhaps a name-revealing charm, a bodily status-detecting spell... Maybe the clock itself symbolized a magical contract.


    In no time, two red-haired boys came downstairs. It was Fred and George, the twins, dressed in pajamas. Their gazes were searching, and they brightened upon seeing Felix examining the clock on the wall.


    "Professor, you''re a man of your word!"


    "Where are we off toter? Percy said you conjured a castle"


    "What kind of magic is that? Can we learn it?"


    "Are you nning to buy Zonko''s?"


    Mrs. Weasley emerged from the kitchen, hands on hips, sternly assessing their appearances. "Look at you two, what on earth? Change into proper clothes. We have a guest."


    The twins hung their heads sheepishly, then turned to go upstairs. As Fred was about to leave, he added, "Professor, wait for us. We''ve got a new product"


    "Fred!" their mother scolded sternly.


    Fred immediately nudged George and they scampered upstairs. Just before disappearing, Fred poked his head out, grinning, "Mum, actually, I''m George."


    A muffled voice sounded next to him, "You''re bbering"


    "Don''t think that saying that Mrs. Weasley puffed up her chest, but the twins purposely stomped their feet, making ttering footsteps. From around the third floor, an angry voice shouted, "Can''t you keep it down a bit?"


    Mrs. Weasley filled the tes with food. "That''s Percy. He''s probably working on a report... He''s just joined the Ministry of Magic, full of ambition, determined to make a mark."


    Felix chuckled, "Fred and George are hard workers too. Their Skiving Snackboxes are quite popr." He didn''t mention those entric prank products.


    "Well, that''s true..." Mrs. Weasley paused, "I just feel that it''s too early for them to think about making money, with two more years until graduation."


    "Mrs. Weasley, they''re simply pursuing what they''re passionate about. You should know them best. Given their personalities, what kind of job do you think they''ll pursue after graduation?"


    Mrs. Weasley hesitated. Despite not wanting to admit it, she couldn''t imagine these troublemakers dressing impably and working at the Ministry. Or, for that matter, doing any job that involves conformity.


    At this moment, Mr. Weasley returned, followed by a young girl with ming red hairGinny, the youngest of the Weasley n. She gazed at Felix with curiosity, his attire today devoid of any magical influence.


    Ron yawned incessantly as he walked behind, his eyes half-closed, as if sleepwalking. Percy and the twins were thest to appear. Percy had meticulouslybed his hair and wore a perfectly tailored suit.


    "I''m currently working with Mr. Crouch, as his assistant. Every day is quite fulfilling. Today, I''m heading to the Quidditch World Cup site." Percy introduced his work, greatly admiring his boss. Judging by Felix''s perspective, Percy seemed to be emting Barty Crouch''s style.


    The twins exchanged knowing nces, wanting to say something but were caught by Mrs. Weasley beforehand. "No talking at the table."


    Fred muttered under his breath, "Mum''s too biased, she doesn''t even scold Percy."


    "Yeah, because he''s a junior supervisor, in charge of seven or eight people..."


    "More than Dad."


    "But what does he do again?"


    "Weasley, level this piece ofnd"


    "The southern standsck two hundred seats"


    Ron and Ginny lowered their heads, their lips stretched wide in exaggerated grins, struggling not tough. Percy grumbled in frustration, "You lot peeked at my notes!"


    Mr. Weasley coughed twice, "Children..." He nodded toward Mrs. Weasley, who held a spoon filled with soup, fire zing in her eyes like an angry lioness. The twins immediately fell silent.


    The twins swiftly cleared their tes while Felix alsoid down his fork and knife. Addressing the Weasley couple, he said, "Thank you for the hospitality. Oh, Mrs. Weasley, no need to serve more. I''ve had three bowls of soup already..."


    Outside the Burrow, the twins each carried arge package containing theirtest research aplishments.


    "There are seven types of fireworks that can stay suspended in mid-air for a long time!"


    "Alright, we''ve got time to discuss thister. Now, hold onto my arm tightly." Felix said. The twins grasped his arms, one on each side. "Side-Along Apparition, right? We''re almost there" With a twist, the three of them vanished.


    They reappeared in a narrow London alley. The twins looked around with curiosity, their gazes fixated on a colossal rubbish bin. "Professor, isn''t this Diagon Alley?"


    "Spot on," Felix said, "You''ll need to change into different clothes first to avoid startling people. Our itinerary today is quite packed."


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 Chapter 329: The Secret of Secrets

    Chapter 329: The Secret of Secrets


    Three figures stood at a bustling intersection on amercial street.


    Having just emerged from a clothing store, the twins were now dressed in matching deep blue casual suits and jeans. They examined their new looks, pointing and nodding in approval.


    "That shop assistant nearly brushed against my wand hidden at my waist," Fred shuddered, recounting a close call.


    Felix hailed a taxi. "First to Diagon Alley, then to Sam''s Precision Mechanics," he instructed the driver. He turned to the twins, "We''re picking up Professor Lupin. He''s joining us."


    The taxi driver''s face carried the typical morning weariness as hezily navigated through streets and alleys. "Diagon Alley''s up ahead. Where would you like to stop?"


    "Just a bit further ahead, by the record store," Felix replied.


    The driver nced back. "Business matters, I assume?"


    "More or less," Felix replied, twirling a luminescent coin between his fingers. The driver blinked, momentarily disoriented by the glowing coin. The car pulled over, and he cautioned, "Waiting by the roadside also counts as time."


    "And you won''t be left out of it," Felix remarked casually.


    Before long, a middle-aged man suddenly appeared near the record store. It was as if he had been there all along. Fred rolled down the window and waved at him. "Professor Lupin, over here!"


    Lupin smiled, walking over and getting into the car. "I didn''t expect you to arrive in this fashion."


    "How''s the recruitment going?" Felix inquired. He then added, "Taking a car is more convenient; actually, I was thinking of renting a car."


    Lupin shot him a stern look. "Just thought of that now? You vanished for a whole week after saying you''d help."


    Felix shrugged. "I took a trip to Albania."


    Lupin''s expression grew serious. Sirius had mentioned that Voldemort had once lurked in the Albanian forests. He cast a cautious nce at the twins, who were eavesdropping with pricked ears, and vaguely asked, "Any discoveries?"


    "Not what you''re thinking," Felix exined. "I intended to visit an old friend''s former home, but the years have reduced it to ruins."


    Upon learning that Felix hadn''t gone to search for Voldemort''s traces, Lupin''s interest waned. He moved on to discussing thepany''s situation. "All the candidates have been interviewed. ording to your requirements, I hired 37"


    "Do I know any of them?"


    "The six you rmended are quite capable. Also, aside from Kriwet, three are recent graduates this year..."


    After nearly half an hour, the car pulled up in front of a factory.


    Felix paid the fare and led them to the entrance. After registering their names at the security office, a middle-aged man hurriedly approached a few minutester.


    "Mr. Harp, I presume?" the man greeted warmly. "I''m Hobart Nate, the manager of Sam''s Precision Mechanics. We spoke on the phone before." The twins exchanged nces and mouthed the name ''Nate''.


    Felix showed no reaction to the name that held special significance in the wizarding world. He introduced naturally, "This is Remus Lupin, the Managing Director of Future World Corporation. And these two..." He nced at the twins who were standing tall, "They''re here for a visit, um, as part of their holiday social practice."


    "No problem, wee, wee!" Hobart hurriedly replied.


    As they made their way into the factory, Lupin asked in a hushed tone, "How does he know about Future World? Did you tell him?"


    "I registered a shellpany with the same name in the British government," Felix exined with a smile.


    "Was that really necessary? Seems quite troublesome..." Lupin queried in confusion.


    "Not too much trouble, and it led to an interesting discovery," he whispered a few words in Lupin''s ear.


    "What did you say!" Lupin''s eyes widened in disbelief. The twins and Hobart, the manager, nced over. Lupin gave an apologetic smile, then lowered his voice. "You''re saying it''s true? Someone in the magical world is selling precious metals and silverware?"


    "Not exactly a novelty," Felix remarked. "There are always clever individuals who acquire antique silverware from old families and then sell it to Muggle collectors. Imagine, silverware crafted by fairies that repels dust and carries a unique weight of history."


    "Aren''t they afraid of being discovered by the Ministry of Magic?"


    Felix chuckled, "Thews in this area are ambiguous, and who do you think is involved in this? Just a few petty thieves? While they''ve been discreet, there are still traces to follow."


    Lupin''s mind was in turmoil, feeling like his understanding of the wizarding world had been turned upside down.


    "Pure-blood families?" he pondered, "No, many families I know of have fallen from grace. Perhaps it''s a faction within, one that''s been maintaining this secret!"


    Several family names quickly shed through his mindsome families with rtively short histories that had be remarkably wealthy within just a few decades.


    Lupin hesitated, "But Gringotts sets limits on the exchange rate between pounds and Galleons."


    Felixmented casually, "In the ck market, bartering with goods is not an issue. Pure gold and silver have value in the wizarding world, fetching profits of at least several times their cost."


    Before Lupin could fully process this, Hobart led them into a workshop. Humbly, he said, "We''ve prepared various precision carving devices, hoping to meet the needs of your esteemedpany."


    "This is a mechanical engraving machine. It features an all-steel structure, diamond cutting heads, and employs high-precision ball screws and rails. It can be operated manually or through simple programming. We have samples ready. Wait a moment; I''ll fetch them."


    After a short absence, he returned with a three-foot-long brown wooden board, intricately carved withplex patterns. He introduced, "Many clients use these for high-end furniture patterns."


    The twins stared at the sharp conical de, about to reach out to touch it when it suddenly buzzed to life, transforming into a blurred shadow.


    "Careful!" Hobart eximed. "It''s spinning at two thousand rotations; very dangerous." He shot a nce at Felix, as if saying, "Keep an eye on your rascals!"


    "Fred, George, you wouldn''t want to leave a hand here, would you?" Felix advised in a hushed tone.


    The twins grinned, and Fred inquired, "Could we see a demonstration?"


    Seeing neither Felix nor Lupin oppose, Hobart felt his chances of making a sale rise significantly. "Absolutely!" he cheerfully agreed. He then called over a professional staff member. Taking the wooden board, the employee scrutinized it, flipped it over, mping it onto the workbench. Pressing a nearby control button, the rotating conical carving de began to move. As it touched the wood, wood chips flew, forming intricate patterns.


    The twins stared in awe as the de deftly maneuvered over the wood. Five minutester, when the board was removed, theypared the designs on both sides repeatedly, finding them identical down to thest detail.


    "Consider whether it could be incorporated into your products," Felix suggested. Hobart gave them an odd look, wondering if they were to make toys or something. Yet, as long as they could be sold, he didn''t care about their purpose. After all, the manual listed over a hundred safety precautions; if idents happened due to improper usage, he wouldn''t have to pay a penny.


    "Next is theser engraving machine..."


    "It offers higher precision, faster carving speed, and smooth, natural transitionparable to the work of some hand-carving artists. It can work on various t surfaces, like metal sheets, ss, leather, fabric, canvas, and more."


    "What about parchment?" Fred asked with interest.


    "Parchment?" Hobart hesitated. "Perhaps you can try a printer for that?"


    "Alright, Fred, spare him," Felix said airily. "Mr. Nate, could you help me find a stone tablet?"


    "Of course, I remember having a simr sample in my office," Hobart hurriedly left.


    With only four people remaining, Lupin asked, "Can we make use of this?" He gestured towards the smallputer. "It looks quiteplicated."


    "No need to worry about it," Felix said. "I only need the mechanicalponents..."


    His hand rested on the mechanical engraving machine. Magic gradually permeated and touched it, rippling outward invisibly. After a few seconds, the stationary conical de suddenly began to spin. Under his control, it left a magical runic symbol at the edge of the wooden board.


    Felix gently blew away the wood shavings and brushed his fingertip over the engraved mark, leaving a trace of magic behind.


    "Imagine, if webine this with the principle of magical portraits, and imbue it with basic intelligence, what could it be?"


    The convergence of magic and technology is a theme of this story, but the main focus will remain on the changes within the magical world. borating too much on the modification of mechanical devices would feel out of ce and disrupt the narrative flow.


    Thank you for reading this far! You can ess more chapters from HERE by joining my <b>Patreon</b>munity. You''ll gain exclusive early ess to the <b>COMPLETE NOVEL</b>.


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    Don''t let this amazing opportunity slip through your fingers!

 Chapter 330: The Gift

    Chapter 330: The Gift


    After some bargaining, Felix procured three sets of equipment for each of them. Following that, he, along with Lupin and the twins, strolled through the streets and alleys of London. He recited the names of various Mugglepanies and purchased a mishmash of items.


    Back at the Future World Company in Diagon Alley, Felix piled up the purchased items in the hall, forming a small mountain. This spectacle drew the attention of the onlookers, including the new employees of thepany. They gathered around, curious about these peculiar objects and the elusivepany owner.


    Felix gathered them around, and a brief meeting ensued.


    "In the uing period, I''ll be residing here and working together with all of you to create thepany''s first product," Felix said. "And incidentally, I''ll be conjuring up some magical contraptions as well."


    Penelope reminded him, "Professor Harp, oh sorry, Boss"


    "No worries, you can still call me Professor or Harp," Felix said with a smile.


    "...Alright, Professor," Penelope said nervously, but swiftly transitioned into work mode. "We need to consider the Ministry of Magic''s stance, especially regarding the misuse of Muggle items."


    "You mean the department supervised by Arthur Weasley?" Felix inquired knowingly.


    Penelope blushed a bit, feigning ignorance. "This department''s responsibility is to prevent the magical use of items made by Muggles, to ensure they don''t end up back in Muggle shops or homes."


    Felix noticed simr concerns on the faces of others. After a moment of reflection, he earnestly responded, "Indeed, that''s a concern, but I''ve thoroughly studied this aspect of thew. Its impact on us is minimal. We just need to register those carving machines with the Ministry."


    "Following this topic, you''ll discover that the entirew is geared towards one purposepreventing exposure of the wizarding world."


    "To summarize, the prohibition of Muggle item misuse has three main implications," Felix swept his gaze around, looking at the puzzled expressions in the crowd, and began counting on his fingers, "First, it prevents malicious spellcasting to tease Muggles; second, it prohibits the sale of enchanted products resembling Muggle items, especially their unique creations, like a toaster for instance;" he chuckled, "Of course, nothing is absolute. The Ministry has a list of exceptions, not everything is disallowed."


    "Third, it forbids unauthorized modifications or additions of functionalities. These kinds of legal uses are quite vague, perhaps because, if we were to investigate thoroughly, many households would possess banned items, and they might not even realize it. So, the only thing worth noting is," he elongated his tone, saying softly, "to avoid using them in front of Muggles."


    The Weasley twins exchanged a nce, and Fred smirked, "Dad''s mind is an open book." He knew that his father had authored thisw. Fred was curious about everything in the Muggle world, so he had kept many loopholes for himself.


    Before Arthur Weasley, the Ministry''sws regarding Muggle items were nonexistent. However, as instances of Muggle item misuse increased, the Ministry finally recognized the need for legition in this area. Mr. Weasley was the one who formted thew and took charge of this department against this backdrop.


    Felix continued, "One of our guiding principles is the improvement and transformation of Muggle items. What does that mean? It''s not mere duplication, but drawing inspiration from their disyed wisdom, not from any specific object;"


    "Take the magicalmp, for example. Its principle is entirely different from the electricmps Muggles use. The only simrity isboth emit light."


    The audience chuckled softly, their hidden worries dissipating. Most of them didn''t have the courage to openly defy the Ministry.


    "During this process, you''ll find that we''re adopting a conceptual approachcreating more convenient and practical forms of illumination. We don''t need to struggle with learning how to use electricity or studying the materials and principles of electricmps. Instead, we consider how to achieve the desired effect using magic."


    Felix looked at the crowd and said solemnly, "I don''t want to see any prejudice against the non-magical world in the ''Future World.'' Any individual, any group, as long as they possess distinct external characteristics, won''t be liked by everyone. To put it bluntly, where some see advantages, others will see ws..."


    "I don''t want you all to get tangled up in these mundane matters. With an appreciative heart, you''ll realize that the outside world has achieved remarkable aplishments over the past few centuries. In this process, the wisdom, ideas, and achievements they''ve demonstrated are worth learning from."


    Over the next few days, Felix stayed in the Future World''s towering castle. Alongside Lupin, Penelope, and several seventh-year graduates skilled in the Lumos spell, they worked together toplete the design task for the magicalmps.


    The most challenging aspect was how to store the ancient magical runic sequences in physical objects. Felixbed through the materials left behind by Nics mel and finally discovered an enchanting material that flowed like mercury. With magic, he shaped these materials.


    This process involved a considerable amount of trial and error, leading Snape to protest specifically due to the rapid consumption of materials. As a result, Felix enlisted Snape''s involvement in the research.


    Basic chandelier, candbrum, andntern-shaped magicalmps were sessivelypleted. Then, a witch who graduated from Ravenw suggested using Transfiguration to design a form resembling an eagle. Upon activation, uttering specific sybles would make the eagle p its wings and release a bright ball of light.


    This idea won unanimous praise from the 17 employees who were Ravenw alumni. Subsequently, more forms for the magicalmps were proposedmajestic lions with awakening functions, hopping and following badgers, and snake-shapedmps adorned with green gemstones.


    Felix added a few dragon-shaped designs and used Transfiguration to shape the emitted light into the shape of breath.


    After some bargaining, Felix Harp purchased three sets of equipment. Later, with Lupin and the twins, he roamed the streets and alleys of London, listing the names of various Mugglepanies and buying an assortment of misceneous items.


    Back at the Future World Company in Diagon Alley, Felix piled up these items in the hall, creating a small mountain that attracted a crowd. The new employees of thepany gathered around, curious to see the strange things and the elusivepany owner.


    Felix led them to sit together, conducting a brief meeting.


    "For the next period of time, I''ll be staying here and working hard with all of you to create thepany''s first product," Felix said, "and also develop some magical machinery."


    Penelope reminded him, "Professor Harp, oh sorry, Boss"


    "No worries, you can still call me Professor or Harp," Felix said with a smile.


    "Alright, Professor," Penelope said nervously, but she quickly got into work mode. "We need to consider the Ministry''s stance, especially regarding the misuse of Muggle items."


    "You mean the department supervised by Arthur Weasley?" Felix said with a hint of meaning.


    Penelope blushed slightly and acted like she hadn''t heard. "The department''s responsibility is to prevent the magical use of Muggle-made objects, fearing that they might end up back in Muggle stores or homes."


    Felix saw simr concerns on the faces of others. After pondering for a moment, he answered earnestly, "That is indeed an issue, but I''ve examined this portion of thew carefully. It won''t have a significant impact on us. We just need to register those carving machines with the Ministry."


    "Following this topic, you''ll find that the entirew serves one purpose: to prevent the exposure of the wizarding world."


    "To sum it up, the prohibition of the misuse of Muggle items has three main meanings." Felix scanned the room, looking at the perplexed expressions and began counting on his fingers. "First, it forbids malicious spellcasting to mock Muggles; second, it prohibits the sale of enchanted products in the form of Muggle items, especially their unique ones, like a toaster," he chuckled, "of course, nothing is absolute. The Ministry has a list of exceptions; not everything is disallowed."


    "Third, it prohibits unauthorized modification, adding other functions. The uses in these types ofws are somewhat vague, probably because, if strictly enforced, many households would have prohibited items, and they might not even know it themselves. So, there''s only one thing to remember," he drew out the word, whispering softly, "don''t use it in front of ordinary people."


    The Weasley twins exchanged nces, and Fred smirked, "Dad''s mind has been read like an open book." He knew very well that thisw was drafted by his father; he was curious about everything in the Muggle world, leaving many loopholes for himself.


    Before Arthur Weasley, there were virtually nows rted to the Ministry, but as examples of the misuse of Muggle items increased, the Ministry finally recognized the need for legition in this regard. Mr. Weasley formted thew and took charge of the department against this backdrop.


    Felix continued, "One of our principles is the improvement and transformation of Muggle items. What does this mean? Not simple replication, but drawing inspiration from their disyed wisdom, not specific things."


    "Take the example of the magicmp. Its principle ispletely different from the electricmps used by Muggles. The only simrity is that they both emit light."


    People chuckled softly, their hidden worries dissipating. Most of them didn''t dare openly defy the Ministry.


    "In this process, you''ll find that we''re using a conceptual approachmore convenient, more practical lighting methods. We don''t need toboriously study how to use electricity or the materials and principles of electricmps, but rather focus on how to achieve the desired effect using magic."


    Felix looked at the crowd, speaking seriously, "I don''t want to see any prejudice against the non-magical world in ''Future World.'' Any specific individual or group, as long as they possess distinct external characteristics, won''t be liked by everyone. To put it inly, where some see advantages, others will see ws..."


    "I don''t want you all to be preupied with these mundane matters. With an appreciative heart, you''ll find that over the past few centuries, the outside world has achieved remarkable aplishments. In this process, the wisdom, ideas, and achievements they''ve demonstrated are worth learning from."


    In the following days, Felix stayed in the Future World''s tower, working with Lupin, Penelope, and a few seventh-year graduates who mastered the Lumos spell, toplete the design task for the magicmps.


    The most challenging part was how to store ancient magical runic sequences in physical objects. Felix went through the materials left by Nics mel, finally discovering an enchanted material akin to flowing mercury and used magic to shape it.


    This process required numerous attempts. Severus Snape even protested at the rapid material consumption, but he was eventually drawn into the research by Felix.


    Basic chandeliers, candbras, andntern-shaped magicmps were sessfullypleted. Subsequently, a witch who had graduated from Ravenw proposed using Transfiguration to design a form resembling an eagle. When activated, by uttering specific sybles, the eagle would p its wings, fly into the air, and release a bright light.


    This idea garnered unanimous praise from the 17 graduates of Ravenw. More forms for magicmps were proposed afterward: majestic lions with awakening abilities, sprightly badgers that could apany the owner, and serpent-shaped magicmps embedded with green gemstones.


    Felix also added a few dragon-shaped ones and used Transfiguration to shape the emitted light into breaths of fire.


    Thank you for reading this far! You can ess more chapters from HERE by joining my <b>Patreon</b>munity. You''ll gain exclusive early ess to the <b>COMPLETE NOVEL</b>.


    As a member of my <b>Patreon</b>munity, here is what you''ll get:


    <b>For $5</b><ul><li>Early ess to 100s of chapters before they go public. </li><li>You also get ess to all the novels I''m tranting, you can find them here HERE<b>.</b></li><li>Your name will be featured on the "<b>Wall of Gratitude</b>".</li><li>The power to vote on which novel I trante next.</li><li>You Get Ad-free Chapters.</li></ul>


    <b>For $10</b><ul><li>You get to suggest a Novel for me to trante.</li><li>You get ess to Digital art.</li><li>Your name featured on the "Wall of Gratitude" (in <b>gold</b>).</li></ul>


    <b>For $20</b><ul><li>You get to <b>rmend</b> a Novel and I will immediately start tranting it.</li><li>Your name featured on the "Wall of Gratitude" (in <b>blue)</b>.</li></ul>


    Don''t let this amazing opportunity slip through your fingers!

 Chapter 331: The Best Birthday

    Chapter 331: The Best Birthday


    When Harry appeared in the kitchen, the Dursley family of three didn''t even look at him. Nobody mentioned his birthday, which suited Harry just fine. He didn''t want any of Uncle Vernon''s smelly socks for birthday presents; that awful gift had been more than enough for one time.


    Uncle Vernon was reading the newspaper, Aunt Petunia was cutting a dry grapefruit, and Dudleycing his chubby arm t on the tablehad a sulky expression on his face.


    Ever since Dudley had returned with a humiliating report card and his extra weight, his good days were over. He could still put up a struggle, shedding a few tears to gain sympathy from Aunt Petunia. She''d cry along, then swiftlypromise, agreeing to all of Dudley''s demands.


    This was his signature move. However, beneath the report card, a few lines had been carefully penned by the nurse from Smeltings School, gently reminding the two parents that Dudley''s health was at risk if he continued gaining weight. The school''s clothing supply had no clothes left in his size.


    The nurse had thoughtfully attached a diet n. Thanks to Aunt Petunia''s insistence, the whole family had to follow this new diet regimen to cater to Dudley''s emotions. The effects were quite evidentUncle Vernon''s chin had shrunk a bit, making his beard look a bit more elegant and fluffy.


    But Harry couldn''t care less. Even before receiving any birthday presents, he was nning to join Sirius for breakfast. Now he was eagerly imagining what Sirius would have in store for him. Sirius had recently acquired a motorbike, and in his godfather''s enthused eyes, Harry saw a hint of Hagrid''s spirit.


    "More grapefruit!"


    Dudley eximed angrily, inheriting Uncle Vernon''s small eyes and his physique perfectly.


    Harry cheerfully thought to himself, sniffing at the tasteless contents on his te. He couldn''t help but burp; just a while ago, he had consumed tworge pieces of creamy cake and was now feeling quite full.


    "Dear?" Aunt Petunia said patiently, "We agreed to follow the diet n the school nurse sent"


    But Dudley wasn''t listening at all. He quickly finished his own portion and stared at Harry''s te, although the piece of grapefruit on it was much smaller than his own. Then his gaze settled on Harry''s lips, where suspicious traces of food were present.


    "He''s hiding food," Dudley dered, extending his carrot-like fingers with certainty.


    Harry hurriedly wiped his mouth, realizing he had been careless after touching the sticky cream.


    "What?" Aunt Petunia asked, puzzled.


    But Dudley''s greedy eyes remained fixed on Harry, as if he were a piece of cake or something. A shadow fell over Harry''s heart. He faced a difficult choiceshould he threaten Dudley with his wand if he tried to steal his cake?


    There''s no Sirius here, no spare wand, and definitely no excuses. If I use magic, the Ministry will trace it directly to me


    Just then, a loud trumpet sound echoed from outside the door, followed by the roaring noise of a motorbike''s engine. Uncle Vernon exploded instantly. He angrily shouted, "It''s that damn murderer, that scum can''t he ever stay quiet?"


    Aunt Petunia looked around in shock, anxious and worried that the neighbors might have noticed this scene.


    "Sirius isn''t a murderer," Harry said coldly.


    "Then make... that damn... guy... stop!" Uncle Vernon gritted his teeth, his veins popping out on his face. Harry felt a bit scared. He walked up to the window, his face stern, and waved at Sirius.


    The trumpet sound ceased.


    Aunt Petunia was panting, as if she had been holding her breath all along. Harry hesitated, standing still, unsure whether to mention his birthday. He felt it wasn''t worth the trouble. Aunt Petunia shot Harry a harsh nce, while Uncle Vernon couldn''t contain himself any longer. "What are you waiting for? Disappear from my sight this instant!" he roared.


    At this moment, Dudley chimed in, "Your godfather... that Sirius is waiting for you."


    This statement seemed to carry more weight than even Sirius'' motorbike horn. Both Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia looked at Dudley in astonishment. They never mentioned Sirius'' name; if they had to, they''d use "that prisoner," "murderer," or simply refer to him as "the hippie guy who''se for you."


    Harry''s mind raced. His eyes locked with Dudley''s, and suddenly he understood Dudley''s scheme. He quickly said, "I need to go upstairs to get something"


    Back in his room, he stashed the books he had brought back from school and his belongings under the bed. Then he gazed at the pile of candies and snacks on the bed, feeling anxious. Threerge cakes sat side by side on the table, with one already opened.


    After a few seconds, Harry came up with a n. He took out the Golden Snitch Sirius had given him from his pocket and packed all the snacks and candies into it. However, he encountered a problem while trying to fit the cake; he could barely squeeze one piece inside.


    He had to stash the remaining two cakes under the bed, hidden behind his trunk. Satisfied with his efforts, Harry pped his hands. If Dudley sneaked in, he wouldn''t get anything. Normally, he wouldn''t have such concerns because the Dursleys treated his room as a breeding ground for contagion, and they even quickened their pace while passing by it.


    However, he knew that hungry animals were the most dangerous and irrational. In other words, the same logic applied to hungry pigs.


    Just before leaving, Harry hesitated. Uncle Vernon was already shouting downstairs, and he didn''t have much time to think. He opened the Golden Snitch and shook out a handful of snacksa Treacle Tart, a Buzzing Bee Candy, and various odds and ends. Without examining them closely, he ced these treats conspicuously.


    Hurrying downstairs, Uncle Vernon pointed at the open door, not saying a word. As Harry passed by the dining table, he saw that a quarter of his grapefruit had disappeared from his te. He grinned, walking out the door.


    Sirius had been waiting for a while already. He leaned against an impressive motorbike, its exhaust emitting a deep growl. Harry took a seat at the back, and Sirius revved the bike''s engine. The speed quickly increased as they zoomed away, the wind wildly tousling Harry''s hair. Privet Drive receded into the distance as they sped on, and Harry couldn''t contain his excitement. "Where are we going?"


    "London," Sirius bellowed, "I''ve got aprehensive n."


    ...


    They had a thrilling day, exploring almost half of London. As evening approached, Sirius took him for a ride along the Thames, the water reflecting the golden hues of sunset. Harry''s stomach was also filled with steak and oysters.


    By seven in the evening, they returned to Sirius'' rented house. But Harry didn''t want to go back so early. When Sirius invited him to y a game of wizard''s chess, he readily agreed.


    Mercilessly, Harry won three games in a row against his godfather, forcing Sirius to overturn the chessboard in protest. So, they ended up lounging on the couch, watching TV together.


    It wasn''t until almost ten o''clock that their neighbor, Mrs. Figg, knocked on the door,ining about the noise. That''s when Harry realized he should head back.


    The light was still on at Number 4, Privet Drive. This puzzled Harry. As he pushed open the door, he saw Uncle Vernon and Dudley squeezed together on the sofa, watching a football match. He breathed a sigh of relief; at least it wasn''t what he had feared. Harry purposely studied Dudley''s expression, avoiding his guilty gaze.


    "Get back to your room and don''t disturb Petunia," Uncle Vernon muttered.


    Returning to his room, Harry opened the door. The pile of snacks had indeed vanished. He hurriedly checked under the bed. The cake was intact.


    He had overthought it...


    Harry suddenly realized that Dudley couldn''t bend low, let alone squeeze himself under the bed. He''d get stuck. Lying on the bed, Harry couldn''t help but reflect on the memories of the day. He had to admit, it was the best birthday he''d ever had.


    This chapter not only depicts Harry''s life with the Dursleys and his birthday celebration with Sirius, but also delves into Dudley''s character. I''d like to hear from everyone about their perception of Dudley.


    Thank you for reading this far! You can ess more chapters from HERE by joining my <b>Patreon</b>munity. You''ll gain exclusive early ess to the <b>COMPLETE NOVEL</b>.


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 Chapter 332: The Invitation

    Chapter 332: The Invitation


    As August arrived, Felix had expected to remain in Diagon Alley until the start of the Quidditch World Cup, until he received a letter from his student, Clementine Vira.


    "Dear Professor Harp,


    I''m still working at the Egyptian Gringotts. Despite the somewhat gloomy and damp environment, everything is fine here.


    I''ve made friends with many kind colleagues. One senior colleague, Bill Weasley, introduced me around. When I mentioned you to him, surprisingly, he knows you! He entered Hogwarts in the same year as you! I couldn''t resist asking him more about you, and his description took me by surprise. He called you the ''Wandering Sphinx.'' Apparently, in the brief interactions he had with you, you politely inquired about his profound knowledge of ancient magical texts and magical theories. He couldn''t answer, which left him feeling embarrassed and his pride wounded (Bill himself is a very witty and humorous elder, and he said these things with a smile). He found it amusing because you never took Ancient Runes as a subject.


    I''ve also made friends with some locals from the mysterious school, Vagadu. It''s a massive magical school with over five thousand students! It''s hard to imagine a scene where so many people attend sses together. They told me it''s because Vagadu epts students from all across Africa...


    I''m facing a dilemma now. After exploring the bottom level of an Egyptian pyramid''s ancient tomb, we unexpectedly discovered a hidden chamber leading even deeper. It''s a long, winding corridor shrouded in dense ck mist, filled with various dangerous magical traps. We hadn''t even fully explored the corridor when a colleague suffered from seven or eight curses, so we had to hastily retreat.


    The colleague was sent to the hospital, but he brought back a piece of stone b from the corridor''s wall. Astonishingly, the b was inscribed with ancient runes I''ve never encountered before. Not even my grandfather could decipher or trante them. They seem toe from an even more distant era.


    I strongly suspect that they are all practical ancient runes (I''ve attached depictions of the patterns with this letter). I''m urgently seeking your guidance. It would be amazing if you coulde.


    Your student, Clementine Vira."


    "Tsk! The Wandering Sphinx..."


    Felix set the letter aside, gazing at the Egyptian Heron beside him. The bird was over half a meter tall, all white except for the ck ents on its wings and tail feathers. It huddled to the side, treating itself like a delivery owl, pecking at the cookies on a te.


    The bird had a shiny, bald, ck head and neck. Its long, downward-curving beak resembled a ck sickle.


    With long, sturdy legs, the bird kicked a tightly wrapped package over when Felix nced at it. After unwrapping it, he found a three-foot square piece of parchment with depictions of the patterns Clementine had mentioned in her letter.


    He carefully examined the rubbings of the stone b, and with his first nce, he confirmed the true nature of these patterns. They were indeed ancient runes, specifically, a fragment of some ancient magical script. As he tried to trace the contours of these fragmented patterns, arcs of ck lightning danced in the air.


    Felix meticulously reviewed Clementine''s letter again and sensed a contradiction. The chamber''s owner openly disyed a stone b inscribed with ancient magical secrets in the corridor, suggesting generosity. However, the ck mist and curses seemed at odds with such generosity.


    He wasn''t quick tobel this as the work of a Dark Wizard. Throughout different eras, the definition of Dark Wizards had evolved. In ancient wizardingmunities, those deserving of the title were exceedingly evil, unlike today''s standards.


    "A powerful ancient wizard sneaking into a pyramid, creating a hidden chamber with intricate curses... Could this be some rigorous form of legacy? Are the mist and curses meant to challenge intruders?"


    "Or perhaps, it''s a test of human greed, punishing those who unexpectedly venture in?"


    Felix penned a response, including all these insights and his spections. He expressed gratitude for Clementine''s invitation and then, with a thought, inquired if he could bring a student along. His assistant, over the course of two years, had acquired a significant knowledge of ancient runes and was due for some real-world exposure.


    After a few days of waiting, Clementine Vira''s reply arrived. She warmly weed both him and the student, and along with the letter, was an official invitation from Gringotts, featuring two spots. One had already been filled with "Felix Harp," while the other was nk.


    Only with this invitation could they enter the pyramid''s interior for exploration.


    Felix smiled faintly and filled in the nk space with "Hermione Granger."


    The next morning, Hermione arrived at the Future World Company in Diagon Alley, brimming with excitement as she looked around curiously. Just yesterday, Professor Harp had sent her a letter exining the situation and inviting her to explore the Egyptian pyramids together! She had been longing to go, and while the professor mentioned that he''d mostly be staying behind the scenes, there was still a chance for her to get up close to magical remnants from thousands of years ago in safe conditions.


    "Professor Lupin!" Hermione eximed unexpectedly as she spotted Lupin. "What are you doing here?"


    Lupin smiled and said, "One has to find oneself a job." He led Hermione upstairs, offering a brief overview of thepany. Employees they encountered along the way greeted Lupin warmly, and soon, they reached an office on the fifth floor.


    Upon entering, Felix was seated in a chair, his gaze fixed on his palm where a ck lightning bolt rested. Seeing Lupin and Hermione enter, he dispelled the magic and smiled.


    "Lupin, I might need to be away for a few days."


    Lupin shook his head with a sigh. "And after you return, are you nning a trip to France?"


    Felix humorously replied, "Lupin, do you have the gift of prophecy?"


    ...


    "Professor, are you researching magicmps?" Hermione inquired. Upon her arrival, she noticed various magical creatures in different forms, each with a glowing magical orb. They reminded her a lot of the ancient magical illumination spells she was familiar with.


    Felix chuckled. "The research isplete. They''re preparing for the Quidditch World Cup, a grand light exhibition."


    "An exhibition..." Hermione imagined the scene, her anticipation growing.


    "Alright, time is a bit tight today. After we return from Egypt, you can stay here and explore more," Felix said. He was eager for Hermione to continue studying ancient runes after her graduation. Her current level of expertise had already surpassed all the employees in Future World.


    And there were still a full four years until her graduation from Hogwarts.


    ...


    Egypt, Nile Valley.


    Felix and Hermione strolled through the streets of Cairo, experiencing the exotic atmosphere firsthand. A man with a heavy ent offered them a camel, and they declined. Hermione watched the peculiar-looking camel depart with a reluctant gaze, feeding it a handful of hay as a parting gift.


    "Well, we should meet your senior first. She must be eager," Felix said, adding with a smile, "Maybe we''ll get a chance to ride a camelter? I remember the pyramids being in the desert..."


    In a tavern within the city, Felix and Hermione met Clementine Vira. She wore a sun hat with a sheer scarf cascading from its wide brim. When she pulled back the fabric, both saw her sun-kissed brown skin, radiantly smiling.


    Thank you for reading this far! You can ess more chapters from HERE by joining my <b>Patreon</b>munity. You''ll gain exclusive early ess to the <b>COMPLETE NOVEL</b>.


    As a member of my <b>Patreon</b>munity, here is what you''ll get:


    <b>For $5</b><ul><li>Early ess to 100s of chapters before they go public. </li><li>You also get ess to all the novels I''m tranting, you can find them here HERE<b>.</b></li><li>Your name will be featured on the "<b>Wall of Gratitude</b>".</li><li>The power to vote on which novel I trante next.</li><li>You Get Ad-free Chapters.</li></ul>


    <b>For $10</b><ul><li>You get to suggest a Novel for me to trante.</li><li>You get ess to Digital art.</li><li>Your name featured on the "Wall of Gratitude" (in <b>gold</b>).</li></ul>


    <b>For $20</b><ul><li>You get to <b>rmend</b> a Novel and I will immediately start tranting it.</li><li>Your name featured on the "Wall of Gratitude" (in <b>blue)</b>.</li></ul>


    Don''t let this amazing opportunity slip through your fingers!

 Chapter 333: The Vagadu Witch

    Chapter 333: The Vagadu Witch


    Half an hourter, they rode camels and headed towards the desert.


    Hermione had a favorable impression of Clementine. During their conversation at the inn, when Felix mentioned that Hermione had never ridden a camel before, Clementine took them to the local market and rented three camels. Hermione picked a light yellow one. Afterwards, Clementine helped her choose arge sun hat and a pair of Martin boots. After putting them on, Hermione felt quite peculiar.


    However, she politely declined the "local delicacies" rmended by Clementine, as they didn''t look very appetizing to her.


    Before her eyes stretched an endless sea of sand, with sand dunes connecting softly. She quickly lost her sense of distance. When she turned around, she could still see the buildings of the city in the distance. The sun grew scorching, and in the absence of wind, the air felt like a giant steamer.


    Suddenly, a refreshing sensation passed from her skin to her fingertips, and she snapped out of her daze. Floating before her was a small box with chains, resembling a pendant box. She reached out and grabbed it; it wasn''t very cold to the touch. She turned back, and Felix was nodding at her.


    "I only brought one; it''s a new product from thepany, still in testing," he exined. "But it can cover about twenty feet." He called Clementine over, and the three of them walked side by side. Clementine marveled at this little thing.


    "We have simr magic in our tents, but it can''t be used inside the pyramids."


    Wearing the pendant box, Hermione felt invigorated. She was fascinated by every detail they passed, like the nts growing on the rocks in the sand dunes or the sudden appearance of arge gecko. They even saw a gray snake.


    After walking for about an hour, the three of them arrived near a tall pyramid. In the shade, they could see seven or eight tents, surrounded by scattered equipment. It looked like a small archaeological team.


    Felix''s curiosity was piqued. "Have you obtained the support of the local government?"


    Clementine smiled and said, "We have legitimate documents recognized by the government, but it''s just a cover." They arrived at the tent camp, tied the camels to wooden stakes, and two people walked out of the tent. They were dressed just like Clementine, blending in with the locals. Felix also noticed tourists taking photos not far away.


    "This is Faisal Abdul Izz Kampachi Duimuh," Clementine looked at the person awkwardly, "what''s after that?"


    The young man mumbled, "Just call me Faisal."


    Clementine whispered to them, "Faisal''s name has four parts, each equivalent to our full name. I wanted to introduce properly, but I can''t remember since I rarely use it."


    Another middle-aged wizard with a brown robe on his shoulder said, "Just call me Rahman." He extended his hand, shaking hands with Felix.


    After some pleasantries, they agreed to enter the pyramid at two in the afternoon. "We''re also waiting for someone from headquarters," the middle-aged wizard exined.


    Clementine led Felix and Hermione to the back of the tents. "Professor Harp, you can stay in Bill''s tent. He took all his personal belongings with him. Hermione and I will share a tent, which works out for chatting."


    "Bill Weasley isn''t here?" Felix asked, suddenly remembering what Mrs. Weasley mentioned about her two sons, Bill and Charlie, returning in a few days. As expected, Clementine provided a unanimous exnation.


    "He''s on vacation. The Quidditch World Cup is about to start, so most people in the camp took leave and went home," Clementine said. "Otherwise, with old friends reuniting, there would be a lot to talk about. Unfortunately, I''m not interested in Quidditch, so I applied to stay back."


    When Hermione heard the name Bill Weasley, her eyes lit up. "Is he Ron''s older brother?"


    Felix nodded at her. "Exactly, he works here as a curse breaker for Gringotts." Then he looked at Clementine. "Ron is the youngest boy in the Weasley family."


    For the remaining time, Clementine took out a thick notebook and threw all the umted questions at Felix. He answered them quickly, but Clementine''s mood wasn''t good. He exchanged a nce with Hermione and made an excuse to go for a walk nearby.


    Inside the tent, Clementine said with some frustration to Hermione, "Gringotts recently hired a graduate from Ravenw. She excels in magical linguistics."


    "Who is it?"


    Clementine mentioned a name. Hermione remained silent. She had seen that person during her studies. The person wasn''t exceptional among this year''s graduates, but that could be attributed to Clementine having graduated much earlier, missing out on the professor''s unconventional teaching methods and a series of magical pedagogies.


    "The professor started a newpany, did you know?" Hermione cautiously asked.


    "I''m not sure," Clementine hesitated, "When did this happen?"


    "Recently, I think. Thepany is called ''Future World.'' Professor Lupinoh, he used to be the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts. Now he''s in charge of managing Future World. He told me that the professor wants to transform the magical world." Hermione rambled on.


    "Transform the magical world?" Clementine was taken aback.


    "I guess it''s about changing wizards'' lives," Hermione said uncertainly. "I saw magicalmps and this little thing." She tugged on the chain of the small box around her neck. "I assume the professor must have extensively studied Muggle world technology, which is quite evident in his books..."


    They chatted away, their expressions shifting between excitement and uncertainty. Meanwhile, Felix took a stroll around therge pyramid. Along the way, he saw tourists from different countries, but they weren''t too crowded. He even helped arge family take a photo and received seven thank-yous in return.


    In a discreet corner of the pyramid, he sensed traces of magic. ''This should be the entrance.'' Felix thought, but he was more curious about the magical environment of Egypt.


    From his observations so far, at least twelve people seemed to be wizardsnormal in a city like Cairo. But what surprised him was that among those twelve, five were unmistakably witches. They dressed in exaggerated clothing, selling various mystical items like talismans and voodoo dolls.


    Of course, these so-called mystical itemscked any magical trace, otherwise they wouldn''t dare to show off so openly.


    A pair of tourists passed by him, and Felix heard a few words exchanged between them:


    "I heard... Gypsy witches... famous for divination..."


    "Really? Then we have to try it!"


    Felix blinked his eyes. He followed behind them to a conspicuously decorated tent. A long line formed, and he quietly waited for a while, overhearing many miraculous stories about a diviner named "Ceiavira."


    Supposedly, her crystal ball and tarot card readings were extremely urate. Many people traveled far just to have a session with her.


    Although the line was long, it moved at a decent pace. Many people came out of the tent looking dejected not even half a minute after entering.


    An experienced person nearby exined, "It''s because her fate is too cryptic. The witch doesn''t want to exert the effort to help them." However, no one believed that a witch would leave due to ack of skill; rather, it strengthened their belief.


    Felix was curious as well. He had just switched to magical sight when he noticed the cryptic light in the tent. This indicated that the person inside was indeed a true wizard.


    Vagadu... divination...


    Felix contemted. Africa did indeed have a branch of divination magic, shamanism. However, what he knew was that this kind of divination magic wasn''t much better than Dark Magic. It often came at the cost of harming one''s body, difficult to recover from, and the results weren''t always urate.


    He found it incredible that a witch would offer divination services to ordinary people, and even do business openly.


    He nced at the long line behind him and shook his head slightly. Wasn''t she afraid of suddenly dropping dead the next day? Or perhaps, being taken away by the Ministry of Magic?


    When it was his turn, nearly an hour had passed. A calm female voice called from inside the tent, "Come in." Felix entered, and the scorching air outside was sealed off. The strong scent of spices made him feel a bit intoxicated. He looked at the witch. Next to her were six or seven palm-sized censers emitting smoke, and various mystical items cluttered around. Most didn''t emanate any magical aura, except for a few objects that caught his attention: the Gypsy witch herself, the crystal ball before her, and... the witch''s purple hair.


    Yes, under Felix''s magical sight, the magical radiance emanating from the peculiar witch''s hair was just as impressive as her own.


    "We need to do a test. I won''t waste my hard-earned magical power onon" She suddenly stumbled over her words, and her pretense vanished as her half-closed eyes snapped open.


    Under Felix''s and her mutual gaze, one strand of hair on her head suddenly broke and burst into mes.


    Her voice was no longer calm and emotionless; instead, it became quiet and urgent. "This wizard friend, I have a valid license, approved by the Ministry of Magic. Don''t cause trouble for me..."


    "ng!"


    Felix tossed a small bag of Galleons to her. Several golden coins mischievously tumbled and rolled on the table,ing to a stop near the edge before falling into the witch''s hands.


    "Do you ept this?"


    "Of course, a big business indeed," the witch carefully inspected the Galleons in her hand. She gave the bag on the table a little shake and experiencedly said, "At least fifty Galleons. Are you a spendthrift from the European sideor should I say, an inheritor of noble lineage?"


    She scrutinized Felix''s appearance, her gaze pausing slightly on his ck hair and blue eyes. Before he could reply, she stood up from her seat, walked out of the tent, and exchanged a few words with the people outside. Gradually, the crowd dispersed.


    "Alright," the witch returned with light steps, stretchingzily. She wiped her face, causingyers of thick paint and cosmetics to vanish, revealing a young face with dark brown skin.


    She appeared to be in her early twenties.


    "You''re not a Gypsy witch?" Felix said with a chuckle.


    The witch snorted dismissively, "There are only Vagadu witches here, no Gypsy witches."


    "I''m from Britain"


    "Pretty much guessed that." She took out a pear and started biting into it.


    "I''m a professor"


    "Kachikachi... Hogwarts?"


    "Invited by Clementine"


    The witch finally put down the half-eaten pear, "You mean Clementine? That girl from Gringotts who uses the pretext of archaeological expeditions?"


    Felix smiled and nodded.


    "Since you''re introduced by a friend, I won''t deceive you." The witch patted her chest, saying, "Riphentine, that''s my name." She added, "My real name."


    "Riphentine," Felix savored the name, "Does that mean... extraordinary genius?"


    "Not convinced? I came up with it myself," Riphentine said. "When I was young, I traveled with a Gypsy circus troupe, wandering around. One day, in a dream, a dream messenger told me I was a chosen one, permitted to study magic in Vagadu. When I woke up, I found myself holding a stone with inscriptions."


    "Standard enrollment procedure."


    "Yeah, but I was young and thought I was the chosen one, so I urgently gave myself a good-sounding name, and I looked forward day and night, waiting to showcase my talents. But when I got in, I realized nearly a thousand students had entered with me..." She said with self-deprecation.


    "Why did you choose divination then?"


    Riphentine scratched her head, "Maybe it''s influenced by my childhood. I didn''t choose Vagadu''s traditional strong subjectsTransfiguration, Potions, Alchemy, and Astronomy. Instead, I chose the obscure divination. However, I am indeed an extraordinary genius. I''ve improved this highly dangerous Dark Magic."


    "Using hair as a casting cost?" Felix asked. Compared to the original version that often caused bodily harm, this modification was indeed clever.


    "Yes, but I only have so much hair, so I have to be careful. Do you have any good rmendations for shampoo?"


    "Uh... I know someone. His Snakelike Egg Shampoo is pretty good, but I doubt you can get it. The Potter family''s is good too"


    "I''ve heard of thetter." Riphentine said.


    "Since you''ve improved the art of prophecy, can you do a prediction for me?" Felix asked in a soft voice.


    Riphentine quickly shook her head, "No, no, I can''t predict for wizards."


    "Is the cost too high?"


    "See that burning hair? Before I graduated, I wanted to do a prophecy for the headmaster, and your results will be the same." Riphentine made a burning gesture. "My teacher pulled out a strand of my hair and only then told me that if I did a prophecy for a powerful wizard, I''d even risk my life!"


    She took another bite of the pear, "That was thest lesson she gave me. After that, I graduated. Later, I found that jobs were hard toe by. I thought since the cost of doing prophecies for wizards was so high, what about ordinary people?"


    "So you chose this ce? Doing divination for tourists?"


    "Smart, right? I carefully choose my subjects for divination, making vague predictions that are somewhat easy to judge. I even use these things for disguise. Muggles all believe this..." She pointed at various mystical items in the tent, "I spent a total of 2000 Egyptian pounds."


    "Just under a hundred pounds, indeed cheap. But you mentioned earlier that you''ve obtained the Ministry of Magic''s approval" Felix was quite curious. Did this count as viting the secrecyw or exposing the wizarding world?


    "What can I say?" Riphentine looked at him with a troubled expression. "I know the secrecyw; you want to ask about that, right? But the situation is different in each country..."


    She bit the pear core with her teeth and slid her hands left and right, saying vaguely, "In Africa, mysticism is prevalent. It''s hard to distinguish between true and false, and everyone takes it for granted. I even got invited by tribal leaders to share rainmaking experiences."


    "You can make rain too?"


    "Neither can they! When the timees, I''ll show off a bit, exchange a fewpliments, and I''ll end up with quite a bit of gold."


    Felix was truly amazed. These things couldn''t be seen or heard in the ck market. They talked for quite a while. Before they left, Riphentine stopped Felix.


    "Are you the assistant called by Clementine for help?" She cautiously asked.


    "How did you know?"


    "This matter made quite a stir. That person almost didn''t make it back. I took a look and his face was as swollen as a coconut, covered in weeds..."


    She nced at the Galleons on the table, gritted her teeth, "Since you''ve paid me two months'' ie, I''ll take a look for you. But I won''t do a prophecy for you! Don''t even think about it!"


    "So, what do you mean?"


    "Get someone else, apanion who''s weaker, to go with you into the Pyramid."


    Ten minutester, Hermione sat in front of Riphentine, looking bewildered. Riphentine changed back to her Gypsy appearance, her face adorned with various painted patterns.


    "It''s just the three of us here." Felix chuckled.


    "It''s a sign of respect for magic," Riphentine retorted earnestly.


    Hermione hesitantly asked, "Um... Professor? What are we supposed to do?"


    "Divination, child. I''m going to do a divination for you." Riphentine said with a calm, distant voice, reminding Hermione of Professor Trwney''s mystical mannerisms.


    Were all diviners cut from the same mold in the wizarding world?


    Riphentine stared at Hermione closely, "I need a strand of your hair... you have a lot of hair, but the texture isn''t great." She suddenly reached out and plucked a few strands of hair, "Ouch!" Hermione eximed in pain, ring at her with anger.


    "Don''t worry, don''t worry. I''ll give you a pearter." Riphentine consoled her. She twisted Hermione''s hair, the brown strands constantly twisting and solidifying into silver-white where they touched Riphentine''s fingers, like strands of silver.


    When the edges of the hair also solidifiedpletely, Riphentine let go, and the hair, fragile as porcin, fell and shattered the moment it touched the velvet surface of the table.


    Holding her breath, Riphentine carefully observed the powder and gently manipted it with her fingers from time to time.


    "Weird..." she said.


    "Ha, this answer isn''t surprising to me." Hermione muttered and rubbed her head.


    "No, what''s weird is that your figure is shrouded in mist, not very clear, but... it''s happened before." Riphentine shrugged, "Don''t worry, you''re safe this time, at least you are."


    "Thank you for your trouble," Hermione gave a sarcastic smile, feeling a little sorry for her hair.


    "No need to be polite." Riphentine showcased a facial transformation technique before her, leaving Hermione staring nkly and even forgetting to refuse the pear Riphentine handed her.


    On the way back, Hermione asked about Riphentine''s background. Felix briefly exined, and when they returned to the campsite, they saw a figure in a suit, about three or four feet tall, with a pair of pointed ears, although the skin color didn''t match. If not for the discrepancy, he would have mistaken it for a house-elf named Dobby. But this was actually a fairy, a fairy from Gringotts.


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 Chapter 334: Delving Deeper

    Chapter 334: Delving Deeper


    The fairy regarded Felix Harp with an unsettling gaze.


    "Clementine spoke highly of you, Mr. Felix Harp," he inclined his head slightly. "It is an honor to coborate with you. I am Gornuk." With that, he flicked his fingers forcefully, causing his slender nails to shimmer. Soon, the fairy''s body blurred into obscurity as he turned and made his way towards the three individuals in the campFaisal, Rahman, and Clementine. They were inspecting their equipment, deciding what to take with them, including curse detectors, dark magic detectors, and various protective items.


    "Fairy magic," Felix thought.


    Hermione muttered discontentedly beside them, irritated by the fact that the fairy named Gornukpletely ignored her, despite being able to see her without even looking up.


    Felix whispered, "Gringotts goblins are somewhat friendly, but if you encounter unfamiliar fairies in the wild, stay cautious. It''s hard to determine if they are safe."


    Hermione''s mind spun as she whispered, "Fairy subversion group?" Despite the overall peace between fairies and wizards since the treaty was signed, a small faction of fairies still harbored deep hatred for wizards, attempting to overthrow their dominance.


    Especially within their own territories, this attitude was overt. Many wizard jokes were concocted and spread within fairy taverns. The reverse was also true.


    Clementine jogged over. "These are specially crafted dragon-hide gloves with a certain curse-resistant effect."


    "Professor, can I use magic?" Hermione pondered a crucial question.


    "Of course, the British Ministry of Magic doesn''t have jurisdiction here," Felix said. "You can try it out now."


    Hermione hesitated, then pulled out her wand and cast the Shield Charm incantation. An invisible barrier formed in front of her.


    "Very good, just like that."


    Subsequently, they entered the pyramid, following a winding, narrow path between stone crevices. They held their wands and kept their bodies crouched, as even a slight straightening would lead to banging their heads against the granite ceiling. They trudged forward, with amplified breaths filling their ears.


    Guided by the glow from the tip of their wands, they walked for some time until the path split at a fork.


    "To the right lies the Pharaoh''s tomb, and to the left is the secret chamber we discovered," Clementineexined.


    They turned left, encountering two or three stone steps every dozen paces, gradually descending without noticing. Half an hour passed, and they found themselves deeper underground.


    Finally, the path opened up ahead, revealing a square space that extended on both sides.


    On one sidey the path they came from, and on the otherright in front of themwas a pitch-ck opening. The light there was dimmer than the surroundings, as though someone had spilled jet-ck ink above them, ying a malicious trick.


    "That''s the corridor we encountered earlier. The ck substance is actually stationary ck mist, but as long as you provoke it" Clementine said, firing a golden beam of light inside.


    "Oh, heavens," Hermione whispered. The massive ck mist churned, teeth gnashing and ws swiping, emitting loud cracking sounds from within.


    Felix took out an eagle-shaped magicalntern from his ring. The bronze-colored eagle pped its wings gently, spewing forth a light sphere that illuminated the courtyard.


    "Is this the magicalntern you mentioned?" Clementine whispered to Hermione. Hermione nodded, her gaze sweeping the surroundings. The courtyard''s corners were marked by stone pirs, seamlessly integrated into the structure. The pirscked excessive ornamentation, and their exposed surfaces bore continuous grooves from top to bottom.


    Felix Harp stood at the entrance, utterly still,pletely absorbed in scrutinizing the ck mist. It was as if his gaze prated the darkness, captivated by an intriguing TV show.


    The fairy Gornuk stood beside him. He cautiously extended his nails into the ck mist, withdrawing them after a few seconds. A trace of ck mist clung to his fingertips. "It can confuse directions and has a slight corrosive effect. It''s not an immediate concern over short periods, but prolonged exposure would make even breathing a significant issue."


    "We can use the Bubble-Head Charm," Clementine suggested.


    "I don''t know how to use it," the fairy grumbled, taking out a silver mask and putting it on, then thrusting his head into the mist. "Ha, problem solved."


    "Mr. Gornuk... did you create that silver item?"


    "Of course, youngdy," Gornuk said proudly. "Not just silver itemsour kind possesses extraordinary talents. Identifying various materials is as simple as breathing for us."


    "Even newborns instinctively recognize impure metals. We prepare a ritual for newborns, offering gold and silver of different purities for them to choose from. The most gifted fairies are nurtured from an early age."


    "Talents..." Felix''s eyes flickered. He snapped out of his reverie, intrigued by Gornuk''s words. Wizarding children also exhibited various magical talents, like Parseltongue or Metamorphmagus abilities. But some talents weren''t as obvious, and some individuals might never be aware of them.


    Some people had a natural affinity for animals, easily gaining their trust. Felix believed that such individuals were well-suited to learn Vagadu''s Self-Transfiguration, a different branch of human transfigurationpared to Animagus magic. It allowed wizards to transform into animals at will, extending beyond just elephants and leopards, possibly epassing other creatures.


    Felix was convinced that he would witness this magic in the uing Triwizard Tournament.


    He also remembered that wizarding talents weren''t confined to these examples. Some wizards excelled in specific types of magic. For instance, Harry had a remarkable talent for dueling magic, surpassing his peers by a considerable margin. Ancient wizards had exhibited simr traits.


    In ancient times, wizards tended to choose apprentices with simr talents. Those significantly different, even if talented, wouldn''t be given much attention.


    Felix drew his wand, thrusting it forward. With a swish and a "whoosh," the wand cleaved the air. A series of incantations shot into the ck mist, and after a while, the mist gradually dissipated.


    "What did you do?" Fairy Gornuk asked in astonishment.


    "Any magic leaves a trace. I merely found the key nodes that formed the mist," Felix replied curtly. As the mist cleared, the corridor became distinct. With the illumination from the courtyard''s magicalnterns, they could see ck stone bs hung on both walls.


    Hermione carefully approached, standing at the entrance, and stared in surprise at the nearest stone b. The patterns on it looked hauntingly familiar. "Ancient magic? Rune sequence!"


    "Yes," Felix responded in a hushed voice. "Don''t go in." Suddenly, he raised his voice sharply, not addressing Hermione. Hermione turned to the side, only to see Gornuk the fairy advancing ahead.


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 Chapter 335: The Decaying Horcrux

    Chapter 335: The Decaying Horcrux


    "It''s not without danger," the fairy Gonook asked through his mask. He surveyed the corridor ahead, took a step forward, and sparks crackled in the air, striking the fairy. He was thrown off like a tattered kite.


    Faisal and Rahman moved forward to check on Gonook. Middle-aged wizard Rahman said, "He''s alright, wearing protective clothing. He just fainted temporarily."


    "And hidden traps?" Hermione asked Felix incredulously, "Aren''t the curses originating from the Dark Mist?" She picked up the curse detector, scanning continuously. Suddenly, something in her hand resembling an antenna exploded, startling her.


    "This confirms it as well; curses do exist," she said with an unpleasant expression.


    "In fact, there are many more," Felix said. From his perspective, the empty corridor was dotted with numerous points of light, each representing a curse, floating like suspended creatures.


    He turned to Hermione, asking, "This pyramid... the part you all explored before, does it contain magical items storing magic?"


    Hermione shook her head, "We found quite a few things with residual magic, like the golden dagger and the scarab amulet, but they''re very weak now. Unlike the cursed items from the outside world, innocent blood sustains the curse''s effect."


    After a while, the fairy Gonook woke up. He immediately opened his clothes, then howled in pain. Hermione noticed that he was wearing a silver, skin-tight armor.


    "Got a hole in it!" he cried in agony, "Don''t know if it can still be repaired."


    ...


    Felix walked ahead, with the others trailing him by a dozen steps. They watched as he poked and prodded the air, curses bursting open like fireworks.


    The dense quantity of curses sent chills down the spines of those following behind.


    Felix would asionally stop and examine the bs on both sides. He initially thought, considering the size of these bs, there should be at least a dozen ancient spells. But the actual number was fewer. Currently, he only saw three, including theplete ck Lightning Magic.


    Many bs had introductions by the wizard who created this chamber, including their travel experiences. He imed to be a traveling wizard from Greece who had crossed the Aegean Sea, discovered a magical source in the upper tomb of the pyramida four-sided gemand then decided to create this chamber for the benefit of future generations.


    "The curses in the corridor progressyer byyer, getting stronger. Don''t force it if you''re not confident. Leave the chance for others," Hermione read aloud from the b. "So that''s how it is!" The others looked enlightened.


    "Are ancient wizards just too strong, and we''re too weak?" Clementine said dejectedly. It turned out they couldn''t even withstand the weakest trial.


    "Don''t make hasty decisions. Perhaps these words are just lies," Felix said. He advanced steadily, his suspicion bing clearer.


    One fact was, were ancient wizards really that powerful? From the perspective of ancient magic, they were indeed formidable. But when it came to the flexibility of their methods, they fell far short of the present.


    Most ancient wizards wouldn''t have spells like the Disillusionment Charm. As for others, like Protective Charms, Household Charms, and Supportive Magic, their systems weren''t as refined as those of today. Those historically famous ancient wizards, while magnifying their strengths, also exposed their weaknesses.


    This was also why Felix spected that ancient wizards guarded their secrets so closely, based on various magical notes he had studied.


    The path ahead was rugged and perilous. Felix had already made them retreat far away. He donned a cloak made from Basilisk skin and Fire-Dragon hide, inching forward and continuously clearing away these curses.


    Among these curses were also mixed various potent and eerie dark magics. It was unknown how the chamber''s owner had managed to preserve them. Perhaps they were stored on a stone or within the granite ceiling.


    However, most of the curses within the stone had dissipated over time, leaving only faint glimmers and an aura of malevolence. They seemed to exist independently, without any connection to the overall defense.


    Felix grew more certain that the chamber''s owner was a dark wizard, a powerful one at that. Felix felt as though he had entered a museum of dark magic, where many of the modern dark spells had their corresponding shadows.


    Finally, he stopped in front of a bronze door. The door had a simple bronze handle and no excess decoration.


    The fairy Gonook called from a distance, "Can wee over?" He was eager to im anything in this ce as property of the Goblin Bank. In the eyes of the fairies, they had invested money and manpower to eliminate dangers for various wizarding ministries, and in return, they expected treasures within these ruins.


    The group approached, forming a line and staring at the bronze door. Seeing Felix lost in thought, they didn''t dare to disturb him. His performance throughout the journey had already demonstrated his formidable strength and profound knowledge. Not a single one of those hair-raising curses had gotten past him.


    After quite some time, Felix let out a deep breath.


    "Stuck on a puzzle?" Hermione asked in a hushed voice. Her voice echoed in the chamber, sounding as if she was whispering right beside them.


    "I find it odd. It seems there''s not much danger ahead."


    That was something that puzzled him greatly. He nced around at the others. "Move to the sides." Perhaps his expression was too serious, as everyone drew their wands and cautiously moved to the sides. Felix even summoned his eagle-shaped magicalntern.


    With everything set, he extended his hand and touched the bronze handle. The knocking created echoing sounds that resonated. Everyone''s hearts raced. After a few seconds, the door suddenly cracked open, dust falling as it opened wider and wider with a creaking sound. Then there was the sound of something rubbing against something else. Felix prudently stepped back as two shadows fell down, kicking up a tall cloud of dust.


    "Bang! Bang!"


    Peering from the sides, the group discerned the true identity of the shadows. "It''s Basilisks!" Hermione eximed. She wouldn''t make a mistake about this; she had faced a Basilisk in her second year.


    However, before them were the corpses of two Basilisks. They had been dead for quite some time, and due to being confined for so long, their serpent skin quickly rotted upon exposure to the outside air. A strong, putrid stench assaulted their senses.


    "Gross!"


    Several of them began to retch. Felix waved his wand, casting the Bubble-Head Charm to provide them with clean air. He himself wore a suit of enchanted armor and stepped boldly into the room. His judgment was growing clearer.


    The eagle-shaped magicalntern followed behind, casting light into the interior. The ce that had been isted from the outside world was now illuminated, revealing a nearly empty small courtyard. Severalrge and small Basilisk corpsesy about. Every single one of them was dead. As Felix walked past them, their colors, along with those of the circr pirs around them, drained away.


    Felix headed directly toward the center, where there stood an altar.


    On the altar was a life-sized statue of a middle-aged wizard with silver-white hair and yellow eyes. He had a gentle smile and held in his hands a four-sided gemstone. Dim light radiated from the gemstone, the very source of magic Felix had been seeking.


    A crack appeared in the statue, splitting open from its forehead and continuing down, almost bisecting the figure. From this long fissure oozed viscous ck blood, but it had long dried up, leaving unsightly stains.


    Felix could almost imagine how, over thousands of years, it had gradually eroded, fallen apart, cracked, and decayed into its current state due to the passage of time.


    "Indeed, it''s you, the despicable Harp," Felix murmured softly. His words seemed part admiration and part mockery. "So, Horcruxes can decay too, huh?"


    As if responding to his words, the statue of Harpor rather, the Horcruxbegan to lose its luster bit by bit, turning ashen. With a gentle puff of air from Felix, itpletely disintegrated.


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 Chapter 336: The Most Painful Punishment

    Chapter 336: The Most Painful Punishment


    Felix Harp gazed at the altar, a massive statue right before his eyes. In an incredibly short span, it decayed into pieces, shattered, and was then carried away by an invisible wind, turning into fine sand, leaving nothing behind.


    Was it because of the breath he had taken?


    Certainly not, Felix thought. That''s preposterous. The statue of Heirbald should have been simr to those serpent-monster bodies he''d seen before, sealed away for who knew how long, likely over a thousand years, no, maybe even two thousand?


    He thought it over meticulously. The vile Heirbald was active during Ancient Greece, even before the four founders of Hogwarts rose to prominence. By the time the Four Heads had emerged, Heirbald had vanished for centuries.


    For them, Heirbald had be part of legendinfamous but unseen. Perhaps, in their childhood, they might have been scared by their parents with tales of Heirbald''s wicked reputation.


    Felix smirked at this sudden thought. Once-upon-a-time legends were once children themselves. That was a fact, rarely considered by most. They often inclined to think that legends were legends from the very start.


    Setting aside this notion, Felix grew serious, pondering the issue of Horcruxes.


    Yes, Horcruxes. For him, the only allure of Horcruxesy in their connection to the study of the soul. Sadly, even though he knew how to create Horcruxes, he was rather ignorant about the realm of souls.


    He hadn''t even scratched the surface.


    He thought of that book, "Secrets of Advanced Dark Magic." It contained more than just one type of magic, but undoubtedly, Horcruxes were the most sinister. The wickednessy not just in the murder it required, but in the act of splitting the soul.


    To render an intact soul iplete was an act against nature, and it would exact an excruciatingly heavy toll. The book stated this explicitly. As for what that toll might be, it didn''t say, and Felix was left clueless.


    ...


    When Hermione entered, she was taken aback. There were not just the two snake creatures blocking the door; there was a whole nest of them. She had to use a Bubble-Head Charm, carefully avoiding the snake carcasses strewn around, and approached the professor. Just in time to hear him mention Horcruxes.


    A shiver ran through her. Could the professor have discovered the fourth Horcrux of the mysterious figure? But upon closer reflection, that didn''t make sense. He had mentioned a name earlierHeirbald. She quickly realized the significance of that name.


    Vile Heirbald, the infamous dark wizard of Ancient Greece, was one of the sources of many surviving dark magics. He had invented various cursed spells and dark magic, most famously, the Horcrux! And beyond that, he was also known for his connection to serpents and his discovery of the method to hatch snake creatures.


    Could they have stumbled upon Heirbald''s hidden Horcruxes?


    Just as she was about to inquire, the professor sighed and blew a breath. In front of him, the seemingly robust statue crumbled into dust. Even as she approached, there was no trace of ash left. It was as though everything had been a figment of her imagination.


    "Professor?" Hermione tilted her head, looking at Felix who had been silent all along.


    Felix gazed at her and said calmly, "Nothing much, just a bit contemtive."


    "You destroyed Heirbald''s Horcrux?"


    "Um, it''s not me. It was already destroyed long before. We merely discovered this fact."


    Hermione blinked and tried to analyze with her limited knowledge about Horcruxes. She nced at the others in the roomClementine and the three neers who were currently staring at the snake creature carcasses, and the house-elf Gonook... whom she couldn''t see, perhaps blocked by the snake creatures.


    So she asked in a hushed tone, "Professor, if a Horcrux is destroyed, what happens to Heirbald''s main soul?"


    Felix''s eyes shifted. It was an intriguing question. The purpose of a Horcrux was to split the soul, hiding a part in an external object. This meant that even if the body was attacked or destroyed, the person wouldn''t die, as a part of their soul remained unharmed in the world.


    But what if boththe unexpected death of the wizard and the destruction of the Horcruxurred?


    Was it possible that Heirbald, after inventing the method of creating Horcruxes and sessfully making the first one, hadn''t gotten around to studying how to restore his body and had died in an ident, or simply passed away...


    This spection wasn''t entirely impossible. Heirbald''s subsequent fame or infamy was due to his creative inventions of dark magic. Could it be that, prior to him, no one had researched ways to resurrect the dead?


    Felix continued down this line of thought. If Heirbald''s main soul endured due to the presence of a Horcrux, but he couldn''t find a way to revive, how many years might have passed? The Horcrux, too, would decay over time. What awaited Heirbald then?


    Would he dissipate into nothingness or continue to wander some obscure corner of the world, more wretched than the lowest ghost?


    "I don''t know either," Felix answered Hermione''s question, "Perhaps dying might have been a quicker end."


    Hermione was momentarily puzzled. She was about to press on with her questioning, but she realized the crux. With a Horcrux destroyed, leaving the main soul free, there were three possibilities: dispersing, surviving like Voldemort, or sessful resurrection.


    The first two were uncertain. But the third possibility was exceedingly slim, for after Heirbald''s time, no traces of his activities had ever been found. This, in itself, was odd. If Heirbald used Horcruxes to resurrect, there should have been no reason to remain hidden.


    The remaining two possibilitiesgoing by the professor''s response, "Perhaps dying might have been a quicker end"indicated the dispersal of the main soul. But if not... like Voldemort, would Heirbald wander the world for thousands of years?


    A shiver ran down her spine. This must be the most excruciating punishment in the world.


    "Youngdy, please step aside."


    Felix Harp stared at the altar, a grand statue right before his eyes. In an incredibly short time, it decayed, shattered into pieces, and was swept away by invisible winds, turning into fine sand until nothing remained.


    Was it because of his breath?


    Definitely not, Felix thought. That''s preposterous. The statue of Herpo the Foul should be simr to the serpent creature corpses he had seen beforesealed away for countless years, perhaps even two millennia.


    He pondered earnestly, Herpo the Foul, the devious dark wizard, had lived during ancient Greece, even before the founding of Hogwarts by the Four Founders. By the time the Four Founders rose to prominence, Herpo had vanished for centuries.


    For them, Herpo had already be part of legenda notorious name, a figure unseen. Perhaps, during their childhood, they had been frightened by their parents with tales of Herpo''s wicked reputation for misbehaving.


    Felix smirked, finding amusement in this unexpected thought. Legends, too, were once children. This was a fact, yet few made such connections. People tended to assume that legends were legendary from the start.


    Pushing aside that notion, Felix became serious, pondering deeply over the matter of Horcruxes.


    Indeed, Horcruxes. The only appeal they held for him was their connection to the study of the soul. Unfortunately, despite understanding how to create Horcruxes, he knew little about the realm of souls.


    Barely scratching the surface.


    He thought of the book, "Secrets of Advanced Dark Magic," where Horcruxes were just one of many forms of magic described. Yet, undoubtedly, they were the darkest. Not only did they require murder, but they also fractured the soul.


    To render a whole, untainted soul iplete was a profoundly unnatural act, one that exacted an enormously heavy toll. The book stated this explicitly, though it omitted the specifics of the price, leaving Felix in the dark.


    ...


    When Hermione first entered, she was startled. Not only were the two snake creatures blocking the door, but there were many more inside. She had to ward off their petrification curse, carefully avoiding the serpent corpses as she approached the professor. It was at that moment that she heard the professor mention Horcruxes.


    Surprised, she felt a rush of thoughts. Could the professor have discovered the fourth Horcrux of the mysterious individual? But that didn''t make sense, as a name had been mentioned earlierHerpo the Foul. She quickly realized the significance of that name.


    Herpo the Foul, the notorious dark wizard of ancient Greece, was one of the origins of many surviving dark magics. He invented numerous cursed spells and dark magic, with the most infamous being the Horcrux! Besides that, he was a Parselmouth who discovered the method of breeding serpent creatures.


    Could they have stumbled upon the ce where Herpo the Foul concealed a Horcrux?


    She was about to inquire when the professor sighed, and before her eyes, the seemingly sturdy statue crumbled into dust. The professor''s gaze turned to the rubble, and he''d been silent since.


    Felix looked at her and calmly said, "Nothing really, just a moment of reflection."


    "Did you destroy Herpo''s Horcrux?"


    "Hmm, not my doing. It had already been destroyed. We merely discovered that fact."


    Hermione tilted her head, gazing at Felix. He had been silent since earlier.


    Felix looked back at her and said calmly, "It''s nothing. Just feeling a bit contemtive."


    "Professor?" Hermione inquired, puzzled.


    Felix gazed at her and replied, "It''s nothing. Just sometimes, it might be easier to die."


    Hermione couldn''t grasp the meaning immediately, wanting to press further. But she realized the key point: without a Horcrux, a vacant soul had only three possibilitiesdissipation, like Voldemort''s state before rebirth; lingering, like Voldemort did after his first fall; or sessful resurrection.


    The first two oues were uncertain, but the third was immensely improbable. No trace of Herpo''s continued existence had been found byter generations. This was highly unusual; if Herpo had used a Horcrux to return, he had no reason to remain hidden.


    The remaining two possibilities, as per the professor''s response, might lead to dissipation of the primary soul, or, like Voldemort, enduring the passage of millennia within the world, wandering as a wretched spirit.


    "I don''t know," Felix responded to Hermione''s question. "Perhaps dying would be the swifter route."


    Hermione was momentarily puzzled, her thoughts continuing, but she soon grasped the essence. Without a Horcrux, there were only three potential oues for a disembodied soul, either to dissipate, persist like Voldemort, or sessfully revive.


    While the first two remained uncertain, the professor''s response"Perhaps dying would be the swifter route"hinted at the dissipation of the primary soul. Yet, if not, could Herpo be like Voldemort, wandering the world for millennia?


    A shiver ran down her spine. Could there be a fate worse than that, the most agonizing punishment in the world?


    "Miss, if you wouldn''t mind moving aside a bit."


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 Chapter 337: The Education of Sniffs

    Chapter 337: The Education of Sniffs


    Fairies are one of the few humanoid races that have fully preserved their cultural heritage. Apart from their unique fairy magic and exquisite craftsmanship, they have their ownnguage, customs, and habitats.


    Many aspects of their culture are simr to wizards, such as the way parents scare their children.


    In many fairy tales, Sniffs are portrayed as beingsparable to demons. Their reputation is far from unfounded; even in disputes among adult fairies, if you were to pick the top ten impactful phrases, "Your family has attracted Sniffs!" would certainly make the list, likely ranking quite high.


    "Fear not, Valen has many treasures," reassured Felix.


    Upon hearing this, Gornuk became even more uneasy. In the fairy mindset, the more treasures you have, the more desires you umte. How else could one amass such a considerable fortune? He hastily bid his farewells and Clementine, after ncing outside for a moment, gleefully announced, "Mr. Gornuk has chosen the tent farthest away from us." Laughter broke out among the group.


    The night had fallen, and Felix was alone in the tent. He pulled out a stack of parchment and meticulously reviewed the gains from his journey.


    First and foremost, he had acquired nine ancient magicstruly a bountiful harvest. For the sake of concealing his identity, Harp had inscribed only rtively normal magic on the stone bs, devoid of any oddities. Felix introspectively wondered if he could have left here unscathed had he stumbled upon this ce during his travels.


    Especially on a stone b closest to the hidden chamber, Harp had left behind some heartfelt words. The general sentiment was: since you''ve ovee myriad trials, you''ve earned my recognition; I''ve left all my knowledge within the hidden chamber, and so forth.


    Err all lies.


    Yet, this technique was incredibly cunning. Felix had to reexamine the details to truly fathom the intricacy of this scheme. Nine genuine ancient magics acted as bait, while interspersed between these spells were self-introductions and travel anecdotes on seemingly useless stone bsthese were Harp''s carefully arranged elements.


    For instance, he introduced his background first, followed by tales of his remarkable journeying, revealing some secrets along the way. Between the lines, he projected an image of a powerful, reclusive, and proud wizard.


    Would someone like that really design a trap for you? Totally unworthy of it! Wizards in that era had no concept of Horcruxes.


    Most ancient wizards set up hidden chambers either to hide treasures or to establish tombs. Naturally, such ces wereden with traps, and nobody would "publicly" showcase their formidable magic.


    So, ording to Felix''s perspective, with the mindset of wizards from that time, it was hard not to be ensnared.


    And when subsequent individuals epted Harp''s concocted wizard persona, their wariness would significantly diminish. They''d only cautiously confront the "trials" left by their predecessors, inadvertently neglecting to guard against covert malevolence.


    Furthermore, in the subsequent bs, Harp had left encouraging words, urgingter entrants to proceed and offering some rather useless tricks. All of this aimed to elevate his status in the minds of those undergoing the challenge.


    However, he deliberately omitted crucial information, setting up traps instead. For instance, disguising potent curses as small pebbles, cing them on essential paths; or suddenly increasing the curse''s intensity and strength, catching people off guard. But onceter entrants were predisposed to thinking of these as trials, they''d only assume their own inadequacy and never conceive of such malicious intentions.


    Regrettably, all machinations and plots couldn''t withstand the relentless march of time. Many of Harp''s designs appeared feeble and impotent over the passage of extended periods. Even the Horcruxes he had painstakingly guarded and shielded were long destroyed by his own hand.


    "It''s also possible that his technique wasn''t up to par," Felix pondered, "After all, he created the world''s first Horcrux, and oversights are unavoidable."


    ...


    Of the nine ancient magics that Felix noted down, four were offensive: Golden mes, ck Lightning, Corrosive ck Mist, and Malicious Transfiguration. There were two defensive spells: Silver Shield and Compressed Air. Thest three were of an auxiliary nature, ones he hadn''t yet had the chance to examine closely.


    "Hmm, Harp didn''t leave the names of these magics behind. I''ll just have to make up names based on their characteristics" Felix scratched his head in a somewhat puzzled manner. Well, names aren''t really that important anyway.


    At this moment, Sniffs,zily lounging on the tent''s carpet, came over. Felix casually tapped its head, and with a squeaky hum, Sniffs scurried aside, taking two Galleons, twelve Sickles, and six Knuts with it.


    Felix didn''t pay much attention, as he was pondering ancient magic. Among these, the most remarkable was thepressed air defensive spell. Rather thanpressing air, itpressed space, achieving a simr effect.


    Though not explicitly stated, wizards were generally aware that spellcasting had its limits in terms of distance, at least in most cases. You couldn''t expect a Disarming Charm to be thrown skyward and reach an altitude of ten kilometers. This was the limitation of distance.


    Among the spells Felix had mastered, the one with the greatest casting distance was the Patronus Charm. In his various studies, one direction he explored was having his Patronus change form, potentially taking on Felix''s appearance. This would make shopping ormunication quite convenient. However, when he shared this idea with Dumbledore, thetter quipped that he was overthinking things.


    "A Patronus is a reflection of the mind. Instead of trying to change its form, I suggest you simply put a wizard''s robe over it"


    Felix dly epted the suggestion. Using nk memories, he crafted a transparent, glowing robe. This way, his Patronus could pass for a ghost at least. Perhaps, after the school term began, a new specter would wander within Hogwarts Castle.


    Collecting his scattered thoughts, Felix focused on thepressed air magic. Its principle was rather simplebefore the spellcaster, a wall of air was constructed, but this air wallpressed a section of space. Consequently, any magic attacking him would exceed the spellcasting and control distances, naturally dispersing.


    In theory, this magic could deflect all attacks, including the Killing Curse.


    Felix had already decided to ce it at the forefront of his study list, alongside the ck Lightning spell. The ck Lightning spell was also potent. It was characterized by extreme speed and formidable pration power, rendering most defensive spells useless.


    His humanoid Iron Armor Curse was already somewhat less defensive than a typical armor spell. Faced with the ck Lightning, it would be as vulnerable as a thin piece of parchment.


    Once again, Felix marveled at how well Harp understood the concept of investment.


    "Truly a good person, unfortunately departed."


    Apart from these nine ancient magics, he had experienced a unique curse lesson. Even though Harp hadn''t taught him a single curse, Felix managed to glean something from his own firsthand experiences. Now, he needed to jot these things down.


    ...


    Valen, the Sniffs, entered the tent from outside. Seeing Felix fluidly writing on parchment, its shadow danced within the tent, causing the interior light to fluctuate. Startled, Sniffs grabbed a gem and tossed it at Felix''s head.


    Felix gazed at the gem before turning to Sniffs. Large and small eyes met, and they fell into a speechless silence.


    A few minutester, Felix lifted Sniffs and, reaching into its small pocket, extracted a pile of Galleons, along with various bits and bobs, including its Dreaming Merlin Badge and a damaged Time-Turner. Of course, the small suspicious pile of gems in the corner was particrly eye-catching.


    "Seems like I need to give you a proper lesson," Felix transfigured a small cup into a stool, allowing Sniffs to sit on it properly. "Behave and sit tight. I''ve been neglecting your education. Before you return these things, we have... about four hours."


    Valen Sniffs clutched its pink beak to its chest, sensing that its carefree childhood was drifting away.


    "I need to give you a basic education. Otherwise, by the time school starts, who knows what sort of trouble you might cause... Let me think. Among the economics books I''ve read, the section about property ownership is quite educational..."


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 Chapter 338: The Branch Store

    Chapter 338: The Branch Store


    The next morning, Felix Harp entered the Leaky Cauldron with a somewhat lethargic Snuffles by his side. He was about to reexamine the interior of the hidden chamber based on the residual magical traces. Also apanying him was the house-elf Gernook. Felix noticed that Gernook hadn''t mentioned the theft of the gemstone, so he gave Snuffles a reassuring pat on the shoulder.


    Seems like the lessons had paid off; Snuffles hadn''t pocketed a gemstone for himself. But there was no room forcency in the days ahead. Whether it was the Quidditch World Cup, the Magical Lamp Exhibition, visiting Beauxbatons, or returning to Hogwarts, these were all ces of risk.


    Clementine took Hermione to explore the city center of Cairo. "I''m taking you to see the Pharaoh''s Museum. It has a lot of things made by wizards, though the locals don''t know..."


    Hermione was highly intrigued. "I''ve read about this museum in books. There should be the Obelisk nearby, right?"


    "What''s that?"


    "A pointed pir, a monument the ancient Egyptians built to honor their sun god. I''ve seen them in France and London, but Egypt is where the Obelisks originated, so they should be different."


    Clementine pondered for a moment. "I''m not too sure, but I can ask around for you."


    They enjoyed themselves thoroughly for two days. During the day, they visited various attractions. Clementine was familiar with the magical stations within Cairo, and Hermione had absorbed a plethora of information from her books. They took turns choosing locations to explore and had a great time.


    As evening approached, Hermione joined Felix to learn the Golden me magic. Felix advised her, "You have enough self-control to attempt arranging runic sequences in private, but formal casting should wait until after the school starts."


    On the third day, they returned to Diagon Alley in London. Clementine also followed, using the excuse of not wanting to be alone with the greedy Gernook. She took a break from work to enjoy the World Cup. But as soon as they arrived at Diagon Alley, she disappeared into the headquarters of the Future World Company and didn''te out.


    The Future World Company was bustlingtely because it had finally opened a branch in Diagon Alley, selling merchandise to the public. Lu Ping had paid a hefty rent and secured the rights to the shop for the next two years. The store was located not far from Ollivanders Wand Shop.


    This shop currently sold only one type of product  magicalmps, all sorts of them. When Sirius and Harry came to Diagon Alley to buy books, their attention was immediately captured by two imposing dragon-shaped magicalmps at the storefront. They approached, and the vertical poster outside the shop showcased various other styles of magicalmps, incredibly eye-catching.


    A young, blond shop attendant maintained order at the entrance. Harry and Sirius entered the shop, finding rows of shelves disying magicalmps of various designs within translucent boxes. Additionally, the magicalmps that had appeared on the posters were floating in mid-air, easily reachable.


    A young boy reached up to touch the dragon above his head but found himself unable to. His father lifted him, and the boy struggled frantically. Anxious and embarrassed, he eximed, "I''m starting school this year!"


    "Dennis" The father was about to speak when the dragon-shaped magicalmp above them emitted a fan-shaped light, startling them.


    Harry also spotted Luna, who had her back turned to them. She was wearing a very conspicuous bright yellow robe and was examining an exquisite box. Inside the box were twelve palm-sized magicalmp dolls, even cuter in design, resembling something he had seen in an animated film.


    "Luna," he greeted.


    "Oh, Harry," Luna turned around, looking surprised, holding a small eagle with short wings in her hand. "Are you shopping for the World Cup too? I had a feeling I would run into some familiar faces today."


    Harry examined her, sensing something off. "Where''s your Dirigible Plum earring?"


    "It''s at home," Luna regretfully replied. She then turned and grabbed the arm of a wizard next to her, who was fixated on a purple-patterned item on the shelf. "Dad"


    The middle-aged wizard, Luna''s father Xenophilius Lovegood, turned around. A silver pendant hanging around his neck swayed on his chest. "What is it, dear?"


    "Can we take it home?" She raised the palm-sized eagle in her hand.


    "Oh, not a good idea," Xenophilius frowned, his gaze shifting between the eagle and the box. His cotton candy-like white hair billowed on his shoulders. "I think it''s not advisable... separating them might disrupt some mysterious connection between them."


    And so, Harry watched as Luna happily held the box containing twelve magicalmp dolls, ready to pay at the counter.


    "Goodbye until the World Cup, Harry."


    Luna waved at him, and Harry waved back. As father and daughter passed by Sirius, Xenophilius Lovegood stopped, his gaze fixed on Sirius''s face. Sirius became a bit impatient, but he didn''t say much. People giving him strange looks had be all toomon on this journey.


    However, Xenophilius had been staring at him for quite a while. Luna moved the box to the other side, engaging in conversation with Harry. She asked earnestly, "Have you seen Hermione? I need to talk to her."


    "Not" Harry hurriedly replied, ncing at Sirius. The atmosphere was getting tense.


    Xenophilius leaned in, his shallow silver eyes locking onto Sirius''s face. He showed his teeth, his voice dripping with mystery, "Are you Boddyman?"


    "Bodwhat?" Sirius''s eyes widened.


    "The lead singer of the Naughty Nifflers, the chubby Boddyman, who was quite famous a decade ago." Xenophilius whispered, "Sirius must be your alias, right?"


    Sirius stared back nkly, "No." He said with a strained voice. Xenophilius left with a disappointed expression, seemingly taken aback by something.


    Harry stood by, chuckling, tears almost welling up. "Short, chubby Boddyman... was he talking about you?"


    Sirius yfully tapped the back of his head, saying thoughtfully, "A whole family of Ravenws? I always thought there were peculiar folks in that house."


    "They are an exception, just a bit quirky," Harry defended Luna.


    Sirius said grumpily, "You just asked that girl about her Dirigible Plum earring."


    ...


    Future World Company Headquarters.


    "What''s this?" Lupin held a golden stick with a straight shaft and a dog''s head-shaped handle.


    "The Pharaoh''s scepter," Felix flipped through various forms.


    "What''s it for?" Lupin asked with curiosity. Was it some new product that suddenly leaped up to hit people on the head? He shook his head, pushing that thought aside. He''d been talking to the Weasley twins too much these days, and he felt a bit off.


    "A souvenir from Egypt, you can have it if you like." Felix remarked casually.


    "Never mind, maybe Sirius will like it, um, or Valen..." Lupin handed the scepter to Snuffles, who was eagerly watching from the desk, then shifted the topic to Clementine. "What''s the deal with that girl? Are you fond of her too, nning to mentor her like the Weasley twins?"


    Felix pondered for a moment. "They''re different. Villiers is likely to stay on. Currently, it''s more like a pre-employment assessment. She needs to firm up her determination."


    Lupin nodded knowingly. "I''ll make things convenient for her."


    Felix added, "Villiers is quite fond of ancient runguages. Given more time, her achievements could be quite remarkable."


    Lupin chuckled, "So, you''re nning to recruit a long-term apprentice."


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 Chapter 339: The Campsite

    Chapter 339: The Campsite


    As the evening drew near, Felix and Lupin emerged from the headquarters of the "Future World" Company. Due to the presence of branches for selling specific products, the vertical castle-like building was dubbed thepany''s headquarters, dedicated to research.


    Felix intended to expand thepany''s saleswork globally, much like Gringotts Bank. Many British wizards were unaware that Gringotts had branches in different countries; they thought it was the only one.


    The two of them stood at a distance, looking at the storefront. As the sky grew darker, the entrance of "Future World - Diagon Alley Branch" featured two floating fire dragons. Whenever someone passed by, they would exhale a burst of white me-like light, causing astonishment among the onlookers.


    "Hedwig has delivered the tickets. You weren''t around at the time, so I epted them on your behalf," Lupin said softly.


    "Yes."


    ...


    Felix returned to his residence in London and visited some friends. Then, one early morning, he apparated into a misty forest, a designated area set aside by the British Ministry of Magic for Apparition.


    "Walk in that direction and remember to register at the entrance," a weary old wizard said lethargically. At that moment, there was a sound of crackling nearby, and a South American wizard dressed like a peacock appeared, spinning around and bumping into a tree.


    The old wizard from the Ministry muttered something that sounded like "silly bird," and Felix followed his indicated direction, leaving the forest behind. Emerging from the mist, he saw a sloping hillside covered in a cluster of odd-shaped tents, extending upwards. These were tents set up by wizards who arrived early.


    Around the Quidditch World Cup venue, the Ministry had prepared several resting areas for the wizardsing to watch the matches. Of course, the lower the ticket price, the earlier the arrival time.


    Felix reached a stone house where a man stood at the entrance, wearing a vacant expression as if he didn''t care about anything. Felix could tell he was the only Muggle in this entire area, and he had just been subjected to a Memory Charm.


    "Hello, sir?"


    "Hello, I''m Roberts," the man said calmly. "State your name and pay up."


    ...


    Felix made his way through the tents. Near the entrance of the campsite, Ministry patrollers maintained order and acted as enforcers. "You!" one of them called out, "What''s with the chimney on your tent?" The reprimanded wizard vehemently retorted, "I haven''t vited any secrecyws, Muggles do the same!"


    "Are you sure?" the enforcer was somewhat puzzled. His colleague whispered, "I''ve seen it too; you might be mistaken."


    So, they left, leaving the victorious wizard to continue fiddling with his tent. Felix carefully navigated through this area, and as his sight broadened, he noticed that the Ministry patrollers were mostly focused on tents near the edge of the venue. As he moved farther away, a variety of tents with "magical traces" began to vie for attention.


    One tent, crooked and twisted as if glued together by a child, stood firm in the wind. About seven or eight feet away from it was a normally sized tent. On its side was an animated poster of what seemed to be a sports star, around thirty years old, with a grim expression.


    "Why are there extra things here?" a familiar voice shouted.


    Next, Hermione''s voice came, "Oh my, those are tent poles!"


    "Can we make do with them? Will they suddenly copse?" Sirius'' voice followed.


    Felix followed the sound and saw several of the Weasley children gathered around. At the center of the field, adultsMr. Weasley and Siriuswere inspecting the problem.


    "Hello, do you need help?" Felix couldn''t help but chuckle.


    Sirius lifted his head from the ground, clearly frustrated. He immediately stood up, pulled out his wand, and pointed it at the loosely assembled tent. It immediately sprung up and reassembled itself.


    "Well, you''re right, thougheven though we''ve lost a lot of fun," Mr. Weasley got up from the ground too.


    "Hello, Mr. Weasley."


    "Hello, Professor Harp," Mr. Weasley said with a somewhat stiff expression. He looked concernedly at his children and continued, "Children, put down your luggage, set up your beds; we might be here for a few days."


    He took Felix aside, and Sirius followed, ncing around.


    "Professor Harp, I heard from Harry that you taught him Apparition?" Mr. Weasley said with a conflicted expression. "It''s not that I doubt your teaching, but I can''t help but feelit''s, well, don''t you think it''s a bit early?"


    "Too early? Mr. Weasley, I''m not quite understanding."


    "The Ministry regtions state that Apparition should only be taught starting in the sixth year and after passing strict exams. A friend from the Inverse urrences Reversal Team told me about severe splinching incidents. Actually, I wouldn''t mind having it introduced a year or two early, but Harry was only in his third year at the time..."


    "Harry has the potential," Felix said.


    "Many adult wizards struggle with this magic," Mr. Weasley said anxiously, wiping his balding forehead with a handkerchief.


    Unbeknownst to them, the chatter within the tent had quieted down. A gap appeared in the tent, and pairs of bright eyes peered in their direction.


    "Mr. Weasley, I''ve always believed that Apparition should be included as a mandatory graduation requirement," Felix said with a smile, unconcerned about his tone. "I''ve already proposed this to Dumbledore, and it''s likely to be implemented this year."


    "Graduation requirement?" Mr. Weasley asked in surprise, his attention diverted. In truth, he wasn''t preupied with the Apparition issue; he was worried that Felix was rushing for results and might harm Harry. That''s why he gently offered his reminder.


    He had no idea that Ron and Hermione were secretly learning as well. He only found out today while they were searching for the Portkey at White Tomb Hill, when Sirius mentioned it. He had assumed it was something Sirius was teaching Harry privately, but now he learned it was Professor Harp teaching at the school.


    As the evening approached, Felix Harp and Lupin emerged from the headquarters of the "Future World"pany. Due to the existence of branches for selling specific products, the tall castle-like building had been named the headquarters, which was dedicated to research work.


    Felix intended to establish thepany''s saleswork worldwide, simr to Gringotts Bank. Many British wizards were unaware that Gringotts had branches in different countries; they thought it was the only one.


    The two of them watched the storefront from a distance as the sky grew almostpletely dark. Over the entrance of "Future World - Diagon Alley Store," two floating fire dragons hung, spewing out bursts of white me-like light whenever someone passed by, eliciting startled cries from the onlookers.


    "Fawkes has delivered the tickets. You weren''t there at the time, so I epted them for you," Lupin said quietly.


    "Yes."


    ...


    Felix returned to his residence in London and visited some friends. Then, on an early morning, he apparated to a misty forest, where the British Ministry of Magic had designated an area specifically for Apparition practice.


    "Go in that direction and remember to register at the entrance," a tired old wizard said weakly. Just then, a cracking sound came from not far away, and a South American wizard who looked like a peacock in his attire spun into view, only to crash into a tree beside him.


    The old wizard from the Ministry muttered something that sounded like "silly bird," and Felix followed the direction he indicated, walking out of the forest. Through the mist, he saw a gentle slope extending upward, dotted with various oddly shaped tents set up by wizards who had arrived early.


    Around the Quidditch World Cup stadium, the Ministry had prepared several campgrounds for wizards to stay in batches to watch the matches. Naturally, the lower the ticket price, the earlier the visitors would arrive.


    Felix arrived in front of a stone hut, where a man stood at the entrance, wearing an absent-minded and indifferent expression. Felix could tell he was the only ordinary person in this area, and he had just been subjected to a Memory Charm.


    "Hello, sir?"


    "Hello, I''m Roberts," the man said calmly. "Give me your name and pay the money."


    ...


    Felix moved through the tents. Near the entrance of the campsite, there were Ministry enforcers responsible for maintaining order and enforcing the rules. "You!" one of the Ministry enforcers called out. "What''s with the smokestack on your tent?" The scolded wizard vehemently defended himself, "I haven''t vited any secrecy regtions. Muggles do the same!"


    "Are you sure?" the enforcer looked puzzled. "Your tent is different from the others..."


    His colleague whispered beside him, "I''ve seen it too. You might be mistaken."


    So, they left, leaving the triumphant wizard to continue fiddling with his tent. Felix cautiously moved through the area, and as he walked, his field of vision widened. He noticed that the Ministry enforcers were mainly focused on the tents near the edges of the campsite. As he moved further away, the tents with various "magical traces" startedpeting for attention.


    A crooked and misshapen tent, seemingly put together with glue by a child, stood unyielding in the wind. Several feet away, a normal-sized tent stood, but on its side was a moving poster disying a certain Quidditch star, around thirty years old, with a somber expression.


    "Why the extra features?" a familiar voice called out.


    Next came Hermione''s voice, "Oh, Merlin, those are the tent poles!"


    "Can we make do with them? Could they copse suddenly?" Sirius chimed in.


    Following the voices, Felix turned his gaze. Several of the Weasley children were gathered, looking towards the center of the campsite. Mr. Weasley and Sirius were on the ground, inspecting the problem.


    "Hello, may we be of assistance?" Felix couldn''t help but chuckle.


    Sirius lifted his head from the ground, in a thoroughly bad mood. He stood up immediately, drew his wand, and pointed it at the loosely constructed tent. It promptly jumped into ce, assembling itself.


    "Well, you''re right, althoughwe''ve lost a lot of fun," Mr. Weasley also got up from the ground.


    "Hello, Mr. Weasley."


    "Hello, Professor Harp," Mr. Weasley said, his expression somewhat stiff. He cast a concerned look at his children, "Kids, put down your luggage, make your beds, we might be staying here for a few days."


    He pulled Felix aside, and Sirius looked around, then followed.


    "Professor Harp, I heard from Harry that you''ve been teaching him Apparition?" Mr. Weasley said hesitantly. "It''s not that I question your teaching, but I just feelisn''t it a bit too early?"


    "Too early? Mr. Weasley, I''m not quite following," Felix replied.


    "The Ministry regtions state that Apparition should be taught from at least sixth year, after passing a rigorous examination. My friends from the Reversal of Inadvertent Transfiguration Unit have mentioned serious cases of splinching... I actually wish we could start a year or two early, but Harry was only in his third year then..."


    "Harry has the potential for it," Felix said.


    "Many adult wizards aren''t proficient in that magic," Mr. Weasley said anxiously, rubbing his somewhat balding forehead with his handkerchief.


    Unbeknownst to them, the tent had fallen silent as the chattering within stopped. A gap appeared in the tent, and pairs of bright eyes peered toward them.


    "Mr. Weasley, I''ve always believed that Apparition should be part of the mandatory curriculum for graduation," Felix said with a smile, seemingly unconcerned about Mr. Weasley''s stance. "I''ve already proposed this to Dumbledore, and there''s a good chance it will be implemented this year."


    "Graduation criteria?" Mr. Weasley asked in surprise, his attention shifted. In truth, he wasn''t concerned about Apparition, but rather, he worried that Felix''s eagerness for achievement might hurt Harry. So, he was gently offering a reminder.


    Mr. Weasley was still unaware that Ron and Hermione were secretly learning as well. It was only today, while searching for the key to the portal on White Ridge, that Sirius had mentioned it. He initially thought Sirius was secretly teaching Harry, but it turned out to be the school''s Professor Harp.


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 Chapter 340: The Peculiarity of Crouch

    Chapter 340: The Peculiarity of Crouch


    Gathered here were a hundred thousand Quidditch fans. Even if each person made the tiniest of sounds, it would turn the entire campsite into a seething cauldron. As the afternoon waned, the restive mood not only didn''t diminish, but rather grew stronger, so much so that even the summer air seemed to tremble.


    Felix had been inside the tent, going over the items for the uingntern disy with Lupin and others. ording to the n, they would hold a grand magicalntern exhibition the night after the Quidditch final and continue it until the end of the match. In addition, the Future World Company had spent a thousand Galleons on textual advertisements for the Quidditch World Cup opening ceremony.


    The sun finally set, the twilight hues gradually fading away. Clementine and the young shop assistant, Aleck McKinnon, slipped out to y. Outside, it was livelyasionally, illusionary peddlers would appear, pushing cartsden with all sorts of memorabilia, weaving through the crowd.


    Even the Ministry of Magic had given up its final resistance, allowing things to unfold as they may. All kinds of magical signs suddenly emerged: crackling apparitions, enthusiastic shouts and sales pitches, joyous and noisy conversations... The campsite was bustling with activity.


    Lupin had also gone out; Felix stayed in the tent, manipting a wall of air with his left hand while holding his wand in his right. He whispered softly, "Expelliarmus."


    A red light shot from the tip of his wand, hitting his left hand directly. After a second or two, Felix''s left hand trembled slightly. He dispelled the magic and looked at his palm, where a red dot had appeared.


    "The effect is still quite limited," Felix mused. The spell he had just cast didn''t have much power. A couple of hours passed, and Clementine and Aleck returned loaded with bags, cing them on a nearby table. Felix put away his magic and looked at the various memorabilia on the table.


    There were glowing green rose-shaped badges, currently shouting at the top of their voices, "Irnd team for the win!" Clementine pressed the top of the rose with force, and it finally quieted down; then there were things resembling binocrs, covered in various strange knobs and dials. "That''s a panoramic telescope," Clementine exined, "I think it''s greatyou can rey scenes in slow motion and quickly analyze match situations."


    Felix gave it a try. "Indeed, it''s quite fascinating." He kept adjusting the buttons on it, slowing down the world before his eyes. Clementine was demonstrating a flying crossbow arrow miniature model in slow motion in front of him.


    Additionally, there were collectible statues of famous yers. Aleck McKinnon had bought aplete set ofmemorative figurines for the Irish team. They were walking around the table with an air of pride, until one of them identally fell off.


    "Oh, my Lynch"


    Aleck said, quickly wiping the figurine''s dusty nose. "Bad luck, be gone, be gone..."


    Clementine and Felix both looked at him, and he exined, "This is my dad''s way of doing thingsdriving away bad luck, can''t let a good situation go to waste."


    "Does it really work?" Clementine looked at him skeptically.


    "Of course," he enthusiastically introduced, "Britain has been without the cup for thirty years now. There''s a good chance this year, with the most cohesive teamConnolly, Ryan, Troy, Marlette, Moran, Quigley! And, of courseLynch!"


    "He''s a Seeker?" Clementine nodded at the ''Lynch'' in Aleck''s hand.


    "Exactly, the Seeker is the soul of the team..." Aleck became quite talkative when it came to Quidditch. When he found out that Clementine didn''t even know the basics of fouls, he stared at her as if she were an alien.


    "Let me tell you, there are many ways tomit fouls in Quidditch, like the mostmon pulling, charging, elbowing, locking the opponent''s broomstick, and moreplex"


    Felix quietly stepped aside, finding an interesting game. He set up thick walls of air in the atmosphere, throwing small, misceneous objects like cups and forks at them. They would stick to the walls and move forward in slow motion, their speed determined by the force with which they were thrown.


    Clementine also discovered this game and attempted to knock Professor''s cup off with her own.


    After several failed attempts, she shifted her gaze to Aleck''s yer figurines.


    "Absolutely not" Aleck said firmly, though he pulled out a bunch of small figurines from his pocket. "Here, you can throw this one for the Bulgarian team."


    In no time, the air was filled with all sorts of cups, knives, forks, badges, and figurines, along with a sealed bag of snacks.


    "Aleck wins, five points."


    ...


    The sky hadpletely darkened. Felix invited everyone to have dinner. "Let''s eat something. We can''t watch the match on empty stomachs, and who knows how long it will go on."


    "Where''s Lupin?"


    "Probably met some friends, chatted for a while. I''ll make sure to bring him some food." Felix said.


    "I really hope the match goes on for ten days and nights." At the dining table, Clementine said sincerely. That way, they would have more time to showcase the magicalnterns.


    Felix chuckled.


    "Haven''t you made a decision yet, Vera? You''re already thinking of yourself as part of thepany."


    Clementine blushed slightly, "I haven''t made up my mind yet. I enjoy being a Curse Breaker, but this ce is amazing too... Am I being a bit greedy, Professor?"


    Felix shrugged, swallowed his chicken, and poured himself a ss of chilled lemonade. He smiled, "That''s a fortunate dilemma to have. I can''t offer much help in this regard, but there''s no need to rush into a decision or put undue pressure on yourself."


    Raising his tall ss, he toasted from a distance, "This ce will always wee you, Vera."


    At that moment, Lupin walked into the tent with a worried expression. Felix poured him a ss of lemonade, and he thanked him before rxing his furrowed brows. "I just came from Harry''s ce. Almost had a confrontation."


    "What happened?" Felix inquired, guiding tes and dishes to Lupin''s side. "You might want to try this, fried halloumi cheese. Aleck got it from a vendor. It''s quite unique when paired with chicken."


    Aleck McKinnon, sitting next to Clementine, gave a cautious smile. Lupin patted his shoulder and said gently, "Thanks." He sat down and exined, "Sirius and the Weasleys were staying together, and they encountered Barty Crouch. You know..."


    Felix understood instantly. It seemed that Sirius might have had some issues with Barty Crouch, but Lupin''s words were unexpected.


    "Barty Crouch provoked Sirius with his words," Lupin''s brow furrowed again, and he continued slowly, "Crouch is in charge of the camp''s security. When he spoke about Death Eaters, he brought up old matters, iming that many Death Eaters have escaped justice"


    "But Sirius has been proven innocent."


    "Indeed, but he kept looking at Sirius while speaking. You know Sirius''s temperament. The two of them already had a history. If Harry hadn''t intervened..." Lupin shook his head, leaving the rest unsaid, but Felix could easily imagine the scene.


    They might have drawn their wands.


    A deep and resonant gong sounded from somewhere in the woods. Immediately, thousands of red, green, andnterns burst to life in the trees, illuminating the path to the stadium.


    "The time hase!"


    The four of them stood up, exited the tent, and followed the excited crowd into the woods. Emerging from the other side of the woods, they faced a massive oval-shaped open-air stadium, brilliantly illuminated from within. The light projected onto half of a wall gave it a golden hue.


    "They say it can hold a hundred thousand people," Aleck murmured.


    Armed with tickets to a top-tier box, they ascended a staircase lined with deep purple carpet. By the time they reached the top, they were at the stadium''s zenith.


    Below them was a spectacr sightten thousand wizards were taking their seats. Clementine tugged at his sleeve, and he noticed a huge ckboard by the Quidditch hoops. Various advertisements were being cyclically disyed:


    ''Daisies: Family-friendly brooms for flyingsafe, reliable, with built-in anti-theft Bee-Buzzer...''


    ''Future World: Watch the match, enjoy thentern disysay goodbye to oilmps and dizzying torches, the future is right before your eyes...''


    Felix nodded to acknowledge he''d seen them. Soon, their private box started filling upWeasleys, Malfoys, Sirius, Harry, and Hermione, followed by Cornelius Fudge and the Bulgarian Minister for Magic.


    Lucius Malfoy cast a cold nce toward the Weasleys and Sirius, then nodded slightly before engaging warmly with Viktor Krum. When Felix''s gaze met his, he instinctively looked away.


    "You still haven''t made up your mind, Lucius." Felix thought.


    After everyone was seated, the box was only upied by Krum and the Bulgarian Minister, struggling tomunicate due to thenguage barrier. Krum seemed to be greatly missing Barty Crouch, despite their personal differences. Even though they weren''t on good terms, Crouch''s linguistic prowess was well known. He could speak a hundrednguages, including thenguages of many magical creatures.


    Later, Barty Crouch arrived with Ludovic Bagman. Crouch had a terrifyingly stern expression, his face frosty, his body rigid. However, Bagman was being tormented by the Bulgarian Minister''s awful ent and didn''t seem to notice.


    "Thank Merlin, Barty, you''re finally here. I need you to trante"


    "I practically dragged Barty here," Ludovic Bagman cheerfully said, "I told him that you deserved the most credit and should be at the highest ce..."


    "Apologies." Crouch''s expression was full of disgust, his lips trembled as if he were resisting the urge to p Fudge. "I don''t have time for these trivial matters"


    "Trivial matters?" Fudge took a deep breath, looking at him incredulously. He was about to say something when Crouch''s lips moved silently, a few attempts to speak, although no sound came out. However, Fudge was standing too close, and he could clearly discern the shape of his lips. Crouch said, "Idiot."


    "Barty Crouch!" Fudge''s emotions mixed with anger and fear. He shouted loudly at Crouch, spittle flying, "So, you''re finally dropping the pretense and trying to snatch my position!"


    A silence fell over the box. No one had expected this turn of events, not even the Bulgarian Minister, who asked in proper English, "What''s happening?"


    As the host, Ludovic Bagman remained frozen, his round face sweating profusely. He took a few steps back involuntarily, eximing, "Oh, my!" Hermione shouted, it turned out he stepped on Hermione''s foot.


    "S-s-sorry, y-youngdy," Ludovic Bagman stuttered.


    Sirius ck sneered, "You see, neither of them is a good person. Crouch looked at me like this earlier today. I think he''s finally lost it."


    Sitting in the second row, Felix rubbed his chin. Were they going to witness a confrontation today? The Director of the International Magical Cooperation Department versus the current Minister for Magic?


    It''s a shame there are no reporters around.


    Mr. Weasley stood up, attempting to ease the tense atmosphere. He hesitated, "Mr. Crouch..."


    Barty Crouch seemed to regain hisposure. He opened his mouth but said nothing. He hastily mumbled a few apologies before leaving abruptly. All that remained in the box was a breathless and red-eyed Fudge.


    As Crouch left, Harry suddenly felt a sharp pain in his scar, like a branding iron against his skin.


    He covered his forehead, suppressing any sound, while only Sirius and Ron, who were seated on either side of him, noticed. Sirius leaned in and whispered, "What''s wrong, Harry? Is your scar hurting again?"


    However, at that moment, the Quidditch World Cup final officially began, and the massive cheer drowned out his concern.


    Ludovic Bagman enhanced his voice with a sonorous spell, and his words echoed like thunder throughout the stadium.


    "Ladies and gentlemen... Wee! Wee to the 422nd Quidditch World Cup final!"


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 Chapter 341: The Spectacular Final

    Chapter 341: The Spectacr Final


    A burst of cheers and apuse erupted from the audience stands, creating an extraordinary buzz.


    However, the atmosphere inside the private box hadn''t thawed from its icy demeanor; everyone''s expressions remained stiff. While Harry felt his forehead wasn''t as painful, his mind was a mess, entangled in inexplicable suspicions. He wasn''t sure if the pain in his scar was rted to Barty Crouch Jr. Perhaps it was all just coincidental...


    "What if it''s not?" a voice emerged in his mind. Harry knew what he was thinkingProfessor Quirrell from his first year.


    "But Mr. Crouch certainly didn''t wear a big scarf on his head!"


    Ron ced his hand on Harry''s shoulder, "Hey, Harry, you okay? That was quite unexpected earlier... Anyway, um," he looked around, trying to find something interesting, "speaking of surprises, how did Krum get so energetic?"


    Indeed, just moments ago, Viktor Krum had looked rather scared, but now, as he presided over the Quidditch World Cup final, his voice was filled with passion and joy, as if he hadpletely forgotten about Winky.


    "... Let''s wee the mascot of the Bulgarian national team!"


    Harry looked out onto the field, not particrly interested in the pre-match mascot performance that Hermione had mentioned to him. However, his attention was soon captivated, "It''s Ve!" eximed Mr. Weasley, hurriedly polishing his sses with excitement.


    A hundred Ve glided onto the pitch, beautiful women, incredibly beautiful women. In fact, more than one person had thought: they might not be human. The Ve''s skin glowed, their hair swayed gracefully behind them, exuding a powerful allure. Especially when they began to dance, this charm effortlessly captured the attention of the entire audience.


    Felix smiled as he pulled a rambunctious Ludo Bagman back from trying to respond to the Ve, who had tempted even Cedric Diggory to stand on his chair, wanting to join the dance. But he wasn''t the only one who lost control; those who were seeing Ve for the first time, those unprepared, were more susceptible to their charm.


    Felix''s gaze swept over the crowd; the appearance of the Ve had warmed up the atmosphere in the box. Hermione let out a loud snort of disapproval, pulling Harry and Ron back into their seats. "Oh,e on, what''s gotten into you two!" she scolded.


    The Irish leprechauns'' performance that followed was also unforgettable. These little people, dressed in red jackets and sporting beards, flitted back and forth above the enormous stadium, forming various shapes of fireworks. Finally, they assembled into a massive, dazzling shamrock, hovering above the spectators'' heads, showering them with a cascade of golden coins, like drops of golden rain.


    "Fake," said Hermione, picking up one of the coins. Nevertheless, she still excitedly gathered them.


    Next, Ludo Bagman enthusiastically introduced the teams of the match, focusing on the Seekers from each side. When the names of Krum and Lynch were announced, the audience responded with enthusiasm.


    The match began.


    Both national teams disyed immense strength, moving so fast that faces became blurred, and the field was filled with indistinct red and green shadows. Ludo Bagman could barely manage to call out their names and tactical maneuvers.


    "The Quaffle''s with Mullet! Passed to Troy! Now over to Moran! Dimitrov! Mullet! Back to Troy!"


    Bagman shrieked, "Falcon formation in y! Watch out... It''s in! Troy scores, tactical sess, 10:0, Irnd takes the lead!" He bellowed with excitement, and the whole stadium erupted into cheers.


    The match continued


    "Another one for Troy! The Quaffle''s still on Irnd''s side! You must''ve noticedoh, my goodness! Irnd isunching another attack! Moran! Mullet!"


    "Porskoff Ploy failed... Pass back! Spectacr! Moran this time!"


    Soon, Irnd was leading 30:0, and Bagman suddenly yelled, "Look at the SeekersKrum and Lynch, they seem to have discovered something, they''re tangled upoh, dear! Healer on the field! Lynch is down! Faked it! Match paused!"


    Clutching her binocrs, Cho asked curiously, "What''s going on? The Golden Snitch, those two just did something?"


    Alec Hopkins excitedly exined, "Lanczy Feint, pretended to spot the Snitch, dived suddenly, lured the opposition, then" he gestured toward Lynch, who was dazed and seemed to be floating on a cloud, his nose and face bloody, "That''s the result of a loser, damn luck." He muttered under his breath.


    Felix kept his eyes on the field. Krum, who had triumphed in this sh of brute strength, was now hovering high in the stadium, taking advantage of the rare and undistracted moment to search for the Golden Snitch''s glimmer.


    A few minutester, Lynch recovered, and the game resumed.


    "Too intense," Felix remarked. In just a short ten minutes, Irnd had scored ten consecutive goals. They were now leading 130:10.


    "Yeah, it''s intense. I''ve never seen such an exciting match," agreed Alec Hopkins.


    "... If it ends too quickly, the light show won''t be as good." Felix finished his sentence, leaving Alec momentarily speechless, trying and failing several times to pick up the conversation. Cho Chang giggled.


    As the score widened, various small actions yed out on the field. Bagman continued his duties as host andmentator, "Bulgaria''s Chaser with an excessive elbow movement, ssic foul... Yes, the referee''s blown his whistle, he''s awarded a penalty!"


    Outside the stadium, tension was palpable; both teams'' mascots and supporters were shouting angrily, shaking their fists. But the score expanded irreversibly to 140:10.


    "This match is turning out to be a perfect choice!" eximed Ron excitedly. He watched the intense game and, in the corners of his eyes, the scuffle between the Ve and the leprechauns. "The Ve throwing a tantrum doesn''t seem too pretty, but who cares! Kick that big-bearded guy''s butt, exactly!"


    "Ron"


    At this moment, a cry rang out across the pitch as Irnd''s Seeker, Lynch, suddenly elerated in a dive. Through the telescope, you could still see traces of blood on his nostrils, with Krum closely trailing behind him.


    Bagman''s boomingmentary filled the air, "Both Seekers elerating unexpectedly! Could this be a feint? Is Lynch seeking revenge? Ohthey''re getting faster and faster, no slowing down! No slowing down! I see the Golden Snitch"


    The hundred thousand spectators held their breath, while the two teams'' mascots continued to brawl in the corners.


    The two Seekers raced neck and neck, hurtling toward the ground, extending a hand each, straining their arms to the limit


    "Thud!"


    Lynch crashed heavily onto the ground, and Krum spiraled upwards, clutching the Snitch.


    The score on the scoreboard flickered: Bulgaria 160, Irnd 170. Yet, the audience seemed to be slow in realizing what had just happened.


    Stammering for a few seconds, Bagman finally said, dazedly, "Bulgaria''s Seeker Krum caught the Golden Snitch, but... the live score still has Irnd in the lead"


    He double-checked his notes, then was enveloped by a tremendous wave of tion. "Irnd wins! After thirty years! Merlin''s beard, who could''ve expected this oue!"


    "Indeed unexpected," muttered Felix. "The match ends in less than an hour. Who could have foreseen that? Alec, Clementine, Lymes... we should head out, prepare for the light show. The audience might be leaving tomorrow."


    "Mr. Harp, may I stay, just for a while? I want to see the award ceremony." Alec requested.


    "Very well, thene backter," Felix said. "Clementine, Lymes, what about you?"


    Neither of them was particrly interested in the awards. They left with Felix, passing by the Malfoy family. Draco greeted them politely, "Professor Harp, good evening." He was dressed impably in a ck suit, his hair neatly styled.


    "Hello," Felix smiled, nodding at him. "Looking forward to your performance this year."


    He nced at Lucius next to him, passing by him, and gently whispered, "Think about what we discussed earlier... I''m still awaiting your response, Lucius."


    Lucius Malfoy seemed somewhat ufortable, involuntarily gripping his wand tighter. "Of course, I will provide an answer," Narcissa observed her husband''s behavior with surprise, looking at him skeptically.


    Lucius shook his head, not offering any exnation.


    As they exited the box, Felix and hispanions heard the Bulgarian Minister''sposed voice saying, "I must say, ourds yed bravely."


    "Turns out you can speak English!" Fudge eximed with annoyance. "But you had me gesturing around here all day!"


    "Hey, don''t you find it amusing?" the Bulgarian Minister shrugged, nonchnt.


    Amusing... Fudge panted, his nostrils ring; he felt like punching the guy, especially after all that nonsense from earlier...


    Once he cooled down, Fudge began to feel that Crouch''s behavior had been a bit off. Could it be due to recent pressure?


    As Clementine passed by the front row, she happened to remark to Felix, "Ha, I''ve actually heard this uncle''s proper English pronunciation before. I thought I was mistaken..."


    Fudge''s expression suddenly became quite interesting, and a smile spread across the Bulgarian Minister''s face.


    Felix hurriedly led her downstairs, passing through theyers of audience stands. The top-tier box they had been in was magically illuminated. Ludo Bagman had already started to wee the Quidditch yers from both teams into the box.


    The supporters of the Irish team erupted into deafening cheers, while the fans supporting the Bulgarian team looked utterly lost, not yet having recovered from the shock.


    Standing at a neutral angle, Clementine said, "They are indeed pitiable, trailing by such a huge margin... hoping for a turnaround that never came..."


    "Ve" Felix began to say.


    Three or four Bulgarian fans red at her, and she btedly hunched her shoulders, taking refuge on Felix''s other side.


    Lupin smiled as he followed behind them.


    As they reached the ground, the victorious team soared above them, the Irish yerspleting ap around the pitch with their mascots.


    "At least there''s no crowding." Lupin remarked, "We have plenty of time."


    Felix mumbled, "I was worried about rowdy behavior from the losing fans. I hope the Ministry of Magic steps in."


    Thank you for reading this far! You can ess more chapters from HERE by joining my <b>Patreon</b>munity. You''ll gain exclusive early ess to the <b>COMPLETE NOVEL</b>.


    As a member of my <b>Patreon</b>munity, here is what you''ll get:


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    <b>For $10</b><ul><li>You get to suggest a Novel for me to trante.</li><li>You get ess to Digital art.</li><li>Your name featured on the "Wall of Gratitude" (in <b>gold</b>).</li></ul>


    <b>For $20</b><ul><li>You get to <b>rmend</b> a Novel and I will immediately start tranting it.</li><li>Your name featured on the "Wall of Gratitude" (in <b>blue)</b>.</li></ul>


    Don''t let this amazing opportunity slip through your fingers!

 Chapter 342: Lantern Exhibition and Surprises

    Chapter 342: Lantern Exhibition and Surprises


    They followed thentern-lit pathway back to the campsite, where everyone took out various magicalnterns from therge tent and stacked them into a small hill.


    "Except for those two ''big guys,'' everyone else is here," said Hermione.


    Lupin smiled and said, "Felix, your n still surprises me. I''ve been looking forward to today." He looked at Felix with anticipation.


    Felix shrugged, using his wand to tap his forehead, causing faint silvery light to appear.


    "Hiss~"


    Felix clenched his teeth and couldn''t help muttering, "The model is too intricate. It was a bit of a hassle to take out. That feeling, it''s like scooping something out of my mind..."


    Hermione gave him a disdainful look; the professor''s description was quite peculiar.


    Felix extracted a long strand of silvery memory from his mind, coiled it into a ball, and held it in his palm. Then he extended his hand, intertwining threads of gold and silver in the air. An open-air hexagonal snowke-like corridor slowly took shape in his hand. At the center of this snowke corridor was a swirling vortex about the size of a palm, into which Felix waved his wand. One by one, the magicalnterns poured into the vortex and disappeared in the blink of an eye.


    Under the gaze of the two, the snowke-shaped structure, about six to seven feet in size, gently floated up and flew into the air, gradually expanding until it upied a significant portion of the campsite. Then, Felix pointed his wand downward, and the snowke structure descended rapidly. Hermione let out a cry of surprise, and the next moment, she found herself standing in an exquisite corridor.


    Within the corridor, various differently shaped magicalnterns flickered in and out of view.


    Next, Felix cast a levitation charm on himself, lifting himself about thirty to forty feet high. In the darkness of the night, he looked like a gigantic kite, swaying in the wind.


    Looking down from above, he pointed his wand, and a corner of the snowke corridor extended outward, connecting to the pathway leading back from the stadium.


    Descending from mid-air, Felix said, "Alright, that''s about it. Let''s take a bit more time to adjust"


    "Professor Harp, what kind of magic is this?" Hermione asked from behind a railing across the corridor.


    "Well, let''s call it ''Room of Requests and Reflections''... or perhaps ''Chamber of Desires and Dreams''," Felix pondered the name, which sounded a bit odd, but as her hand passed through the railing of the corridor, she found some sense in it.


    ...


    The Weasley family, Harry, Sirius, and Hermione were carried forward by the surging crowd, gradually rxing as they moved away from the stadium. They walked and discussed the results of the match.


    Little fairies flew overhead, holding golden or greennterns, cackling happily in the air.


    "The Irish Chasers were fantastic. Actually, everyone was fantastic; their teamwork was wless. Bulgaria only had one star yer, Krum, but their coordination had issues, quite significant ones," Charliemented.


    "Their sportsmanship isn''t great either. Look at the number of fouls theymitted," Ron added.


    "Ron," Charlie said, "well-timed fouls can disrupt the opponent''s rhythm, especially when they''re on a roll."


    Mr. Weasley disagreed, "Charlie, I believe... matches should be clean. Elbowing, fouling, none of that should be allowed. Referees blow their whistles for a reason."


    "Dad, you said it yourself. It''s just a whistle, not a red card. To win matches, I remember people using curses, I''ve seen it plenty during my time at school."


    Mr. Weasley and Charlie debated fiercely. Finally, Charlie gave in, "I want matches to be clean too, but these things are hard to eliminate."


    Hermione yawned widely, catching Mr. Weasley''s attention. He gently said, "Back to the campsite, we can have some cocoa milk; it''ll help with sleep... trust me, it''s going to be noisy tonight."


    Ginny, eyes barely open from exhaustion, pulled on Hermione''s sleeve and said, "Are they nning to have a bonfire party?"


    "Haha! Not entirely impossible," Mr. Weasley said. "This match ended too early, and most people are prepared to endure three to five days... just wait, the night won''t be quiet."


    The noise ahead suddenly disappeared, reced by a chorus of astonishment. "Look over there!" Hermione eximed.


    On the path leading to the campsite, an open-air corridor had appeared from nowhere, adorned with various illuminated decorations, casting intricate patterns and designs.


    "What is this?" Ginny''s drowsiness vanished as she tried to get a better look by standing on her tiptoes.


    "No idea..." Mr. Weasley looked puzzled. "Could it be a program arranged by the Ministry?"


    As they approached, they realized the corridor was actually an illusion. A mischievous child was darting back and forth between the railings, giggling non-stop. Another older boy hid within the ornate columns of the corridor, thinking his family wouldn''t find him.


    His parents stared at him helplessly, ying along by searching around him, "Where are you hiding, Leo?"


    The boy covered his mouth, his eyes crescent-shaped with a grin.


    "Clearly rted to Professor Harp," the Weasley twins, pointing at the magicalnterns hanging in the corridor, said. "These are products of the ''Future World''pany, we''ve brought some to show you"


    As one of the twins reached out, his fingertip passed through a palm-sized lion-shaped magicalntern. "Huh? Is this an illusion too?" But soon, they realized it was a game. Gold letters appeared in the air, forming a riddle.


    ''Which letter represents an animal?''


    "Oh, this is too easy," Fred muttered. "It''s the letter B, representing a bee." As his words fell, the lion-shapedntern made a clicking sound, like a ripe fruit dropping from a vine, falling into his hand.


    The little lion opened its eyes, arched its back, unfurled a pair of tiny wings from its back, and fluttered around Fred in circles, emitting a cute "Rawr~" as it yfully sprayed a white light ball.


    The light ball projected an illusion of a castle, along with small text, ''Future Worldheadquartered in Diagon Alley, Ennd.'' The projection shimmered for a few seconds before disappearing, leaving only a milky-white light ball emitting a bright glow.


    "Wow," Fred eximed in admiration, "it seems those guys have added new features again."


    "Is it Professor Harp''s ''Future World''pany?" Mr. Weasley asked with keen interest, having heard the Weasley twins talking non-stop about it at the dinner table for days, gaining some knowledge about thepany.


    "Exactly," Fred confirmed.


    Mr. Weasley blinked, "So, girls and boys, are you still tired now?"


    "Oh, Dad, at least we have to get a little magtern for ourselves!" Ron yelled. His words were met with agreement, revealing that the riddles weren''t too difficult, giving everyone hope.


    Inside the ''Future World'' tent, Felix held a small model of the corridor in his hand, his eyes glinting with silver light. He seemed to hear their words, and a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.


    The Weasley family searched for thentern riddles. Ron boldly dered, "I''m going to solve ten!" But soon, they realized that the riddles became significantly more difficult after the first round, which was rtively simple.


    Holding a miniature lion-shaped magicalntern in her hand, Hermione stood before a dragon-shapedntern about the size of an owl. The dragon was merrily emitting ''breaths'' all around, attracting seven or eight onlookers.


    Harry leaned over, finding Hermione deep in thought as she pondered over a logic puzzle. There were over a dozen names on it, and they spun his head around. He read it twice but couldn''t grasp the meaning of the puzzle.


    "Do you know the answer?" he asked Hermione, who was engrossed in contemtion.


    "Oh, don''t disturb me, I''m about to figure it out," Hermione said, her wand constantly gesturing in the air, leaving strange symbols behind. Latin letters, perhaps? Harry wondered. He walked through the crowd, strolling along the corridor, and came face to face with Mr. Barty Crouch.


    "Hello, Potter."


    "Hello, Mr. Crouch," Harry said stiffly. Mr. Crouch had argued with Sirius just this afternoon.


    Barty Crouch''s eyes glinted oddly, as if he were appraising a precious gem. "Come with me, Potter, I have something to discuss with you."


    "What?" Harry asked, surprised.


    "It''s about Sirius ck. Someone has filed awsuit regarding his attack on the wizard in Knockturn Alley during his escape," Crouch said coldly.


    "But the Ministry has already cleared him! Sirius is innocent!" Harry eximed in frustration.


    "That was in the absence of further investigation," Crouch said impatiently. He reached out his hand


    "Let go of Harry!"


    A roar resounded, and Sirius rushed over from behind, pushing Barty Crouch aside and pointing his wand at him. "Old man, what do you want with Harry?"


    Their confrontation drew the attention of a group of foreign fans. Crouch nodded at the two and left without looking back.


    "What''s going on?" Sirius asked.


    "I''m not sure. He said someone''s suing you, and he wanted me to go with him," Harry said.


    "Howhow could this happen!" Sirius said incredulously. "I''m going to find out from him!"


    "Don''t go," Harry held onto Sirius. "Don''t go, Sirius, he''s a high-ranking official at the Ministry"


    "I''m not afraid of him, let go, Harry!" Sirius said angrily.


    "Sirius, I don''t want to lose you again," Harry said.


    Sirius suddenly lost all his strength. His fingers trembled. "Alright, let''s go back to the tent first. We can talk there. There''s definitely something wrong with Barty Crouch!"


    Seeing that he had persuaded Sirius, Harry nodded in agreement. "I think so too. I have a theory..."


    ...


    Felix stared at the corridor that had suddenly appeared before him, unable to help asking the staff beside him, "Whose idea was this, and why wasn''t I informed?"


    A Ministry employee answered, "It''s from the ''Future World''pany. They applied to host antern exhibition, and we approved it. However, we didn''t expect it to be this grand."


    "Felix Harp''spany?" Felix asked. He didn''t bring up the issue of confidentiality. Themotion caused by the hundred thousand people this afternoon was much greater than what was happening now, and it waste at night in the wilderness, so the risk was minimal.


    The Muggle family that lived nearby should be sleeping, and even if they weren''t, the Ministry staff would ensure that they did.


    Felix was more concerned about who owned thepany.


    The employee nodded.


    "When did they set up... this? It wasn''t here when we were watching the match?" Felix pointed with his thick finger, encircling the massive structure in his line of sight.


    The employee said, "I asked my colleagues who were on duty. They said" his voice became hesitant, puzzled, "They said it appeared out of nowhere. They were on duty, and suddenly, a building descended from the sky..."


    Felix didn''t say anything. After watching for a while, he waved his hand. "You can leave me now. I want to explore alone." He walked forward along the corridor and quickly realized that fans were guessingntern riddles everywhere. Hidden corners would suddenly burst open, revealing boxes of candy with the name of the Future Worldpany on them, or various small souvenirs. Among them, the most eye-catching were the things called "animations."


    It was evident that whenever a certain number of children gathered, the corridor would surge and project a series of images. It was a bit like connectedic strips, but with much greater appealcontinuous plots and interesting storylines. Even he couldn''t help but watch for six or seven minutes until the animation ended.


    At the end of the animation, a line of small text appeared, "This product is under development and will bepleted in the next three to five years. Please stay tuned." This was followed by thepany name and address.


    Withplex feelings, Felix continued walking forward and finally reached the end of the corridor. There was a hexagonal open space, and he realized that the ce he hade from was just one of the angles. There were five simr corridors extending outwards.


    People from different corridors converged in the open space, chatting andughing, holding various magicalnterns in their hands.


    "Uriah, can we meet Mr. Harp?" a lively voice said. She was a young witch with bright golden hair.


    The young wizard known as ''Uriah'' smiled and said, "I''m not sure, but he''ll definitely be at Hogwarts this year. Bernice, where''s your brother?"


    The young witch sighed, "Bertie''s on the riddle stage. He insists on getting a second magicalntern, but he doesn''t realize that there are a hundred thousand people here. It''s impossible for everyone to get one, so how could he easily get a second?"


    Uriah smiled and said, "I hope he seeds. Then I can exchange one of his Thunderbird-shaped magicalnterns."


    Bernice pointed to the open space, and suddenly, a massive Hungarian Horntail appeared. It was a ck one, with menacing brass scales and a raised ck spine.


    A young witch stood beneath the Horntail, excitedly waving her wand to make the Hungarian Horntail move. It was radiating light all over, which was the reason why people didn''t immediately run away. They recognized that it was fake, most likely a massive magicalntern.


    The Horntail pped its wings and took off from the ground, soaring in the low sky. People from various locations in the campsite looked up. The Horntail resembled a giant light bulb, emitting milky white light all over its body.


    "Wee to the Magical Lantern Exhibition hosted by Future World," Clementine said excitedly.


    The Hungarian Horntail spewed out a fan-shaped burst of light into the sky, resembling a dazzling firework. The crowd erupted into apuse.


    "This is an adult Horntail?" Harry asked outside the tent. He was stunned. He had seen dragons before. When he was in first year, he had encountered Norbert, Hagrid''s dragon, and along with Ron and Hermione, they took it to the Astronomy Tower and had Charlie''s friends take it away.


    "Yes," Sirius said. "If you encounter one, make sure to stay far away."


    "How dangerous are they? I know Ron''s brother Charlie is working with dragons in Romania," Harry asked.


    "Dangerous?" Sirius repeated, then said seriously, "They can stomp you to death without a second thought, or burn you to death with their fire. Remember, their mes are magical. Without enough knowledge and specialized training, don''t attempt to challenge them."


    "Are spells ineffective against them?" Harry widened his eyes.


    "Well, let''s put it this way. If your spell hits their scales, it probably won''t do much. Even if it''s their skin, you need to hit the right spot, and casting spells continuously at one ce might work. Of course, you can also use tricks... like deception, or attacking their weak points. The most convenient is the Conjunctivitis Curse, but it requires a bit of luck."


    After that, they watched the dragon performance. Soon, the second dragon entered the scene. It was slightly smaller, a Peruvian Vipertooth with brass scales and a raised ck spine.


    The two dragons fought, biting each other, coiling, and soaring into the air. Then, various magical creatures appeared one by one: phoenixes, Kelpies, unicorns, Flower Fairies, Erumpents, Hippogriffs, and Horned Serpents. However, the audience didn''t realize that these creatures were actually constructed illusions.


    Inside the tent of the ''Future World''pany.


    Felix stayed inside, continuously controlling the unique performance. Loo Pin sat aside and asked curiously, "Why aren''t you on-site? Why did you leave it to Vera?"


    Felix rolled his eyes. "I signed a confidentiality agreement. I can''t reveal anything about the championship event. I can''t let people associate me with the dragons, and I need to manage the on-site situation."


    He flicked his fingers, and five or six Mooncalves quietly appeared in the sand table.


    Loo Pin was momentarily stunned by his answer. "But the dragon-shaped magicalnterns have sold quite a few. Are you pretending that you''re not rted to them?"


    Felix exined seriously, "I only agreed to a magicalntern design that you guys came up with."


    The performancested for two hours, longer than the Quidditch World Cup final. Finally, Felix felt a bit tired. He informed Vera, and after she announced the end of the performance, the myriad of magical creatures and the snowke-shaped corridor upying half of the campsite gradually disappeared.


    Clementine and Alec ran back, unable to contain their excitement.


    "Professor, Alec''s flyers are all handed out. We prepared five thousand of them, but it''s not enough. Many people could only remember thepany''s name."


    "Well, it looks like thepany won''t be short of orders for a year or two," Felix said. "Remember to include a small booklet with thepany''s product when you ship. You can also include some products that are still under development. It''s a form of advertising."


    Clementine sighed, "I can imagine how busy we''ll be then."


    "Have you decided to stay, Vera?"


    "Of course." Clementine smiled. "I''m actually looking forward to what thepany will be like in five or ten years."


    ...


    As thentern exhibition concluded, the campsite quieted down. Sporadic celebrators sang songs boisterously, asionally leading to minor conflicts, but for a campsite with a hundred thousand people, it wasn''t a big deal. The Ministry staff quickly handled it.


    Around three or four in the morning, a slightmotion arose.


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 Chapter 343: Turmoil

    Chapter 343: Turmoil


    Felix Harp abruptly sat up, the protective enchantments he had ced around his tent were triggered.


    After casting various defensive spells on himself, he pushed aside the curtain. In the darkness, he saw a mother stumbling towards him, clutching a child in her arms. Her hair was disheveled, and she wore a dirty nightgown. The child in her arms was around three or four years old.


    "What''s happened?" Felix Harp asked in a deep voice. In the distance, cries and explosions echoed.


    "There''s chaos... those fans... no, they''re rioters! Setting fires everywhere..." the woman said, her face pale, still bearing the expression of recent fear.


    Lupin emerged from the tent, holding his wand alertly. "What''s going on?" He paused when he saw the woman.


    "It seems some fans have caused trouble," Felix Harp said. "Lems, take care of them. Also, wake up Clementine and Aric. I''m going out to take a look."


    Lupin nced at the woman and her child, nodding silently. He gazed into the distance where the camp was lit by red mes, cries and urgent shoutsing from afar.


    Felix Harp held his wand and hurried towards the source of the mes.


    On his way, he saw shadowy figures stumbling around, families in tow. They carried crying children, moving unsteadily, walking through the woods, seeking refuge.


    Most of these people were caught off guard, dressed only in nightclothes. Some were separated from their families, calling out names as they moved.


    Not everyone was in a state of panic; some wereposed, helping maintain order. A tall woman with amanding voice shouted, her voice rising above the chaos: "Quiet! Beauxbatons students, raise your wands to light the way for others."


    "Yes, Madam Maxime," a group of young witches and wizards replied in unison. They illuminated their wands, and the distressed crowd followed the light they emitted, gathering around them.


    "Follow me, take the path through the woods," the woman known as ''Madam Maxime'' led the way, her calm voice reassuring, "Stay calm, one by one, keep close!"


    While she might stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Hagrid in height, she appeared even taller due to her slender and graceful figure. Unlike Hagrid''s bulkiness, she had an elegance that hinted at giant ancestrybined with refined features.


    It was evident that she held high esteem among these young wizards, likely a professor.


    In the rush, Felix Harp didn''t have time to ponder further. They passed each other, and Felix Harp went against the stream, heading towards the mes. Halfway there, he noticed Ministry workers lying on the ground, unconscious. Each had been struck by at least four or five stunning spells, along with an assortment of other curses, looking quite bedraggled.


    Felix Harp gathered them together to prevent them from being trampled. He levitated himself with a Hovering Charm, maintaining a vignt lookout.


    Meanwhile, the ranks of the marchers grew. Initially, there were only around thirty hooded wizards wandering through the camp wearing masks. One of them had caught a Muggle family, the Roberts, and was forcing them to spin in circles over their heads for amusement.


    More and more people joined the group  disappointed fans looking to vent their frustration after the team''s loss, revelers who had partied themselves into oblivion for half the night, and thrill-seekers. The marchers'' ranks swelled to three or five hundred, igniting fires throughout the camp, leaving burning tents in their wake.


    Illuminated by the roaring mes, they saw a figure hovering in mid-air, looking down at them, his gaze directed this way.


    Squinting, the marchers saw that this figure seemed capable of flight, his eyes zing with a terrifying intensity. Even from hundreds of feet away, they could feel the anger in his gaze and the pressure it imposed upon them.


    "Master... Master"


    A hooded wizard eximed, his hand trembling uncontrobly.


    Among the marching group, the leaders of the hooded wizards stirred. Two of them even dropped their wands, falling to their knees in the direction of Felix Harp. "Master, we have long awaited your return"


    "Enough of this nonsense, that''s Felix Harp!" a hoarse voice interrupted.


    Felix took action. A surge of light gathered in his palm, rapidly expanding until he hurled a massive ball of light into the sky. It temporarily reced the faint greenish-gray hue of dawn on the horizon with a radiance akin to winter sunlight.


    This brilliance, not blinding but bright, instantly filled every inch of space, every shadow. Even the moon hanging high in the sky was obscured. The entire camp was as bright as day.


    Felix Harp took in the chaotic scene


    On his right side was the procession of people. At its forefront were around thirty to forty wizards wearing hoods and masks, likely the instigators of the chaos. They were tightly packed together, forming a dense formation as they advanced slowly. Floating above these individuals were four struggling figures distorted into various bizarre shapes  ordinary people in nightclothes, helpless and manipted like puppets by invisible strings.


    Around the hooded figures, several hundred riotous fans had gathered. Judging from their attire, they came from different countries, united by amon passion or a fondness for chaos. Theseters to the procession had a more straightforward purpose: venting their anger and causing turmoil. Some wore ridiculous masks they had acquired from who knows where, while others only covered their faces with cloth. There were those who exposed their faces without any restraint, drunkenly waving their wands to produce sparks.


    In the wake of the procession  on both sides of the path they had traversed y a trail of burning tents, resembling a row of massive torches.


    Surrounding them was a fleeing crowd  women''s screams, children''s cries, and men''s anxious shouts all intertwined.


    As Felix''s magic illuminated the entire camp, people recognized the direction and stopped running around like headless flies, instead guiding their families away from the procession.


    In various corners of the camp, countless heads lifted, gazing up at Felix''s figure in mid-air, filled with astonishment.


    On a path at the edge of the forest


    "Look at that person! He''s floating in the sky!"


    "Where''s Madam Maxime? We can''t find her" A curly-haired girl, about the same age as Hermione, shouted toward Harry, Ron, and Hermione. The three of them had been separated from the adults and the twins, Ginny and the twins, and had just arrived at a path along the edge of the woods.


    This ce was packed densely with people, everyone looking anxiously toward the camp.


    "Who''s Madam Maxime?" Harry asked nervously. He had just used his wand to knock out a drunken reveler. He, Ron, and Hermione had worked together to hide the man in a thicket.


    "They''re not from our school..." A young witch about Hermione''s age, holding onto the curly-haired girl, cast a quick nce at Harry, Ron, and Hermione in the bright light. She whispered "Hogwarts" and then joined the others in looking at Felix in mid-air.


    "Who is he? Why can he fly?"


    "Is he the leader? I saw someone from the procession kneel to him"


    "Don''t talk nonsense!" Hermione shouted in frustration, looking concerned. She said in a hushed tone, "That''s Professor Harp. He''s probably trying to stop the riot. This is too dangerous; there shouldn''t be a direct confrontation... there must be hundreds of them."


    Harry looked over. The professor''s magic illuminated the camp. They could see clearly, and over a dozen colorful spells were flying toward the professor from the marchers. However, most of them were crooked and off-target.


    Ron reassured, "Professor Harp is at least four or five hundred feet away. Don''t worry; they can''t really reach him."


    ...


    Felix cast Lumos to illuminate the camp. Some of the marchers immediately grew uneasy  the darkness had given them the courage to misbehave, but when the light came, they could only hide their indecency to avoid being exposed.


    People kept leaving the group, slipping away quietly.


    But many remained in ce. These individuals were rowdy, making noise, pointing and gesturing at Felix, intentionally sending sparks and spells as provocations.


    On the other side of the procession, Mr. Weasley, Bill, Charlie, and Sirius appeared somewhat helpless. Charlie asked, "Dad, what should we do?"


    Mr. Weasley looked at the floating Roberts family. "We can''t act hastily. It wouldn''t be good if they got hurt."


    They were concerned. Earlier, a few Aurors from the Ministry had tried to pose as marchers and get close to the Roberts family, only to be subjected to concentrated attacks.


    "They''ll disperse soon enough," Mr. Weasley said with a determined tone. Annoyance crept into his voice as he added, "Rats in the gutter! These fellows are utterlywless! If only we could catch them all"


    Sirius pointed to the sky. "Someone shares your sentiment."


    Felix''s expression remained calm. He extended his hand, pointing forward. A bolt of ck lightning descended, and almost simultaneously, a hooded wizard was pierced through the chest.


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 Chapter 344: Halt

    Chapter 344: Halt


    The parade participants stood frozen in their tracks, feeling as if their eyes were ying tricks on them. The wizard with a lightning-struck hat stared in disbelief at his bloodied chest. He took a few steps forward, turned around, looked at hispanions, and then copsed in slow motion.


    Among the leading hooded wizards, one bent down to inspect, "Severely injured, but not dead." He narrowly dodged the second ck lightning bolt that came flying towards him and struck hisrade''s abdomen behind him.


    Next, Felix''s fingertips clutched the ck lightning, bursting into crackling explosions. Arcs of electricity spread like a vast web, approaching them. While these smaller arcscked the sheer power of the initial two lightning bolts, they proved more troublesome. Parade participants were hit by the arcs, convulsing and falling to the ground like harvested wheat.


    The hooded wizards were quick to react. They pulled their woundedrades back, erecting magical barriers and shields. They counterattacked through the openings, gradually retreating, positioning themselves at the heart of the parade.


    However, while they gained safety, they distanced themselves from Felix. Most spells faded and vanished in midair.


    "Counterattack! He''s alone" a confused, red-faced wizard shouted, swaying with a wand in one hand and a bottle of alcohol in the other, his disheveled beard matching his drunken mor.


    "He''s too far!" another person yelled in frustration.


    The intoxicated red-faced wizard roared, "Follow me!" He and a dozen simrly-mindedpanions charged at Felix, closing in on him. Most parade participants watched in cold detachment. As expected, a mass of ck lightning struck their feet. These individuals hadn''t even cast basic defensive spells. They fell like broken dolls, howling in pain.


    The next moment, Felix vanished from midair, appearing suddenly fifty feet ahead of those fallen. His expression was icy, and his eyes seemed to flicker with mes.


    "Foolish people," he muttered, his gaze not lingering on the charging wizards. They were mere pawns in this game, his attention fixed on the bulk of the parade.


    "Damn it! Does he want to take us all on alone?" someone protested indignantly.


    Before they could react, a powerful spell burst from the tip of Felix''s ck wand, its red light coloring every face.


    Felix''s target was clear: the group of hooded wizards nestled within the crowd. They were likely the organizers of this chaos. d in unified attire and disying coordinated tactics, they knew each other well, perhaps having fought side by side before.


    Names of various known and unknown wizard groups flickered through his mind, but the most likely one was


    "Death Eaters," Felix murmured softly.


    These parade participants were a disjointed mob,cking coordination. They erected spells haphazardly, often hindering each other and causing failures. This allowed Felix''s spells to flow unobstructed, disarming them with powerful spells, sending them flying one after another.


    But the counterattack was swift.


    Felix had to conjure a golden shield, seemingly imprable. Spells pinged and ponged against it. While individual spells had minimal impact, the sheer volume of attackers created a dense barrage. After a dozen seconds, the golden shield finally gave way, copsing into golden dots. But before that happened, Felix had already shifted his position.


    Felix sporadically employed Phantom Apparitions, vanishing suddenly to evade focused spells. He''d reappear a dozen feet away, each reappearance apanied by a series of spells that curved from hidden angles, knocking out several individuals.


    A cacophony of spells followed his every move, yet they couldn''t touch the hem of his robe. When pressure mounted, Felix swiftly shifted to the other side of the parade. Each time he did, he imed six or seven casualties.


    Amid the chaos, nobody paid any attention to the Roberts family floating in the air. When the Levitation Charm''s effect ceased, they screamed and plummeted. Felix appeared suddenly, extending his wand to immobilize them, then shifted them to the side, ready to hand them over to Ministry officials nearby.


    Only three officials remained, having narrowly avoided the parade participants'' wrath, trailing behind the procession. They wanted to rescue the Roberts family, but like Mr. Weasley, they hesitated to use magic, fearing coteral damage.


    "Good opportunity" someone shouted from the midst of the parade crowd.


    They simultaneously raised their wands and fired various colored spells towards Felix''s direction. A dense magical radiance turned the surroundings fiery red, but these spells halted about three feet away from Felix, forming a wall of magic.


    These spells didn''t stop; instead, they moved forward in slow motion. Felix deftly sidestepped a few steps. After a couple of seconds, spells whooshed forward, leaving small burnt or decayed craters in the ground, scattering bits of grass.


    During these seconds, the Roberts family safelynded in the hands of Ministry officials. "Thank you, Mr. Harp!" a Ministry worker eximed, using magic to catch them.


    His gratitude seemed to mock the parade participants. A malicious curse shot from the crowd towards the Roberts family. Suddenly, a few figures emerged: Mr. Weasley, with Charlie and Bill on either side. Sirius took a step forward, deflecting the curse.


    "Well done, Arthur," the Ministry worker said joyfully.


    Felix sharply turned, his ck ebony wand thrust like a sword. A burst of golden mes detonated within the crowd. The attacking wizard was engulfed in mes, emitting a burnt smell.


    By this time, many had realized the peril and hastily employed Phantom Apparitions to escape, including the hooded wizards.


    Felix, in haste, couldn''t afford to be meticulous. He scattered awork of ck lightning arcs, trying to form a sealed electrical cage. Once established, it would be difficult for these individuals to perform another Phantom Apparition.


    Amidst the chaos, a hooded wizard croaked, "I promise you"


    Felix''s magic stuttered for a moment. Seizing the opportunity, the hooded wizard vanished through a Phantom Apparition, taking his tworades, whose chests had been pierced by ck lightning. The next second, the extensivework of ck arcs converged, forming an airtight cage.


    "What''s special about those two?" Felix pondered carefully. They were positioned quite near the front, though not leading. If they were Death Eaters, it suggested they held a significant status.


    Felix stood outside the cage, calmly flicking a spell, much like catching turtles in a jar. Two hooded wizards desperately attempted Phantom Apparition but ended up leaving behind an arm and a thigh, their cries of agony echoing.


    At this moment, Felix needed to conserve energy. Most of these people were tourists from various countries. Even if they incited a riot, he couldn''t risk killing anyone, or he''d face trouble himself.


    His initial two fierce attacks were directed at the hooded wizards, but whether fatalities urred remained uncertain.


    Mr. Weasley, Charlie, Bill, Sirius, and three more Ministry officials arrived to help. Casting spells through the gaps in the electrical web, they immobilized the people within, all lying like harvested wheat.


    After a while, Felix dispelled his magic, revealing over a hundred parade participants inside, including several hooded wizards. He removed their masks, seeing familiar faces. Adding the broken limbs left behind due to disapparation, the scene looked quite horrifying.


    Sirius nced at the hooded wizards, coldly snorting in disdain.


    The turmoil was finally subdued.


    Silence, an intense silence, like someone had pressed the pause button on the scene. Even the cries of children were hushed by their parents.


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 Chapter 345: Various Reactions

    Chapter 345: Various Reactions


    Felix waved to a few Ministry of Magic workers standing nearby. One of them, an excited young man, hurried over. "Greetings, Mr. Harp! It''s unbelievable that you directly intervened in the chaos..." He seemed quite young, his face lit up with excitement, causing even his e to shine.


    Felix remained calm and said, "Aren''t these matters under your jurisdiction?"


    "Rest assured! Leave it to us." The wizard patted his chest and took out a whistle from his pocket. He blew it with a "tweet," but after blowing for a while, no one came. He sighed, "My colleagues must have been knocked out..."


    Felix pointed in the direction he hade from. "I found some people and ced them in that direction."


    "Mueller! Keen! Follow me!" the wizard shouted, then before leaving, he couldn''t help but say, "It''s an honor to fight alongside you, Mr. Harp."


    "We''ll go help with the firefighting," Mr. Weasley said. He called Bill and Charlie and after a moment''s thought, Sirius greeted Felix and said, "I''ll go find Harry and the others."


    Felix nodded to him and then circled around the camp, rescuing some injured people. He also used Patronus messages to notify Lupin and Tonks. Soon, everyone gathered, including the mother and child.


    "Thank you, thank you..." the young mother kept expressing her gratitude.


    When they returned to the battlefield, it was already surrounded by hundreds of Ministry wizards who were systematically categorizing and removing the rioters.


    Fudge wiped sweat from his forehead continuously, his face a mixture of fear and disgust. "Take them all away! Find out their nationalities and identities, report to their respective Ministry! And these, these..."


    He hesitated as he looked at the fallen Death Eaters. It was difficult for him to make a decision. He had just looked at these people''s faces, and the familiar faces made his stomach churn.


    "Minister, those wearing hoods are the leaders of this riot. They also dragged the Roberts family out of their house. They were greatly frightened and are currently undergoing memory treatment..."


    Fudge''s lips trembled, his heart full of hesitation. Most of these hooded individuals were pure-bloods. If he were to judge them all as masterminds, they would be sentenced to Azkaban for at least three to five months. But then he could kiss their support goodbye.


    "Click!" "Click!"


    Sounds of camera shutters echoed, and clusters of purple smoke wafted through the air.


    Rita Skeeter excitedly directed her assistants, "Here, here, and over there... I saw it! Quidditch World Cup fans causing trouble, mocking Muggles for fun..." Her mouth was almost crooked from smiling.


    "Did you capture a photo of Mr. Harp in the crowd?" she asked eagerly.


    "Only his back," her photographer replied.


    "That''s fine too. We can make a series of reports"


    Fudge''s fingers trembled. "When did they arrive? Get rid of them! No, wait..." He rolled his eyes and whispered to his secretary, "Confiscate their photos, don''t destroy them. Keep them secretly."


    Walsh Sidrick, the Ministry of Magic''s advisor, nodded and walked toward Rita Skeeter. "Madam, the investigation is ongoing. The photos you''ve taken will be crucial evidence..."


    Rita Skeeter''s argumentative voice rose, but Walsh Sidrick said something to her. "...pure-bloods. Do you really want to anger them?"


    Rita Skeeter blinked and thought for a moment. "Alright then, you owe me a favor." With her back to Walsh Sidrick, she waved to her photographer, secretly leaving a stack of film negatives behind and recing the rest with new ones. She turned around, holding the film negatives in her hand, and waved them in front of Walsh Sidrick. He reached out to take them, but the film turned to ashes.


    "Skeeter, you" Walsh Sidrick was infuriated.


    Rita Skeeter slyly said, "I need them to owe me a favor, don''t you think, Mr. Sidrick?"


    Nearby, Harry and his friends met up with Ginny and the Weasley twins. They rushed over in a hurry, joining the crowd to look for Mr. Weasley, Bill, Charlie, and Sirius, who had been helping maintain order earlier.


    However, Ministry officials had formed a barrier, separating the scene from view. People strained on their tiptoes, attempting to catch a glimpse of something.


    Hermione asked in a hushed voice, "Did you see Professor Harp?"


    "He should have left," Harry said. "I watched him leave, and he didn''t appear injured."


    "Amazing!" Ron eximed in admiration. "He took down a whole group of them single-handedly. Those wizards were like headless flies in front of him, or defenseless Billywigs without stingers. Absolutely no threat at all."


    Hermione said gravely, "That''s because the professor used not just one ancient magic. Did you see the golden shield? He blocked hundreds of spells with it. And then he kept using the Disillusionment Charm to evade. It''s really dangerous..."


    Harry added, "It''s not about evading, it''s about finding opportunities. It''s a tactic. I tried to replicate it during the summer with Sirius while ying dueling games, but unfortunately"


    Hermione disagreed, "That''s very risky, Harry. The Disillusionment Charm is difficult to cast repeatedly, not to mention quickly."


    "I know, but once you''ve learned it..." Harry didn''t continue his thought. Instead, he looked meaningfully at the scene. Through the gaps between the Ministry workers, he could see over a hundred wizards lying askew on the ground.


    Silence spoke volumes.


    On the other side, members of the Inverse Incidents Unit arrived. They were identifying individuals who had failed the Disillusionment Charm and were left stranded in ce, using the various "damaged limbs" they left behind.


    Ron craned his neck, trying to see more clearly. "Arms, legs... What''s that... all bloody!" He suddenly got a pat on the head from behind. It was Mr. Weasley, who had just rushed over. Behind him were Bill and Charlie, while Sirius stood on the other side, smiling at Harry.


    "Don''t stare around, you might have nightmares," Mr. Weasley warned. They were all dirty, with traces of burns.


    "I was just curious. Imagine if they left behind" Ron began but then stopped abruptly, as if something had caught his attention. He looked at Charlie, his mouth slowly widening. He pointed at Charlie. "Eye... eyesthey''re still moving!"


    "What?" Charlie looked at him, bewildered. Mr. Weasley shot Charlie a nce, then quickly pulled him aside.


    Above Charlie''s head was a brown eyeball, frantically rolling around. The area around it cleared out with a rustling sound. Harry''s heart pounded. Mr. Weasley shouted, "Arnold! There''s another one over here! The Disillusionment Charm split!"


    A robust wizard ran over, took a look, and grinned, gesturing to his eye, "Still got some veins attached... if we don''t handle it..." He mimicked the motion of spraying something, indicating a "burst."


    Mr. Weasley furrowed his brow. "There are children here."


    "Oh, sorrytwo people over here!" the wizard called Arnold shouted. Soon, two others joined him. They circled the eyeball, using their wands to gesture and discuss. "I''ll go," Arnold said. Amidst the shocked gazes of the crowd, he grabbed the eyeball and squeezed and squeezed, as if he was about to burst it.


    "Bang!"


    He and the eyeball vanished together.


    "Wait, he''ll be back in a moment," the adjacent wizard said casually. Then, with a heavy yawn, he said, "Another overtime shift today."


    Ron gulped down a mouthful of saliva fiercely, his stomach churning. It felt as if he''d swallowed something slippery and unpleasant, making him retch involuntarily. Harry and Hermione wore simrly uneasy expressions.


    The twins felt a sense of regret. Ron had been showing off his Disillusionment Charm before them, but they had nned to learn it early.


    On the other side, a heavy-weight figure arrived.


    Barty Crouch Jr. spoke with a cold face, "Excuse me, make way." He pushed through the crowd, like a rock pushing into the enclosed circle formed by the Ministry.


    "Crouch?" Fudge''s expression soured as soon as he saw him. He had initially wanted to inquire about Crouch''s strange behavior, but with such a major incident unfolding, he had long cast those thoughts aside.


    "I put you in charge of the Quidditch World Cup''s security, and where did you go?"


    "To track those masked individuals," Crouch said tersely.


    Harry stared at the back of Barty Crouch Jr.''s head, wondering if his scar was still hurting, and if he could catch a glimpse of Voldemort''s ugly face.


    Sirius also looked at him with searching eyes. Godfather and godson stared for quite a while. Eventually, Harry shook his head at Sirius, indicating that there was no reaction this time.


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 Chapter 346: Shadows Approach

    Chapter 346: Shadows Approach


    The sky gradually lightened, turning into a deep shade of blue, with a faint touch of white emerging from the horizon.


    Felix Harp stood amidst the crowd, beginning to understand why Fudge was so wary of Barty Crouch. Crouch rarely smiled, exuding an old-fashioned and rigid demeanor. While Fudge was still contemting how to handle these masked individuals, Crouch had already issued orders methodically.


    "Take these ruffians away," he said sternly, "they will undergo interrogation until someone reveals the mastermind behind this act of terror."


    Fudge wiped his brow, "Crouch... Barty, you''re being too severe... They were just drunk and causing a bit of amotion. It didn''t result in any serious consequences... I wouldn''t ssify it as terror... If it weren''t for the Muggle involvement, a fine would suffice."


    "Oh, really?" Crouch retorted, his eyes fixed firmly on the unmasked figures, "Some of them I recognize quite well, very well indeed..."


    Fudge cleared his throat, "Very well, let''s discuss some matters back at the officeWalsch!" He turned and scanned, as Walsch Cedric briskly approached.


    "I''ll take charge of a portion of these people; you handle the aftermath... um, the pacification work. I need to return to the office to deal with moreplex troubles."


    The Ministry''s staff hastily prepared a batch of Portkeys and left with the fallen individuals.


    Walsch Cedric arranged for the remaining people to extinguish fires and calm the crowd. Many families had be separated, and the Ministry''s employees empowered their voices, their throats going hoarse as they shouted amidst the crowd.


    There were ims,ints, grievances, all sorts of tangled demands. Walsch demonstrated excellent professionalism, taking note of everything and then casually instructing them topile a list of losses. Whetherpensation would be provided or not remained uncertain.


    "They won''t getpensated, just have to chalk it up as bad luck," Sirius, experienced as he was, quipped. Harry wanted tough but found it hard to, so he settled for a wry grin.


    "Alright, children," Mr. Weasley said, "you should head back to your tents and get some sleep. Dawn is only a few hours away, and you''ll need to queue up again to collect the Portkeys in the morning."


    Barty Crouch remained behind, seeking out Felix Harp.


    "There are some matters I wish to discuss with you, Mr. Harp," Crouch said with a stern expression, "shall we find a ce to have a proper conversation? What do you think?"


    "Of course," Felix replied with a slight smile, "how about my tent? It''s still intact."


    They returned to the tent of Future World Inc., a spacious one with stacks of empty boxes in the corners and tworge magicalmps shaped like dragons. Crouch nced at Clementine and Lupin in the corner but said nothing.


    As they sat down, Felix motioned for a pitcher of lemon juice.


    "Thank you," Crouch said politely, his expression serious. He wasted no time getting to the point, "Mr. Harp, I want to express my gratitude to you for promptly quelling the riot and preventing more severe consequences."


    "More severe consequences?"


    "Yes, indeed, more severe consequences," Crouch repeated sharply, his gaze fixed on Felix, "You haven''t experienced them, but I know what they are like. To be honest, following the standard procedure, that Muggle family wouldn''t have survived."


    "Standard procedure..." Felix raised an eyebrow, "It can''t be what I''m thinking, right?"


    "Death Eaters," Crouch said coldly, "finding amusement in killing Muggles. When I was still the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, I dealt with a fair share of horrifying cases. So, I ordered my Aurors to respond in kind."


    Felix toyed with his goblet, pondering. Just then, the tent''s curtain was lifted, "Barty, I heard you were here... Ah, as expected."


    Ludo Bagman panted, his face glistening with sweat.


    He pulled up a chair between the two and poured himself a ss of lemon juice, downing it in one gulp, sighing deeply, "What an eventful day. Those fans"


    "They were rioters, Ludo," Crouch interjected, correcting him.


    "Uh, right, rioters..." Bagman hesitated, "What are you two discussing?"


    But that was just an introduction; he immediatelyunched into a monologue, looking at Felix with a smile, "It''s a shame I missed the spectacle. While you were making a grand disy of your power, I was settling a bet with Roddy. He ced a hefty wager that Bulgaria would score the first goal, and well, you all saw what happened... I could tell Bulgaria wouldn''t do well from the start, so I offered favorable odds!"


    "Then there''s little Agatha, staking half of her shares in the eel farm. Quite mad, really... but it did help me pay off a debt to a pixie."


    "No one wants to hear about your business exploits," Crouch impatiently interjected, "we''re discussing serious matters here. If you can remember that you''re also one of the leaders in this camp."


    Ludo Bagman looked uneasy, "But, hasn''t it all ended? The troublemakers were taken back to the Ministry, and we have Walsch here. He''s handling things far better than I would..."


    Felix smiled and said, "Mr. Bagman, we were just discussing Death Eaters."


    "Death... what? Death Eaters..." Sweat began to form on Bagman''s round face, "I, I don''t quite understand."


    Neither Felix nor Crouch paid him any mind. Felix wanted to know why Crouch sought him out, so he picked up the thread where they left off, "Mr. Crouch, you mentioned that Death Eaters find amusement in killing Muggles. Do you believe they were responsible for today''s incident?"


    "I can''t think of anyone else," Crouch said deliberately, "Only they would need to hide their identities, masking their cowardice and despicableness while reminiscing about their former glory. Years after the fall of the Dark Lord, they use this method to remind us that they''re thriving."


    His toothbrush-like mustache trembled, his eyes bulging, creating a ferocious appearance. Felix couldn''t help but wonder if he could bite through a Death Eater''s throat with those teeth if one were standing before him.


    Bagman pictured the scene of his own trial at the end of the war; Crouch''s expression mirrored the one from back then, sending shivers down his spine. From this perspective, Fudge''s arrangement had clearly failed. Bagmancked the courage to oppose Crouch. The seed of fear had been nted during his own trial, tying him to Crouch in the years since.


    "Barty, maybe, perhaps..." He was quite rattled, struggling to form coherent words.


    Felix Harp had a simr suspicion and nodded, "So, in reality, something is still missing todaythe Dark Mark."


    Crouch''s expression contorted with disdain, "They wouldn''t dare."


    Before the conversation concluded, Barty Crouch seemed to reveal his true intent, "The Wizengamot is considering admitting you as one of their members, soon. Perhaps you''ll catch this uing trial. We need to be tough on these scum."


    Felix watched Crouch''s departing figure, feeling uneasy. Was Crouch recruiting allies within the Wizengamot? As far as Felix knew, Barty Crouch hadn''t been having an easy timetely. There were even rumors that Fudge was nning to expel him from the Wizengamot.


    However, in reality, Fudgecked the authority to do so. The Wizengamot Wizarding Court was quite a loose organization; each member had their own tasks, and they only gathered when important matters arose.


    If one were to speak of a leader, it was Dumbledore, the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot.


    ...


    Not long after Barty Crouch left, he cited physical difort and disappeared from the camp on leave. Yet, he didn''t go far, remaining in the woods near the camp.


    A figure in a ck hooded cloak stood amidst the mist, motionless.


    Barty Crouch''s expression also froze, as if petrified.


    The cloaked figure lowered its hood, revealing a young face, "Master."


    Barty Crouch''s voice suddenly turned hoarse and chilling, "I met Felix Harp..."


    "What!" The cloaked figure, mini Barty Crouch, spoke in a low voice, "Isn''t that too risky, Master... We underestimated him before, but today we were on the scene, and you even saw through my father''s eyes..."


    Barty Crouch''s eyes turned blood-red in an instant, his pupils slitted like a snake''s, he whispered, "Before devising a n, it''s always prudent to ascertain who the enemies are... Turns out he can''t detect me... He can''t even match the sensitivity of that child, Harry Potter!"


    "But what if he uncovers your disguise?" Mini Barty Crouch said urgently.


    Barty Crouch, or rather Voldemort, said with a voice devoid of emotion, "In my current state... the greatest benefit is that I cannot be killed. Perhaps you still hold some attachment to your father?"


    "No, my Master." Mini Barty Crouch knelt at his feet, saying with devotion, "I despise him to my core, shamed by his name. Master, he imprisoned me for over a decade, making me live like a dead man, until your arrival freed me."


    This touched upon a past event. Over a decade ago, as the war ended, those guilty were locked away in Azkaban. Among them, mini Barty Crouch was charged with tormenting the Lestranges into madness, alongside Betrix and others. At the trial, mini Crouch denied the usations and pleaded with his father, the presiding judge, to believe him. The evidence was not substantial, as eye-witnesses didn''t have a strong impression of mini Crouch. Coupled with the fact that his father was the judge overseeing the trial, he had a good chance of escaping the charges.


    Unfortunately, Barty Crouch Sr. was unwavering in his judgment. He had long since spotted the ws in his son''s furtive behavior. Combining these discrepancies with the ambiguous testimonies, he ultimately convicted mini Crouch, sentencing him to lifelong imprisonment.


    Afterwards, Barty Crouch Sr. made a grave mistake. Unable to refuse his dying wife''s plea, he used a Polyjuice Potion to exchange his son''s ce in Azkaban. Mini Crouch was held captive at home, controlled by the Imperius Curse, taken care of by the house-elf Winky. He intended to keep him oblivious for the rest of his life.


    That was, until Sirius ck escaped from Azkaban. With a determination to kill Wormtail at any cost, the petrified Wormtail was startled. Disappearing for several months, he found Voldemort and learned about the Triwizard Tournament and mini Crouch through Bertha Jorkins'' information. They broke into his house while Barty Crouch Sr. was away, liberating mini Crouch. When Barty Crouch Sr. returned from work, he was ambushed by his son and Wormtail, controlled by a curse. They used the Imperius Curse to bend him to their will.


    ...


    In a voice devoid of emotion, Voldemort said, "What if I were to have you personally kill your own father?"


    "I would carry out yourmand with great pleasure!"


    "No rush," Voldemort emitted a bone-chillingugh, "Barty Crouch still has some use. However, he nearly broke free from my control in front of that fool Fudge. It almost ruined everything. It''s possible that the agony he experienced from my presence in his mind inadvertently dampened the effect of the Imperius Curse."


    Mini Barty Crouch pondered, "What if he sees through the w?"


    Voldemort sneered, "There''s no evidence, at most just some probing. But the Triwizard Tournament is inseparable from him, and events will unfold as we anticipated. The only regret is, I cannot sustain this state for too long... Being without Wormtail is truly inconvenient."


    "Master, it''s all my fault."


    "That''s enough," Voldemort said, "Proceed as nned. We''ll return to your home first; I need some rest. Afterward, we''ll seek out Mad-Eye Moody. He''s not easy to deal with; we must set up a trap."


    "Master, it''s been quite an ordeal for you to acquire a corporeal form. I can handle this myself... Or if not, I could have Winky..."


    "Since when did a house-elf be capable of serving the mighty Lord Voldemort?" Voldemort said darkly, "If Barty Crouch is exposed, it''s fine. I''ve devised an appropriate way for his curtain call."


    Thank you for reading this far! You can ess more chapters from HERE by joining my <b>Patreon</b>munity. You''ll gain exclusive early ess to the <b>COMPLETE NOVEL</b>.


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 Chapter 347: Dissent

    Chapter 347: Dissent


    Before dawn, a chilly, pale light began to pierce through the mist in the forest, bringing an end to the secretive conversation that had taken ce.


    "Master, the newspaper reports that the Lumbatons have recovered and they might use me..." the figure on the ground murmured softly.


    "Time erases all traces, my servants have also forgotten my authority, haven''t they? How many of them used to bow before me, kissing my robes?" Voldemort spoke softly.


    Barty Crouch Jr. suddenly shivered as if an invisible whip had struck him.


    However, Voldemort paid him no mind,zily continuing, "I want to share an insight with you: magic is power. Do you know why memories extracted and Veritaserum cannot be used as evidence in court? It''s because they''re unreliable, capable of being deceived by skilled wizards. Let me ask youwere you caught red-handed?"


    "No, no I wasn''t," Barty Crouch Jr. replied in a hushed voice.


    Voldemort chuckled coldly, "Exactly. There are numerous ways to refute their usationsPolyjuice Potion, Memory Charms, Confundus Charms... What matters is having a weighty enough witness!"


    "But if Dumbledore were to step forward and identify you, that would be troublesome. However, an ordinary couple like the Lumbatons? Remember, their own memories were tampered with, how credible are they?"


    Barty Crouch Jr.''s face flushed with excitement.


    "Ideally, as nned, I sessfully resurrect and gather my old followers in secret, umting power. After you dispose of Moody, you inherit the reputation and connections of old Crouch, entering the Ministry... By then," he whispered, "you will achieve immeasurable glory, the position of Minister of Magic, just a modest reward."


    "Your will is my mission, Master."


    ...


    Finally, the sun emerged, dispersing the mistpletely, leaving no trace behind. The camp came alive.


    Felix hadn''t slept long, feeling that Barty Crouch Jr.''s purpose was unclear. He had pondered for a while but had made no progress. When it was dimly bright outside, he saw Clementine emerging from herpartment, holding a cup of hot cocoa, and another hand carrying a thin nket. She squinted, yawning continuously.


    "What''s the matter? Couldn''t sleep?"


    Clementine blinked, finally noticing Felix sitting on the couch. "Professor, why isn''t the light on?" Walking to the table where they had dined yesterday, she tapped a bronze eagle-shaped magicmp. It pped its wings, releasing a sphere of light into the air, illuminating the tent instantly.


    She sat opposite Felix, covered herself with the nket, and couldn''t help but yawn again. "I, I really can''t sleep. I''m nning to endure a bit longer and then head back to the office to sleep. When are we leaving?"


    "We can leave whenever you want," Felix said gently. "We don''t need a Portkey. We can Disapparate directly. Just wait for Lymes and Alek."


    Clementine held the thin nket, sipped her warm cocoa, and chatted casually.


    "After the vacation, I need to go to Gringotts again to handle the handover... It''s a shame, I made quite a few friends in Egypt." She gestured with her fingers, recounting some interesting things. "By the way," she suddenly asked with great interest, "Professor, did Bill ever call you the nickname ''Wandering Sphinx'' to your face?"


    "...No."


    "That nickname is quite interesting. Why doesn''t anyone use it?" Clementine appeared regretful. "I''ve heard some people in thepany secretly call you the Serpent King. I don''t think it''s appropriate, as it easily invokes thoughts of a basilisk..."


    "Is that so? I can''t really control what others say." Felix prepared a cup of tea for himself, leisurely responding.


    Unconsciously, Clementine finished her hot cocoa, staring at Felix''s tea. "Do you want to try it?" Felix asked, and Clementine hesitated, "I heard that it might keep you awake..."


    At that moment, a deep female voice came from outside the door, "Is this Mr. Felix Harp? I am Olime Maxim, from Beauxbatons Academy in France."


    Felix looked surprised, "Wait a moment, Madam." He stood up and headed for the door, simultaneously extending his hand, "Whoosh!" A coat flew out of the room, draping over him, and he deftly buttoned it.


    Clementine slipped back into her room with her nket and empty cup.


    Stepping outside the tent, Felix faced a tall woman. Unlike the hurried glimpse fromst night, she had clearly dressed up. From head to toe, she was wrapped in a blue satin gown, her hair coiled into a glossy ck bun at the back, and a moonstone ne adorned her neck.


    "Madam Maxim?" Felix cautiously mentioned the title he had overheard.


    Madam Maxim broke into an elegant smile, extending her hand. Felix hesitated for a moment before lightly gripping it, his lips brushing against the back of her hand.


    "Mr. Harp," Madam Maxim said, "Please forgive my audacious visit, but we are leaving during the day and I didn''t want to miss the chance to meet the new Chairman."


    "Has Beauxbatons already received news?"


    "The Headmaster''s office has a list of the new Board members. When Mr. Nics mel passed away, I saw your name on the list," Madam Maxim said with a touch of mncholy.


    "So, you are the headmistress of Beauxbatons."


    They entered the tent, where Madam Maxim upied Clementine''s spot. She alone took up the entire sofa, having to tuck her legs to the side.


    Felix brought out an empty tea cup and ced it before the two of them. As he poured tea from the teapot, he said, "Actually, I''ve been considering a visit to Beauxbatons for some time. It''s just that I heard the finer details of the Triwizard Tournament weren''t settled yet. There were many objections, so I refrained from leaving to avoid suspicion."


    Madam Maxim said, "Every Triwizard Tournament is a massive ordeal, and now with two additional schools. The Ministry isn''t too pleased..."


    Felix knew she was referring to the French Ministry of Magic.


    "At the very least, the general direction should have been decided. Are there any indecisions?"


    Madam Maxim sipped her tea and casually said, "The general direction is set, but the details mustn''t be rushed, for if we agree to ''unfair'' rules this time, they might be the precedent for the next tournament."


    "Each school has its own ideas, and each Ministry as well. Before the Goblet of Fire is lit, all the rules need to be confirmed."


    "Did the uneptable conditionse from the United States and Africa?" Felix inquired.


    Indeed, he hadn''t paid much attention to the progress of the Triwizard Tournament, but when he was on his way to the Hungarian Horntail reservation, Charlie Weasley, the team captain, had mentioned it in passing. It was said that Fudge had made manypromises to spread the influence of the event beyond Europe.


    "The tournament''s location was determined first, still in Europe. ording to rotation, it''s Hogwarts'' turn this time," Madam Maxim said. "Ilvermorny and Uagadou will have to wait their turn."


    Felix nodded. He knew that the Triwizard Tournament had been rotating among the schools before it was discontinued.


    "As for the specific tasks of the tournament, the Ministry of the host country decides, in this case, the British Ministry of Magic. They keep everything secret from us." At this point, she paused, giving a dismissive snort, "Dumbledore is certainly aware, but I believe in his character..."


    "A few of us headmasters can participate in the decisions, focusing on the finer points, such as the number of participants, age limits, and restrictions on magic usage. The controversies arise here."


    "For example?"


    "Uagadou requested an increase in the number of participants, reasoning that they have four houses and each house should have at least one champion."


    Felix chuckled in disbelief, "Isn''t choosing champions the job of the Goblet of Fire? They want to do it themselves?"


    Madam Maxim nodded, saying, "They did indeed have that idea, but Beauxbatons, Hogwarts, and Durmstrang strongly disagreed, so they dropped the idea."


    "And then there''s Uagadou''s self-transfiguration," she pursed her lips, sounding slightly shocked. "I only found out about thister. They''ve managed to master human transfiguration magic that''s quite simr to Animagus transformation. Nearly one-third of Uagadou''s older students can transform into leopards and elephants, not to mention the elite students who can do even more..."


    "Self-transfiguration? I''ve heard of that magic, but it shouldn''t upset the bnce of the tournament, right?"


    "It depends on how you view it," Madam Maxim exined. "Certain advantages of animals aren''t possessed by humans. For instance, if a challenge revolves around speed, Uagadou''s students naturally have the upper hand."


    "But that doesn''t prove anything. It only shows that Uagadou''s students are showcasing their unique talents." Felix didn''t see a problem.


    "But do you know how much time Uagadou''s students invest in this magic?" Madam Maxim asked.


    "You mean it takes a long time?" Felix guessed.


    "At least three to five years of study." Madam Maxim said, "They enter at ten years old, and after a year of observation, they choose their preferred fields of study, usually focusing on two or three main subjects and three or four as minor subjects. By the time they reach higher grades, they devote all their efforts to their primary subjects."


    "For example, a young wizard can start learning about self-transfiguration in their second year and begin practicing and preparing. They then spend several uninterrupted years practicing until they''ve mastered it. Those with spare capacity can even choose a second form, a third form."


    "That''s indeed quite distinctive." Felix nodded. The Headmaster of Uagadou must consider this knowledge essential for students, which is why they structured their curriculum this way. It was somewhat simr to the suggestion he had given Dumbledore, though, upon closer analysis, there were significant differences.


    "Where''s the controversy?"


    "If we look at it alone, there''s no issue. But whenparing Uagadou and Durmstrang, the problem arises. Uagadou students enter the tournament with several years of practice in this magic, with no limitations, while Durmstrang students must restrain themselves from using their best Dark magic. Karkaroff certainly disagreed. They''ve lost too many times in the past and don''t want to suffer embarrassment again."


    Felix understood. This was the crux of the problem. The Triwizard Tournament symbolized honor, and an unprecedented Five Wizard Tournament represented an unprecedented honor. The champion would undoubtedly be etched into history, remembered for years toe.


    In the face of immense honor, every slight advantage needed to be considered, especially given such a huge gap. No one wanted to dance with shackles on.


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 Chapter 348: Disturbance of the Sleeping Dragon

    Chapter 348: Disturbance of the Sleeping Dragon


    Southern France, Pyrenees Mountains.


    Beauxbatons Academy of Magic was nestled amidst the rugged valleys, surrounded by magnificent magical gardens and an ever-flowing fountain, standing here for over seven centuries.


    "The British Ministry of Magic''s mishandling of the disturbances at the Quidditch World Cup site and their continuedck of a satisfactory response has led us to question: Are they truly capable of bearing the responsibility of hosting such a crucial ancient event...


    The following are excerpts from the British Daily ProphetThe Ministry of Magic (note: referring to the British Ministry, not the French) seems lost in its idyllic vision of peace, devoid of sufficient vignce. Law enforcement has beenx for years, dark wizards roam freely, and the Ministry of Magic (note: same as above) has grown fragile, like a frail old man taking steps toward his grave. We are in dire need of fresh blood...


    ...


    It''s evident that British wizards have also lost faith in their own Ministry of Magic. Perhaps, in this year''s event, they will witness the brilliance from France.


    Noteworthy is the remarkable wizard Felix Harp, who shone in this crisis. He is currently in the pride of FranceBeauxbatons Academy of Magic. He has formed an unbreakable bond with Headmistress Olympe Maxime and has been invited to visit the school. He is also one of the school''s directors and is said to be involved in the selection of champion candidates..."


    Felix closed the Daily Prophet of France, muttering, "All this nonsense, school hasn''t even started yet." He set the newspaper aside and focused on enjoying his breakfastcroissants, orange juice, a tter of fruits, and some biscuits.


    As the newspaper mentioned, on the day after the Quidditch World Cup, he had epted an invitation from Madam Maxime to visit Beauxbatons school. Even though the school hadn''t officially begun its term, there were students staying over, especially those who were aspiring topete in the Triwizard Tournament.


    News traveled more openly in Francepared to Britain, where they seemed to keep everything under wraps. So, these students possessed a mix of true and false inside information.


    There were rumors that the number of champions from each school might vary, not just one, but four. These students discussed it around the square table like they had witnessed it themselves. A girl countered seriously, iming that each school would send a team of three champions to participate.


    However, regardless of the details, many students were buzzing with excitement. If there was only one potential champion, most students might give up, but the possibility of a second candidate instantly heightened their hopes tenfold.


    So, every student Felix saw at Beauxbatons was a potential Triwizard champion, a true elite.


    There were also rumors that Headmaster Ifauney suggested a five-school exhibition match before putting the candidates'' names into the Goblet of Fire. This proposal received strong support from Durmstrangit seemed their school had an overwhelming number of students, with over a thousand reportedly signing up!


    Among these three schools, Hogwarts had the fewest students. This was because it primarily epted qualified students from Britain. While they didn''t outright reject students from other regions, they rarely extended invitations. Beauxbatons'' students mostly came from France, with a small number from Spain, Portugal, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Nethends. As for the Northern European Durmstrang, their student body spanned multiple countries too, like Germany and Bulgaria.


    But when it came to the most renowned school in Europe, the first name that came to mind was Hogwarts. Particrly in thest half-century, with Albus Dumbledore as its headmaster, it deterred two generations of dark wizards single-handedly, defeating and imprisoning one of them. His prestige had reached new heights.


    ...


    The Great Hall at Beauxbatons had a distinctive featurea square dining table, each side seating five or six students. The table was adorned with intricate golden and blue patterns, and a vertical decoration in the middle resembled a candbrum, hanging down with clusters of flowers.


    Not far across the square table from Felix, two Beauxbatons students surreptitiously observed him.


    They spoke in hushed French, "...so young, and already a director..."


    "I heard he''s Nics Lmery''s heir."


    "Why does he have ck hair?"


    "What do you mean?"


    "Nics Lmery had brown hair when he was young; I''ve seen his portrait...and the surname doesn''t match. Could he be a distant nephew?"


    "Or perhaps rted to Madame Parneille?" They continued to discuss in a whisper, but their voices grew louder.


    "Lower your voices!" one of them said. They peeked and noticed Felix wasn''t reacting to their conversation, but was engrossed in trying various fruit spreads on his bread, releasing a sigh of relief. "Maybe he doesn''t understand French."


    Then they shifted their focus to the Triwizard Tournament:


    "How''s your magic practiceing along?"


    "Not bad at all, the professors provided the most frequently used spells from previous Triwizard Tournaments for us to reference. I''ve only mastered a third of them..."


    "That''s still good. Professor Sanchez says I''m always a bit slow to react, so my chances of being selected aren''t great." The girl sighed.


    At this moment, a girl approached Felix with grace and spoke in French, "Mr. Harp, Madame Maxime invites you to join the professors for afternoon tea."


    "Thank you." Felix replied in standard French. He stood up and nodded slightly to the two astonished girls beside him, "Regarding your earlier questions, the answer is: I''m not rted to Nics in terms of bloodline. I''ve just inherited his alchemical knowledge."


    ...


    "Hello, I''m Fleur. Fleur Dcour." The leading girl walked ahead and turned to speak. She had a waterfall of silver hair.


    "Hello, Miss Dcour. I''ve heard your name quite a few times these days."


    "Hopefully not for something bad. I don''t get along well with those girls; theyin that I steal their spotlight!" Fleur flicked her long hair, and arcs of bright light danced on the silver surface.


    "They think you''re the top choice for champion."


    "Oh, that''s quite true." Fleur said confidently, "I will be the champion, no doubt."


    Beauxbatons was like a pceplex, and the two of them strolled through exquisite suites, corridors, and side chambers. Felix paused for a moment to observe the Thestral-like creatures kept in the garden.


    They had beautiful silver manes, each asrge as an elephant.


    "These are Abraxans, elegant in form, especially their manes. I consider them the most beautiful of the four types of flying horses. They are incredibly strong and will pull the school''s carriages across seas and mountains." Fleur boasted.


    Felix nodded slightly, "Madame Maxime introduced them to me. She mentioned that the carriages have several enchantments, including Concealment and Levitation charms."


    Madame Maxime waited in a French noble-style reception room. When Felix arrived, she stood up to wee him, followed by about a dozen French professors who also rose.


    "Mr. Harp, please have a seat heredarling, thank you." She said to Fleur, who then left with light footsteps.


    Madame Maxime introduced Felix to the professors, *"This is Professor Sanchez, responsible for summer spell training. This is Professor Lemelle, in charge of potions. And this is Professor Poirier, highly skilled in herbology and alchemy... Honestly, I''m not sure if the use of alchemical items is allowed, but it''s best to be prepared."


    Felix nodded and smiled at them, "I''ve had a conversation with Professor Poirier. His mastery of alchemy is truly impressive."


    Poiriera thin, white-haired old professortrembled as he spoke, "Please pass on my words unchanged to Professor Harp. I can hardly believe it; he''s young, yet he possesses knowledge of various ancient magical creations and has solved several of my challenges."


    A professor named Sanchez, eager to know, asked, "Professor Harp, how do you rate the Beauxbatons students? I heard that Hogwarts isn''t preparing summer training. Do they have absolute confidence?"


    Felix looked at the others before responding, "Confidence is there to some extent, but... this year is different from before. We have new schools joining, so I anticipate thepetition''s difficulty will increase."


    "That''s true," Sanchez nodded, scratching his red beard. As one of the professors responsible for student summer training, his subject was akin to Hogwarts'' Defense Against the Dark Arts. He had deliberately gathered relevant information.


    He said with some assurance, "The difficulty will definitely be adjusted, considering the performance of the other schools. It''s just hard to say whether it''ll be raised or lowered. It''s the first time we''re facing five schools; no one has experience with this. Unlike before, when there were only three schools, and they were familiar with each other..."


    He ventured, "Beauxbatons and Durmstrang are quite formidable. Does Hogwarts have any strategies?"


    The other professors stared at Felix, and he shook his head, "I''m not well-versed in the other schools. The only thing I can do is to enhance the abilities of our own students. I have high hopes for some of them; they possess tremendous potential..."


    "That''s all well and good..." Sanchez was somewhat unwilling, "but we can''t just let the championship be taken by an outsider on the first Triwizard Tournament, can we?"


    The other professors nodded inwardly. Though this sentiment seemed a bit exclusionary, these three schools were, after all, part of Europe and could be considered an alliance in a sense. Despite thepetition, their rtionship was decent.


    But if in the end, Beauxbatons or Durmstrang imed victory, it would undoubtedly be a great embarrassment for all European wizards. People like them would be severely criticized.


    Felix scanned the room and said with a gentle air, "Since its inception, Hogwarts has endured through a thousand years, facing countless challenges. Yet none have managed to thwart it. Thus, the motto emergedDisturb not the harmony of fire, ice, or lightning. I believe it will be the same this time."


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 Chapter 349: The End of Modern Magic?

    Chapter 349: The End of Modern Magic?


    Professor Felix Harp, with a tinge of disappointment, wasn''t able to glean much information from Beauxbatons. In fact, he sensed a faint notion of alliance forming, and being both a professor at Hogwarts and a trustee at Beauxbatons, he seemed the most suitable intermediary.


    However, rushing to join hands without even knowing the details of thepetition was perhaps overthinking the situation.


    He had no intention of getting involved.


    If he had to choose between the two schools, there was no doubt he''d side with Hogwarts. Just as if you were to ask Nics mel the same question, his answer would certainly lean towards Beauxbatons.


    Over the next few days, Felix stayed in the library at Beauxbatons, poring over fascinating materials to enrich his knowledge.


    His greatest gain wasn''t a specific spell, but rather a fresh perspective on knowledge itself.


    Felix''s greatest insight came not from a particr spell, but from a new way of looking at knowledge. It was as if he had discovered a different angle of perception.


    Felix''s early discovery in the alumni donation section of the library was quite revealing. Just like Hogwarts and Beauxbatons, these schools acquired new books every year to enhance their libraries. Yet, apart from this, they also epted donations from their alumniprecious ancient texts and the academic achievements of renowned graduates.


    For instance, Professor McGonagall''s insights into transfiguration, Flitwick''s charms research, Snape''s potion formtionsall, if not bequeathed to specific heirs, would ultimately find their ce at Hogwarts.


    However, Felix noticed a subtle difference between Beauxbatons'' collection on a particr spell and what he already knew. This wasn''t just an individual''s deviation; it was a systemic divergence.


    This feeling couldn''t be put into words, but it existed tangibly. It was like twopass needles, one slightly skewed to the left by 0.01 degrees and the other by 0.01 degrees to the right.


    Between themy Beauxbatons and Hogwarts.


    ...


    On a deep, moonlit night, when the sky was as pure as a piece of ck velvet, barely a few days after the full moon had passed.


    In a makeshift office, Felix Harpid out a piece of parchment, attempting to jot down a sudden burst of inspiration


    "If you ce a fine veil before your eyes, over time, it bes unseen by natural sight. It doesn''t impair your vision, yet it exists distinctly.


    Using colors to represent the distinction, Hogwarts is transparent silver-white, while Beauxbatons is deep ocean bluethough it''s not about colors, it''s about how everything you see bes tinged with that hue."


    "Perhaps this is the difference in magical perception brought about by subtle cultural nuances. It doesn''t affect spellcasting, yet..." He paused, pondering deeply.


    Felix couldn''t help but reflect if he was being too sensitive, but soon he found a way to test this theory.


    The next day, he borrowed a stack of thick tomes from the Beauxbatons library.


    He then used the lumency technique to temporarily block his understanding of the Irond Charm, including the humanoid Irond variant and all its derivative spells. He even sealed off all knowledge rted to those spells. Afterward, he picked up one of the hefty books and started reading about the Irond Charm from the beginning.


    This process was awkward; every time familiar magical knowledge surfaced, he''d block it out immediately, treating himself like a nk parchment, a novice wizard knowing nothing.


    What he aimed to do was temporarily detach from his prior understanding of magic, the confines of experience, and relearn the Irond Charm from the very foundation, excluding any previous distractions.


    He wasn''t certain if this would be effective, but his intuition told him it was a promising way to experience magic.


    He had attempted starting from the simplest Lumos spell, but regrettably, it had be second nature to him. He could block out tangible magical knowledge but not instinct.


    After weighing his options, he settled on the Irond Charm. As one of the six-level spells he had mastered, it held tremendous potential. Unlike some simple spells, no matter how much he practiced them, their effects remained limited.


    In less than an hour, he had regrasped the spell, a thin magical barrier appearing before him.


    Felix couldn''t help but jest at himself, "I''ve never cast such a feeble Irond Charm before, it could be broken with a snap." Yet, this was the level at which he had sessfully cast it for the first time before enrolling at Beauxbatons.


    It''s just that the memory of that event was too distant.


    "It''s been a while since I felt this kind of exhration, hopefully, it will bring me a surprise. Nextes the process of familiarizing myself with the magic. Besides practicing extensively, there''s also the analysis of the spell." Felix was adept at this process. He looked at the stack of books before him; all of them rted to the Irond Charm.


    He opened one of them, read its contents carefully, grasped its essence, adjusted his movements ordingly as described, paused for a moment, then continued to read, practice, and repeat.


    Felix''s understanding of the Irond Charm was progressing at an astonishing speed. The power of the spell was continuously strengthening. Soon, he reached the level of the second, third, and then even the fourth tier, and he gradually sensed something different.


    The new version of the Irond Charm was taking on a deeper hue. It was no longer colorless and transparent; instead, it was a blend of rusty, dark red, and iron gray, with traces of scorching on the edges and a brass metallic sheen at protruding break points.


    "What''s going on here?" Felix felt puzzled for the first time.


    Indeed, he was practicing based on Beauxbatons'' library materials. Anyone capable of leaving insights in the library wouldn''t possess meager skills. At the very least, they wouldn''t casually make things up, offering incorrect answers.


    He had a suspicion. In truth, after individuals learned magic, the outward manifestation of spells would differ subtly. However, these nuanced issues... in fact, no one cared about them. They were all attributed to normal phenomena.


    Even if the same person cast the same spell, it couldn''t be the same every time. To the vast majority of wizards, this was far from being a problem. If you pushed too hard for an answer, others would think you were obsessed.


    Casting range, spell potency, flight speed, and the like would vary from person to person. These weremon understandings in the magical world, things nobody would deeply ponder.


    Felix foresaw possible differences, but he hadn''t expected the disparity to be so significant when starting from the same point


    The Irond Charm he learned at Hogwarts, raised to a level six spell, conjured a radiant golden half-suit of armor or even a shield. However, the Irond Charm he learned at Beauxbatons, when brought to around level four, resembled a corroded piece of scrap metal.


    "It seems I''ve stumbled upon something remarkable." Felix''s eyes gleamed with excitement. He decided to temporarily set aside his initial understanding of the Irond Charm and, in a short span, raise the Beauxbatons version of the spell to the level of a sixth-tier spell. He wanted to see the oue.


    He also had an intriguing idea


    What if hebined the understanding of both level-six Irond Charms? Could that propel it to an entirely new level? And would that level be akin to what the four founders of Hogwarts achieved?


    "Magical creatures, magical creatures..." He had never forgotten Lady Rowena Ravenw''s words.


    But how to achieve this was previously beyond him.


    Now, he finally had a directionto amalgamate the understandings of the two Irond Charms. Perhaps, it could lead to the creation of a seventh-level spell. He wasn''t certain, but it was worth a try.


    The power of a seventh-level spell was secondary; Felix estimated it wouldn''t surpass the ancient spells he had already mastered. However, this endeavor might offer him a glimpse into the true essence of the Irond Charm.


    Yes, the true essence.


    He had always been curiouswould modern magic eventually be constrained by numerous limitations? Or, to rephrase, was the culmination of modern magic the transformation of magic into a wizard''s instinct, to be controlled with ease?


    Just like he mentioned to the young wizards at the Magical Linguistics Club, "Perhaps we''re merely reiming the instinct of spellcasting."


    Just as he could easily produce a Lumos or an Aguamenti spell by thinking about it. There was no need for an incantation; it was a matter of simply ''wanting'' the oue. It was simr to how untrained young wizards, when faced with danger, could perform inexplicable feats through the sheer power of their emotions.


    Yet, Felix''s magical instincts were stronger; he didn''t need to amplify his emotions.


    He had once read a sentence in a book, "The magical eruptions of young wizards might not be overwhelmingly powerful, but each eruption is a splendid medley ofplex magic. In that moment of magical flourish, they are gods who can do anything."


    ...


    Mulling over things, Felix thought the reason the same spell had two different forms was likely because he had been in a state of partial blindness, only touching upon a fraction of true magic.


    It was like two climbers starting from the same point but then choosing different paths, only to meet again at the summit, discovering more than one route to the top. Or perhaps, they met midway, coborated, and togetherpleted the final stretch.


    He recorded these spections, storing them in his Pensieve. For young wizards, these notions were utterly fanciful, on par with "The Little Wizard Mick''s Adventures." Yet, for those devoted to magical theory, they were undoubtedly treasures.


    On the eve of the new term, Felix bid farewell to Madame Maxim, promising to wee the Beauxbatons students to Hogwarts in October. He made a detour to Diagon Alley to entrust thepany affairs to Lupin, who reluctantly pulled out his wand before Felix returned to Hogwarts.


    Back in his long-forgotten Ancient Runes office, Felix felt surprisingly at ease. From his pocket, he retrieved a silver pocket watch, and out came Snuffles, carrying a Merlin''s Order of Distinction around its neck and holding an hourss in its paws, eagerly surveying its surroundings. The message was clearCan I dig for treasure holes here?


    Felix nced at it, and suddenly, a feather quill on the table sprang up and transfigured into a small stool. Snuffles immediately straightened its posture and waved its paws, sighing.


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 Chapter 350: Seventeen-Year-Old Dumbledore

    Chapter 350: Seventeen-Year-Old Dumbledore


    The next day, a heavy rain fell over Hogwarts. The rain extinguished the morning mist in the Forbidden Forest, yet everything in sight became shrouded in a grey haze.


    Snuffles nestled in a cradle bed lined with fine sponge and velvet fabric. Ever since finding out yesterday that it would be staying at Hogwarts, it refused to squeeze itself into the empty space within Felix Harp''s pocket watch. Instead, when Felix wasn''t paying attention, it had moved its bed out and then hidden the silver pocket watch. Felix had gone through its collection again, carrying it in his hand, but he couldn''t find where the watch was hidden.


    Of course, he didn''t search too seriously; he couldn''t keep circling around it. He had been away from home before, after all.


    What he didn''t know was that its collection had grown a bit more since thena silver fork, likely from Beauxbatons'' tableware; a crystal ball that emitted a bright light. Felix looked left and right before recognizing it as the one from Nics mel''s homeit had been covered in dust the first time he saw it, but now it was perfectly clean.


    As Felix gazed at Valen, it carefully exhaled and wiped the surface of the crystal ball, making the clouds and lightning inside it even brighter. Apart from these, there were various other odds and ends, probably gathered when Felix wasn''t paying attention: a temperature-regted pendant box, a badger-shaped magtern, a cigarette case, a hazy hourss, a gold ne. Oh, Felix knew about that one; he had modified it with Galleons. It all started when he wanted to see how dark the fairies from Gringotts really were and how much sand he should mix into Galleons. The result... well, he suddenly had the urge to rob the fairy n.


    He remembered reading a book about ancient fairies once. It described in detail the extravagant lives of the top ten fairy families, vividly bringing out every detail, as if the wizard who wrote the book had peered into fairy holes.


    In his description, these fairy families were asparable to the Malfoys in the wizarding world.


    It was hard to say whose animosity the writing wizard had against more, but Lucius Malfoy definitely wouldn''t want that metaphor to spread.


    It had been a week since the Quidditch World Cup ended, and during this time, Lucius hadn''t responded. Felix wasn''t worried, though. Pure-blood families chose auspicious days even to send invitations; how could he expect them to surrender easily? Moreover, the Ministry of Magic, under the pressure of public opinion, hadn''t given up on hunting down the escaped hooded wizard. This matter would probably drag on for a while longer.


    But Felix intended to wait until Christmas this year. If Lucius hadn''t reacted by then, he would go collect the debt himself.


    Now, Snuffles Valen had its eye on a spare Basilisk Fang ring ced on the worktable, and it also had genuine affection for the memory Pensieve emitting a soft silver light. However,st night, Felix had given it a lesson.


    The lesson, in summary, was thisits little pocket was for storing its most favorite things; the less treasured items were to be kept in the office. That was also its home and treasure trove.


    From then on, it knew a principle: the crafty Snuffles had threeirs...


    And another thing, it couldn''t steal from others. Otherwise, Felix would enchant the pocket shut and, right in front of it, give its treasures away. If it behaved well, there would be additional rewards.


    After days of French education and coercion, Snuffles Valen raised three tender fingers in the name of its two brothers, solemnly swearing.


    "Boom!"


    A lightning bolt tore through the grey sky, illuminating Felix''s figure standing by the windowsill. Snuffles Valen raised its head, twisted its body, climbed onto Felix''s shoulder, and together, they gazed at the thick curtain of rain outside.


    They listened to the pouring rain, the faint mist of raindrops blowing onto their faces, a cool sensation.


    Felix turned his head slightly, pursed his lips, and said, "Don''t wear that ne again, it''s too ugly." Snuffles also turned its mouth away, its shiny ck eyes showing disdain for his aesthetics.


    Eleven in the morning.


    At this time, the Hogwarts Express should have already left King''s Cross Station, spewing steam, and headed towards the Scottish Hignds.


    Felix appeared in the Headmaster''s office. Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore were sitting on the sofa, discussing the reception arrangements for the Triwizard Tournament among the four magical schools.


    "Madame Maxime and her students will stay in the carriage and can be ced at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Durmstrang''s people wille by ship and can be arranged near the ck Lake..." Professor McGonagall pursed her lips, "But the other two schools are difficult to amodate. While Beauxbatons doesn''t mind staying in the Forbidden Forest, they can turn into small animals themselves"


    "Minerva," Dumbledore rested his head on his hand, "The International Confederation of Wizards can use Portkeys to cross continents. They can disguise themselves as a traveling group and be ced near the Quidditch pitch. As for Durmstrang, they''ll arrive a bitter..."


    "Later than the scheduled time?" Professor McGonagall asked, "A few dayste?"


    "That''s the problem," Dumbledore said, gesturing for Felix to find a seat. He looked a bit troubled as he said, "They intend toe all the way here."


    Professor McGonagall looked at him in surprise, "Albus, what are you saying? They''re in Africa!"


    "Yes, I know. I''ve been there a few times myself, especially hoping to try the work of a Dream Messenger" Dumbledore chuckled, "To tell young wizards in their dreams that they''ve been epted and leave a letter behind."


    "Dumbledore" Professor McGonagall looked at him sternly.


    "Ah, right... Where were we? Durmstrang treats this journey as a trial; it''s a tradition they''ve always had. However,ing from Africa to Britain is unprecedented."


    Professor McGonagall''s expression turned serious. "Albus, this shows how much importance they attach to this tournament. I can almost imagine the trials these children must have faced on their way. Compared to them, our students can''t even cast spells properly."


    "Minerva, don''t underestimate our students." Dumbledore smiled and said, "I''ve always believed our students are capable. Isn''t that right, Felix?"


    Felix looked up and smiled, interjecting, "Albus, I just came back from Beauxbatons. Their students already knew about the Triwizard Tournament ahead of time and are using their summer break for specialized training."


    "Um..." Dumbledore hesitated. He looked at Professor McGonagall, and as expected, she said indignantly, "Look at this, Dumbledore! Other schools are preparing, but what about us? We''re enjoying our summer happily, and our students don''t even know that their Quidditch matches for this year have been canceled."


    "Minerva..."


    "...I''ve told you about this matter before, and you couldn''t even be found, acting like a negligent shopkeeper." Professor McGonagall''s chest rose and fell rapidly. Clearly angry, the thought of Hogwarts students being left hanging and missing out on ying Quidditch left her frustrated.


    Felix, who had been watching the scene unfold, turned his head away guiltily. He thought about Lupin; he had also entrusted a lot of matters to him.


    "Is Lupin feeling the same as Professor McGonagall?"


    "Minerva," Dumbledore had to cate his Deputy Headmistress, "I''ve made arrangements. Felix is here today for this reason."


    "Really?" Professor McGonagall looked skeptical.


    "Of course," Felix nodded, "During the vacation, I discussed with the Headmaster and proposed some spells to be included in the necessary curriculum. Albus said he needed more time to think it over. Has he agreed now?"


    "It''s not about that," Dumbledore said helplessly.


    "But I think this proposal is good," Professor McGonagall said. She turned to Felix and continued, "I''ve always thought our young wizards are toockadaisical. Felix, we have time to discuss this and finalize it."


    Dumbledore interrupted their conversation. He spoke directly, "I n to expand the Dueling Club''s responsibilities. It will be a specialized elective ss, and the choice of instructors will be flexible and rotational. And Felix, you''ll need to allocate more time to provide specialized training for the champions."


    "Why me?" Felix asked curiously.


    "Your unique advantage lies in the magical instruments..." Dumbledore blinked, "...they are of great help to the champions. You suggested improvements to me, and I believe the Memory Pensieve hasn''t fully demonstrated its potential; it has surpassed the function of the Pensieve."


    Felix pondered the Headmaster''s words. "Are you saying"


    "I can offer a memory from when I was seventeen," Dumbledore nodded slightly, "including mybat wisdom."


    Felix was taken aback. Wizarding memories were the most precious treasures. Many people regarded them as deeply private, and though he knew Dumbledore would undoubtedly remove irrelevant memories and even prevent others from prying, this level of trust came unexpectedly.


    Seeing Felix''s dazed expression, Dumbledore smiled slightly, "Am I a fossil in your eyes, living in thest century, unchanged?"


    Felix regained hisposure. "It''s just a bit unexpected, Headmaster Dumbledore."


    Professor McGonagall was very interested in their conversation. After learning about the role of the Pensieve, she decided to join in. "We can also involve other professors"


    "No, Minerva," Dumbledore firmly shook his head and said solemnly, "Don''t trouble the other professors. We shouldn''t force them into decisions or even mention it to them."


    Professor McGonagall opened her mouth to speak, but Dumbledore''s attitude was resolute. She didn''t voice her disagreement. "Alright then, I''ll go and prepare the Great Hall with Philius Flitwick." With that, she left the office.


    "Headmaster, what led to this decision? Honestly, you startled me just now." When only the two of them remained in the Headmaster''s office, Felix joked.


    "Because I received a letter, from..." The Sorting Hat on the shelf suddenly opened a seam and spoke loudly.


    However, Dumbledore gave it a solemn look, and it immediately fell silent, instead starting to softly hum the song of the Sorting Hat''s new intake this year.


    "Brave Gryffindor from the wastnd marsh,


    Beautiful Ravenw from the tranquil riverbank,


    Kind Hufflepuff from the wide valley,


    Cunning Slytherin from the mudts vast.


    They share a dream, a wish in their heart; a dream, a wish... they share a dream, a wish..."


    The Sorting Hat seemed to be struggling to find the right words, or perhaps it was giving a final rehearsal. It kept repeating thest sentence, but the singing was quite off-putting. Felix had heard it for seven years during school and another two years after graduating. It was starting to get old, and he wished it would keep quiet so he could focus on his research.


    Ignoring the Sorting Hat, Dumbledore raised his voice. He exined, "Do you remember the Christmas present you gave me in your first year of employment, ''99 Inventions That Changed the World''? I passed it on to a friend and we discussed the contents, incidentally mentioning you."


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 Chapter 351: Adaption of True Experiences

    Chapter 351: Adaption of True Experiences


    Felix Harp nodded slightly. He was aware that Dumbledore had a wide circle of acquaintances, with friends spread across the world. If you added the number of admirers, even ten Lockhartsbined wouldn''t be a match.


    Sometimes, he couldn''t help but specte whether the reason Dumbledore appeared so busy was because he was hiding in his office, writing letters to pen pals all around the world...


    Ahem! One shouldn''t think that way. The headmaster should be doing important things, like analyzing Tom Riddle''s childhood or writing a paper titled "The Influence of Childhood Environment on Key Life Choices of Wizards: A Brief Analysis of Three Points."


    Felix took the basin from the ring and both of them entered the inner space. Here was a vast white world, surrounded by mist.


    Dumbledore looked around with interest, sighing, "Only you in the world possess this ability, judging from the magical traces left behind. It''s quite exquisite, yes...exquisite."


    Felix asked, "Can''t others do it?" He didn''t feel much about it. When he thought of something, he could bring it into reality. He even thought this was a shoddy version, not as good as the original Pensieve, so he hadn''t paid much attention to it.


    It was onlyter that he gradually developed its use.


    Dumbledore said, "Let me tell you what I can discern. Ancient runes, alchemy, the Fidelius Charm, the Undetectable Extension Charm, Transfiguration, Memory Charms...very special. I seem to see stable magical nodes..."


    He extended his hand, and his long fingers pointed into the air, causing the surrounding clouds to churn.


    "What is this?" he curiously asked.


    "Memory nodes, also the magical nodes of this ce," Felix exined briefly.


    Dumbledore nodded slightly, "Seems like you''ve made improvements. It''s getting further from the Pensieve''s function and closer to the Room of Requirement."


    His gaze swept around sharply, causing a slight difort in Felix, as if his skin were tingling. The headmaster had a keen eye.


    Though the Thought Basin looked simr to the Pensieve, its principle was closer to the Room of Requirement. With the application of the Undetectable Extension Charm, the space inside was expanded to the size of five or six basketball courts. It was filled with various fragments of nk memories, sealed with magical runes to prevent leakage. He also incorporated memory nodes to create a more stable structure.


    The advantage of this approach was that real people and illusory visions could interact. As the owner of the basin, Felix could also utilize the omnipresent memory energy to showcase his abilities within the Thought Chamber.


    Felix took a few steps, causing the clouds to surge, revealing a path. An ancient pyramid appeared before them. He smiled and extended an invitation, "Headmaster, this is a level adapted from my real experiences during summer vacation... well, adapted from real experiences. Would you like to try?"


    Dumbledore shifted his gaze from the memory nodes, carefully observing the pyramid amidst the mist. He knew everything here was illusory, probably just a manifestation of memories, yet it looked quite real.


    Could Felix really grasp the principles of the Room of Requirement? He became intrigued and walked toward the open golden gate. At the top of the pyramid, he seemed to catch sight of Felixzily sitting there, waiting for him.


    Dumbledore smiled faintly, put away his wand, and climbed the only path upwards. Various strange creatures appeared in his way, but they were blocked by suddenly emerging vines, chains, and resilient barriers. After a few minutes, he pushed open a door, and Felix was sitting right outside, gazing at the sea of clouds.


    "Aberforth, how do you find it?" Dumbledore teased.


    "I must praise your imagination, Felix. The giant spiders and snakes are traceable, but what about those ttering, shape-shifting cars? Was it inspired by Arthur''s car, perhaps? As far as I know, it''s been behaving itself in the Forbidden Forest and hasn''t developed any peculiar abilities.


    And those creatures with insect-like exoskeletons, spewing acid..." Felix casually said, "Some are made up, and some were seen in movies, borrowed for a bit." His two legs dangled outside, swaying continuously.


    "It''s quite marvelous, but unfortunately, I haven''t delved deeply into it," Dumbledore replied, pondering for a moment beforementing, "Our ideas are indeed simr. Your...entric creatures are good for training students'' adaptability, yet it''s evident you haven''t put too much thought into it, and there''s minimal connection to reality."


    Felix admitted to this, "The more you know, the more real the memories be. That''s the downside of constructing virtual memories. I can''t help it. Rather than conjuring something inexplicable and confusing the students, it''s better to deliberately make it artificial and easily understood."


    If he intended to create a Sphinx, he would need an in-depth understanding of the magical creature''s behavior. Otherwise, making arbitrary changes might lead students to believe it was true. In the wild, encountering a real Sphinx with false information could result in fatal mistakes.


    Dumbledore nodded slightly, agreeing with his perspective. Every interaction with Felix regarding magic brought new insights. Following this train of thought, he quickly came up with a more refined approach. He thought of someone who, if given the opportunity, could vividly recreate these magical creatures


    Newt Scamander, the world''s most eminent Magizoologist.


    His only concern was whether it was necessary. Dumbledore silently noted down this idea, deciding to observe further.


    "I''ve also noticed something, which might not be a problem but is worth noting," Dumbledore said, "The defensive measures of this ce are somewhat limited. As long as one understands Memory Charms to a certain extent, they can harness the power here."


    He waved his hand, and the pyramid beneath their feet copsed in an instant. Suddenly, they were standing on a za. Felix had barely seen the stained ss of a dpidated chapel when the scene changed again, this time to an open hignd. The next moment, they stood by a window of Hogwarts Castle.


    Dumbledore whispered, "In terms of mastery over Memory Charms, I am actually not on par with you, but I can still manifest these scenes. Also, just now, I let my will permeate, causing the surroundings to think that I had ''sessfully cast a spell.'' They turned into what I desired..."


    Felix shrugged, "You make a valid point. There are indeed many loopholes. Previously, I was just toozy to fix them. After all," he gave a dangerous smile, his fingers twisting yfully, "if any student in the club tries to take shortcuts, I''d let them experience twenty minutes of free fall..."


    Dumbledore was left speechless.


    ...


    Felix nodded slightly. He was well aware that Dumbledore had a wide circle of friends, with acquaintances spanning the globe. If you added the number of admirers, even ten Lockhartsbined wouldn''t be a match.


    At times, he couldn''t help but specte if the reason Dumbledore appeared so busy was because he was hiding in his office, writing letters to pen pals from all over the world...


    Ahem! He shouldn''t think that way. The headmaster should be doing important things, like analyzing Tom Riddle''s childhood, and perhaps even writing a paper titled "The Impact of Childhood Environment on Crucial Life Choices of Wizards: A Shallow Analysis of Three Points."


    Felix took out the Pensieve from the ring, and the two of them entered the inner space. It was a vast white world, surrounded by mist.


    Dumbledore looked around with interest. "In this world, only you possess this ability. Judging from the magical traces left behind, it''s quite sophisticated indeed... very sophisticated."


    Felix asked, "Can''t others do it?" He didn''t feel anything special about it; he thought of it and just did it. Besides, he considered it to be an imperfect version, not as good as the original Pensieve, so he hadn''t paid much attention to it.


    It was onlyter that he gradually developed its potential.


    Dumbledore said, "Let me share what I can perceive. Ancient runes, alchemy, strong spells, the Traceless Stretching Charm, Transfiguration, Memory Charms... quite special. I seem to have seen stable magical nodes..."


    He extended his hand, and his long fingers pointed in the air, causing the surrounding clouds to surge.


    "What is this?" he asked curiously.


    "Memory nodes, also the magical nodes here," Felix said shortly.


    Dumbledore nodded slightly. "It seems you''ve made improvements. Your creation is moving further away from the Pensieve''s original function and closer to the Room of Requirement."


    His gaze swept around sharply, causing Felix to feel a slight pang; his skin reacted as if under stress, forming goosebumps.


    The headmaster''s perception was truly keen.


    Although the Thought Pensieve looked simr to the Pensieve, its principle was closer to the Room of Requirement. After casting the Traceless Stretching Charm, he expanded the space to be asrge as five or six basketball courts. The interior was filled with various nk memory fragments, sealed with runes to prevent leaks. He also utilized memory nodes to create a more stable structure.


    The advantage of this approach was that real people and illusory images could interact. As the owner of the Pensieve, Felix could leverage the pervasive energy of memories, showcasing his abilities within the Mind Pce.


    Felix took a few steps, causing the clouds to churn and revealing a path. An ancient pyramid appeared before them. He smiled and extended an invitation, "Headmaster, this is a challenge based on my real experiences during summer vacation... well, an adapted version of them. Would you like to give it a try?"


    Dumbledore shifted his gaze from the memory nodes, carefully examining the pyramid within the mist. He knew everything here was illusory, likely a manifestation of memories, yet it appeared quite real.


    Could Felix truly grasp the principles of the Room of Requirement? He became intrigued, walking toward the open golden door. He could see Felixzily perched on top of the pyramid, waiting for him.


    Dumbledore smiled slightly, sheathing his wand. He began to climb the steps along the only path avable. Various peculiar creatures appeared before him, but were suddenly blocked by vines, chains, and resilient barriers that had sprung up. A few minutester, he pushed open a door and found Felix seated outside, gazing at the sea of clouds.


    "Aberforth, what do you think?" Dumbledore yfully inquired.


    Dumbledore responded, "I mustmend your imagination, Felix. The st-Ended Skrewts and Cornish Pixies are distinguishable, but those loud, shape-shifting carswhat''s the story behind them? Could it be Arthur''s car that inspired you? Although, as far as I know, it has been well-behaved in the Forbidden Forest and hasn''t developed any strange abilities."


    "Also, those creatures with insect-like exoskeletons and acid-spewing mouths..."


    Felix casually mentioned, "Some are fabrications, while others are drawn from movies and adapted. My legs are hanging outside the tform, swaying constantly."


    "That''s quite fascinating, but unfortunately, I haven''t deeply delved into it," Dumbledore remarked, thoughtfully pondering before continuing, "Our ideas do bear simrities. Your peculiar creatures could indeed test students'' adaptability, but I can tell you haven''t put too much effort into it, and itcks a strong connection to reality."


    Felix admitted as much, "The more you understand, the more real the memories be. That''s the drawback of constructing virtual memories. I couldn''t help it. Instead of creating something unconvincing, leading students astray, I thought it better to intentionally craft illusions that are immediately apparent."


    If he intended to create a Sphinx, he would need to be extremely knowledgeable about the magical creature. Otherwise, making careless changes might lead students to believe it''s urate. If they were to encounter a real Sphinx in the wild, they could make fatal mistakes.


    Dumbledore nodded slightly, agreeing with his perspective. Every time he conversed with Felix about magic, he gained novel insights. He followed this line of thought and quickly arrived at a refinement method. He thought of someone, someone who could vividly recreate these magical creatures


    The most distinguished Magizoologist of the age, Newt Scamander.


    His only concern was whether this was necessary. Dumbledore made a mental note of the idea and decided to observe further.


    "I''ve also noticed something, which might not be a problem but is worth noting," Dumbledore said. "The protective measures in this ce are somewhat one-dimensional. Anyone with a decent understanding of Memory Charms could utilize the power here."


    He gestured, causing the pyramid beneath them to copse instantly. They stood rather abruptly in a courtyard. Felix''s expression was peculiar as he watched the rain, and the wind howled. "Aren''t we going to drown on the way?" Harry asked.


    "Think about Hagrid," Ron replied without hesitation, "He has to ferry first-year students across the river in a boat. In this weather, that''s quite the adventure."


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 Chapter 352: The Disguised... Guardian (Dementor)?

    Chapter 352: The Disguised... Guardian (Dementor)?


    As tradition goes, first-year students are ferried across theke by Hagrid, while students from other years take the carriages and follow the path to the school''s main entrance.


    The school''s Great Hall.


    "Step this way, please, my dear," Peeves the Poltergeist somersaulted in the air, bowing and gesturing to guide a mysterious ghost into the Great Hall. This tall ghost concealed himself entirely under his robes, revealing only a pair of silver, emotionless eyes.


    Peeves grinned charmingly and said, "I won''t disturb you any longer. I still have things to do... I''ve prepared quite a number of water-filled balloons for the new students. Don''t you want to see them burst over the adorable little ones'' heads?"


    The ghost remained silent. Peeves turned to leave, but arge silver hand emerged swiftly from beneath the robe, grabbing Peeves by the back of his neck and giving him a vigorous shake.


    Peeves struggled briefly but couldn''t break free. Instead, he was rhythmically jostled and tossed about, looking quite helpless.


    He was a spirit born within the castle, possessing more power than the average ghost. Regr ghosts could only slightly interact with reality, but Peeves was different. He could genuinelypare his strength to the students'', and he could even wrestle with them without much difficulty.


    What made him wary were a few factors: first, the professors within the school. As a manifestation of the students'' collective emotions, Peeves had a deep-seated fear of the professors, but at the same time, he represented the mischievous students and was always quick-witted in his arguments. His real concern was with the professors who exuded authority and integrity;


    Second, formidable wizards who could influence him, like Headmaster Dumbledore and Felix Harp;


    Third, the unconventional ghosts, like the Bloody Baron, and


    The diminutive Peeves red at the towering and aloof ghost before him and muttered curses under his breath. Suddenly, the silver eyes beneath the ghost''s hood turned toward him, and Peeves immediately put on a disarmingly mischievous smile, nervously twiddling his fingers.


    Within the Great Hall, the ghosts chattered among themselves


    "Another neer, is it?" Nics mel, the resident ghost of Gryffindor House, spoke wistfully.


    "Seems like a tough one," the corpulent Friar of Hufflepuff remarked cheerfully. "Good, someone needs to rein in Peeves."


    "Indeed, well said," Nearly Headless Nick agreed. "Since the departure of the Bloody Baron..." He nced around meaningfully, provoking a chorus of agreements and condemnation of Peeves'' antics.


    "By the way," one ghost inquired, "Who still has a picture of Peeves?"


    "The one where the mischievous twins blew Peeves all around the castle with fans?" Nearly Headless Nick asked with keen interest, a satisfied grin forming. "I have it, acquired with five secrets."


    "Perhaps we should organize a viewing event?" the ghost suggested.


    A little over a year ago, in Felix''s first year at the school, he had confronted Peeves'' provocations with a Confusion Hex. This made Peeves lose his sense of time, mistakenly believing he had just been born and was incapable of handling the chaotic and mischievous thoughts of the students. He became disoriented.


    His archenemies, the Weasley twins, had taken advantage of this by conjuring two fans and parading Peeves around, almost seeding in hosting a party. However, Professor McGonagall had intervened halfway, stopping the event. Many young wizards and ghosts were disappointed by this turn of events.


    At that time, someone had captured this scene in a photograph. The photo began to circte, inciting a frenzy among people trying to obtain it. However, once Peeves had recovered, he angrily confiscated most of the copies.


    During that period, Moaning Myrtle roamed the girls''vatories on every floor, recounting Peeves'' bullying antics to every student.


    ...


    At the teachers'' table, Felix and Professor McGonagall discussed unfinished matters from the Headmaster''s office, and Flitwick joined them, discussing which spells should be included in the "essential skills."


    Professor McGonagall stated seriously, "If possible, I''d prefer our young wizards to master all the knowledge. Every ss is important."


    "But, Mir, if we intend to do something, we must consider how to make the students ept it," squeaked Flitwick.


    Professor McGonagall huffed. Of course, she understood this; she just set high expectations for her students.


    Felix nodded subtly. "My idea is to distribute these spells across the years. For example, Disarming Charm could be learned in the third year and assessed in the fourth year. On the other hand, the Patronus Charm might require study in the sixth year and assessment in the seventh."


    He added, "The purpose of assessment isn''t just about grading; it''s about ensuring they genuinely grasp these spells. So, in my opinion, the assessment should be flexible in terms of timing, and there should be no limit to the number of attempts."


    Flitwick pondered and said, "That''s a good idea. If we leave them all for the final year, most students will procrastinate. Severus, what do you think?"


    "I have no objection, and you haven''t included Potions," Snape said coldly.


    Flitwick stammered, "Um... you are one of the regr professors in the Dueling Club, aren''t you? You should be aware that defense against the dark arts has always been the students'' weak point. Thankfully, the Dueling Club canpensate for some of the gaps."


    "Last year, Lupin did a decent job," Professor McGonagall interjected.


    "I understand," Flitwick said, "and there''s Burbage as well. They''re both excellent. But..."


    He hesitated, trying to articte his point. "We all know what this ss is likeeach professor only teaches for a year. I don''t deny that Dumbledore has tried his best to findpetent wizards to teach this ss, but being a skilled wizard doesn''t necessarily mean being a skilled teacher."


    "Being good at something oneself doesn''t mean one can teach it to others," Felix summarized.


    "Exactly!" Flitwick''s eyes brightened. "That''s it! A good professor needs extensive experience, an understanding of the various challenges students face... This process could take several years, but for the professors of this subject, it''s simply not feasible."


    "The Curse and Defense Against the Dark Arts, although both teach spells, havepletely different focuses. I teach practical magic in general, including various foundational skills. On the other hand, most offensive and defensive spells used in dueling fall under the domain of Defense Against the Dark Arts..."


    "Indeed, this ss has the most unstable professorship. With a good teacher, students can learn a lot more, but with an inadequate or inexperienced one, the ss can descend into chaos."


    The professors fell silent, each mentally running through the list of Defense Against the Dark Arts instructors over the years, matching names with assessments.


    Felix was also pondering the professors he had encounteredboth those he had met during his school days and those he had encountered while working. To be honest, someone like Lockhart was already a bottom line in various senses. Most people were just mediocre or not adept at teaching. They often described a simple question in a confusing manner, leaving young wizards puzzled. Others would speak solely from their own experiences, monologuing and failing to effectively address the troubles students faced.


    Behind this issuey another problemthere had never been a reasonable n for this subject. Professors like Flitwick and McGonagall, experienced and skilled, taught from first year to graduation, knowing each student''s characteristics thoroughly and offering tailored guidance.


    Moreover, what each year should be taught, how much to teach, and general feedback were all very clear.


    But when it came to Defense Against the Dark Arts... even being able to follow the sybus was already considered good. Professors like Lupin, who considered students'' needs and tried to make up for their shorings, were few and far between.


    Most simply followed their habits, teaching a bit here and there. A bit of this, a bit of that.


    So, over seven years, many students would be surprised to find they had attended seven sses with the same contentfrom seven different professors.


    ...


    Snape gave a disdainful snort from the side. Wasn''t this the truth? What was there to discuss? He nced over at the new ghost in the corner a few times, feeling that it had something to do with Felix. That shimmering cloak looked rather familiar.


    Moreover, this ghost had remained silent the whole time, assuming an aloof posture. Nick nearly lost his courage when he tried to strike up a conversation and returned empty-handed.


    A burst ofmotion echoed in the entrance hall as the students'' carriages arrived at the door. They rushed into the castle in the pouring rain, chattering and making a ruckus, instantly filling the school with a lively atmosphere.


    Felix also fell silent. His eyes gleamed faintly as the previously motionless ghost in the corner suddenly sprang to life, grabbing Peeves and flying towards the entrance hall.


    The students entered the cavernous entrance hall, shaking off the rain with the help of the torches hanging on the walls.


    "Merlin''s beard," Ron eximed, vigorously shaking his head and sttering water droplets everywhere, "we look like drowned rats."


    Harry wordlessly twisted his sleeves, squeezing out arge puddle of water. His shoes and pants were soaked, dragging him down heavily, his wet hair sticking to his head.


    "What''s thatthat?" Neville, who had ridden in the same carriage with them, eximed, wide-eyed and shocked.


    The people around him looked up, gazing at the grand marble staircase leading to the entrance, where, amidst flickering firelight, a tall figure stood with its back to the bright hall. It was suspended in midair, draped in a long cloak, the fabric billowing, its silver eyes exuding an air of indifference.


    "What''s he holding in his hand?" someone noticed themotion from further away.


    "A new student?" someone spected, though it seemed rather short, almost like a tiny radish head.


    "Impossible, they should still be floating on theke... wait" a senior student''s eyes widened, "that''s Peeves!"


    "Peeves being held in someone''s hand? Good heavens!"


    "No, wait, it''s a D-Dementor!" a particrly nervous student shrieked.


    The air froze instantly, the students gasping for breath, trembling and panicking.


    "Expelliarmus!" Harry drew his wand and yelled.


    Silver light cascaded onto the floor as a silver stag burst forth from his wand, leaping toward the "Dementor."


    Harry didn''t have time to wonder why a Dementor had suddenly appeared in the castle. He looked expectantly at his Patronus, fully confident that it would, as always, perform admirably.


    "Sizzle~"


    He began to doubt himself. Did he see wrong? But the tall "Dementor" reached out its free hand and caught the antlers of the stag, stopping his Patronus in its tracks.


    He blinked, unable to believe his eyes. The lenses were indeed a bit blurry, but his Patronus was too big to be mistaken.


    Ron stammered, "Is th-th-that the leader of the Dementors? Judging by its height, it''s not imp-p-possible..."


    Shivering all over, Hermione pulled out her wand in an attempt to defend herself, "ExpelliProtego~"


    "Expecto Patronum!"


    A seventh-year student shouted, and a silver leopard leaped forward, only to be pped away by the "Dementor." Freed, Peeves quickly darted into a wall and disappeared.


    As he left, he exaggeratedly shouted, "The new ghost is fighting the students! The new ghost is fighting the students!"


    Professor McGonagall hurried over, her pointed hat askew, and angrily yelled, "Peeves, what mischief are you up to again?" However, the scene before her was not quite as she had imagined. She blinked, her eyes taking in the scene.


    "Professor McGonagall, it''s me," the ghost had no choice but to speak, his gentle voice saying, and in this scene, hearing a Dementor speak sent shivers down several students'' spines.


    McGonagall recognized his voice and, suppressing her anger, whispered to the ghost, "Felix Harp, pretending to be a ghost to scare the students, that''s uneptable. Let me tell you"


    "Um, this was an ident, I apologize, Professor McGonagall. They mistook me for a Dementor..." Felix said awkwardly. He had never expected that someone would mistake a ghost for a Dementor, and even more astonishingly, that Harry would immediately release his Patronus to attack him.


    What was going on in his mind?


    McGonagall pursed her lips, her nostrils ring, emitting a heavy breath. This was a sign that she was about to eruptusually apanied by reprimands and point deductions, starting at twenty points, plus varying amounts of detentions. However, since Felix was a professor himself, he wouldn''t be subject to thetter consequences.


    "I''ll leave now," the ghost hurriedly said. He didn''t want to provoke an angered lioness in this state. McGonagall was known to maintain her strictness even when Dumbledore himself would have shown leniency. With a "whoosh," he disappeared.


    McGonagall''s chest rose and fell, and she nced at the hourss in the entrance hall that recorded house points. After a while, she sternly addressed the drenched crowd, "What are you waiting for? Into the Great Hall, quickly!"


    Leading the way, she entered the hall, followed by a group of dejected students, their soggy footsteps making a nking sound, leaving behind wet footprints.


    "If I were you, I''d try to use spells to dry off," McGonagall stopped, rubbing her forehead in frustration. It was hard to imagine that among these students would emerge the champion of Hogwarts,peting for glory in the Triwizard Tournament in just over a month.


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 Chapter 353: Moody

    Chapter 353: Moody


    Excitedly, the new students formed long queues that led to the top of the Great Hall, awaiting the Sorting Ceremony. However, Felix Harp felt a slight pang of hunger.


    Sniff, Snuffles (Sirius ck) felt the same way.


    "Let''s wait a bit longer. We can make a bet on whether there will be raisin pudding on the tableter. By the way, do you like grapes?" Felix whispered softly. Snuffles sat on hisp, craning its neck to look at the empty tables, somewhat disappointed.


    Especially when it had used its eyes to request the permission to collect a set of Hogwarts cutlery, only to be bluntly rejected by Felix.


    Snape stood nearby, looking at them with an odd expression. However, Snuffles was only interested in shiny and exquisite things. It would nce at the sudden appearance of Dumbledore''s silver beard, then turn its head to observe Professor Flitwick perched on a high cushioned chair, its eyes clearly overwhelmed.


    "...


    Sort me properly on my head,


    Never have I ever made a misread,


    I''ll look into your mind, my dear,


    Determine which house you belong, without any fear!"


    Amidst thunderous apuse, the Sorting Hat concluded its annual song, and the Sorting Ceremony officiallymenced. The only odd thing for Felix Harp was that the final line of the song was not "They all share a dream, a wish"  he had heard it too many times in the Headmaster''s office that he subconsciously thought the Sorting Hat would end with that line.


    "Stewart Ackley!" Professor McGonagall stood to the side, unfurling a long parchment and reading the name aloud.


    A boy stepped forward, trembling from head to toe. He picked up the Sorting Hat and ced it on his head, sitting on the stool, his nervousness almost making his eyes roll back.


    "Ravenw!" the Sorting Hat called out.


    Stewart Ackley removed the hat, hastily ran to the seat at the Ravenw table, and everyone around pped to wee him.


    "Malcolm Baddock!" "Slytherin!"


    "Eleanor Branstone!" "Hufflepuff!"


    "Owen Cauldwell!" "Hufflepuff!"


    "Dennis Creevey!" "Gryffindor!"


    The Creevey boy, d in a badger-skin coat obviously courtesy of Hagrid, dashed toward the Gryffindor table as soon as his house was called. To the first-year students, that coat was like a solid fur tent. As he was sorted into Gryffindor, he didn''t even hesitate. He just sprinted to where Gryffindor was seated.


    Running and excitedly recounting his experience, he shouted, "Colin! I fell into theke! Theke!"


    "Sorting Hat! Leave the Sorting Hat!" Professor McGonagall called after him twice, but he didn''t respond. She finally used her wand to summon the hat back, and Felix Harp beckoned with his finger to bring the badger coat over to Hagrid, who was just about to rise.


    "Thanks, Felix," Hagrid said gruffly. He shook the coat off, raindrops falling in profusion.


    On the other side, Gryffindor table erupted in good-naturedughter as the Creevey boy scratched his head and shyly sat next to a student who resembled him. After a while, he settled down and began excitedly recounting his water mishap, "I fell into theke, took a few gulps of water. I thought I was done for! Then suddenly, something pushed me back onto the boat!"


    "Awesome!" Colin Creevey, two years his senior, chimed in, just as excited as his younger brother. "Probably the Giant Squid, Dennis!"


    Colin pointed towards Harry a few seats away, saying, "See that boy over there? The one with the ck hair and sses? That''s Harry Potter! He''s in all twelve of the albums I sent home, along with his friends!"


    His brother, Dennis, curiously looked at Harry. If it weren''t for his older brother''s album, the one filled with photos since Colin''s first year, the family album would''ve been full by now.


    Thanks to Colin''s album, he recognized Harry at a nce. Colin continued, "I just asked him to pray for you, hoping you''d get into Gryffindor. Guess what? It worked!"


    As Colin continued to speak, Harry''s face turned warm. Ron teasingly asked, "Did you just pray?"


    Harry stuttered and quickly changed the topic, "Isn''t that an empty seat over there? Is it for a new teacher?" He gestured toward the staff table.


    "Who else could it be?" Ron grumbled. "But he''s runningte. The feast is about to start."


    In fact, it wasn''t until almost the end of the feast that Harry was so stuffed he had to leave half a roasted potato on his te. The empty seat at the staff table remained unupied.


    Using transfiguration magic, Felix conjured a set of small table and chairs. Snuffles sat on it, enjoying a piece of sliced raisin pudding while wearing a white napkin around its neck.


    Snuffles, having finished its food early, was getting bored. It sniffed the various scents in the air and soon detected a familiar one.


    Tugging on Felix''s pant leg, it pointed in a direction. Felix scowled a little  the little one was indeed quite short, but he roughly guessed the direction and understood its intention.


    "Go ahead, but no stealing from anyone, no cutlery either, remember?"


    Snuffles vigorously nodded its head.


    Slipping under the table, it maneuvered past a tangle of legs, quickly locating its target and climbing up the person''s trouser leg.


    "Ouch!" Hermione eximed, looking down to meet a pair of shiny ck eyes.


    "Valen?" she whispered, catching sight of the small ck creature. Ron, Harry, and a few students nearby turned to look.


    "A ck duck?" Dean Thomas, who grew up in a Muggle family, asked curiously.


    "I think that''s Snuffles," Neville said softly. "Snuffles, her name is Valen, Professor Lupin''s pet," Hermione introduced.


    "Her?" Dean was taken aback.


    "Absolutely!" Hermione happily cradled Snuffles. "She''s a littledy, isn''t she?"


    Ron stared at Valen and said, "I''ve always wanted one. They''re known for finding treasures. Fred and George had it on their New Year''s wish list when they were kids."


    Fred leaned over Angelina''s spot and remarked, "Don''t smear us. We changed our wishes a long time ago."


    "Yeah," George, seated on his other side, chimed in. "Especially after we found out that Snuffles was particrly adept at turning out coins from people''s pockets. Our priorities shifted."


    "Keep an eye on your pockets and forks," Fred cautioned.


    "And goblets," George added.


    Ron mournfully clutched his pocket. "They''re right, Harry. It''s eyeing your coins!"


    Snuffles, in Hermione''sp, was fixedly watching Harry. Harry held a Muggle coin, bright gold and shining. It was transfigured by Professor Lupinst year, charmed to monitor the use of the Patronus Charm.


    As per their agreement, Harry had to fill it with gold light before he could Apparate outside the Room of Requirement.


    When he left schoolst year, he was just a bit short, but over the summer, he managed toplete it with the help of Sirius, traveling recklessly around.


    At this point, Dumbledore began speaking, beaming. He repeated the usual rules and the updated list of banned items by Filch, which had umted to 437 items. He also reiterated the prohibition on students entering the Forbidden Forest.


    These words were familiar to them, and most students around Harry weren''t paying much attention. Their curiosity was clearly more focused on Snuffles.


    "Harry, you better put away the coin. Even though Professor Lupin educated it, but"


    Hermione stopped mid-sentence in surprise as Snuffles took out a gold Galleon from her pocket and ced it on the table. Then, she pointed at Harry''s coin.


    "What''s it doing?" Ron asked, puzzled.


    "I think," Hermione took a deep breath, incredibly, "Harry, it wants to make a trade with you."


    The trio exchanged baffled nces. What a peculiar Snuffles it was. Ron burst intoughter, "Professor Lupin''s education really works... haha... it''s really effective, even changing Snuffles'' nature."


    But soon, hisughter ceased. Snuffles, receiving no response, assumed Harry wasn''t interested and took another gold Galleon from her tiny pocket, stacking it on the first one.


    Harry stared in astonishment as on the long table, a third, then a fourth gold Galleon was added to the stack. As it continued, Snuffles'' movements grew slower, her little pink hands trembling with each cement. Even Dean could see how reluctant she was.


    But as much as she regretted giving away money, she was equally proud when she let go. Extending a finger, she pointed at the stack of Galleons, then at Harry''s coin, emitting an air of newfound affluence that left the surrounding students baffled.


    Ron encouraged, "Don''t give up, Harry. Let''s see how many Galleons she''s got. Merlin''s beard... She''s got more money than I do!"


    Just then, Dumbledore finally addressed matters closely rted to the students. "I must also regretfully inform you that there will be no House Cup Quidditch tournament this year."


    "What?" Harry looked up, astounded and out of breath. He wasn''t alone; most students were stunned by the news.


    "Boom!"


    A lightning bolt streaked across the ceiling, followed by a crash of thunder outside the castle, causing the ss windows to rattle. The doors of the Great Hall mmed open.


    A man walked in, leaning on a long staff, dressed in a ck traveling cloak. Aided by the light in the hall, students from all four houses got a clear look at him. They collectively took a sharp intake of breath.


    This man''s face seemed carved from decaying wood by a poor craftsman who had no clue how to use a chisel. Every inch of his skin bore scars. His nose was missing a chunk, and one of his legs was a wooden prosthetic, producing a thudding sound as he walked. As he passed the tables, students on either side instinctively scooted away.


    Harry stared at Moody''s face, then nced at his half-eaten roast potato. A sudden wave of nausea washed over him.


    Upon closer examination, the most unsettling aspect of this stranger were his eyes. One was perfectly intact, but the other  Snuffles nestled in Hermione''s arms, covering its face with both hands  was arge, round magical eye. It rotated wildly within its socket, sometimes showing only the whites of the eye, as if fixated on something behind him.


    After a brief handshake with Dumbledore, he took the only vacant seat. Disregarding everyone else, he tucked into the leftovers on the table. However, that blue magical eye never stopped moving, scanning the Great Hall and its inhabitants.


    "Allow me to introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," Dumbledore cheerfully broke the silence, "Professor Moody."


    Amidst the petrified silence, Dumbledore announced the Triwizard Tournament''s return. He exined the origin and development of the ancientpetition, which had to be suspended due to excessive deaths. After several centuries, the Ministry of Magic finally deemed it safe to reinstate, and this time, five schools would participate.


    Many students were unfamiliar with Durmstrang and Beauxbatons, let alone Mahoutokoro and Castelobruxo outside Europe. Listening to Dumbledore, it felt like hearing a fantastical tale.


    Felix, however, was no stranger to this information. He cleared his throat, and Snuffles immediately hopped down from Hermione''sp, taking a detour to avoid Moody with his unsettling eye.


    Moody, gnawing on a sausage, mumbled to himself. Snuffles'' trail was being tracked by that magical eye, and when it saw her finally climb up the shoulder of a young professor, it made a low "tch."


    "Little creature."


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 Chapter 354: Stay Vigilant at All Times

    Chapter 354: Stay Vignt at All Times


    "The heads of the four magical schools and carefully selectedpetitors will arrive in October, and the Champions'' selection ceremony will take ce on Halloween."


    "In addition to bringing honor to their schools, the winners will also receive a prize of one thousand Galleons each."


    "However, only students aged seventeen and above are allowed to enter, as the tasks of the Triwizard Tournament remain challenging and dangerous. No matter how many precautions we take, students below sixth and seventh year wouldn''t be able to handle them."


    "The delegations will be spending a significant portion of this school year with us. I hope you will show enthusiasm and friendliness. For this purpose, we have prepared some exchange activities..."


    Dumbledore concluded the dinner amidst controversial and noisy discussions. The students were full ofints, all due to the seemingly arbitrary age restriction.


    "Are we just supposed to sit idly by?" Ron stomped the stairs and headed toward themon room.


    Hermione said gravely, "This is for our protection, to prevent us from recklessness and overconfidence that could lead to danger. Remember, the Triwizard Tournament was discontinued in the past because of many deaths."


    Ron wasn''t really paying attention; he muttered, "But it''s a thousand Galleons." He looked at Fred and George, who were walking ahead of them, discussing the effectiveness of Ageing Potions.


    "I think a drop or two should do it. We''re just a few months away from being of age, George..." Fred pondered seriously.


    Ron said sourly, "Still half a year to go, but I do hope they seed." He turned to Harry, "What do you think? If Fred and George manage it, I mean, I wonder if we''ve learned enough..."


    Harry shook his head, pushing away the vivid images in his mind. He couldn''t help but imagine himself fooling the age restriction set by the headmaster, winning the Triwizard Tournament, and lifting the trophy amid cheers and screams...


    "Yeah, I think the same. It feels a bitcking." Ron misunderstood Harry''s head shake, thinking he was answering his question. He held up his fingers, "Despite having dueling lessons, study groups, and the Magical Languages Club..."


    He sounded somewhat disheartened, "Unless Professor Harp secretly teaches us some powerful ancient magic, there''s no way we''ll outmatch those sixth and seventh years. We can''t just rely on using Lumos to blind our opponents, can we?"


    In this discussion about the Triwizard Tournament, Ron talked the most, more like an emotional release. He knew the likelihood of being chosen was slim, but his words silenced Harry and Hermione beside him.


    Harry thought of Professor Harp demonstrating the Disillusionment Charm twice in front of him. Once was in second year in the Forbidden Forest; they suspected the new Professor Harp was rted to the Chamber of Secrets and followed him to see him practicing magic. Though it had been impressive at the time, it had faded from Harry''s memory. The other time was during the Quidditch World Cup, just recently, and it was a realbat situation. Professor Harp used the Disillusionment Charm to trick hundreds of trouble-making wizards, their eyes couldn''t follow his movements!


    ''What if I could do the same? I''m already skilled in Dark Arts Defense, and in terms of Disarming Charms, no student in the school can surpass me. Add the Disillusionment Charm to that...'' Harry''s heart warmed up.


    Meanwhile, Hermione thought of the ancient magic Professor Harp had taught her during the summer break. Golden mes leaped at her fingertips, transforming into a sea of fire in an instant... Of course, it was a demonstration by the professor, she hadn''t mastered it herself.


    Hermione tapped her head, wondering what she was thinking. She wasn''t going to try breaking the age restriction.


    On the other side, in the hall, the professors remained.


    Dumbledore and Moody were in conversation; Moody answered gruffly, loudly, "Right, Arthur and the others arrived just in time, got up early and scared off the attackers!"


    Professor McGonagall looked surprised, "You were attacked this morning?" She suddenly realized, Moody had been facing trouble since his retirement, often suspecting dark wizards were after him. Even if someone walked alongside him for a short distance, he would suddenly draw his wand on them and demand why they were following him.


    This kind of incident had happened not once or twice, forcing Moody into istion, living in a secluded ce, even in a Mugglemunity.


    McGonagall began to suspect he might be overly sensitive.


    "How could it be fake!" Moody roared, "A bunch of scoundrels, trying to attack me while I was asleep. But who am I? I was prepared, they ended up cornering me at home. I had no choice but to blow up two trash cans to get their attention."


    He said loudly, his magical eye spinning in its socket, making people feel ufortable. Only a few professors looked at him directly.


    "Did you see who it was, stor?" Dumbledore asked softly.


    "No, I''m getting old, Albus." Moody patted his prosthetic leg, saying resentfully, "If this had happened a few years ago..."


    His two eyes'' gazes finally converged, locking onto Felix, calming down, "Now all I can do is offer suggestions, drawing on my past experiences."


    Felix calmly nced back, soothing his somewhat restless kneazle, Snuffles. Today was the first time he had seen Moody in person; he had only heard the famous, thunderous name before.


    It could be said that stor Moody had contributed to almost half of Bartemius Crouch Jr.''s notoriety. He had been Crouch''s sharpest sword, the most outstanding wizard in the history of the Ministry of Magic specializing in apprehending dark wizards. Half of Azkaban''s cells had been filled by his efforts.


    Just as he had left psychological scars on many dark wizards, he had also left a strong personal mark in the Auror Office at the Ministry of Magic.


    However, after experiencing a lot of danger, he had be somewhat paranoid, even delusional, but that didn''t stop him from being the idol of all Aurors at the Ministrya position equivalent to that of St. Mungo''s former headmistress, Doris Purkiss.


    Of course, with his rough, irritable, and nonpromising nature, he had indeed offended many people, making it difficult for him to hold administrative positions at the Ministry.


    Formidable, brave, tested through time, now bing sensitive and paranoid, even a bit neurotic...


    This was the impression Felix got after a brief encounter with the "Mad-Eye" Moody. There was a saying he was known for


    "Constant vignce!" Moody suddenly roared, startling others. However, he walked around the hall as if nothing had happened.


    Felix looked at Dumbledore, "Headmaster, you mentioned some exchange activities just now?"


    "Ah, yes." Dumbledore had been listening quietly all this while, and now he seemed to have snapped out of his thoughts. His cheerful gaze swept across everyone, "This is also why I''ve kept you all here."


    He nodded slightly, thought for a moment, and said, "Both Beauxbatons and Durmstrang are participating in the Triwizard Tournament for the first time. This makes... them feel like young individuals with even more passion. Not content with being busy preparing for the tournament for nearly a year, Beauxbatons'' headmistress hopes that students from different schools can have closer interactions."


    "Exchange students?"


    "It''s quite close, Felix." Dumbledore nodded, and his twinkling eyes turned to everyone, "However, it''s one-sided this time. They hope to audit Hogwarts'' courses. Besides that..." he smiled, "I believe they''re also nning to have some friendlypetitions with Hogwarts students."


    The professors exchanged nces. Did this mean their ssrooms would be open to students from other schools?


    As Deputy Headmistress, Professor McGonagall had more thoughts. She pursed her lips, her eyebrows knitted together, and she said seriously, "Dumbledore, when you say ''friendlypetitions,'' you don''t meanthis is a tant provocation!"


    Dumbledore shook his head slightly, and his silver beard trembled, "Minerva, there are many aspects topare, not just physical strength. That''s the worst option." He smiled and added, "I''m rather weing of this. It will give our students a chance to see the world outside and broaden their horizons."


    "I remember, seven or eight years ago, we had contact with Castelobruxo Magic School. Many students from both sides formed strong friendships. Felix, you should have some impression of that?" He asked with a smile.


    Felix shrugged, "I don''t have any pen pals from Brazil."


    ...


    After the professors dispersed, Felix and Snape left the Great Hall. Snape''s face was gloomy. "You have to be careful around that man, don''t let him fixate on you."


    "You mean Professor Moody?" Felix asked with curiosity. "He seems quite straightforward"


    "He''s a lunatic, he can hex you on suspicion for no reason at any time." Snape said coldly, "He''s nevere out of it! He still treats every day as if it''s wartime!"


    "I don''t understand why Dumbledore brought him in. Even another Lockhart would be better than him."


    Snape waved his sleeve and walked away briskly.


    Felix watched Snape''s receding figure. In the distance, Moody was limping forward. Snape was faster, but they didn''t meet. In the entrance hall, Snape turned into the dungeons while Moody clumsily ascended the stairs.


    As he lifted his arm, aside from the curved sk hanging at his waist, Felix also noticed half a wand sticking out of Moody''s sleeve, strapped to his arm.


    "Constant vignce, huh? He really practices what he preaches."


    ...


    The next day.


    The storm had finally subsided, leaving clear skies after the rain. Hogwarts weed a new school year.


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 Chapter 355: Enchanted Cards

    Chapter 355: Enchanted Cards


    Felix Harp sat in the Great Hall, enjoying his breakfast while perusing the day''s newspaper. Rita Skeeter, with her sharp wit and unapologetic bias, had written a scathing ount of the trouble caused by stor Moody the previous day, and she couldn''t resist mocking Mr. Weasley along the way.


    In this article, Moody was portrayed as a "troublesome figure unable to distinguish between a regr handshake and deliberate murder," while Mr. Weasley was mistakenly referred to as "Arnold Weasley." The article also revisited the flying car incident from two years ago.


    Felix read through it again. Rita had a talent for reporting facts with just the right amount of concealment, sharing only what she needed and then twisting it with her own interpretation to arrive at a ridiculous conclusion.


    However, amidst the sensationalism, there were still some useful bits of information. For example, there was mention of a female official who had been missing for months, likely referring to Bertha Jorkins.


    ...


    Felix entered the Ancient Runes ssroom ten minutes early. Some students were already scattered across the seats.


    "Hello, Felix," Luna looked up from her magazine and greeted him cheerfully, as if they had bumped into each other somewhere other than a ssroom, perhaps on a clear patch of the Forbidden Forest.


    Felix smiled, "Hello, Luna. Are you in your third year now?"


    "Yes," she said dazedly, her gaze lingering for a moment. Ginny, seated beside her, seemed unfazed as she pulled the magazine towards herself. They had been ying a prize-winning quiz from the magazine, and guessing correctly meant winning a prize.


    Luna fixed her misty eyes on Felix and suddenly said, "By the way, I liked your Christmas present. Have I told you that before?"


    "Oh, um, yes, you did. I remember it was..." Felix trailed off, genuinely taken aback by the question, "about nine months ago."


    Two rows ahead, a boy with gray hair shot his hand up, looking expectantly at Felix.


    "Hello?"


    Felix was a bit surprised. He pulled out a long parchment and carefully studied the red pattern on the boy''s wizarding robes, bending his head to find the name of the Gryffindor student.


    "Professor Harp, I''m Colin. Harry Potter rmended this ss to me, and I really like Charmed Puppetry!" He spoke with his arm raised high.


    Felixbed the list on the parchment, nodding at him, "Mr. Creevey, the ss hasn''t started yet. We''re just chatting for now."


    "Can we get the Charmed Puppets today? Can I pick one myself?" Colin asked excitedly.


    "Of course, and I''ll also grant all of you ess to the ''Quiz Parchment'' for Ancient Runes, where you''llplete many of your assignments for this year..." Felix exined.


    More students began filling the ssroom.


    Luna and Ginny, holding the magazine "Singing in the Rain," were attempting to solve its puzzles. Luna picked up the page with the puzzle, holding it against the light to see the shadows, "I think it''s a folded paper hat."


    "Why do I see nothing?" Ginny wondered. Then she asked, "By the way, why are you calling the professor by his name?"


    "Because we''re friends," Luna said cheerfully. She took out a quill and began sketching the imagined shape of the hat.


    Ginny pondered the riddle''s clue, "An empty belly, yet filled with wisdom; visible only when used, but invisible when seen." She shook her fiery hair, suddenly realizing, "Oh, right, what else could it be?"


    She grabbed Luna''s pen and wrote the word "hat" in the nk space for the answer. The page gently detached from the magazine and she folded herself into a hat, cing it on Luna''s wild hair.


    "Alright," Felix stood at the front of the ssroom, looking at the filled seats, "Wee, students! It''s great to see the number of students signing up for Ancient Runes increase again this year."


    He took attendance, his gaze sweeping over the young wizards in the room, their eyes eager on him.


    "Since it''s the start of the school year and your minds are still sharp, let''s discuss some thought-provoking topics. While I certainly hope for outstanding performances in this ss, there''s a fundamental point I need to rify


    "The knowledge in your textbooks represents the bare minimum I expect from you. If you wish to stand out, or to achieve something remarkable in this subject... whether that''s bing a pure schr,bining Rune Studies with Alchemy, recreating ancient magical artifacts, or even tracing the footsteps of ancient wizards and experiencing the exhrating sensation of molding and unleashing powerful ancient magic with your own hands... I can teach you all of this. However, there''s a prerequisiteyou must meet my standards.


    "As our ss materials be more enriched and the learning curve eases, my expectations will naturally rise. The benefits are evidentyou will gain more than students from previous years. This time, I will lead you to explore more intriguing and mysterious territories."


    With a flourish of his hand, dozens of cards flew out of his robe,nding urately in front of each young wizard.


    "Runic Cards," Felix stated sinctly. "I''vepared runic carving tools and runic cards, and ultimately, I believe runic cards are better suited for beginners with no prior knowledge."


    "Runic carving tools are actually used for etching runic circuits, a step that''s far from where you are."


    The young wizards listened attentively, temporarily baffled by these unfamiliar concepts. However, Felix didn''t intend to delve into them in detail. He simply made the distinction and pushed the lesson forward.


    He flipped the card in his hand and showed its front side to the students. As he infused magic into the card, the original markings gradually lit up. He exined as he did so, "The reason I say it''s suitable for beginners is that it only requires a stable infusion of magic, and considering you''ve had two years of magical practice, this step shouldn''t be an insurmountable barrier."


    By the time he finished speaking, the patterns on the card werepletely illuminated. They projected egg-sized orbs of light,posed of countless tiny dots. It emitted a soft, hazy light, resembling a bright, furry sphere from a distance.


    "This is a runic representation of light. For now, it''s enough for you to know that much. Look, does it not resemble a glowing little fuzzball?"


    "The corresponding runic symbol is the pattern on the card, somewhat like a torch. This is its actual appearance"


    An invisible hand materialized in the air, outlining a golden symbol. The young wizardspared it to the pattern on the card, and it was an exact match.


    Felix smiled, capturing the golden runic symbol, "In the uing lessons, you''ll understand the meaning of this runic symbol. By then, you''ll be able to trante it into the image you see in the projection. That''s its magical representation. Like this"


    He opened his closed palm to disy it before the students. The golden runic symbol transformed into a luminous small sphere. Then, Felix released it, allowing it to expand into a bright white light.


    "Alright, let''s proceed to the practice."


    Felix announced. The young wizards held their cards, brows furrowed, attempting to infuse magic into them. After a short while, Felix observed a series of flushed faces, mouths tightly shut, their seriousness akin to those about to enter a potentially life-threatening duel.


    Navigating through the students, he reminded, "Think of how you felt when you transfigured the goblets in Transfiguration ssallow the magic to flow evenly and steadily. Rx, forcing it will only make your magic falter. This is just a game..."


    Empowered by his words, the young wizards began to calm down, and the progress elerated.


    Under his linguistic influence, they settled into a more tranquil state, moving on.


    Felix muttered under his breath, "Thank Merlin we didn''t use the Weasley twins'' prank cards, or the ssroom would be filled with rats by now."


    Unexpected yet fittingly rational, Luna was the first to seed. Perhaps, in the entire ss, she truly treated all of this as a game. "Look, just like Floofers," she said.


    Unusually, Felix heard a term from her that he was familiar with.


    Floofers were popr magical pets among young wizards. They had spherical bodies covered in pale yellow soft fur. Indeed, they bore some resemnce to the luminous orb projected by the runic card. Moreover, the key point wasthis creature wasn''t fictional; it actually existed.


    "Ravenw ten points, also," Felix disyed a stack of cards before her, "pick another, Miss Lovegood."


    Luna''s eyes widened with excitement as she inquired, "Is there a runic symbol representing the Crumple-Horned Snorkack?"


    "...No."


    "What about the Flying Fiend?"


    "That doesn''t exist either."


    Felix handed her a runic card symbolizing frost, thinking that they both needed a moment of calm.


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 Chapter 356: New Developments at Weasleys Wizard Wheezes

    Chapter 356: New Developments at Weasleys'' Wizard Wheezes


    After ss, the third-year young wizards streamed out of the ssroom, each carrying a magical puppet about a foot and a half tall. They were excitedly discussing the content of their first lesson.


    Felix stayed behind, checking a form. He put a checkmark next to the name ''Luna Lovegood'' and noted the number 17 next to it, representing the number of cards she had interacted with during the ss.


    In reality, the process of infusing stable magic into the cards became more proficient as the young wizards moved to the back of the ssroom. In Felix''s view, today''s lesson was truly just an introduction to the subject. Especially whenpared to the sixth-year ss that would follow


    "Sixth year is a crucial year"


    "Don''t say that, Professor." Fred and George protested from the ssroom, "We''ve just gone through O.W.Ls year!" Other students murmured their agreement.


    They had heard simr words throughout their fifth year, leaving a psychological impact on them. A few timid students seemed to recall those challenging days, shuddering as if afflicted by some sort of lingering trauma.


    The students felt a sense of shared unease, and someone let out a faint groan of difort. Heads turned to find the source of the sound, but the atmosphere had already lost its coherence.


    Felix couldn''t help but chuckle, pacing around the ssroom. "The reason I say this is because in this year, you don''t have to worry about certificates, and your umtion of knowledge has reached its peak. This means"


    He intentionally paused for a few seconds before revealing the answer: "We have more time for practical work and exploring things worth investigating."


    Before the students could fully digest his words, he turned and walked back to the podium, taking out magical cards with a crisp motion. pping his hands, he said, "My requirement is simple: by using these cards, master at least seven ancient runes"


    "They conveniently form a rune circuit that I will exin in thest half hour of the course."


    "But what I truly hope for is that you''ll find enjoyment through your own exploration. Let''s begin, students. The first to finish will earn twenty points."


    Soon, in the advanced ancient runes ss for sixth years, students from all four houses held magical cards, projecting symbolic runes one by one. For those who had endured the torment of fifth year, this task was a walk in the park.


    However, the key was how to decipher the runes on the cards.


    "Oh, right." Felix seemed to remember something. He picked up a roster, "Completing this step individually is quite challenging, so I''ll arrange you into groups... Miss Campbell, please don''t look around, I will group you in sets of three ording to the order on the roster."


    And so, students from the four houses were mixed up. Felix thoughtfully transfigured round tables with three chairs each. The Weasley twins took advantage of theirst name and ended up in the same group, gazing at the Ravenw girl across from them.


    "Oh, it''s really beautiful," the Ravenw girl admired the projection of a small cluster of green shoots on her card. Her eyes gleamed with enchantment, but she quickly came back to herself, lowering her head to examine her notes filled with scribbles.


    "Based on past experience, to master a rune, one must first understand its symbol and magical significance... This is most crucial, and these cards provide exactly that. The rest is simplywhy are you all staring at me?"


    "Uh, nothing," George mumbled, taking a card from Fred. He infused it with magic and whispered, "Why do you think the professor is doing this?"


    "I guess it''s to make us capable of learning ancient runes on our own," Fred said.


    "Are you serious?"


    "I heard from someone in the ''Future World,'' well, it''s Penelope actually," he grinned, "She said Professor Harp sees these rune cards as educational toys."


    "Educational toys!?" George''s eyes widened.


    "Exactly, like children''s picture books, but Professor Harp''s main goal is to promote practical runes. Penelope said the professor envisions a scene: parents holding their children, projecting images from these cards. As the children grow a bit older, they naturally be more familiar with runes."


    George thought about it earnestly, then sighed, "If it weren''t for ''Future World'' getting a batch of Muggle toys, I wouldn''t realize howcking our entertainment was... Think of the inspiration it gave us! Magical building blocks, little figurines, colorful bubble wands, prank cards, and the subsequent Wizard''s Duel game"


    The Ravenw girl interjected, "Why no dolls?"


    "Um, excuse me, what did you say?"


    "Dolls," she said with seriousness, "I loved them when I was little. I spent all my pocket money on them each year, and after a few years, I collected a whole set!"


    The twins exchanged nces. Fred asked deliberately slowly, "George, what do you think?"


    With a simr tone, George replied, "Mate, I thinkwe should find some partners in thesest two years at school..."


    "True." Fred nodded, turned to the Ravenw girl, and asked, "Terri, would you like to join us?"


    Terri looked at them in surprise.


    "What did you say?"


    "Join Weasleys'' Wizard Wheezes. Currently, there''s nothing, but in the future, it will be the world''srgest supplier of prank products and wizarding children''s toy manufacturer."


    "Youumthis is somewhat unexpected," Terri said bewilderedly, "This isn''t another one of your pranks, is it?"


    "Of course not. Do you have any ns for the future? Like joining the Ministry of Magic?" Fred and George exchanged a nce and asked. It had started as a joke, but now they were actually considering hiring people.


    "Well... I don''t, actually. Ie from a Muggle family, and I haven''t decided whether to stay on that side after graduation."


    "In that case, give it a try." Fred and George tried to persuade her.


    Terri found herself inexplicably cast as an elder of Weasleys'' Wizard Wheezes. She clenched the card in her hand and shook it vigorously. The projection of a segment of a blue waterfall flickered and then vanished.


    ...


    In thest half hour, Felix exined the subject matter and assigned homework.


    "Today''s essay topic is how to efficiently use rune cards to learn ancient runes. I need you to summarize an effective learning approach based on your ssroom experience."


    After ss, Felix overheard the Weasley twins as they passed by, murmuring to each other


    "What do you think of Cedric?"


    "He''s quite fond of magical puppets..."


    "Isn''t that perfect?"


    "Well... Aubrey is good too, and there''s Selton and Pardis."


    Felix stroked his chin, watching their retreating figures. The people they mentioned were all members of the Rune Club. Was there something about this that he didn''t know?


    After the afternoon sses ended, Felix walked toward the Great Hall, a sniff on his shoulder drawing curious nces. As he arrived at the entrance hall, he saw Harry and Draco in an argument.


    Harry said something angrily, then turned and left with Ron. Draco Malfoy''s face turned red. He dropped the newspaper in his hand, angrily drew his wand from behind, and pointed it at Harry.


    "Bang!"


    Harry agilely jumped aside, a fiery spell barely grazing his hair. He turned around and forcefully swung his handDraco seemed to have been struck by something, his wand flew out of his hand. He stumbled back and would have fallen if Crabbe hadn''t caught him in time.


    Several bted screams followed.


    "Merlin''s beard, what was that?"


    "Nonverbal and wandless casting, Potter is incredible, it''s a pity he''s only a fourth-year..."


    "Do you think if there were no age restrictions, he could be a champion?"


    "Hard to say, everyone''s made significant progress these past two years."


    Ron looked at Harry in astonishment, "How did you do that?"


    Harry looked somewhat dazed at the wand that had appeared in his hand, Draco''s wand. Harry had no idea how he did it. He was just incensed at suddenly being attacked and instinctively retaliated. He was about to say something when a loud noise echoed through the entrance hall.


    Bang! Followed by a roar.


    "You can''t do this, kid!"


    Moody appeared limping, his wand pointed at apletely white ferret. The ferret shivered on the stone floor, right where Draco had been standing.


    In the midst of silence, Moody asked, "Did he hurt you?"


    "No," Harry said, "The spell missed."


    "Don''t touch it!" Moody roared.


    "Don''t touchwhat?" Harry asked baffled.


    "Not youhim!" Moody shouted again, raising his thumb, pointing over his shoulder at Crabbe. Crabbe was about to pick up the ferret, but he froze in ce, too frightened to move.


    Moody began to limp towards Crabbe, Goyle, and the ferret. The ferret let out a frightened squeak and darted away, heading in the opposite direction.


    "I don''t believe this!" Moody roared again, raising his wand at the ferret. Just then, someone stepped in front of the ferret.


    "Oh, Professor Moody, I can''t let you do that."


    Felix smiled and waved away the spell.


    The ferret huddled at his feet, while Snuffles the Sniffer was perched on his shoulder, curiously observing it.


    As for Felix himself, his gaze had already fallen upon a trampled, dirty Daily Prophet on the ground. It was quite fortunate; he had just read the headlines this morning.


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 Chapter 357: Temptation

    Chapter 357: Temptation


    "Professor Harp, I advise you to mind your own business," Moody said calmly, "He needs a lesson. Attacking others from behind, it''s the dirtiest, most despicable behavior..."


    "Valid point," Felix nodded slightly, "However, Hogwarts hasn''t punished students like that for a while. I suggest sending him to Professor Snape for detention."


    "Snape?" Moody''s expression turned disdainful, "Oh, Snape... I bet he wouldn''t want to see me... But, I''m rather looking forward to having a good chat with him. What a splendid idea!"


    He pointed his wand at the ferret, and Felix stepped forward, "Oh, I think I should handle this"


    Bang!


    A searing spell collided with a golden magical barrier, producing sparks of gold and red. Moody''s wand shone brightly, casting a red light on the twitching half of his face.


    "Professor Moody," Felix said softly, "You used the Stunning Spell."


    "Show me what you''ve got, kid!" Moody roared, the incantation forming into a beam of light, "Dumbledore might sing your praises, but folks like us believe what we see."


    "That''s quite an event," Felix frowned, the power of his Irond Charm correspondingly enhanced. He held a favorable impression of Moody, having an upright person in the school was better than inexplicable tricksters or dark wizards. Plus, Moody was a supporter and friend of Dumbledore.


    But


    Moody was truly unhinged. Severus had advised him to stay out of trouble, but trouble had found him.


    The students stepped back a few paces, but more people gathered, their faces showing astonishment as they watched the scene. Last year, Snape and Lupin shattered the office, but no one else knew about it. Now, it was different. Two professors were openly fighting!


    "Summon help! Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, Snape... anyone!" Hermione yelled in panic.


    Students had already rushed to call for help. A Slytherin prefect dashed straight to the dungeons. "I''ll go find Professor Snape!" he hurriedly eximed.


    "Not the best idea, young man!" Moody seemed to regain hisposure, even taking the time to shout at those around him, "Step back a bit more. Rare opportunity, let me show you how real wizards duel"


    "Apologies, Professor Moody. I''m not as... indifferent to consequences as you are," Felix said.


    He actually wanted to use the word "crazy," but at this moment, it wasn''t wise to provoke Moody. Who knew, in the heat of the moment, Moody might actually start using lethal magic? In any case, Felix wasn''t one to give up easily.


    The onlookers of young wizards noticed that Professor Harp''s spells were bing increasingly dark and ominous. Unlike the Irond Charm, they resembled rusted iron tes, or, one could say, a battered shield salvaged from who-knows-where. It might have been buried deep for years, but no one doubted it had been soaked in blood.


    Its colors were a blend of dark red and iron gray, and its shape twisted, with the edges gleaming brass.


    "What kind of magic is this?" The young wizards gasped, their eyes wide in shock. Professor Harp''s magic looked somewhat malevolent... but it was undeniably powerful.


    They thought only other professors could intervene to stop this sudden outbreak of conflict, but the situation on the field soon shifted. Felix didn''t intend to continue the standoff; the collision of spells could still be seen as a friendly exchange. But if they started jumping around, throwing curses at each other, what would that be?


    Felix twirled his wand, and the dark red and iron gray of the Irond Charm quickly softened, flowing like blood. A small pointed tip emerged from the shield, like awork of interwoven snakes, entangling Moody''s powerful Stunning Spell.


    Moody''s good eye widened, and his magical eye swiveled erratically. What was this? He felt something was amiss, he wanted to sever the spell, but this connection was no longer something he alone could sever.


    Felix silently infiltrated his magic, and now, their wands were forcibly linked.


    Theser-like intense beam was gradually tainted with hues of iron gray and dark red, dotting it like a child''s paint smudges on a beautiful railing.


    At this moment, these handprints were drawing closer and closer to Moody.


    All of this happened in a short span of time. Students could still hear the hurried footsteps of the prefect running towards the dungeons, but anyone could tell that he might not need to call for help.


    Even Scabbers, who was covering his eyes, stared brazenly at Moody across the way, squeaking and twitching.


    "Professor Moody, I merely wished to put an end to this pointless dispute."


    "What kind of joke are you ying?" Moody gritted his teeth, "Let go!"


    "Of course, no problem..." Felix replied gently, his voice agreeing while he actually quickened the pace of his intrusion.


    Moody''splexion grew increasingly unpleasant, and the twitching on the half of his face intensified. The magical eye in its socket whirred like a caged owl, spinning wildly. But soon, he revealed a subtle smile. Someone wasing


    "Felix! Professor Moody! What on earth are you doing..." McGonagall''s startled voice sounded, as she dropped the books she was carrying in a mess and hurried over, drawing her wand, but not knowing what to do, visibly distressed.


    "Release him, Professor Harp. I acknowledge your strength," Moody said calmly, his eyes devoid of madness.


    Felix shrugged. With Professor McGonagall here, they probably couldn''t continue fighting. He adjusted his wand, and the strong magical fluctuations subsided. Moody withdrew his wand, taking a couple of steps back.


    Everyone stared nkly at the lingering beam in midair. After losing the magic of both parties, the beam rusted over, turning to ash, king away bit by bit. It had a somewhat eerie and heart-pounding beauty.


    McGonagall''s gaze fixated on the residual magical traces in the air, and after a while of silence, she turned to the two of them and said impatiently, "Could someone exin exactly what happened here? Two professors openly dueling in broad daylight, Hogwarts has never witnessed such an outrageous urrence!"


    Neither of them spoke first. Moody hadn''t thought of an excuse yet, and Felix certainly wouldn''t say that the new professor proved himself to be a true Gryffindor, jumping into action without hesitation.


    McGonagall''s gaze grew increasingly menacing, her lips forming a thin line. Her chest puffed up like an angry balloon.


    Harry felt it was his responsibility to exin the situation, especially since the root cause was the argument between him, Ron, and Malfoy. But he suddenly saw a small hand from Professor Harp''s shoulder, pointing at the ferret below.


    McGonagall also noticed the gesture. She actually had some reservations about Felix having a pet ferret, but no rumors had circted around the castle about missing items, so she intended to wait and see.


    Her gaze settled on the ferret. She was slightly puzzled. It was rather cute, all snowy white. However, it seemed quite timid, its front paws gripping Felix''s trouser leg tightly. Amidst the intense magical confrontation just now, it surprisingly hadn''t managed to escape.


    If Scabbers belonged to Felix, having a close rtionship, then what about this ferret? What was the situation?


    Harry awkwardly reminded from the side, "It''s Malfoy."


    "What?"


    "That white ferret, it''s Draco Malfoy," Harry repeated.


    "Oh, dear!" McGonagall eximed, looking at the ferret in astonishment. Felix waved his wand, and with a resounding crack, Draco Malfoy was restored.


    He said somewhat apologetically, "Seems I forgot about you."


    Thank you for reading this far! You can ess more chapters from HERE by joining my <b>Patreon</b>munity. You''ll gain exclusive early ess to the <b>COMPLETE NOVEL</b>.


    As a member of my <b>Patreon</b>munity, here is what you''ll get:


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 Chapter 358: Conversation

    Chapter 358: Conversation


    Draco Malfoy remained silent, sprawled on the floor, sweat glistening on his face. His pale blond hair clung to his forehead, and he trembled as he struggled to stand. Crabbe and Goyle came over, casting nces at the unresponsive Moody, and helped Draco up.


    McGonagall''s skeptical gaze shifted between Felix and Moody, quickly finding its mark. She furrowed her brow and said, "Professor Moody, did you use Transfiguration on Malfoy?"


    "Yes, indeed. Just giving him a lesson, leaving a deep impression so he won''t attack others from behind in the future," Moody replied.


    McGonagall cast a querying look at Felix, who nodded subtly. McGonagall sighed with a touch of exasperation, "Even so, we should only give detentions, not use Transfiguration as punishment on students. Prolonged bodily transfiguration is harmful and has long been abolished. Dumbledore must have mentioned this to you, right?"


    "He probably did," Moody scratched his chin absentmindedly, grinned widely, and said gruffly, "It''s not that serious, Professor McGonagall!"


    "I disapprove of his sneak attacks, so I gave him a fright. This Professor Harp suddenly appeared and might not think my approach was appropriate! There was a little sh, and I happened to hear a few things from Dumbledore before... just wanted to test his abilities."


    Moody limped around, waving his rough, scarred hand, and cleared his throat, "I know why I''m here, and Dumbledore didn''t invite me to be the kind old man!"


    "Danger never presents itself openly. I came to help you prepare in advance. That''s why I''m hereto sever the tendrils of certain individuals, certain things. I might have overreacted a bit, but in my experience, overreacting is better than being unprepared!"


    "Stay vignt at all times!" He roared, startling a first-year student who ended up sitting on the ground.


    Moody''s magical eye saw this, and he grinned, dragging his wooden leg towards the new student. He yanked the student up, positioning his scarred and unblemished eye right in front of the student''s face, and chuckled, "Kid, you''ll find that appearances are the least fearsome things. Excuse me, move aside"


    The crowd parted, gazes filled with awe fixed upon him.


    "Oh, right!" Moody stopped and turned to look at Felix, "We better pick out some potential warriors and give them an early training session. How about during the first Dueling ss?"


    "Of course," Felix said with a smile.


    Moody scrutinized him for a few seconds and then left withrge strides.


    "Merlin, he''s really cool!" a student observed, gazing at Moody''s departing figure.


    "He''s a true warrior, the real deal, with extensive knowledge... you''ll see soon enough." Another student held Moody in high regard, having just attended his ss that afternoon.


    McGonagall nced at the students still lingering around, and said sternly, "Disperse, everyone, disperse! Go have your meal, don''t block the way." She walked over to Draco Malfoy''s side, her gaze hesitant as itnded on Felix.


    "Well thenMr. Malfoy"


    "I''ll handle it, Severus," Felix said.


    "Very well," McGonagall breathed a sigh of relief. She nced at Crabbe and Goyle next to Draco and at Harry, Ron, and Hermione not far away, then snapped irritably, "Do you all want to join in as well?"


    They hurriedly made their escape.


    At the dining table, Ron closed his eyes, fork held suspended in the air. He sighed contentedly and said, "I''m definitely going to keep a ferret in the future... Every time I see it, I''ll be reminded of today''s Malfoy. Will it also grab onto my trousers and refuse to let go?"


    Harry and Hermione chuckled. Harry inquired, "But is human transfiguration really that dangerous? Professor McGonagall didn''t seem like she was joking."


    Hermione raised her fork, and with a meaningful look, she said, "Imagine this: you''re turned into an owl. At first, you still remember who you are, but soon, animal instincts take over, and you forget your identity..."


    Harry furrowed his brow. "So, you mean if the spell isn''t lifted in time, Malfoy could end up genuinely thinking he''s a ferret?"


    Hermione said seriously, "I''m just giving an example to make you aware of the dangers involved. Some transfigurations can unravel over time on their own, but for wizards with advanced magical abilities, their transformations canst a long time, and malicious ones can be like curses, permanent."


    Ron, for some reason, burst intoughter. He panted and said, "Well... that''s... not bad, is it?"


    Hermione gave him a sidelong nce. "While the possibility is small, imagine if, in his panic, Malfoy ran away and got lost in the Forbidden Forest. He might end up being eaten by the creatures there before he''s found..."


    Ron imagined it and suddenly found his food less appetizing. Harry lost his appetite as well. However, Hermione finished her dinner unaffectedly, packed her bag, and said, "Are you going to the library?"


    "Of course," Hermione replied, "Lots to do. Not schoolwork" she anticipated Harry''s question and interjected, grabbing her bag and hurrying away.


    Elsewhere, Felix and Draco Malfoy walked through a dim underground corridor. Draco had teary eyes, the light from the wall sconces casting a glow on his pale face. Felix noticed the asional glint of resentment in Draco''s eyes.


    "Do you hate Professor Moody?" Felix looked at him and asked.


    Draco clenched his fists, his face reddening with shame. He mumbled, "I''m going to tell my father..."


    "Hmm." Felix didn''t say much, and they continued walking for a while. Then, he suddenly spoke, "Your idea has some merit, but it might not be effective."


    "Why? Just because he''s Dumbledore''s good friend?" Draco asked through gritted teeth.


    "It''s Headmaster Dumbledore," Felix corrected, but judging from Draco Malfoy''s disapproving expression, it seemed he''d included the headmaster in his grievances.


    "I am curious, though, about the origin of this conflict..."


    "I humiliated Weasley''s father," Draco said coldly, "Is that what you want to ask? Do I deserve this?"


    "No," Felix chuckled softly, "I''m just wondering what thoughts were going through your mind when you initiated this. After all, even without Professor Moody, the three of youplus Crabbe and Goyleare not a match for Potter alone."


    "Or perhaps, in your view, you don''t think Potter would harm you, so you feel fearless? Or you don''t mind being defeated by Potterworth noting, Miss Granger isn''t that easy to handle either."


    Draco Malfoy''s face grew heated. He stammered, "II didn''t think that much."


    "Right," Felix nodded and then changed the subject, "Do you remember the first time we had a more in-depth conversation? When you brought the diary to my office?"


    Draco slowly looked at him, not quite understanding the purpose behind this sudden mention.


    "I once told you that everyone is responsible for their actions," Felix paused, "It seems you don''t remember."


    He smiled, "I really wish I could show you that scene again, the you from back then and the you now, somewhat simrnervous, hesitant. Of course, one instance was noble self-defense and altruism, while the other was harboring some darker thoughts..."


    Draco stared at him, feeling somewhat uneasy but also a faint sense of pride.


    "It''s normal. Anyone who''s been humiliated would have thoughts of destruction," Felix said lightly. They rounded a corner, and Snape''s office was visible in the distance.


    "He might not be avable..." Felix said regretfully, "It will have to wait for another day, Mr. Malfoy. Go back and get some sleep. I''m curious to see how long this idea of yours willst."


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 Chapter 359: Shifting Perspectives

    Chapter 359: Shifting Perspectives


    Draco Malfoy''s slightly pointed face turned to surprise as he anxiously looked up, his gaze fixed on Felix. He seemed to want to decipher the true meaning from the professor''s calm expression.


    "Sufficient sleep can provide one with a sense of contentment, but I won''t reveal this to just anyone," Felix Harp said. "The onlyparable pleasure is a hearty meal, though you''ll have to wait until Halloween for that, with all the exotic delicacies..."


    After he left, Draco remained in his spot. His light gray eyes kept darting around, unsure if he had narrowly escaped something.


    Professor Harp was someone who disliked trouble, and to some extent, this was widely recognized throughout the school.


    For instance, he would ce many assignments on ''Answering Parchment,'' greatly saving grading time. Simrly, though his in-ss tests were not fewer than those of other professors, he was the only one who required students to answer in a specific format.


    There were rumors that this made it convenient for a particr advanced magical puppet to grade papers.


    Moreover, there were other indications. Professor Harp rarely assigned detention, and the number of times he deducted points was also quite low. Not only had more than one Hufflepuff student bumped into him in the kitchens, but they would also discuss the nuances of fish consumption. His ''Fishbone Vanishing Spell,'' derived from the Severing Charm, was once all the rage at school.


    However, if a student asked him about this in ss, or if they wanted to learn culinary spells, they would find their workload immediately increased, and that trend eventually faded.


    And now, Draco Malfoy''s current concern wascould he get away with Professor Harp''s assignment that he had taken from Professor McGonagall if he didn''t bring it up again?


    For two days, he proceeded cautiously in Ancient Runes and Potions sses, avoiding eye contact with the two professors. He didn''t even participate in the rowdy spectacle of Neville Longbottom identally incinerating a cauldron  which was quite rare. Somehow, Longbottom''s grades had been improving steadily.


    Surviving Care of Magical Creatures was also a challenge. He had to endure the mocking gazes of foolish Gryffindor students, especially that Weasley. He wouldugh whenever he saw Draco and would ostentatiously p his own thigh, making Draco secretly wish he could cast a curse on him. It would be great if he could make Weasley vomit up a bogey-vored bean again, but unfortunately, he hadn''t found that spell in the library.


    Hagrid, that giant of a man, had them tending to st-Ended Skrewts in ss as usual. The students were quite reluctant. Those were sticky gray creatures, somewhat like shell-less lobsters, with various legs sprouting haphazardly from them. Hundreds of them were crammed into a box, jostling and oozing a slimy substance that resembled snot.


    Despite his distaste for Gryffindor, Draco found a sense of satisfaction watching that girl named Lavender Brown eximing "Disgusting!" as she fed the six-inch bugs lettuce. However, Crabbe, that brainless fool, overturned a crate, causing the st-Ended Skrewts to shoot sparks from their tails and scatter in all directions. The stench of rotten fish and shrimp filled the air, making them retch uncontrobly, unable to stand up straight...


    Thursday was a special day. He encountered Moody again.


    Moody was still as mad as ever, openly demonstrating the Unforgivable Curses in ss. When he got to the Killing Curse, Moody grinned widely and said, "Avada Kedavra requires a strong magical foundation to castgo ahead, take out your wands, point them at me, and say the incantation. I doubt I''ll do more than nosebleed."


    There was a momentary temptation, akin to the dark thoughts that Professor Harp had mentioned. And in that moment, Draco sadly realized he couldn''t muster the courage to point his wand at that ugly nose.


    On Friday, he encountered Professor Harp again and was surprised to find that the Ancient Runes ssroom had transformed. Soft light illuminated the room, and he raised his head along with the other students to gaze at the magicalmps representing the four houses.


    "Professor Harp, will the other ssrooms at Hogwarts also switch to magicalmps?" a girl raised her hand to ask.


    "Your question is not relevant to this ss, Miss Patil. However, I can disclose that representatives from ''The Future World'' will be visiting the school in a couple of days to discuss this matter."


    Felix smiled and continued, "Personally, I believe magicalmps are far superior to oilmps or magical mes. At least, when you''re reading in the ssrooms or the library, you won''t have to worry about straining your eyes."


    Underneath the podium, Harry and Ron exchanged whispers


    "Isn''t ''The Future World'' Professor Harp?" Ron asked in confusion.


    "Perhaps he''s still teaching at the school, which might not be convenient," Harry replied, his hopes rising slightly. "Maybe we''ll get to see Professor Lupin."


    "And Penelope," Ron blurted out without thinking, inadvertently revealing some information. "Before the school year began, Percy brought her home, and my mum started talking about marriage, which scared her off."


    Clearing his throat, Felix scanned the room, and the young wizards and witches below fell silent.


    He pped his hands. "Alright, ss, today we''ll be tranting a manuscript. You encountered an excerpt from it in your third year..."


    For the remaining twenty minutes, Felix assigned students to study on their own. Hermione finished her parchment paper assignment in just ten minutes, while Harry and Ron struggled with their quills, deep in thought.


    "How did you manage that?" Ron asked her.


    "It''s all about the contents of memory, and you don''t even need to use your brain. It''s much easier than making up some unfortunate tales to deceive Trwney," Hermione said, gazing at the professor behind the podium. He was holding a semi-transparent book, asionally tossing a few magical symbols into it.


    "The Book of Magical Runes..." she murmured.


    "What?" Harry asked, having finished thest part just minutes before the end of ss. He looked up from his parchment and happened to catch Hermione''s soft words.


    "The Book of Magical Runes," Hermione repeated. "I wish I could do it too." As Felix Harp turned another page on the podium, she blinked and seemed to catch a glimpse of ck lightning shing.


    Ron muttered to Harry in a low voice, "I can ept anything as long as it''s not about ''vomiting''."


    Harry almost wanted tough. Hermione had been spending these days poring over materials about house-elves in the library. She was furious about the unfair treatment they had endured for centuries and had even formed a charity organizationSociety for House-Elf Advancement and Representation, acronym matching the letters of ''vomiting.''


    Excitedly, Hermione said, "You shouldn''t say that. You''re the treasurer of the organization, Ron"


    "True, and Harry''s the secretary. Should we write down everything you''re saying now? But we''re quite busy, and we have warrior training this weekend..."


    "That''s for sixth and seventh years," Hermione raised an eyebrow and stared at him disapprovingly.


    "But the notice didn''t say it''s only for sixth and seventh years, did it? Can''t we check it out?" Ron muttered, seeking support from Harry, who vigorously nodded in agreement.


    Hermione was about to say something when the bell rang. Ron and Harry immediately rushed out and stood by the door, peering into the distance. Hermione took quite a while to emerge from the room, looking ted when they met again.


    "I asked Professor Harp! To enter the kitchen, all you need to do is find a pear in a still life painting of a fruit bowl and give it a tickle." Hermione said joyfully. "It seems the professor supports me."


    "He agreed!?" Ron asked incredulously, "He agreed to wear the ''vomiting'' badge? What position did you assign him?"


    "Oh, nothing like that," Hermione''s face fell, "The professor said he''ll consider it carefully. But..."


    "The professor suggested I go to the kitchen, have a chat with the house-elves, and write a report on the actual conditions of house-elves in the Hogwarts kitchen."


    Ron whispered his thoughts, "I guess Professor Harp couldn''t find a way to refuse, so he gave her something to do."


    Harry reflected on Professor Harp''s reaction to being invited to this strange organization and fully agreed with Ron''s spection. Perhaps that was the truth.


    He felt a bit annoyed with himself. How could he not have thought of this approach earlier? If he had known, they wouldn''t have needed to hold all those meetings, discuss the founding manifesto, and establish rules and regtions for the organization.


    ...


    On Saturday morning, the sky was a bit overcast. Students arrived at ssroom Seven in small groups, far more than they had anticipated. Many first and second-year students brought candies and snacks, adopting an attitude of watching a spectacle.


    Harry had a strong memory of this ce. When the Magical Runes Club was recruiting members, he and Ron had followed Hermione, bustling about, weing students who came to sign up, having them fill out forms and read guidelines.


    He had also defeated Malfoy here, winning the third-year Dueling Championship and being rewarded with an early learning of the Patronus Charm.


    However, after a summer, the magical aura here had somewhat faded. In the distance, you could see the white wall covering the room, marking its boundaries, and a patch of blue sky was visible, revealing a section of the ceiling.


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 Chapter 360: What Makes a Warrior

    Chapter 360: What Makes a Warrior


    Felix, Flitwick, Sprout, Snape, and Moody stood together, with Moody leaning on a long staff, engaged in a lively conversation with Flitwick.


    "Such a pity Millva didn''te; we''re one Head of House short," Flitwick said.


    "No need to worry, Professor Flitwick," Moody''s deep voice rumbled, "we all agreed in advance. We came here today to join in the festivities. I also want to see how these students perform..."


    "Millva is chairing the meeting. Lupin arrived this morning, along with representatives from the school board. It''s important to have significant figures present on the school''s side," Felix exined concisely, understanding the reasons behind it.


    "Is that the Magic Lamp?" Moody inquired, his magical eye swiveling toward Felix, "The future worldpany''s name, I''ve heard of it. The Daily Prophet practically interviewed everyone in Diagon Alley, asking for their thoughts on that suddenly appearing building."


    "Indeed, I''ve seen it too, along with the Quidditch World Cup''s light show. Although it seemed to have been overshadowed by that unexpected parade, I wonder if it was affected?" Sprout added.


    "Not really a problem, actually. Limsined to me about too many orders, unable to keep up, so they had to urgently hire more people," Felix replied with a smile, clearly satisfied with the progress of the Future World Company.


    The professors conversed amongst themselves, while Snape remained silent on the sidelines, appearing even more withdrawn than usual. He wore a ck robe, arms folded in front of him, a distant observer.


    At ten in the morning, the crowd formed a dense mass. Some students sat on the slope,ying out nkets and various foods, as if they were having a pic, leisurely observing their surroundings.


    Felix looked at the professors, "It''s about time. Shall we begin? How about"


    "We''re here to spectate," Flitwick interrupted, "Dumbledore assigned you to handle the training of the champions. Your Pensieve is the most suitable tool. I''ve already left my own memory eagerly, but I''m no match for Dumbledore. I''m nning to leave the memory of when I won the Dueling Championship that year..."


    In the staff room, Professor McGonagall had organized several meetings to discuss the selection and training of the champion candidates. To legitimize Dumbledore''s assignment of Felix, McGonagall used the Pensieve to convince the other professors. She recalled the Headmaster''s admonition and only briefly exined its purpose. Later, it was Flitwick who voluntarily approached Felix, inquiring about the details and readily agreeing to provide a memory.


    Aside from Dumbledore, McGonagall, Flitwick, and Felix himself, none of the other professors had done so. This actually illustrated that everyone held their memories in high regard. Dumbledore''s previous concerns weren''t unfounded; he didn''t want to turn it into a mandatory action.


    Felix slightly bowed and stepped forward, using his wand to point at himself. His voice carried far and clear, as though speaking directly into the ears of the students, all of whom could hear him distinctly.


    "You should have seen the notice on the bulletin board. Today, we aren''t selecting championsthat''s the task of the Triwizard Tournament. What we''re doing is selecting a group of promising students for special training. It''s highly likely that the eventual champion will emerge from among them. Even if not, they will represent the students, weing staff and students from the four participating schools and attending exchange activities."


    Felix idly twirled his wand, "So, what defines potential and a worthy champion?"


    "The Sorting Hat sorts students into the four houses based on their most prominent traits. You might think it would be great if there was a ''Champion Hat''..."


    Laughter rippled among the students.


    "You might also think I''d pick the most skilled students. That would require having you all brawl, at the very least demonstrating your prowess in magic. But I must remind you, the Triwizard Tournamentsts an exceptionally long time, which meansters can catch up, and frontrunners can fall behind at any moment.


    Strength is not the only criterion for measurement; otherwise, today''s endeavor would be meaningless."


    Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged nces. When they arrived, they spected whether they wouldpete based on who had the strongest spells. But that couldn''t establish a unified standard. Harry excelled at the Disarming Charm, yet even he knew the professors wouldn''t consider just that factor.


    However, the professors'' words deviated significantly from what they had anticipated, seeming to care little about their abilities. This left Harry somewhat disappointed.


    "...We professors have reviewed extensive records, analyzed past events, and drawn some conclusions. One of these conclusions can be shared with you: champions often face the most daunting difficulties, challenges far beyond their own capabilities. In such circumstances, a slight gap in strength isn''t all that significant."


    "The champion isn''t always the strongest. You will find that there are more unseen obstacles obstructing your path to victory... So, I propose a small suggestion, starting from the very definition of a champion itself." Felix paused his actions and his eyes sparkled sharply, "We have returned to the initial questionwhat makes a champion?"


    He took a few steps, looked at the crowd with amanding presence, and when Felix posed the question once again, the students felt a weight settle in their hearts.


    "Champions don''t represent an individual or a particr house; they are given a unified title by outsidersHogwarts students. During the summer, I visited Egypt and met a local witch. I didn''t ask her which house she came from because, in my eyes, she was simply a wizard from Hogwarts."


    The young wizards'' expressions involuntarily turned serious. They straightened their backs, and a piece of candy that a first-year was about to pop into their mouth hovered in mid-air, only to be set down. Luna pped her hands and enthusiastically shook the hat she was holding.


    "As champions represent Hogwarts when they embark on a journey for honor, I believe they should possess certain shared traits"


    "Courageous and fearless, with remarkable spirit;"


    "Wide-ranging knowledge, intelligent and wise;"


    "Honest and loyal, steadfast and upright;"


    "Focused andposed, with self-control."


    Felix smiled softly, "Of course, those are ideal wishes. If we can adopt one or two of these traits, we''re already quite fortunate." Unbeknownst to him, a suspicious ck mist gathered in his hand.


    He pointed his wand at the mist, letting it rise lightly, resembling a ckntern. When it ascended to a high point near the ceiling, the mist plummeted like a shell, trailing long ck smoke. The young wizards quickly stepped back, but they realized the mist didn''t spread infinitely. When it expanded to around fifteen feet, it ceased its growth, warping into a faintly visible door that hung in mid-air, about six or seven feet off the ground, shrouded in the ck mist.


    Beneath the ck door extended seven steps, their surfaces as smooth as polished ck mirrors, connecting step by step to the ground.


    "Step inside, thene out, and if you get an invitation card, you''re in." Felix said calmly, ncing at Moody leaning on his staff and the other professors nearby. He smiled and continued, "Let''s leave this to the students. Let''s have a cup of tea together and discuss the training ahead."


    They didn''t object. They came together today to express the school''s emphasis. The selection criteria had already been established in the previous discussions, so Professor McGonagall confidently didn''t show up, tending to more important matters.


    They took a few steps away, "Oh, right," Felix stopped, thoughtfully saying, "I seem to have forgotten to add an age restriction. Actually, students from other years aren''t necessary..."


    "No need toplicate things, Professor Harp," Moody rasped, simultaneously gripping his staff tightly, "The more forbidden it is, the more people will attempt it. That''s the lesson I''ve learned this week!"


    His prosthetic eye swiveled, retracting into its socket, and he pointed his thumb backward. The Weasley twins were craning their necks, gazing at the ck door. One of them seemed like he wanted to touch the steps on it.


    The other Weasley noticed the professors looking back and hurriedly pulled him away. The two of them revealed identical grins.


    "You''re testing the students'' character; it''s a good move. But instead of imposing restrictions that make them resentful, it''s better to let them try one by one. That way, they''ll realize their own capabilities."


    Moody rapped his staff with force, speaking sternly, "Not just anyone can be a champion."


    Felix looked at Moody, his gaze lingering slightly, before saying congenially, "You''re right, Professor Moody."


    They left together, and the students on-site watched as the professors opened the door to ssroom seven and walked out one by one. With a "thud," the door closed.


    After a few seconds of silence, the students erupted into a flurry of excitement. Their gazes were fixed on the ck door, shrouded in the mist and suspended in mid-air. The seven smooth steps that extended upwards seemed to hold an enchanting charm, drawing all their attention.


    "Gulp!"


    Harry swallowed a mouthful of saliva.


    >


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 Chapter 361: The Bankrupt Weasley Twins

    Chapter 361: The Bankrupt Weasley Twins


    "Shall we?" Fred turned his head and said to George, his tone as rxed as if he were asking if they should have breakfast together.


    "This is the first step of a true hero," George said smugly.


    The Weasley twins were just below the steps, surrounded by pairs of eyes fixed on the ck floating door and on them. They exchanged a smile and stepped onto the ck, mirror-like steps


    "I thought it would be slippery, but it''s surprisingly stable. A good start, George," Fred eximed boastfully, intentionally loud enough for those around to hear.


    They ascended the seven steps and stood in front of the ck door, a bit puzzled.


    "How do we go in?"


    "Should we push it open with our hands?"


    "Oh, that''s not very magical." George said, but Fred had already reached out and pushed the center of the ck door forcefully, surrounded by swirling ck mist.


    "No reaction" Fred said, but he suddenly widened his eyes, his whole body fading like a phantom, and George immediately grabbed his shoulder. The two of them were pulled inside together.


    The people around held their breath, waiting in silence


    "Did they seed?" Ron asked uncertainly, hesitating.


    "They''ve only gone in; they still have to face unknown challenges," Hermione said. She posed a question, "Are they together or separated now?"


    "Does it matter?" Dean asked nervously, "I hope they''re together, right, Seamus?"


    "Yeah," Seamus mumbled, taking out a badge of the Irish Quidditch team from his pocket and nervously putting it on himself. "This is my lucky charm."


    Harry nced at the shamrock badge, knowing that Seamus and his mother were staunch fans of the Irish team. Their victory in the Quidditch World Cup finals during the summer had made them ecstatic. Actually, he and Ron had bought the same badge; it could even shout out the name of every yer on the Irish team. But now, with magic weakened, the voices had be feeble, so Harry stuffed it into his sock.


    Neville''s round face was tense, one hand gripping his wand tightly.


    About half a minute passed


    The quiet ck door began to show movement; the entwined ck mist boiled up like a kettle, pouring out arge amount of ck mist. Snarling and wing, it covered the entire door. Two figures were thrown out forcefully, the Weasley brothers, somersaulting and tracing a crooked and irregr arc. At the moment ofnding, they were lifted by an invisible force, reducing some of their speed, and they fell to the ground.


    "Ouch!" George was pressed onto Fred, and the two of them rolled on the ground, covered in mud and leaves.


    The young wizards were first taken aback, then burst intoughter.


    "Brilliant! Thanks to Fred and George for the entertainment, though it''s not exactly a spectacr entrance" a voice suddenly cut through theughter, loud enough to make the people''s ears ring. The crowd instantly made way, revealing a wizard with intimidating long locks.


    He was Lee Jordan, one of the troublemaking friends of the Weasley twins. After failing to make it onto the Gryffindor Quidditch team in a certain selection, he became a Quidditchmentator. Lee Jordan had a humorous and witty personality, fond of exaggeration. His most outrageous recent statement was openly expressing in themon room that he intended to use his skin color advantage to infiltrate the inner workings of the Wizengamot to gather secrets for Hogwarts'' champions.


    "If I could learn a couple of new fancy spells, that''d be even better," he said with anticipation.


    ...


    Now, Lee Jordan walked out casually, tapping his wand against his throat, casting the "Sonorous Charm" to amplify his voice. He shouted, "Next up, by meLee Jordan, the soon-to-be unemployed Quidditchmentator for a whole year, presenting you with an excitingmentary!"


    The other students were a bit bewildered, but the Gryffindor students generously apuded.


    "Cough, thank you, thank you! You''re really enthusiastic..." He mockingly bowed to the surroundings, "Let''s first interview the two protagonists and get firsthand information. You all must be curious about some inside scoop, right?" Lee Jordan said.


    This time, the students quieted down; a few restless older students even stopped in their tracks, hoping to hear some useful information.


    Fred and George got up from the ground, their faces still startled. Upon hearing Lee Jordan''s words, theyughed mischievously.


    "Oh dear, we can''t reveal too much"


    "Especially the tough parts!"


    "Was a bit of a struggle, you know?" Lee Jordan interjected.


    "Uh..."


    "That''s right, it was quite challenging."


    "But you both look clean, the dirt on your robes seems to have been acquired when you were thrown out." Lee Jordan gave them a skeptical look, though it could also be just an act; he and the twins were always in sync.


    "Well, you see," Fred sighed, "that was Professor Harp''s magic,ing from a Memory Charmer, just think of the Pensieve Professor uses..."


    "Oh, I get it!" Lee Jordan eximed, "You were fighting in the realm of thoughts!"


    Both of them couldn''t help but suppress theirughter. "You''re absolutely right!"


    "So, what did you encounter?" Lee Jordan asked with great interest, "I think others would like to know too." The young wizards listened more attentively, specting on the dangers they might have faced, seeking insight for their own potential journeys.


    "We, well, we encountered a snake!"


    "A snake?" Lee Jordan asked.


    "Yeah, a really big one, tall enough to reach the ceiling... George, you exin!"


    "Alright, I think... it had three heads and was covered in patterns."


    Among the crowd, Hermione muttered to herself, "Three heads and covered in patterns, does it sound like a Runespoor? But those usually are only about six or seven feet long, which doesn''t match their description."


    Other students also felt the same, as if Fred and George''s descriptions were somewhat inconsistent.


    "Maybe Professor Harp altered them privately." Ron spected, and Harry and Hermione nodded thoughtfully. "That''s a possibility."


    Meanwhile, Lee Jordan saw Fred and George off and then discussed in hushed tones. "What do you think the professor''s challenge is?" Fred said.


    "By striking us and pushing us into a low point to see how we react." George said without hesitation.


    "I thought the same. Otherwise, we wouldn''t have gone bankrupt seventeen times in a row..." Fred shivered, "It''s a terrifying feeling, so real that you''repletely immersed and unaware of any issues."


    "Wait a moment, did you say seventeen times? But I failed fifteen times!" George widened his eyes.


    Fred hesitated and looked at him, "Could I have miscounted?"


    "Definitely not, it''s vivid in my memory!" George said with a lingering fear, "I suspect I''m going to have nightmares tonight."


    "So, what you''re saying is, we experienced different illusions?"


    "Seems so."


    "Good then," Fred nodded, "Let''s exchange reasons for our respective failures and jot them down when we get back! These are lessons learned."


    A seventh-year student climbed the steps and touched the ck door, being drawn in.


    Lee Jordanmentated, "The third person is in! Knowing they''re about to face a three-headed giant snakeoh, the insider info tells me it''s possibly a variant of a Runespoor, thanksyet they still stood up! Amazing courage! One more question, is he a Gryffindor senior?"


    Gryffindor students erupted with cheers, and Lee Jordan panickedly said, "Uh, seems not..." He quickly changed the subject, "The third volunteer has gone in; let''s guess if he''ll hold onoh, Merlin!"


    A figure was hurled out immediately after, tumbling several times in midair beforending lightly on the ground. This seventh-year student sat paralyzed with a terrified expression, his right arm iling behind him as if waving a wand, and he shouted, "Obstacles everywhere! Obstacles everywhere!" Even Lee Jordan, who came close, took a punch to the face; half of his face immediately swelled up.


    "Hiss~ Stay calm, stay calm! Merlin''s beard, get a few people to take him away!" Lee Jordan covered his face and yelled.


    After a while, this somewhat hysterical student was led away by his friends, lookingpletely dazed. Lee Jordan refrained from asking him what he had experienced, but everyone had their own thoughts.


    "He might have been eaten by a giant snake," a Hufflepuff student, Ernie Macmin, said to his friend Justin Finch-Fletchley.


    "Don''t listen to him," Susan Bones chimed in, "He saidst year that Sirius ck turned him into an orange and was bought by Fudge..."


    "I was just joking!" Ernie Macmin said defensively. He was tall and imposing, seemingly quite authoritative. "Besides, I got the idea from Hannah, she said ck could turn into a flowering shrub!"


    Hannah Abbott frowned and looked at him disapprovingly.


    "...He also said two years ago that Harry Potter was the Heir of Slytherin," Susan Bones continued without hesitation.


    Ernie grumbled in frustration, "I''ve already apologized to Harry! Publicly apologized!" Justin tugged at him; his sleeves were nearly rolled up, revealing short, chubby hands.


    Ernie grumbled discontentedly, "Just because he''s got an aunt who''s a head of the Magical Law Enforcement..."


    Susan Bones red at him, but they didn''t escte the argument. At that moment, Cedric Diggory took a deep breath and eximed, "I''ll give it a try!"


    I''ll finish writing this scene and send it out. I didn''t manage to finish it all. There''s one more chapter after this.


    >


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 Chapter 362: A Second Attempt

    Chapter 362: A Second Attempt


    "Cedric," Autumn asked softly, "should we wait a little longer?"


    "No, I''m afraid waiting further might make it worse," Cedric replied with a smile. "Professor Harp wouldn''t set up an impossible challenge; he''s selecting champions, not testing powerful wizards. The clue is in what he said earlier."


    Autumn looked at him, contemting, and then said, "Courage, wisdom, resilience, andposure?"


    Cedric nodded and strode out. Lee Jordan was still enthusiastically encouraging people toe forward. The previous examples had left the young wizards feeling a bit apprehensive, causing some of them to consider waiting until the first person who received an invitation card appeared.


    Harry couldn''t hold back anymore. He took a few steps forward and caught a glimpse of Cedric approaching.


    "Anyone else willing to try?" Lee Jordan continued to persuade energetically. "The professors might just be having a cup of tea and wondering what to make of three duds. Oh, the fourth volunteer has arrived! Let''s cheer for him! Cedric Diggory of Hufflepuff House!"


    Cedric took measured steps onto the smooth, reflective ck steps, touched the ck door, and in the blink of an eye, he was sucked inside.


    The students couldn''t help but hold their breath, fearing he would be ejected any second. But ten seconds passed, then thirty, a minute, two minutes, and on until five minutes, when the suspended ck door silently swung open. Cedric descended the steps, holding up a golden card.


    "Look quick! Cedric did it! He''s got the invitation card! He''s the first one!" Lee Jordan eximed with excitement, igniting a massive wave of cheers from Hufflepuff students.


    Lee Jordan hugged Cedric. "Mate, you''re brilliant! Anything you want to say to us?"


    Cedric smiled modestly, an inexplicable lightness about him. "I have just four words to saycourage, wisdom, resilience,posure, that''s all it takes. Oh, and," he paused, "Professor Harp put a spell on the card, I think that''s my biggest takeaway today."


    He rejoined the Hufflepuff crowd, enveloped by well-wishers.


    "Cedric, how did you pass the challenge?"


    "Yeah, how did you escape from the Runespoor''s mouth?"


    "What was that big-mouthed thing, a giant?"


    Cedric shook his head. "I didn''t encounter any of those things, not a single one. I believe Professor Harp isn''t testing us on how to defeat them. I''ve already shared the secret."


    He found Autumn. "Autumn, I suggest you give it a try."


    "Because of the magic on the card?" Autumn asked.


    "That''s part of it. Well, mainly I hope you can join me in the training," Cedric scratched his head, saying.


    ...


    With a sessful example and crucial hints, more people dared to attempt the challenge, forming a long queue. Lee Jordan reminded them, "The trials can happen simultaneously, just like what Fred and George did"


    One by one, young wizards went in, but more people were swiftly ejected, getting up from the ground dejectedly.


    Harry was followed by Ron and Hermione. "You don''t need to apany me. You can wait a bit longer..."


    "Don''t be ridiculous. I want to try it myself too," Hermione impatiently remarked.


    "Yeah, who wouldn''t want to get an invitation card?" Ron said with a cheerful grin, yet Harry clearly saw fear in his eyes, a tone that wasn''t his usual self.


    Harry took a deep breath, ascended the steps, touched the patterns on the door. The next moment, the patterns on the door began to move, swirling and forming a shallow vortex, pulling him in.


    "Let me see what''s inside!" Harry told himself.


    His feet touched solid ground, but before he could make out his surroundings, a dazzling green light flooded his entire vision, apanied by a hoarse, terrifying, bone-chilling voice:


    "Avada Kedavra!"


    Harry''s heart nearly stopped, everything went ck, and he felt like he was falling through emptiness. The next second, his body tensed.


    "Harry! Harry!"


    "Harry, are you alright?"


    Ron and Hermione looked at him with concern. Harry realized he wasn''t dead, but had been thrown out by the ck door. They caught him.


    "What kind of challenge is this, not even giving me time to react?" Harry felt utterly bewildered.


    Ron looked at Harry, who had turned pale, and advised, "It''s alright even if you fail. It''s a good chance to watch the show." Harry followed his gaze. On the groundy a row of students, many of them familiar faces from Gryffindor.


    Angelina Johnson struggled to her feet, her face ashen. She looked up and saw Harry staring at her. She smiled wryly, "I thought, since there''s no Quidditch match this year, why not find something to do and be the school''s champion? But I can''t even get past the internal selection, it means I''m not cut out for this..."


    She shook her head in disappointment and prepared to leave.


    "No, you can do it!" Harry said.


    "What?"


    "You can" Harry struggled to get up. "I''ll prove it to you."


    In her puzzled gaze, Harry ascended the steps once more. Even Lee Jordan, who was providingmentary, was taken aback, muttering, "Looks like Potter wants to give it a second try. I''m not sure if that''s allowed..."


    Harry paid no mind to others'' opinions, his hand pressed against the ck door, silently praying.


    A slight sensation of weightlessness reappeared, making him feel relieved. It worked, just as he suspected. The professors wouldn''t instantly kill anyone; everyone could attempt it again!


    Hermione watched his retreating figure with worry. "Harry''s too impulsive, I can guess. Professor used techniques simr to the Room of Requirement, maybebined with Legilimency or Boggarts or Dementors, to make everyone face their deepest fears. And during this process, demonstrate various qualities of champions..."


    She shook her head. "But every failure is quite a blow. Just look at those people." As she said this, she paused, focusing on the ck door, then burst into a giggle.


    "What''s going on?" Ron asked, puzzled.


    "Oh my," Hermione struggled to suppress herughter, her shoulders shaking violently. "Look... on the door, Harry... Harry left a handprint!"


    Ron and Angelina stared at the door and saw a dirty handprint, unmistakably left by Harry. The previous people had been attempting for the first time; only Harry hade back for a repeat try, not even bothering to clean off the mud from his hands.


    Angelina broke into a light smile. She was about to say something when Harry was ejected from the ck door for the second time.


    His face was even paler than the first time, but his eyes were unusually bright. Before they could ask him, Harry quickly said, "I''ve figured out a trick!" Then he dashed back, climbing the steps in a whirlwind. In two strides, he pped the ck door, leaving behind a fresh mud handprint.


    Lee Jordan leaned in, putting down his wand, and whispered, "Is he cursed or something?"


    "I don''t think so," Angelina said, "This is the Harry Potter I knowstubborn, single-minded, just like when he trains."


    Hermione stood up, pulling Ron up with her.


    "What are you doing?" Ron was examining the mud handprint on the ck door,menting, "The second handprint is clearer, Harry''s hand must be hurting!"


    But Hermione forcibly pulled him up the steps, her tone firm. "It''s our turn now."


    "I knew there was no avoiding it," Ron grumbled. He looked around, then ced his hand on the fresh mud handprint left by Harry.


    >


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 Chapter 363: Antiques and Invitations

    Chapter 363: Antiques and Invitations


    As time passed, Ernie Macmin and Justin returned together, undoubtedly both having failed.


    The two remained silent for a moment. Ernie asked him, "Do you want to try again?" Justin shook his head and found a spot to sit down casually, saying, "Let me take a moment." He sounded somewhat incredulous, "How did Potter manage to do it?"


    They both turned their heads, catching a glimpse of Harry disappearing again. A sense of admiration welled up within them. When he failed for the second, third time, Slytherins jeered, even the Gryffindor students felt a bit embarrassed. But when he failed the ninth, tenth time, no one mocked him anymore.


    Harry''s two friends, Hermione and Ron, also attempted once, sitting askew to the side.


    Justin hesitated, "Ernie, there''s something I want to ask you about."


    "What''s that?" Ernie replied casually.


    "It''s not about the selection, it''s about something at my home... during the summer, someone gave my parents an antique vase. I feel something''s odd about it..."


    Ernie mumbled, "Could it be enchanted?"


    "Is that a possibility?" Justin asked nervously.


    "How should I know? I''ve never even seen one." Ernie rolled his eyes, "But I do know who you can ask for help."


    "Who?"


    "Of course, it''s Professor Harp. He''s the best at studying these magical items."


    "Right," Justin immediately agreed, "Ernie, you''re right. I''ll have my parents send the thing over"


    "The thing is just sitting at your house?" Ernie''s eyes widened, making him look like a bull.


    "Uh, yeah." Justin said embarrassedly, seeing Ernie''s eyes widening again, he quickly added, "But the antique is in a cab, and no one usually touches it."


    Ernie pondered for a moment, "In that case, I suggest you not send a letter home. Come on, let''s go find Professor Harp."


    "Now?" Justin asked, surprised.


    "Of course! What are you thinking? What if there''s a curse on it?" Ernie couldn''t help but shout, his face turning red with excitement.


    With Ernie''s words, Justin couldn''t sit still anymore. "Let''s go find Professor Harp right away!"


    As Justin and Ernie Macmin hurriedly separated from the crowd and passed a small group of Slytherin students, they identally stepped on Pansy Parkinson''s foot. She was conversing with a sulking Draco Malfoy.


    "Ouch!" Pansy eximed in pain.


    "Ah! Sorry" Justin apologized apologetically, Pansy red at him, about to make a sarcastic remark, but Justin was pulled away by Ernie, "Hurry, the professors left a while ago."


    Pansy raised her arm and screamed, "Draco, look at them the Macmin family has fallen, just like those Muggles with no manners. I should advise my dad to write to his family and keep them away from those stinky"


    "Sister, do you think she looks like a fox with manic tendencies?" a delicately featured girl asked.


    "Don''t talk nonsense, Astoria." Daphne held her younger sister''s hand tightly, pinching it firmly, yet a hint of a smile yed around her lips. She nodded toward Pansy, gesturing for Astoria not to let her hear.


    Pansy truly didn''t hear it. She was rying her grandfather''s words, "Hufflepuffs are all a bunch of geese, foolish and clueless. That''s why most of them don''t do well." Draco grew impatient listening, he turned his head to look in Astoria''s direction.


    Astoria jumped in surprise and nervously leaned in to whisper to Daphne, "Hemighthaveheardus." She stared at Draco Malfoy for a while, realizing he didn''t seem to grasp the meaning of "fox face", finally she breathed a sigh of relief.


    Not long after, she grew restless again


    "Can I let out the little snake?"


    "Oh, no, you can''t." her elder sister replied sternly, earning her an eye roll.


    Outside ssroom 7.


    Several professors gathered in the staff lounge. Felix brought out tea leaves, Flitwick retrieved some teacups from an old cab, Professor Sprout took out some ck petals, adding them to the tea. They all sipped tea and chatted contentedly.


    However, Snape left early, citing another batch of potions that needed attention. Though Moody stayed behind, he declined the tea and chat session.


    "Felix, what''s your n?" Flitwick asked.


    "At the moment, I have memories from several professors. I can use them to design some dangerous scenarios to help them practice reaction skills, crisis management, andbat skills, based on their individual traits. That''s what I''vee up with so far."


    "We can only do that," Flitwick nodded. "No one knows what the tasks in the Triwizard Tournament will be, or what the specific rules are."


    Felix nodded slightly, agreeing with his words. He knew the first task was likely about dragons, but the exact rules were uncertain. It could be enduring a certain amount of time under dragon attacks, or maybe taking something from the dragon''s body. Judging by Charlie''s previous words and considering that the Ministry of Magic selected nesting mother dragons, thetter possibility seemed more likely.


    Moody gruffly added, "I''m not an expert in memory-rted things, but in my opinion, real skills can only be honed in real situations. The fake ones are just that, fake. It would be better to lead these students to some truly dangerous ces and train them properly."


    Flitwick nervously responded, "That''s not suitable, stor. We can''t take students out of the school..."


    "What''s not suitable about it? This generation hasn''t experienced a war, they''re pampered and spoiled. Can we really expect them to calmly face the tasks of the Triwizard Tournament?" Moody disdainfully spat, then continued, "If it were my Aurors, I''d definitely train them rigorously, take them to capture Dark Wizards several times. Not many, just three or five times, and they''ll be reborn."


    Flitwick said anxiously, "They''re just students, not the Aurors under yourmand."


    "But they''re facing challenges even more dangerous than those Aurors normally encounter!" Moody roared.


    "No, absolutely not... Professor McGonagall won''t agree to it, and Dumbledore won''t either..." Flitwick muttered.


    Felix poured himself a cup of tea and leaned back in his chair, gazing at the amber liquid in the cup. Slowly, he said, "Taking the students out of the school is probably not feasible now, especially deliberately leading them into dangerous ces. Professor Moody, your teaching methods have always been controversial..."


    "The Unforgivable Curses?" Moody grinned, a cold smirk on his face, the magical eye continuously shifting. "They should consider themselves lucky to first encounter those curses in my ssroom."


    And not on a battlefield...


    This was the unspoken meaning in his words, understood by the other three professors present.


    Moody was a hardcore proponent of tough teaching, advocating for a savage approach. In his n, he intended to teach students spells, making them experience the effects of each dark curse firsthand, which naturally included the three Unforgivable Curses.


    Of course, he chose the Imperius Curse. The other two were too dangerous, even Moody didn''t dare to use them on students.


    This outrageous teaching n was met with unanimous opposition from Flitwick and Sprout. The tea gathering dispersed on a sour note. Flitwick tiptoed in the direction of the Headmaster''s office, apparently intending to persuade his friend Dumbledore.


    When only Felix and Moody were left, Felix checked the time and asked, "Do you want to go check? I reckon a few students might have received invitations, assuming they''ve discovered they can try multiple times."


    Moody thought for a moment, "Forget it! I won''t join in the crowd. Didn''t you mention in the meeting that the selection will continue throughout the weekend? Just give me a list by Monday, so I know who''s participating in the training."


    With some effort, he shifted his cloak to one side, making room for his wooden leg to stand. Then, a hand with numerous scars, rough and worn, grabbed the cane, exerting force to lift him up.


    "Arthur said you''re quite daring. I thought you would understand my approach," Moody said quietly.


    He limped away.


    Felix sat alone in the staff lounge, lost in thought. After an unknown amount of time, a knock sounded, and the tall and robust figure of Ernie Macmin burst in.


    "Mr. Macmin, do you need something?" Felix asked calmly.


    "Professor Moody told me you''re here. Oh, um..." Ernie''s confidence faltered as he pulled Justin out from behind him. "Professor Harp, this is Justin. He has something important to discuss with you..."


    A few minutester, Felix grasped the situation, "So, you suspect there''s an antique in your house that might have been enchanted, particrly cursed?"


    "That''s right, Professor." Justin nodded quickly.


    "I see..." Felix fell into thought. He inquired, "Mr. Finch-Fletchley, please extend your hand to me."


    "What? Oh" Justin looked at the professor''s outstretched hand. Though he couldn''t quiteprehend, heplied.


    Their hands met.


    "Imagine what the object looks like," Felix said.


    Justin began to recall. He had a strong impression of the antique, having examined it closely due to his suspicion. Now, remembering it was effortless.


    Under the gaze of three pairs of eyes, a blue vase materialized in the air. It seemed like a fusion of a goblet and a slender-necked bottle, with ayer of blue enamel painted on the body. It was adorned withpiszuli and had two harp-shaped arching handles at the top, a silver chain trailing from the handles, hanging near the smooth, polished silver base.


    "A piece of silver craftsmanship. In other words, a silverware?" Felix chuckled softly. "Does it not umte dust easily?"


    Justin''s eyes lit up, "The person who gave the gift told my father the same thing. They said it was made using an ancient and unique technique, very rare..."


    Ernie Macmin couldn''t help but interject, "But that''s clearly a characteristic of fairy-made objects! You didn''t tell me that before, otherwise I would''ve noticed right away!"


    "But I''m not very knowledgeable about this," Justin argued.


    "Justin," Felix interrupted their conversation, "Is there someone at your house right now?"


    "They''re usually very busy and won''t be back untilte. Even on weekends." Justin added.


    "Alright then, I''ll apany you tonight to visit your parents." Felix said, standing up and swishing his wand, causing the tea to disappear and the cups to clean themselves before flying back into the cupboard.


    "Let''s go back and take a look. I wonder how many people have received the invitations?" Justin quickly said, "Before I came out, three people had. Cedric Diggory from Hufflepuff, Roger Davies from Ravenw, and Collins Flint from Slytherin."


    ...


    "Kill me now, I won''t go," Ron''s face turned pale, as if he had fallen seriously ill. "You can''t imagine what it feels like to be inundated by swarms of spiders the size of fingernails. Countless legs wriggling all over you, crawling into your mouth, ears, and nose... damn it, I actually find Aragog that Hagrid keeps in a cage easier on the eyes now."


    Hermione sat with her knees drawn up, not saying a word. Gradually regaining herposure, she hesitated for a while before saying in a low voice, "I found a shortcut, maybe it''ll get me an invitation, but I don''t know if it''s considered cheating..."


    "What did you say?" Ron stared at her.


    Out of the corner of his eye, the ck suspended gate swung open slowly, and Harry emerged, holding a golden card in his hand.


    >


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 Chapter 364: Disassembly

    Chapter 364: Disassembly


    "Harry went to the infirmary?"


    When Felix returned to ssroom Seven, there was still some time before noon. Many people hadn''t left yet, and he inquired of thementator who had styled his hair in strands, Lee Jordan.


    As soon as he entered, he heard Lee Jordan''s enthusiasticmentary, and the intense atmosphere of the scene was greatly rted to him. However, perhaps due to the passage of time, his throat had be a bit hoarse.


    "Yes, Professor Harp," Lee Jordan said, "He received the invitation card, but he didn''t look too well. His friend, Granger, took him to the infirmary, along with Fred and George''s brother, Ron."


    As they spoke, a figure was thrown out of the ck suspended gate, and Felix gently waved his wand to let hernd steadily on the ground.


    "Oh, thank you, Professor Harp," Angelina Johnson said gratefully.


    Felix nodded and looked at the ck gate, which was covered withrge and small handprints. He saw a student deliberately crouching, pressing his dirty hands against the edge of the door. "This is a symbol of courage," Lee Jordan said, and Felix chuckled softly.


    He raised his wand and pointed it to the left side of the ck steps. A small mound of soil bulged on the ground, and the central soil slid towards the surroundings. The grass on the ground was turned upside down. Under everyone''s gaze, a pinnacle-shaped stone monument emerged from the earth. The monument was about six to seven feet tall, and on its smooth stone surface, four names sparkled like stars, shining brightly. The crowd gathered around, pointing and discussing:


    Cedric Diggory;


    Roger Davies;


    Collins Flint;


    Harry Potter;


    The young wizards stared at these four names, brimming with envy. If their own names could also appear there, it would be wonderful.


    When Felix heard Angelina mention Cedric''s secret, he waved his hand again, and above the stone monument appeared those four words: Courage, Wisdom, Tenacity, Calmness.


    "You should realize that everyone can try multiple times," Felix calmly began, projecting his voice far away so that everyone could hear clearly. "Each failure will bring you a tremendous mental burden. It''s best to rest for half an hour to an hour before attempting again, unless your personality has an extremely tough and dominant side."


    The young wizards began to discuss among themselves, words like "Potter," "amazing," and "impressive" escaping their lips. Even Angelina''s encouraging phrase, "I''ll show you," was recalled. Draco Malfoy disdainfully mouthed, "Saint Potter!"


    Felix smiled slightly


    "As for the content of the challenges, I believe many of you have already guessed that it''s about facing your fears. Of course, if your fear is somethingical, like a pile of garbage or a stinky boot, then you''ll be dealing with some interesting and peculiar creatures that I''ve specially prepared. Even Dumbledore himself couldn''t help but admire them.


    It''s not just my effort; I drew special reference from Muggle movies and the monsters that contestants from previous tournaments had to face."


    The young wizards participating in the selection red at him angrily, their eyes practically shooting mes. This morning, they had been chased by monsters, entangled by snakes, stepped on by giants, and kicked like a ball by the transfigured "clunking" car...


    Their experiences were so bizarre that they could be turned into a collection of macabre tales.


    "I can tell that you''re eager and want to continue challenging," Felix said with a yful smile. "So, thest point, the entire selection will continue until next Monday. By then, I will make another visit and confirm the final list."


    "But don''t even think about enchanting the monument to imprint your own name..."


    Infirmary.


    Madam Pomfrey handed Harry a cup of potion in annoyance and supervised him as he drank it all. Harry endured the difort and finished the liquid that emitted a taste of low-quality vegetable juice, then wiped his mouth with force. Thank goodness, he wouldn''t have to listen to Madam Pomfrey''s nagging anymore.


    Ron sat by Harry''s feet, fiddling with the invitation card. He touched the delicate patterns on the golden card repeatedly, a look of envy on his face. "It''s really beautiful."


    "How did you do it, Harry? Any tricks?" he couldn''t help but ask.


    "My trick might not be useful for you guys. I doubt anyone would be aiming the Killing Curse at you..." Harry let out a big yawn. Madam Pomfrey''s potions always worked quickly, and he forced himself to sound alert.


    "You faced the Killing Curse?" Ron''s body shook, and the card slipped from his hand. He quickly caught it between his legs.


    Hermione covered her mouth and asked in astonishment, "That curse? The one Professor Moody demonstrated in ss?"


    "Yeah, it''s that one. The green lighting at you from different angles, and every time I thought I was going to die." Harryzily exined, "Only after I got out could I snap out of that state..."


    "Strange! I tried a few times halfway through, telling myself it''s all fake, but I forgot everything when I entered."


    "We did too," Ron said, "Hermione and I. I tried twice, encountered over a dozen kinds of spiders, and each time they were different. Can you believe it?" He said incredulously, "There''s this Bubotuber, you just poke it a bit, and pus starts oozing out of its belly. When my spell hit it"


    He paused slightly, recalling a terrible memory, his face scrunching up.


    "I faced various academic setbacksfailing exams, being called in for talks by professors, getting caught in non-magic incidents, or having magical idents..." Hermione sighed, "Just like you, Ipletely forgot I was undergoing a trial in a strange ce. It''s as if we suddenly lost our wits, unable to remember why we appeared there."


    "Perhaps that''s the professor''s intention."


    "But if we don''t remember and treat each trial as real every time, how could we pass?" Ron said.


    Harry thoughtfully remarked, "We shouldn''t only consider what happened inside the ck gate. Didn''t the professor emphasize potential and growth? Don''t forget, we forget the trial while we''re inside the ck gate, but we remember everything once we''re outside. I suddenly realized that the interval between the two trials is the key to oveing our fears and gaining growth."


    "So the trial is actually to test if you''ve reflected and grown?" Hermione astutely pointed out.


    "Yes, weuhhyes." Harry''s eyelids drooped, heavy with sleep.


    He tapped his own head, "There''s something else I need to tell you. The invitation card has a spell on it, probably done by Professor Harp. It''s very, very interesting. I strongly rmend you, you... give it a try!"


    Before Harry could finish speaking, he slumped onto his pillow and fell asleep. He was really tired today.


    "What spell could it be?" Ron stared at the golden card, flipping it back and forth for a while before handing it to Hermione. "I haven''t found anything."


    Hermione took it and waved her wand, pointing and incanting, "Magic revealed! Secrets disyed!" After a while, she hesitated and said, "It should be a one-time spell. Only the first person to get the card will receive this reward."


    Ron regretfully said, "I really want to wake Harry up and ask him about it."


    After lunch, the two of them returned to ssroom Seven again, this time with arge bottle of potion they specially requested from Madam Pomfrey to soothe their nerves. Hermione had to beg for a while before Madam Pomfrey reluctantly gave it to her.


    At this moment, Lee Jordan had disappeared. Commentating for the entire morning had strained his voice. ording to Neville, he was nning to urgently order a box of ice mice from a magical owl to soothe his throat.


    Hermione nced at the additional ck monument and let out a faint hum.


    Close to dinner time in the afternoon, Harry returned. He enthusiastically reviewed the names on the monument from the beginning, and when he saw "Angelina Johnson," he genuinely felt happy for her. He also saw Cho''s name, and he couldn''t decide whether he felt sad or dHe had already learned that Cho had agreed to be Cedric''s girlfriend.


    Before he could think too much, Angelina rushed over, hugged him warmly, and said, "Thank you, Harry." Then, she pulled him into the Gryffindor crowd.


    "Oh, our champion Potter is here!" the twins teased. Fred pretended to bow dramatically, "Extremely honored, we''re in need of some guidance."


    "No, I''m not " Harry awkwardly waved his hand, "I''m not old enough."


    The twins each took one of his shoulders, "We can provide you with an aging potion," one of them nodded toward Lee Jordan, "Lee found a way, but you need to buy at least an ounce. We''re looking for someone to share..."


    "Don''t you have your winnings?" Ron asked.


    "That''s true, George. We''ve been a bit extravaganttely and forgot that we still have a debt to collect." Fred said.


    "Reasonable, we''ve only just started this month, and we''ve already spent thirty Galleons," George said.


    "Thirty Galleons!" Ron widened his eyes and eximed in irritation, "And yet you won''t even buy your little brother a new dress robe!"


    The twins exchanged a nce.


    "We went through the same thing," Fred shrugged, "Plus, we converted most of the money into materials. We can lend you some feathers to stick onto the robe."


    >


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 Chapter 365: After the Lights Out

    Chapter 365: After the Lights Out


    Ron stormed off angrily, leaving them behind. "Ron" Harry reached out towards his retreating figure, not knowing what to say.


    On the first day back at school while packing their luggage, he saw the dress Mrs. Weasley had prepared for Ron. To his eyes, it looked more like avender velvet gown with a cor trimmed in what appeared to be moldy ruffles and matchingce on the sleeves.


    Harry didn''t have the heart to wear it, and judging by Ron''s expression, he would rather bury the dress at the bottom of his trunk and never use it in his lifetime.


    Ten secondster, Ron reappeared, twirling through the air.


    Harry and Hermione caught him, and Ron plopped onto the ground, his face pale. In a low voice, he said, "I''ve had enough of being broke. Harry, can you lend me some money? I promise I''ll pay you back!"


    Harry hesitated for two seconds. He knew what Ron wanted to do  buy some Aging Potion. "Sure," he said.


    "Ron! You shouldn''tDumbledore must have considered," Hermione advised.


    "Don''t bother," Ron mumbled into his hands. "Don''t you have a way to get invitation cards? Or was that just empty talk?"


    Hermione stared at him in disbelief, but Ron simply gave her the back of his head. She shot him a haughty nce and ascended the steps with heavy strides.


    Her figure disappeared in front of the cold ck gateway. Just over a dozen secondster, intense ck mist began to ripple.


    Ron looked at the ck gravestone in disbelief. A golden name, swirling and soaring, appeared  Hermione Granger. The ck gates opened soundlessly, releasing a wave of scorching heat, and the golden mes behind her gradually vanished.


    ...


    8 o''clock in the evening.


    Felix, along with Justin Finch-Fletchley in his illusion form, appeared in a London alley. They then boarded a taxi and arrived at a suburban area following an address provided by Justin.


    "Mom, it''s me, Justin." Justin pressed the doorbell outside the front yard and spoke into the inte, "I''m with a professor from school."


    "Oh, goodness! Sweetie, Mom''sing right over."


    Sounds of hurried movements came through the inte, as if someone had just broken a ss.


    Justin''s mouth hung open, feeling somewhat embarrassed. Felix quietly observed the patterns carved on the pir until a finely dressed woman walked out hurriedly, adjusting her hat in the process.


    "Hello, are you, um..."


    Through the door, she hesitated, looking at Justin, then at Felix.


    "Are you... the professor?" She cautiously inquired. This was way too young; all the professors she had encountered were portly and balding, without exception.


    Even if magic could cure baldness, it couldn''t make someone younger, could it? The "McGonagall" professor who hade to visit for the first time didn''t possess this ability.


    "Oh, Mom, open the door! He''s my Ancient Runes professor, the one I told you about!" Justin interjected.


    Through the door, the woman extended a hand and yfully flicked his forehead.


    "Ouch!"


    Satisfied, she patted her pocket and then apologized, "Professor Harp, right? My child did mention you, said you''re very young, but I thought... well, shouldn''t you be a bit... Oh, sorry, I forgot my keys, changed my clothes beforeing home... I''ll be right back." And with that, she hastily left.


    Confused, Justin asked, "Professor, can''t we use the Alohomora spell"


    "No need for that," Felix said, "waiting a bit won''t hurt."


    Scratching his curly hair, Justin didn''t quite understand. "Professor, what kind of magic did you just use? A door key?"


    Felix chuckled, "Where did you hear that term?"


    "Ernie told me. He said during the Quidditch World Cup in the summer, the Ministry prepared three hundred door keys, and people from all over the world used them toe to the UK!"


    "Three hundred is just the number within the UK," Felix said, "Door Key magic needs to attach to an object. I used Apparition through Illusion."


    "Illusion Apparition?"


    "Exactly, it''s more convenient than Door Keys. You''ve seen the effect now, you''ll encounter it in your sixth year."


    "But why haven''t I seen anyone else use it?"


    "Oh, that''s because the school has cast a spell to prohibit Illusion Apparition, of course, Door Keys too."


    At that moment, Mrs. Finch-Fletchley hurriedly reappeared, weing the two inside.


    Mr. Finch-Fletchley had the same curly hair as Justin. He brought over two cups of coffee, saying, "I heard from Justin that you also drink coffee. A friend gave me some Rose Summer coffee. You can give it a try."


    He ced the coffee down, wiped his hands, and shook hands with Felix.


    Felix exined his purpose, which surprised the Finch-Fletchley couple. They immediately led him to the study. As they walked, Mr. Finch-Fletchley introduced, "It used to be in the living room, but Justin kept fiddling with it. His mother worried he''d break it, so it ended up here in the study."


    Justin red at his mother and then had his hair tousled by her.


    In the study, Felix carefully examined the antique vase. He scrutinized it for a while, not for the enamel patterns on the surface, but for the magical radiance hidden beyond regr sight


    "Is there a problem?" Mr. Finch-Fletchley asked nervously.


    "Oh, no," Felix said, "No matter how many times I see it, I''m always amazed by the craftsmanship of the fairies. Their unique magic rivals top alchemical recipes... but please rest assured, there''s no curse on it."


    "That''s good, that''s good." Mr. Finch-Fletchley breathed a sigh of relief. He had been worried about radiation or something of the sortforgive him for not understanding magic, but that''s what he imagined curses to be.


    Afterward, the Finch-Fletchley couple invited him to spend the weekend together. Felix knew they wanted his own child to stay.


    He subtly said, "Hogwarts students live at school, and professors have an inescapable responsibility for young wizards'' safety..." He saw their disappointed expressions and added, "At most until tomorrow morning. Please prepare a guest room for me, preferably a quiet one."


    "Of course, naturally. You can rest assured, Professor Harp," Mrs. Finch-Fletchley hurriedly agreed, fearing he might change his mind. She patted Justin''s head and said seriously, "What about your manners?"


    Mumbling, Justin said, "Thank you, Professor."


    ...


    Hogwarts, after lights out.


    Harry had gone to bed early; he was exhausted from the day. Ron and Hermione were at odds with each other, ignoring one another. Of course, Hermione had already obtained her invitation, and Harry certainly hoped Ron would too. He and Ron had spent the afternoon in ssroom Seven.


    His contribution was limited; he mostly helped analyze the situation after Ron''s failures. However, this wasn''t his strong suit. Thankfully, Hermione had left some of Professor Pomfrey''s potions which helped alleviate mental fatigue, cutting down on their required rest time.


    Rony in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep, a heavy weight on his mind.


    He stared at the faint light outside the window, barely catching a glimpse of the moon''s edge.


    Harry had seeded, Hermione had seeded, and even... he nced at Norbert, whose loud snoring was reverberating in the room. Yes, even Norbert had seeded in getting an invitation.


    He knew he couldn''t measure up to Harry and Hermione, but at the very least, he didn''t want to fall too far behind.


    He sat up, lost in thought for a while. Eventually, he stealthily got out of bed and picked up the half-filled bottle of potion from the table. Exiting the dormitory, he pushed open the door to themon room.


    Ron made his way through the pitch-ck corridor with bated breath, refraining from using Lumos for fear of encountering Filch or Mrs. Norris.


    Finally, after half an hour, he reached the vicinity of ssroom Seven, silently celebrating his good fortune.


    Ron held his wand, not daring to make a sound, his hands feeling along the wall. ssroom Seven didn''t have a lock; one entered by drawing a magical rune symbol. Professor Harp had talked about it in the Rune Club.


    Right now, he just needed to find the right spot, then quickly draw the rune, slipping into the ssroom, gaining an extra night''s time over others.


    Ron''s hand encountered a raised object, chilly and cold, but warmer than the temperature of the wall and door. His spirits lifted; he found it! However, the next second, a suppressed scream echoed in his ears, sending shivers down his spine.


    A ghost? Peeves? No, it was a living person...


    "Who''s there?"


    "Who''s there!" Fear made Ron''s voice distort, the tone twisting and turning, he himself unsure of what he was saying.


    In the darkness, an unknown creature was less than a foot away from him. Ron swallowed hard, took two steps back, raised his wand, and muttered softly, "Lumos."


    A faint halo illuminated from the tip of his wand, revealing the face of the person right in front of him


    "Draco Malfoy!"


    "Ron Weasley!"


    >


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 Chapter 366: Starry Night

    Chapter 366: Starry Night


    Ron and Draco stared at each other, caught in an eerie silence.


    "You went night wandering, Malfoy!" Ron used, taking the lead.


    "Are you talking about yourself, Weasley?" Draco responded casually.


    Another brief silence followed. Then Draco spoke up, his eyes shining, "Stop pretending, Weasley. We''re both after the same thing. Let''s not snitch on each other, shall we? You don''t want trouble, do you?"


    Ron touched the vial of potion in his pocket and fell silent.


    "Meow~"


    A cat appeared out of nowhere, perched on the windowsill, basking in the moonlight, its yellow eyes fixed on them.


    "Get awayshoo, you daft cat!" Ron eximed in a hurry, waving his hands at it.


    But Lady Lestrange, the cat, merely nced at him haughtily. Her smooth grey fur glistened in the moonlight, and her gaze shifted past Ron to Draco Malfoy behind him.


    A wand emerged, its tip shimmering with red light.


    Ron pushed Draco aside, diverting his wand, and the spell hit the wall.


    "What are you doing?" Ron asked angrily.


    "I just wanted it to rest a bit. Don''t tell me you want to summon Filch?" Draco said calmly. "Unlike youfoolish WeasleyI don''t want it to run off."


    "You''re the fool!" Ron muttered, then turned to the window. It was empty. He looked towards the corridor and barely made out a silvery-grey figure disappearing around the corner.


    Ron''s heart raced, and the half-filled vial of potion in his pocket rattled. Sweat broke out on his forehead.


    "What do we do?" he groaned. He regretted not bringing Harry''s invisibility cloak tonight. He could''ve scared Malfoy a bit, or used the Marauder''s Map. But both items were under Harry''s trunk now.


    It was toote to say anything now.


    "What else can we do?" Draco nced at Ron coldly and said, "Of course, we run and wait to be caught? Just so you know, if we get caught, don''t you dare rat me out"


    "Go away!" Ron snapped.


    "What?"


    "Go away," Ron repeated in a hushed voice, once again waving Draco off impatiently, just as he had done to Lady Lestrange. With one hand, Ron clutched the vial tightly in his pocket. "Hurry up, what are you waiting for?"


    Draco had taken a few steps away, but he stopped, looking at him in surprise. His grey eyes darted around, a strange thought crossing his mind.


    "You want to stay," he said, casting a sidelong nce at the door to ssroom Seven behind them. Then he turned back, seemingly pondering something. Slowly, he continued, "You want to stay, hidden in ssroom Seven. Filch can''t unlock that old fool''s room."


    "You''re imagining things, I''m leaving," Ron replied, though his feet didn''t move.


    Draco chuckled and took a few steps closer. Leaning against the windowsill where Lady Lestrange had been, he said in a leisurely tone, "Then let''s wait like this. Wait for Filch to show up. How about that?"


    Ron red at him with frustration.


    "Why are you staring, Weasley? Want me to curse you?" Draco remarked.


    "You wouldn''t dare, Malfoy," Ron said, casting a nervous nce down the dark corridor. It was silent, but he knew Filch would arrive within three minutes at most. Maybe he was already awake, clutching an oilmp, making his way over, huffing and puffing.


    How long had passed? Ten seconds? Thirty?


    He had to decide


    "Damn it, Ferret!" Ron cursed, his voice furious. He turned around and strode towards the door of ssroom Seven. Behind him, Draco grinned triumphantly, dragging out his words in a taunting manner, "Hurry up, Weasley! Do you think you''re attending Potions ss?"


    Ron was trembling with anger, tempted to hex Malfoy''s face regardless of the consequences. But he held back. He gestured with his wand, attempting to sketch a spell. Yet, he couldn''t focus, failing twice in a row.


    After a while, Draco grew impatient. He leaned in, urging Ron, "What trick are you ying? Waiting for Filch or the patrolling professors to catch us?"


    "Don''t bother me, you''ve messed up my concentration!" Ron muttered, his brow furrowed. He tried again to draw the rune, and this time, a half-formed magical symbol shimmered before vanishing.


    Draco, impatient, stood by, ncing around and straining his ears.


    After nearly two minutes, they heard footsteps approaching from a distance. Someone spoke with an excited, trembling tone, "Are we close, my dear? They won''t have time to escape, I promise you."


    Fear crept onto Draco''s face. He stepped back, retreating into the shadows. The voices drew nearer. He looked at the corridor, then back at Ron, who was absorbed in carving runes. Draco contemted whether to make a run for it on his own


    "Weas"


    "It''s done!" Ron eximed, excitement in his voice. He pressed a shining rune onto the door, and it swung open soundlessly, spilling light from within. He turned around, anger burning in his eyes. "Malfoy, if you speak to me in thatmanding tone one more time, I''ll"


    Draco kicked Ron in the behind, sending him stumbling through the door. He followed suit, quickly closing the door behind them.


    The bright light inside ssroom Seven momentarily dazzled him. He pressed his ear against the cold door, straining to hear any sounds outside. Perhaps due to the spell, he couldn''t hear a thing.


    On the other side, Ron carefully ced the vial of potion on the ground and pounced on Draco.


    "Damn you, Malfoy! Kicking me! I''ve had enough of your nonsense!"


    Draco turned back with disdain and was met with a fist in his face. "Are you crazy!?" he shouted, raising his wand, but Ron was quicker. He charged and tackled Draco, bringing him to the ground and leaving Draco seeing stars. Ron took the opportunity tond a couple more punches on his detested face. Draco cried out in pain, kicking Ron away.


    "That''s for Malfoy!" Ron spat out.


    Ron charged again, and the two began to wrestle. Their wands were discarded.


    Soon, Ron''srger build gave him the upper hand. He locked his arms around Draco''s neck. Their faces turned equally red, but Draco was struggling for breath. Ron roared, "Malfoy, let me tell you, I have a temper too!"


    Draco rolled his eyes, struggling desperately. "It wasn''t on purpose... it''s FilFelixing..."


    "Felix?" Ron hesitated, and his grip unintentionally loosened. Draco used the chance to break free, breathing heavily.


    A few minutester


    The two of them separated at a distance, cautiously pointing their wands at each other, both with ck eyes and swollen faces. Ron grinned; both of Draco''s eyes were ckened, his meticulouslybed hair was a mess, and his splendid robe had several long gashes, leaving him looking disheveled.


    Although Ron himself looked equally disheveled, he felt unusually satisfied.


    "ording to club rules, we can''t trip each other up while cooperating."


    "Just you wait, Weasley!"


    Draco red at Ron with hatred and ascended the ck steps. He took a few deep breaths, reached out and touched the ck, floating door. The next moment, his figure disappeared.


    Ron chuckled. In an amused tone, he said, "That robe suits you perfectly, Malfoy."


    ...


    Inside the ck, floating door.


    Ron spat out a green, sticky liquid, pushing aside the spider legs clinging to his shoulders. He grumbled incessantly, "Seventeenth batch... I really want to see how many more... Why are there spiders with twelve legs... I bet Professor Harp''s Care of Magical Creatures ss is a fail..."


    After experiencing two more spider-infested areas, Ron could now urately judge the locations. He stepped on raised rocks, choosing the optimal path, leaving before the spiders could crawl onto him.


    "I wonder if breakfast has chicken legs. I don''t want porridge..."


    He muttered randomly. Finally, he crossed the chaotic rocky terrain. On a tform, a golden light circle shimmered.


    Ron gazed at the golden radiance on the tform, seemingly concealing something. He couldn''t resist reaching out. The moment he touched the card, he became dumbfounded


    His vision soared infinitely, as if he had turned into a ghost. He first saw the ck, floating door, then Malfoy, and finally, the spacious ssroom Seven. But that wasn''t the end; he saw the maze-like corridors of Hogwarts Castle, followed by passing throughyers of ceilings, ascending higher and higher. Soon, the entire Hogwarts Castle shrank into the size of a matchbox.


    And he found himself in the ck night sky, ascending with chilling winds and clouds.


    Hogwarts had be as small as a fingernail. Even the ck Lake looked tiny, as if he could gulp it down. The endless ck mountains filled his vision.


    He saw the dwindling Hogsmeade vige, a few scattered lights twinklingperhaps Hagrid''s magicalnterns? Ron pondered. However, they vanished immediately as he continued to rise. The world below turned into blocks of color. He strained to distinguish them; the emerald green was the forest, deep brown were the hills, and blue... was the ocean!


    He was actually seeing the ocean. Ron widened his eyes, feeling as though he was dreaming, yet the dream was vivid and unforgettable. He also saw brightly lit clusters, specting they might be Muggle cities. Harry had mentioned that cities like London had numerous lights even at night...


    "Is that Britain?"


    Ron furrowed his brow, spotting a small piece ofndor an ind, separated by a narrow strait from the vast expanse ofnd. Some thought within him was touched, though he couldn''t pinpoint it. He continued to rise


    For a long while, all he saw was ocean andnd.


    Then, he passed through thick clouds, worrying he might freeze. Suddenly, there was a sh of light, golden rays illuminating the white clouds, casting a golden halo. Was it sunrise?


    Ron surveyed the world beneath him for the first time, contemting... a blue-dominated spherical object, half shrouded in shadownight, while the other half was brightly lit, revealingnd, oceans, and wispy cloudsa day. He extended his hand, attempting to grab something, but he kept drifting away.


    The blue sphere became a tiny dot, more celestial bodies appearing"moon, Mars, Venus, Jupiter... Merlin''s beard!" Ron''s mouth fell open. He saw the entire sr system, much like the constetion models sold at Diagon Alley. He felt he would never forget the positions of theses in his lifetime.


    He also saw constetions. He had never understood the names of those constetions, thinking names like "Canis Major" were nonsense. But he truly saw the Great Dog in the deep space,posed of countless stars. He even identified the brightest star in Canis MajorSirius.


    What followed went beyond his understanding. He saw luminous whirlpools, a vastworkposed of dots of light... then he fell. He fell much faster than when he came, and everything he had seen earlier yed in reversewhirlpools, nebe, constetions, the blue,nd, oceans, and his view gradually drew near until he tumbled back into Hogwarts'' ancient castle.


    "Ah"


    Ron eximed, panting heavily, holding a golden card in his hand.


    >


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 Chapter 367: Calling Cards

    Chapter 367: Calling Cards


    The next morning.


    Harry yawned as he woke up in his bed. He first nced at the clock  it was eleven in the morning. He jumped out of bed, rmed, and fumbled to put on his sses. "Ron, wake up! We have to go to ssroom Seven for the selection today. It''s thest day."


    Rony on the bed like a dead pig, one arm sticking out, snoring loudly.


    Harry pulled back Ron''s nket and looked at him in astonishment. Ron was wearing a tattered robe, covered in dust. His face was bruised and swollen, as if he had been beaten for half an hour.


    Even during their practice of the Restriction Curse in their study group, Ron had never looked this miserable.


    Had their dorm been targeted by thieves?


    Did someone break in and beat up Ron?


    Harry shook Ron awake desperately and asked, very seriously, "Did you see who did this to you?"


    "What?" Ron opened his bleary eyes and mumbled.


    "Who attacked you!" Harry shouted.


    "Who else but Malfoy" Ron said with his eyes closed. Harry couldn''t contain his anger and was about to storm into the Slytherinmon room to confront Malfoy, but Ron added, "He had it worse. I had him in a neck-lock, made him beg on his knees"


    In his dream, Ron grinned broadly, mumbled a few iprehensible words, and went back to sleep.


    Harry was puzzled for a moment, unsure of the situation. He walked out of the dormitory in a daze and found Hermione in themon room, to whom he recounted the incident.


    "He couldn''t have dreamt of fighting with Malfoy and ended up hurting himself, right?" Hermione said with a cold tone.


    "Hermione, that''s impossible," Harry said, "His robe is torn to shreds"


    "Then maybe he went out at night and got into a fight with someone. But I doubt he has the courage for that!" Hermione stood up and said, "I''ll ask the Fat Lady. She must know if anyone went outst night."


    She hurried off, leaving Harry sitting in a chair, feeling agitated. Had Ron gone out in the middle of the night? What could he be doing?


    Harry nced at the table and noticed a stack of parchment on Hermione''s spot. He found it strange, hadn''t she finished her assignments? He picked it up and saw that it was a collection of tips and experiences from those who sessfully passed the selection. It was moreprehensive than what he and Ron had gathered, obviously taking a lot of effort.


    Soon, Hermione returned, looking astonished. "He really went outst night. The Fat Lady remembers him vividly and even said she''ll incorporate him into her opera."


    "But where did Ron go?" Harry pondered. "He was with me all afternoon yesterday, and he went to bed early. There was no chance for him to meet Malfoy alone, let alone a fight."


    "Maybe they went to the same ce," Hermione analyzed.


    Harry nodded, the same ce He suddenly looked up at Hermione, and she looked at him with a shocked expression.


    "ssroom Seven!"


    ...


    At noon, Harry returned to the dormitory as if nothing had happened. Ron was already up and had changed his clothes.


    Seeing Harry, Ron said excitedly, "Harry, you won''t believe it, really! I repelled neen big spiders. As I went further, I stopped feeling scared. Those furry legs, the stench, the sttering green liquid everywhere I did it, Harry! And those magic spells you mentioned on the cards, they are truly awesome!"


    Harry gave him an odd look. "When did this happen? I remember you saying you saw no hope when we got back yesterday. And I never mentioned any magic spells on the cards"


    "Uh," Ron hesitated, blinking his eyes, "Didn''t you say that?"


    "I never said that. Oh, right." Harry pulled out a stack of parchment, saying, "Here''s some information I found that we can study together."


    "That''s fantastic!" Ron took it happily, looking at the familiar handwriting and bing uneasy. "Oh... yeah, that''s great."


    "Do you have something to say?" Harry asked.


    Ron hesitated for a moment, stared at the stack of parchment, and slowly took out a golden card from his pocket.


    Meanwhile


    The Weasley couple had set up an exquisite table of dishes, taking a break from work and staying at home.


    During lunch, the doorbell rang, and Mr. Weasley went out for a while before returning. When they parted, Mrs. Weasley brought out tworge packages she had prepared.


    "Mom..." Justin rolled his eyes and said helplessly, "There''s too much stuff, I can''t possibly carry it all."


    "I''ll do it." Felix said, waving his hand towards the packages, and stored them in the ring on his left hand. The Weasley couple looked at this in amazement.


    "Is this magic? It''s truly astonishing... I wonder if we could buy one?"


    Felix shook his head. "Items like these are strictly regted by the Ministry of Magic. It''s manageable for wizards, but if it falls into the hands of Mugglesnon-magical folks, it could attract the attention of specialized authorities."


    "It''s not like that fairy-made antique vase, which can be kept in the house for personal enjoyment, with very little chance of discovery. As soon as you use it, there''s a risk of exposure."


    Mrs. Weasley said regretfully, "We have a few magical items at home, trinkets we bought in Diagon Alley. We keep them in a room that''s off-limits to outsiders."


    "Yeah, Mom collected a whole set of Lockhart''s books," Justin added.


    Mrs. Weasley shot him a re.


    Before leaving, Mr. Weasley handed Felix a business card. Felix took it, sensing a faint magical trace on it. Curiously, he asked, "What''s this?"


    "It''s from a friend. He''s a collector who stays in touch with many well-connected people. This card is from a mysterious seller who''s provided quite a few artifacts in recent years." Mr. Weasley said cautiously, "Including that vase..."


    Felix understood immediately. The card only had a phone number on it, no name, truly mysterious.


    "Do theymunicate through the phone?"


    "Hard to tell," Mr. Weasley said. "The mysterious seller instructed my friend to call the number on the card, but there''s never an answer when he calls. However, if you wait a day or two, he''ll show up and visit in person."


    Felix smiled, "Mr. Weasley, thank you for your trust. I can assure you that your family won''t be troubled by this."


    "That''s a relief," Mr. Weasley sighed.


    He had thought about it for a long timest night and concluded that the Hogwarts professors should know about this matter. Otherwise, having a wizard with hidden intentions around felt unsettling.


    After returning to school, Felix yed with the business card. "Interesting, who could be behind this?"


    >


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 Chapter 368: Not Cheating

    Chapter 368: Not Cheating


    "I can''t believe it! You kept this from us!" Hermione said indignantly. They had already left the castle and turned a corner in front of Hagrid''s hut, entering the Forbidden Forest. Still, she seemed rather annoyed.


    "Hermione, you and Ron were having a tiff at that time  but, Ron, you didn''t even tell me. We could have used the Invisibility Cloak," Harry said, his tone tinged with reproach.


    "I thought... if it failed, I''d just pretend it never happened," Ron mumbled, his eyes darting nervously elsewhere. "I guess Malfoy had the same idea... Hermione, thanks for the Skele-Gro."


    The swelling on his face seemed to have lessened.


    "That was for Harry''s practice with the Patronus Charm!" Hermione huffed.


    "But Malfoy actually seeded," Ron said. "I always thought he''d be the type to cry for his mother or skip around like a ferret..."


    Hermione found that quite reasonable.


    "He''s always been a top scorer, among the best in the ''Testimonial Scroll'', you just never paid attention," she said.


    "Really?" Ron scratched his head. "I wouldn''t have known. I suppose you''re the type to keep an eye on people ranked lower than you, considering there are so many names..."


    Harry couldn''t help but chuckle.


    They ventured deeper into the Forbidden Forest. The light dimmed suddenly as if it were evening, apanied by various rustling and subtle sounds from the forest. They were looking for a spot nearby to practice the Patronus Charm. ording to Harry, he could already emerge from "The Room."


    Ron plucked a purple berry absentmindedly and asked, "Can you eat this stuff?"


    "Sure," Hermione nced at him. "Except it''s a bit"


    "Ugh!" Ron had already taken a bite and made a bitter face. "So bitter!"


    "...bitter. Looks like you''ve found out," Hermione chuckled, and Harry quickly withdrew his hand from a branch he had been reaching toward.


    They soon found a familiar path and made their way to a clearing.


    "This ce looks somewhat familiar," Harry observed, his gaze skimming over the scattered stones.


    "Yeah," Hermione pointed to arge tree. "Remember? We spied on Professor Lupin practicing the Patronus Charm behind that tree... I asked Hagrid quietly, and he said there aren''t any dangerous creatures'' nests around this part of the forest. Still, we should be cautious..."


    With her wand in hand, Hermione walked around the clearing, muttering incantations.


    "Safe guarding... full protection... Muggle concealment... thief detection... piercing rm... transfiguration guards... by the way, if you don''t mind, could you lend a hand..."


    "We only know the first three spells," Harry and Ron exchanged nces and got busy, too. "Those were taught by Professor Flitwick, in the Outdoor Safety theme... what are the others?"


    "Oh," Hermione pped her forehead. "The thief detection spell detects magical disguises, the piercing rm is a type of rm spell that makes a shrill noise when someone enters... as for the transfiguration guards..." She paused and then said with a mischievous smile, "Don''t you find them cute?"


    Harry and Ron crouched down to look at the peanut-like things  they were small figures made of two stones each, put together with Transfiguration,cking feet but still hopping around.


    Ron flicked one with his finger, sending it flying a couple of feet away.


    "They''re a bit like Weeble-Wobbles," Harrymented, then looked up. "What are they for?"


    "They''re sensitive to magic, able to detect things we can''t see," Hermione exined. "By the way, these are Professor Lupin''s creation."


    "Quite well-prepared," Ron muttered. "I finally understand why she didn''t stop us from breaking the rules. If I knew all these spells, I''d definitely look for opportunities to use them, it''d be such a waste otherwise, don''t you think?"


    Evening was setting in.


    Felix was in his office, crafting a Sneakoscope. Smallponents were scattered across his workbench.


    Carefully, he extracted a strand of magic from a business card, a gift from Mr. Filch. Then he picked up a gemstone the size of a thumbnail and infused it with the strand of magic, already coiled around his finger.


    "The most crucial step is done. Now then... Valen, I haven''t heard any reading for half a day."


    He said without lifting his head, and Valen, perched on a hefty book, appeared to be dozing off, resting atop a Muggle picture book adorned with various illustrations.


    Upon hearing Felix''s words, Valen protested loudly, standing up and moving toward him. Its small, pink hands poked at his arm energetically.


    It couldn''t take it anymore. It really couldn''t! Why teach a Snidget to read?


    It had never heard of anything so absurd in its life.


    For itself and for the potential future victims, it, on behalf of the Snidget nno, on behalf of all magical creatureswas going to protest to the Dark Lord!


    "Chirp! Chirp chirp! Chirp chirp chirp!"


    A Galleon was slipped in front of it. Valen blinked in confusion, then instinctively pocketed it.


    "If you''ve taken the money, you need to work. That''s what we agreed on," Felix pointed out with his finger.


    "Gaa-ba"


    Valen opened its beak wide. Its pink bill, resembling a duck''s, fluttered feebly.


    With a dejected expression, it retreated and flipped to the next page with nimble toes, staring at a picture of a motorcycle. Within a minute, its eyelids drooped...


    Its rescue came in the form of Hermione. As she entered, Valen hopped down from the workbench, swayingically, and leapt into her arms.


    "Oh... Valen? What''s going on? You''re so affectionate..." She looked at Valen with a mix of confusion, as if it had been wronged. Valen pointed to the heavens and the earth, even gesturing to Professor and the book on the table.


    "Are you learning to read?" Hermione felt a surge of novelty. "I did something simr when I was three."


    "Chirp! Chirp!"


    Valen pointed at Felix and continued to make small, insistent noises.


    "Um..."


    "It says it''s never met a human as cunning as me before. It wants to run away from home and follow you," Felix said with his head down, finishing thest parts of the Sneakoscope.


    Hermione blinked and looked down at Valen.


    Valen nodded enthusiastically. Yes, that''s right!


    It wanted to venture into a new world, creating a grand treasure trove. One day, it was determined, Hogwarts would have a fifth house.


    "All done," Felix held a walnut-sized Sneakoscope in his hand and stood up. Before Hermione could fullyprehend, he raised his ebony wand and summoned a silver falcon guardian that shot out from its tip.


    The falcon was asrge as an owl and hovered quietly in mid-air. Felix tossed the Sneakoscope into its open beak.


    "Go, find the person. Make sure he doesn''t notice," Felix said calmly.


    Hermione watched curiously as the falcon disappeared from the window, blending into the ck night. She wondered who the professor was trying to locate.


    ...


    "So, are you worried that you received the invitation card through cheating?"


    Hermione nodded. They were sitting on the couch now, and she was feeding Valen a box of egg and milk cookies while keeping an anxious eye on Professor Harp across from her.


    This issue had been bothering her, especially after Ron received his invitation card through "normal" means.


    Felix neither confirmed nor denied it. "Why do you say it''s cheating?"


    "I went against the intent of the challenge," Hermione sighed. "I couldn''t confront my deepest fear. Maybe among the Champion candidates, I''m the worst."


    Felix chuckled softly. "Granger, you and the students below sixth year aren''t being groomed as Champions. You aren''t considered Champion candidates, just more precious due to your younger age."


    Hermione looked at him, puzzled.


    "In simpler terms, Miss Granger," Felix continued, "Professor Dumbledore, the other professors, and I all believe it''s a waste to exclude younger students from the Triwizard Tournament. But we can''t actually have youpete, so thispromise was created to make you feel more involved."


    "Make us feel more involved?" Hermione repeated. "So, that''s why you don''t mind if we cheat?"


    "You''ve misunderstood. I never said there''s only one way to face fear. Did you read the inscriptions on the monument? Courage, Wisdom, Tenacity, and Calmness. That implies... there are at least four methods."


    Felix said gently, leaning back on the couch, looking thoughtful.


    "You''ve achieved at least two of them, which weren''t something I foresawfirst, you vaguely saw through the illusion, which might be rted to your familiarity with the magic associated with the Room of Requirement, making it hard for you to be deceived; second, you used this ability, harnessing the power of the illusion, to cast the ancient spell, the Golden me, that I taught you. That''s not something just anyone can do."


    "I did discuss this matter with Dumbledore before."


    "How did you know" Hermione looked at him in surprise.


    "If you had truly used the Golden me, you might have destroyed that ce by now." Felix smiled. "But this also shows that you''ve reached a passing level of understanding for this magic and are ready to try using it in reality."


    "Now?" Hermione asked excitedly.


    Felix looked at her expectantly.


    "Oh, well... alright." Hermione straightened herself, cleared her throat, and began reciting an ancient incantation. Soon, her fingertip emitted a cluster of light. Magical symbols appeared one after another in the air, forming a cohesive whole.


    "Whoosh!"


    A golden me materialized out of thin air, burning quietly, appearing serene and distant.


    "You can take your hand away," Felix said. Hermioneplied, and the me continued to hang in the air, causing the surrounding air to quiver gently. Under her control, the me transformed into various shapes. In a moment of carelessness, it burned a scorching hole through a tall ss.


    "You need to enhance your control, Granger. You''re good at it, but not good enough. You should make the me move ording to your intentions, like this."


    Felix demonstrated by passing his hand through the golden me, his fingertip carrying a small golden spark.


    Hermione widened her eyes.


    "Is it quite magical? Actually, it''s not at all. You haven''t discovered the true nature of this magic yet. It''s not an overly explosive spell, otherwise, I wouldn''t have taught you..."


    ...


    A new week began, and Felix became busier.


    After the noon ss, he managed to find time to visit ssroom Seven, recording the names on the monument and handing the list to Professor McGonagall.


    Seeing this list, Professor McGonagall was taken aback. "A second-year student as well?"


    "Yes, I didn''t expect it either," Felix said with a hint of sentiment. "Unless she has a deep and positive understanding of fear itself..."


    "What do you n to do, Felix?"


    Felix looked slightly troubled. "I''ll discuss it with Severus first. After all, she''s from Slytherin House, and she has a sister in the same House..."


    "I''ll talk to Severus," Professor McGonagall said firmly. "Regardless, I won''t agree to let a second-year student participate. We''ve discussed the training n, and to be honest, I find it too radical. Even those fourth-year students..."


    "Miller, a fourth-year, is not that young. They''re generally fourteen or fifteen, the age when they''re most eager for honor. If we dissuade them, there might be some rebellious howlers sent to us."


    Felix joked.


    "...Alright, since both you and Professor Moody agree, and Professor Dumbledore doesn''t oppose."


    Professor McGonagall gave up arguing further. These issues had been discussed numerous times in meetings before, and she actually agreed, just now she was grumbling a bit. She turned to another topic


    "Congrattions, Felix. Lemes got a big order."


    >


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 Chapter 369: Classroom Seven

    Chapter 369: ssroom Seven


    After the conversation with Professor McGonagall, Felix only assigned one homework task. Its content was simr to the dueling system essay that Harry and Hermione had writtenwhat things could help you survive in times of danger?


    "Personality, knowledge, mastered spells, items carried with youeverything can be included," the new male and female prefects conveyed his words to the selected students.


    Over the next week, many professors worked together on a major project, while Felix himself spent time inside the Room of Requirement, replicating the magic and magical conduits depicted there, along with the crucial magical nodes. Now, only the final step remained


    Saturday morning.


    Dumbledore and Felix stood in the empty room. The transformed hills and greenery were gone, as were the traces of different dueling arenas from thepetition. Even the ck suspended door used to select students a week ago had vanished.


    In the room, only the subtle Traceless Expansion Charm cast by Felix remained, allowing the interior space to rival ten Quidditch fields. If not for considering the other four schools, Hogwarts could easily have its students reside here.


    The professors had addedyers of sturdy spells and protective magic. In truth, every inch of this ancient castle was imbued with powerful magic. Their efforts primarily supplemented the existing defenses.


    Currently, only the two of them were in the ssroom, engaged in a serious conversation


    "What do you think?" Felix inquired.


    "Worth a try," Dumbledore said casually.


    "I never imagined embedding my own magic into Hogwarts'' defensive system, to endure for a hundred, a thousand years..." Felix was briefly lost in thought, and as he snapped back, Dumbledore was smiling at him.


    "Let''s begin, Albus. The students outside must be eager," Felix tightened his grip on his wand and said.


    Dumbledoreplied readily, raising his own wand. Like a conductor in an orchestra, he waved his arm, connecting with the ancient castle in a way Felix couldn''tprehend.


    "Hum~"


    Whether an illusion or not, Felix felt the castle under his feeting to life, like a dormant dragon stirring slightly. Nests were built, holes were dug, and little creatures parasitized on its scales, discovering that the whole world had changed.


    Clusters of magic materialized into physical formspurple, blue, yellow, bronze, green, gray... They merged and separated rapidly, forming blossoms of magical flowers.


    "Felix" Dumbledore''s voice was deep.


    Felix understood instinctively that he needed to stabilize these magical manifestations, creating secure linksmuch like the Room of Requirement.


    A fluffy silver sphere appeared in his hand, resembling a dandelion seed yet also resembling a cluster of neuralworks. asional pale blue currents flickered within it. It drifted into the air and rapidly expanded into a three-dimensional structure, filling the spacious room.


    Felix recitedplex incantations, gradually merging the tendrils and cores with the space, like synapses absorbing ownerless magic, fortifying the magical nodes above.


    Then everything vanished. Magic, tendrils, nodes... they had be one with the room.


    Felix shifted his focus, finding those nodes and hiding them one by one. Even the most powerful wizards would struggle to detect them. Dumbledore did the same, using his unique authority as headmaster to establish stable magical pathways.


    As long as Hogwarts existed, as long as it admitted students, it would never vanish, just like the Room of Requirement.


    Dumbledorepleted everything and noticed four memory stone basins before Felix.


    "What are these...?" he curiously asked, forming a certain suspicion.


    "They''re memories of several professors," Felix sinctly exined.


    He took a deep breath. Everything prior had been for creating a suitable environment. Now came the main event. Despite the rtive simplicity of this step, he couldn''t help but feel nervous.


    Felix controlled the four basins to fly to the four corners of the room, seemingly dividing it into four sections, each centered around a basin.


    "What''s the purpose of this?" Dumbledore asked with great interest. Even for him, this was a rare instance of grand magical practice, a fusion of alchemy, Legilimency, and Transfigurationa rarity in the wizarding world.


    "Adding a touch of ceremony," Felix smiled and exined. Then his tone turned serious. "So, the first Custodian: seventeen-year-old Albus Dumbledore."


    The basin to their left shattered, releasing countless dense silver clouds. Following that, a tall, thin young student with auburn hair walked out.


    His slender and nimble fingers gripped a wand, effortlessly sweeping to the left and right, parting the dense mist. Young Dumbledore possessed piercing, bright blue eyes, radiating kindness and mischief.


    "Old friend, you haven''t given me much knowledge. My mind is as empty as can be. How am I supposed to deal with those troublesome students?" Young Albus Dumbledoreined. Despite the grievance, he seemed unruffled, smiling and nodding toward Felix Harp.


    Dumbledore looked at him, eyes glistening, and murmured, "This was when I had just graduated. Full of youthful exuberance, believing I had a bright future ahead..." He shook his long silver beard and smiled. "Oh, I don''t know if I''ve mentioned, but I used to adore Bertie Bott''s Every vor Beans when I was young. Now, I can''t stand them."


    "Time truly can change everything."


    Young Albus Dumbledore continued waving his wand, conjuring silver surges. Billows of mist, like solidified waves, hung in midair. Subsequently, they transformed, shaping an open-air courtyard with red and gold embellishments abound.


    Felix Harp and Dumbledore watched for a while, then turned to the other side. Felix whispered, "The second person selflessly providing memoriesMinerva McGonagall."


    The second memory stone basin exploded into dust. A young, beautifuldy stood in its ce. She had thick ck hair and appeared to be around thirty, with green eyes. This was young Minerva McGonagall. Her connection to Transfiguration, as evidenced by her stern expression and her hair tightly pulled up into a bun, was more pronounced here.


    "Quite interesting," she remarked, surveying her surroundings. She pursed her lips in her characteristic way. "Let me think about what I need to do. Minerva left me a task list."


    Then, she remained still.


    The third to emerge was a younger Philius Flitwick. He looked considerably younger than the current Charms professor at Hogwarts, without the gold-rimmed spectacles and fewer wrinkles. He wore a dignified, formal suit.


    He revealed that this was what he had worn when he became the Wizard Duelling Champion.


    "Oh, Felix, Albus..." young Flitwick slightly bowed, elegantly waving his wand in the air. "Wee. I presume you''re not in the mood for a duel at the moment, but I''m here, awaiting your challenge."


    Finally, thest basin shattered, and young Felix Harp stepped out. His appearance was identical to his present self, albeit with a more carefree expression. He looked at Felix, pointing a finger at him. "I need to talk to you. You''ve ced too many restrictions on me."


    "Oh, you don''t need to." Felix mumbled, lettingyers of silver mist envelop himpletely.


    ...


    Felix said to Dumbledore, "They won''t appear frequently. Instead, they''ll serve as custodians of this hidden realm. Their task is to infuse more vitality into this ce, to make those experienced scenes more vivid and manageable. Of course, I mean after the training."


    Dumbledore nodded slightly. "You''ve told me all this, and I have no objections."


    They exited the room together. Over twenty students waited anxiously outside. A young girl eximed shrilly, "Why isn''t my name on the list? Why?"


    Professor McGonagall wasforting her, "Miss Grinss, you''re too young, your mind isn''t mature enough yet. It wouldn''t be appropriate..."


    "I''m the champion of the first-year duelpetition! The champion!" Astoria yelled at the top of her lungs.


    Professor McGonagall rubbed her temples, looking at her headache-inducing pupil. Dumbledore walked over and bent down, speaking gently, "You''re little Astoria, right? Your father sent me a letter. Let''s go have a look, shall we? And by the way, I could rmend a few sweets for you..."


    "Really?"


    "Professor McGonagall can vouch for me..."


    McGonagall rolled her eyes to the side, but at least one trouble was resolved. She told Felix, "These students are in your hands now, Felix. I believe"


    She pondered briefly, deciding not to say more. She turned and left.


    Felix looked at the young faces. "Alright, ssmates, with your essays in hand, follow me."


    He took a few steps, paused, and looked at the slightly ajar door. He drew his wand, sketching in the air, and above the doorway appeared gilded letters: "ssroom Seven."


    Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged nces. Harry shrugged, "At least now it lives up to its name."


    >


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 Chapter 370: A Surprise

    Chapter 370: A Surprise


    The students walked into the room in single file, and the door to ssroom Seven closed behind them automatically.


    Before themy a narrow path with swirling mist on either side. Amidst the mist, vague figures could be seen.


    "Can you imagine what kind of creature might be concealed in there?" Roger Davies of Ravenw wondered aloud. He was tall and handsome, with deep brown hairbed neatly back, revealing a dashing face.


    Though he addressed everyone, his gaze flickered towards a pretty girl not far from him.


    "Where does he think he is, a ballroom?" Ron muttered from behind, causing Harry and Hermione to burst intoughter. The wizard named Davies, wearing a high-cored robe with blue and bronze embroidered cuffs, was trying to slick his hair back as he spoke.


    A soft chuckle echoed through the mist, making Harry freeze. He turned abruptly to look into the mist, hearing it distinctlyits source was nearby. A cluster of mist floated and dispersed ahead, revealing nothing. He hurried a few steps, catching Ron saying, "... But who''s that girl? She''s really beautiful!"


    In Harry''s view, the girl Davies was fixated on was indeed lovely. Petite, almost fragile. Her fair skin and delicate features were framed by chestnut short hair. The only minor w was her thick eyebrows, a bit mismatched with her face. And, there was one more thingshe was a Slytherin.


    "Do you know who she is?" Ron nudged Hermione.


    "How should I know?" Hermione replied impatiently.


    "You at least know half the students in the school. Someone like her, so... so..." Ron struggled to find the right word, but it eluded him.


    "I only know students who take Ancient Runes!" Hermione retorted sharply.


    After walking for about fifteen minutes, Felix Harp, leading the group, finally halted. It was then that they realized they stood at a central crossroads, where two long corridors formed a cross shape, each segment obscured by mist.


    "I''ll need to look at your essays first," Felix addressed them, "You can explore around... Although this ce isn''t quite perfected yet, there might be... surprises awaiting you." He smiled, conjuring afortable armchair for himself and settling into it.


    The students exchanged nces, slightly unsure of what the professor meant.


    The girl with short chestnut hair spoke calmly, "Are we encountering the same things?"


    Felix pondered briefly and replied, "It depends on the area you choose."


    "Is it dangerous?"


    "That''s for you to define, but don''t forget why you came."


    The short-haired girl nodded slightly, drew her wand, and walked into the nearest mist. The mist parted to create a path, then seamlessly closed as she entered.


    Several seconds passed, and those left behind heard no sound.


    "Let''s pick one too," Hermione said decisively. Harry and Ron watched as Davies dashed after the girl with the short hair, entering the same section as her. They decided to go in a different direction.


    "How about this way!" Harry pointed to the right. It was here he had heard a soft chuckle, and he was curious to investigate.


    Ron and Hermione agreed. "Neville, what about you?" Harry asked. Neville scratched his head, "I''ll stick with you guys, I''m a bit worried on my own."


    Draco Malfoy, ise Zabini, and two other Slytherin students ventured into a new section. Cedric, Susan Bones, Cho Chang, and Angelina Johnson, among others, chose the final area.


    The remaining students also chose their paths, leaving Felix Harp seated in the center, rapidly perusing through essays.


    ...


    The students embarked on their respective adventures.


    Cedric found himself lost, with Cho nowhere in sight. After walking for a while, he saw a corner of a structure emerging from the mist. It was a grand and spacious arena, reminiscent of the gilded dueling tforms in Defense Against the Dark Arts ss, but muchrger.


    "Professor Flitwick?" Cedric gasped as he saw who stood upon the tform, his mouth agape in astonishment.


    He had expected to encounter peculiar creatures, given Professor Harp''s entric reputation, which had spread with uncanny uracy. Some Muggle-born students had evenpiled a list of creatures frequently seen in movies for this purpose.


    A witch who enjoyed watching ghost and monster movies provided a wealth of material. When she showed them to Cho, although she appeared nonchnt, she was internally quite anxious.


    Young Felix smiled and said, "Getting distracted here might not be a good idea. Perhaps you''re waiting for apanion to arrive?" He pointed to the side.


    Cedric then noticed Cho cautiously emerging from another direction. She was apanied by Susan Bones, the Weasley twins, and Angelina Johnson.


    "Hey! Cedric, you made it first," Fred greeted him.


    "We waited outside and caught a few ourselves," George said with a grin.


    "Now that everyone who''sing is here, what''s your decision?" Felix raised his wand, "Individually or all at once?"


    In the second area


    Harry encountered a young student with auburn hair. He had a sense of familiarity with the face, especially the hooked nose. The suspicion was confirmed when the student introduced himself.


    "Are you Headmaster Dumbledore?" Harry eximed.


    "Headmaster?" Young Aberforth Dumbledore smiled, "I only have memories from when I was student council president. Would you like to hear about my experiences, Harry?"


    Harry found everything before him extremely bizarre. He was meeting a young Dumbledore, and they were discussing the topic of student council. He wasn''t sure if this was some kind of scheme. He tested, "Professor Dumbledore, I came in because of Professor Harp. Are we... uh, supposed to have a duel?"


    "A duel?" Young Dumbledore chuckled, looking at him with an amused expression. "Of course."


    Ten secondster.


    Harry struggled on the ground; his clothes seemed to have turned into a cage,pletely restraining him. He couldn''t even lift his hand.


    "You got too close to me and didn''t sense the spell''s fluctuations. I guess you haven''t learned nonverbal magic?" the auburn-haired Dumbledore said. He waved his hand, dispelling the magic. "Well, let''s try again..."


    In the third area.


    Young Felix yawned, "Just the two of you? It''s a bit dull with so few people."


    Colin Creevey clenched his teeth, casting silent spells one after another. "Bang! Bang! Bang!" The spells were swatted away by a hand, leaving Roger Davies unable to get close. The spells that Felix seemed to easily brush off were now heading straight for him. He wanted Colin to stop, but he couldn''t find the opportunity, evading spells while jumping up and down.


    Young Felixzily suggested, "The Humanoid Armor Charm, interested?"


    In the fourth area.


    Draco Malfoy was cornered against a wall, facing a lion-bodied, scorpion-tailed creature that towered over him by ten feet. The scorpion''s barb glinted with a metallic chill. He leaned back as far as he could against the wall, trying to keep some distance from the thing.


    "Mr. Malfoy, I''ve told you three times now, stop running..." Professor McGonagall adjusted her square sses and sternly looked at him. Behind her were a row of humanoid puppets.


    ...


    About half an hourter, Felix finally finished reading the essays.


    "Tsk! Wonder what they encountered." He stood up, walked into the mist, circled around, and led the students out.


    These students followed behind, disheartened and lookingpletely different from when they had arrived. They now appeared defeated.


    "So, each of you has met at least one of the Keepers of the Enves. Theye from memories of four professors'' youth, including me. So, you might find some differences in personalitypared to the reality. Yes, some differences..."


    Felix said somewhat nervously, "It''s quite normal. You need to learn to differentiate." His own memories were a bit too entric. He found his own memories performing closed-eye spell-catching tricks. Collins, the girl, was infuriated...


    Although he had considered it, he had never actually done it. He wouldn''t joke about his safety.


    Felix sighed. Whether it was the portrait or the young memories in ssroom Seven, they were all livelier and more cheerful than his own personality. Maybe it was because he hadn''t imbued them with the darkness and secrets he held.


    This left him with an uneasy feeling and spection: if he hadn''t experienced his school years, would he have grown up to be as absurd as those memories?


    >


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 Chapter 371: Choices

    Chapter 371: Choices


    Felix turned his head away, not looking at the Slytherin witch who was staring at him intently. He cleared his throat and continued, "After analyzing with my fellow professors, we''ve identified two main areas where you all need improvement. Firstly, your repertoire of spells is not extensive enough to handle variousplex situations. For instance, magical mes"


    He paused, not continuing further.


    "And the second area is ack of practical experience, or real-worldbat, not the kind of prearranged duels you''ve had in ss. I''m referring to how you handle sudden crises, which is closely tied to your own life experiences."


    "There was a time when Hogwarts had a tradition of graduates embarking on a year-long journey. It was something like close friends traveling together, experiencing magical customs in different parts of the world..."


    "However, due to the wizarding war and recent years, various magical ministries have tightened their policies. To visit another country, you must register in advance and obtain permission from the local magical authority. This has made such journeys less popr."


    Felix recounted this historical context, giving them a general idea.


    "In theing month, as the Room of Requirement bes more refined, you''ll face simted dangerous scenarios to gain experience. Not only me, but other professors will also be present here to guide you."


    "Of course," Felix paused and pondered, "Professor Moody might have different ns. He prefers to test you in real scenarios to see how you handle danger. You should be somewhat familiar with his character..."


    More than one student wore a grim expression. Professor Moody''s rough demeanor and his audacity in ss had earned him quite the reputation. Hogwarts students had suffered quite a bit; which student hadn''t been singled out and subjected to curses a few times? However, ording to an anonymous student, although it felt awful to be cursed by Moody, there was a strange sense of satisfaction when watching him curse others.


    "As candidates for champions," Felix raised his voice, snapping the students back to attention, "or as selected students to participate in exchanges, showcasing Hogwarts'' teaching achievements, you will have the opportunity to learn many advanced spells. The most direct path is through the Restricted Section of the library."


    "All you need to do is register, and you''ll gain ess to various advanced magical books."


    The students began discussing in hushed tones, excitement in their eyes. Felix even heard someone mention "Dark Magic," and he raised an eyebrow.


    "I must remind you that the Triwizard Tournament has forbidden the use of Dark Magic. Even in this edition," he wasn''t entirely certain, "the Ministry of Magic is in heated discussions..."


    "So, you''re saying we might face Dark Magic?" Harry asked, surprised.


    "No, it''s not like that," Felix exined, "the Ministry''s bottom line is that champions cannot use Dark Magic against each other. But Demstrang proposed that, during the tasks, it''s ''reasonable'' to use Dark Magic against non-human creaturessuch as those powerful and deadly magical creatures."


    "Wagadou and Uagadou agreed as well. The current dispute lies in which specific Dark Magic will be allowed. The Ministry is working around the clock topile a list."


    "So, we could use Dark Magic?" Collins asked, pressing further, "As long as it''s on that list?"


    "Perhaps ording to the rules, but for Hogwarts students, professors won''t offer guidance in that direction," Felix said calmly. "I know some of you may not be unfamiliar with Dark Magic, but considering the consequencesopenly using it would attract attention from the Ministry and lead to questions about Hogwarts'' educational philosophy from the outside."


    He shrugged, "The war wasn''t that long ago, and most British wizards despise Dark Magic."


    Collins looked at him provocatively, "So, as long as we''re not caught, it''s fine?"


    Felix gazed at her, a slight smile tugging at his lips, "You''re right, Miss Flourish, whether you use Dark Magic or not won''t affect the judges'' scoring. But, if you ask me, it''s unnecessary and mighte with more disadvantages than benefits."


    He looked at the group, "Many of you, especially the younger students, haven''t realized the special privileges you''ll enjoy over the next few months. The Hogwarts library will open its doors to you, and all professors will provide knowledge beyond your textbooks, including various advanced spells and magical theories."


    "If I were you, I wouldn''t miss out on such a great opportunity. It''ll greatly benefit your future."


    "But why learn all theseplex things if we won''t need them after graduation?" a student questioned.


    Felix nced at the others; they shared a somewhat skeptical look. He shook his head, "Seems like this is indeed a question many of us might have during our schooling"


    "Why bother delving deep into advanced and obscure spells and theories when a few years of basic learning could lead to afortable life without much effort?"


    "This is actually a very intriguing question. Does anyone have an answer?"


    A Ravenw girl yfully raised her hand, "Professor, I know! I just love magic! I''m interested in them."


    Felix smiled at her, "That''s a good mindset."


    "Studying magic can lead us to significant status, entering betterpanies like Gringotts and the Ministry of Magic!" Roger Davies said.


    "Hmm, constructive input. Anything else?"


    "People will fear you, respect you, dare not cross you," Collins Flourish said coldly.


    "Valid points... Anything more?"


    "You can do what you love," Hermione chimed in.


    "Very close to my personal answer," Felix chuckled.


    He surveyed the group, his gaze sliding over each of their eyes. "I can''t provide you with the right answer, because there isn''t a correct and singr answer. I can only share my own understanding."


    "What''s the use of delving deeper into magic, including studying those obscure magical theories?"


    "My view is that it allows you to go further on the path of magic than others, granting you more options naturally."


    "Want to research magic? Of course, you can quietly be a schr, grasp the mysteries of magic and untouched realms."


    "Do you want to hold high positions, gain authority? Besides having a sharp and clever mind, magic''s power is indispensable. Then, magic bes your handy tool, aiding you in gaining fame and power;"


    "Or... money? It''s not impossible, but I suggest you choose the right magical field. Alchemy and ancient magical texts hold great promise. If any of you are interested, consider joining the ''Future World''pany after graduation."


    Felix blinked, offering them a smile.


    "There''s much more to say. Alter appearances? Transfiguration can do it; extend life? Potions can do it; travel the world? Seek thrills? Explore mysteries and treasures... or simply be an ordinary person."


    "Of course, we might also fantasize" Felix lowered his gaze, "to make the world turn ording to your will, bringing about changes because of you."


    The students fell quiet.


    Felix twirled his wand in his fingers and gently continued, "Indeed, for some people, like Headmaster Dumbledore, what troubles them isn''t what they can do, but what to choose to do."


    "Be Minister of Magic... or decide which candy to purchase from Honeydukes... Perhaps thetter consumes more of his mind."


    "This highlights the importance of the power to chooseto shape the life we desire. The most obvious example is that every year, students receive more than one professor''s rmendation letter. Clearly, these individuals have more room for choice."


    "Let''s get back to the topic and discuss something practical."


    Felix raised his voice, "ording to thetest information received by the Headmaster, this Triwizard Tournament will be different from the past, conducted in the form of groups. Naturally, the difficulty will also be increased."


    "Each school will select three individuals to form a team. After the three tasks arepleted, the school with the highest score will win the Triwizard Cup."


    He looked at the group, saying, "For sixth and seventh-year students, you''ll be grouped randomly in theing weeks, fostering teamwork. You never know who might be your teammate during thepetition. As for fourth and fifth-year students, you have more flexibility, no requirements."


    As he finished speaking, Harry, Ron, and Hermione immediately huddled together.


    >


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 Chapter 372: Ephemeral Magic and Hogwarts

    Chapter 372: Ephemeral Magic and Hogwarts


    After the students had departed, Felix sat alone in an armchair, lost in thought. Several pieces of parchment floated before him, and lines of letters appeared one by one, as if an invisible quill were writing upon them.


    The dense white mist dissipated as if illuminated by sunlight, revealing the sprawling grounds, the dueling tournament''s arena, the circr-walled arena, and the twisty maze inspired by the Triwizard Tournament. They all gradually vanished, as if they had never existed.


    In their ce was a dazzling expanse of white. The ground was as smooth as a mirror, and there was nothing around.


    The memory remnants of a few professors emerged. They appeared human, but ultimately, they were mere memories. All their emotions remained in the past; the "present" did not trouble them.


    "It''s still rather deste here," the young Albus Dumbledore remarked, conjuring an ornate high-backed chair for himself and sitting down. "I prefer a livelier atmosphere."


    Felix withdrew his hand from his chin, collected the pieces of parchment, and smiled. "Then perhaps you should advise ''yourself.'' I can see the Headmaster has some ideas, which is what I hoped for. Perhaps only he can persuade Mr. Scamander."


    "If it''s about memories of magical creatures, it isn''t that difficult... Newt is a kind person. Unless," the young Albus Dumbledore said yfully, looking at Felix with a wry smile, his auburn hair slightly curled, "you want something more from him."


    "Indeed," Felix conceded. "I hope he leaves behind a memory fragment. After all, the knowledge that can be written in books is only a small part of his precious thoughts."


    The young Felix Harp smirked, "You''re being quite circuitous." He hit the nail on the head, "Tangible knowledge can help students, but it''s the intangible ones that truly assist them."


    Laughter erupted among the professors present.


    The young Minerva McGonagall didn''tugh. With her bright eyes fixed on them, she huffed in annoyance, "Gentlemen, we should get to work."


    "Right you are," the young Filius Flitwick chimed in. He transformed his legs into a misty cloud and floated mid-air, resembling a deity from some Muggle tale, "Today is just a test of our abilities. I have plenty of interesting scenes in mind. Like the fairy colonies."


    Shaking his head, the young Albus Dumbledore said, "Can I admit my school memories are somewhat dull? But I did spend my summer break visiting some intriguing individuals. A few of them still correspond with me. And for research purposes, I''ve spent quite a bit of time observing giant, centaur, and trollmunities..."


    The young Felix Harp muttered under his breath, "Compared to them, I''m like a nk page." He nced at his physical self, "How about creating an international ck market exhibition, where students practice disguise and infiltration, uncovering people with hidden agendas? But I''d need your assistance."


    Felix responded somewhat awkwardly, "What ck market? It''s just a part of foreign magical customs. I was merely curious..."


    His words were ignored as the professors got busy with their own tasks.


    Mountain ranges, gorges, caves, taverns... Fairies, giants, centaurs, trolls... Scenes of various kinds piled upon each other. Although they were appearing for the first time today, this space remembered them well. As administrators, they could summon them at will when needed.


    ...


    Harry had been quite busytely. On Monday, he had declined Nearly Headless Nick''s invitation to the Gryffindor ghost''s party. It was said that the party had been interrupted by Peeves, who had stolen a precious exhibit.


    Hermione was equally upied. She seemed to live in the library. Apart from ssroom and Room 7, she was nowhere to be found. ording to her roommates'' gossip, she hadn''t visited the kitchen or chatted with the house-elves for several days. Even in themon room, she hid behind a stack of thick books, with only her brown head visible.


    Right after ss, she would take out small notes from her pockets, bags, and textbook pages, counting the questions and seeking different professors for answers.


    Harry wanted to ask questions too, but the challenge was, he didn''t know what to ask. He pulled a book from Hermione''s stack, but by the second paragraph, he was getting drowsy. He and Ron aimlessly wandered the Restricted Section of the library, looking at knowledge that wasn''t quite theirs. He could only pick books with titles like "Duels Unleashed," "Supreme Spells," or "Comprehensive Guide to Curses," and flip through them. Ron was doing something simr, particrly interested in a cursed book bound in chains. On the cover was a wailing wizard, as if trying to yank his head out of the book.


    Harry figured Ron was just fascinated by the cover or that the wailing wizard''s sharp chin and light hair reminded him of Malfoy. It made him pause for a moment before losing interest, much like Ron had.


    Felix noticed that this year''s Hogwarts staff meetings had be more frequent. Sometimes, right after ss or while answering a student''s question, Professor McGonagall''s cat Animagus form would suddenly appear before him, bearing messages from her.


    "The Ilvermorny delegation is on their way."


    He and several other professors sat in the elongated faculty lounge, basking in the gentle radiance of magicalmps, listening to Professor McGonagall speak. Dumbledore had his hands crossed, leaning back in his chair, a faint smile ying on his lips, a look of assurance in his expression.


    But Felix suspected he was contemting other matters. It was a skill he possessed too, having practiced it intentionally.


    However, he was more interested in McGonagall''s speech. Professor Sprout had already asked the question on his mind, "So early? Beauxbatons and Durmstrang aren''t due for nearly two more weeks."


    McGonagall exined, "The Ilvermorny delegation wishes to arrive early, familiarize themselves with the environment, and learn about Hogwarts... It''s closely rted to everyone present here. Dumbledore has approved that Ilvermorny students can take elective courses for sixth and seventh years."


    The professors looked at Dumbledore. He smiled and nodded, his beard twitching slightly.


    Confused and not quite up to speed, Professor Trwney raised her head and remarked sharply, "I don''t ept just any students, Dumbledore. If theyck sufficient inner sight, let me rifyI won''t be teaching them anything more than a Mountain Troll would learn."


    Snape choked on his words; he had been about to speak but Trwney beat him to it. He followed her lead and said icily, "I share the same sentiment, Headmaster. While we may ept some students, they must demonstrate ample proficiency in Potions. Otherwise, I''ll have no choice but to ce them in lower yearsfifth, fourth perhaps..."


    McGonagall looked hesitantly between them. Dumbledore smiled gently and reassured, "No need to worry, Professor Slughorn. As far as I''m aware, Ilvermorny also offers Potion sses, or rather, the founders of Ilvermorny were greatly influenced by Hogwarts. The resemnce in their curriculum suggests a closer connection between their school and ours."


    "Ilvermorny alsoprises four housesHorned Serpent, Wampus, Thunderbird, and Pukwudgie. Of course, thetter is not what we traditionally think of as garden sprites. This amusing misconception arises from differing interpretations. Once misunderstandings spread, everyone began to use that term. In reality, they are native to North America, distant cousins to the European fairies. I specte they might be a distant branch of fairies, who, having lost their unique culture, concealed themselves deep within the dense forests... Nevertheless, they have learned to wield venomous bows and arrows."


    "These four houses represent a wizard''s wisdom, physique, spirit, and heartoffering a unique division, which, in our perspective, means Ilvermorny students are likely to exhibit distinct inter-house traits. For instance, the Horned Serpent housebines some aspects of Ravenw and Slytherin."


    "The variations within these simrities, and the intellectual shes they bring about, are what make this exchange so valuable."


    "They might understand and explore our ideas, but understanding goes both ways. We should extend a warm wee to them," Dumbledore addressed the professors.


    After the meeting, Professor Pomona Sprout sought out Felix.


    She was the Herbology professor at Hogwarts and also the head of Hufflepuff House. An optimistic andpassionate woman, she had an extensive knowledge of magical nts.


    "Are you nning to leave behind a memory too and need assistance?" Felix asked with genuine interest. "Of course, I''m happy to help."


    >


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 Chapter 373: Sprouts Greenhouse

    Chapter 373: Sprout''s Greenhouse


    In the dimly lit chamber of ssroom 7, a trio consisting of Cedric Diggory, Roger Davies, and Collins Flew faced off against a serpent creature, its deep green scales stretched over fifty feet in length.


    "Collins! Watch your nk!" Cedric shouted.


    Collins immediately closed her eyes. In the next moment, she felt a chilling gaze fixated on her. Her body stiffened as her magical essence seemed to solidify, almost turning her into stone. She knew this was the effect of the Hyper-Sensory Hex.


    "I''m not a mute target!"


    Stumbling back, she narrowly avoided a stone the size of a palm that grazed her forehead, leaving a trail of blood in its wake. She remained low, patiently waiting for her opportunity.


    "Roger! It''s looking at you now!"


    Cedric''s voice echoed, prompting Collins to open her eyes abruptly. With practiced precision, she cast the "Eye-Blitz Hex," sending it flying before retreating to shield herself from the debris.


    "Only the left eye remains!" Davies reminded.


    Several minutester, the serpent creaturey battered and breathing, its body covered in wounds, and its eyes blinded. Death was imminent, a fate not far off under ordinary circumstances.


    Gathered from different paths, they watched in silence as the serpent creature dispersed into countless green sparks, a surge of aplishment swelling within them.


    Roger Davies slumped onto the ground, fatigue oveing him. He cared little for appearances now, knowing that they had seen worse. This marked their fifth encounter with the serpent creature; the previous four had ended in total defeat.


    "Marvelous victory!" cried Professor Flitwick, suddenly appearing. His legs had transformed into wisps of mist, carrying his diminutive form in a swirling trajectory right before them.


    Cedric grinned. It had been Professor Flitwick they had encountered after traversing the bat-infested cave, using the Irond Charm.


    The current four Heads of House exhibited distinct personalitiesProfessor Flitwick, the Charms master and head of Ravenw, was forever effervescent and prone to exuberant praise for the slightest progress; Professor McGonagall, head of Gryffindor and Transfiguration expert, embodied seriousness and meticulousness, offering sage advice at the outset; while the youthful Albus Dumbledore, in his prime, cherished conversations, revealing insights that left students in awe.


    Ancient Runes Professor Harp was quite unconventional. He often appeared during their trials, scrutinizing them keenly and critiquing their errors in a not-so-pleasant manner. He was equally willing to demonstrate solutions personally after their failureshis own way.


    "...You may have noticed that the idea of gazing into a serpent''s eyes causing instant death is a misconception. Killing a wizard is no easy feat. If magic doesn''t y a role, you''ll find their eyes aren''t much different from those of ordinary snakes."


    Professor Flitwick, true to form, concluded with his post-challenge remarks, evaluating their performance.


    "But Professor, two years ago, a student and a cat were petrified by the basilisk in the Chamber," Cedric inquired, puzzled.


    "That doesn''t necessarily prove anything. The basilisk was in an aggressive state then, attacking any living being in its sight. There''s no reason to believe it maintained a substantial magical presence in its eyes while alone."


    Collins analyzed calmly, "Professor Flitwick, may I suggest that the basilisk''s gaze is akin to our magic, under some form of control?"


    Professor Flitwick nodded, his high-pitched approval ringing out, "Precisely! The results of examining a basilisk conducted by Severus validate this!"


    "Any other examples, Professor?" Cedric asked.


    "Of course! Take the Demiguise, for instance..." Professor Flitwick recounted.


    ...


    With weary bodies, Cedric andpany exited the chamber. Behind them, the dark, damp, narrow room gradually vanished. They now stood on smooth, pristine flooring in an expansive space where three structures of differing sizes and styles eerily coalescedindicating other students'' presence.


    Felix and Professor Sprout approached, their gazes narrowing as they focused on the professors'' attire. It was a technique they had learned over the past monththe attire of ssroom 7''s administrators emitted a faint silvery light.


    It was a method to distinguish reality from illusion.


    And the two before them... were real.


    "Professor Sprout, Professor Harp!" they greeted. Felix and Professor Sprout nodded gently, acknowledging them before moving deeper.


    "Cedric, what do you think they''re here for?" Davies wondered.


    Cedric''s gaze rested on the professors'' backs, a sudden expression of excitement crossing his face. His grey eyes gleamed with fervor, "Perhaps we''re about to wee a new professor..."


    Collins Flew, usuallyposed, disyed a hint of surprise, "Absolutely not!"


    "Why?" Cedric fixed his gaze on her. Professor Sprout was her Head of House, after all.


    "Consider what subject she teaches," Collins closed her eyes, "I dropped Herbology in sixth year; I just couldn''t stand tending to increasingly twisted and hideous nts."


    Her trembling lips continued, "Stinging venom tentacles, biting venomous teeth geraniums, slippery salivating Sneezeworts, sttering Puslums... Take the Bubotuber, for instance. In second year, you merely observed from a distance, by fourth year you had to squeeze pus from them, and what about sixth year?"


    She turned to Cedric.


    Cedric answered bitterly, "Skinning and pollinating."


    ...


    Deep within ssroom 7, two professors stood side by side in quietude.


    A silver, diminutive figure appeared before them, growing clearer by the moment. Felix felt as if he were seeing a pair of twins, both adorned with flowing grey hair and patch-covered, thick hats.


    Sprout''s memory hummed a tune as it conjured wondrous nts from thin air. Just the Knockturn Willows alone, she had conjured more than a dozen. With agile steps, she scattered ebony seeds, and within moments, clusters of thorny vines, jet-ck in color, reached five or six feet in height.


    Beside Felix, Professor Sprout watched the scene with envy. The ck thorns entwined to form towering walls.


    "I once suggested to Dumbledore that we nt a circle of them along the edge of the Forbidden Forest, but the workload was immense. In the end, we had to abandon the idea."


    "Um, I imagine the students have their hands full" simultaneously, the Weasley twins were in themon room, bemoaning their apparent loss of flying ability. Harry, busy catching up on assignments, was surprised to realize he hadn''t touched a broom in a while.


    So, that evening, he took Ron and Hermione, who seemed to be drowning in a sea of books, to the Quidditch pitch.


    At the southeastern corner of the pitch, a construction site had taken over. A dozen or so buildings were connected in a circr fashion, forming a protective ring around the central, tallest structureit onlycked a spire toplete it.


    A group of workers bustled about,pleting the final touches.


    Harry andpany observed from a distance, basking in October''s cool breeze as they flew on broomsticks. Hermione perched on her broom, elevating it three feet off the ground, whilezily circling the pitch. Harry manipted the Firebolt, elerating continuously until he became a crimson streak. Higher and farther he soared, spotting Hagrid as he lugged a piece of wood at least thirty feet long.


    "Hagrid, need a hand?" Harry swooped down, circling around Hagrid beforending in front of him.


    Hagrid regarded him skeptically.


    Harry, without much preamble, withdrew his wand and incanted, "Wingardium Leviosa!"


    Hagrid shrugged off the wood on his shoulder and grumbled, "Could''ve managed it" They returned to the pitch, where a red-faced wizard in a sun hat shouted, "Over here, Hagrid! A bit more effort, and we''ll finish today."


    Hagrid hefted the wood, effortlessly nting it in the ground. Harry, beside him, noticed it was a support beam for the structure.


    The red-faced wizard incanted a spell, locking the beam into ce. Two others scrutinized blueprints, one of themined, "Are they moving the entire school here? Finn... leave some room; we need space for the statue."


    "Statue? What statue?" the wizard named Finn bellowed.


    "They''re bringing their own, but we need to reserve the space. Do you see where you''re standing? That''s where a massive Thunderbird will go."


    Harry approached Hagrid, inquiring, "This is...?"


    "Hogwarts School of Emery." Hagrid''s response was sinct, and he eyed Hermione and Ron. Ron, enthusiastically, weaved in and out of the Quidditch goalposts, shouting in excitement.


    Hagrid''s contemtive gaze lingered, "Seems like yeh lot''ve been cooped up tight. Yeh''re wee t''e by fer tea, Luna and Ginny drop by often, an'' so does Ferenz"


    "Luna and Ginny?" Harry asked in surprise.


    "Yeah, got a fair bit of news from ''em, I did. Ginny wanted t'' borrow Aragog from me, testin'' if Ron''s really over his arachnophobia. Y''know, she''s always been curious"


    "Aragog, is... um, is he alright?" Harry asked, intending to inquire if the old spider was dead, though it didn''t seem quite polite.


    "Gettin'' by," muttered Hagrid, "Truth be told, not doin'' too well. He''s been wantin'' to go back int'' the forest, but the Acromant''s nest ain''t there no more, an'' he can''t see... Felix has been castin'' spells every monthScgify Charm, so I can let ''im out fer a stroll, not always cooped up in the cage... A bit o'' sun, tad o'' frog spawn, not bad at all..."


    He rambled on, leaving Harry quite surprised; he seemed to have missed quite a few things.


    As they returned to the castle from the pitch, Hermione continued toin about missing fifty pages from her book, yet her smile was evident. Harry and Ron had grown ustomed to her half-hearted remarks, but Ron interrupted, iming he hadn''t finished his Divination assignment.


    "But you don''t seem worried at all?" Hermione gazed at him quizzically.


    "Thanks to all the time spent with Harry in the Restricted Section, we''vee up with quite a few new approaches," Ron said, "It helps keep our grades up."


    "Yes, creating a catalogue of fictional misfortunes to earn high marks," Hermione retorted, "Are you certain Professor Trwney can understand the effects of the curses we''re inventing in the Restricted Section?"


    Ron''s confidence wavered, and he hesitated before looking at Harry.


    At that moment, they walked into the entrance hall, where a new notice was posted on the grand bulletin board, surrounded by a throng of students.


    "Inter-School Championship: The Beauxbatons Delegation will arrive on Sunday, October 16th at 10 a.m. Students and faculty are advised to be prepared"


    "I knew it!" Ron shouted, as if he''d discovered a profound truth, "No wonder the professors have been harping on etiquette the past few days!"


    Harry said nothing; his thoughts had already leaped to two dayster, to Beauxbatons What would their students be like?


    >


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 Chapter 374: The Arrival

    Chapter 374: The Arrival


    The notice in the entrance hall had a clear impact on the school ¨C it informed all students that the Triwizard Tournament was no longer just a rumor but a reality.


    On Friday evening, in the early hours of Saturday, Felix Harp awoke from his slumber and, dressed in his pajamas, pushed open the office door.


    The corridor was pitch dark, barely any light to be seen. Bathed in the faint moonlight, a group of small figures huddled together, forming crooked and eerie shadows ¨C they were the house-elves of the castle.


    "Need any help?" Felix whispered, quietly approaching, barely two feet away from them.


    "Ah¡ª"


    A suppressed shriek was stifled in the throat. The three stacked house-elves seemed about to tumble, and Felix quickly reached out to steady them. It was quite the amusing sight ¨C


    The house-elf on the top, respectfully greeting, held various cleaning tools in its hands: "Mr. Harp, greetings!"


    "You too, Winky," Felix replied.


    The house-elf in the middle covered the mouth of the one at the bottom, preventing it from making noise. It attempted to bow while Winky hastily patted its head, leaped down from the pile, and the middle house-elf followed suit. Finally, all three of them bowed together.


    "I heard somemotion... What are you all doing ¨C is it cleaning portraits?"


    Felix looked at the cloths and brushes in Winky''s hands and noticed arge bottle in the corner, itsbel shining in the darkness: "Madam Skower''s All-Purpose Magical Mess Remover."


    "And also the castle''s armor... Mr. Harp! We''re cleaning them anew, to let the guests feel the charm of Hogwarts! Mr. Harp!" Winky eximed.


    "Yes," Felix nodded, curiously asking, "I didn''t see any of you carryingnterns. Are you working in the dark like this?"


    "We''re used to it, sir!" Winky, the same house-elf, answered proudly. "Our vision is very good. Just a bit of light is enough for us to see things clearly."


    "Is that so?" Felix wasn''t aware of this; the descriptions of house-elves never mentioned such abilities. "But using magicalmps would be more convenient. I recall the school procured arge batch..."


    "Yes, indeed! There''s a brand new, huge magicalmp in the kitchen, even bigger than Winky!" Winky spread her delicate hands wide to describe the size of themp in the kitchen. "Otherpanions are also very interested, and Dobby¡ª"


    The house-elf beside her lightly nudged Winky with its arm, and she fell silent.


    "What''s the matter? Dobby is also under my employ; is there something I don''t know?" Felix inquired, as Dobby would visit him at the beginning of every month to report on thepany''s progress.


    The house-elf in the middle spoke respectfully, "No, sir. Dobby... is well, and he even gifted the kitchen with some small palm-sized magicalmps, very convenient..."


    Felix smiled and said, "I''m sure what you want to tell me isn''t about that. Let''s discuss it."


    "Sir, Kaka isn''t a talkative house-elf. His master passed away ten years ago, and without descendants, he dedicated himself to Hogwarts... Kaka had always been in service of his master''s family..." the house-elf named "Kaka" bowed deeply.


    Felix listened quietly, knowing there was more toe.


    "Kaka takes pride in it, whether in his master''s household or at Hogwarts... he''s always been dutiful. But, but..." Kaka''s eyes widened, "Dobby! He''s spreading dangerous ideas, and some less resolute minds are starting to be influenced. This isn''t a good sign ¨C he could bring misfortune to the entiremunity..."


    "What has he done?" Felix asked.


    Kaka lowered his head, and Winky interjected, "Dobby hasn''t done much. He''s just talking about his new life, how he... how he''s putting himself on equal footing with wizards. He said he met certain people today... and will meet others tomorrow. The key point is, he has somepanions under him... he''s overseeing them..."


    "Why is that a bad thing? I instructed him to do so."


    "Sir, Mr. Harp!" the house-elf called Kaka said, "It''s not a blessing, it''s the beginning of misfortune. He''s wielding power that doesn''t belong to him, and that power is expanding..."


    Felix exchanged a nce with Winky. Through the shared understanding cultivated from manyte-night snacks in the kitchen, Winky got the message. She took Kaka''s arm and said in a high-pitched voice, "We must go now, sir! There''s work to be done before dawn!"


    Felix returned to his office and sat for a while when a knock sounded at the door. Winky slipped in through the crack in the door.


    "Please, have a seat, Winky."


    "Oh, thank you, Mr. Harp!" Winky eximed excitedly as she sat down on the edge of the couch.


    A cup of tea, apanied by a saucer, flew over to her. Even though this scene had yed out more than once, she still looked ufortable. The cup and saucer ttered together.


    Felix smiled and said, "Winky, you know, I need an impartial perspective to consider this matter, and you''re the best candidate."


    "Yes, sir," Winky replied. After seriously contemting for a while, she respectfully continued, "Kaka and Dobby are very different... Kaka is a traditional elf, only serving his master in the past. But that wizard had no heirs, and he bequeathed his property to Hogwarts in his will, so Kaka came here... He has always been proud of his identity."


    Felix nodded.


    "Kaka is traditional, even among the hundred-plus house-elves in the kitchen, he''s considered part of the more conservative group. On the other hand, Dobby is quite the opposite, with some rather unconventional views..."


    "Is it about receivingpensation or seeking freedom?"


    Uncle Winky trembled slightly and said hesitantly, "Both, sir, both... He once spoke ill of his former master, actually, it wasn''t really bad, just the truth... But Kaka considered him disloyal, and they had a disagreement..."


    Felix Harp nodded slightly, "And then?"


    "After that... Dobby hardly mentioned his past anymore. He enjoys the present. Every time he visits, he brings some gifts. Some of the house-elves ept them, but Kaka steadfastly refuses! There are quite a few house-elves like him, mostly older ones..."


    "Dobby introduces us to life outside, talks about his work. He said he found some wild, wandering house-elves and provided them with jobs. They are like him, free."


    When freedom was mentioned, Uncle Winky shuddered noticeably.


    Felix smiled, "I did let him find somepanions, seems like he''s doing well."


    Uncle Winky cautiously nced at him and asked, "Sir, what are your thoughts?"


    "Me?" Felix shook his head, "Let it be, observing new things takes time. It might make you ufortable now, but decadester, it might be a strong pir of the ''Future World''pany."


    Uncle Winky looked at him with a touch of confusion.


    Felix continued, "Do you know about the International Confederation of Wizards? Its founder, Isolt Sayre, established a deep friendship with a goblin named William. To this day, many goblins still work at Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It''s somewhat akin to the house-elves at Hogwarts. The difference is, the rtionship between Isolt Sayre''s family and William''s goblin n is more egalitarian, to the extent that they even established a protective treaty ¨C the Goblin Protection use."


    "Mind you, this is quite rare. Goblins don''t particrly favor humans; in fact, they enjoy ying tricks on them. They are highly capable of acting on their own and are quite scheming... This history is a topic many people find intriguing."


    "When Ilvermorny School was weak, it was William and his goblin n who protected the students. Today, centuriester, the situation has reversed. Ilvermorny protects this goblin n from outside interference... And though the goblins at Ilvermorny still grumble, insisting they are just fulfilling an ancient agreement, they continue to mysteriously appear throughout the school..."


    ...


    The next day, when the students woke up, they were surprised to find the castle transformed. Portraits had been scrubbed clean, and the suits of armor now gleamed. While Ron was attentively observing these curious changes, he identally stepped into a trap in the spinning staircase, and one of his legs got stuck in the gap.


    The suit of armor nearby chuckled with wheezing breaths. Ron punched it, and it spewed out a few blue bubbles.


    "Ugh!" Ron eximed, "Smells like cleaning solution!"


    In the afternoon, Hermione went to the library again, and Harry and Ron reluctantly brought Neville along for an adventure in the seventh floor corridor. They were apanied by a young Felix Harp.


    When Harry questioned the presence of a tavern in the dungeon, a group of proud house-elves suddenly burst in, engaging in a fierce battle against the dark wizard in the tavern. The three of them got caught in the middle and fled.


    "This is a disguised ck market; the code at the entrance is the proof," Felix Harp''s memory entity followed behind, exining.


    They escaped to a hidden room filled with irritable golden thief bugs. These bugs swarmed them without the trio needing to catch them. Each bug was enchanted with the Fire-Making Charm, targeting their exposed skin.


    Using the Ironskin Charm, the three managed to inch their way out of the room, wincing from the burns. The onlyfort was that Felix Harp''s memory entity had taught them the "Human-Skin Ironskin Charm"...


    In the evening, all the selected students were called to the Deputy Headmistress''s office. Professor McGonagall spent two hours providing them etiquette training. As Harryy in bed, he could still hear Ron talking in his sleep ¨C


    "Damn thief bugs, stay away from me..."


    The following Sunday morning, after breakfast, students roamed the castle as if in a daze, until a special bell chimed. They converged from all directions to the entrance hall next to the Great Hall ¨C


    "Form lines! ording to your houses..." Professor Flitwick, in a moldy suit, shouted hoarsely. He suddenly grabbed a young wizard, saying menacingly, "You! Where''s your school uniform?"


    The young wizard was so frightened that he almost went hysterical, screaming and running away.


    Students lined up by year, led by their respective Heads of House, and proceeded out of the castle. Excitedly, they surveyed the empty space.


    "They''re here!"


    A sharp-eyed student called out. Students and professors squinted, and suddenly, the air burst into intense mes. Bright mes coalesced, forming a fiery flower with four petals, each imprinted with a magical creature.


    "Ahem! Is there anyone on the other side?" a voice sounded from within the mes.


    "Eligbert," Dumbledore, standing in the front row, said gently, "The school has temporarily lifted the prohibition. You maye over now."


    "That''s good... I was afraid I got the location wrong..." the voice faded away.


    Students stared wide-eyed. After a while, a hand emerged, holding a box. Soon, a round, somewhat simple-looking face came into view ¨C a young student. He wore robes ofbined blue and cranberry, secured by aplex, golden knot on his chest.


    Upon seeing the vast crowd of Hogwarts students and professors, he jumped in surprise, scratching his head, "Uh, hello, I''m Biles, Biles Bach."


    >


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 Chapter 39: Punishment

    <h4>Chapter 39: Punishment</h4>


    Harry, Ron, and Hermione shuddered as they lifted the invisibility cloak.


    The trio stepped forward, wincing, "Professor ..."


    Felix''s eyes kept ncing between the three, "Miss Granger, Mr. Potter, and Mr. Weasley, can you tell me the reason for your presence here?"


    Harry gathered his courage and said, "Professor, I, we wanted to visit Hagrid, in case you didn''t know, we''re kind of close to him."


    "This is not a good ce toe around, you are too far into the Forbidden Forest." Felix shook his head, "I think your professor should have told you not to trespass into the forbidden forest."


    Ron stammered, "Professor, we were looking for Hagrid, but we happened to see you and were curious for a moment, so we followed you."


    "A moment of curiosity," Felix fiddled with the wand in his hand as he looked at the trio, not speaking.


    A tremendous amount of mental pressure fell over them.


    Finally, Hermione said, with a whimper, "I''m sorry, Professor, we disappointed your trust-"


    "It''s alright," Felix said calmly, "it''s in every young wizard''s nature to take risks, especially the Gryffindor ones. But I hope you will define the line between bravery and foolhardiness, and know that you only have one life to live."


    Felix didn''t say anything more as he led the trio back to the castle.


    "Let''s see, breaking curfew, trespassing into the forbidden forest, and stalking a professor ..." The trio''s faces paled as Felix''s words rang out, "ten points each and a one-week detention."


    The trio sleepwalked back to themon room.


    Seeing Hermione''s sad face, Ron soothed, "It''s nothing, better than the best oue I could have imagined. I was expecting us to be docked fifty points each and put in detention until Christmas."


    Harry''s face looked with approval; if they had fallen into Snape''s hands tonight, the consequences would have been unimaginable.


    As heid in bed, Ron suddenly spoke to Harry, "That was cool, right?"


    "What?"


    "Professor Hap, O swish, whiz! Can''t even see him move, he''s definitely much better than Snape if you ask me, even better than Dumbledore!"


    "Headmaster Dumbledore is the strongest," Harry said without thinking.


    "That''s not necessarily true, the Headmaster has not done anything in years. If it had been decades ago, I certainly wouldn''t suspect it ..." Ron muttered in a small voice before drifting off to dreand.


    Harry, however, is somewhat sleepless, his mind kepting up with the images of Professor Hap casting spells, every movement, from Professor Hap casting the first spell then bursting into ck smoke, breaking down and reying in his mind.


    He remembers it all vividly.


    The next day, Hermione remained a little sad, but she quickly pulled herself together and even began to discuss the Chamber of Secrets leads with them.


    The young witch said with a scowl, "So it seems that Professor Hap is not the heir of Slytherin."


    Ron said, "Don''t be so arbitrary, we''ve just put a temporary hold on the suspicion, although Professor Hap is certainly cool." He admitted that much.


    Harry hastily changed the subject, feeling somewhat ashamed of their stalking of the Professorst night, which had put Hermione, who worked as an assistant, on the spot.


    "I think it''s more likely Malfoy after all."


    "Exactly," Ron interjected.


    "But how do we coax it out of him? He''s not going to swagger and admit he''s the heir of Slytherin, right ?."


    Hermione nodded as she whispered, "Perhaps, we need to make a Polyjuice Potion."


    "What is it?"


    "Polyjuice Potion, it can turn you into another person." Hermione peppered them with knowledge.


    The two of them remained confused.


    Hermione said, somewhat annoyed, "Don''t you all listen to your lessons? Snape mentioned in ss that the process of brewing this potion is very difficult and requires a variety of precious ingredients, and its recipe is recorded in the book Potent Potions."


    The trio discussed it in small voices.


    But then, they got stuck on the first step.


    The recipe for the Polyjuice Potion is difficult to get hold of because the Potent Potion in which it''s recorded is in the forbidden section of the library.


    There''s only one way to borrow this book from the forbidden section: to get an official seal signed by a professor.


    "There''s no reason for us to borrow that book," Ron said, "it''s not something we should mess with at our grade level."


    "I think," Hermione said, "that if we pretend that we''re interested in the theory, we might have some hope ..."


    "Ohe on, professors don''t fall for it that easily," Ron said, "unless they''re stupid enough to do it ..."


    Saturday morning.


    The trio had breakfast and went together to the Ancient Runes Professor''s office - toplete their detention.


    Harrymented a little that the first Quidditch game is about to take ce, and he is unable to attend training, about which Quidditch Captain Wood had a strong opinion.


    Knocking on the door, the trio is surprised to see Draco Malfoy in the room.


    Malfoy is slumped in front of a table with arge, thick book in front of him, looking at the page numbers, having reached the final ten or so pages. His quill kept scribbling, and the tip of his nose even had a little ink on it.


    Harry remembered with a jolt that Malfoy had been punished with copying a book.


    Professor Hap said in a rxed tone as he closed the door, "I was going to keep you apart, but after thinking about it, it was too much trouble. I enquired him, and Mr. Malfoy doesn''t mind sharing the same table with you."


    Ron let out a sudden snicker, the look on Malfoy''s face didn''t look like he "didn''t mind" and he seems to be looking forward to their detention.


    Felix conjured out three chairs and ced them in front of them, "I''ll go find the materials you need to copy." With that, he left.


    The four people in the office stared at each other with wide eyes.


    Harry said teasingly, "Malfoy, your detention still isn''t over yet? It''s taking a lot out of you."


    Malfoy tilted his head high, "Harry Potter!" He nced at the three and seemed to want to say something when he saw Hermione, but he hastily held back.


    He said, slightly condescendingly, "At Professor Snape''s suggestion, Professor Hap allowed me to take a break in the middle of the session as a way of - not having to miss Slytherin''s Quidditch training, Potter! I''ll beat you at the tournament!"


    Harry''s mood soured for a moment. With the financial backing of the Malfoy, the entire Slytherin Quidditch team had switched to Nimbus 2001 Brooms, which made them extremely fast, like seven pale green silhouettes on the pitch.


    Ron teased, "The real game is all about skill, even if you take the back door and be a Seeker, you''ll just be more the butt of a joke, loser!"


    "Shut up, Weasley. Do you even have a double-digit Golden Galleon left in your family''s vault?"


    Ron''s face turned red, and even his ears grew hot as he pulled out his wand and shouted, "Say that again! Malfoy, say it again!"


    Harry and Hermione hastily held him back, leaving aside what would happen if they fought in a Professor''s office, and even if he allowed Ron to fight, what would happen, another day of spitting slugs all over the ce?


    Felix returned with a thick pile of parchment, and Harry and Ron were in no mood for any sort of fight as they looked at the more than a foot-high pile of material.


    "I asked Professor McGonagall about it, and she had a batch of papers that were too old and required a renewal, so I volunteered to take this job," Felix said slightly perkily, " It happens to be rted to your behaviour - the list of student vitions and their penalties."


    Felix ced the material on the table and with a "thud" brought up a thick ring of dust, he waved his wand to "Scourgify" and a gust of wind carried the dust away, "Let''s get to work, kiddos. "


    Felix sat in a corner of his office, seven or eight metres away from them, "Silencio." He pointed his wand at himself and then flipped open a thick book and enjoyed his leisurely weekend.


    At the other end, Harry, Ron, and Hermione resigned themselves to their fate and sat down, Ron is strongly repulsed to sit with Malfoy and as ast resort, Harry had to be next to him.


    Harry flipped open a piece of parchment and began to copy the material with a quill dipped in ink.


    Malfoy whispered, "Potter! You know, you''re going to lose ..."


    "Shut up, Malfoy!" Harry yelled in a low tone.

 Chapter 375: School Song and Sorting

    Chapter 375: School Song and Sorting


    Biles stepped aside, and the second and third Ilvermorny students emerged from the mes. They wore matching school uniforms with the emblem of Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry embroidered on the left side of their chests and on their trunks.


    The Ilvermorny students quickly lined up. Behind them were three adult wizards.


    Felix''s gaze swept past the middle-aged wizard, lingering on a golden-haired witch and a dark-haired wizard. They were young, but they weren''t wearing student robes.


    Most importantly, both the male and female wizards had abstract sails embroidered on the right side of their chests, below which were three wavy lines.


    This symbol was none other than the emblem of the Magical Congress of the United States, which had grown rapidly over the past year. Even from thousands of miles away, Felix asionally saw the name of this organization in the newspapers.


    Afterwards, the Hogwarts students called out softly¡ª


    From the mes emerged a line of goblins with short stature, gray skin, and long ears. They were dressed like jungle warriors, their clothes adorned with leaves, carrying miniature bows on their backs and small quivers of arrows on their waists.


    The Hogwarts students couldn''t help but discuss in hushed voices.


    Professor McGonagall turned around sternly, and they immediately fell silent, swallowing all their questions and curiosity.Several Ilvermorny students cast their gaze on thest man to emerge, emphasizing his status. He looked somewhat like Barty Crouch, Jr., a simrity that was more about aura. There was something magical about them¡ªwhen they wore Muggle clothing, they could easily pass as government officials, discussing serious matters like car emissions without any hint of incongruity.


    A flick of Professor Egbert Ve''s wand stirred the mes on his badge into a swirling vortex. He then strode forward, sping hands tightly with Dumbledore.


    "Professor Ve, wee," Dumbledore said warmly.


    "Oh, Professor Dumbledore, you haven''t changed a bit," Ve replied, his eyes gleaming. He wore a deep brown robe, his jet-ck hair immactelybed, not a strand out of ce even when shaking hands with force.


    And Dumbledore''s long silver beard formed a charming curve in the cool October breeze.


    "Allow me to introduce¡ªProfessor of Dark Arts Defense, Cormac Wilkins, and the two assistant professors in the school, Eurya Edmond and Bethany Bach. They insisted oning. Of course, the stars of this year, my students!"


    Dumbledore smiled, extending his wee. Then, he and the headmaster of Ilvermorny walked ahead, followed by the representatives of Ilvermorny. The student named "Biles," ever since appearing, had his eyes constantly wandering. When he spotted Felix, he slowly shuffled over to stand beside the beautiful blonde assistant professor.


    "Sister, it''s Mr. Harp," he whispered, but because his voice was too loud, the students beside him heard it.


    They all looked at the professors from Hogwarts.


    "Which one?" someone asked.


    "The youngest one!" Biles replied.


    Beneath her breath, Bethany discreetly nudged her brother and whispered, "Both Big Brother Eurya and I saw it. You''ve had a year to interact with Mr. Harp. Now, act properly! All of Hogwarts'' students are looking!"


    As she spoke, she disyed a polite smile and followed behind the headmasters and Professor Wilkins. However, as they passed by the line of Hogwarts professors, Biles couldn''t resist making a gesture as if lifting a mask.


    The boy next to him burst intoughter and taunted, "Is this the person you''ve been obsessed with for a whole year?"


    "Shut up, Gravis," Biles said with some embarrassment.


    They only quieted down when Eurya looked over.


    The Ilvermorny delegation entered the Great Hall, followed by the Hogwarts professors, and finally, the heads of the four houses and their students.


    Huge silk banners hung on the walls of the Great Hall, each representing one of Hogwarts'' houses: red with a golden lion for Gryffindor, blue with a bronze eagle for Ravenw, yellow with a ck badger for Hufflepuff, and green with a silver serpent for Slytherin.


    Behind the teacher''s table, thergest banner disyed Hogwarts'' coat of arms: a lion, an eagle, a badger, and a snake intertwined around an uppercase letter H.


    "I don''t know what we''re doing at this time," Ron said. "It''s just ten in the morning, and we''ve only just finished breakfast..."


    But soon he found out what they were doing, as the Ilvermorny students, standing in the center, began to sing the Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry''s school song in unison¡ª


    "We stand as one, united ''gainst the Puritan. We draw our inspiration from good witch Morrigan.


    For she was hunted down by non-magical folk, from far across the Irish sea, she fled to these fair shores. Oh, Massachusetts, We choose it, let it be!


    Excellent wizardry! Your ramparts, they defend us; With all your days, enchant us! You taught us everything we know!


    One thing is clear, now let it be revealed:


    Where''er we go, wherever we roam, our truest home is Ilvermorny!"


    Following that, the Ilvermorny students raised their wands, their tips sparking as fireworks in the shapes of various animals burst into life above the Great Hall. The Hogwarts students saw a horned serpent with shining crystal on its forehead, a swift and agile cat-like creature, a soaring thunderbird, and a goblin raising its bow and arrow. They all apuded enthusiastically.


    "What''s that thing with spikes on its head and neck?" Harry pped his hands and asked.


    "That''s a goblin. Professor McGonagall mentioned it in ss. Their magic allows them to transform into porcupines," Hermione exined. As she looked up at the four creatures, the lions, eagles, badgers, and snakes on the banners also began to move. She whispered, "Professor mentioned that there''s a deep connection between Ilvermorny and Hogwarts, and now, seeing this, it''s quite evident..."


    Harry stared at the goblin-like fireworks in mid-air, with porcupine-like quills on their bodies. Then he lowered his head and nced at the jungle warriors standing behind the Ilvermorny students. They appeared to be idly present, even a bit discontented. They looked like Gringotts goblins who had taken off their suits, yet they emitted a wild aura as if they might suddenly raise bows and shoot arrows.


    "What a difference," Harry eximed with admiration.


    Ron pped his hands, puzzled. He was more interested in the Ilvermorny students singing the school song. "Why don''t we have a unified tune for our school song?"


    "We do," Hermione said. "It''s mentioned in ''Hogwarts: A History.'' It''s just that Professor Dumbledore might believe that genuine praise is better than repeating the same tune year after year."


    Her gaze swept across the professor''s table, and she asked curiously, "Did you see Professor Harp?"


    Harry and Ron also looked around, but they didn''t spot him.


    "Strange. All the professors are seated, there''s an empty spot there, where did he go?"


    At that moment, Dumbledore stood up, "Good morning,dies and gentlemen, ghosts, and¡ªespecially¡ªour honored guests," he smiled as he looked at the Ilvermorny students. "I am filled with great joy as I wee you to Hogwarts."


    "You will spend a considerable time at Hogwarts, not just for the Triwizard Tournament. Following Professor Ve''s suggestion, you will also experience up-close the ancient traditions of Hogwarts and the magical curriculum that has produced generations of exceptional wizards."


    "And this leads us to the heart of it all¡ªthe Sorting Ceremony!"


    He looked toward a corner of the hall, and Felix walked forward with a smile, holding the Sorting Hat.


    >


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 Chapter 376: Seeking Guidance

    Chapter 376: Seeking Guidance


    Hogwarts students are witnessing a truly unique Sorting Ceremony firsthand.


    "I know this year has been unusual, I mean... we canceled Quidditch and got a professor who curses at us, but... this is just too strange," murmured Seamus.


    He watched as the fully grown Ilvermorny students stood in line, each taking a seat on a small stool, ready to be sorted by the weathered old Sorting Hat.


    His friend Dean Thomas shrugged, "Strange things will only get stranger, and there are still three schools toe!"


    "True," Seamus nodded in agreement.


    At the top of the Great Hall, Felix Harp, in his gentle manner, began to speak, attracting curious gazes. "All you need to do is walk up, put on the hat, and wait for a moment... However, I suggest you also announce your name. It will make it easier for others to know you."


    Bryce, standing at the front of the line, looked at him and asked, "Mr. Harp, may I call you Professor?"


    "Of course," Felix said, "Wee to choose my ss."


    Bryce walked to the small stool, and upon seeing the Sorting Hat, he was taken aback. He nced back at Felix in disbelief, and Felix nodded at him: Yes, it''s just as you thought.


    Bryce eximed loudly, "Bryce Bach, from Ilvermorny, Thunderbird House." Then he closed his eyes with resignation, huddled on the stool, and ced the Sorting Hat on his head.


    "Look!" a girl from Ilvermorny eximed, pointing at the Sorting Hat.


    The worn, shabby hat suddenly split open at the bottom, and at the same time, a voice echoed in Bryce''s mind.


    "Never seen a Sorting Ceremony like this before, young one?"


    Bryce opened his eyes and asked in a hushed voice, "Are you the Hat''s ghost?"


    "...You can think of me that way. How do you sort here? Oh, I see... standing in front of the four statues, waiting to be chosen... Hogwarts doesn''t have such trouble; I can handle it all by myself..."


    "You can see my memories?" Bryce was astonished.


    "Just your current thoughts, don''t interrupt! You''re from Thunderbird House, kind-hearted yet adventurous... Hufflepuff and Gryffindor would suit you. You can choose either one..."


    "Which house is Professor Harp from?" Bryce was calcting.


    "Slytherin... Don''t bother, it''s not for you... You''re too far from that cunningd..."


    "Wait, I want to give it a try!" Bryce said.


    His idea was simple: once the Triwizard Tournament starts, they might not have time for sses. For now, he just wanted to choose a house ording to his preference.


    But the Sorting Hat disagreed; it didn''t want topromise its principles and ce a student in apletely unsuitable house. After a five-minute persuasive discussion with the Sorting Hat, Bryce finally wore down its resistance. The Sorting Hat impatiently shouted, "Gryffindor!"


    A wave of enthusiastic apuse erupted from the Gryffindor table.


    Bryce, somewhat dazed, took off the hat and heard Felix say to him, "Go on, choose a seat, you''ll make new friends."


    Bryce walked to the Gryffindor table and, as he sat down, he saw a round face much like his own.


    "Um, hello?" he greeted proactively, "I''m Bryce Bach."


    "Hello, I''m Nav¨¦, Nav¨¦ Longbottom," the round-faced boy responded.


    "Did you choose Professor Harp''s ss?" Bryce inquired.


    "Oh, absolutely..." Nav¨¦''s enthusiasm grew, and he started to talk about the Ancient Runes ss, the Rune Club, and the Dueling ss.


    The sorting process quietly sped up after that¡ª


    "Stewart Appledon, from Ilvermorny, Puma House."


    "Hufflepuff!"


    "Victor Percyval Greaves, from Ilvermorny, Horned Serpent House."


    "Slytherin!"


    "Francis Hunter, from Ilvermorny, Goblin House."


    "Ravenw!"


    Ten minutester, the Sorting Hat concluded this brief Sorting Ceremony.


    Dumbledore rose from his seat and addressed everyone, "Next, let the Heads of Houses lead your new students to enjoy a leisurely weekend. At dinner, we''ll gather here again for a hearty feast. Then, the students from Ilvermorny will return to their temporary lodgings with their professors. Professor McGonagall will provide you with your respective house schedules. During the first week, you can freely choose the sses you like."


    "Any questions?"


    He scanned the room, cheerfully dering, "Then let''s get moving, I believe you must be eager!" He turned his head slightly, inclined it, and said to the headmistress of Ilvermorny, "Professor Fontaine, I have this year''s new tea in my office..."


    "Of course." The headmistress of Ilvermorny replied with meticulous courtesy.


    Dumbledore left with him, leaving Professor McGonagall somewhat perplexed.


    In theory, Professor Wilkinson and Professor Moody taught the same subject, so they should have a lot inmon. However, Professor McGonagall wasn''tfortable leaving them alone together. She didn''t want to see news about Ilvermorny professors attacking Hogwarts in the Daily Prophet the next day.


    She and Professor Flitwick followed. She intended to engage in some light conversation. If Professor Moody was about to discuss his insights into casting curses on students, she would intervene in time...


    Before leaving, Professor McGonagall exchanged a nce with Felix. She felt at ease leaving because she saw that the two young assistants seemed to know Felix, and she had great confidence in him.


    As expected, Eurya and Bethany approached Felix.


    Before they could say anything, Bethany ran over and hugged him warmly. Excitedly, she said, "Professor Harp, this is a bted thank you... Thank you for saving my life!"


    After she let go, Felix smiled and said, "I just happened to have that ability. Anyone present at the time would have acted the same way."


    He didn''t want to dwell on this matter, so he somewhat awkwardly changed the topic, "Miss Bach, Mr. Edmond, would you like to try the Sorting Hat?"


    This wasn''t a normal topic of conversation, and the Sorting Hat seemed ratherckluster in his hands.


    However, Eurya and Bethany were genuinely interested. They had just spent quite some time observing the professors'' seats, so they wouldn''t refuse the chance to try. The results were Eurya being sorted into Slytherin and Bethany into Ravenw.


    ...


    "I never expected that you two would be professors. But it seems you haven''t left the Society for the Advancement of Magic?"


    On the grounds outside the castle, Felix walked along ck Lake with the two of them. Most Hogwarts students had gone to see the Ilvermorny students off, leaving the surroundings quite empty with few people in sight. A gentle breeze rustled the air, and the giant squid in ck Lakezily basked in the sun.


    His gaze shifted to the sail and wave emblem on the right side of their chests, and he asked in a soft voice.


    "Even more than that! Eurya here is now a key figure in the Society for the Advancement of Magic. Many people joined because of his name, and even the organization''s emblem was designed by him personally," Bethany remarked with emotion. "Actually, Headmistress Fontaine sheltered us. Before the International Confederation of Wizards made an official decision, she appointed Eurya as a professor, and I became his assistant."


    Felix nodded, finding this exnation eptable. Eurya Edmund was the student leader of the Paris incident. Even if MACUSA didn''t pursue the matter at the time, trouble mighte afterward. However, bing an assistant at Ilvermorny solved many problems.


    "But they did snap Eurya''s wand," Bethany said with bitterness.


    Whenever this matter was brought up, she became agitated.


    Eurya, however, seemed indifferent. "They only restricted me in these inconsequential ways."


    Bethany eximed, "How can it be inconsequential? It''s so inconvenient without a wand!"


    Eurya shook his head slightly and looked at Felix. "Mr. Harp, what subject do you think I teach?"


    Felix pondered for a moment. "My guesses are limited, Herbology... No," he noticed Bethany about to interject, realized his mistake, and quickly thought of a connection that didn''t require a wand. He said with confidence, "Muggle Studies?"


    Bethany looked at him in astonishment.


    "Correct, but we call that subject ''Muggle Chickens'' back there¡ª''Muggle'' is a shorthand for non-magical people," Eurya exined. "After losing my wand, I suffered for a while, but I soon found that its impact on me was far less than I expected... For simple spells, I can perform wandless magic."


    "On the contrary, I have more time to think. In the library, I read Mr. Harp''s works, and they opened a window for me... Headmistress Fontaine sheltered me, but she didn''t expect me to teach students. I chose this research direction myself."


    He said solemnly, "So, when I learned the school was nning to participate in the Triwizard Tournament, I immediately requested the headmistress to add my name to the delegation... I hoped to have the opportunity to seek your guidance in person!"


    ...


    After parting ways, Felix gazed at Eurya''s figure with a sense of nostalgia. Although just over a year had passed, he had clearly matured, bing more organized in his actions.


    "Hmm, perhaps I should suggest to Limes that they prioritize opening a branch over there."


    >


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 Chapter 377: Integration

    Chapter 377: Integration


    By the time the banquet began, Baelish had already be friends with Nawi, and as a result, he and Harry''s group had also gained some recognition.


    "Yes, quite different," he said at the moment, while introducing the Sorting Ceremony of Ilvermorny to the Gryffindor students. "The first time I saw it, I was startled. There are statues of the founders¡ªIzolt Sayre and James Steward¡ªon both sides of the main entrance of the castle. After passing through the main door, you enter a round hall, where we hold the sorting..."


    He drew a circle on the table, representing the shape of the hall, then pointed to four small dots.


    "Do you see it?" Baelish pointed to the dots. "Those represent the animal statues of the four houses. The new students stand in a circle along the walls, waiting for their names to be called. I was standing on Gordian Knot and was so nervous, faces all around me equally tense. I looked up and saw the upper balcony with older students and professors¡ª"


    "What is the Gordian Knot?" Seamus asked with great interest.


    Baelish showed him the golden knot on his robe. "This is it. It''s used to fasten the robe. It''s quite intricate, but it''s a tradition at our school. Everyone has to know how to do it."


    "Where was I? Oh yes, standing on the Gordian Knot, then just waiting. Watching for a magical statue''s reaction... I felt like it took a year, but thankfully, Thunderbird responded to me," he said with relief.


    Harry could empathize. During his first year, the sorting process had taken a long time for him as well, because the Sorting Hat had strongly suggested Slytherin, but he insisted otherwise and ended up in Gryffindor.


    He couldn''t help but ask, "Has any new student ever had two statues respond to them at the same time?""Probably," Baelish reminisced. "But I haven''t seen it. It''s quite rare... The most famous case was Seraphina Picquery. All four houses wanted her back then. And it turned out she was worth it. Sheter became the President of the Magical Congress of the United States."


    "She did an excellent job during her term, butpared to creating legition for the protection of magical creatures, people remember her more for resisting pressure and not banning giggly water..."


    Hermione eximed, "For Delphinius Dane''s sake, what''s that?"


    Baelish looked at her in astonishment.


    "Did I say something wrong?" Hermione asked in a low voice.


    "No," Baelish said. "You must have read that name from a book? Delphinius Dane?"


    Hermione nodded, cautiously exining, "The book says that Delphinius Dane was one of the victims of the Salem Witch Trials in the 17th century, and her nameter became a ng term used to express surprise."


    Suppressing augh, Baelish said, "You''re right, but that''s a term my grandmother''s generation used. The book you''re reading must be quite old..."


    Hermione turned beet red.


    The Gryffindor students around burst intoughter; it was a rare sight to see "Miss Know-It-All" embarrassed.


    After theughter died down, Ron curiously asked, "So... what exactly is giggly water?"


    ...


    "Care for some? Giggly water, as ancient as the Magical Congress, each sip is like a taste of history." Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor Kormac Wilkins of Ilvermorny asked, shaking a ruggedrge bottle of alcohol, its contents sloshing.


    Felix gently shook his head. "I can''t handle strong drinks."


    "Young folks these days don''t know good stuff..." Wilkins muttered, then turned his head. "And you, Professor Moody, care for some? Just a sip will have you burst intoughter."


    Moody patted the curved bottle at his waist and gruffly said, "I only drink my own."


    Professor Wilkins'' eyes lit up. Leaning closer, he asked, "What''s the good stuff?"


    "Poor-quality booze. Got used to it. Used to sneak a sip while tailing Death Eaters back in the day," Moody tapped his staff on the floor. "Wilkins, what do you think of my proposal?"


    McGonagall, two seats away, turned her head away, unable to face it. She had slipped up, letting Professor Moody''s "Special Defense Against the Dark Arts Teaching Philosophy" be exposed on the first day, without even a day''s buffer.


    "Oh, uh, this...," Wilkins'' tone became vague. "I didn''t expect Hogwarts'' teaching style to be so radical. I heard some rumors before, but it seems there might be some misunderstandings..."


    He took a big gulp of giggly water, suddenly blushing and bursting into wildughter. Then he began to loudly recount the glory of his ancestors, "Charity Wilkins! One of the Twelve Proud of America! She was my great-great-great-grandmother, one of the only two to¡ª"


    At the end of the banquet, he was carried out of the castle by four house-elves and followed the Ilvermorny delegation to the temporary camp at the Quidditch pitch.


    As the banquet concluded, he was carried out of the castle by four house-elves, following the Ilvermorny delegation to the temporary camp at the Quidditch pitch.


    Every now and then, Hogwarts students could hear his drunken voice echoing in the ck night sky¡ª"To Charity Wilkins!"¡ª"To Thaddeus Vontner!"¡ª"To the Twelve Proud!"


    "He seems to have annoyed that headmaster of Ilvermorny," Felix teased.


    The headmaster of Ilvermorny was a very strict individual, but Professor Wilkins'' behavior today was a bit embarrassing. Perhaps even more embarrassing was how the professor was carried away by the stern-faced house-elves,pletely unaware, which was contrary to what he taught...


    Professor McGonagall, who had always maintained a serious expression, burst intoughter.


    But immediately, her face turned serious again as she said with concern, "I''m worried Professor Moody will stir up trouble..."


    Her worries came true.


    In the new week, Moody paid no mind to the feelings of the new Ilvermorny students. In the seventh-year ss, he used the Unforgivable Imperius Curse, causing students'' noses to be transnted onto nts, bottles, books, and all sorts of strange things.


    He bellowed gruffly, "Some of you have been singled out, and you''ve faced the test of fear... Yeah, you might feel quite proud of yourselves... but in my view, it''s all illusion! Immature! We need to experience the real thing, huh?"


    His magical eye spun wildly, fixing its gaze on the students in the ssroom, including the new Ilvermorny transfers.


    Colin Flitwick covered his face, tears brimming in his eyes, desperately waving his wand. After a moment...


    "Bang!"


    The spell''s effect vanished. Colin held his perfectly intact nose, finally feeling relieved.


    "Well done!" Moody limped over. "Look, that''s the effect I wanted. You need to learn to cast Unforgivable Curses, learn how to counter them. Ten points to Slytherin!"


    In the afternoon, Felix was flipping through the roster in the Ancient Runes ssroom.


    "Why are there two missing?"


    He looked at Baelish, who stuttered, "They, they''re not feeling well, lying in the camp..."


    Felix understood. They might have been scared by Moody''s Unforgivable Curses. But it wasn''t necessary to skip his ss because of that.


    "Alright, students," he scanned the room. "Let''s begin the ss. Considering there will be various eye-catching events this year, your focus is bound to be scattered... We''ll put in extra effort toplete the curriculum for this academic year before the first task starts."


    The young wizards below didn''t react much; their learning progress had always been ahead. This ''ahead'' was rtive to the standards set by the Ministry of Magic''s Wizarding Examinations Authority, responsible for organizing students'' O.W.Ls and N.E.W.Ts exams.


    Since Professor Harp''s arrival, the young wizards'' Ancient Runes scores had been soaring. Among the students who graduated at the end of June this year, apart from one who received an ''Exceeds Expectations'' (E), the rest achieved the highest grade of ''Outstanding'' (O).


    As Professor Harp put it, "The Ministry of Magic is too slow to catch on, but you can''t expect them to turn a blind eye forever. After all, a string of ''Outstanding'' is quite conspicuous..."


    "Perhaps one day, they will remember this ande to Hogwarts to reassess the difficulty of the courses and the standards of assessment."


    ...


    The Ilvermorny students looked around in astonishment. Hogwarts students seemed to have no objections to Professor Harp''s words. This made them doubt whether they had misunderstood something. Was he really nning to cover a year''s worth of content in three months?


    "Professor, do you know the date of the first task''spetition?" a student raised their hand and asked.


    "It should be betweente November and early December," Felix said. "First, to give the champions enough preparation time, and second, to not interfere with the Christmas Ball. The time I mentioned should roughly meet these requirements."


    He tapped the table gently, drawing the students into the thought ssroom.


    The space was no longer restricted, stretching out freely. Clusters of lush flowers and towering wand trees sprang up from the ground. Baelish and the Ilvermorny students opened their mouths wide, catching the magical parchments that floated down from mid-air in astonishment.


    As their fingertips touched the ancient-scented parchments, golden lights twinkled and a plethora of ancient runic knowledge flooded into their minds. Baelish felt like he was entering a dream.


    This was almost unreal...


    "I''ll assign tasks," Felix said. "Read through the textbook again. You''ll find that the stories inside are quite interesting..."


    ...


    A week passed unnoticed. The Ilvermorny students seamlessly merged into Hogwarts like a drop of water merging into the ocean. Even the asional ripples didn''t stir up any major disruptions.


    During the Friday evening faculty meeting, Professor McGonagall dropped two bombshells.


    "First, the Ministry of Magic has provided a list of Dark Magic that can be ''reasonably'' used in the Triwizard Tournament." As she spoke, sheepskin scrolls floated to the professors present.


    Felix looked at the lengthy list of curses written in ck ink, lost in thought.


    "Second, the Ilvermorny delegation has inquired whether we can allow the reserve champions of both schools to practice with each other, including familiarizing themselves with and resisting the Dark Magic on the list."


    She said emotionlessly, "Let''s discuss this."


    >


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 Chapter 378: Gathering Insights

    Chapter 378: Gathering Insights


    As Professor McGonagall finished speaking, Felix noticed that Snape''s expression suddenly turned peculiar. Snape struggled to appear nonchnt as he lightly said, "We must take them seriously, those dark magics..."


    He released his grip, allowing the parchment to slip from his fingertips.


    "Those things hidden beneath dangerous emotions, intangible and ever-changing, always defying expectations... If Hogwarts students remain unprepared for this and when the need arises, they will find themselves like a bunch of headless flies."


    "When the need arises!" Moody repeated loudly, his nose, missing a piece, pointed at Snape. "Is it about facing the need, or using it? Do you think I''ve been up to for the past two months?"


    Snape and Moody locked eyes.


    After a moment of silence, Flitwick anxiously interjected, "I believe we all agree on one thing, Phileas, and that is not to teach students dark magic¡ª"


    Snape nced at him.


    "You''re right."


    "Exactly!" Flitwick seemed encouraged, speaking with some enthusiasm. "But we also can''t pretend students don''t see it. Dark magic constitutes a significant category of magic, and at certain times, in certain scenarios, they hold advantages."Professor McGonagall impatiently cut in, "You''ve confused me, Phileas, do you or do you not agree with Ifaemoni''s proposal?"


    Felix suddenly spoke, "Professor Flitwick should be thinking along the same lines as I do¡ªept Ifaemoni''s proposal. They have only two intentions, firstly to test the preparedness of the Hogwarts champions before the other three schools arrive."


    "Not just them, all five schools will be doing the same. By referencing past tournament information, one can deduce there''s an option for uniting the weaker side against the stronger one. Furthermore, now that five schools participate and the champions have increased to three, the situation has be even moreplex. Therefore, each school wants to understand its position to formte suitable strategies."


    Several professors nodded, indicating their agreement.


    "What about Ifaemoni''s second intention?"


    "Of course, it''s intensive practice of dark magic," Felix said, "Ifaemoni isn''t as repulsed by dark magic as we are. However, I must remind you all that their course is named Dark Magic Defense, not Dark Magic!"


    "This means, most of the magic on this list, their students won''t know!"


    "Are you suggesting, Felix, that we can discern which dark magic Ifaemoni has chosen by having our students practice against each other?" Professor McGonagall inquired. Moody''s magical eye kept moving, as if in rapid thought.


    "That''s right," Felix nced at the parchment in his hand, "There are probably fifty dark magic spells here, diverse in type and focus. Except for Durmstrang, the students of the other schools can''t possibly master them all. The best strategy is to pick out the useful parts. Schools like Beauxbatons might even reject dark magic, just like Hogwarts."


    McGonagall furrowed her brows, pondering as she said, "Among the five schools, Beauxbatons'' attitude towards dark magic is indeed simr to Hogwarts. That possibility you mentioned does exist. As for the other three... Durmstrang, needless to say, their students have mastered most spells on the list. Ifaemoni will selectively choose. The only uncertainty lies with Castelobruxo..."


    "What are your thoughts on Castelobruxo?"


    Felix shook his head gently, "I don''t know much about it. Some of the information is hearsay, not reliable evidence."


    McGonagall looked up at the other professors and came to a decision. "Alright then, I will agree to Ifaemoni''s request." She looked at everyone, "Can we find alternative spells to rece some of these obscure magical effects?"


    "Of course," Flitwick squeaked, "For instance, these corrosive dark magic spells could be substituted with softening charms. They can soften the scales of magical creatures or even hard stones."


    "Feasible," Moody said in his rough voice.


    "I have no objections either," Felix said, "Additionally, we can shift our perspective¡ªnot necessarily imitation, but finding defensive methods. Take ''Blood Trace'' for example. If students are conscious of evading tracking, they can easily bypass thatyer of danger."


    ...


    After the meeting concluded, the professors dispersed in various directions.


    Felix, along with Snape, visited Professor Flitwick''s office. Flitwick brought out some biscuits and tea. Amidst the munching and sipping, they dissected a significant portion of the list of dark magic spells.


    Among the three, Flitwick was a master of curses with vast knowledge. His expertise spanned beyond just dark magic, whereas Snape seemed to have a particr fondness for it. This inclination had subtly shown in his remarks during the meeting.


    As for Felix, he had spent some time studying dark magic, but he couldn''t match the quantity covered by the other two.


    In fact, his strategy was quite simr to Ifaemoni''s¡ªonly choosing what was suitable.


    The Cruciatus Curse was a prime example of potent dark magic, and it happened to be one of his specialties. Its power had reached a certain limit, and aside from the Ironskin Charm having the potential to surpass it, most spells on the list could at best match the Cruciatus Curse.


    The next day, on a weekend, Hogwarts'' champions gathered on a makeshift practice ground between the Quidditch pitch and the Forbidden Forest. Students from both schools would practice and spar with magic here.


    However, this had little to do with Harry and his friends.


    Professor McGonagall prohibited them from participating. She only gathered a dozen or so candidates from sixth and seventh years, ignoring those too young for consideration.


    "Why weren''t we invited?" Ronined.


    "Because we''re not really champions, and apart from the bit of knowledge Professor Moody taught us, weck experience in dealing with dark magic," Hermione eximed loudly, also warning the restless students around them.


    "Who says so," Ron muttered, "As long as you find Professor Harp''s memory in the Room of Requirement, choose ''The ck Market,'' you''ll find a room full of dark wizards¡ªand every encounter ends in chaos."


    More than just Harry and Ron felt indignant.


    Neville, the Weasley twins, Susan Bones, and Eddie Carmichael were all present. They stayed in the shade of the trees, watching the older students from both schools and Ifaemoni''s champions practicing, with professors offering guidance.


    "You all look like abandoned little puff puppies," a drawn-out voice came from behind them.


    Harry felt a wave of disgust as he turned to re at Draco Malfoy, unsurprisingly apanied by Crabbe and Goyle. But there were two other people with Malfoy as well, the Greengrass sisters.


    To some extent, Astoria, as the younger sister, was more famous, especially when her hobby involved riding arge serpent by the shores of the ck Lake.


    Harry hadn''t talked to her, but Hermione had. Strangely, she could somewhat be considered Daphne Greengrass''s friend, or rather, rival? Harry didn''t really understand; whenever the two met, they argued, yet never quite came to blows.


    Hermione''s perspective on Astoria was that of a spoilt little girl coddled by her family, mentally immature. The only thing that could be considered a virtue was herck of bias against Muggle-born wizards.


    "Granger, I challenge you on behalf of my sister, to a duel!" Astoria pointed at Hermione and shouted.


    Her arrogance was quickly quelled by Daphne patting her head.


    "What are you doing here, Malfoy?" Harry said with a stern face.


    "Don''t make me sound like you lot," Draco sneered, "If I want to watch, I''ll go watch openly, not hide here like a bunch of wronged babies..."


    He stopped speaking because everyone''s eyes were shooting daggers at him. Several had even drawn their wands, looking at him with ill intent.


    "Let''s go," Draco Malfoy said, "Let''s go greet my Ifaemoni friends!" He led the Slytherin students proudly toward the practice area.


    "I have a good rtionship with Viktor. The Greengrass family has a prominent standing in the American wizarding world..." His smug voice drifted from afar, worming into their ears, causing an itch in everyone''s hearts.


    The remaining people exchanged nces. Suddenly, Fred said, "We know people from Ifaemoni too."


    "That''s right," Harry immediately chimed in.


    "Well then..." Ron looked at everyone eagerly.


    "Shall we take a look?" Fred ventured.


    "Good idea," George responded without hesitation.


    After a moment of silence, the group walked in orderly steps toward the practice ground.


    >


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 Chapter 379: Dueling

    Chapter 379: Dueling


    On a makeshift clearing, there were around twenty students dispersed in pairs or small groups, seated on the grass. Including the professors, the total count reached about thirty.


    They stared at the two figures weaving in the center, casting spells at each other in rapid session.


    "Cedric,e on!" shouted Roger Davies enthusiastically.


    "Viktor, you''ve got this!"


    Cedric dodged a spell with a quick movement, then incanted, "Armor protection!" He conjured a magical barrier, taking a breath as the opposing spell flew like a sword, crashing into the barrier with a loud bang.


    The boy named "Graves," with his refined ck short hair, had spells of incredible potency. He grinned, looking as if victory was assured.


    "Watch your step, Viktor!"


    Viktor Krum was startled, suddenly noticing two slender streams of water winding their way towards him, crossing over the grass and soil, discreetly following the direction of his feet.


    Raising his wand, he attempted to react. Just then, Cedric charged forward, releasing a burst of red light from his wand tip. Graves quickly turned to protect himself, but the spell missed him entirely.The nearby water erupted suddenly, a burst of scalding mist rising from the grass, enveloping Cedric along with Graves. Their figures appeared hazy, almost translucent.


    "Thundering st!"


    As if after a long time, the incantation Cedric cast reached the ears of those around him.


    In the mist, Cedric muttered a spell, enhancing his senses with the Legilimens charm, striving to catch the shadow of Graves.


    The onlookers held their breath, even the Draco quintet, who had just arrived, stood about seven or eight feet away, their gaze fixed on the hazy mist.


    Quick!


    It was happening too quickly!


    All of it urred within seven or eight seconds; many hadn''t even processed what was going on.


    "Brilliant move, Cedric set up a trap, and everything''s going ording to his n," praised Flitwick with a high-pitched voice.


    Felix nodded, "He seems to have been well-prepared."


    "Yes, he asked me about a few spells... I already anticipated his next move," Flitwick said expectantly.


    The mist grew thicker. Not only mist, but billows of white smoke swiftly spread, sealing off an area of about thirty to forty feet in diameter. It was like an overturned goblet, concealing everything within.


    The arcs of the spells shed like lightning, momentarily illuminating the cloudy sky, causing the observing students to retreat.


    "It appears Cedric intends to use the dense fog as his battlefield. This might be prepared forrger magical creatures, making it convenient for bothbat and withdrawal... I didn''t expect it to work so well against wizards too," mused Felix.


    "After all, he still needs to strengthen two aspects¡ªfirst, cutting off the opponent''s line of sight as much as possible, effectively blinding them; second, enhancing his own detection abilities. It would be even better if he could ignore the smoke," Felix added.


    "His skill in diverting spells is impressive," Moody remarked.


    As they conversed, the cloud of mist churned violently,yers of ckness expanding from a single point. Like unsightly molds growing on pristine spores, these molds spread rapidly, apanied by a pungent smell of gasoline.


    "Did Cedric do that?"


    "No, that''s dark magic."


    Flitwick raised his wand and waved it in front of his eyes, causing the mist to automatically part, avoiding them.


    Half a minuteter, two figures burst out, coughing heavily, tears streaming from their eyes, the skin around their eyes reddened from the fumes.


    "Cough suppressus."


    Felix gestured towards Cedric, and his expression immediately softened.


    The other student on the opposite side also quieted down. The two approached each other and shook hands, their eyes slightly red.


    Professor Wilkins of Beauxbatons eximed loudly, "Well done, children, you all performed admirably... Wait a moment, where are these people from?"


    Felix and Flitwick had spotted Harry and the others long before, but they remained silent. Moody, at the side, said in a low voice, "I told you, Professor Wilkins, they''re from the younger group..."


    In the crowd, Beauxbatons'' Durmstrang took a surprised look at Norbert, recognizing many of them as his friends from Gryffindor. He inquired about their year levels and realized, apart from the twins, most of them were fourth years.


    Wilkins skeptically scrutinized Harry and the others, and Harry tried to stand taller, making himself look bigger. "What about this youngdy?" he pointed at Astoria, asking, "Did she pass your selection too?"


    "Although it''s unexpected, yes..." Felix shrugged, "She''s only a second-year this year. Due to her young age, she didn''t participate in training. The rest of the group, however, received the same treatment as sixth and seventh years, having achieved the same standing at Hogwarts."


    "Very well, as long as they don''t scream and disrupt the order..." Wilkins reluctantly agreed, his objections silenced. The group let out a collective sigh of relief.


    "Most fortunate that Professor McGonagall isn''t here, she left midway," Fred winked and said.


    George gave a thumbs-up.


    Over the next few minutes, the professors critiqued the duel that had just taken ce, especially the segment involving dark magic. When it came to Felix''s turn, he reminded the Hogwarts students, "Don''t forget, some of you have learned the Lumos spell, which can dispel magical fog..."


    Collins stared at him, she hadn''t chosen Ancient Runes, nor was she a member of the Runes Club. On this matter, she was even less knowledgeable than Astoria, who had been allowed to join the club by Dumbledore''s special permission tofort her.


    Following this, the students took turns entering the arena, each duel ending quickly.


    Not the kind of "quick" Harry had encountered in dueling ss¡ªafter thinking for a while, he finally came up with an appropriate word.


    Rhythm.


    The rhythm of attack on both sides flowed remarkably smoothly, a fluidity he hadn''t experienced before in dueling ss, a sensation reminiscent of his encounters with Sirius or in the Room of Requirement.


    As for the intense training during the summer of his second year, and his few shes with Professor Harp, he had been soundly defeated, a far cry from pleasant experiences.


    An hourter, every upper-year student had taken their turn.


    Felix looked at Harry and the others eagerly watching him, giving them a faint smile. He addressed Wilkins, "Professor Wilkins, why not let these younger students have a go?"


    "Sure."


    Wilkins nodded in agreement. He didn''t find it troublesome, even though Hogwarts professors had spoken highly of these students, he believed it was an exaggeration. They were several years younger than the actual Champion candidates, and breaking through age differences was no easy feat.


    Plus, he had specifically asked around, and most of the students here hadn''t even passed their O.W.Ls.


    Beauxbatons had simr exams, and he was well aware of the transformation these students who had gone through this year would undergo.


    "You guys give it a shot! Just no dark magic." Wilkins said to his Beauxbatons students, beforezily sitting down on the grass, pulling out a bottle of wine from his robes, and taking a sip.


    Yuria and Bethany exchanged nces, Yuria said, "Biles, why don''t you go?"


    Biles nodded in agreement.


    He stood in the center, grinning widely, which got Harry and the others excited.


    "Norbert, how about a try?" Unexpectedly, Biles extended the invitation.


    Norbert was taken aback for a moment, then walked to the center of the arena, speaking softly, "I''m not that skilled."


    "No worries." Biles chuckled, after all, it was just a friendly match, and it would be a good change of pace.


    However, reality surprised him. Norbert handled various basic spells proficiently, particrly the Disarming Charm and the Shield Charm. And, astonishingly, he cast both spells without making a sound.


    Silencio!


    Norbert''s movements were somewhat stiff, just a few steps back and forth. After a while, Biles adapted and found the pattern, but this seemingly rigid footwork appeared to have stood the test of time and countless trials. He felt like he was facing a formidable rock.


    Norbert wasn''t very aggressive in his attacks; he usually let Biles cast spells first. Norbert would then use the Shield Charm, stepping back a few paces while always keeping himself facing Biles. In the gaps between Biles'' spellcasting, Norbert would manage to slip in a few Stunning Spells, sometimes apanied by Shield Charms or Disarming Spells.


    His face was tense, mirroring his dueling style.


    Flitwick muttered, "This kind of footwork isn''t covered in the curriculum for school dueling sses. It looks simple, but it requires extensive practice. Every tiny movement has a distinct purpose."


    Moody tightened his grip on his staff and said in a deep voice, "I seem to recall seeing this style somewhere. It feels familiar."


    "It should be Frank Longbottom''s teaching," Felix said.


    "So that''s it..." Flitwick said in admiration, "His father is an excellent Auror. It seems he tailored this footwork for Norbert, and it suits his personality quite well."


    "Yes, a resilient footwork," Felixmented.


    On the field, Biles was getting a bit anxious. Despite being friends, he was a Champion candidate, so he increased the output of his magic, causing his wand to release bright arcs of light.


    But Norbert remained steadfast like an unyielding stone, weathering his attacks. He was muttering something under his breath, "Steady as a rock, light as a feather, still as a pond, swift as spring thunder..." asionally, he dared to leap out and send a burst of red light, startling Biles, before swiftly retreating.


    The magical barrier in front of Norbert shattered six or seven times, but each time, he skillfully reconstituted it just in time.


    Yuria fell into contemtion, Wilkins seemed to lose interest in his drink, and Bethany anxiously watched her brother locked in a tough battle. She questioned, "What''s going on? Why can''t Biles break through that kid''s defense?"


    "Biles isn''t using highly aggressive spells, that''s one reason. Also..." Wilkins hesitated, "that kid''s footwork is quite something, very impressive. And he''s really good at using the Shield Charm, all his tactics revolve around it. I''ve noticed at least thirteen or fourteen different techniques, each highly targeted." He took a sip of his drink, chuckled, and then kept his gaze fixed on the duel.


    "This is a test for Biles as well. He should learn to think on his feet."


    After a standoff of over ten minutes, Biles finally found the key to breaking through. Bright mes shot out from the tip of his wand, forming into a blurry,rge bird that soared towards Norbert.


    Amidst the astonishment of the onlookers, Norbert urgently cast a second Shield Charm, firmly blocking the mes.


    "Wow!" Ron looked at Norbert in amazement, seemingly reshaping his impression of him.


    The fiery bird broke through the first barrier but crashed solidly against the second Shield Charm, almost dissipating. But Biles swung his wand repeatedly, causing the fiery bird to reform. This time, it maneuvered around Norbert and flew at him from the side.


    Norbert surrendered gracefully.


    "You could have held on a bit longer," Biles walked over, shaking his hand earnestly.


    Norbert shook his head, "You already found the weakness," he said, then gave his head an affectionate pat, "Actually, my dad came up with other tactics for me, but I can''t use them right now."


    "Alright, seems like you have a great dad," Biles said in a helpless tone.


    Norbert grinned back brightly.


    Next, the students from Beauxbatons grew serious. They suddenly realized that these students, on average two or three years younger, weren''t that easy to handle. They took turns entering the arena, choosing opponents voluntarily. Following Professor Wilkins'' orders and Biles'' example, they refrained from using dark magic and powerful spells. However, with higher levels of magic and spellcasting skills, Susan Bones, Emilce, and Shabini soon sumbed to their opponents. The students of Beauxbatons finally breathed a sigh of relief, realizing these individuals weren''t all as challenging as Norbert.


    It wasn''t because Norbert was incredibly strong; rather, his strategy was particrly effective against opponents who relied on technical skills.


    Draco''s performance was also quite impressive. He engaged in a back-and-forth duel with a witch from Beauxbatons, and he almost seeded in using powerful spells from his third-year duelingpetition. However, the diligent Beauxbatons students, carefully chosen as Reserve Champions, proved themselves on par with novice Aurors.


    If the positions were reversed, and the Hogwarts students initiated the attacks, the Beauxbatons students would likely be able to hold on until the Hogwarts students exhausted their magic.


    ...


    As hispanions were picked one by one, Harry started to feel anxious. Why wasn''t he chosen? Just because he was shorter? Because he appeared weaker?


    He stared at Astoria, who also seemed a bit sulky¡ªno one was paying her any attention, despite her best efforts to stand at the front.


    Harry suddenly felt a pang of sadness.


    Even Hermione was up there. Her opponent was a wizard named "Graves," who sneered, "I''ve heard your name quite a few times these days, Miss Know-It-All."


    Hermione raised an eyebrow, his tone wasn''t particrly friendly.


    "May we begin?" She calmly raised her wand.


    "Of course," Graves grinned.


    "Swoosh!"


    A silent Disarming Spell shot out swiftly, causing Graves to jump aside, surprised.


    "Is this your best spell? Many people don''t realize that the individual impact of a single silent spell isn''t that substantial."


    Hermione''s expression remained stern. "You''ll see," she said. She swung her wand repeatedly, casting spell after spell, and within a short period of time, she managed to overpower her opponent. Graves was forced to conjure a curved magical barrier, enclosing himself entirely.


    Flitwick eximed in surprise, "When did Granger master the silent spell? Moreover, she''s applying it to multiple spells; this doesn''t look like something she''s just learned."


    Moody stared at Hermione''s agile spellcasting, remaining silent. As he considered his ns, he couldn''t help but look at Ron, whose mouth was agape.


    Felix exined, "Her control over magic has always been exceptional. When I asked her to write an essay on dueling systems, she ced the silent spell at the forefront."


    "Why?"


    "Her spells..." Felix pondered for a moment, carefully choosing his words, "are quite conventional, often holding surprises in the finer details of control, but the spell''s power doesn''t quite live up to expectations."


    Flitwick immediately understood his implication, "This isn''t much of a problem, her spellcasting is steady, which is her biggest strength. When she reaches adulthood, she''ll be able to fully utilize her strengths, perhaps evenbine spells... Oh, my!"


    On the open ground, Graves broke the previous understanding.


    ck mes expanded, dispersing into a dozen clusters, hovering in the air. As he swung his wand like a de, the mes suddenly plummeted from above.


    Hermione conjured a magical barrier, and then she felt the intense heat. Her hair even carried a slight burnt smell. Realizing the danger, she quickly stepped back, only to see the magical barrier burned through by the ck mes, leaving a gaping hole.


    "What is this?"


    "Dark fire, I expressly forbade the use of dark magic, especially such potent dark magic." Wilkins said gravely, "Graves is losing control; he''s too fixated on honor... Let''s be prepared to separate them."


    Several professors gathered instinctively. Flitwick''s voice rose, "We should stop this duel; it''s gone beyond the scope of a friendly match."


    Felix spoke calmly, "My sentiments align with yours, Filius, but I believe in Miss Granger."


    A dozen ck mes crashed onto the ground, reducing the grass to ashes. They looked like the footprints of descending demons. Hermione''s eyes widened, evading in a flurry, all while casting Shield Charms to resist.


    Harry and Ron stood on the side, their anxiety growing. They wanted to rush forward, but with professors present, they reluctantly restrained themselves. They watched as the ck mes on the ground twisted into distorted serpentine forms, coiling and advancing toward her.


    "What are the professors waiting for?" Harry asked, bewildered. He drew his wand, its tip flickering with light. He wondered, "What spell should I use now? Disarming Charm, Stunning Spell, Shield Charm, or Patronus Charm?" None of them seemed right... He just pointed his wand at "Graves," contemting whether to cast a curse on him.


    Hermione remained rtivelyposed. She had onest trump card. She nced at Felix, who nodded at her. With that, she stopped in her tracks, allowing the ck mes to envelop her. Her fingertips glowed with golden light.


    Wilkins had raised his wand, and Ginny handed hers to Yuria. "Quick!" Following that, they heard an unfamiliar incantation from the girl.


    Golden mes poured down from Hermione''s palm. Compared to the small me she had conjured in the Ancient Runes office over a month ago, it had grown into something colossal. The golden ze surged like a flood, colliding with the approaching ck mes. The ck mes crumbled upon impact, shattered into fragments.


    Graves'' expression froze on his face.


    The golden mes began to contract, ultimately forming a massive golden phoenix. It was far more intricate than the magical creature Biles had conjured before, with golden mes trailing from its tail feathers. A cluster of white mes burned above its head, resembling a phoenix.


    The phoenix let out a resounding, melodious cry. In an instant, the golden phoenix appeared before the stunned Graves, just a foot away. His hair turned into ashes as it curled, and his pupils reflected the elongated, golden beak.


    "This is what I wanted to see." Amidst the silence, Felix nodded with satisfaction.


    ...


    Graves was led away, his expression somewhat vacant. As he left, the residue of unshakable fear remained in his eyes.


    Professor Wilkins approached somewhat somberly, offering apologies to the professors of Hogwarts, "Graves... He... attached too much importance to this Triwizard Tournament. He carried the hopes of many and sought to restore his family''s honor..."


    "Graves?" Flitwick repeated, "That surname sounds familiar."


    "The descendant of the Twelve Aurors, just like me. This makes me empathize with him. I rxed my vignce towards him." Wilkins exined, "More than seventy years ago, a scandal urred in the American wizarding world. The security supervisor of the Magical Congress¡ªPercival Graves¡ªwas impersonated," he exined grimly, "This caused a massive uproar and nearly exposed the entire American wizarding society."


    "Impersonated?" Several professors turned to him.


    "This matter is quite secretive," Wilkins said in a hushed voice, "Not many people outside know about it."


    "Who impersonated him?" Felix asked with interest.


    "Grindelwald." Wilkins mentioned only one surname, but everyone present knew who he was referring to.


    "Involved with Grindelwald!" Flitwick eximed in surprise, "So, the boy just now..."


    "Victor Percival Graves." Wilkins said,


    >


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 Chapter 380: Gathering of the Five Schools

    Chapter 380: Gathering of the Five Schools


    A new week arrived, thest week of October. The professors all unconsciously quickened their pace, making time for the uing Triwizard Tournament.


    Moody''s ss remained as unsettling as ever. "I can smell the fear in you lot," he said in ss. He was about to take turns casting the Dementor''s Curse on the students. Moody gazed at the students with his one good eye, his voice low and eerie, "You''ll find, the more you try to avoid it, the more danger seeks you out... Yes, it''s particrly fond of the scared ones."


    As he raised his wand, the young wizards shivered in unison.


    Among the entire year, only Harry disyed resistance to the Dementor''s curse. "You''ve got a bit of a Dolores in you! Potter, show them what you''ve got!" Moody bellowed. He cast the Dementor''s curse four times in a row on Harry until he could fully shake off its effects before moving on to the next person.


    After ss, Ron and Neville supported each other as they left the room. Their experiences were quite simr ¨C under Moody''s influence, Ron had performed an exuberant dance while Neville showcased an array of astonishing gymnastic moves.


    "Who does he think he is, that madman..." Ron grumbled, rubbing his thigh.


    Passing a group of second-year wizards, these young wizards stared at Hermione intently, openly discussing her astonishing performance on the groundsst weekend.


    "That ming phoenix... burned her hair right off..."


    Hermione''s expression was a mix of joy and embarrassment. "Don''t they have anything better to do?" Even while doing homework in the library, she hadn''t escaped the various heated gazes. When she declined the signatures of a third group of demanding students, one young wizard huffed discontentedly, "What''s she so proud of?"Hermione said in disbelief, "Am I being proud?"


    "You look like you''ve been hit with the Cheering Charm," Ron said, not without envy. "All smiles and radiant."


    "Terrifying, really..." Hermione paused, sighed, and then turned seriously to Harry. "I have to admit, Harry, I''m a bit impressed."


    "What are you saying?" Harry asked, baffled.


    "Just... feeling sentimental," Hermione said. "Think about it, I''ve only gained a bit of fame recently, and I already feel a bit floaty. But you''ve lived three years in that sort of scrutiny without showing any difference."


    Harry stuttered, "Well, I don''t think fame''s all it''s cracked up to be... Alright, fine, I''ll be honest, sometimes it''s not bad."


    "Does that include being misunderstood?" Hermione looked deeply into his eyes, asking. Over these past few days, she had experienced the downsides of sudden fame. Only when you became the focus of attention did you truly understand what it was like.


    Suddenly, she recalled their second year, when Harry had been suspected of being the Heir of Slytherin due to identally speaking Parseltongue, and how many students had avoided him and talked behind his back.


    "It''s got to do with you lot," Harry said.


    Ron shrugged. "You two talking about some weird stuff? Come on, let''s find Fred and George. I saw them heading to the owlery, maybe the Aging Potion''s ready."


    Harry was about to visit Hagrid, and Hermione thought a bit of fresh air would be good. They gathered their things and left the library.


    As they passed by the edge of the Forbidden Forest, they saw two goblins emerging from the woods. They were carrying a wild boar between them, heading toward the Beauxbatons'' camp. When the goblins spotted Harry, they muttered in a strangenguage.


    "What do you reckon they''re saying?" Ron asked.


    "No idea, probably just curious," Harry said, looking in the direction of the Quidditch pitch. From his vantage point, he could only see the tall roofs of buildings, with four animal statues on the corners of the eaves. Facing them was a soaring thunderbird, resembling the bronze eagle of Ravenw.


    "Do you think they''ll include thunderbirds in this year''s Triwizard tasks?" Ron asked, intrigued.


    "Thunderbirds aren''t easy to deal with. They''re creatures of storms. Not even considering their magical abilities, their flight alone makes them formidable opponents," Hermione said, not particrly optimistically.


    The Owlery was a circr stone room situated high up. As they endured the gusts of wind and the smell of owl droppings on the tower stairs, they coincidentally heard the footsteps of the twins descending.


    "He can''t hide from us forever, and that''s no small amount!"


    "Indeed, I wonder if sending letters will work. Maybe we should just stuff the letter directly into his hand. He''s definitely going toe, isn''t he..." George stopped mid-sentence as they rounded a corner, looking astonished at Harry, Ron, and Hermione.


    "How did you lot get here?" Fred asked, his eyes wide.


    Ron didn''t answer; he stared at the twins. "Who''s trying to avoid you?"


    "I hope you, my daft little brother, can manage to avoid us," Fred said irritably.


    Ron was about to ask again, but Fred and George each took one of his arms. "You''re not escaping us, are you?" They left one after the other, heading away.


    "They''re definitely hiding something from their family," Ron said, looking at their backs with certainty. "But it looks like someone owes them money." He quickly brushed this thought aside and said with hope, "I wonder how the Aging Potion tastes. I really hope it''s better than the Swelling Solution..."


    Hermione said coldly, "You haven''t given up on that idea, have you?"


    "Well, of course, there''s also a substantial prize involved."


    Back in themon room, Ron groaned, face-down on the table. "The homework this year is too much. McGonagall assigned a paper on Transfiguring hedgehogs, Trwney wants us to predict next month''s horoscopes, Snape''s forcing us to research antidotes, he even hinted at poisoning us! Binns always gives us a lot of work, and the Goblin rebellions... who cares about something that happened centuries ago? And Flitwick, he''s got three reference books ready for the Summoning Charm. Even Hagrid suggested we observe exploding snapdragons every other day. Did you hear that? He actually wants us to observe things that set their butts on fire. His tone was as if he was talking to obedient little dogs..."


    "Think about it, once you be a champion, you can be free of all that," he lifted his head, saying with longing.


    Hermione and Harry didn''t pay him any mind. He''d feel better after a bit of self-pity. Hermione took out a small book and muttered words to herself, while Harry made a call to Sirius using the Two-Way Mirror.


    "I''m fine... the scar doesn''t hurt anymore, probably just psychological... Yeah, the other three schools areing, I really wish you could see... Hi, Kreacher, what? Well, of course, the pendant box would go well with your bald head... Early Happy Halloween to you..."


    From the other side of the mirror came Sirius''s annoyed voice: "Damn it, Felix won''t let me use the firece in his office! No one''s as fickle as him!"


    In the evening, Neville brought back some news ¨C Beauxbatons and Durmstrang were on their way.


    ...


    The delegations from both schools arrived on the same day, almost as if it had been coordinated, with less than an hour''s difference.


    Having the experience of weing the visitors from Beauxbatons, Hogwarts was poised andposed from top to bottom. Even Filch''s eyes weren''t bulging out as much; it might have been because no young wizard was repeating the same elementary mistake.


    The weather had turned cooler byte October. The students gathered on the steps outside the entrance hall, waiting for twenty minutes. Finally, the Beauxbatons delegation appeared in a huge, powder-blue carriage pulled by twelve winged silver horses. The carriage was asrge as a house, and the horses carried it gracefully through the air.


    The students looked up in awe, and there was a chorus of gasps. With a slightly teeth-grating crash, the carriage touched down. "Cool! A roughnding!" Seamus eximed. It wasn''t until Madame Maxime stepped out of the carriage, walking down golden steps to the assembled crowd, that he took a sharp breath.


    "Merlin, she''s tall!"


    Dumbledore and the professors led the apuse, and then Dumbledore kissed Madame Maxime''s hand. After a bit of chit-chat ¨C "Isn''t Karkaroff here yet?" Madame Maxime asked.


    "He''s running a bitter than expected," Dumbledore said with a smile.


    Madame Maxime scoffed softly, muttering something under her breath. The professors at the front and the nearby students could clearly hear her say, "Putting on an act."


    "Would you like to wait here to greet him or would you prefer toe inside to warm up?" Dumbledore asked as if he hadn''t heard.


    "I''ll go inside to warm up first," she gave a slight bow and said, "My horses have strong personalities ¨C they need someone with great strength to care for them, and they only drink pure malt whisky."


    "Rest assured, our Care of Magical Creatures professor will take good care of them," Dumbledore assured her.


    Madame Maxime smiled gracefully and nodded to the professors. When she saw Felix, her smile became more sincere. Then, with authority, she said to the Beauxbatons students, "Follow me."


    Hogwarts students made way, watching as she led a group of about twelve students up the steps and into the castle. The Beauxbatons students were dressed in elegant blue silk uniforms, and a few slender girls even had their heads wrapped.


    Dumbledore turned to Felix and whispered, "Felix..."


    "Leave it to me," Felix replied. He looked towards the carriage, his eyes taking on a silvery-white glow. The group of elephant-sized horses stared with fiery red eyes, then suddenly becamepletely still. After a moment, they raised horseshoe-sized hooves and walked in the direction of Hagrid''s cabin.


    "Oh, and the pure malt whisky," Dumbledore said, raising his hand to pluck a note from the thin air. The note fluttered and stuck to the head of the lead silver-maned horse, making a peculiar rustling noise. Professor McGonagall pursed her lips, her expression growing stern.


    "Ah, waiting is a bit boring," Dumbledore said. "Felix, do you have any new products in your ''Future World''pany? I read in the newspaper that you recently signed a contract with the Weird Sisters..."


    "That''s for the Wizarding Gramophone. They''ll coborate to record the first batch of albums. I suggest Lymes make the products aspact as possible, and it would be great if they could project magical images. However, we''ve encountered a few minor issues. I urgently need some valuable advice."


    The two of them began discussing, and the professors and students nearby perked up their ears to listen. Soon, the other professors joined in, and time passed bit by bit.


    After another half hour, even students wearing cloaks were starting to struggle, shivering in the cold wind.


    "How much longer do we have to wait?"


    Draco Malfoyined discontentedly. He discreetly withdrew his wand and inted a beetle on the ground with a swelling charm, then kicked away the rat-sized beetle. Soon, screams echoed from not far away.


    He smirked, then suddenly fixed his gaze on the distant ck Lake, where a whirlpool appeared.


    At that moment, Lee Jordan shouted, "Look at theke!"


    Draco made a disdainful noise, squinting to observe carefully. The previously calmke''s center churned up enormous sshes, as if it were a boiling cauldron. Then, a massive mast emerged from the vortex.


    It was an oddly-shaped ship, like the wreck of a sunken ship that had been at the bottom of the sea for hundreds of years and was finally salvaged. The ship was full of holes, and its portholes emitted a faint phosphorescence. When the ship docked at the shore, a line of people dressed in thick fur cloaks disembarked. Only the leader was draped in special silver-white fur.


    With an upturned goat-like beard, he was tall and thin, with a sunken face, prominent cheekbones, and slightly raised eyebrows that gave him an air of hidden cunning.


    "Dumbledore!" the man shouted enthusiastically as he walked up the slope. "My dear old pal, how have you been?"


    "Extremely well, thank you, Professor Karkaroff," Dumbledore replied.


    He led them to the Great Hall, where the house-elves had prepared a sumptuous feast.


    The gathering brought together students from four schools. When they learned that people from Vagadu were still lost in some remote mountains, Durmstrang''s headmaster, Karkaroff, immediately grumbled in dissatisfaction.


    "They really know how to make an entrance! Making everyone wait for them! You know, Krum caught a bit of a cold before setting off. I told him, tough it out, you''ll have to get used to this in the days ahead..."


    "They should be here by Halloween at thetest," Dumbledore said gently. "If your students aren''t feeling well, Professor Karkaroff, the Hogwarts Infirmary can assist. Madam Pomfrey is quite professional."


    ...


    At night, the deep blue sky, sprinkled with stars, was shrouded in dark clouds, and the moon was hidden behind thickyers of clouds. A bright lightning bolt streaked across the sky, followed by the rumble of thunder. Cold rain fell steadily.


    In the Ancient Runes office, Felix was draped in a woolen cloak, watching a movie with Pigwidgeon nestled beside him. Pigwidgeon stared unblinkingly at the projected images. When it got exciting, it didn''t even notice Felix discreetly swiping some Galleons from its grasp.


    After finishing the movie, Pigwidgeon climbed into its crib, lyingfortably on the velvet.


    "Good night."


    "Hoot!"


    At the same time, several mountain peaks away, a group of figures stood on a mountaintop, gazing at the majestic Hogwarts Castle.


    "Keep going! This storm is nothing. We''ll arrive before dawn."


    A loud voice said. With a leap from the mountaintop, the person transformed into a tall bird with iron-blue wings, brushing against the steep rock walls as it soared through the valley.


    "Whoop!"


    Another figure rolled on the ground, transforming into a swift leopard. With a few bounds, it covered over a hundred feet.


    Then, a long elephant trunk rose high, attached to a lithe African elephant with wide ears and silver-white tusks. It walked gracefully down a steep brown slope, the sharp stones on the ground as level as pavement for it.


    "These little ones are quite spirited. Looks like the training has been effective," an aged, frail voice sounded, and a diminutive witch sat on a flying carpet, grinning broadly.


    >


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 Chapter 381: The Triwizard Tournament

    Chapter 381: The Triwizard Tournament


    The next day, Felix Harp opened his eyes in bed and let out a hearty yawn.


    The air outside the window was damp, carrying the scent of earth. After finishing his morning routine, he estimated the time and prepared to head to the Great Hall for breakfast.


    "Valen, let''s go, time for a meal," he called out.


    From the cradle bed, a fluffy velvet nket rustled a bit, then settled down quietly.


    "Valen?"


    A small hand poked out from the nket, waved twice at him, and quickly retreated.


    "Cheep cheep!" It seemed Valen was exhausted from watching moviesst night and didn''t want to get up at all.


    "...Well, remember there are cookies and cakes in the office."


    Felix left the room and arrived at the Great Hall. Surprisingly, he noticed an additional school emblem in the hall. He nced around and saw the shield emblem of Hogwarts, the petal emblem of Beauxbatons, the crossed wands emblem of Durmstrang, the double eagle and deer head emblem of Dumstrang, and finally, one more¡ªA cone-shaped mountain peak shrouded in clouds, and upon closer inspection, a grand building stood halfway up the mountainside.


    Moon Mountain, Vagadu.


    "Has Vagadu also arrived? Was itst night or early this morning?" Felix surveyed the Great Hall, not spotting any new faces but recognizing Krum, the star student of Durmstrang.


    He had only recently learned that Krum, who had twice yed with the Irish National Team Seeker during the Quidditch World Cup final and eventually caught the Golden Snitch to end the match, was actually a student at Durmstrang.


    One could say that Quidditch training in constant wind and rain was quite arduous, wasn''t it?


    At the Slytherin table, Krum was not with his teammates but dining alone. He was surrounded by numerous admiring eyes stealing nces at him, yet he seemed ustomed to it, quietly eating his breakfast.


    After finishing, he got up and left. Unlike his posture on a flying broom, he was now quiet and reserved, his eyebrows habitually furrowed as if lost in thought at any moment.


    During dinner, Felix finally met the students from Vagadu.


    They all had dark skin, each with unique characteristics. Only one student had skin as ck as the bottom of a pot, resembling a walking block of pure ck. If it weren''t for the brown animal-skin clothing he wore, it would have been hard to distinguish different parts of his body. The rest of the Vagadu students were more typical¡ªthough they also had dark skin, at least their eyes and noses were discernible.


    As he passed the Ravenw table, he heard a little girl mutter softly, "Coffee-colored, brown, dark brown, chocte-colored, pitch-ck..."


    He grinned, sitting next to Professor Marchbanks at the professor''s table, with Headmistress Eupraxia Mole beside her, eyes closed in repose.


    After a brief chat, Felix noticed a intive gaze and turned to find Hagrid in the corner. He was taken aback¡ªHagrid''s appearance was markedly different from before. He had somehow unearthed a handmade suit, neatly trimmed his beard and hair. At least, Felix was finally able to distinguish between the two.


    At this moment, Hagrid was staring at him, or more precisely, at Professor Marchbanks next to him.


    "Is that the professor for the Care of Magical Creatures ss Dumbledore mentioned?" Professor Marchbanks asked softly.


    "Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts, Care of Magical Creatures professor. Born in 1928, expelled from Hogwarts butter proven innocent of false usations, known for his expertise in taming magical creatures. First to sessfully tame a Hippogriff, with close ties to many magical creatures in the Forbidden Forest. Warm and sincere in character..."


    Professor Marchbanks rolled her eyes, herrge, fan-like hand yfully hitting Felix. He quickly cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself, "Bang!" his body wavered.


    Hagrid, several seats away, was staring wide-eyed.


    The Great Hall was especially crowded today, perhaps due to the students from the visiting schools mixing in.


    In rtively formal settings, Hogwarts students were required to wear their uniforms.


    Amidst the group of ck robes, the colors of blue and cranberry from Beauxbatons, light blue from Durmstrang, and brown from Vagadu stood out.


    On either side of Dumbledore sat the four headmasters. Felix''s gaze circled around the diminutive witch for a moment, and she immediately turned her head to look at him. He gave a gentle smile, and she scrutinized him for a moment before turning her head to speak with Dumbledore.


    She spoke in a peculiarnguage, her words rapid and urgent. Felix could only catch a few sounds, but Dumbledore was attentively listening and responded in the same tongue.


    Beside the witch, Karkaroff seemed displeased, continually fiddling with a golden goblet, intentionally making loud noises.


    The professor''s table was nearly full, with just two vacant seats left. After another seven or eight minutes, a plump, red-faced wizard with a short stature entered through the Great Hall''s main door. His face beamed with enthusiasm.


    "Dumbledore, I apologize for beingte. Barty had somest-minute matters to attend to, so I''m the only one..." Bagman quickly exined, ncing around. "Ah, you''re all here, excellent. I''ve been worried that Vagadu''s team might arrivete."


    The diminutive witch with the raspy voice spoke up, "Mr. Bagman, we won''t dy any important matters."


    "Of course..." Bagman wiped his brow and then looked at the remaining two empty seats, finally seating himself next to Professor McGonagall.


    Dumbledore stood up, and the Great Hall gradually fell silent as all eyes turned toward him.


    "Wee! Students from five magical schools gathered under one roof¡ªa moment not seen in a thousand years." He spoke cheerfully, "At this solemn moment, I would like to express our gratitude to the house-elves in the kitchens. They''ve put in tremendous effort to cater to various tastes..."


    "So, please enjoy the feast; this is the most important thing tonight."


    As he sat down, the empty tes in front of them suddenly filled with a variety of foods. In addition to the French dishes from the previous night, there were more strange and diverse dishes today,id out in front of them.


    At the Gryffindor table, Ron''s gaze swept over French bouibaisse, yellow eggy cheese, and white milk jelly. He spotted a sticky lump and prodded it with his fork¡ª


    "Stop!" Hermione eximed.


    "What''s wrong?"


    "You won''t like that," Hermione said, holding her breath, her face an unusual shade of pale. "I can''t believe they''ve included this dish on the menu."


    "What is it?" Harry asked, not detecting any strange odor.


    "Camel fat," Hermione said. She shuddered, immediately turning away. "Believe me, you definitely won''t like it."


    Ron pushed the te away with his fork, and Seamus seized a piece, "Is this jam?" He popped it into his mouth as Harry and the others stared at him.


    "Um, why are you all looking at me..." Visible to the naked eye, Seamus''s face turned liver-colored. He swallowed it down and snatched Dean''s pumpkin juice, gulping it down in one go.


    His eyes turned green, and he looked around frantically. Neville tremblingly offered his own pumpkin juice to Seamus.


    "What on earth is this?" Seamus, after drinking Neville''s pumpkin juice as well, said in frustration, "It''s even more nauseating than the slime of a st-Ended Skrewt."


    Ron happily speared a greasy sausage and relished it.


    As the golden tes were cleared away, Dumbledore stood up once more. An excited yet tense atmosphere pervaded the air in the hall.


    "The moment has finally arrived," Dumbledore said, "the Triwizard Tournament is about to begin. Mr. Diggory, please bring in the Goblet of Fire. In the meantime, allow me to exin a few things¡ª"


    "Firstly, I''d like to introduce today''s important guests, starting with the headmasters."


    "Madame Olympe Maxime, Headmistress of Beauxbatons;"


    "Professor Igor Karkaroff, Headmaster of Durmstrang;"


    "Professor Amrose Dumbledore, Headmistress of Ilvermorny;"


    "Madam Harriet Miniot Nage, Headmistress of Castelobruxo;"


    Dumbledore paused, blinked, and smiled, "And of course, there''s me, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore."


    Everyone, including students from the other four schools, stared at him dumbfounded.


    "Has no one noticed? This is actually a clever joke," Dumbledore said regretfully, "I arranged the names in order of their length..."


    Professor McGonagall cleared her throat with great force.


    "Very well, apart from the five headmasters, there are two more individuals I must mention. Ludo Bagman and Bartemius Crouch. Over the past few months, these two gentlemen have tirelessly worked, and unfortunately, Mr. Crouch isn''t with us today. However, we''ll see him on Halloween¡ªthank you, Mr. Diggory, just ce it here."


    Dumbledore smiled at Diggory. At that moment, Diggory was cing arge wooden box on the table in front of Dumbledore. With his wand, Diggory tapped the lid of the box three times, and it slowly creaked open.


    Dumbledore reached inside and pulled out arge, roughly carved wooden goblet. The goblet itself was unassuming, but it contained pulsating blue and white mes.


    Everyone gazed at the mes of the Goblet, captivated.


    "As you now know, over the next twenty-four hours, until the end of the Halloween feast, the Goblet of Fire will select the names of three students from each school whom it believes best represent their respective institutions."


    "Tonight, the Goblet of Fire will be ced in the entrance hall, and any student willing to enter can submit their name."


    He waited in silence for a moment until everyone understood his words. Then he continued, "There are two important things to note. First, for Hogwarts students, I will set an age line¡ª"


    A buzz of discussions erupted, forcing him to raise his voice.


    "Secondly, this is a sincere warning," Dumbledore''s expression grew particrly serious, "I must remind everyone present that the Triwizard Tournament is no child''s y. It is a magical and binding contract that must not be vited. Once a champion is selected by the Goblet of Fire, they must carry through with thepetition to the end. Therefore, please think carefully before acting."


    "Wishing you all a good night."


    As he sat down, the Great Hall erupted in chatter.


    >


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 Chapter 382: Exchange

    Chapter 382: Exchange


    "Alright, students, please exit in an orderly manner," Professor McGonagall stood up to maintain order. After a burst of bustlingmotion, young wizards and witches streamed out of the Great Hall, engaged in animated debates.


    At the professors'' table, Felix Harp pulled out a chair for Madame Maxime. "Oh, thank you," she gracefully rose and spoke softly, "Don''t forget that you''re a member of the Beauxbatons'' Board of Governors... You''re wee to visit the carriage anytime."


    "I shall heed your wishes, Madame," Felix said with a smile.


    He watched as Madame Maxime left with her students, the crowd automatically parting to create a path. At that moment, Hagrid approached.


    "Mind if Ie along?"


    "What?"


    "When you go for a visit, could... could you take me as well?" Hagrid asked nervously. He watched the tall figure disappear through the doors of the Great Hall, his expression enraptured. "I mean, those magical horses, they seem to be a bit off, and I need to inquire about them."


    Felix looked at him strangely.


    Hagrid immediately straightened his hair and cor. "What''s wrong? Is something amiss?""No," Felix said quietly, "I''m just concerned about those horses." Who knew if Hagrid might actually put those horses in some ''condition'' to make hisme excuses more believable.


    Just then, an angry voice sounded from the entrance ¡ª


    "Yes, that''s Harry Potter. Have you seen enough?"


    Felix followed the voice and saw a confrontation between Moody and Headmaster Dymphnastroud. Moody''s false eye seemed excessively ominous, causing Karkaroff, along with a few students beside him, to turn pale.


    But Karkaroff''s reaction was clearly beyond normal ¡ª a mixture of anger and bone-deep fear. Felix was familiar with such an expression; many had looked at him with the same eyes before. So, Karkaroff would...


    "Back down, would you?" Felix said yfully.


    Indeed, Karkaroff didn''t linger. Like he was avoiding the gue, he waved and led his students away.


    Students blocked behind them craned their necks to look over shoulders, trying to catch a glimpse of the departing Durmstrang delegation.


    "This night won''t stay peaceful," Felix remarked.


    "Yeah, I bet some students will choose to sign up at night..." Hagrid absentmindedly agreed, as if in a dream. "By the way, do you have any good perfume rmendations?"


    ...


    "Do you think Karkaroff and Professor Moody know each other?" Harry asked, climbing the spiral staircase along with the crowd.


    "Absolutely," Ron affirmed, "Just look at their expressions, it''s so obvious. I reckon those two have some old grudge."


    They returned to themon room. Dean stood by the entrance, seemingly holding backughter. "Harry, I think you need toe over, there''s a guest waiting for you..."


    Curious, Harry approached. Snuffles was sitting on his bedside table, surrounded by a pile of delicate items ¡ª Galleons, a gold ne, a temperature-regting pendant case, a dull hourss...


    Ron gazed at the stack of shiny Galleons, his eyes glued.


    "Merlin''s beard..."


    Harry seemed to realize something. Crouching before Snuffles, he cautiously asked, "You want to trade with me? Is it for that Muggle coin?"


    Snuffles vigorously nodded.


    Ronughed almost uncontrobly. "Oh dear!" He gripped the bedposts, nearly pulling the curtains down, "It, it''s got quite the memory! Since the start of term till now, it''s been two whole months and it hasn''t given up..."


    Harry hesitated for a moment. That Muggle coin bore witness to countless asions of his Disapparition practice. It was a keepsake, but now that he had learned magic, its significance was lessened. Plus, it was a gift from the Dursleys.


    He retrieved the coin from his trunk and handed it to Snuffles. "It''s yours."


    Snuffles immediately took the coin. Its two shiny ck eyes sparkled, and its little hand incessantly caressed the sharply edged coin. After a while, it seemed to gather determination, diverted its gaze, and pointed to the small trinkets before Harry, indicating he should pick one.


    "No need," Harry declined.


    But Snuffles persisted, insisting that he pick something, or else it would be grumbled at by the Dark Lord.


    "Squeak!"


    It patted its chest, showing it was here for a trade.


    Harry pondered for a while, his fingers moving uncertainly, unable to make up his mind. Snuffles watched anxiously, his eyes fixed on Harry''s hand, and finally, that hand picked up an inconspicuous hourss. "Phew," Snuffles visibly breathed a sigh of relief, rxing.


    As Snuffles gathered his treasures and disappeared from their sight with agility, Ron couldn''t help but defend Harry, "Even if you didn''t take the Galleons, that pendant box is nice too. I''ve heard Fred and George talk about it ¨C that little box can keep the temperature constant in the mostfortable range, so you wouldn''t need a cloak in winter."


    Harry shook his head, "That''s true." He yed with the slightly dusty hourss for a moment and then set it on the cab.


    "Is that so," Ron muttered, "I wonder if it''s worth two Cauldron Cakes, unless it''s an antique..."


    The next morning.


    Students gathered in an excited hubbub, circling around the central floor of the entrance hall. A circle of fine gold threads appeared on the floor, and the Goblet of Fire was ced on a pedestal in the middle of the circle.


    "They''re really audacious," Hermione eximed in shock. In front of her, the Weasley twins and Lee Jordan were eager, each holding a small bottle containing a shallowyer of transparent liquid.


    She looked beyond the crowd ¨C Professor Harp was standing not far away, leaning against the wall, arms crossed, smiling ambiguously as he observed them.


    "Just a drop is enough," Fred eximed with excitement, downing the Aging Potion, "We''re only a few months short."


    "Right, let us be an example for you," George quickly followed suit, downing the potion, and addressed Harry and Ron.


    Hermione immediately red at Harry and Ron.


    The two exchanged guilty nces. In their pockets were small bottles of Aging Potion. Ron stammered, "We''ve prepared yours, Hermione. Do you need it...?"


    Hermione''s anger intensified, and she turned her head away from them.


    Harry remained silent. As the moment approached, he found himself hesitating. He couldn''t help but ask himself: If Fred and George seeded, did he really want to put his name in?


    The twins walked into the age line and waved to Felix, who was smiling enigmatically by the wall.


    "We love you, Professor," Fred said.


    For a brief moment, Hermione thought they seeded, but then she heard a sizzling sound. The twins were thrown out of the golden circle, and Lee Jordan quickly retracted his leg that he had stepped forward.


    The twins crawled up from the ground, and the surrounding people burst intoughter ¨C long white beards had grown on their chins. Even the twins themselves couldn''t help butugh.


    Felix walked over from the wall, carefully examining them, and teased, "I heard this morning that Miss Fawcett from Ravenw and Mr. Summers from Hufflepuff were sent to the infirmary. I thought to myself, there must be some persistent young wizards. So, I decided to wait and see..."


    Fred and George looked at him with a touch of reproach, their beards swaying amusingly.


    "I did warn you," Dumbledore appeared in the entrance hall, speaking in a deep, amused tone. He approached, inspecting the twins'' shiny white beards, and asked Felix, "Any discoveries, Felix?"


    "No one seeded. A second-year student threw a piece of paper in, and the Goblet expelled it..." Felix responded.


    Perhaps due to the conspicuous sess of the Weasley twins'' demonstration in the morning, after that incident, there were no more underage wizards attempting to cross the age line.


    Hogwarts students looked expectantly at the representatives of the other four schools as they queued up to put their names into the Goblet of Fire. The cup''s blue-white mes licked their fingers and zed intensely, turning into red mes, sparking tiny sparks.


    "What about our people?" a young wizard asked eagerly.


    "They''re here!"


    Another young wizard eximed excitedly. Cedric, Roger Davies, Collins, and Angelina walked over, apanied by the students selected from each school.


    One by one, they ced slips of paper into the Goblet of Fire. Their faces were filled with anticipation.


    >


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 Chapter 383: Champions Chosen

    Chapter 383: Champions Chosen


    At the Halloween feast, Hermione had quite the appetite and eximed with a hint of surprise, "Oh my, is it true? Valen rushed into your dormitory for a time-turner exchange? I bet she was devastated..."


    She joyfully served herself arge piece of pork.


    "Now you must be pleased," Ron remarked. Neither he nor Harry needed the Ageing Potion.


    "Of course I am," Hermione replied, putting down her utensils and looking at the two of them seriously. "You heard this afternoon as well. Hagrid managed to lift his head from a barrel of slippery potion, expressing his anticipation for the first task. That should give you an idea of how dangerous the Triwizard Tournament really is!"


    Ron''s fork trembled slightly, and he was somewhat convinced by this argument. "What made Hagrid happyst time?"


    "Flobberworms," Seamus muttered discontentedly from the side.


    At the professors'' table, Felix Harp, having finished thest spoonful of seafood soup in his bowl, paused. His gaze swept across the hundreds of pumpkinnterns in the corners and the bats fluttering above the ceiling,nding on the restless young wizards around him.


    He could distinctly sense the anxious atmosphere pervading the hall, a skill he had learned from Dementors.


    "It''s a bit suffocating," he mumbled.Fleur Dcour curiously nced at him, her outstretched hand recoiling, losing interest in the seafood soup in front of Felix.


    A new face appeared among the professors today¡ªMr. Barty Crouch, looking quite ill. He hurriedly ate a few bites of mashed potato and meat pie before leaning back in his chair, appearing absent-minded. This contrasted sharply with Ludo Bagman, who sat next to him, animated and excited.


    "...Back when I yed for the Wasps, I''d always receive heaps of flowers after matches, and there were foreign fans... which country? I don''t know... didn''t recognize the names, but there was this fragrance on the letters... If only Barty were here, he could help me trante, couldn''t he?"


    Bagman turned to look at Mr. Crouch, who snorted with a displeased expression.


    "Oh, Barty, you look unwell. Perhaps you should take some time to recuperate..."


    "I''ll consider it," Mr. Crouch replied with disinterest. Even though he looked unwell, he had meticulously groomed himself, his clothes without a single crease, bearing a striking resemnce in style to Headmaster Dumbledore.


    Most of the students had finished eating, and amidst the eager anticipation in their eyes, Dumbledore stood up.


    He waved his wand, plunging the Great Hall into darkness. The Goblet of Fire had been moved to the front of the professors'' table, and now it suddenly zed with light, mes leaping high, transforming the blue and white mes into dazzling red, with sparks flying.


    A piece of scorched parchment flew out.


    "The first champion of Durmstrang," he said in a clear andmanding voice, "is Viktor Krum."


    Thunderous apuse erupted in the hall as Krum rose from his seat, guided by Professor McGonagall, and headed towards a room beside the Great Hall.


    "Still hope, two spots remaining!" a Durmstrang student next to him cheered himself on.


    After a while, another piece of parchment flew out.


    "Durmstrang, Fleur Dcour."


    The young man who had just spoken burst into tears of joy. He cried out, "I knew it!" as he stood up, pumping his fist vigorously, nearly tripping over the table. The headmaster of Durmstrang, looking displeased, harrumphed.


    Next was the third champion from Durmstrang¡ª


    "Durmstrang, Adim Bwik."


    Dumbledore wiped at his eyes and emotionally said, "How touching! The three champions will unite and fight for the honor of the school..."


    For a not-so-short period of time that followed, the Goblet of Fire held pieces of parchment with names, selecting the champions from the remaining four schools.


    "Beauxbatons, Fleur Dcour¡ª


    "Jacqueline Boulevarde¡ª


    "Fran?ois Lan."


    The three champions from Beauxbatons sessively entered the room adjacent to the Great Hall to rest, but the students'' minds were in chaos, as if time had frozen at the moment the girl who looked remarkably like a Ve stood up.


    The girl named Fleur elegantly tossed her shiny silver hair and glided gracefully between two dining tables, resembling an ethereal being...


    It could be foreseen that this image would be etched in the hearts of many students, unforgettable throughout their lives.


    "Next are the champions from Durmstrang: Viktor Krum¡ª


    "Aan Leen¡ª


    "And the third champion, Beryl Bach."


    Beryl stood up jubntly and, amidst the cheering of the Gryffindor students, entered the small room beside the Great Hall.


    "Next up are the champions from Koldovstoretz: Rashawn Elfindee¡ª


    "Nona Leybert¡ª


    "And Panagiotis nzeigo."


    The Koldovstoretz champions stood up together. Instead of following the previous procedure of each one acting individually, they waited until all three were selected before leaving together.


    Hogwarts students watched them¡ªthe two wizards, one tall and robust like a walking wall, easily a foot taller than Cedric, who was already considered tall among Hogwarts students; the other with a hairstyle resembling an eagle, not short either but appearing like a dwarf next to the tallpanion.


    The only girl among the three, just like Fleur, was tall and statuesque, but her body exuded strength. Despite the not-so-warm weather, she wore a thin leopard-print cloak.


    "Lastly, we have the champion from Hogwarts," Dumbledore said cheerfully. He read the name on the parchment thrown out by the Goblet of Fire, "Cedric Diggory¡ª"


    "Oops!" Ron eximed loudly, luckily only Harry and Hermione heard him. The cheers from the nearby table could lift the roof off. Dumbledore had to wait a moment while the cheers subsided, and in that interval, a third piece of parchment was shot out by the mes.


    "The second and third champions are Roger Davies and Collins Flewitt. Let''s cheer for them." Dumbledore read out the names of the remaining two champions in one breath.


    Thunderous apuse erupted again, Gryffindor students joined in pping, albeit with a somewhat sour feeling. None of the three champions was from Gryffindor; their joy waspromised.


    When the noise subsided, Dumbledore smiled and continued, "Now, thest three champions, please rest in the room beside the Great Hall. With great pleasure, I announce that the Goblet of Fire has sessfullypleted its task. Moving forward, I believe everyone will support their own school''s champion and contribute their efforts to this event. So¡ª"


    He suddenly stopped, the Goblet of Fire, which should have been extinguished, zed again, casting a fiery light that reddened his face.


    A piece of parchment flew out; he instinctively caught it and nced down. After a brief silence, he cleared his throat and loudly proimed¡ª


    "Harry Potter."


    No cheers this time, silence filled the hall. Slowly, a buzzing began, everyone''s eyes on Harry, including his neighbors. They all looked at him with incredulous eyes.


    "I didn''t put my name in," Harry said, bewildered. He looked at Ron and Hermione, "You know I didn''t. I''ve been with you."


    Hermione''s mouth remained open, her eyes wide in disbelief, while Ron managed a forced smile. "Yeah, we''ve been together. Congrattions, Harry."


    "This isn''t a matter of congrattions!" Harry eximed loudly, his voice echoing in the hall.


    On the other side, Professor McGonagall hurriedly stood up from the teachers'' table and stumbled when she passed Felix. "Careful, Miller," he said. But McGonagall paid no attention, rushing to Dumbledore''s side and speaking urgently.


    Dumbledore said seriously, "I know, Miller, but¡ª" His voice grew louder as he raised the half-burned parchment in his hand, "Harry Potter, please proceed to the room beside the Great Hall."


    Harry stood up shakily, looking at rows of shocked faces, feeling like he didn''t belong here. He approached Dumbledore, who nodded at him and pointed in the right direction. He took a few steps, hearing the collective gasp behind him.


    He spun around abruptly, just like everyone else, staring at the Goblet of Fire with disbelief. After the initial mistake, there had been a second mistake.


    "It must be broken," Harry thought. "This wretched wooden cup is malfunctioning. Maybe another unlucky person will be called out next."


    Dumbledore deftly caught the soaring piece of parchment, and in the solemn silence of the hall, he read out the name with a calm tone, "Ronald Weasley."


    >


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 Chapter 384: Dispute

    Chapter 384: Dispute


    "Ronald Weasley," Dumbledore called out again.


    Ron waspletely stunned. He couldn''t help but wonder if there was another student named "Ronald" in the school, but there was only one Weasley with that surname.


    Soon, he stood up excitedly, "I''m a champion, I''m a champion!" He reached out and pulled Hermione, who was in a daze, and walked happily to Harry''s side. He leaned over and whispered in Harry''s ear, "You''re amazing, mate! I thought you left me behind. How did you do it? Did you use an Invisibility Cloak at night? Honestly, you should have woken me up. I haven''t seen..."


    "I didn''t put any piece of paper into the Goblet!" Harry said in frustration. He couldn''t help but get angry. How couldn''t Ron see that he hadn''t done anything?


    "Alright... you three, go inside that door," Dumbledore said, his face devoid of a smile.


    The hall was abuzz with discussion, making Harry feel overwhelmed. He just wanted to leave this ce as soon as possible and think in a quiet corner. He walked away without any attachment, as if he wanted to leave his troubles behind. Hermione followed him with concern, and Ron walkedst. He intentionally slowed down, straightened his chest, and walked like the important person he imagined in his mind. The only regret was theck of apuse in the hall.


    Harry pushed open the door. He had been craning his neck from his seat to see inside before, but now he finally saw it clearly. It was a small room with wizard portraits hanging on both sides of the walls. As they entered, a wrinkled witch left her frame and started whispering to the wizard in the adjacent portrait. Below the portraits were six or seven spacious sofas that reminded him of the Room of Requirement. Across from them, the firece was roaring.


    Harry realized things weren''t looking good. This wasn''t a ce for contemtion. Fifteen pairs of eyes were all fixed on them. In that instant, their gazes made Harry feel suffocated. Ron gave him a nudge from behind and cheerfully stuck his head out, "What are you waiting for, Harry? Do you want them to get a better look at the youngest champion?"


    "Shut up!" Harry said, but it was toote. Just a few steps away on one of the sofas, the girl who resembled a Ve and might be named "Fleur" lifted an exquisite face and looked at them in astonishment. "Are you the champions?""I..."


    Before Harry could answer, she turned her head, her silvery hair swaying, and looked at someone in a different direction. Harry caught a whiff of the fragrance that hit him in the face, choking back the words he had nned to say. He heard Fleur speak toward that direction, "Cedric, your students really know how to joke..."


    It was then that Harry noticed, across from Fleur, were the three champions of Hogwarts. Cedric smiled at him, "Is something the matter? We can''t hear much in there, it''s quite chaotic outside."


    Harry found himself suddenly losing the ability to speak, especially in front of the three champions of Hogwarts. It felt like Snape had cast a Silencing Charm behind his back.


    Suddenly, hurried footsteps approached from behind them. Ludo Bagman rushed over, "Why are you all lingering outside?" He said with great enthusiasm, pushing the three of them¡ªHarry, Ron, and Hermione¡ªinto the room. Warm air greeted them as they entered.


    "Absolutely bizarre!" Bagman pinched Harry''s arm excitedly, dragging him to the center of the room. He looked around, as if reciting a ssic line from a y, "Absolutely bizarre! Ladies and gentlemen... Please allow me to introduce¡ªalthough it seems incredible¡ªthis is the sixth set of champions for the Triwizard Tournament!"


    He seemed oblivious to the stares he was getting, waving at Hermione and Ron who were still by the door, "Come over, don''t be shy! It''s truly a wonder! You''ve got your seniors in there too, you should get to know them properly¡ª"


    Ron tugged at Hermione, but she shrugged him off. So he went over alone, standing tall. He was feeling quite dizzy at the moment, overwhelmed by immense joy that filled every corner of his being. He suddenly wanted to raise his wand and cast the Patronus Charm; he was sure he could do it. After all, he was a champion! He hadn''t seen a scene like this even in the Mirror of Erised back in his first year.


    But Fleur''s words poured cold water on his enthusiasm¡ª


    "Sorry, Mr. Bagman," Fleur said, "Did something go wrong? They can''tpete; they''re too young¡ªtwo little boys and a little girl."


    Even though Harry''s mind was a jumble of emotions and thoughts, he felt a twinge of anger upon hearing this.


    Little boys?


    At this moment, a group of footsteps approached, and the door was mmed open with a loud "bang." Madame Maxime, tall and robust, entered, followed by a procession of heads of schools and a wan-looking Barty Crouch Sr.


    "What does this mean, Dumbledore?" she said angrily, her head almost hitting the chandelier that hung down from the ceiling. The chandelier had magical lights, and as she straightened up, it blocked a significant portion of the light, casting the room into shadows.


    "I''d like to know that too, Dumbledore," Karkaroff said, his face bearing a cold smile and his eyes emanating coldness.


    The other heads of schools were all visibly angry, ready to make theirints.


    The scene in the hall shifted again¡ª


    Felix was crouched, carefully examining the extinguished Triwizard Cup. It looked like something a clumsy carpenter might have made using an ill-suited axe, without a single smooth surface.


    Yet, he studied it with great intensity, his eyes flickering with a constant light.


    "Do you see anything, Felix?" Flitwick asked quietly, "Is there something wrong with the Cup?"


    "It''s easy to conclude that there''s a problem with the Cup. The question is, who did it, and how," Felix whispered. "But my greatest concern isn''t this. Having two unique sets of champions... might not be a good thing."


    Flitwick hesitated as he looked at him. "Dumbledore will handle it, won''t he?"


    Meanwhile, the hall was chaotic. Many professors were maintaining order voluntarily. "Heads of houses, take charge," Professor Sprout said loudly. "The headmasters will deliberate ande to a conclusion. We just need to wait."


    "It''s not just waiting!" a gruff voice interjected.


    Professor Sprout turned around, looking surprised at the limping figure walking towards them. "Professor Moody?"


    Moody was also present in the hall.


    He went past Professor Sprout. His magical eye was spinning madly in its socket as he gazed at the tumultuous students.


    "Quiet!" he roared. "Listen to me now." He paced through the crowd, the thud of his wooden leg making a dull sound, "There''s been a little hup. Your headmaster has more important matters to attend to. There''s something I need to rify on his behalf."


    He raised his head, his two eyes scanning the crowd, as he said in a hushed tone, "I know that some of you don''t follow themon path or are afraid to make a fool of yourselves... In any case, you chose to sign up at night... when it was quiet and dark... You might have thought you were alone, but there was a shadowy figure lurking in the darkness. I''m absolutely certain that some of you saw him... Those ces that seemed strange to you, things that were different from usual... odd shadows, reflections that don''t make sense, think about them, then tell me."


    Amidst the uneasymotion, young wizards and witches looked left and right. Amidst the crowd, a Hufflepuff student raised his trembling hand.


    "Is it you? Is it you? Child, did you discover something?"


    Sure, I''d be happy to trante the provided text into English while maintaining the tone and authenticity of the Harry Potter universe:


    Moody strode over, his hand on the young wizard''s shoulder, and bent down to ask. The young wizard was frightened, trying his best to keep away from Moody''s artificial eye.


    "Professor Moody, you seem to have scared him," Felix said. At some point, he had appeared next to Moody, subtly observing him.


    "You''re right, Harp," Moody clicked his tongue. A smile, mingled with the scars on his face, emerged, making him even more terrifying.


    But he stepped back a few paces and made way.


    Felix rescued the young wizard from Moody''s grip and asked gently, "What''s your name? What year are you in?"


    "Um, Owen Cadwell, sir," the young wizard stuttered, "I''m in my first year."


    Felix smiled, "You can call me Professor Harp. So, Mr. Cadwell, were you out for a night stroll yesterday? As a first-year, you''re quite brave. Tell us what you saw."


    "It wasn''t a night stroll, Professor Harp," Owen emphasized. He saw Moody lowering his head again, his terrifying face getting closer, so he hurriedly closed his eyes. "I wanted to go to the kitchen to get some food. Eleanor told me about it, she''s my friend... But on the way back, I thought the Triwizard Cup was in the entrance hall, and I could take a look... Professor, I didn''t intend to break any rules."


    "I see. What did you see?" Felix asked, getting to the point.


    "I, I saw... I saw..." he stammered, suddenly widening his eyes, "Headmaster Darmesteter!"


    The hall was so silent that you could hear a pin drop.


    "It can''t be true! He''s lying!" a Darmesteter student eximed indignantly.


    "I''m not!" the young wizard named Owen turned red and shouted, "I saw his beard, goat-like beard! He sneaked out of the entrance hall!"


    "Well done, child," Moody grinned a terrifying grin, pulling Owen towards the adjacent room of the hall, "I need your testimony. Let''s see what they have to say now!"


    Felix followed, pondering quietly. He wasn''t as optimistic as Moody; things inside were probably already in chaos.


    As expected, as soon as they pushed the door open, Karkaroff''s voice could be heard¡ª


    "Rules? Unfair rules! I insist my students re-register, and of course, other schools too. In short, Hogwarts must be excluded!"


    "But Karkaroff, this is probably not possible," Bagman said uneasily, "The Triwizard Cup has just extinguished. It won''t reignite until the next tournament."


    "In the next tournament, Durmstrang will definitely not participate!" Karkaroff thundered, pacing back and forth in the narrow room. His silvery fur cloak made a loud rustling sound, "So, I propose, release the restrictions on Durmstrang students, the part about dark magic..."


    "Karkaroff, we''ve discussed this¡ª"


    "You''re discussing this with me? Haven''t we had enough meetings before? What has it brought us? Shameful cheating! I almost want to leave now!"


    "Are you using others to divert attention, Karkaroff?" Moody roared, "All champions must participate, as Dumbledore said. They are bound by a magical contract. Unless you want your students to face severe consequences."


    Karkaroff panted and red at him, his eyes red, but he didn''t mention leaving anymore. He turned to the other three headmasters, "What do you think?"


    "Don''t try to change the subject! Clear your suspicion first before using others!" Moody shouted.


    "What do you think I would do?" Karkaroff eximed, "I''m just cautious by nature, habitually checking... Even if I wanted to cheat, I wouldn''t make a mysterious second group of champions for Hogwarts!"


    This made sense. The other headmasters nodded slightly. Everyone hoped their champions would win, but they wouldn''t engage in actions that benefited rival schools, giving them a second chance.


    However, Moody persisted, "Perhaps someone''s purpose isn''t to win... Right," his voice carried a hint of a growl, "Perhaps someone wants Potter to die for this. Yes, some of you might not understand, an ordinary little boy, what''s the big deal... but you understand his value, don''t you, Karkaroff?"


    His magical eye swiveled around, capturing everyone''s expressions in the room. The one remaining intact eye stared at Karkaroff, spittle flying.


    "Don''t forget your former identity. Some scum remains scum for life. You¡ª"


    "stor!" Dumbledore looked at him sternly. Moody clicked his tongue, falling silent.


    Karkaroff resembled an injured animal, suddenly devoid of all strength, and leaned against the wall involuntarily. "You''re... threatening! Let me tell you, it wasn''t me... there''s no reason..."


    Madame Maxime let out a loud hum. Seated alone on a sofa, she voiced, "I must remind you, we''re off-topic now. I don''t know what grudges you hold, but our focus right now is how to handle the unexpected second group of champions from Hogwarts."


    "These are minor issues," Felix suddenly spoke up.


    "Minor issues? Minor issues!?" Madame Maxime repeated his words in annoyance.


    "That''s right, minor issues... Please wait, ma''am," Felix said, looking at Dumbledore. "Albus?"


    Dumbledore looked up, locking eyes with him¡ª


    In an instant, light and shadows twisted, the world turned upside down.


    >


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 Chapter 385: Dialogue and Plans

    Chapter 385: Dialogue and ns


    Inside the Room of Thought, Felix handed a cup of tea to Dumbledore.


    "This ce is bing more real," Dumbledore said curiously, taking a sip of the amber liquid. "What kind of tea is this? I don''t recall ever having tasted it."


    "Just regr tea; our tastes differ," Felix replied. Seated across from Dumbledore, it was just the two of them.


    "How much time do we have?" Dumbledore asked with a smile.


    "Two and a half minutes," Felix rubbed his temple. "If you insist, maybe up to five minutes."


    "So, at least a quarter of an hour," Dumbledore nodded slightly.


    Felix stared at him, rolled his eyes, propped up his legs, and slowly said, "Two matters: calming the four schools and investigating the puppeteer behind the scenes."


    Dumbledore''s long fingers crossed in front of him. "Do you have any insights?"


    "The first matter is easily resolved; it mainly depends on your opinion.""My opinion?" Dumbledore smiled.


    "The Triwizard Tournament''s magical contract cannot be vited. That alone would crush them. But it presents a problem: Hogwarts'' reputation would plummet, bing aughingstock abroad¡ª"


    "That''s a scene I''d rather not witness," Dumbledore decisively interrupted. "We need to find a certainpromise."


    "There are two approaches: strengthening thepetitors or weakening ourselves. The former isn''t viable, considering the distinct aspirations of each school," Felix calmly stated.


    "Then thetter is our only option. Let''s move on to the second matter; that''s where the crux lies," Dumbledore said. "Who do you think their target is?"


    "It can only be Harry, the likelihood is greatest." Felix suddenly recalled something. "Sirius mentioned during the World Cup that Harry''s scar¡ª"


    "I''m aware of this, and Sirius wrote to me about it too," Dumbledore shifted the topic. His voice grew solemn. "Speaking of the Triwizard Tournament, I once suspected Harry might have circumvented the Cup''s restrictions by some means. But when Miss Granger appeared, I knew that wasn''t possible."


    "Is it really possible to bypass those restrictions? I always thought it might be a potent Confundus Charm..." Felix pondered.


    Dumbledore chuckled. "Humans set the rules for the Triwizard Cup. And where there are humans, there are ws. Frankly, I''m somewhat disappointed in those who operate covertly; their methods are far too apparent."


    Felix nodded. There was truth in that. If they could find a loophole in the rules, it would confound everyone even more. However, now everyone knew the Cup had been tampered with.


    The differencey in how the other four schools believed it was Hogwarts'' doing, which even if it wasn''t, still advantaged them.


    "So, it''s Voldemort?"


    "Indeed, Voldemort," Dumbledore softly uttered. "Though, from what I know of him, it''s unlikely he''s acting directly."


    "He must have aplices. The one who attacked Harry alongside the little dwarf Peter, and perhaps more." Following the headmaster''s line of thought, Felix continued, "He once ruled over nearly half of Britain. This should be no difficult feat for him."


    At this point, his mind swirled. He had given Lucius Malfoy until Christmas, but things had changed. He couldn''t wait any longer, and based on the feedback from the Rain Swallow Patronus, that mysterious antique dealer seemed to have intricate ties to Malfoy Manor...


    "No, Felix, you don''t understand him. Voldemort considers power the cornerstone of his dominion. Without power, he loses control over his underlings." Dumbledore sighed, "During the summer break, I visited his formerpanions and staff from the orphanage, one by one. The more I learned, the clearer his nature became."


    Felix thought for a moment. "So, he spent these years hiding in the Albanian forest. Is that connected?"


    "After losing his power, he became distrustful of everyone. No, it''s more urate to say that those he trusted were imprisoned in Azkaban... until Wormtail found him."


    "You''re getting to the key point," Felix agreed.


    However, he furrowed his brow. "Can we really ascertain who''s behind this? Theoretically, all four headmasters and their apanying professors have opportunities, even the professors at Hogwarts..."


    The scope was too broad.


    "Igor Karkaroff was once a Death Eater," Dumbledore said calmly, "that''s also why I stopped stor."


    "Could it be him?" Felix was doubtful. Karkaroff''s reaction seemed too genuine. Even if he wanted to clear his own name, he wouldn''t need to be that zealous. Moreover, the emotions of the other three schools were clearly incited by him.


    Moody, on the other hand... a series of fast shes crossed his mind. Some suspicions were inconclusive; he couldn''t produce any evidence.


    "Karkaroff is unlikely. He betrayed his former master and provided a list of Death Eaters after the war," Dumbledore exined, "Personally, I don''t think Voldemort would turn to him."


    "Imperius Curse? Polyjuice Potion?" Felix tentatively suggested, though that wasn''t who he intended to mention. He just wanted to gauge Dumbledore''s stance.


    "You don''t yet grasp my point, Felix. If it''s Voldemort, he wouldn''t expose his weak side to his former betrayers. He''d rather, after his resurrection, glorify his name, leaving the traitors to live in perpetual fear until they die silently in a dark corner."


    Felix nodded; was this Voldemort''s pride? He softly said, "From what I know, Professor Moody imed to have been attacked before taking up the post..."


    Dumbledore''s gaze sharpened.


    "¡­ I''ve also noticed that he always carries a curved bottle with him, but I''ve never seen him open it. I might be overly suspicious, but wouldn''t he get thirsty?"


    Dumbledore gazed at him. After several seconds, he calmly replied, "That''s just your conjecture. stor is quite sensitive, and he never touches anything suspicious. That''s a well-known fact. I''ve known him for over half a century, longer than Voldemort, and I understand him well. Yet, I haven''t found anything suspicious about him."


    "We shouldn''t act against someone based solely on spection."


    "It''s ''you'' who wouldn''t act against someone based on spection," Felix emphasized deliberately.


    Dumbledore fell silent.


    "Dumbledore," Felix said, "we shouldn''t let potential threats remain close," his tone grew somber, "we should at least probe."


    After a moment of solemn quiet ¡ª


    "What do you intend to do?"


    "The Imperius Curse, Polyjuice Potion, Memory Modification; those are the three methods I can think of. However, the third method can''t be verified without subduing Professor Moody for the time being." Felix exined, dragging others into the conversation to make it seem less targeted at Moody, "Of course, it applies to others as well."


    "Provided they aren''t willingly serving as Voldemort''spdogs," Dumbledore added.


    "Exactly. If they''re willing, my options are limited. Wizards daring to cause trouble right in front of you surely have precautions against the Memory Charm. Can I simply probe their memories bit by bit? What''s the difference from stripping someone bare?"


    If he made a mistake, he''d be creating a mortal enemy for himself.


    Why do wizards value their memories? Because their concerns are legitimate; wizards do have ways to modify, forge, and erase others'' memories.


    "I''ll handle this, Felix. I''ll talk to stor," Dumbledore said firmly. "The Imperius Curse, the Polyjuice Potion; I''ll verify these two methods. However, the probing of memories, I disagree. It''s the greatest humiliation for stor."


    "But¡ª"


    "Until there''s clearer evidence, I won''t consent to any drastic actions." He stated unwaveringly, "Beyond that, if he''s innocent, I n to have him keep an eye on anyone suspicious around him..."


    Felix shrugged, "I''ll await your decision." He snapped his fingers, dispersing the magic, and they returned to reality.


    Inside the room, Madame Maxime was staring at him, looking rather upset. Her chest, d in ck silk, heaved intensely. It seemed like she might throw a punch at him in the next second, but she probably remembered that he also held a position on the board of governors, so she reluctantly held back.


    She remained silent, not speaking. Karkaroff finally emerged from Moody''s shadow at this moment and impatiently said, "What''s the problem exactly? How to solve it? You''ve been staring at each other for a full half-minute without a word. Don''t think you can get away with this. If there''s no good solution, release the restrictions on Durmstrang and allow them to use any means¡ª"


    "Headmaster Karkaroff," Felix said, looking at him, "the limitations on your students aren''t as extensive as you imagine¡ª"


    "What did you say?" Karkaroff stared.


    "I have a question. Is Durmstrang a school that primarily trains dark wizards?"


    "This is defamation! Mr. Crouch, did you hear that?"


    "Hear me out," Felix held his gaze, "Durmstrang has the most open attitude toward dark magic. That''s a fact. But it doesn''t mean Durmstrang is a school that ''specializes'' in teaching dark magic. Dark magic only constitutes a small part of the curriculum. At least from your textbooks, I don''t see much influence of dark magic..."


    "Dark magic is most widely applied in the field of dueling. But do you not teach the Disarming Charm? The Stunning Spell? The Full Body-Bind Curse?"


    Felix spoke slowly, "Dark magic is merely an effective supplement. But it will never be the mainstream of a publicly recruiting magic school. Even if you have a strong affinity for dark magic, you should remember this!"


    Karkaroff was left speechless.


    If he admitted that Durmstrang focused primarily on dark magic, the school''s reputation would be thoroughly tarnished. As the headmaster, he had to stand up and clear his name and the school''s name.


    Karkaroff''s face turned red as he said, "Dark magic is only a part of Durmstrang. We have the capability to manage its side effects. The school has specialized professors who assess students'' progress and selectively teach dark magic."


    Though that was what he said, many professors turned a blind eye to things behind the scenes. This was also why Durmstrang''s reputation for embracing dark magic was well-known.


    The reason Durmstrang didn''t be a concentration camp for dark wizards was indeed rted to the school''s system. They did adhere to certain review standards. The benefit of this approach was that even if students practiced dark magic in secret, they didn''t dare to use it openly. They didn''t practice it frequently, and the impact on their character wasn''t severe.


    "What about the team of champions from Hogwarts?" Karkaroff awkwardly changed the subject.


    "It''s simple. Since all of you consider it Hogwarts'' advantage, turn it into a disadvantage," Felix floated his words lightly, ncing at the present champions and headmasters. They didn''t care whether dark wizards were secretly coveting Harry or the teaching issues at Durmstrang. They only wanted to know how to reasonably weaken the opposing side before thepetition.


    "Headmaster Dumbledore, Mr. Crouch, Mr. Bagman, I suggest that Hogwarts'' scores be calcted based on the mean."


    >


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 Chapter 386: Momentum

    Chapter 386: Momentum


    "Calcted by means?" Bagman asked anxiously.


    "That''s right, means. Hogwarts currently has two groups of champions. The first groupes from three different houses, while the second group is entirely from Gryffindor. Clearly, this isn''t conducive to the rtionships between students from the four houses. So, why not bind them together¡­"


    "For example, five schools, plus two judges, let''s temporarily calcte each individual event with a maximum score of seventy points. If Hogwarts scores seventy in one group and zero in the other, the final scores for both groups would be thirty-five."


    "However, when ites to the order of events, it''s better to calcte separately," he added.


    Everyone''s eyes lit up, nodding involuntarily.


    Madam Maxime furrowed her brow, "If I understand correctly, for Hogwarts to win thepetition, they must secure first and second ce. That''s a significant disadvantage¡­"


    Bagman wiped his round face with a handkerchief, looking very anxious. "Finally, someone speaks fairly. I think the same way. What if one group performs very poorly and drags down the other group that had a chance of winning?"


    Karkaroffughed, "I find this method quite fair."


    Bagman said irritably, "What if one group has casualties? Uh, sorry, I mean... What if the champions of one group lose the ability topete, like suffering from incurable injuries? Their scores would definitely be very low!""It''s a punishment for cheating by Hogwarts, isn''t it?" Karkaroff said smoothly.


    "Anyone with a bit of brain wouldn''t think it''s Hogwarts'' doing. I actually think we should investigate everyone present. Furthermore," Moody said impatiently, "You haven''t cleared your own suspicions yet, Karkaroff!"


    Moody''s magical eye swiveled around, looking disdainfully at Karkaroff.


    Dumbledore spoke up, his tone as calm as ever, "If there are no objections, we will proceed with thepetition using this method. The students of Hogwarts'' four houses are originally a unity. Compared to the glory of the Triwizard Tournament, I value their growth in thispetition more."


    Harry felt guilty to the extreme, he opened his mouth to say something, but Hermione grabbed him and shook her head firmly.


    After a long silence, no one raised any different opinions anymore. Everyone epted that Hogwarts would have two groups of champions and agreed to their unique scoring method. Frankly, this exceeded their initial expectations.


    At this point, most people actually believed that the abnormality of the Goblet of Fire wasn''t caused by Hogwarts. However, these spections inevitably cast a shadow in their hearts.


    Everyone became deeply contemtive.


    "Alright," Dumbledore said with a twinkling smile at the others¡ªHarry could hardly believe how he could manage to smile at this moment¡ª"Next, let Mr. Crouch provide guidance to the champions. Barty?"


    Mr. Crouch seemed to snap out of deep thought suddenly.


    "Very well," he said, "Guidance, yes¡­ The first task¡­ This Triwizard Tournament is different from the past,pletely different¡­ Apart from the unprecedented five schools and six teams, thepetition tasks will be conducted in groups. We have to increase the difficulty while ensuring the safety of the champions. Rest assured, the Ministry of Magic has arranged professional personnel to protect everyone. Additionally, Dumbledore has promised to select a powerful wizard to oversee the whole situation... Dumbledore?"


    Dumbledore nodded, saying pleasantly, "I''ve already found a suitable candidate."


    "Excellent, let''s get back on track." Mr. Crouch said, "The first task is very challenging, and time is tight. It will take ce on the 24th of this month¡­ Therefore, we''ve prepared three key words to give the champions a direction in preparation, but we won''t explicitly tell you what you''ll face¡­ You''ll need to use your brains..."


    "The first keyword, courage, assesses your bravery and your willingness to face the unknown¡ªif you''re not too foolish to guess. But the Ministry believes that even after knowing what you''ll face, having the courage to face it is even more precious."


    "The second keyword, cooperation. I don''t need to say much about it. Each participating team¡ªconsisting of three people¡ªmust unite. One person alone cannotplete the task."


    "The third keyword, fire," when Mr. Crouch mentioned this word, Granger nced quickly at Harry, her face a bit pale, but no one noticed. Mr. Crouch continued, "I won''t borate on this point. Consider it a secret and a test of your wisdom."


    He paused, leaving the people in the room to ponder these three words: courage, cooperation, fire. The third word was the most important. Many people realized that the champions might face dangerous magical mes, possibly environmental hazards, traps, or even some magical creatures that controlled fire.


    Barty Crouch shrank back into the shadows, while Ludo Bagman eximed happily, "Barty has already given everyone hints. As long as you prepare diligently, I believe you can handle those¡ª"


    "Fire-breathing dragon!" a voice suddenly eximed.


    "What, what?" Bagman almost bit his tongue. He turned his head abruptly, staring at the inconspicuous student who had spoken.


    Ron stuttered, "I guessed it would breathe fire. All I could think of was a fire-breathing dragon. Back in my first year¡ª"


    Harry kicked him, "Um, I mean," Ron desperately racked his brains, not wanting to reveal Hagrid''s secret, "Someone in my family works at a dragon reserve. I visited when I was in my first year, and it left a deep impression¡­"


    Bagman''s tense face rxed, "Is that so? Ah, that exins it¡­ But you misheard. Barty said ''fire,'' not ''fire-breathing.'' " Nervously, he repeated himself, "Not fire-breathing." His body swayed restlessly, his actions not escaping observant eyes.


    Felix turned away, quite speechless. Could you make it any more obvious?


    "So, it''s not a fire-breathing dragon?" a champion from Beauxbatons asked.


    Everyone stared at him as if he were looking at a giant monster or something simr. Bagman pretended not to hear his words, turned to Dumbledore, and said, "Our task is almostplete. Tonight, I''d like to stay at Hogwarts, is that alright?"


    "Of course," Dumbledore said, "Barty, why don''t you stay as well? You look very exhausted."


    "No, I must return to the Ministry. It''s currently a very busy and challenging time... I''ve entrusted the young Weatherby with temporary responsibility..." He rambled on, leaving first.


    Afterwards, people began to leave one by one. When the others in the room had dispersed¡ª"stor," Dumbledore left Moody behind.


    The door closed heavily behind them.


    Felix stood not far away, waiting quietly like a statue, unmoving.


    After who knows how long, the door opened again, and Moody walked out, leaning on his cane and limping away.


    A momentter, Dumbledore emerged, looking at Felix in the corner, shaking his head ever so slightly.


    Moody is actually the culprit? From the information currently avable, his suspicion is the strongest. If not him, then who?


    Felix''s heart sank as Dumbledore left, leaving him alone to contemte in silence. Inside the thinking chamber, a parade of figures appeared one after another, some clear, some blurry.


    Even Professor Karkaroff''s goatee kept flickering in his mind.


    "Hmm, it''s getting more interesting," Felix muttered to himself. "Perhaps it''s time to bring out the Marauder''s Map..."


    On his way back to the office, he turned a corner and a group of people rushed out.


    "Professor, we''re willing to forfeit thepetition..."


    "Yes, Professor Harp."


    "Could you talk to Headmaster Dumbledore again¡ª"


    Felix raised his hand to silence the chattering of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, creating a gap between them and another group of champions.


    "Do you want to be squibs?" he asked.


    "What?" Harry eximed, not understanding how the conversation had shifted to this topic. Squibs, of course, he knew about them¡ªFilch was a squib, he had known that since his second year.


    Hermione''s eyes widened with fear, and Harry looked at her with a bewildered expression, a look he had never seen on her face before.


    "That''s the price of forfeiting, so I''m asking you, do you want to be squibs?"


    "What are you joking about?" Harry shouted, his body trembling, a mix of fear and anger coursing through him. He couldn''t fathom the consequences of bing a squib. Hogwarts was the first ce he truly belonged to, the first home... he couldn''t allow himself to leave.


    Even Cedric and the others were stunned. Despite Headmaster Dumbledore emphasizing the unbreakable nature of the contract, they hadn''t expected that forfeiting would result in this kind of punishment.


    Squibs, losing their magic... In truth, squibs possessed a thin trace of magic that allowed them to see what Muggles couldn''t, use certain potions, and enjoy some magical conveniences. But for most of them, they would never be able to fully cast a spell in their lifetime.


    "In that case, there''s no need to say anything more."


    Felix quickly said, "Let''s move on to the second topic¡ªwhy bind Hogwarts'' two groups of champions together? That''s something you''re concerned about, right?"


    Six people¡ªHarry, Ron, Hermione, Cedric, Roger Davies, and Collins¡ªnodded in unison.


    Felix exined, "On one hand, it''s a necessarypromise. You wouldn''t want the four internationally renowned magical schools to be at odds with Hogwarts in theing decades, would you?"


    They all shook their heads in agreement.


    "On the other hand, it''s my personal hope." Felix looked at the stunned faces, finally revealing a smile. "Yes, the current situation is exactly what I wanted to achieve."


    "Why?" Harry asked, his voice trembling.


    "When Hogwarts had a second group of champions, I immediately realized the danger¡ªnot that someone had tampered with the Triwizard Cup''s rules, that cameter," Felix said, seeing Harry''s intention to interject. He quickly added, "I mean, having two groups of champions from Hogwarts wasn''t just about honor; it was sowing the seeds of division among the four houses. Although my efforts in the Ancient Runes Club slightly broke down the strong barriers between the four houses, I suddenly realized that if I didn''t do something, this tournament might undo all my previous efforts."


    "I certainly wouldn''t allow such a thing to happen." Felix said. "So after consulting Dumbledore''s opinion, I proposed the new scoring system."


    Harry and the others stared at him in bewilderment.


    "But, Professor Harp," Ron suddenly said, "this will only make Hogwarts lose the tournament. Hogwarts is bound to lose, and it will bring disaster."


    "Why do you say that?" Felix politely asked.


    "Because, because..." Ron raised his hand, which was trembling uncontrobly, "because... ever since I found out that the first task involves dragons, I''ve been like this. I''m not cut out to be a champion. If I participate, I won''t be of any help, and I''ll just be a burden."


    "Even hearing the name scares me to death. If I really face a dragon, I''m as good as dead. I would also drag Harry and Hermione down. Just thinking about that scenario..." His face turned pale as he struggled to say, "I''d rather be kicked out and reced by someone else. Squibs, they... they¡ª"


    "Ron..." Hermione said mournfully.


    "I know I''m not as good as any of you, even among the selected students, I''m at the bottom¡ª"


    "Not the bottom," Felix interjected.


    "What?" Ron looked at him in disbelief.


    "Not the bottom. What I mean is, you''re the worst among the selected students," Felix said. "Among the chosen students, excluding Miss Granger, you''re the weakest."


    "But Neville..." Ron stared at him, aggrieved.


    "Neville knows fewer spells than you, but he''s put more effort into Shield and Stun Spells than you have. Most importantly, he''s beginning to develop a dueling style that suits him. As time goes on, your gap will be more apparent."


    Ron stood there, his mind nk, looking as if he were dazed.


    "Professor Harp..." Harry looked at Ron anxiously, then at Felix, not understanding why he was saying this.


    "...However, I see great potential in you."


    Ron''s eyes flickered, and a hint of life returned to his pale face. He repeated with confusion, "Potential?"


    "Yes, potential. In truth, your talent isn''t bad. Even if you''ve been messing around, you''re still at an average level. In terms of practical ability alone, you can rank ahead of most students in your year..."


    Ron looked at him. "But I''m not as good as¡ª"


    "Youck the motivation." Felix scratched his head. "An interesting phenomenon is that whether it''s in dueling ss, Ancient Runes, or the Ancient Runes Club, your performance is consistently average, not too good, not too bad. You''re the type that nobody would notice at first nce."


    Ron''s face wrinkled.


    "But actually, these are three different levels of difficulty," Felix continued.


    "That''s why I think youck the motivation," Felix said. "Originally, this was your personal choice, and I wouldn''t interfere too much. But now the situation is different. For whatever reason, you''ve be one of Hogwarts'' champions."


    "In a sense, you''re the most crucial one. You should understand what I mean."


    Harry had never seen Ron''s body shake so evenly, from head to toe. Even his facial muscles were trembling.


    "I''ve decided whether Hogwarts can ultimately win the trophy," Ron said slowly.


    "You can think of it this way: if the Triwizard Tournament ispared to a Quidditch match, you''re the only goalkeeper," Felix said. "In the past, you didn''t have a reason to get stronger, but now you do¡ª"


    "Put simply, you''re one of the champions now, and your efforts have a chance to bring honor to the school. On a grander scale, every bit of effort you put in now is also protecting the lives of your two good friends¡ªPotter and Granger."


    "I''m looking forward to your performance in the first task."


    He took a few steps away and turned back to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. "The next few days might be tough for you, especially with the addition of another group of champions. And particrly when the scoring rules are announced."


    "Only after the first task is over might your situation improve..."


    "Professor Harp!" Cedric said, "I''ll step forward and exin to the others. I heard it all; Harry and the others are also victims."


    "I''ll talk to the Ravenw students and exin. After all, I''m the prefect." Roger Davies said.


    "I will too, Professor Harp." Collins said, ring at Ron. "I''m determined to win the cup. I''ll keep a close eye on you."


    Felix smirked, waved his hand, and left.


    >


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 Chapter 387: The Advantage

    Chapter 387: The Advantage


    Nightfall, Ancient Runes Office.


    Golden mist coalesced into semi-realistic humanoid images, drifting past Felix Harp one by one. Crookshanks stood on a small square table, reaching out to catch the golden shadows.


    "Igor Karkaroff, former Death Eater, betrayer of Voldemort. Suspicion: sneaked into the Entrance Hall, had a private encounter with the Triwizard Cup¡ªminor suspicion;"


    "Ludo Bagman, previously used of aiding Death Eaters in passing information. Suspicion: showed strong enthusiasm for Harry bing a champion¡ªsuspicion, but no evidence of the time of the act;"


    For a while, the Triwizard Cup remained in Dumbledore''s possession, and if there were issues, they wouldn''t go unnoticed.


    "Barty Crouch, former Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, tough demeanor, reassigned due to involvement of Death Eater son. Suspicion: wife and son died sessively due to this incident, future ruined, potential for extreme actions; in addition, physically weak, conflict with Moody during the World Cup¡ªsuspicion, but no evidence of the time of the act, like Bagman;"


    "Madam Olga Maximova, suspected half-giant, during the war giants were fervent supporters of Voldemort. Suspicion: yet to be found."


    "Voldemort, Durmstrang, iplete student information, cannot judge..."


    Felix Harp pondered silently, until finally, when a scarred figure with a false eye appeared, he waved his hand to disperse the golden mist."Regardless of whether the one behind this is an individual or a group, their target is Harry, wanting Harry to die. However, could this be too troublesome? Perhaps there''s a deeper purpose..."


    "And does Voldemort truly return? Does he intend to use Harry as his first sacrifice after resurrection? Staging a scene of the return of the dead? If he''s resurrected and doesn''t reveal himself, it''s likely he''s covertly recruiting his old followers. With Dumbledore''s intelligencework, we should be able to trace some clues... Fortunately, I''m no slouch either. It''s time to write a few letters to some old friends."


    He nced at the improved version of the Marauder''s Map, pausing at the name Moody, and then tucked it away. "I need to find time to include the headquarters of the four magical schools."


    Returning to his senses, he saw Crookshanks staring at him. He smiled, giving the cat''s beak a gentle pat.


    Before sleep, he thought carefully and seemed to have forgotten something... "Oh, right," he waved his hand, conjuring emerald mes in the firece. Felix Harp muttered softly, "Don''t me me for locking your firece. Disturbing me six or seven times a day, anyone would lose their patience."


    The next morning.


    Harry awoke groggily and was startled when he saw Ron. It seemed like Ron hadn''t slept at all that night; the shadows beneath his eyes were even darker than Mr. Crouch''s.


    "The cat''s been looking for you," Ron said hoarsely. "Scratching at the door, so I let it in."


    Harry pushed aside the curtains of his four-poster bed and saw Crookshanks on top of the cab by the bed. The cat''s ttened face was fixed on him, its tail swaying aimlessly, knocking over a stack of parchment with magical writing.


    "Do you need something, Crookshanks?" he asked.


    On top of the cab, the ginger cat extended a paw, pointing outside, and emitted a chilling howl. On the adjacent bed, Seamus turned in his sleep.


    Harry and Ron exchanged nces. Harry asked tentatively, "Do you want me to go outside? Is... Hermione looking for me?"


    Crookshanks'' yellow eyes gleamed with approval.


    So, Harry changed out of his pajamas. While dressing, he stole a nce outside through the window. It was pitch ck, probably around four or five in the morning. He couldn''t suppress a yawn.


    He had sleptte the previous night, and now he was being awakened early. He hadn''t slept for more than a few hours.


    In themon room, Harry and Ron found Hermione waiting outside, fidgeting. She was bundled up, with a scarf wrapped around her head like the ones the Beauxbatons students wore.


    Thest time Harry saw such an outfit, it was because Hermione had identally taken a Polyjuice Potion with cat hair. During her recovery, she used partial human transfiguration to conceal the fur on her face. This miraculous spell was said to be used by vampires to hide their fangs.


    "Hermione, what''s going on... and Ron, I''ve been wanting to ask, did neither of you sleepst night?"


    "I couldn''t sleep¡ªoh, don''t ask for now," Hermione said urgently, her speech was odd, as if she had a sweet in her mouth.


    "Who?" Harry suddenly became wide awake.


    Outside the entrance to the Gryffindormon room, Sirius ck was engaged in a casual conversation with the Fat Lady portrait. The Fat Lady was in high spirits, reciting lines with a deliberately lowered dramatic tone.


    "The bruised and battered young boy¡ªreturning under the cover of night¡ªhidden toil in the shadows¡ªah~ emerging as a fearless warrior¡ª"


    Sirius scowled, feeling increasingly annoyed. What in the world was she singing!


    "Can''t you just let me in?" he asked for the fifth time.


    "Oh, no." The Fat Lady stopped, saying solemnly, "I have professional ethics. You''re neither a student nor a professor, even with a password, I won''t let you in..."


    The door opened from the inside, and her portrait shifted aside as Harry, Ron, and Hermione emerged.


    "Sirius, why are you here? Hermione told me, I couldn''t quite believe it!" Harry asked with excitement.


    "Of course! With such a big event happening, how could I sit still? You should have informed me first thing, and the two-way mirror is meant for times like these." Sirius said irritably, looking at the two people behind Harry. "So, is the Trio now officially recognized? Have you thought of a name for your team?"


    Ron nced at him but didn''t reply.


    Harry stared at his outspoken godfather, and Sirius surrendered with a raised hand. "Alright, I misspoke¡ªgiven what''s happened, how could I possibly remain calm? You should have notified me right away, Harry. The two-way mirror is meant for times like these."


    "Professor Snape told you, Mr. ck?" Hermione asked in a high-pitched voice, still using that odd tone. Harry gave her a strange look.


    "Call me Sirius¡ªand yes, the books in the old house have their uses." Sirius said, somewhat yfully. He pulled Harry into a hug. "Let''s find an empty ssroom and have a proper chat. You twoe along as well. Regardless, we''re all in this together..."


    "I dislike that wording." Harry muttered.


    Sirius grinned and ruffled Harry''s messy hair.


    They found an empty ssroom and shared the information they knew. Harry''s group gained more useful insights, such as the fact that Karkaroff was once caught by Moody when he was still a Death Eater, but he managed to escape the Ministry''s punishment by providing a list of Death Eaters. Over a decadeter, he transformed and became the headmaster of Durmstrang.


    "We finally know why Karkaroff feared and hated Professor Moody so much," Harry said, looking at Ron. They had discussed this topic before, and Ron absentmindedly nodded.


    When Harry mentioned the first task involving dragons, Sirius stood up and started pacing in the empty ssroom.


    "How could they make you face something like this!" he yelled.


    Harry had to admit that apart from the conversation he and Sirius had about the Chinese Fireball during the magicalntern exhibition, he hadn''t really thought seriously about how to face a dragon. Last night, he was more worried that Hogwarts might not win the trophy and that they might face cold treatment. But now, he found himself facing the challenge of not only winning the trophy but also his own life.


    "Perhaps more than just one life," Sirius said. "Don''t forget, you arepeting as a team. The difficulty must be higher than in previous tournaments. Of course, I''m not talking about your skills but the level of previous champions."


    Harry noticed that Ron had started shaking rhythmically again. Gaining courage, he said, "We''re not that far behind. Hermione defeated a Durmstrang student¡ªViktor, the first champion selected. Normally, the champions who fit the criteria best are selected first, right?"


    Sirius looked at Hermione, who had wrapped her head in a scarf to conceal her appearance, making it hard to read her expression.


    "I... well, I...," she stammered through the fabric.


    "It seems none of you are mentally prepared," Sirius pointed out bluntly.


    Harry opened his mouth and realized his godfather was right. They weren''t prepared. He couldn''t help but wonder if the other champions, like Cedric, were also having sleepless nights due to worry or excitement about facing the dragons.


    To sound positive, he asked, "So, how do we defeat a dragon?"


    "Defeat a dragon?" Sirius repeated.


    "Yes... we talked about it before, didn''t we? At the Quidditch World Cup''s magicalntern disy," Harry said with a casual tone. "You mentioned the Stunning Spell as a good method. Maybe we can use that spell. But it''s better to be urate..."


    Sirius widened his eyes and said, "Your tone doesn''t sound like you''re facing a Level 5X extremely dangerous creature that can incinerate you in an instant, but like you''re dealing with a sniffing creature. In your mind, does failure only mean losing a few coins from your pocket?"


    "Burn to ashes?" Ron said shakily.


    "Yes, the fire dragons breathe isn''t ordinary fire. The Impervius Charm might not even protect you, and a sweep of their tail can turn you and your magical shield into mush... Your wands won''t be more effective than toothpicks unless you have a good n."


    ...


    At the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall, Sirius had breakfast with Harry''s group. No one had much appetite. Besides worrying about the dragons, they had to face the curious stares and whispers of others.


    "Ignore them. They only know how to make snide remarks," Sirius said. "If you can''t stand it, I suggest picking a fight with the person you like least."


    Hermione shot him a re. During breakfast, she finally removed the scarf from her face, revealing a row of blisters on her mouth.


    "I thought you were the calmest one among the three of you, but now..." Sirius looked at her.


    "It''s not about being calm or not. I''m just worried... Ouch!" Hermione covered her mouth, and from then on, she didn''t dare to speak loudly.


    "You''d better go to the infirmary," Harry said.


    Hermione grumbled.


    ...


    "There''s nothing to worry about," Felix said, standing before the six Hogwarts champions.


    That evening, he gathered them in ssroom Seven for targeted guidance.


    "Since you''re grouped together, it''s not for the sake of losing. Think about it, you have many advantages."


    "Advantages?"


    Felix waved his wand, and silver-white mist gathered around them, obscuring their vision. They had spent several days in ssroom Seven, so they were familiar with this change.


    Waiting quietly, the mist gradually dissipated, revealing andscape with rolling hills beneath their feet and soft brown soil. In the distance, the dense fog hadn''tpletely cleared, but they could make out emerald-green peaks and ck rocky walls.


    They found themselves surrounded by mountains, and a dark shadow flew low over their heads and disappeared into the thick fog.


    "Where are we?"


    Colin Creevey asked, pursing his lips. Among the students participating in the selection, it was widely agreed that except for Professor Harp''s inexplicably ugly creatures, most of the scenes were realistic and traceable.


    Hermione crouched down, scooped up some soft soil, and grabbed a handful of grass¡ªeverything felt incredibly real.


    "The Romanian Dragon Sanctuary," Felix said softly. "Thanks to Mr. Bagman, I don''t have to worry about leaks. I hope he won''t face too much questioning when he returns."


    Hermione was the first to ask, "So, the dragons we''re going to face are all from the dragon sanctuary?"


    "That''s correct," Felix said. "I spent several days there and learned about various dragon breeds... This is your first advantage."


    The six felt their hearts flutter. Harry looked up, surveying the surroundings. In his sight, gigantic dragons crossed the sky.


    "It sounds like I hear voices?" Cedric hesitated.


    "Let''s go have a look," Felix said with a smile. They walked down the slope and saw a group of people facing an injured Romanian Longhorn Dragon. Its wing was torn open, bloody, yet it remained cautious. The deep green scales on its neck expanded, resembling small green shields, and its golden longhorn was always aimed at the person it perceived as the greatest threat.


    "Careful, it''s about to breathe fire. Charlie, use the Stunning Spell!" a wizard shouted.


    Ron suddenly widened his eyes, pointing at someone and yelling, "That''s Charlie, my brother! He''s in Romania! Oh, my goodness!" He watched as Charlie led and gave orders, about seven or eight people casting Stunning Spells together. After a series of intensive and dazzling red lights, the huge dragon crashed heavily to the ground.


    They felt the ground tremble beneath their feet and involuntarily swallowed.


    Felix stood to the side and said, "You can get closer to take a look." As he spoke, time in this area seemed to freeze. The dragons and dragon tamers were frozen in ce. They approached, closely examining the fallen dragon. They couldn''t help but marvel; it was immense, at least six or seven times taller than the tallest among them, Cedric and Roger Davies.


    The onlyfort was that the dragon''s tail upied a third of its body length.


    "The Longhorn Dragons like to use their horns to impale prey before roasting it, then use their ws to drag it back to their nest. asionally, they use their horns to string prey or curl their tails around it," Felix exined.


    Harry looked at the two golden longhorns on the dragon''s head and had no doubt that they could pierce through anything in their line of sight. He imagined himself hanging from them and couldn''t help but smirk.


    With their minds preupied, the six followed Professor Harp as they continued walking and unconsciously arrived at a camp. More people were present, but they paid them no attention. Felix exined by their side, "This is what I saw the first time I came here. Behind the camp is an enclosure surrounded by fire-resistant materials. There are a few sick dragons inside, ones I''ve dealt with, and one is particrly interesting..."


    "Professor Harp, are we just going to watch?" Cedric asked. "I mean, don''t you want us to fight the dragons to gain experience?"


    "That''s the final step," Felix said. "First, we need to dispel your fear of dragons. What''s the best way to eliminate fear? You should all have some experience..."


    "First, get to know them. Headmaster Dumbledore found a teacher for you who knows more about dragons than I do."


    As he spoke, the curtain of a tent in front of them was lifted, and two identical old men emerged.


    "Mr. Scamander, what do you think?" Felix politely asked.


    "Interesting, very interesting... Quite an eye-opener." The two old men spoke in unison, ncing at each other and smiling.


    >


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 Chapter 388: Newts Life Experiences

    Chapter 388: Newt''s Life Experiences


    Felix was just about to start introducing himself when, all of a sudden, a ck shadow darted out from the tent. It scampered up Newt''s leg and settled onto his shoulder, one hand on its hip and the other pointing at Felix.


    "Squeak! Squeak!" excitedly squealed the Niffler, its little voice high-pitched.


    Even Harry could tell ¨C this Niffler was reporting something.


    "Oh, Pickett," Newt soothed, "It''s good to be curious, my friend. You really should read the section about you in my ''Fantastic Beasts'' book. And if you could read, I''d send you letters every year..."


    Pickett looked at Newt in disbelief.


    Newt exchanged a nce with it. "Have you had your medicine yet? I brought a portion..."


    "Squeak!"


    Pickett let out a mournful cry and leaped from Newt''s shoulder into Felix''s arms, hiding its head, causing the onlookers to stifle theirughter.


    "Alright,dies and gentlemen, let me introduce to you, Mr. Newt Scamander, the most renowned magizoologist of our time." Felix, holding Pickett, smiled as he continued, "Mr. Scamander arrived earlier this morning, thanks to the persuasion of Headmaster Dumbledore, who convinced him to leave behind a precious memory, to endure within Hogwarts... If the history of the school is ever chronicled in the future, today will surely be a noteworthy entry."Newt looked a bit ufortable as he stared at Felix, his expression mirroring that of the memory he had left behind.


    The glint of knowledge admiration sparkled in Hermione''s eyes, and she couldn''t wait to share, "Mr. Newt Scamander, we''ve written to you ¨C Ron, Harry, and I," she gestured to the two beside her, "about Hagrid''s Buckbeak! He''s still in the Forbidden Forest, living with his family!"


    Newt looked at Hermione, then at the slightly shorter figures of Harry and Ron, and at Cedric, Colin, and Roger standing nearby, all of them staring at him intently. He realized he had be the center of attention.


    He said gently, "Miss Granger, is it? Oh... I simply did what I believed was right... I''m d for it, too."


    They gathered around a rudimentary wooden table at the campsite, the texture of the wood grain on the table''s surface clearly visible. Newt''s memory gave a quiet apology, "Excuse me," and promptly vanished.


    Newt himself blinked and looked with a hint of longing at the spot where the memory had disappeared. When he turned back, he noticed everyone was looking at him with slight surprise. Clearing his throat, he continued, "Well, let''s begin officially... Dumbledore told me to leave a memory behind and trust him with the rest... but, before I departed, I felt it necessary to have this moment with you all."


    "My journeys have taken me across five continents. I''ve visited theirs of beasts, the dens of subterranean creatures, and the nests of flying creatures. I''ve observed the peculiar habits of magical creatures in over a hundred countries, experienced their abilities firsthand, earned their trust. asionally, I''ve had to use a Travel sk to chase them off."


    "Travel, Travel sk...?" Roger Davies chuckled, adjusting his hair, "Did you encounter a group of migrating gnomes?"


    Others also seemed amused.


    But Newt answered Davies with seriousness, "No, a herd of Graphorns."


    "What''s that?" Harry asked.


    "Umm..."


    Felix motioned with his fingers, and a peculiar creature appeared on the ground, about a foot tall, covered in shaggy fur, with a bald gray head.


    "Just like this." Newt said cheerfully, "See,pared to their body, their heads are surprisinglyrge. They simply flop down on the ground ¨C yes, thank you ¨C you see, if you''re not paying attention, you might mistake them for a shiny, round stone. Many traveling wizards have not noticed, leaned against them to rest, or used them as pillows, only to wake up more tired and feeling drowsy... or falling into a state of hysterical despair."


    "These creatures love to chase shadows, so if you encounter them in the wild, making some noise can scare them off. Of course, Stunning Spells work too, or you can just kick them away with your feet..."


    Of the six champions, only Cedric had chosen Care of Magical Creatures in his sixth year, influenced by his father ¨C Mr. Amos Diggory, who now worked in the Beast Division of the Ministry. He had seen images of Graphorns in ss, but hearing Newt''s description, he still found it intriguing. They all realized that this somewhat inarticte elderly man was remarkably talkative when it came to magical creatures, and he unintentionally slipped in many interesting details.


    Harry inquired about Thunderbirds.


    "That''s a type ofrge magical bird that can fly, sensing danger and creating storms while airborne." Newt reminisced, "About seventy years ago, to be precise in 1926, I rescued a Thunderbird from a trafficker in Egypt. I named it Frank. A few things happened in between... I can''t discuss it; I signed a confidentiality agreement... but during that incident, I met my wife..."


    He smiled slightly.


    "Thunderbirds are a bit like magnified eagles, adorned with brilliant feathers of varying colors, but most often trailing two long tail feathers ¨C they''re distant cousins of phoenixes. Frank''s feathers are gold and white, shining like flowing clouds when caught in sunlight."


    Harry pressed further, "But I heard that, uh, Thunderbird feathers can be used in wand cores. Do wands made with them possess any unique qualities? And what about the Horned Serpent?"


    Newt had heard from him that his wand''s core was Thunderbird feather, and Viktor Krum''s wand had a core from a portion of a Horned Serpent horn.


    Newt pondered, "Thunderbirds are highly attuned to supernatural danger. Wands made with their feathers are said to not only be powerful but also able to cast spells faster in duels..." The trio exchanged deep nces, prompting Newt to continue, "But I find these descriptions somewhat exaggerated. My wife, Tina, has a wand with a Thunderbird feather core, and I''m quite familiar with it. She oftenins that her wand can be hard to control."


    "As for the Horned Serpent, I don''t know much about wand cores from them," Newt candidly admitted, "I only know that if the wand and its owner share a strong connection, the wand can give an alert in times of danger, simr to the Horned Serpent''s nature..."


    Felix chimed in, "I happen to know a bit about wand materials. One thing you need to understand is that while wands choose wizards, over time, wizards also influence wands. Even wands with the same material and core can perform quite differently in different wizards'' hands. So, you should pay more attention to the person."


    They all nodded in agreement.


    In the next hour, they chatted and enjoyed a leisurely evening, as if they were truly in the Romania Dragon Sanctuary under Professor Harp''s guidance, coincidentally meeting a knowledgeable elder.


    "...The first time I encountered dragons was through a secret program in the Ministry of Magic, back in 1914, when I had juste of age... I was just a low-ranking employee at the time... but the others at the Ministry couldn''t handle a group of Ukrainian Ironbellies, so they turned to me. They had to abandon the projectter when the investigators from the Ministry found that these dragons would only respond to me..."


    Harry and the others gaped at Newt. He exined¡ª


    "I was born with the ability tomunicate with various creatures and form connections with them. I''m skilled at dealing with them... Later, in 1918, Augustus Worm, the publisher of Obscurus Books,missioned me to write an authoritative guide on magical creatures. I epted the proposal eagerly, though I felt inadequate. So, I spent my holidays traveling the world, gathering material. Then, in 1925, I embarked on a year-long journey to document the habitats of various magical creatures..."


    The young wizards present, including Felix, listened silently, fascinated by the opportunity to hear a distinguished, even great, wizard recount his youthful experiences and glean profound thoughts that couldn''t be captured on paper from his words.


    "It was a wonderful time, carefree and full of anticipation for tomorrow. I traveled through the dark forests of Africa, witnessing precious scenes like Nundu hatching from their eggs; I waded through the bright deserts of Egypt, chasing the legends of the Sphinx; I wandered to the untouched greenkes of Irnd, draping Water Horse with water lilies; I traversed the winding European mountains, witnessing Mountain Trolls attempting to tame Erumpents in aical show..."


    "It wasn''t until 1927 that Ipleted the first edition of ''Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,'' which quickly became a bestseller."


    "Like a textbook at Hogwarts!" Roger Davies eximed.


    "My mom used it as a bedtime story to put me to sleep... but it had the opposite effect." Cedric said, eliciting good-natured chuckles from those around.


    ...


    "Children." Newt prepared to conclude today''s conversation.


    "My initial intention was simply to make more people aware of the unique features of magical creatures living alongside us and to improve their lives a bit. At that time, there were prejudices against these creatures, and for centuries, debates about the boundaries between animals and humans have raged... It was during my continuous travels that I began to contemte the rtionship between animals and humans more deeply. If there''s something from my experiences that I urgently want to convey to you, it''s that only throughmunication and understanding can we bridge the gap."


    Newt stood up, adjusting his blue coat.


    "Mr. Scamander, are you really deciding not to stay for a day or two?" Felix tried to persuade.


    "I''m a bit worried about Tina... She''s at home alone, taking care of the magical creatures in the basement. It''s not an easy task." Newt said, "I''ve left all my knowledge about magical creatures behind. He''ll stand in for me, telling you everything about dragons."


    "Good luck with your tasks ahead," he said, donning his hat and addressing the six champions.


    They reciprocated in a jumble, and then Hermione asked, "Mr. Scamander, when you first knew you''d be facing dragons, how did you feel? Were you afraid?"


    "Afraid?"


    "Meaning worried, too excited to sleep," Hermione rified.


    "My perspective might not fit yours, but in my view, worry just means enduring suffering again. And both then and now, we''re facing dragons in a rtively safe environment, so we can rx a bit... I hope that helps, Miss Granger." Newt answered earnestly.


    As he prepared to leave, he saw his memory concealed in the mist, behind him a host of magical creatures.


    The past vividly returned, his eyes slightly moistened, and he let out a soft breath. With that, he bid farewell and left Room 7.


    >


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 Chapter 389: A Rather Interesting Situation

    Chapter 389: A Rather Interesting Situation


    Emerging from ssroom 7, standing in the corridor, one could glimpse the bright moonlight outside the window, casting a silvery glow on the sparse shrubbery in the courtyard.


    "No need to see me off," Newt turned around and said, "I asionallye here to rece manuscripts over the years, and I haven''t forgotten the way."


    Sniffing, Bowtruckle perched on Felix''s shoulder and waved along with everyone.


    At a fork in the path, Hogwarts'' champions watched Newt''s figure, feeling a touch of envy.


    "Do you ever imagine being like Mr. Scamander, working in the field of magical creature protection after graduation?" Felix smiled as he looked at them, asking with a confident tone, "Or perhaps, at some moment, you wish to be a naturalist?"


    "Professor, how did you know?" Cedric asked, surprised. He had indeed felt an impulse just now, to follow in the old man''s footsteps and travel to every corner of the world to see those magical creatures they shared their magic with.


    Felix chuckled softly.


    "That''s the charisma of a great wizard. Just their own experiences are enough to move and inspire countless people, making them wish to follow in their footsteps... But you need to think it through, not rush into decisions."


    "Do you remember what I said? There was a time when post-graduation trips were popr at Hogwarts. You can use that as a reference, travel around more, broaden your horizons. Some truths only truly belong to you after you''ve experienced them; the wisdom from others is no more precious than a Knut."They wore pensive expressions as they dispersed by the rotating staircase.


    Colin Creevey and Cedric Diggory continued downward; theirmon room was in the basement. Roger Davies and Harry went up until, atst, only the three of them were heading towards Gryffindor''smon room.


    "It''s probably around ten o''clock, there shouldn''t be too many people in themon room, right?" Hermione said expectantly.


    During the day, they had seemed like exotic little creatures in the ssroom, attracting the attention of everyone. There were discussions all around; the attitudes of students from the other three houses were far from favorable. An atmosphere of opposition between them and Gryffindor seemed to be forming, as if they had stolen the honors of the other houses.


    Gryffindor''s students would defend them, but this defense often felt more like condescension, which was not what they wanted. Especially when they encountered the Creevey brothers after noon, it seemed the ''Harry Potter Fan Club'' had gained new members. Dennis Creevey, Colin''s brother, had even more charisma than his brother, as evidenced by the fact that he had brought a group of new students, representing all four houses.


    So, the three friends fled.


    They hurried to the Great Hall, finished lunch before the others arrived, and left in a hurry.


    In the afternoon, during the Care of Magical Creatures ss, Hagrid used the excuse that st-Ended Skrewts had grown to three feet and needed to exercise, so he had the students each walk a st-Ended Skrewt. These st-Ended Skrewts were no longer the soft, shell-less, colorless creatures from the crates; they now had a thick, gray-white, armored shell and astonishing strength.


    If one only caught a glimpse and ignored the exaggerated size of the st-Ended Skrewts, they would appear to be walking dogs. But the truth was, they were like helpless driftwood in a gale, or like small boats in a stormyke, being pulled forward by the st-Ended Skrewts¡ªwhenever sparks shot out from their tails, they would suddenly move six or seven feet forward, yanking the young witches and wizards holding the ropes behind them off bnce. Lavender Brown was directly dragged to the ground, emitting a frightening scream, struggling to stand up.


    Using this as an opportunity, Hagrid expressed his concern to Harry, Ron, and Hermione.


    The three of them thanked Hagrid for rescuing them from Malfoy''s relentless mockery, as Ron''s face was turning as red as a cooked st-Ended Skrewt¡ªSeamus had onceined that if Hagrid continued making them take care of the st-Ended Skrewts, he might just end up casting an Exploding Charm on them.


    Thisment united the long-simmering young wizards; they engaged in animated discussions. Dean described the fried scorpions and steamed crabs he had eaten, saying he could help out with either cooking method. Even Harry joined in, debating with them for a good while whether the st-Ended Skrewts would turn red once cooked.


    ...


    "Your faces don''t look too good. Worried about the Hungarian Horntail?" Hagrid asked at the time.


    Ron''s face cooled down rapidly. His face, once red from anger, now resembled the color of a st-Ended Skrewt''s shell¡ªa slightly grayish white. Simultaneously, his calves began to tremble involuntarily. In just a few weeks, the word "Hungarian Horntail" had sessfully surpassed "spiders" and be his new fear trigger.


    Seeing Ron''s expression, Hagrid refrained from saying more and simply patted his shoulder. With a "thud," Ron sat on the ground.


    "Oh¡ªsorry! But this won''t do, you should at least get your body in shape. That way, you can run faster..."


    This was why Harry, Ron, and Hermione''s attempts at consoling and thanking Hagrid ended up backfiringpletely!


    Ascending the spiral staircase, Harry and his friends deliberately slowed their pace. The Weasley twins hadn''t exhausted their fireworks fromst night''s celebration yet. Knowing their habits, they would likely make up for it today, perhaps waiting for them to open the door.


    As they climbed another step, two Ravenw girls came down the stairs towards them, took one look, then turned around and left.


    Hermione let out a long sigh.


    "Weren''t Cedric and the others supposed to exin things for us?" Harry asked, puzzled.


    "It''s only been a day, not that fast," Hermione said. "They''re still quite upset."


    "Let''s take a break here," Harry said with little enthusiasm. He sat on a step, seeing the portraits on either side of the stairs staring at them, he suddenly felt a surge of anger. "Do you want to see? Come closer and get a better look!"


    The portrait of an old wizard with a walrus mustache, who had just squeezed in, shot him a disdainful look, then grumbled and left.


    "Harry..."


    "I''m fine, just a bit ufortable," Harry breathed deeply and said. Sirius hadforted him in the morning, and the conversation with Mr. Scamander in the evening had momentarily pushed his worries aside, but now they were alling back.


    "If Malfoy ns to give me a nickname like st-Ended Skrewt or Scarhead, I''ll definitely give him a good lesson," Harry said, clenching his fist.


    Hermione''s initially solemn face broke into a smile. Soon, they all fell silent, each lost in their own thoughts.


    "Harry, do you think my family''s clock now looks like?" Ron suddenly asked. "Will it be pointing to ''Mortal Peril''?"


    Harry hesitated for a moment. "It probably won''t." He knew what Ron was talking about. The Burrow had a magical clock that didn''t disy specific times but instead showed what each family member was doing. At the position of twelve on a regr clock, it read "Mortal Peril."


    "I haven''t told my family that I''ve been chosen as a champion," Ron said, looking at Hermione. "You haven''t either, have you?"


    Hermione shook her head.


    "I hope to dy it as long as possible. Although Professor Harp said champions can invite their families to watch the tournament, I declined," she said.


    "I can''t get away with it," Ron said, grimacing. "Ginny writes home every week, and Fred and George send a letter about every month or so, unless they''ve caused some trouble. Then there''s Percy and Charlie, working at the Ministry, they''ll find out sooner orter..."


    "Maybe one day I''ll wake up and find them storming into themon room to drag me away, or I''ll get a Howler from an angry owl," Ron said.


    "We need to do something," Harry stood up and said.


    Ron and Hermione looked up at him.


    Hesitatingly, Hermione said, "Are you suggesting Room 7? But ording to the professor''s n, we''ll be studying dragon knowledge with Mr. Scamander''s memory in theing days. We''ll finalize each person''s style by the weekend and develop strategies for the tournament. Other schools are probably doing something simr. All of Beauxbatons'' students are excused today."


    "We can''t always rely on others, Ron, what do you say?" Harry looked at Ron.


    Ron licked his lips and slowly said, "I think Hermione has a point. We don''t know anything yet. Those spells won''t be much use against dragons..."


    "How can they be useless!" Harry eximed loudly, once again drawing the attention of the portraits, but he paid them no mind. "Remember the professor''s ck Pensieve? Remember why we were chosen? Have you all forgotten?"


    He stared into Hermione''s eyes, and she was the first to relent. Then he looked at Ron, who swallowed hard.


    A few minutester.


    Felix Harp''s memory leaned against the wall, arms crossed, casually observing them.


    "So, you''re nning to test the dragons'' mettle in advance?"


    "Exactly." Harry told Ron and Hermione, trailing off.


    Felix Harp''s memory tilted his head to the side, as if listening to someone''s words in the air. The three of them looked around but saw nothing. In the expectant gazes on them, the memory spread its arms. "Someone disagrees. But... I find it rather interesting..."


    The ancient, dark wall against which he leaned began to crumble, and one by one, dragons lowered their heads, spattering arge puddle of saliva in front of the three.


    "Do you need me to count you down? Three... Two..."


    "Run!" Harry yelled.


    >


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 Chapter 390: Seven Letters

    Chapter 390: Seven Letters


    In the ancient magical script ss the next day, Felix Harp was perplexed by Harry and his friends'' absentmindedness and distracted demeanor. He wondered if he had ced too much pressure on them and took a moment to reassure them as the ss ended.


    In the evening, he received a letter from an owl.


    He opened the letter, and a faint scent of gentleman''s cologne lingered on the envelope. The sender was the head of the Werewolf Registry at the British Ministry of Magic¡ª


    "Mr. Harp, greetings.


    Up until the first ten months of this year (early November), the number of registered werewolves within the UK has increased by twenty percentpared to the previous year. The entire department is exhrated by this achievement! Such amendable result is owed to the promotion and effectiveness of the Wolfsbane Potion. Thanks to the remarkable contributions of Mr. Belby and Professor Snape, I dare say that within a maximum of ten years, werewolves within the UK will be effectively managed. At that time, I will submit a report to the Wizengamot to propose awarding Professor Snape a Order of Merlin, at the very least...


    Regarding the turmoil surrounding the Quidditch World Cup¡ªtermed ''turmoil'' by the Ministry¡ªmost of the masked wizards involvede from pure-blood families, and their actions have truly brought disgrace upon everyone. I assure you, my family and I would never be a part of such actions.


    Among these masked wizards, two individuals have been sentenced to Azkaban for three and six months respectively. They admitted to orchestrating the incident¡ªone proposed a march at the campsite after heavy drinking, and the other employed despicable means to awaken the unfortunate Muggle Robert family...


    ...


    Other participants have been fined substantial sums, but due to certain political obstacles, their identities have been concealed. I know no more than what you could gather from newspapers, merely the names of the two instigators¡ªAmycus Carrow and Walden MacNair."Felix calmly folded the letter.


    Over the next two days, owls arrived from all corners of the world, starting with those from the UK, followed by France, Europe, and finally, other continents.


    Felix opened the second letter, this one from St. Mungo''s Hospital for Magical Mdies and Injuries. Previously, Felix had dedicated time to train a group of healers, including this young practitioner¡ª


    "Dear Mr. Harp,


    This marks our fifth correspondence, and I am grateful that you have not ridiculed my foolish inquiries, generously offering answers.


    Several patients diagnosed with incurable memory impairment have, for the most part, regained their sanity and can live independently. Five of them have been taken home by their families and only require weekly visits. Two severely afflicted patients, however, need continued observation within the hospital. Please pardon our limited capabilities, as we have yet to achieve the level of recovery achieved by the Longbottoms.


    Regarding your inquiry¡ªit is indeed true. Messrs. Crabbe and Goyle suffered severe magical puncture wounds to their chests and abdomens. However, both families have kept it under wraps and sought treatment from a retired healer through connections. Unbeknownst to them, that healer happens to be my uncle. I hesitate to admit my rtion to him in public¡ªthough skilled, my uncle''s penchant for alcohol led to a disastrous mix-up between Boomng skin and ginger root during potion brewing. You cannot fathom how thedy who sought treatment for facial blemishes that day ended up looking... Regardless, he left the hospital in disgrace, bearing the scratch marks of a patient stricken with sudden-onset insanity.


    Enclosed is a diagnosis report I obtained from my uncle, in exchange for two measures of fine malt whisky! That old nag! Once again, I wish you a pleasant life and sessful work.


    Also, a portrait of you and me in the hospital has be great friends. I convinced a painter-patient of mine to add a candy house to the portrait, which he adores!


    Furthermore, I''ve collected clippings of your coverage at the Quidditch World Cup, resting on my office desk."


    The third letter arrived from the Ministry of Magic, unsigned, containing a lengthy list of names¡ªover thirty of them. Felix studied the list closely, a sardonic smile ying on his lips.


    The fourth letter was a reply from Damocles Belby. His handwriting was somewhat untidy, and the envelope carried a hint of potion¡ª


    "Felix,


    Were it not for your reminder, I might have overlooked the Wolfsbane Potion matter. Forgive me, as my recent focus has been on other potions...


    Following your reminder, I deliberately inquired at the Extraordinary Apothecaries Association. Currently, the authorized sale of the Wolfsbane Potion by the Ministry of Magic remains steady. The Ministry has recruited a batch of werewolves for employment, tasks that involve hard and dirty work, but certainly better than before... Still, a considerable number of stubborn werewolves remain secluded in the fields. No one knows their specific movements, not even within their own circles. Today in Britain, tomorrow they might be crossing the channel to France...


    From what I understand, other European countries have approached the Extraordinary Apothecaries Association, hoping to act as intermediaries and persuade the British Ministry of Magic to share the recipe for the Wolfsbane Potion, especially the version that Severus and I refined. Felix Fogherty has been upied with this matter recently, constantly absent¡ªthese are the words of the Deputy Head of the Apothecaries Association. The general public is still unaware.


    One more thing worth sharing.


    While visiting the Deputy Head of the Association, I encountered my former Headmaster, Professor Slughorn. He still enjoys life as much as ever. When I gently suggested he cut back on sweets and preserves, he told me it was the greatest pleasure of his life."


    The fifth letter came from Romulus Vaisey in France.


    He had crossed paths with Felix Harp during the summer holiday two years ago. There was a slight misunderstanding then, but their rtionship improved after it was resolved.


    "Dear Felix Harp,


    I''m delighted to receive your letter.


    If you want to know about security in France, you couldn''t have found a better person than me, on the frontlines as I am. All I can say is that it''s business as usual... Those dark corners you''re so curious about, I can''t fathom why they interest you. Are you nning to write a book? Honestly, I haven''t really read your earlier Muggle books, just stashed them away when they arrived at the office. It was only when I was tidying up recently that I discovered a bag of Kneazle cat food had gone bad inside. I also found your book then, which solved a little puzzle for me. That day at the Muggle university in France, when my nephew reported suspicious individuals to me, your name sounded somewhat familiar. I might have mistakenly thought you were some exotic dark wizard...


    Back to the point. The werewolves in France are rtively settled and have no ns to migrate¡ªthough I''m hoping for that day. Of course, not necessarily to Britain, south or north would do just as well (do not publish the contents of this letter, as it could cause trouble for me). Another matter involves vampires and dark wizards. They''re locked in a fierce battle over a mine in southern France. I advised my informant to watch and wait, to cast the when the time is right. Perhaps by the time we meet again, I''ll be the Director of the French office.


    Additionally, my nephew Karami has also chosen to be a wizard. He''s currently learning the ropes alongside me. As I write this letter, he''s sneaking peeks beside me, but I''ve chased him out.


    Lastly, the photos from the Quidditch World Cup are quite cool."


    The sixth letter came from the head of the Muggle Problems Department, a branch of the Swiss Ministry of Magic¡ª


    "Felix, pleased to receive your letter. The suggestions you madest time were quite constructive. I made a few modifications and submitted them above. Things are operating smoothly now. It''s odd what''s still rattling around in your head...


    I''ve seen the photos reprinted from the British Daily Prophet. It''s hard to believe such a malicious event urred at the World Cup. If handed to us, we wouldn''t have stirred up such chaos.


    As for your question, I''ve learned from colleagues that the giantmunity here is still entrenched deep in the mountains, with no signs of external migration. Of course, I can''t be a hundred percent certain. If observers get too close, the giants might charge at them and start hurling stones.


    I''ve attached the address of the giantmunity. If you''re nning any ndestine investigations, please exercise caution."


    As Felix Harp ate his breakfast on Friday morning, he received the final letter. It was from Lucius Malfoy, a short and cryptic message with just a date and time.


    "November 4th, Friday night, 11 o''clock, meet at the peak of the highest hill outside Hogwarts."


    He casually wiped the ink off the parchment, spread jam on his bread. After all, he had sses to attend to today.


    >


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 Chapter 391: Persuasion

    Chapter 391: Persuasion


    Evening had fallen.


    Felix emerged from the Great Hall after finishing his dinner and was intercepted in the corridor by the anxious Cedric and Roger Davies.


    "Weather magic? That''s quite an obscure branch of magic," Felix looked at Cedric with some surprise.


    "I think it''s well-suited for the first task," Cedric said with rity. "When you can''t overpower, you can try circumventing with tactics like concealment, obscuring sight, and the like. I found a spell in the library these past days, Fog Veil. It can create a mist out of thin air. That way, I won''t need to rely on thebination of the Aguamenti spell and the Exploding Charm anymore."


    "Are you thinking of delving deep into this?" Felix thought carefully for a moment and then spoke slowly, "It''s not a bad idea, but keep in mind that dragon mes can counteract mist. Have you considered that?"


    "Professor Flitwick gave me some advice. He said the essential spells for dragon tamers are Extinguishing Charms, specialized magic to extinguish the mes of dragons."


    Felix nodded approvingly. "That''s true, but it requires a lot of practice."


    "Exactly. The spell is quite challenging. We''re not sure if we can reach the proficiency of those dragon tamers before the tournament. So, we need a backup n. In the Room of Requirement, we''ve been studying dragons extensively, learning the specifics about each breed. Collins came up with an idea¡ª"


    "Why isn''t she here?""Oh, uh, she confiscated a batch of unauthorized badges and is filling out forms¡­"


    Felix nodded slightly. "Go on, what''s her idea?"


    "Professor Sprout''s Greenhouse Eight inspired her. You know, there are a total of seven greenhouses in the school. Counting the virtual one in Room of Requirement, that makes eight¡­" Cedric exined. "Professor Sprout''s memory replica has conjured numerous rare magical nts, but the rarer they are, the more¡­ peculiar they tend to be."


    He carefully selected his words. He, Roger, and Collins had tried once and were soundly taught a lesson by the powerful and odd magical nts inside. Devil''s Snare, Whomping Willow, ckthorn, Exploding Berries, Spurt, and countless others they didn''t even recognize.


    It was only when Sprout''s memory replica came out that they were rescued. Roger Davies had been swallowed by a giant umbre-like nt, leaving only his legs iling outside. Though they knew he wasn''t in mortal danger, the experience left them quite shaken.


    This experience made Cedric a bit wary of their usually cheerful head of house.


    However, precisely due to that memorable challenge, they instinctively leaned toward that direction as they studied dragon lore and thought of strategies.


    "Professor Sprout was a bit reluctant," Cedric took out some ckish clumps from his pocket, "but she still gave us some precious ckthorn seeds."


    He looked at Roger Davies beside him. "Roger knows Growth Charms and is decent at potion-making. Following Professor Sprout''s method, we can cultivate a batch of fast-growing ckthorns."


    "The only drawback is that this approach can''t be a standard method against opponents. ckthorn seeds are precious, and using potions and Growth Charms damages their original structure, causing them to wither quickly."


    Felix pondered for a moment in his mind. Wasn''t that simr to what his little assistant had in her bead bag? Her bag even contained some Devil''s Snare, though it was processed with ancient runes.


    Felix thought quietly for a moment and then looked at the two of them.


    "I originally nned to cover this part during the weekend, exining the mutual restraints and cooperation of spells, testing the spells you excel at, devising strategies based on your strengths, and then practicing repeatedly using the advantage of Room of Requirement. But since you''ve already developed your own ideas¡­" Felix pulled out a piece of parchment and quickly wrote down the names of a few books and a string of spells.


    "There''s some material on weather magic here. You can take a look." Suddenly, he frowned and retracted the extended piece of parchment. "I digressed a bit. When ites to expertise in weather magic, apart from the tent merchant, Newt Scamanderes to mind."


    "Mr. Scamander?" Cedric and Roger Davies looked at him curiously.


    "Ah, yes," Felix''s expression became reminiscent. "He and his wife live in Dorset. I visited them once during the holidays, and that''s where I learned this. They have a massive underground chamber expanded with Undetectable Extension Charms. It''s filled with magical creatures from all around the world that need care."


    Cedric and Roger Davies blinked, seemingly realizing something.


    "As you might know, different magical creatures thrive in different environments. For this reason, Newt has divided the area into multiple sections, each with distinct terrain and weather. There are volcanoes, pools, thunderclouds, dense forests¡­ It''s not vast, but it''s incrediblyprehensive."


    "Wepletely overlooked this!" Cedric eximed with excitement. He nced at Roger Davies. Both of them seemed to have had the same idea: they were itching to go to the Room of Requirement right now.


    As they left in their excited state, Felix pondered, realizing he hadn''t paid much attention in the past few days. He hadn''t expected these young champions to be so proactive. Were Harry and the others the same way?


    Were they also working hard behind the scenes?


    He pursed his lips, good students with initiative were a joy to teach. He began to look forward to tomorrow.


    However, tonight he had an important meeting to attend.


    Late at night, the darkness was profound, shrouded in a misty haze.


    The November night was already quite cold, especially on the exposed mountaintop where the wind howled and trees swayed like ghostly shadows.


    Felix Harp sat on a bare rock, mentally calcting the time of the full moon. Unbeknownst to him, the time had passed eleven o''clock.


    "Psst!"


    Suddenly, a figure emerged, wearing a hood and a valuable fur-lined cloak.


    Felix nced at the stranger. "Lucius, your cane looks quite exquisite."


    "It''s a wand."


    Lucius lowered his hood, speaking deliberately. His pale blond hair looked silver-gray in the night. He exhaled a cold breath, meeting Felix''s eyes and shivered unexpectedly, emitting a muted groan.


    "Legilimens?" he said irritably.


    "Rx, I don''t usually resort to such rough methods. But given that you seek to coborate with me, I need to test your capabilities first¡­ It''s the foundation of any cooperation."


    Lucius frowned.


    He realized something was amiss. Prior to this, or more urately, before the Quidditch World Cup, his attitude toward Felix had been neither too warm nor too distant. Except for representing a few pure-blood families at Sirius ck''s brother Regulus ck''s funeral, where he attempted to integrate a dazzling new star into his group, he had not taken any significant actions.


    Unfortunately, that attempt had failed.


    However,ter on, Felix had subtly indicated his willingness to coborate. His style of speaking at that funeral was quite familiar to Lucius. In his imagination, Felix was preparing to enter politics and join the Ministry of Magic. Of course, he wouldn''t bother with ordinary positions; it would have to be the Minister''s position, likely even the seat Fudge held.


    To be Minister of Magic, one would inevitably require support from a portion of the families. And Malfoy had the power to sway a significant number of people''s attitudes.


    But that wasn''t the only possibility. Because at some point, Felix''s personal influence had be extremely far-reaching. Lucius gazed at Felix with his astute, calcting eyes. He had a vague sense that Felix was emting someone.


    Dumbledore!


    Same academic achievements, same impressive abilities, same fondness for Muggles, and even¡ªboth became professors at Hogwarts, nurturing generations of students inclined toward them.


    The only difference was that Felix also opened apany, managed by that werewolf.


    How could Lucius not know who Lupin was? A member of the first generation of the Order of the Phoenix. For Felix to employ someone rmended by Dumbledore, what did that signify?


    Carefully savoring the implications behind Felix''s words, beads of fine sweat formed on Lucius Malfoy''s forehead in the cold wind. He contemted for a while, then smoothly spoke, "You must have misspoken, Mr. Harp. It is you who seeks to coborate with the Malfoy family."


    "Oh, really," Felix said softly. "It seems you''re not aware of how perilous your situation is. Putting aside your despicable conduct at the Quidditch World Cup, even though I''m quite tempted to cast a hex on you¡­ Let me remind you of something¡ªthe diary."


    Lucius Malfoy''s face turned ashen in an instant.


    "Mr. Harp, I fail to understand your meaning."


    "There are certain matters I won''t divulge, as they involve your son and my students. In this regard, our intentions align." Felix said, "However, I need you to be clear about where the danger lies, so you won''t remain oblivious during the reckoning."


    "The Chamber of Secrets has nothing to do with the Malfoy family, even less so with Draco." Lucius tightened his grip on his splendid wand. "Moreover, that person is already dead!"


    Felix gazed deeply at him. "If you wish to believe that, feel free. But it doesn''t stop you from pondering it when you have spare time. Now, allow me to tell you a story, about a clever young wizard who¡ªcoincidentally¡ªhad the same hair color as you¡­"


    "...and thus, he triumphed over one of Voldemort''s Horcruxes¡ªthe diary that contained his precious memories." Felix didn''t mention Horcruxes, but Lucius''s face had already drained of color. "As a professor at the school, I saw through the malevolence of that dark magical object and destroyed it without hesitation. In doing so, together with this astute young wizard, I protected all the students in the school, particrly those from Muggle backgrounds."


    "A splendid victory, wouldn''t you say, Lucius?"


    >


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 Chapter 392: The Mark

    Chapter 392: The Mark


    Lucius Malfoy''s expression turned solemn, as if a chilling breeze had frozen his throat. It seemed as though he had to exert great effort to part his tightly sealed lips. He spoke with a distant air, "Very brave... Draco... I mean the young wizard."


    Felix studied his face carefully.


    The wind started to blow again, and the dark shadows of trees swayed in the open space between them. After a moment of silence, Lucius whispered, "I have some information. The Malfoy family is always well-informed... About a few months ago, during the summer... e night, the Dark Mark on the arm suddenly awoke from its slumber. It was an urrence that hadn''t happened in over a decade... Some people were terrified, and they confided in me about it, and I...forted them."


    Felix watched Lucius with keen interest. So, he had known about Voldemort''s anomaly all along? He must have been anxious and afraid for a long time... Was the Quidditch World Cup a collective release for those Death Eaters who falsely imed to have been Imperiused to avoid punishment?


    And when he extended the olive branch, Lucius conveniently epted it?


    "The Dark Mark on the arm?" Felix inquired, "I recall it only appeared over the homes of victims, as a sign of the Dark Lord''s malevolence."


    Lucius shivered. When he met those calm blue eyes, he couldn''t help but recall the events at the Quidditch World Cup. It was this person before him who yed with absolute dominance against hundreds of wizards... His magic seemed boundless, piercing through the chests of those nearby with ease... Every time he woke from a nightmare, he would ponder a question: What if the owner of those eyes had to deal with him?


    His posture grew even more subservient, as if he had be shorter.


    He murmured, "It''s a secret. The Dark Lord marks his loyal followers, as a means of connecting with them... And those followers, in turn, receive special treatment from the Dark Lord, granted the privilege of summoning him."Felix nodded in understanding; it made sense now. In the magical world, means of maintaining contact were limited,rgely due to wizards'' powerful ability to travel. Apparition and Floo Powder solved most distance problems.


    But during times of war, the need for instantmunication and intelligence sharing among wizards surged, and each faction employed different methods. As far as he knew, the Ministry''s Aurors acted collectively, striving for local advantages; the Order of the Phoenix used Patronuses formunication; but about the Death Eaters, he had been uncertain...


    So, they used the Dark Mark?


    "In that case, is every Death Eater branded with this Dark Mark?" Felix asked.


    "Not all of them... Only the ''loyal'' followers," Lucius emphasized, repeating what he had said.


    "How should I understand the term ''loyal'' in this context?"


    "The Dark Lord only cares about those who are useful," Lucius uneasily lowered his head, his rapidly shifting gray eyes almost hidden, "Those who possess great abilities, status, wealth, or unique skills... like Severus Snape."


    He quickly looked up, meeting Felix''s emotionless gaze, then hurriedly looked down again.


    "Severus?" Felix repeated slowly.


    "Yes... During school, he showcased remarkable talent in Potions, surpassing not just me but also any member of the Slug Club at the time. The Dark Lord valued his skills and didn''t always send him on missions; instead, he provided valuable potions from behind the scenes... Later, Slughorn retired, and Hogwarts needed a Potions professor urgently. The Dark Lord arranged for him to enter the school, to keep tabs on Dumbledore''s every move."


    Felix nodded slightly; he knew about this. Dumbledore vouched for Severus post-war, confirming him as his own double agent. But the current question was, who came first, the Death Eaters or the Order of the Phoenix? His intuition told him that a staggering secret was hidden here.


    "When did Severus join the Death Eaters?"


    "At a gathering before graduation, the Dark Lord personally summoned him."


    After a long silence, Felix spoke, "We''ve digressed. Besides that incident, has there been any other anomaly with the Dark Mark?"


    "There have been a few... intermittent burning sensations..."


    "Hmm," Felix said, "Like the poor signal on Muggle electronics?"


    Lucius paused for a moment and said, "You''re right, Mr. Harp." He knew what Muggle electronics were and understood the concept of poor signal.


    "Then, there''s one more thing left. Let me see what the Dark Mark on your arm looks like..."


    Lucius suddenly looked up. Throughout their conversation, he had been avoiding mentioning the Death Eaters and connecting himself to that term. But now, he had to make a decision.


    "Lucius...?"


    After a moment of hesitation, he trembled as he rolled up his sleeve. On the inner side of his left forearm was a faint red pattern resembling a birthmark. It was incredibly indistinct, making it impossible to discern its specific shape. If ced somewhere else, people might even believe it was an early sign of dragon pox.


    Felix mentallypared this with the information he had and finally recognized a few faint shadows of familiarity in its unique shape.


    "Under normal circumstances... during Voldemort''s reign, it was a bright red, like blood. After the Dark Lord''s disappearance, the mark faded, but now it''s starting to regain its visibility due to fading. We suspected that he was preparing for his return..."


    Lucius turned his head away as he spoke.


    "So, have you made your choice?" Felix smiled at him.


    Lucius''s thin lips twitched but he didn''t speak.


    "Just kidding, of course, you can y both sides, hedge your bets ¨C as you''ve always done. The future is uncertain for all of us, but, Lucius, I''m not like Voldemort. I value certain individuals enough, and I hope we cane to an understanding."


    "I eagerly anticipate any information from you that might save lives of people I know, and I extend my respect to you in advance." Felix straightened his posture, his tone turning stern. "Keep these words in mind; the Thunder won''t strike you if you do."


    "If the dayes when Voldemort returns..." Lucius struggled under immense pressure, "I would, of course, be willing... willing to contribute to the cause of justice, Mr. Harp."


    Felix disyed a satisfied smile. "Think positively; perhaps he''ll never return, and you''ve just issued an empty promise."


    "Oh, by the way," his tone lightened again, "I saw a broker enter Malfoy Manor. Is he working for the Malfoy family? I''m quite curious... It seems you have your own set of rules, without adding unnecessary magic..."


    ...


    Clouds obscured the moon. Lucius Malfoy stood still, a mental image of Felix Harp disappearing silently, just as he had done at the Quidditch World Cup, devoid of any warning.


    He sighed deeply. Today''s events were intense. Even with some assurances, he didn''t feel any safer ¨C the thought of causing trouble right under Voldemort''s nose made him shiver; no one knew better than him the terror Voldemort instilled. Fortunately, he only needed to leak some irrelevant information. He used that justification to convince himself.


    At this moment, he wished more than anyone that Voldemort''s return n would fail. But people like him never ced their hopes in vague "possibilities."


    As long as he navigated carefully, he had secured a ticket to the future.


    Regardless of who won or lost!


    After a while, he muttered softly. He would write a letter to Draco when he got back, asking him toe home for Christmas. It was time to give him proper guidance; he was always entangled with that Potter at school and was constantly losing...


    >


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 Chapter 393: Counterspells and Coordination

    Chapter 393: Counterspells and Coordination


    On the following weekend, the six champions gathered once again.


    Led by Felix Harp, they strolled along the edge of the ck Lake. Theke''s waters shimmered under the warm sunlight, and a few merpeople with forks in hand peeked out, observing them from the gaps between water nts.


    "Did you all make any progress?"


    Felix''s words acted like a switch, prompting Hermione to start muttering immediately.


    "I did some research. Hagrid''s dragon-raising books are utterly useless. The ''Indulging Dragons'' book does mention how to trim dragon nails with magic, but they rmend purchasing their own extrarge nail clippers instead of using magic... And there''s a section about treating festering skin... The book does suggest bribing them with tworge barrels of wine, but I believe that would only make their mes fiercer..."


    "Harry''s Disarming Charm isn''t very effective. The scales of those fire dragons are too sturdy. The best we managed was flipping off a couple of scales, and then the enraged dragon breathed out blue mes¡ª"


    Harry tugged on her sleeve from the side, and she blinked in realization. "Um, to sum it up, we think a few spells might be useful¡ªlike the Eye-Blur Curse, the Impersonation Charm, the Golden Fire, and the Lumos spell... but we''re not sure if we can use the Impersonation Charm in the final arena."


    "And then there''s dealing with dragons descending from the sky. I found out that even excluding the fire, their swooping down is terrifying..."


    She sighed. "Defeating a dragon is just incredibly difficult."After she finished speaking, she noticed Cedric, Roger Davies, Colin Creevey, and Professor Harp all looking at her simultaneously. This puzzled Hermione; had she said something wrong?


    Felix spoke cryptically, "Miss Granger, what has led you to entertain the notion of conquering a dragon?"


    Hermione instinctively looked at Harry.


    Harry scratched his head. "Isn''t it obvious? Mr. Bagman said it would be quite challenging. We¡ªmostly Hermione¡ªread that during onepetition, a st-Ended Skrewt went out of control, and all three heads of the school took injuries... So, based on that, we can assume our challenge will be even harder."


    Roger Davies eximed in surprise, "Could that actually be true?"


    Felix shook his head gently. "The likelihood is quite low. To give you a hint, the Ministry of Magic selects eggying female dragons for the dragon reserve. It''s possible they want you to retrieve dragon eggs without endangering the fire dragons."


    The six of them lowered their heads, pondering how to deal with this situation.


    "...Of course, it will depend on the specific format of thepetition. It''s never a bad idea to be well-prepared." Felix added.


    Finally, they arrived beneath a massive willow tree, and he gestured for them to sit down. "Now then, let''s set aside the troubles of the dragons for the moment and discuss the restraint and coordination of spells."


    "Back in your first year''s Dueling Club, Professor Flitwick demonstrated the coordination between spells. Perhaps you''ve even tried it yourselves. Allow me to discuss the rtionships of spell restraint¡ª"


    "In general, when we want to counter the effects of a certain spell, especially curses, it''s most convenient to use recognized counter-curses or defensive spells. For instance, the Concealment Charm and the Disillusionment Charm, the Stunning Spell and the Reviving Charm, the Locking Charm and the Unlocking Charm, the Banishing Charm and the Summoning Charm¡ª"


    "Simrly, we can use ''Rictusempra'' against a Boggart, ''Protego Patronum'' against a Dementor, ''Silencio'' against a Banshee or a Banshree, ''Expelliarmus'' against a Grindylow..."


    "But most of the time, when facing spells with no fixed counters, we need to think creatively and respond flexibly. If we want to remove some liquids, the ''Scourgify'' and ''Whirlwind Sweep'' spells can be used. Or if we wish to repel insects or small creatures, the Banishing Charm is more suitable, and the ''Evanesco'' spell is a bit of a stretch, unless you''re facing a group of small spiders or Fanged Geraniums. Additionally, although unverified, I specte that the Cheering Charm might work well for treating the aftereffects of Dementor encounters."


    "Think more broadly! In a duel, if you want to break through the defense of the Irond Charm, the most effective strategy is actually to use the Jelly-Legs Jinx... Of course, that''s when you''re facing inexperienced opponents. But no matter when, you can consider using Transfiguration to disrupt your opponent or create an area emitting a foul stench. Yes, I''m talking about the Dungbomb."


    Harry and Ron grinned at each other.


    Felix, in a detailed manner, exined the characteristics of each spell, captivating them with his words. They rarely had the chance to receive such aparison of different spells. In their sses, they learned spells one by one.


    Felix continued his exnation:


    "Of course, spells can also be coordinated. Professor Flitwick''s method is more advanced, requiring a certain level of magical control, but there''s a somewhat simpler way to achieve simr effects through rapid spellcasting."


    "For instance, the Snowke Spell and the Slippery Ground Charm, ifbined, can create an exceptionally smooth area, or three people casting the Sinking Hex simultaneously can create a trap in an instant... Don''t forget, there are three of you."


    Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged nces. They had experienced some unintentional coordination in this area before.


    In their third year, they simultaneously used the Stunning Spell to ambush Peter the dwarf, promptly knocking him unconscious. It took hispanion quite a while to wake him up, and even then, his mental state wasn''t the best¡ªhe was slow to react by more than a beat. Eventually, his partner escaped, but he got caught.


    "Why does the Ministry of Magic believe that a trio should increase the difficulty? Just because there are two more people?" Felix looked at them, his expression serious. "Do you recall the three keywords Mr. Crouch mentioned?"


    "Courage, cooperation, and fire."


    "Each word holds significance. ''Fire'' points to the source of your danger¡ªthe dragons. ''Courage'' is the most essential quality to ovee inner fear. I''m pleased to see that your spirits are high..." He nced at Ron; Ron''s resilience was rather weak, but he seemed alright for now, at least not trembling suddenly.


    "''Cooperation'' highlights the strategy you''ll employ through the task."


    Each of the six champions seemed lost in thought. In Felix''s view, Cedric''s team had progressed further on the path of cooperation; they had at least established clear roles. Cedric with his weather-rted magic, Roger Davies with his Dark Thorn spell, Collins was still uncertain, but he believed he would undoubtedly have a crucial role.


    As for Harry''s team, Felix wasn''t so sure. However, they would find out in a little while.


    "Carefully consider what each of you can do. In the afternoon, we''ll head to ssroom Seven to face real dragons. Though they''re not real, the experience will be quite instructive. I believe you''ll be surprised."


    Felix yfully said, leaving Cedric''s team excited but Harry''s team somewhat feeble, especially Ron, whose face suddenly turned pale.


    Felix shook his head inwardly; Ron''s mental resilience was stillcking. Hopefully, they wouldn''t be too frightened when the time came.


    >


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 Chapter 394: The Golden Sky Thief

    Chapter 394: The Golden Sky Thief


    The sharp cry echoed from the golden mes as a beautiful firebird emerged, its head adorned with a cluster of golden mes, and its beak reflecting a dazzling light.


    "Harry!"


    Hermione shouted loudly, her wand and left hand guarding in front of her as she struggled to control her magic. The dragon in ssroom Seven might be an illusion, but their magic was real, requiring careful restraint.


    They had learned that lesson before.


    Harry quickly moved away from the battling dragon, while Ron, who had prepared a bright light ball, shot a straight beam at the dragon''s wing. The beam struck the wing at an angle, scattering into finer rays on the smooth scales, illuminating the dim space around them.


    The spell went off course!


    Ron hastily adjusted his aim. This time, the beam exploded on the dragon''s face, a bright light that wasn''t blinding but still obscured much of its vision. This caused the dragon to momentarily pause its movements. Anxiously shaking its head, its powerful ws gripped the brown rocks, sparking like daggers against the stone.


    In the blink of an eye, the phoenix traversed hundreds of feet. Its long, sharp beak aimed for the dragon''s belly, where scales had been shattered by an earlier force¡ª


    "Chi!"Dots of blood sttered.


    The dragon let out a pained roar, swatting the phoenix with a w, turning it into pure mes that brushed against its scales. Panting heavily, it pped its wings, releasing a dazzling blue me at low altitude, turning everything it touched into ashes¡ªtrees and grass disintegrating, rocks cracking and popping as they submerged Harry and the others.


    After silence settled, Harry licked his dry lips. The scene from moments ago still lingered in his green eyes. Hermione and Ron, their faces pale, walked over, observing Cedric and his twopanions, who stood nearby with their mouths agape.


    It was now afternoon. Felix had brought them to ssroom Seven, intending to give them their ''first'' experience with the dragon''s might.


    But Cedric''s group of champions had been startled. Their previous performances hadn''t been wless, but they had showcased their individual strengths, including Cedric''s weather magic, Roger Davies''s magical nts, and Collins''s illusion spells and masterful nonverbal casting.


    As for Harry''s group...


    It was difficult to find the right words. Their understanding of the dragon''s attacks was impressive, with many of their reactions happening instinctively. This level of understanding couldn''t be acquired from books or stories; it had to be gained through hands-on practice, etched into their bodies.


    This was the way of dragon tamers. In their first year or two of work, every dragon tamer would bear some scars, deliberate remnants of their courage.


    "It''s still not enough... Fire magic inherently falters against dragons. Even Hermione''s ancient magic can''t prate the thick dragonhide..." Harry panted slightly.


    "Only the most potent spells will do. Sirius''s suggestion of the Blink Curse is a good one, but it requires exceptional dynamic vision and precise control. Among the three of us, only you, Harry, might manage it, but you haven''t mastered that spell yet." Hermione''s chest heaved as she struggled to maintain herposure.


    Ron sat down, exhausted. "Luckily, we encountered a Swedish Short-Snout. If it were the Ukrainian Ironbelly or the Hungarian Horntail..." He looked meaningfully at Cedric''s group and unsurprisingly saw their unnatural expressions.


    His mood improved considerably. Despite the lingering shock on his face, he began enthusiastically exining, "The Ukrainian Ironbelly is massive, sixty or seventy feet long. We once encountered a seventy-foot one. It just needs to charge and stomp on you... smack! You''re done for. Of course, you''d only see a gray shadow growingrger before your eyes..."


    "And then there''s the Hungarian Horntail, another behemoth. It''s okay if it breathes fire at you. I managed to cast the Irond Charm sessfully once, and then I saw a ck, long tail covered in spikes. Your spells would shatter like eggshells..."


    "The Peruvian Vipertooth''s breath is poisonous, and it''s incredibly fast; hitting it with spells is quite a challenge..."


    "All right," Felix interjected, somewhat exasperated, interrupting what seemed like Ron''sint but was actually his showing off. He looked at them a bit surprisingly, "You''ve managed to get ahead of the game to some extent, although there are still tactical issues. You''ve clearly adapted to the dragon''s attack rhythm, and you''re not too frightened to cast spells... However, I have to impose some restrictions on you to prevent you from forming a terrible habit."


    "The more failures you experience, the more you''ll reinforce a concept: that everything in ssroom Seven is fake. You might confuse this false courage. When the real matches, the audience, judges, or the arena itself will remind you of what''s real. Then you''ll find that your courage is like a beautiful soap bubble¡ªone prick, and it bursts..."


    Harry opened his mouth, wanting to argue a few points, but he felt there was some truth to this. After experiencing dozens of ways to "die," they seemed not to care about getting hurt anymore. Approaching thepetition with this mindset might lead to better performance, but more likely, they would impulsively make rash moves.


    For instance, he had tried to buy time for Hermione with apletely ineffective spell, only to be swatted away.


    "Next, we''ll proceed with targeted training. Each group has a lot of room for improvement... My task is to help you find your strengths because you''ll soon realize that time is simply not enough."


    ...


    Exiting ssroom Seven, Harry and his friends donned thick cloaks and walked out of the castle, following the path to Hagrid''s hut.


    In the pumpkin patch behind Hagrid''s hut, arge ck dog was joyfully romping around. Harry, Ron, and Hermione grinned at each other.


    As they approached, the ck dog ran over and transformed into a man before them. Sirius''s hair was neatly trimmed short, and his fairplexion made him look younger.


    "Sirius¡ª" Harry hugged him briefly. "You don''t have toe over every day."


    Sirius grinned, baring his teeth. "It''s my duty, and I''m quite bored, to be honest!"


    "Lupin suggested you find a job. You should be getting back to a normal life," Harry said, unable to suppress his smile.


    Sirius absentmindedly scratched his chin, seemingly lost in thought. "I''m in no rush for that. I can''t muster the enthusiasm... but forget about that. How about Felix? Did he give you a startle?"


    For these few days, he had been coaching the trio, instructing them on cooperation. However, he wasn''t an official Hogwarts staff member, so he couldn''t enter the castle. Loitering around Hagrid''s hut was Dumbledore''s way of turning a blind eye.


    Harry helplessly recounted the situation. Sirius scratched his chin and sat on a massive pumpkin while Hagrid''s dog sniffed his shoes, wagging its tail at him.


    "Go on, Fang!" He tossed a dog biscuit to Fang, then thought for a moment. "He''s got a point. You might indeed confuse reality with illusion, but we''ve achieved our goal¡ªyou''ve experienced the dragon''s various attack methods firsthand, which is crucial!"


    He said somewhat gleefully, "I saw the Durmstrang champions running amok in the Forbidden Forest; they''re probably wracking their brains."


    As the host school, Hogwarts champions did indeed enjoy certain advantages. These were mainly manifested in the extensive school resources backing them. While Hogwarts had opened its library and some resources to other schools, the critical Room of Requirement wasn''t avable.


    "But don''t get too smug. I saw some new faces from those schools. Most likely their professors came for specialized training."


    Sirius swiftly changed the subject.


    "So, let''s start today''s practice¡ªImpediment Jinx, Extinguishing Spell, Softening Charm. If we have time, we can also try the Disillusionment Charm and Transfiguration. But that might be too challenging for you, and I''m not great at Transfiguration..."


    Harry hesitated. "I think the Impediment Jinx might not be as effective as we imagined. The dragon''s head is mostly covered by thick scales, and there are protruding bones and spikes. It''s hard for us to hit it urately."


    Ron thought deeply and said, "What about the Bat-Bogey Hex? I''ve heard Ginny mention it. This spell turns boogers into bats. Just imagine a swarm of bats flying out of the dragon''s nose, making its nose blow up..."


    Sirius coughed a couple of times. "Nice idea, but no one''s tried it. After all, the Impediment Jinx is a proven spell."


    He looked at the three. "As for the precision issue with spells, there''s only one solution¡ªpractice extensively." Seeing the disappointed expressions, he continued, "Of course, efficient methods yield greater results. You need some handy tools."


    "Did you bring it, Harry?" he asked.


    Harry, puzzled, took out the Golden Sky Thief from his pocket. Sirius had made him bring it over with the two-way mirrorst night. Harry had been baffled and asked about it through the mirror, but Sirius hadn''t exined. Instead, he had changed the subject, leaving a cliffhanger.


    Sirius''s hand swept over the Golden Sky Thief''s wings, and a row of alchemical symbols lit up on the golden wings. "A gift from me, with two hidden functions. One is that its interior has been expanded with the Traceless Extension Charm, allowing it to carry things. The other is that it possesses a ''follow'' function."


    "Follow function?" Harry asked in confusion.


    "Exactly. It can fly around you within a certain range. This range can be adjusted. I originally wanted it to help you practice Quidditch, but you seem not to have noticed."


    Harry felt a bit embarrassed. He exined in a low voice, "I was afraid it might get lost, so I didn''t take it outdoors."


    Sirius brushed off this minor concern. "Apart from practicing Quidditch, it can also help you practice the uracy of your spells. Next, I''ll have it fly around you at heights between twenty and fifty feet. You''ll need to hit it with the Impediment Jinx. Of course, you don''t know that spell yet. No worries! You can try other spells for now!"


    Harry and his friends got excited. Hermione, however, voiced her concern, "Won''t we damage it?"


    "No, it won''t," Sirius said nonchntly. "It''s been heavily protected with magic. I told Felix when I gave it to you, this gift is meant for Harry''s children."


    Harry blushed and rolled his eyes, quite annoyed.


    >


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 Chapter 395: Approaching

    Chapter 395: Approaching


    "Whoosh~"


    The golden thief extended its long wings in Harry''s hand and disappeared in a sh under their gaze.


    The three of them looked around anxiously. "There!" Harry pointed above Ron''s head. A Disarming Charm shot out but missed. Hermione and Ron hurriedly chanted spells, and two red lights vanished into the sky.


    "You''re still far from catching it," Sirius said, arms folded, with a smug grin.


    Harry gave his godfather a disgruntled look. "Then you give it a try."


    Sirius flicked his wand silently. Several leaves from the pumpkin vines shot out like swords. The golden thief trembled slightly and dodged them. Sirius pouted in embarrassment.


    "I refuse to believe¡ª"


    He joined the trio. They upied the four corners, tilting their heads back, casting spells at the sky. The golden thief remained within a small area, constantly dodging like an agile ghost. asionally, they got lucky and hit it. A palm-sized transparent shield would appear on its surface, refracting colorful hues in the pale sky, blocking the spells.


    The four of them yed with high spirits until they saw three tall figures emerging from the Forbidden Forest in the distance. They were the champions of Durmstrang.They pointed and gestured towards Harry''s group, speaking in an awkward ent. The words weren''t clear initially, but gradually, they could make out phrases like "cheating... fake champions..." This soured their mood.


    "Ignore them. Once you defeat them in the first task, they''ll learn to shut up," Sirius said irritably.


    Harry felt like Sirius was convincing himself more than anyone else¡ªhe really wanted to go up and give them a piece of his mind.


    Days passed, and on thest Friday of the new week, during the final ss, all the champions underwent wand checks. Mr. Ollivander himself came over to assess the condition of each champion''s wand.


    Bagman and a few heads of the school were present. Harry observed the champions from other schools. Krum seemed even quieter, brooding and almost forgetting how to speak. Bryl''s presence, unseen for a while, became apparent. He looked darker than before. Every time he passed by the Quidditch pitch, the sounds of collective training could be heard, but two goblins stood guard at the entrance, so he never approached to watch.


    Fleur Dcour of Beauxbatons stood proudly in a corner, with the other two champions nking her, forming a small group.


    The three champions from Durmstrang hadn''t changed much. Besides looking more robust, there were suspicions about how they trained. The guy who seemed like a wall, when he pulled out what could be described as a wand but looked more like a stick, Ollivander didn''t seem too pleased.


    "African wands... quite extreme, even more unconventional than those from Germany and America... I can''t provide an urate assessment. At times, perhaps, they could yield surprising results..."


    Harry guessed it was about hitting a dragon''s toe when it wasn''t paying attention. He found the idea strange and exaggerated, turning his head away. Nona Lebert, the witch from Durmstrang who resembled a leopard, said, "That''s because we''re better at gesture-based magic!"


    During the wand checks, a minor incident urred. Harry declined an interview with a woman named Rita Skeeter. He''d held a dislike for the sensationalist journalist who had smeared Headmaster Dumbledore since his second year.


    When she grabbed Harry''s shoulder with w-like, red-painted nails and tried to lead him to a broom cupboard for an interview, he instinctively shook her off. She red at him dangerously, but when she noticed Professor Snape''s presence from the corner of her eye, her face erupted into a false smile.


    The final newspaper disyed three names and the rtivelymon ''concern''¡ªdoubts about their age. However, champions from other schools weren''t as fortunate. For instance, one of the Beauxbatons champions, Victor Krum, who had been defeated by a ''regr'' fourth-year student from Hogwarts, was highlighted with heavy emphasis. There were also some bits of gossip: the Beauxbatons champion excelled in enchanting magic, the Durmstrang champion was preparing a ''spectacr'' disy of dark magic, and there was even talk about the prodigious Quidditch yer Krum, who had made a ssh in the Quidditch World Cup recently. But it was the introduction to Durmstrang that attracted a lot of attention. The dynamic photo of a student with thest name ''Aelifindi'' transforming into an African elephant appeared consecutively for several days in the pages of the Daily Prophet, eliciting awe and discussions from countless readers.


    One of the impacts of this newspaper was that Ron''s news of bing a champion could no longer be kept secret. In the Weasley household, the only one unaware of this news was Mrs. Weasley. The others¡ªGinny, Fred, and George¡ªall attended Hogwarts. Mr. Weasley and Percy were well-informed at the Ministry of Magic, Charlie was working with dragons, closely rted to the first task, and Bill, who worked at Gringotts, had quite frequent contact with the family.


    They formed an alliance of sorts, all united to keep it from Mrs. Weasley.


    But all their efforts were in vain in the face of Rita Skeeter''s reporting. The very next day, an angry letter arrived¡ªnot for Ron, but for the Weasley twins¡ª


    "If I hadn''t read it in the paper, who knows when you would''ve told me¡ªpoor little Ronnie! He''s only a fourth year¡ª" Ron''s head was lowered, fixated on the bowl of porridge in front of him. It seemed like he wanted to drown himself in it because everyone else dining turned their heads towards him,ughing incessantly. Mrs. Weasley''s deafening voice still echoed in the Great Hall, "Stop being so caught up in those pranks¡ªpay more attention to your younger brother¡ª"


    Fred and George had already slipped away, each holding a piece of bread. Ron dashed out of the Great Hall, leaving behind stupefied students and the ceaseless screeching of the angry letter.


    ...


    Everyone had a different sense of time. While the ordinary students were still nning for their first trip to Hogsmeade of the new school year, the champions were improving themselves in various corners.


    Ron hadn''t turned in his potion homework for two consecutive weeks. Snape didn''t bother hiding his displeasure as he pped a "T" on it. Ron merely yawned in response, during the lesson on brewing antidotes, Snape''s gaze was fixed on him the entire time.


    "We''re definitely going to pass this year anyway," Ron told Harry and Hermione after ss.


    "But next year is O.W.Ls year!" Hermione countered passionately. She had admitted to the two of them that she regretted handing over the Time-Turner.


    "Who cares, Hermione? You don''t seriously think I n on taking his N.E.W.T level sses, do you?" Ron looked at her strangely. "Fred and George chose to give up some ssesst year, including required ones like Astronomy and History of Magic. They discussed product concepts during ss..."


    "That''s different! Do you have any ns for your future, Ron? Potions are necessary in many fields!" They left the ssroom bickering, heading straight for the library¡ªthere were still plenty of spells they weren''t proficient with.


    Felix''s demands were bing stricter. In recent days, he had them facing two dragons simultaneously. A panel of several professors made up the judging panel, providing evaluations.


    "The idea of summoning crossbow arrows in flight is good, but you have to consider your two teammates as well, Harry!"


    "Collins, you''re dealing with a dangerous beast; you need to learn to mask your scent. Also... stopping spells isn''t a bad idea."


    "Ron, the tunneling spell isn''t used like that. You can''t just jump in yourself."


    Finally, the day came¡ªNovember 24th.


    >


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 Chapter 396: The Keeper of Security

    Chapter 396: The Keeper of Security


    At noon, the students of Hogwarts gathered in Clock Square, led by Professor Flitwick, and headed towards the direction of thepetition grounds.


    "Madam Maxime has taken the champions to the temporary tents," Professor Flitwick eximed with excitement.


    Felix walked alongside him, moving at a steady pace in the lead. Behind him, students chattered and discussed with excitement. A wizard shouted, "I heard the roar of a dragonst night¡ª"


    Turning back, he saw a sea of people flowing like a twisting ck river. They exited the castle, crossed the long bridge, and followed a sloping path downhill.


    As they passed by the edge of the ck Lake, Durmstrang students descended from boats, cloaked figures joining the procession. Near Hagrid''s hut, the massive doors of a carriage swung open, revealing seven or eight Beauxbatons students in blue silk uniforms, along with students from the Institute for Magical Education who emerged from their temporary residence at the Quidditch pitch. They stood beside the Forbidden Forest, waiting for their fellow wizards and witches from the Wugadug Tribe.


    The uniforms of these four schools added vibrancy to the otherwise monotonous sea of ck, like colorful fish in water.


    The group walked along the edge of the Forbidden Forest for about twenty minutes. The castle and theke disappeared from sight, and they had ventured beyond the school''s grounds. The thick growth of trees and bushes on the right grew sparser, revealing the lush and imprable heart of the Forbidden Forest.


    Felix heard the sound of hooves. "Is it thestrals?" Felix squinted his eyes at the dense forest, and a peculiar-looking horse head poked out ¡ª a Thestral. It disappeared as soon as he looked.


    After passing another protruding grove, thendscape suddenly opened up. Before themy an amphitheater constructed for the asion, with tall wooden stakes supporting rudimentary walkways that undted with the terrain.On the western side stood a massive silver tent, and Felix caught a glimpse of Ludo Bagman hurrying inside.


    "Everyone, orderly ascend to the stands, no pushing," Professor Flitwick stood on a wooden step, instructing the gathering crowd. Felix mumbled an apology and turned toward the tent.


    As he reached the entrance, he sensed a solemn and subdued atmosphere. Ludo Bagman''s cheerful voice seemed utterly out of ce.


    "Alright then, it''s quite simple really. You need to pick out the models inside. Yes, you should know, dragonse in different breeds. You must select on behalf of your teamsdies first."


    Upon entering, Felix saw Bagman standing among the champions with an amiable smile, dressed in an old Falmouth Falcons robe he had worn in his youth. He held a purple silk bag in his hand.


    Around him were the captains of the six teams ¡ª Viktor Krum, Fleur, Krum, Cedric, Nona Levbert, and Harry. Among these six, Harry was the shortest, especially when standing next to the tall Wugadug witch; he looked like a lost child. Yet today, he and hispanions would face the threat of dragons together.


    Other team members were scattered within the tent, fixated on their captains. Breathing seemed to vanish within the tent.


    Fleur trembled as she pulled a small, intricately detailed model of a Welsh Green dragon from the bag, herplexion turning somewhat pale.


    However, Felix''s expression darkened. That was the "Fire Dragon Magic Lamp" from the "Future World"! Was the Ministry of Magic cutting corners like this?


    "Ah, Mademoiselle, you''re quite lucky," Bagman said. At that moment, he heard a low voice by his ear, "Can''t you make your own set of models..."


    Turning his head, he saw Felix looking displeased. Bagman stammered, "Felix... well, it was suggested by a young colleague at the Ministry. It''s a way to use charming magicmps to counter the stress from real dragons, to help the champions calm their nerves..."


    He patted the green dragon model in Fleur''s hand. It immediately sprang to life, jaws and ws moving, startling her into dropping it onto Bagman''s face. Awkwardly, he picked it up from the ground and handed it back to Fleur, saying, "Oh, it seems it''s not quite right."


    From the expressions of everyone in the tent, this performance was an absolute disaster.


    Fleur returned to her teammates with a cold expression, quickly arranging the final tactics in French. Felix nced hurriedly, but the constant swaying of the two champions'' bodies distracted him, rendering his mind unresponsive to any words.


    Viktor Krum was next in line. Nona Levbert,nding gracefully, drew a dragon with pearl-like curved scales ¨C the famous Australian Opaleye, renowned as the "Most Beautiful Dragon." But she didn''t spare a second nce, eagerly discussing the detailed characteristics of the dragon with her teammates.


    "Not particrly aggressive, favors sheep as food... Its mes are like moltenva, quite adhesive..."


    Victor Krum acquired the Hebridean ck from the Hebrides Inds. This type of dragon could reach up to thirty feet in length when fully grown, with the females being evenrger.


    Next, Charlie Weasley chose a bright red Chinese Fireball. He lowered his hand, leaning against a tent pole, staring at a hole in the canopy above. His teammates approached, and in hushed tones, one said, "Viktor..."


    With aposed expression, he answered, "Stick to the original n." His two teammates nodded in silence.


    Cedric Diggory drew a blue Swedish Short-Snout. His face lit up, and he approached Roger Davies and Collins, showing them his dragon. The previously solemn faces of the three disyed varying degrees of relief. This was one of their tactically suitable choices.


    Lastly, it was Harry''s turn. His expression wasn''t good. He knew what was left ¡ª a ck Hungarian Horntail, thergest and fiercest of them all.


    Two nights ago, he, Ron, and Hermione had sneaked a peek, all cloaked in invisibility. He was sure others had done the same. Madame Maxime''s arrival with the Beauxbatons champions wasn''t a secret, at least not during the gathering with Hagrid ¡ª or he''d rather term it as the ill-timed encounter ¡ª where the Madame had brazenly observed alongside.


    Oh, and they had run into the secretive Karkaroff as well.


    In the expectant gaze of Bagman, Harry mechanically drew thest dragon model. Lowering his head, he stared at the adorable Hungarian Horntail in his hand. The little dragon spread its wings, revealing tiny fangs, appearing to smile. It was surprisingly simr to Bagman in some respects.


    But Harry wasn''t fooled. He had seen the real Hungarian Horntail ¡ª the tail, which should have been bristling with spikes, was now extremely smooth. The spike locations had turned into bronze-colored spots. He subconsciously nced at Professor Harp, feeling that the design from "Future World" was a bit over the top.


    Why hadn''t he noticed this before? He wondered.


    Harry, Ron, and Hermione gathered together. He quickly said, "We need to change our strategy."


    ...


    "Alright, everyone has drawn their dragons!" Bagman said. "You''ve all got the dragons you''ll be facing. I need to step away for a moment to providementary for the audience. When the match starts, others will escort you into the arena. When you hear the whistle, that''s your signal to go out. Understood?"


    Others fell somewhat silent. Cedric raised a question, "What''s our task? And the order of the match?"


    "Task?" Bagman hesitated. "Oh, uh... did I not mention it?" He looked slightly confused, casting a nce at the others. Everyone in the tent turned their predatory gazes toward him. He pulled a handkerchief to wipe the sweat off his forehead, "Alright, my mistake. I should have rified from the beginning... You see, the objective is to get past the dragon and retrieve an egg, then make a sessful escape. As for the order... there''s no order. All of you willpete together."


    Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged nces. Looking up, they noticed Cedric looking meaningfully at his two teammates. It gave them a bit of assurance, as they had practiced this strategy back in ssroom Seven.


    Harry looked to Professor Harp, who was gazing at the carved patterns in the tent, showing no other reaction.


    "Whypete together? What if other teams interfere?" a Beauxbatons girl asked in a shrill voice.


    "This is also part of the test," Bagman cautiously answered. "You need to learn to have eyes on all sides and ears open to every direction. There will be gaps between each dragon''s cement. In theory... you''ll have enough space. You''ll understand when the timees. Well... Harry... can I have a word with you alone? Outside?"


    Harry stared at him puzzled. They left for a while, and Harry returned with a gloomy expression.


    "What happened?" Ron asked.


    "I don''t know. He seemed like he wanted to help me," Harry said, quite perplexed. "But I declined. We''ve prepared so much..."


    At this point, only Felix Harp remained in the tent. The others gazed at him curiously, expecting him to leave with Bagman.


    "Allow me to introduce myself. Felix Harp, the Arithmancy professor at Hogwarts," he said calmly. "You need not remember my name, just my duty ¡ª I''m one of the Keepers of Safety, and indeed, thest line of defense."


    "During your match, dragon trainers from the Reserve and Ministry personnel will be scattered around. They''re ready to provide protection at all times. As for me, throughout the entire match, I''ll be hovering above your heads and will intervene only in the most dangerous moments ¡ª when you can''t call for help in time."


    "So, best of luck."


    Felix stepped out of the tent, the buzz of voices surrounding him.


    >


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 Chapter 397: The Hungarian Horntail

    Chapter 397: The Hungarian Horntail


    Felix Harp made his way through the pirs of the stands, and Bagman''s booming voice cut through the restless crowd: "Wee... the first task is the Hungarian Horntail! The champions must retrieve a golden egg while evading the dragon... Please have the eggs ced, you see, the dragons are still asleep, which is the perfect time to observe them."


    Six dragons of various colorsy on the ground, appearing to be in a state of slumber, yet their immense size still instilled fear, even from the referee''s box, situated about five hundred feet away.


    "Next, let me introduce the panel of judges: the five Heads of School, myself, and Minister Fudge, who is standing in for my dear friend, Barty Crouch. Unfortunately, he''s taken a leave..."


    Felix located the busy Professor McGonagall. She was pacing at the edge of the arena, lost in thought. As he approached, she nearly collided with him.


    "Watch out, Mr. Harp¡ª"


    "Oh, it''s you, Felix," McGonagall eximed sharply, her tone more elevated than usual. "Charlie is looking for you. Charlie!" She called out to a small group of people, and a stout young wizard turned around and trotted over.


    "Hey, Felix," Charlie said, looking quite nervous, fidgeting with his hands. "We''ll be watching from the sidelines, carrying whistles with us. If danger arises, we''ll intervene¡ªof course, we''ll need your support as well."


    "No problem," Felix replied.


    A roar echoed from the distance, and a ck Hungarian Horntailzily raised its head. The nearby staff quickly ced the dragon eggs and hurried away.The Hungarian Horntail found itself in an unfamiliar environment, surrounded by a swarm of buzzing insects that irritated its senses. It also caught the scent of its own kind, and its two yellow eyes scanned around, soon spotting, not far away, a tform where five other dragonsy.


    Its mood soured abruptly. It managed to stand up, its nest made of shimmering golden straw beneath it. In that nest rested an egg, and it felt an intense connection to it. This was its child, a viewpoint it swiftly epted. Its movements became cautious, and a clinking sound resonated as it eyed the thick chain around its left foot, letting out a deep roar towards the sky.


    A st of scorching mes shot upward, creating a gust of wind, rapidly heating the air.


    With its agitation, the other five dragons also awakened. They lifted their heads, pping their wings restlessly and stomping their feet, causing a dull sound against the dark stone ground.


    The Hungarian Horntail surveyed its surroundings, clearly disliking the situation. It would be best to leave with its dragon egg. It tugged at the iron chain tentatively, finding it not entirely secure. Just as it was about to exert more force, it caught sight of a familiar figure.


    "Roar~"


    It let out a resounding cry¡ªit was that dreadful barbecue chef!


    Felix nced at it and asked Charlie, "Do dragons have good memories?"


    "Absolutely," Charlie answered. "Norbert remembers Hagrid even now. Whenever he misbehaves, I show him a picture of Hagrid, but I''m not sure how long we can keep fooling it... it''s getting smarter, and it doesn''t let us inspect it anymore..."


    Bagman''s voice guided the audience''s emotions as he continued, truly a master in his field.


    "Look, the dragons have awakened, but they need some time to adjust... and at least find their eggs. In the meantime, let me exin the rules of the match..."


    Felix retrieved a broomstick from his ring, mounted it with a flip, and shot straight into the sky. He circled the area twice, taking in the view from above.


    "This is quite the vantage point," he murmured with a smile.


    From this height, theyout of the arena became clear¡ªa silver tent for the champions'' temporary rest stood a few hundred feet away, and beyond that was the viewing stands. In the midst of the somewhat crooked, almost oval-shaped stands, six segments were marked out, resembling a daffodil.


    On each petal, closer to the center, a dragon was situated¡ªof varying sizes, they had all raised their heads, surveying their surroundings with unease. They were restive, swaying their wings and stomping their feet. The stone ground resonated with a dull sound.


    Near the stands and close to the silver tent, arge gate had been opened for the champions'' entrance. On the opposite side of the gate, a tform jutted out¡ªthe judges'' podium.


    Bagman, who had been energetically exining the rules, cheered, "Very well, our safety measures are in ce, and they will act as the final line of defense. As for Felix, I need not say much; you must have read about him in the papers¡ª"


    His voice trailed off, for Fudge''s dark gaze had shifted towards him.


    Bagman stammered for a moment, finally realizing what he needed to do. He stood up and called out, "Well then, let the champions enter!"


    The cheers were deafening, apanied by piercing whistles that echoed through the air. The dragons raised their heads, cautiously looking around. Soon, a wooden gate swung open, and the champions stepped forward.


    "Hiss~"


    Harry saw a person ahead stumble and fall backward. He quickly reached out to steady him¡ªit was the Beauxbatons champion. Harry couldn''t recall the boy''s name, but his condition was evident: he was in a sorry state, with his tears and runny nose covering the ground.


    "Fran?ois..." Fleur muttered softly. "For Nics mel''s sake, be a bit braver!" She tilted her head to the side and instructed, "Jacqueline!"


    Another girl, trembling, helped Fran?ois up. From Harry''s perspective, she seemed equally terrified.


    He felt a twinge of resentment towards Fleur, until he caught a glimmer of mistiness in her eyes. He paused for a moment, perhaps his expression had been too direct, and Fleur shot him a fierce re.


    The leading staff member guided them to an open area, where the air was much cooler than outside. Harry observed that the stone in front of the blue Swedish Short-Snout dragon seemed to melt like liquid, lying limp.


    He couldn''t hear any sound, but he could see the scorching liquid, like molten rock, dripping incessantly¡ªit felt like it was dripping onto his heart. Yet, that wasn''t his concern; he heard Ron swallowing nervously. Following his gaze, they beheld their target: an immenselyrge ck mountain.


    Only, this mountain was alive, and covered in spikes.


    Harry regretted not looking more closely at night; this Hungarian Horntail was taller than ten of him stacked together, its body covered in ck scales, resembling a lizard. It had yellow eyes and bronze-colored horns, with simrly colored spikes on its tail.


    He heard Hermione''s hoarse voice reciting information about this type of dragon, "¡­ the Hungarian Horntail is considered one of the most venomous and aggressive species. It''s one of the dragons that can breathe fire the farthest, up to fifty feet. Its aggressiveness increases when protecting its eggs... Female dragons are generallyrger than males..."


    "I''m just d Mum isn''t here," Ron said with a touch of humor, as he spotted Sirius waving frantically from the stands.


    At that moment, Charlie approached. His steady voice brought a hint of calm to Harry and his friends. They were quickly led to their designated spots by the ever-present staff. As they passed Charlie, he patted their shoulders, attempted to say something a few times, and finally managed a muffled "Good luck."


    Ahead of Harry, Ron, and Hermione stood the Hungarian Horntail. It was utterly different from the model Bagman had pulled from his bag¡ªits terror could only be felt up close. Compared to this dragon, they were like three mice.


    They had to tilt their heads to see its massive, spiky head.


    "This is ssroom Seven, ssroom Seven..." Ron kept chanting to himself.


    Hermione''s face was as pale as paper, and she strained to keep her voice steady, "There are dragon tamers around, Ministry personnel too. Even if we don''t trust them, we should trust Professor Harp... he''s right above us!"


    They all looked up at the sky. Against the light, a blurred figure stood, granting them tremendous courage.


    Bagman''s enthusiastic voice resounded again, "Our champions are in position, and they''re seventy feet from their opponents¡ªa rtively safe distance, as the dragons are tethered."


    "After the whistle blows, you can take action. Timing, strategy, effect, and the disyed courage will all be considered in your score. Good luck! Ready¡ªthree¡ªtwo¡ªone! Let the match begin!"


    The cacophony around them seemed to be muted, and Harry barely saw others. He had to focus on his own task¡ªfor safety, he had to start with reconnaissance. He shouted with conviction, "Firebolt, let''s fly!"


    Waiting quietly for a moment, he urately identified a familiar sound amidst the sea-like noise. A blurry figure soared from the direction of the castle. Harry flipped and ascended into the air, the familiar rush of speed calming his heart.


    The sky is my domain!


    Harry told himself, ascending rapidly until he overtook a figure¡ªthat was Professor Harp. He caught a glimpse of the professor rolling his eyes in his direction.


    Harry adjusted his broom, surveying below. At a height of seven to eight hundred feet, the dragons looked like the fire lizards Hagrid had spoken of in ss. He also noted that the entire arena resembled a daffodil: each petal near the center held a dragon, while the champions stood on the opposite side of the petals.


    From above, he could see that only Viktor Krum''s and Cedric Diggory''s teams had made a move. That inconspicuous wizard¡ªHarry couldn''t recall his name, but he knew he had a sharp, eagle-like hairstyle¡ªsuddenly rolled on the ground and transformed into a swift hawk. pping its wings, he soared into the sky, courageously heading towards the magnificent Swedish Short-Snout.


    Gasps echoed from the stands; the actions of Beauxbatons'' students had astonished everyone. "Animagus!" someone eximed.


    "Not an Animagus!" Bagman''s voice reached everyone''s ears. "That''s a unique human Transfiguration from Durmstrang. As far as I know, all three champions can perform this feat!"


    "Caw~"


    The bronze feathers of the giant hawk glinted in the sunlight. The Swedish Short-Snout sensed the threat, its glittering, multicolored eyes without pupils fixed on him. It spat out a fan-shaped burst of vibrant red mes.


    The hawk dodged nimbly, responding with provoking calls.


    On the other side, Cedric raised his wand. Hazy mist gathered in clusters, expanding and deepening in color until a dark, towering rain cloud formed, rising hundreds of feet high.


    The rain fell gently, extinguishing the sparks emerging from the Swedish Short-Snout''s nose. Annoyed, it lifted its head and spewed out blue mes. Its fire was scorching enough to melt rocks, yet its size was only about twenty-three to twenty-four feet tall. With the mes, it couldn''t reach the rain cloud above its head.


    The rain was minor, but it grew heavier, making it ufortable. The Swedish Short-Snout impatiently attempted to move along with its egg, its iron chain producing a grinding sound.


    Colin Creevey had vanished from sight somehow, and Harry grinned. He had figured out that Cedric''s team had chosen the most appropriate strategy.


    Harry dove downward abruptly, catching sight of Fleur''s team seeming to face difficulties. Other than Fleur, the other two champions hesitated.


    Bagman''smentary sounded timely, "It seems there''s a conflict in Beauxbatons'' team¡ªthis really shouldn''t happen... Look at Durmstrang; they''re using dark magic from a distance, but apart from making the dragon more irritable, it''s not much use... oh, wait, look at Krum! What kind of magic did he cast on himself? Diminishing his presence, he''s stealthily approaching¡ªcould he be nning to snatch the egg with his fast legs? He should be on a broomstick; Durmstrang''s strategy hasn''t fully exploited his advantage!"


    In the judges'' box, Karkaroff''s expression appeared displeased. "What''s he doing? He''s disturbing Krum."


    Beside him, the headmistress of Durmstrang¡ªa lean witch¡ªsmirked, and Karkaroff red at her. "What''s so amusing? Your other two students are just standing there!"


    >


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 Chapter 398: The Fire Dragon

    Chapter 398: The Fire Dragon


    Headmaster of Hogwarts was seated next to Madame Maxime, creating a striking contrast between the two. It was as if Madame Maxime had ced her porcin doll beside her. Her voice rasped, "Courage is something my students are notcking. The reason for not intervening is because there are more important matters at hand."


    "Is she casting protective spells on her fellow champions? The African gesture-based magic is truly unique, almost like a dance..." Dumbledore said with a smile, stroking his beard.


    Together, they turned their gaze towards a corner of the arena.


    The agile warrior, akin to a leopard, swiftly moved his arms, manipting the air with gestures and incantations. Colored lines appeared in the air, resembling ropes, forming circles around thergest Durmstrang champion. Despite the grimace of pain on his face, he remained immobile, caught within the ropes of magic.


    The most spectacr disy came from the Beauxbatons champions. The wands of the three champions emitted long whistling sounds as they unleashed powerful spells. Red and ck mes merged with swirling vortexes, creating a magnificentposite magic.


    The fierce winds even affected Crum, the Durmstrang champion who had been sneaking closer to the nesting dragon. Forced out of hiding, he retreated hastily with a grim expression. The fiery dragon had noticed his presence and guarded its eggs more closely.


    "Why do you behave this way?" shouted one of the Durmstrang champions towards the others.


    "This is permitted by the rules. One of a champion''s challengeses from other champions, as you should know!" Viktor Krum said coldly, struggling to control the ck whirlwind with hispanions. mes, like tattered silk, flew from the wind,nding amidst the other dragons, adding to the chaos.


    The Durmstrang champion clenched his teeth, yearning to cast a spell, but the rules forbade direct attacks on opponents.Harry, currently engaged with the Hungarian Horntail, suddenly lifted his broom to evade a beautifully dangerous ck me. A corner of his robe turned to ash, and he broke out in a cold sweat.


    He was acutely aware of the danger. The arena was filled with perils. He had narrowly avoided being hit by the mes of the crazed Antipodean Opaleye earlier. Even the sky, shared with the Welsh Green dragon, had be more treacherous.


    He had to make space for the Green dragon, allowing it to engage the Antipodean Opaleye. Harry himself moved towards the direction of Beauxbatons. There stood Fleur Dcour, about forty feet away from the dragon. She seemed to be casting aplex enchantment, causing the dragon to appear drowsy. However, at crucial moments, ck mes from the territory of the other Hungarian Horntail champions flew over, waking up the dragon.


    Fleur scowled at these mes while the other two Beauxbatons champions were preupied with her troubles.


    Harry stood high above, surveying the scene, a realization dawning upon him. To end the match without further disturbances, he had to act quickly. Descending, he shared his idea with Ron and Hermione.


    The two had been busy during this time. One was raising a tall earthen wall, and the other was digging a deep pit. It looked like a rudimentary defense site. Even Bagman looked in their direction, but there might not be much to say; he soon turned his head away.


    "The situation is intense, despite only two minutes passing... But in my opinion, if no results are achieved in half an hour, it will be difficultter on... Oh, look, the Hogwarts champion and the Durmstrang champion are making a new move! Are they going to coborate? Merlin''s beard!"


    He eximed in shock, capturing everyone''s attention.


    At that moment, on Cedric''s side, the blue Swedish Short-Snout dragon had reached its limit enduring the cloud above. Moreover,yers of mist had gathered outside theyers of rain, obscuring its vision of the distance and even blurring its footing.


    Lowering its head, it spewed blue mes onto the chain around its feet. The iron chain, enchanted against fire, grew scorching hot. After half a minute, unable to withstand the heat, the chain snapped as it forcefully yanked.


    The Swedish Short-Snout was free!


    Excitedly pping its wings, it shot straight into the sky, shattering the annoying rain clouds. The dragon caught a glimpse of a wizard riding a broomstick and arge blue eagle, but it nced warily at the massive Hungarian Horntail and refrained from approaching, merely releasing a long stream of fire.


    Immediately, the dragon turned around and dived, passing through the thick mist. The annoying wizard was no longer in its sight, reced by a goat. The dragon was feeling a bit hungry. It nced at its dragon''s nest, feeling a sense of danger. Flying to the nest, it used its hind leg to grab a dragon egg, intending to ce it in a safe spot before going after the goat. However, just as it lifted off the ground, it heard an incantation. A sudden thorny growth emerged from about a dozen feet away, extending rapidly towards it.


    Wide-eyed, the dragon watched as the ck thorns crawled up its blue scales, wings, and neck. Struggling fiercely, it pped its wings, causing the thorns to crack like biscuits, but more ck vegetation surged forth.


    The detestable wizard who had disappeared earlier reappeared, casting spells at the dragon.


    "Confundo! Confundo! Confundo!" Cedric shouted loudly.


    With Roger Davies'' dark thorns grown from the Engorgement Charm, the Swedish Short-Snout dragon was temporarily immobilized in midair. Davies could now cast spells without restraint, sending red beams of light at its belly, where there were no scales for protection.


    The dragon grew drowsy, its wings fluttering aimlessly as it instinctively struggled. Unknowingly, it drifted towards the nearby Durmstrang region. At this moment, a silver tail, shimmering with colorful light, emerged from nowhere and smacked it on the head.


    Finally, it could take no more. Plummeting from midair, it crashed heavily onto the ground, creating a cloud of dust.


    However, it remained conscious. It still held the dragon egg carefully in its left w. It twisted its neck to direct a burst of blue-hot mes towards Cedric and Roger Davies. They had to retreat far away.


    Just then, the Swedish Short-Snout felt a slight sting on its left foot. It disregarded it, continuing to spew mes. Soon, a numbing sensation spread, causing it to halt. It looked down to see that its w had loosened. The egg had rolled aside.


    Is it out of strength? It wondered. But it immediately opened its mouth, not to breathe out mes, but in sheer astonishment.


    Its dragon egg... was actually growing legs and running, getting farther and farther away?


    Collins Flitwick, under the Disillusionment Charm, had finally seized her chance. Skilled in nonverbal spells, she had been dedicating her time to perfecting the charm and the Levitation Charm, all in anticipation of this moment.


    Little did anyone know that when the Swedish Short-Snout grabbed the egg, she had already crept close. Trusting herpanions, she stayed hidden, only revealing herself when the Horntail was ensnared by Roger Davies'' thorny restraints and flipped over. She used the Levitation Charm "Rxo Levioso" multiple times to release the dragon''s grip.


    Clutching the egg, each step felt like it was stepping on her heart, a rhythm of "thud, thud" echoing within her. She had finally escaped the most perilous area. She turned around and saw Cedric and Roger Davies both casting a Stupefy spell at the now immobilized Swedish Short-Snout.


    With a sigh of relief, she flung the egg aside, rushing back. She reached to her side, only to realize her wand was missing. Oh no, it must have fallen onto the arena. The chaos was overwhelming. Dust filled the air, and amidst the haze, she spotted a dusty, gray stick. Bending down, she picked it up and swung it forcefully at the dragon''s head.


    "Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud!"


    After an uncertain amount of time, it was Roger Davies who stopped her. "Stop hitting, you''ll wake it up if you continue." Collins stared at him nkly, then indicated a direction. It was the direction of the Durmstrang team.


    Roger and Cedric turned their heads and their expressions grew perplexed. In the position previously upied by the Antipodean Opaleye, a colossal African elephant had appeared out of nowhere. Despite being only ten feet tall, less than half the length of the dragon, it managed, with the help of its teammates, to seize an opportunity. It stomped the dragon underfoot and began trampling it with a maniacal fervor.


    "Merlin''s beard!" Roger Davies eximed, dazed.


    "Yes, the dragon is going mad..." Cedric said.


    >


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 Chapter 399: The Hungarian Horntail

    Chapter 399: The Hungarian Horntail


    Cedric''s premonition was correct. The Australian Protean Eye''s nature was rtively mild, but after being provoked by a hawk and then attacked by a leopard, even its good temperament reached its limits.


    However, before it could react, a sturdy wizard ran up to its feet. Despite his size, he still paled inparison to the creature before him.


    He extended a hand, seemingly wanting to crush it, but right under its gaze, he transformed into a half-sized African elephant. With a sudden burst of speed, he charged towards the Protean Eye. Long ivory tusks collided with its scales, causing it to veer off course. Then, a sharp pain shot through its wing joints¡ª


    He stepped on me!


    Uncontrolled, the Australian Protean Eye tumbled down. The elephant exerted more force, first stomping on its head, extinguishing the mes the dragon was about to breathe, then leaping onto its delicate wings and repeatedly trampling them.


    Dragon egg? It had long forgotten about the dragon egg. The Protean Eye now only wanted to tear apart this sudden appearance of an elephant piece by piece.


    "Elephendi! Withdraw!"


    The Valgadu warrior shouted. She resumed her human form, holding the dragon egg from a distance. But Elephendi was trapped. One of the Protean Eye''s ws clung tightly to his elephant leg. The magical barrier on the leg flickered incessantly, then rapidly dimmed. The protective spell from earlier was weakening rapidly.


    A harpy eagle from the sky swooped down. In the corner of its vision, the boy who had been riding a broomstick alongside a burning phoenix suddenly vanished. Without much thought, in the moment of descent, he transformed back to his human form and quickly cast a spell¡ªA Blink Hex! Simr to Crumb''s strategy, but bolder in execution.


    Gasps echoed through the stands. It seemed he was about to crash to the ground¡ª


    But at thest instant, he transformed in mid-air. He pped his arms, morphing them back into wings, grazing the ground as he lifted himself up. He arced through the air, turning his head to observe the oue.


    The effect was meager!


    The Protean Eye howled in pain, mes still spewing, yet it still didn''t release its grip. Like a nail fixed to the elephant''s body. Cedric''s group backed away, jubntly carrying the dragon egg out of the arena.


    On the other side of Valgadu, Harry, Ron, and Hermione harassed the Hungarian Horntail with the speed of Firebolt arrows, the blinding of the Lumos spell, and the sacrifice of the golden firebird. After a few steps forward, one of its feet left the dragon nest.


    Harry seized the opportunity, using a Phantom Shift¡ªnow within the Forbidden Forest, free from the school''s influence. His figure suddenly appeared by the Hungarian Horntail''s feet. He snatched the dragon egg and pushed off the ground, about to take flight on his broomstick.


    Yet, a spiky tailshed out. Gritting his teeth, Harry held a firebolt arrow in one hand and the egg in the other, using the Phantom Shift once more. Upon his reappearance, he was standing next to Ron and Hermione.


    Ron was struggling to aim the light beam into the Hungarian Horntail''s eyes, while sweat beaded on Hermione''s forehead, her eyes struggling to stay open. "We need to get out of here!" Harry shouted, noticing a bleeding gash on his shoulder. He couldn''t recall whether it came from the Hungarian Horntail''s tail or was a result of the Phantom Shift''s separation¡ªit didn''t matter much to him; he was just urging them forward.


    The trio retreated continuously. A blue me streaked from the side, and Ron lunged forward, causing them to tumble into the deep pit they had dug earlier. Their hearts raced as they watched the blue mes pass overhead. "We were so close," Ron muttered.


    They waited in silence for a moment. Harry considered looking up. "Don''t!" Ron stopped him. "The dragon''s gone mad up there. Let''s go underground!" So they began to chant the spell for digging, creating a tunnel beneath them. Their progress was swift, and soon they had a passageway.


    "Almost there," Ron estimated.


    They pointed their wands at the ground. The earth split open to reveal arge hole, and as they looked up, they saw Dumbledore''s smiling face peering out from the judge''s box.


    Harry sheepishly climbed out, covered in dirt. He felt somewhat embarrassed. Were they perhaps the first ones to dig a tunnel?


    "You''ve done well," Dumbledore said. "You''re the second team to seed."


    "But Valgadu¡­"


    "Ah, they''ve encountered a bit of trouble," Dumbledore said.


    Back in the arena, the Valgadu champions were indeed facing difficulties. The Protean Eye, still in its elephant form, had a firm hold on Elephendi. What was even more terrifying was that it had freed its head and was targeting its captor.


    The scorching mes clung to the wizard''s protective barrier like moltenva, emitting a sinister sizzling sound. The other two champions were utterly powerless. They swung their arms vigorously, casting spells one after another, but the Hungarian Horntail shook its head, and the incantations merely bounced off its circr scales like mosquito bites, achieving no effect whatsoever.


    The Australian Protean Eye opened its mouth, mes ready to burst forth. This time, the mes were even more vibrant in color, and they seemed to hear the sound of flowingva¡ª


    "Shh!" A zing red beam descended from above, striking its head directly.


    "The security officer has intervened. He deemed the Valgadu champions to be under a threat of death, stopping the dragon. This might affect their score. Valgadu is the second team to retrieve a dragon egg, just behind Hogwarts! However, this mistake could impact their ranking!" Bagman announced loudly.


    Others quickly approached the scene. As the red light dissipated, the Australian Protean Eye had fainted, along with the half-sized elephant which was slowly reverting back to its human form. The wizard''s skin was singed, bearing a terrifying sight.


    "Be very careful. Besides its mes, a dragon''s strength is astonishing. Few magical creatures can match it." Bagman btedly remarked.


    "Easy for him to say," Ron muttered discontentedly near the stands.


    Three teams remained on the field: Beauxbatons, Koldovstoretz, and Dumstrang. A few minutester, the situation became clearer¡ª


    Beauxbatons'' trio, led by Fleur, was the obvious powerhouse. They relied on her unique magic to hypnotize the Welsh Green Dragon, then one member acted as a protector while another discreetly retrieved the egg. The n was sound, but due to the interference of the Koldovstoretz team in the middle, the Welsh Green Dragon always woke up at critical moments, repeatedly sabotaging their efforts.


    Dumstrang''s position was rtively better. Krum, with his exceptional reflexes, managed to hit the dragon''s eyes twice in a row, sending it into a frenzy. However, they faced the problem of how to recover the shattered egg fragments from under the dragon''s enraged feet.


    Both teams were grappling with their respective challenges, but the true trouble came from the outside¡ªjust as Bagman had said in the temporary tent, champions needed to be vignt from all directions. They also had to contend with the increasingly expanding tornado of ck mes. However, the Koldovstoretz champions in the middle seemed unable to control this magic any longer, yet they persevered.


    "Bulstrode, don''t stop me!" Viktor Krum urgently shouted, "If I can''t get the egg, I''ll prevent others from getting it."


    Bulstrode''s face turned red. He didn''t speak, he just silently contended with Krum for magical control.


    He knew Krum''s course of action was wrong, and he shouldn''t make it worse.


    As an onlooker, he had seen it clearly. Koldovstoretz''s biggest problem wascking a means to get close to the dragon, and unfortunately, their magic power wasn''t sufficient to decisively defeat the Hebridean ck Dragon. The dragon had realized this too, it simply breathed out mes from afar, creating a turbulent swirl of mes mixed with its own, which was bing increasingly difficult to control. They had long been caught in a dilemma.


    At this point, the Hebridean ck Dragon appeared to be at ease, asionally unting a row of razor-sharp but shallow ridges on its back like a show of prowess. Its purple eyes gleamed, observing them intently.


    Seeing the situation on the field worsen, Viktor Krum came up with a dubious idea¡ªdisturbing the otherpeting teams.


    His choices were limited. The three opposing teams were beyond his reach and had already left the arena. So he could only target the closest two: Beauxbatons and Dumstrang, much to their misfortune.


    This was the reason thepetition had dragged on until now.


    Karkaroff and Madame Maxime were fuming, ring at the headmaster of Koldovstoretz. His expression remained stern, unchanging for a full ten minutes. Only when the Koldovstoretz team lost control of their magicpletely and a rain of ck mes began to pour from the sky did he rigidly request assistance.


    Dragon tamers and Ministry officials rushed forward, reciting extinguishing spells. The burning mes on the field quickly subsided.


    "Alright, thest team haspleted the task! Although it''s somewhat regrettable, there''s no doubt they secured the dragon egg. Moreover, this champion''s spirit of sacrifice might offset the points deduction due to the security officer''s intervention¡­ She seems to be injured. Please have the staff take her to the tent for treatment. The judges need to confer before scoring."


    >


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 Chapter 400: Projection Magic

    Chapter 400: Projection Magic


    Harry, Ron, and Hermione stayed to watch the entirepetition. It was the result of their pleading, as Professor McGonagall had continuously urged them to go to the temporary tent for treatment.


    "I''m fine, Professor McGonagall," Harry said. He took a vial of fresh white balm from Hermione and applied it to his wound. The bleeding stopped quickly.


    Professor McGonagall pursed her lips and stared at him for a moment. Taking advantage of the moment, Harry quickly lowered his head to cast a Healing Charm on himself¡ªa spell he had learned, one of the spells suggested by Professor Snape for the uing school year. He felt a tingling sensation around his wound and instinctively reached to touch it. Professor McGonagall''s stern gaze was upon him once again, and he had to retract his hand, while Ron chuckled beside him.


    "Alright, now that you''ve watched the match, you... Harry, you need to go to Madam Pomfrey for an examination," Professor McGonagall said, ncing at Ron and Hermione. Apart from being covered in dirt and looking a bit disheveled, they didn''t seem to have any injuries.


    After assuring Professor McGonagall multiple times, she finally left. Harry then noticed that his wound had tightened.


    "I''ve never found a spell this useful before," Harry said in amazement.


    "Oh, this spell only works for minor injuries. If you intend to be a Healer in the future, you''ll realize how much more there is to learn," Hermione said as she put the vial of balm back into her pocket.


    "Who would want to be a Healer?" Ron muttered, noticing that both Harry and Hermione were looking at him. "I mean, you''d have to deal with all sorts of weird cases every day... I should''ve told you, Bill had a pen pal from Brazil when he was at school. Because the pen pal couldn''t afford to travel, he sent Bill a cursed hat... Long story short, his ears got all twisted up, worse than a house-elf''s, and Mum had to take him to the hospital... I was only five or six at the time, but that memory of St. Mungo''s stuck with me."


    He scrunched up his face, disying a disgusted expression."A wizard with an extra arm on his chest, a witch who thinks she''s a kangaroo and can only hop¡ªreally strange stuff. And kangaroos don''t even exist in Britain! I also remember a poor bloke who got his chest punctured by some creature. The wound kept bleeding, and the smell during his treatment was unbearable..."


    Harry and Hermione listened with some difort.


    When the match was over, Professor McGonagall''s stern gaze immediately turned towards them. Before they could react, she seemed to have Apparated by using the Phantom Step, suddenly appearing next to them. They promptly followed her to the temporary tent.


    "Potter," Harry turned around as he heard Professor McGonagall say to them, "and Weasley, Granger... You did splendidly!" She pursed her lips and added with an unexpectedly gentle voice, "Go to the tent, Madam Pomfrey is waiting for you. Maybe you can make it back before the judges start giving scores."


    As they passed by the stands, the crowd enthusiastically shouted their names. From the tform above, a massive arm extended down¡ªit was Hagrid. Excitedly, he eximed, "You did it! Brilliant, facing those Hungarian Horntails!"


    Harry, Ron, and Hermione''s faces lit up with smiles. They took turns shaking Hagrid''s hand, and Ron floated lightly on his feet, saying, "Well... it wasn''t as tough as it seemed..."


    At the entrance of the temporary wooden gate, Sirius ck came bounding over, hugging them tightly.


    "You lot are the best I''ve seen!"


    ...


    Meanwhile, on the elevated judging tform, intense discussions were underway. The seven judges were exchanging thoughts about the performances of the six teams.


    "Did the Swedish Short-Snout seem a bit weak?" Karkaroff questioned.


    "It''s not that¡ª" Bagman countered, "Did you see it? Its mes melted the specially made chains of the enclosure. It''s one of the strongest dragons in terms of firepower... Felix, as the safety officer, you had the best view from up high. What do you say?"


    He looked at Felix. While Felix didn''t have the authority to give scores, he was brought over nominally to "provide insights not visible to others."


    "Actually, except for the Hungarian Horntail, the other five dragons are fairly simr," Felix scratched his chin and said, "If I had topare, the Swedish Short-Snout is rtively strong. At least its mes burn extremely hot... What I saw was that each member of every team performed remarkably well inpleting their tasks."


    "Victor Krum''s weather charms agitated the dragon, causing it to be irritable and irrational. It chose to disperse the rain clouds instead of attacking the champions first. That showed its intentions clearly... Roger Davies'' timing was quite clever. His Disillusionment Charm wasn''t extraordinary, and he remained inactive in the initial phase to avoid detection. But his role within the team was critical¡ª"


    Felix smiled and continued, "He yed the role of a savior and a signal for the final assault."


    "If the dragon went berserk and attacked Cedric, Davies would''ve had to intervene decisively. And the actual events weremendable. He cast the ckthorn Bramble as the dragon just took off from the ground... a splendid growth spell... As for Collins Flitwick, her actions might have been few, but you can all see the patience, courage, and trust in her teammates that she exhibited throughout the match. She squatted beneath the Swedish Short-Snout for at least two minutes. There were some minor mishaps, but she managed to escape."


    The judges present all had sharp eyes; Felix was merely stating facts.


    They quickly finished their discussions and prepared to give scores. Suddenly, Felix spoke up, "The Triwizard Tournament aims to select the finest young wizards from different schools, allowing them topete and train together. We hope to see them demonstrate the courage admired by wizards in challenging tasks. I suggest, esteemed judges, that while giving scores, you provide brief feedback as well. It will help the champions understand their strengths and weaknesses."


    The judges exchanged nces.


    "Wouldn''t that take up too much time?" Bagman spoke with some confusion, "We haven''t nned for this... but then again, it might work..."


    "As the headmaster, I do wish to see the champions make progress throughout this year," Dumbledore said with a twinkling smile.


    Fawcett hesitated, looking at the other judges. "What do you all think?"


    "It''s a good idea," Madam Maxime said. She didn''t see any issue with it and actually weed the suggestion.


    "I agree with the proposal. Students from Durmstrang should know their weaknesses, and the same mistakes shouldn''t be repeated," the headmistress of Durmstrang, the thin witch, said. She was seated cross-legged on a flying carpet, looking like she hade straight out of aic book.


    In reality, the British Ministry of Magic had already banned the import and sale of flying carpets. However, she was using one herself, and being a foreigner, Fawcett decided to overlook it.


    "Your words are wise, Madam Nagi," Felix gave a slight bow.


    The judges gradually agreed. They returned to their seats on the judging tform, ready to give scores. Felix left the high tform and smiled at Karkaroff¡ªthough he didn''t seem particrly pleased.


    "Ahem! Quiet, please¡ª" Bagman spoke loudly, and the crowd in the stands gradually hushed. "Next is the scoring phase. To ensure that the champions remember more than just a number, each judge will provide some constructive feedback alongside their scores."


    "However, allow me to review the entire match briefly. Many might not have had the chance to witness the entire event due to the sheer excitement of the scenes¡ªthey were too overwhelming for the eyes... I will describe it in the order of retrieving the dragon eggs."


    "The first team to mention is the Hogwarts champions: Cedric Diggory, Roger Davies, and Collins. They managed to retrieve the dragon egg in the shortest amount of time, defeating the dragon, and emerged without significant injuries.


    "The second team that retrieved a dragon egg was from Beauxbatons. Miss Nona Leberth used an impressive transformation spell to carry the egg outside. However, their strategy was somewhat aggressive, leading to one of their members getting trapped by the dragon. An intervention from the safety officer became necessary, which could be a deduction. Despite this, they put on an excellent performance as well.


    "The third team to retrieve an egg also hailed from Hogwarts. The youngest among them, only fourth-years, their performance was outstanding. They were one of the two teams to obtain the egg and safely escape from the dragon.


    "The fourth team to retrieve an egg came from Durmstrang. Although they only managed to salvage some fragments,


    "The fifth team to retrieve an egg was from Beauxbatons. Miss Dcour disyed remarkable courage. At the critical moment, she handed the egg to her teammate, sacrificing herself to secure their escape. However, she encountered trouble, requiring the intervention of the safety officer."


    Thest team was from Illvermorny. Although they didn''t retrieve a dragon egg, it was due to a strategic issue. Theirbined magic was still highly impressive..."


    Bagman briefly introduced the performances of the six teams, allowing the audience to relive the moments in their minds. Discussions buzzed through the crowd. At this point, the champions began returning one by one. After a short wait, Bagman called out loudly, "Now, judges, please give your scores for the first team!"


    Harry squinted at the judging tform. The first judge, Madam Maxime, raised her wand, and a long ribbon-like thing twisted out from the tip, forming the number "10."


    Madam Maximemented, "The Hogwarts team disyed the qualities that a champion must possess¡ªcourage, wisdom, loyalty, trust. In just this task, their performance was impable. I give them a full ten points."


    Her fair judgment earned her a warm round of apuse.


    "Maybe they''ll get a perfect score," Ron pped his hands and said. The sixth judge also awarded them ten points. "Hopefully, we won''t be too far behind. Our performance wasn''t bad either, right?"


    Harry nodded vigorously while keeping an eye on thest judge, Igor Karkaroff. Karkaroff raised his wand, the silver ribbon twisting into the shape of the number "7."


    The crowd was left dumbfounded, unable to believe their eyes. They were prepared to witness the first perfect score, but now it was shattered¡ªall due to that ring seven.


    "Karkaroff..." on the high tform, Bagman hesitated while looking at him.


    Karkaroff, in his typical oily voice, said, "You all saw courage, but I saw recklessness. They had no need to stun the dragon; it posed a potential danger..."


    Before he could finish his words, amotion erupted from the crowd. "Nonsense!" came a loud voice, and it was Seamus Finnigan. Karkaroff''s icy gaze shifted towards Seamus, but Seamus met his gaze with courage, shouting, "Everyone understands what happened. That was the best choice at the time!"


    Echoes of agreement followed his statement.


    "I stand by my opinion," Karkaroff said.


    "Very well," Bagman hummed, "each judge has the authority to score independently... By these calctions, the Hogwarts team''s total score is 67 points, currently in the lead. It''s unlikely that theter teams can catch up, but one never knows... Let''s continue."


    ...


    In the end, Harry''s team received 61 points, securing them the second ce. Ludovic Bagman praised the youngest champions and generously awarded them full points. The Vagadorian team earned 53 points, cing third; Durmstrang received 50 points,ing fourth; Beauxbatons gained 48 points,nding in fifth; and Illvermorny got 23 points.


    The rankings of Durmstrang and Beauxbatons stirred some controversy. Nobody expected that, amidst the judges awarding six and seven points, Karkaroff would audaciously give ten points, causing an uproar.


    Though Bagman had given Harry''s team ten points, it was within the context of mostly nines. It might have seemed abrupt, but it wasn''t a big issue, implying Bagman''s strong bias towards the young and controversial champions. Karkaroff''s action, however, was a tant attempt at cheating.


    After the scoring, the champions and judges reconvened inside the temporary tent, awaiting information about the second task. As Felix prepared to leave, Bagman enthusiastically stopped him. "Don''t rush, Felix. There are a couple of matters I''d like to discuss with you."


    Footsteps continued to pass by outside, the sound of discussions constantly in the air. Harry sat idly, gazing into space. Escaping from beneath the dragon''s paw had left him feeling rather lethargic now.


    "...That biased old fool! He gave his own school''s champion a ten, a perfect ten! Shouldn''t there bepensation for the shattered dragon egg?"


    "If I were him, I''d be too ashamed to show my face!"


    He heard intense conversations outside. He perked up and blinked his eyes twice, recognizing the voices of his two roommates, Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas. He wasn''t sure if they were intentionally standing up for him, but Karkaroff had only given their group a score of six.


    Inside the tent, Karkaroff''s face was turning purple, yet he endured the myriad of curious nces directed his way without saying a word.


    Felix cleared his throat. "Although it''s normal for the headmaster to favor his own champions, this level of ''favoritism'' is quite unusual... Maybe the scoring rules should be made more transparent."


    "We''ll definitely consider that seriously," Bagman quickly concurred.


    After a little over ten minutes, the footsteps outside became sparse. Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, stood up. He patted his belly and polished the gemstone ring on his chubby finger until it gleamed. He warmly said, "Congrattions, champions. I''m pleased to announce that you''ve sessfully passed the first task. I''ve noticed that some teams didn''t perform as well, but there are still opportunities ahead... Now, let me introduce the second task. Originally, Mr. Battie was supposed to present this, but he''s taken a leave. I suppose he''s exhausted from two back-to-back major tasks. I had to cancel my meeting with the Austrian Minister of Magic as a result..."


    No one was interested in his monotonous work log, but he continued for a good ten minutes, from the odd catchphrase of the Austrian Minister to the extraordinary potion master''s cauldron-teapot. He seemed to want to inject some humor into his speech, but he struggled to do so.


    "Kinsleigh!" he called out.


    A tall, dark-skinned man entered the tent, holding two golden eggs in his hands, one in each.


    "The second task will take ce on the morning of February 24th next year. Until then, you may all take a well-deserved break." Fudge said, "The golden eggs in your hands are the clues for the second task. Do you see the openings? They can be opened, and you''ll need to decipher the messages left inside. Honestly, I''m not sure if I''ll be able to attend the second task; perhaps Mr. Battie will have recovered by then. However, I might drop by for a little excitement. Being with the world''s most outstanding wizards makes me feel young again..."


    He waved his hand, and Kinsleigh directed the two golden eggs towards the champions from Durmstrang and Illvermorny.


    As Krums and Belles took the golden eggs, their expressions carried a hint of shame. Among the six teams, only they hadn''t protected their dragon egg.


    "Ludo, the rest is up to you," Fudge said to Bagman. He nodded at the crowd and then nodded towards Felix. "Apologies, I must leave now. The Ministry has a lot of matters to attend to."


    After everyone else had left, Ludovic Bagman finally had time to have a private conversation with Felix. He pulled up a chair, sitting beside Felix''s single-seater couch.


    "I''ve got two matters to discuss with you," he said eagerly. "The first involves one of your unique spells. I''d like to inquire about its effects, as it might be useful in the second task... The second matter pertains to your ''Future World''pany."


    Felix blinked, looking at him with inquisitive eyes. "Have you talked to Lemus about it? He''s in charge of thepany now."


    "I have," Bagman''s expression was somewhat regretful. "But he says he can''t make decisions on his own. I had no choice but toe to you..."


    "Are you suggesting that I donate money?"


    "Oh, no, not at all. I''ve heard that Lemus is working on developing projection technology. You know, he''s attempting to mimic television functionality, creating something simr. I''ve heard concepts involving signal towers and extensions, drawing from the reference of magical radios. Progress isn''t slow, but I haven''t had the chance to ask about the specifics."


    "Don''t rush to reject it," Bagman said as he noticed Felix deep in thought. "It would make for a fantastic advertisement. Also, the Ministry has promised to provide a rental fee¡ªthough, of course, outright purchase is out of the question. My control over the budget is limited."


    "If it''s a regr business transaction, I can''t imagine why Lemus would refuse," Felix said slowly.


    "Cough, well, he thinks I''m too chatty and would divulge research progress..." Bagman turned his head away, his expression awkward.


    "Alright, I''ll ask him for you."


    "And the first matter...?" Bagman exined it in detail.


    After a moment''s contemtion¡ª


    "I believe this kind ofpetition would be much more interesting," Felix said, his arms crossed, his eyes gleaming.


    Finished tranting, enhancing, and preserving the authenticity of the Harry Potter universe! If you have any more text to trante or any questions about the magical world of Harry Potter, feel free to ask!


    >


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 Chapter 401: Celebration

    Chapter 401: Celebration


    Felix emerged from the makeshift tent, his gaze skimming past the crude columns of the stands, spotting several figures bustling about, among them, the unmistakable figure of Hagrid.


    He approached, watching the burly Hagrid wrestle with a tangled mass of iron chains. With a resounding "thud," they crashed onto the ground near the Swedish Short-Snout. Charlie raised his wand, lifting one end of the chain, and it slithered toward the side of the dragon¡ªstill unconscious, sporadically spewing sparks from its nostrils¡ª*snap!* The chain mped around its ankle.


    "Done," Charlie wiped sweat, "Hagrid, you might want to step back a bit¡­"


    "It''s sound asleep," Hagrid said, blissfully stroking the spikes atop the blue dragon''s head.


    "Felix," Charlie greeted, approaching with a hint of resignation in his expression as he looked at Hagrid, "It''s not for the celebration tonight¡­ Mum arranged a task for me, making sure Ron and the others are emotionally unharmed."


    "Mrs. Weasley''s concerned?"


    "Well, she''s in quite a state," he mimicked his mother''s anxious tone, "How could they join the tournament? They''re too young! Little Ronnie was bawling when he got bitten by the garden gnome¡­"


    The next moment, his face turned serious, "We dare not tell her the truth. Luckily, the papers didn''t give much away. She''s torn through them for gossip¡ªDad''s relieved her attention''s diverted, discussing if Krum might''ve fiddled with his age¡­ jokingly."


    Felix chuckled silently, picturing Mrs. Weasley, fretting and anxious."She doesn''t seem too familiar with dragons."


    He approached the Hungarian Horntail nearby, it awkwardly inclined, lowering its massive, menacing head. Without its brashness from the arena, even its yellow eyes seemed more agreeable.


    "Don''t breathe in my direction," Felix muttered, tapping the spikes on its head, "Didn''t expect you''re a mother dragon, didn''t recognize the egg you were guarding wasn''t yours?"


    The Hungarian Horntail panted, stirring dust with its breath, ncing disdainfully at the nearby staff.


    "Oh, it seems not only did they snatch your egg, they also cast a confusion spell on you¡­ dreadful," he said, inspecting a shiny ck scale near the dragon''s neck.


    Once, he transferred the Ministry''s secrecy charm onto it. Now, with the tournament over, the contract''s effect had faded.


    "We didn''t steal its offspring," Charlie remarked, from his angle, Felix appeared half-eaten by the dragon, prompting a smirk, "Impressive camaraderie."


    "Off to the castle?" Felix inquired before departing.


    "After I''m done here. Got to visit the owlery first, write to Mum, tell her everything about today," his face suddenly grimaced, "Well, not ''everything,'' definitely not its height."


    He gestured toward the massive Hungarian Horntail, which disdainfully nced at him.


    Felix and the reluctant Hagrid made their way back. Hagrid paced like a boat, his big feet slower than Felix''s.


    "How''re the st-Ended Skrewts?" he asked.


    "Doing alright, lost a few, too much lettuce¡­" Hagrid absentmindedly said, turning abruptly upon hearing the dragons'' roars.


    "Do they hibernate?"


    "Oh, um¡­ hibernate?" Hagrid snapped out of it, puzzled, "That''s a question, never thought about it¡­ While the Sphinxes don''t, the Fire Crabs do. You''ve got a point, I should prepare early."


    Felix nodded, not particrly concerned about the Skrewts but wanting to divert Hagrid''s attention.


    The Skrewts were bred from abination of two magical creatures, quite a few of these in the wizarding world, but few managed to exist stably. Most magical creatures born from wizard intervention tend to be lost in the sands of time, only remnants recorded in ancient magical scrolls.


    The two parted near Hagrid''s hut.


    Entering the castle, the Great Hall was in a frenzy, students from all four houses reveling as if it were a festival. They sang joyfully, amidst the crackling sound of exploding crackers, creating an image of ''medieval wizards battling dragons'' in motion.


    Loud cheers erupted from the crowd.


    The champions were encircled by students, looking somewhat ufortable. Cedric smiled shyly, Roger Davies held a goblet, chatting with the quiet Colin Creevey, asionally adjusting his elegant hair. Not far from them, Harry and Hermione sat at the Gryffindor table, hungrily devouring food¡ªthey were famished, listening to Ron, who sat with a strawberry tart, vividly narrating.


    Felix estimated the time; it wasn''t mealtime, so the students must have raided Hogwarts'' kitchens.


    The Weasley twins stood with their friend Lee Jordan. Fred kept fidgeting while George desperately held him back, "Think, we''ll be school enemies."


    Lee winked at him, indicating Professor Snape behind.


    Fred turned, grinning, "Alright." Reluctantly abandoning an incredibly tempting idea, he pocketed the dungbomb he held. Then, like a magic trick, he produced a bag of egg biscuits, "How about trying this? We''ve got to liven things up; Zonko''s fireworks are too dull."


    "Want to taste it, Professor?" Felix picked up a biscuit, examining it. A beautiful canary shot out from the biscuit, circling them thrice before disappearing.


    "Is it odd because of the magic?" he asked, smiling knowingly.


    The twins shrunk their necks, dragging Jordan, who attempted to exin, as they swiftly slipped away. They maneuvered through the crowd, setting traps and slipped into Harry''s group, handing Ron a biscuit while he was engrossed in his storytelling.


    "Oh, thanks¡ª" Ron received the biscuit absentmindedly, taking a bite, "Where was I? The Hungarian Horntail spewing fire¡ªHarry and Hermione were wrestling with it, quite perilous. I thought to myself, I must do something, so I calmly cast a powerful spell¡ª"


    "You mean the Luminous Charm?" Fred beamed, "I''d say at least twenty in the school know that spell."


    "It''s different!" Ron argued, "Chanting the spellfortably on a cushion and being under a dragon''s eyelids are worlds apart. I mean¡ªat least sixty feet!"


    At that moment, he turned into a gigantic canary, perched on the Gryffindor table, startling everyone.


    "It''s Canary Creams¡­" Hermione nced, quickly exining.


    After half a minute, Ron started molting, feathers flying, his red face stammering, "You two¡­ beware of my hex¡­"


    "Oh, facing a dragon does wonders; now you''ve the courage to spout threats¡­ Well then, continue your tale of you and the dragon, sir hero? We''re all ears." Fred bowed, politely.


    "Of course! I''m not just talk." Ron perked up.


    Felix remained in a corner. He hesitated, contemting whether to intervene¡ªthere were too many people; almost the entire student body was there. Professor Flitwick, nearby, understandingly said, "Let the students celebrate freely; I''ll remind


    them to clean up."


    Felix strolled up to Snape. His expression mirrored the polished armor nearby, starkly contrasting the festive atmosphere.


    "They''re performing well, aren''t they? Slytherin''s students are also among them."


    "Would you like me to write amendation letter, Felix?" Snape said, tucking his arm into his ck cloak.


    Felix muttered something that sounded like, "Hopefully."


    "I heard Moody turned your office upside down?"


    "The power the Headmaster bestowed," Snape murmured, watching as ''canaries'' suddenly appeared in the hall, his expression filled with distaste, "You cannot avoid it either. Best keep those unsightly things¡­ Moody''s good at more than just surveince; his nose is quite sharp."


    "Oh, I will," Felix said, his smile radiant.


    >


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 Chapter 402: Hourglass

    Chapter 402: Hourss


    Felix scanned the area, but Moody was nowhere in sight.


    Indeed, this wasn''t the best setting for him to appear. Perhaps a firecracker might go off suddenly, turning the young wizards within his line of sight into animals representing their respective houses.


    Hmm... Felix imagined the scene¡ªtiny lions, serpents, badgers, and eagles scrambling around the Great Hall while house elves rushed in with baskets to gather them up...


    "Ha, amusing!"


    "Are you referring to the dog? Quite amusing indeed..."


    Snape''s eyes gleamed maliciously. Following his gaze, Felix spotted arge ck dog that had sneaked in unnoticed, snatched a piece of meat from the table, and settled in a corner, eyeing Harry.


    When their eyes met, therge ck dog waved its paw in a human-like manner, juices dribbling down its mouth.


    "He''s quite adept at being a dog. I had no idea Azkaban had this type of training..." Snape remarked leisurely.


    ...The celebrationsted into the night, skipping even dinner, exhausting the house-elves in the kitchens with the constant traffic in the Great Hall.


    Outside the Gryffindormon room.


    Yawning, Harry returned, and Violet, the Fat Lady''s friend, inquired eagerly, "Heard you got hold of the dragon''s egg?"


    As she spoke, her gaze fixed unblinkingly on Harry¡ªbeneath his arm rested a gleaming golden egg.


    "Yeah... just nonsense," Harry said, reciting the password.


    "It''s not!" Violet retorted.


    "He said the password... nonsense," the Fat Lady interjected, pushing her friend out of the frame, turning and revealing the entrance to themon room.


    There were few people inside. Harry wandered into the dormitory, finding it still deserted. cing the golden egg on his bed, hey on his pillow, lost in thought. The afternoon''s events seemed vividly present, though he had hidden his worries well during the day. But now that it was over, the dragon didn''t seem so daunting.


    He recalled Hagrid''s words, retrieving from his robe pocket the magicalmp of the Hungarian Horntail. Tapping it gently, the small dragon inside fluttered its wings, emitting a soft glow.


    Quite adorable indeed... Hagrid''s words made sense...


    He absentmindedly picked up the hourss from the bedside table. It was a Snidget given to him by Professor Hagrid, ced haphazardly among a pile of wizarding cards. When Crookshanks had entered earlier, it had knocked over the cards, scattering them along with the hourss. He had only gathered the cards then,ter realizing the hourss was on the floor when he identally stepped on it before bed.


    He had worried it might have broken, but surprisingly, the hourss was sturdy, unscathed.


    At that moment, Hermione peeked in from the doorway. "Harry, are you in?"


    "Here¡ª"


    "Let''s examine the golden egg," Hermione said abruptly, her attention fixed on the egg.


    "Where''s Ron?" Hermione asked casually while keeping her eyes on the egg.


    "He''s not back yet, probably with the younger students... you know, he''s been quite stressedtely," Harry said, avoiding mentioning Ron''s boasting.


    As they huddled around, contemting opening it...


    During the celebration in the Great Hall, Roger Davies had opened his golden egg, hoping to peek inside. Instead, he found it oddly heavy and utterly empty. Suddenly, a horrific, piercing scream echoed from within, more terrifying than any ghostly band Harry had ever heard, or even the banshee''s hysteria. His heart almost stopped.


    Consequently, the once-curious Lisa Turpin and the twins refused to touch it again. Harry entrusted it to therge ck dog, slipping him two sausages on the sly. And it was at that moment¡ª


    "Is this yours?" an ethereal voice asked.


    Harry turned to see Luna, apanied by a string of whimsical magicalmps floating around her. A tiny dragon-like me hovered above her unkempt hair.


    "Oh, uh... yes," he stammered.


    Sirius extended a paw, offering it to Harry. Harry nervously shook it, "You see... he can shake hands, I mean... it."


    "Many believe ck dogs herald disaster. Some even wrote a book about them," Luna said softly, her gaze avoiding others as she spoke. "But I don''t see it that way. He''s a loyal friend."


    "Uh, thanks," Harry said.


    He wasn''t sure if Luna had noticed anything, but she merely greeted him and left as unexpectedly as she arrived.


    ...


    Finally, Hermione reached out, tracing a subtle groove in the middle of the golden egg and pried it open.


    A shrill scream resounded in themon room, startling Ron as he entered, causing him to plop down on the steps, much to the Fat Lady''s annoyance.


    Hermione forcefully shut the egg. "No... it''s not... seems everyone''s eggs are the same."


    "What do you think?" Ron caught the second half of her sentence as he joined them, taking a vacant seat.


    "I read that in past tournaments, champions received different clues," Hermione exined matter-of-factly, visibly shaken by the sound.


    It was truly an eerie scream...


    Ron shrugged, tapping the egg, "What if we charm it... like Scourgify, or Scourg¡ª"


    "Scourgify Formtion Charm."


    "Exactly," Ron affirmed confidently.


    "That''s for potion analysis," Hermione retorted dryly, contemting, "but it''s not entirely impossible. This approach... we could try an alchemical method."


    "Out of us three, who knows this stuff?" Ron asked, ncing expectantly at Hermione, and then Harry, waiting for an answer.


    "Nor do I," Hermione said, raising her hands. "But I know Professor Snape does. Um, I can learn."


    "Isn''t thatplicated?"


    "Not at all. We have three months; if we crack the puzzle within one, we''ll have enough time to prepare," Hermione asserted confidently. "Plus, it''s an additional skill. Alchemy and wizarding lore go hand in hand¡ªyou both can benefit."


    Harry felt a pang; keeping up with the increasingly challenging wizarding lore club activities was taxing enough. The only good news was, the club never assigned homework. He nced at Ron, whose expression mirrored his own thoughts.


    "Leave the golden egg to you, Hermione," Ron said with conviction.


    Hermione''s stern gaze fell on him, prompting him to quickly change the subject, looking around frantically before eximing, "Oh, Harry, why did you bring it out?"


    Harry paused, realizing Ron was pointing at the hourss, absentmindedly taken out in a moment of urgency.


    "What''s this?" Hermione asked, feeling a sense of familiarity with the object.


    "It''s the Snidget Valen exchanged with me. I told you about it," Harry exined.


    "You did mention it, but I never really..." Hermione snatched the hourss from Ron''s hand, pondering. "I''m sure I''ve seen something simr somewhere..."


    "Is it an antique?" Ron asked eagerly. "You''ve read books on this?"


    Hermione toyed with the hourss, asionally holding it up to the magicalmp hovering above, making peculiar sounds.


    Harry and Ron exchanged nces, knowing it was best


    not to interrupt her at this moment, as she had delved into a fervent research mode.


    "I remember!" Hermione suddenly eximed, her eyes sparkling. "I know where I''ve seen this hourss, not in books. I was mistaken... it''s from Egypt!"


    "Egypt?" both Harry and Ron asked in unison.


    "Yes, Egypt. Oh!" sheughed suddenly, akin to a fox eyeing its prey, gleefully saying, "No wonder Professor Hagrid had a ss about Valen. It has quite the history."


    "What exactly is it, Hermione? Stop keeping us in suspense," Ron urged eagerly.


    "This hoursses from a greedy goblin at the Gringotts, no, wait," Hermione held her breath, whispering, "ites from a nefarious Greek dark wizard, the despicable Herpo!"


    >


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 Chapter 403: The Invincible Andros

    Chapter 403: The Invincible Andros


    "Herpo?!" Ron eximed sharply. Instantly, heads turned towards their corner in themon room. He hastily lowered his head, gesturing fervently to Harry and Hermione.


    The two approached, Ron''s eyes darting around incessantly. In a hushed tone, he asked, "Is... that Herpo? The creator of Horcruxes?"


    "Exactly," Hermione replied.


    Ron quickly nced at the dusty hourss on the table. Harry had wiped its surface earlier, yet it retained an aura of antiquity. His voice trembled, "Do you think... a part of Herpo might be in there?"


    "You mean a Horcrux?" Harry asked nervously, eyeing the hourss now in Hermione''s hand.


    "No!" Hermione said firmly. "Professor Harp checked it before..."


    She paused, lifting her head and recounting the events inside the Egyptian pyramid, focusing on Herpo''s statue and altar, and how decayed the statue had be.


    "It''s hard to grasp... wait a moment!"


    She dashed back to the girls'' dorm and returned with a shallow chestnut wooden tray. Harry and Ron understood her idea¡ªto relive the scene through a Pensieve.They gathered around, watching as the silver sand within the Pensieve poured like rain. The dim, eerie chamber of the pyramid from their summer vacation emerged again¡ªthe cursed narrow passageway, the isted corpse of a forgotten serpent, and the fleeting glimpse of the decaying statue.


    They witnessed it all from Hermione''s perspective. She arrived a momentter than Felix did, only to see him exhale, causing the statue to crumblepletely, disintegrating into fine dust and disappearing.


    Harry and Ron watched, awestruck. No eloquence could fully capture the intensity of the scene.


    "Wait a moment," Hermione said, her eyes fixed on the Pensieve. "There were gems and small objects embedded in the side wall of the altar. Look!"


    Harry and Ron leaned in closer, aided by Hermione''s memories. They saw the altar rotating, presenting various wizardly figures carved into the side walls.


    "Where? I only see gems!" Ron almost pressed his nose against it.


    "Don''t focus on the gems. These wizard carvings are the key. Their hands hold items," Hermione pointed, saying, "The gems are just decorations on the edges. Though, knowing Herpo''s cunning, they might also have had curses, but they''re surely gone now."


    Harry observed closely, discovering the wizardly carvings holding various small items¡ªvials, feathers, small sticks (possibly wands?), and... a dusty hourss.


    "There''s an hourss, just like this one!" Ron eximed. "Your memory is incredible, Hermione."


    Proudly, Hermione chuckled. "Initially, I thought it might be from the Time-Turner, you know, I had one for a year... but I quickly realized the differences. The Time-Turner had a golden timer on it, and both ends were round. This one is t and can stand on a table."


    "How would we know... we haven''t seen one," Ron muttered.


    He picked up the hourss, examining it closely. Through the semi-translucent container, hazily resembling ss, they could vaguely make out clusters of dark golden substance,pletely immobile.


    "Are you sure there''s no magical residue on it?" Ron hesitated.


    "I''m certain, at least not a Horcrux or a curse. Professor Harp''s magical perspective can detect magical traces."


    "Convenient," Ron said. But evidently, his interest waned once an authoritative opinion was given. He shook the hourss vigorously, the dark golden substance inside seemed stuck to the container, unmoving.


    "Oh, it looks like whatever it was, it''s just something mundane now. I know some shops in Diagon Alley that collect such items, you know, antique stuff... Are you nning to sell it, Harry?"


    Harry shook his head. "It seems somewhat nostalgic, doesn''t it? At least it reminds me that even Horcruxes decay," he chuckled mockingly, "If I ever meet Voldemort again, I''ll tell him his dreams of immortality are just that¡ªdreams."


    ...


    The next day, November 25th, a whole month away from Christmas, the young wizards noticed a sudden drop in temperature. Frost covered the castle windows, the sky ominous, brewing a storm.


    "It''s torture to attend Care of Magical Creatures at this time!"


    On their way to Ancient Runes ss, Harry and his friends overheard a fifth-year girlining to herpanion. Ron chuckled, "Hagrid''s st-Ended Skrewts will warm them up."


    Harry couldn''t help but grin.


    In the Ancient Runes ssroom, Professor Harp was flipping through the Daily Prophet, students greeting him as they arrived. Once everyone was settled, he rose from his chair beside the lectern, his woolen coat brushing against the chair arm.


    "It''s good to see that our ssroom isn''t missing a soul or two, especially after the first task of the Triwizard Tournament." Felix brushed off the newspaper. "It mentions Hogwarts holding both the first and second ces, and the Minister of Magic praised the educational achievements under Headmaster Dumbledore''s leadership. However... in my opinion, Professor Marchbanks from the Wizarding Examinations Authority has a more incisive and insightful view. If you''re interested, you should take a look."


    "Anyway, let''s begin today''s lesson."


    Felix asked the ss, "Has anyone heard of ''The Invincible Andros''?"


    Hermione was the first to raise her hand, not surprising. What surprised Harry was that Ron also raised his hand. Harry stared at him in disbelief; it seemed even Ron was surprised, retracting his hand.


    "Mr. Weasley?" Felix inquired.


    "Um, The Invincible Andros..." Ron stood up, not very confidently. "I read about him on a Chocte Frog card¡ªI collect them, only need two more toplete the set¡ªhe was an ancient Greek wizard known for his powerful spells, capable of summoning guardian spirits asrge as giants... He was also a formidable duelist; many couldn''t withstand his spells..."


    Seeing the professor smiling at him, Ron continued, borating unnecessarily, "Andros should have lived in the same era as the despicable Herpo, maybe they crossed paths? Perhaps even had a fight..."


    Many students looked at Ron with newfound respect.


    "Please, Mr. Weasley, take your seat. Most of that is correct, except for thest statement. It''s too far back in time, and there were no dedicated historians at that time. We can only seek truths from fragments of oral traditions. There''s currently no evidence to suggest they met..."


    >


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 Chapter 404: Alchemy

    Chapter 404: Alchemy


    "Gryffindor gets five points."


    "Today, our magical insightse from the descendants of Andros, or perhaps his nephews, documenting some of Andros''s views on magic, just a collection of his musings," Felix spoke gently. "Though I might not entirely agree with some points within, they do serve as good mind-openers."


    Ron, basking in the glory of the awarded points, sat a bit dazed. Even though this year''s House Cup was canceled due to the tournament, this still felt like an honor, especially witnessing the discontent among Slytherin students.


    Felix, too, found unexpected gains. Throughout the ss, everyone enthusiastically participated, and he was awarding points left and right, like they were freebies¡ª


    "Miss Grinss, precise answer, Slytherin gains five points."


    "Mr. Phinegan, though your hand was quick, your answercked depth, only two points. Let me exin further; immense power doesn''t necessarily equate to explosive power. We can discuss this issue separately at another time. I happen to know some useful techniques."


    "Crab... Your answer is quite imaginative, please take a seat."


    ...


    At the end of the ss, Hermione stayed back."Do you want me to rmend some books on alchemical analysis?" Felix asked.


    "Yes, Professor," Hermione said, while Harry and Ron eagerly looked on. She calmly continued, "We need to decipher the secret of the golden egg. Apart from relying on luck, we have two approaches: one involves using various unlocking spells, like Revelio or Revealing Charms, or even something like Revealing Rubber... We n to try each one! The second approach revolves around alchemy," she shrugged, "after all, this is a magical item. If we can decipher its production method, whatever secrets it holds will be revealed."


    She nced at Felix, seeking his opinion. "Professor, we believe this is a test for the champions, isn''t it?"


    Felix remained nomittal. "I haven''t handled a golden egg myself, so I can''t give an urate answer. However, your approaches seem reasonable. If I were in your ce, I''d think the same way."


    Hermione''s expression appeared greatly encouraged, casting a triumphant nce at Harry and Ron.


    Harry, on the other hand, thought relying on luck wasn''t a bad method. Despite asional misfortune and dangerous escapades, he was still in one piece... that said a lot.


    Felixpiled a list of books, signing his name on it. "There are some books from Mr. Nics mel''s collection and research. I''ve picked out a few that seemed fitting and ced them in the library. Part of the introductory books on alchemy is in the alchemical section, while those rted to alchemical item crafting are in the restricted section."


    He handed the signed book list to Hermione, walking out of the ssroom with them.


    "I was just about to head to the library myself. I''ll help you out; some books are quite hidden, and Mrs. Pince might not stumble upon them..."


    Hermione asked with great interest, "Professor, are you researching something new?"


    "Oh, sort of," muttered Felix. "If the Iron Armor Charm counts as something new."


    Outside the library, there was amotion. A crowd was gathered, two older witches excitedly peering inside. Hermione impatiently remarked, "Can''t he take the books back to his ship to read?"


    Felix caught sight of Krum''s figure, understanding that these people were probably his admirers.


    Ron''s expression turned odd; he used to admire Krum greatly, but since bing a champion himself, unconsciously viewed him as a rival. With one hand on his bag, he pondered whether to pull out parchment for an autograph.


    However, when he noticed a few girls at the entrance scrutinizing them and whispering, he withdrew his hand, straightening his posture as though awaiting inspection. After all, he was one of the champions, seeking an autograph from another champion seemed too embarrassing.


    "What are you thinking?" Harry nudged his shoulder.


    Ron realized that Professor Moody and Hermione had already entered. Suppressing augh, Harry said, "You''re not expecting someone to ask for your autograph, are you?"


    "Oh, no, why would I?" Ron blurted out, his face suddenly reddening.


    At that moment, they saw Moodying out with a book in hand. Passing by them, he stopped, both eyes fixed on them.


    "You did well, especially the tunneling move, brilliant! Yes, suits you well."


    The two stared at Professor Moody hobbling away. Ron incredulously said, "Suits us? Does he think we''re groundhogs? We just didn''t have any other choice..."


    Harry shook his head. "Perhaps he thinks, at our age, avoiding direct confrontation with dragons is the right choice."


    Entering the library, they found Hermione already piled up with books, beckoning them. Beside her was Professor Felix, with an equally towering stack of books, taller than Hermione''s.


    Harry and Ron took their seats, staring at the books before Hermione.


    "''Interpreting Common Alchemical Items'', ''Complete Guide to Alchemical Techniques'', ''Nick LeMay''s Manuscript I'', ''Nine Schools of Alchemy'', ''The Dispute of the Fifth Element'', ''Concealing Your Secrets'', ''Unreliable Alchemy''..."


    Ron''s finger traced the titles on the book spines, reading aloud.


    "You might want to start with the basics. I rmend ''Unreliable Alchemy,'' from a 17th-century alchemist," Felix flipped a page, not bothering to lift his head.


    As he spoke, a hefty tome in front of Harry and Ron flew open with a loud "thud,"nding in front of them. "This book introduces the fundamental concepts of alchemy, refuting some erroneous perspectives stemming from the Muggle world..."


    He hesitated for a moment but couldn''t resist adding a few more words.


    "If this author delved deeper or if someone followed his thoughts, they might discover a realm as fascinating as alchemy itself. However, magical ideology restricted him, coupled with the fact that in his era, ordinary people confused chemistry with alchemy, and the alchemical craze prevailed. Many errors were ringly obvious..."


    He paused, somewhat nostalgic. "So, you''ll find this author holds disdain for the conventional notion of ''alchemy''."


    "After the ''Secrecy Law'', alchemists no longer paid attention to those absurd conclusions from the non-magical world. And as it turns out: they, referring to Muggles, had their own alchemy; they simply gave it a different name¡ªchemistry."


    >


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 Chapter 405: The Sharp Insights of Magical Mastery

    Chapter 405: The Sharp Insights of Magical Mastery


    Chemistry... a word both unfamiliar and yet strangely familiar, as if it were a memory from a past life, Felix thought.


    Where could he have possibly learned about this concept? Recollecting his years in primary school wasn''t a pleasant memory for Harry. Aside from Dudley''s pranks and humiliations, there wasn''t much he wished to recall.


    Fortunately, he retained some bits of content from experimental sses. Chemistry, he reckoned, was about manipting substances, right?


    He picked up "The Unreliable Alchemy" feeling a bit bothered and nced at Hermione. "I''ve already gone through it, Harry," Hermione remarked, gesturing to a pile of books, picking out "The Dispute of the Fifth Element" based on her interest.


    "Miss Granger, I suggest starting from Chapter Seven. The discourse about the influence of magic on matter is remarkably captivating, one of the most convincing I''vee across in recent years," Felix suggested.


    "Ah, thank you, Professor," Hermione beamed.


    "And what about us?" Harry inquired, feeling the need for some guidance as the book in his hand was no thinner than Hermione''s.


    He randomly flipped through the pages, finding only a picture resembling the wizards on the wall of the ck family home, all with rolled-up hair and clothes reminiscent of courtly nobility.


    Felix nced at Harry and Ron, wearing a friendly smile. "Start from the preface. My experience with books tells me that foundational knowledge is paramount.""Once you finish this, move on to ''Nine Schools of Alchemy.'' It''ll give you the basic understanding of alchemy. After that, write aprehensive paper; alternatively, you could use a knowledge map... Later, when you read ''Comprehensive Alchemical Methods,'' or ''The Dispute of the Fifth Element,'' you won''t struggle to understand."


    Two throaty sounds resonated as Harry and Ron exchanged nces.


    "Divination ss assignment?"


    "Let''s just keep making it up."


    They swiftly grasped each other''s meaning, pulling out a parchment from their bags. They barely skimmed the introduction; Harry furrowed his brow.


    "I am a wizard obsessed with alchemy. Remember this name, Crofts Alberth Adrian. It will forever shine in the realm of alchemy, brighter than Nics mel, because I will be the first to conquer the Philosopher''s Stone."


    "Maybe some say Nics mel was the first alchemist to unveil the secret of the Philosopher''s Stone, but I believe it''s a misconception. If he truly produced the Stone, we wouldn''t be unaware... and I would immediately seek him out to be my mentor. But the fact is, he''s long gone."


    Harry heard Ron mutter, "It''s because of people like you that he hides." He smirked, finding it reasonable, and they continued reading.


    "Throughout history, there has never been a shortage of alchemists iming they''ve created the Philosopher''s Stone. It''s like those wizards who im to have legendary wands, boasting invincibility, yet always disappearing from our sight. Adrian''s assessment is: honor is the reward for hard work, who would willingly give it up? Simrly, we can specte that those who purportedly extended life, defeated death¡ªif they truly seeded, why hide? Is it because they''ve contracted incurable Dragonpox?"


    "Next, I''ll introduce my own experiences. I, Crofts Alberth Adrian, alchemical genius, graduated from Ravenw at Hogwarts. After graduation, I spent a considerable amount of time traveling, visiting renowned alchemists, gathering their thoughts, rectifying their mistakes, and finallypiling them into my first book. I''ll dedicate it to my alma mater, the greatest wizarding school¡ªHogwarts. If future students see this, they should learn about my outstanding achievements from my other books..."


    Harry felt this ''Adrian'' sounded too much like Lockhart. He wanted to ask Ron''s opinion, and Ron whispered, "I suddenly want to see if this person has written a second book. I mean... idents happen. Maybe our genius friend ran out of inspiration or met a Hungarian Horntail while on the road."


    ...


    Felix scrutinized his spells¡ªthe Iron Armor Hex, pondering how to merge them. It had been over two months since his return from Beauxbatons, and the Beauxbatons version of the Iron Armor Hex had sessfully reached level six.


    It seemed to have undergone a transformation, shedding the battle scars on its surface, bing smooth and shiny. Its color shifted to a beautiful blood-red, like it was carved from a massive ruby.


    Currently, Felix held a metallic mask, a part of theplete armor, in his hand. The left side was golden, the right blood-red. He observed them closely for a long while but found no clue. Initially, Felix spected on erasing his memories about the Iron Armor Hex and relearning it from scratch, hoping they would naturally meld.


    But this conjecture proved wrong.


    He brought both hands together, the golden and blood-red mask pieces shing with a crisp metallic sound, yet showing no sign of merging. He couldn''t help but doubt if his magical theory was insufficient toprehend and amodate such intense magic.


    Felix casually ced the blood-red mask over his face. His vision turned blurry in shades of crimson, akin to wearing a red scarf. He lifted his head, surveying the students sitting at a distance in the library through this novel perspective.


    There was a faint sound nearby.


    Felix nced over and caught Hermione stifling augh. As he turned to look, she promptlyposed herself.


    "Professor, what''s this?" she whispered, seeing Madam Pince surveying through the gaps in the bookshelves.


    "Manifestations of the Iron Armor Hex," Felix exined. "Both are." Handing her the golden mask, he asked, "How do you think they should be merged?"


    "Level six spell?" Hermione, intrigued, received it and examined it carefully. She pondered, then hazarded a guess without much basis, "Rted to one''s perception of magic?"


    "It''s a possibility," Felix nodded, "one of my spected directions, but¡ª" He looked at Hermione in disbelief as she also wore the golden mask, meeting his gaze.


    "Quite amusing, isn''t it?"


    Hermione yfully made a face behind the mask, removed it, and then earnestly said, "Is there a higher form above level six magic, like the Runespoor Ball? It should epass both the golden and blood-red versions of the Iron Armor Hex... I assume it must be quite challenging!"


    Felix sighed, "The issue is theck of direction, although I know I can achieve it, it''s just a matter of time." Yet, glimpses of a higher domain lingered, making him itch with curiosity.


    "Maybe ask Professor Dumbledore," Hermione suggested.


    "I haven''t seen himtely. Perhaps our headmaster is traveling," Felix shook his head, not divulging his use of a Patronus to ess the headmaster''s office earlier in the morning, thwarted by the monstrous statue guarding the entrance.


    He spected Dumbledore was still seeking the Horcruxes'' whereabouts, perhaps currently engaged in conversation with the owner of Borgin and Burkes? At least he knew what to gift him for Christmas ¨C a Dark Magic Detector or a woolen cloak.


    "Your suggestion was helpful, Granger,"


    he said, dispersing the magic with a wave of his hand.


    Felix swiftly departed; he had sses in the afternoon. As he left, Harry handed Hermione a newspaper.


    "What''s this?"


    "Borrowed from the neighboring table," Harry said sinctly. "Check out the fourth edition."


    Hermione quickly perused the day''s paper, briefly pausing at a brooding picture of Durmstrang''s headmaster, Karkaroff. The headline read, "Can Cheaters Qualify as Referees?" Not surprisingly, Rita Skeeter''s name appeared in the journalist section; Hermione was relieved the woman hadn''t focused her attention on them, finding it incredible to have dodged a bullet.


    She swiftly flipped to the fourth edition, finding a brief article. It was an interview with the head official of the Wizarding Examinations Authority. She knew this had to be Professor Marchbanks, the same person Professor Hagrid had mentioned in ss, presenting the views of Professor Griselda Marchbanks.


    She scanned through for the "sharp, enlightening" content ¡ª


    Reporter: How do you view Hogwarts'' performance in the first task?


    Marchbanks: I am proud.


    Reporter: Do you find it surprising that two teams secured the first and second positions?


    Marchbanks: No, I believe it''s normal. It signifies our departure from the shadows of war.


    Reporter: There''s an opinion stating that Hogwarts'' educational oues are a result of Minister Fudge''s tenure. What are your thoughts?


    Marchbanks: Oh, that''s nonsense.


    >


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 Chapter 406: More Precious

    Chapter 406: More Precious


    In the third-year ssroom sat a jeweled wooden box atop the desk.


    "Seems familiar, doesn''t it?" Ginny whispered. She sat next to a witch with wild, unkempt hair who looked like she hadn''t slept.


    Felix tapped the box''s lid with his wand, causing it to creak open, revealing a roughly crafted wooden goblet inside. As it appeared, the young wizards widened their eyes, feathers from their quills dropping.


    "The Goblet of Fire!?"


    A collective gasp. A student eximed in astonishment, staring at the serene blue mes burning quietly atop the goblet.


    Felix grinned, "Well... not exactly," he said with a deep breath.


    "The mes have extinguished. This is a replica. I stumbled upon a piece of wood while wandering on the edge of the Forbidden Forest, pondering how to pique your interests..." He chuckled, "So, I thought, why not craft a keepsake for the Triwizard Tournament?"


    All the students sat up straight, fixated on him.


    "This is today''s prize for the test. I must emphasize, the mes here pose no danger.""Professor Harp, is this the eternal fire of Gubraithian?"


    "No, it''s a perpetual me, also known as the Eternal me," Felix exined. "Though I can conjure it, the process is quite time-consuming..."


    The students observed the professor, a tinge of disappointment evident as he seemed reluctant.


    "Though not the Gubraithian fire, it does have its advantages," Felix added.


    He dipped his finger into the mes, extracting a cluster of blue mes. They burned quietly in his hand, gradually fading after a moment.


    As he looked up, he met a sea of starry-eyed gazes.


    He smiled faintly, pleased with the effect of the five-minute creation. The only quandary was what guise to use next. "So, let''s begin today''s test. Bring out your ''parchments,'' I''ve updated thetest assessment information..."


    The young wizards swiftly acted, unfurling their parchments, tapping their wands and chanting, discovering a new emblem in the ancient runic section¡ªa depiction of the Goblet of Fire drawn with simple ink lines.


    Ginny quickly touched it. She yearned for the model of the Goblet of Fire, feeling jittery with excitement. She tapped her wand twice, almost piercing through the thin parchment.


    But no student managed that, for the professors themselves had cast a firm bonding charm on them.


    The emblem of the Goblet of Fire on the parchment was slowly lit up, with vivid blue mes leaping from its rim, producing a gift box adorned with a blue bow. The box expanded on the parchment, generating a blue light from above, forming a swirling vortex, and the box emerged into reality.


    She recognized it was magic at work, as the box''s surface didn''t appear quite real, shimmering with blue ripples.


    ncing around quickly, everyone, including the absent-minded Luna, stared as the box ascended from the swirling vortex, amazed. Though Ginny wasn''t sure if her friend had snapped out of her usual state, Luna did retrieve her wand from behind her left ear.


    Ginny lightly nudged Luna with her shoulder. "Let''s race to see who''s faster!"


    "Sure," Luna said, looking at her dreamily, then lowered her head, revealing a tiny braid amid her tousled hair.


    The box opened silently, revealing a bronze book locked within. She attempted an unlocking charm, to no avail. "I''m being daft," she muttered, tapping her forehead and then using her wand to inscribe a few runic symbols on the nk cover of the bronze book, where the lock disappeared silently.


    Opening the first page, a question was written: "Your motto?"


    She quickly wrote, "Strike proactively like a lion." It wasn''t until she finished that she realized something was off, staring at the slightly turquoise-hued page, noticing no change. She realized her mistake and swiftly tranted the phrase into ancient runes.


    Thankfully, she had asked Luna the same question before.


    The bronze book flipped to the next page. She stole a nce at Luna while manipting the deeply embedded ancient runes, seeing her friend''s answer was entirely different, yet both had smoothly cleared the challenge, making Ginny realize the answers weren''t singr.


    Sheposed herself, focusing on the second page, filled with scattered runic characters. At the top was a sentence: "I''ve been disrupted in order." She quickly recalled the runes above; there was one she didn''t recognize, but she knew the answer was from the lesson about ''Narl and the y Doll.''


    When she finally managed to extract the deeply concealed ancient runes from the patterns on the book''s pages, she breathed a sigh of relief, catching sight of Luna already on the third page, causing her a twinge of anxiety.


    Time trickled by, Felix leisurely sat in a chair near the lectern, organizing his book of runes, asionally standing up, pacing around the ssroom, observing the students'' progress.


    Currently, Luna was leading the pack, followed by Ginny and Colin Creevey, thetter known for his ''Harry Potter Enthusiasts Club,'' which had gained some notoriety. After the first Triwizard Tournament event, the club had started attracting younger students, now spreading towards the upper grades.


    The trio had different approaches.


    Luna swayed her head gently, answering calmly, asionally rearranging sentences for tidiness. Ginny and Colin were sweating profusely; the youngest Weasley''s fiery red hair stuck to her forehead.


    "Ten minutes left, overtime won''t count," Felix reminded.


    Ginny was sweating bullets; there were only a few pages left in her bronze book, but the questions were getting tougher. Annoyed, she shook her hair, resembling a bundle of equally vibrant, leaping red mes, mirroring the Goblet of Fire on the lectern.


    There wasn''t enough time...


    Ginny thought, Luna seemed stuck for ages. Had she finished? Why hadn''t she heard her announce it? Forcing herself to forget all that, to concentrate, she finallypleted her answers after five more minutes.


    In an instant, the bronze book cascaded open with a tter, closing definitively, and the ''parchment'' reappeared with the swirling blue vortex, emitting a plethora of colorful fireworks and crackling noises.


    The sudden noise made the young wizards look bewilderedly toward Ginny''s spot.


    "Oh, looks like the first one to finish has emerged," unknowingly, Felix stood before her, cradling the rough wooden replica of the Goblet of Fire, its vibrant blue mes flickering. "Here you go, Miss Weasley."


    ...


    After ss, the others gathered around Ginny, envious, asking for permission to touch the blue mes.


    "It''s so beautiful... I was so close," Colinmented. "I got to the veryst question. What about you, Luna? You''re usually good at this. I thought you''d win!"


    "I stopped at thest question too," Luna sang.


    "Oh really? That question was quite tough. Maybe with five more minutes..." Colin regretted. "You''re lucky, Ginny... Ginny?"


    Ginny was scrutinizing Luna, biting her lip softly. "Luna, you ''stopped'' at thest question?"


    "Oh, um, yes," Luna flicked her hair, "quite challenging, wasn''t it? I pondered for a while... It''s truly beautiful," she stared at the Goblet of Fire.


    "Do you want it? I can give it to you," Ginny offered.


    "Oh, what?" Luna waved her hands nervously. "I don''t need it... because, because..."


    "Because she already has something more precious," Felix gently interjected, "Is that what you''re trying to convey, Miss Lovegood?"


    "Exactly," Luna nodded eagerly.


    >


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 Chapter 407: The New Face of the Company

    Chapter 407: The New Face of the Company


    Felix watched Ginny and Luna leave the ssroom together, holding the replica of the Goblet of Fire. Truth be told, that thing wasn''t light, yet he wisely refrained from suggesting they use magic.


    They were both bright witches; he figured they probably just didn''t want to, rather than not realizing they could use a levitation charm to lighten the load... right?


    ...


    The next morning, a weekend again, he cated his reluctant pet Valen and stepped through the firece in his office to Diagon Alley.


    Felix strolled down a cobbled street lined with bustling restaurants and shops. Oversized umbres shaded some storefronts; Florean Fortescue''s Ice Cream Parlor sign gleamed under warm yellow lights.


    Even without directly assessing, he could tell Future World Company was thriving - glimpses through shop windows revealed an array of magicalmps, each like a drop of water merging into the heart of London''s wizardingmunity.


    At the entrance of the Future World Company headquarters, a crowd gathered, lively and boisterous. Laughter and chatter mingled with attempts of the staff to maintain order.


    "What''s going on here?"


    Standing to the side, Felix observed for a moment before stepping forward. The crowd parted, and a staff member halted him, "Wait, sir... Mr. Harp?!" The staffer''s eyes widened in surprise, ushering him into the grand castle-like building."Mr. Harp, pleasee in. I''ll keep order," the staff member said respectfully.


    Felix nodded and ascended the steps, taking in the transformed scene within the hall.


    It looked entirely different from what he remembered.


    It used to be an empty space, with dark floors, a towering chandelier above, and spiraling steps connecting every floor of the castle.


    Felix recalled dueling Snape and Lupin here once, thenter sitting together to discuss thepany''s future.


    But the current hall resembled a magnificent museum, teeming with people.


    Young witches gestured towards various disy cases - probably products from thepany''s researchers. Uniformed staff bustled nearby.


    "Professor Harp," a long-haired girl said.


    "Krivat," Felix addressed the nearby person. "Thepany has changed significantly. It''s almost unrecognizable."


    "It''s the effort of everyone," Penelope smiled, leading them upstairs. She exined, "The idea of showcasing unfinished products in the ground floor hall was Clementine''s suggestion. We invite visitors regrly for trials and feedback."


    "I see, you''re doing a great job," Felix nodded, feeling nostalgic. "Maybe I should consider a raise for you all."


    He stood at the railing on the second floor, observing.


    A young witch, adorned with a jade crown, emanated a crimson glow, her hair transformed to a frosty hue. Magical radiance cascaded, culminating in a pastel princess gown, flowers blooming at its hem.


    "I want that! How much is it?" she eximed, resembling a radiant princess.


    "It''s not for sale, it''s still in testing..." the staffer exined, somewhat disappointedly.


    A bit farther away, a curly-haired boy blew a sky-blue bubble, encasing his toddler brother, who floated within it. They giggled as a fairy emerged from a blossoming flower bud.


    Their cautious parents stood nearby, checking repeatedly for any issues...


    Continuing upstairs, Felix inquired, "How''s Percy doing at the Ministry?"


    "He''s swamped. He''s eager to make an impact, and with Mr. Crouch on a long leave, he has ample autonomy through owl directives. He''s engrossed," Penelope sighed. "He even mentioned wanting to live at the Ministry, but I discouraged him."


    Felix paused, recalling Percy''s diligent study habits and rigidness in everyday life,cking humor. He might not crack a joke, but he''d appreciate one. However, that wasn''t visible in Percy.


    As Mrs. Weasley put it, "He''d stick to his decisions like glue."


    Felix looked at Penelope thoughtfully.


    "Could you persuade him?" he asked.


    "Usually... yes," Penelope replied, a bit puzzled.


    "Hmm," Felix nodded.


    They reached the third floor, entering a spacious room where Lupin and a few others conversed earnestly.


    In the center, arge canvas-like screen disyed live footage of two finely crafted magical puppets engaged in a duel - blue lightning and orange mes intertwining. Researchers observed intently, gasping at intense maneuvers.


    Felix realized it wasn''t a spell-enhanced painting but a form of live streaming. Clementine and Alrick directed the puppets, a camera-like device capturing their ''battlefield.''


    Approaching, Lupinined, "I thought you''d vanished if not for the continuous owl deliveries."


    "Didn''t I visit recently?" Felix awkwardly replied.


    "Yes," Lupin nodded teasingly, "let me think... if my memory''s unaltered, it wasst week, no, through the mirror? Or was it the week before? Your patronus delivered two alchemical forme. Or was it the week before that? I''m mistaken, it was Dobby..."


    "Ahem!" Felix quickly changed the subject. "What about those spatial capsules we discussed?"


    Together, they observed a young researcher tossing a capsule from a metal box, erupting into a cloud of white smoke. Various items scattered, including a tent, a kettle, clothes, even a few pieces of firewood...


    The researcher sighed in disappointment, "Still not working..."


    "When ites to the Ministry, they''re stringent on Untraceable Extension Charms," Lupin said seriously.


    "Don''t worry about the Ministry''s interference," Felix assured.


    Lupin stared at him incredulously, "The people at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement don''t say the same."


    "Don''t worry, Limes," Felix reassured. "As long as they permit the public sale of Untraceable Extension Charm-enabled items, whether tents or otherwise... even if it''s just one type, Future World Company qualifies."


    "Just ensure tamper-proofing; the product''s purpose mustn''t change," Felix instructed the young wizard in the distance. "No transporting living beings, especially humans. It''d be best to prompt the Ministry to define specific parameters for expansion."


    "You speak as if the Ministry''s your family business; I don''t share your confidence," Lupin grumbled, but Felix pretended not to hear. He led Lupin to a vast workbench, cluttered with various items.


    "Give me an overview. What are the new products, and how''s thepany progressing?" Felix asked.


    "We''ve seventeen products, twelve in refining stages, including those in the lobby. The remaining five, including the Weasley Twins'' Lover''s Mirror¡ªmarketed as the Communicator Mirror for public sales due to its limitation on image transmission¡ªare already avable in seven outlets."


    "Not counting overseas orders..."


    Lupin''s expression brightened, "The Quidditch World Cup''s light show was a hit. We''ve received numerous orders, understaffed, had to coborate with the Owl Postal Service."


    A tawny owl flew in through a castle window, circled Lupin twice, and dropped a letter.


    Quickly scanning it, Lupin exined, "Inquiry about the release date of our products. Your strategy works; along with our Magical Lamps, we included a list of uing products in our shipments... received several inquiries."


    "Counting international orders, Future World has over a hundred employees. Even the Daily Prophet doesn''t have as many," Lupin concluded.


    Felix was unimpressed. "Continue expanding. We need more staff."


    "We''re barely managing now. Although we''re busytely due to thepany''s expansion phase, when things stabilize, we won''t need as many hands," Lupin hesitated.


    The wizarding world''spanies generally had few employees. With only around twenty to thirty thousand wizards in Britain and magic''s convenience, a handful of skilled workers sufficed.


    And these smallpanies usually remained within a family, rarely hiring externally for over a decade. In some sense, Felix''s Future World was unconventional¡ªgiven its current trajectory, with no brakes, it could surpass the Ministry in just two or three years, in terms of staff.


    Felix looked at Lupin, his azure eyes meeting his. He said calmly, "For a long time toe, I want thepany in expansion mode. As for stable operations... maybe after your retirement."


    >


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 Chapter 408: Variables

    Chapter 408: Variables


    "How''s Harry? The newspapers don''t say much about him¡­"


    "He''s fine, probably cuddling a dragon egg to sleep."


    In Lupin''s office, Felix sipped tea, eyeing the decor. "Hmm! Your taste in colors is a bit old-fashioned. You''re not even forty yet."


    Lupin shrugged. "But I''m not exactly young either."


    "You still have plenty of time to spare," Felix said. After tea, they got down to business.


    "How are the sales of the magical cards?"


    "Not bad. Without those carving machines, we might have struggled. Some foreign businesses are seeking coboration too, thanks to our sess with the magicmps."


    Felix nodded contentedly.


    "Ludo Bagman''s proposal seems good. We can use projection screens for the second and third projects. It might need you to make a trip. The main point is, we can record the match process and make it into a video¡­ We can''t rely solely on a peculiar sister act to promote the magical phonograph, can we?"For wizards, storing sound and images together wasn''t much of a difference. Simrly,paring t images to holograms wasn''t just a wild dream.


    Lupin pondered, tilting his head slightly towards Felix after a while.


    "I don''t disagree, but there are a few hurdles. Unless you''re willing to help¡ªnext project''s in February?"


    "February 24th."


    "That should be doable," Lupin considered. He nced at Felix. "The people in thepany admire you a lot. Even those who recently joined spread stories about you¡­ You solved most problems during the summer, and after you left, our research slowed down."


    "Alright, I''ll spend this weekend at thepany," Felix reluctantly agreed.


    With his involvement, research sped up visibly. Often, researchers posed questions, and he swiftly simted solutions in his mind, offering theoretically backed ns within minutes.


    From neers to veterans, everyone scurried as he directed tasks, all with excited faces.


    "Is this the prowess of our boss?" a red-necked Irish wizard asked softly. He had recently joined, proficient in precision-cutting spells and skilled in simultaneous transfiguration.


    "You haven''t seen him at the Quidditch World Cup!" a young researcher remarked.


    "When I was abroad¡­" the red-necked wizard muttered. Despite his words, he couldn''t help but admire his boss, who seemed to know so much.


    Felix efficiently assigned tasks. "Let''s try two new approaches¡ªGroup One, use long-distance transfer spells. Group Two, synchronize magic with transfiguration. This one''splex; I''ll handle it¡­"


    Fifteen minutester, a golden mist flowed quietly like liquid gold, refracting light, creating blurry images.


    "There''s an issue¡­ maybe binding the mist or trying the containment charm? Runes, perhaps?"


    Felix pondered continuously. Clementine, nearby, rapidly noted his words and the experiment''s oues. By evening, they had solved most of their hindrances.


    As dusk fell, everyone bid him farewell, showing genuine approval.


    "You''re the true boss of thispany," Lupin smiled.


    Felix pressed his forehead. Intensive use of elerated thinking wasn''t easy. Especially, enduring it for so long; at this moment, he wanted to think about nothing andzilyy on Lupin''s office sofa.


    "Don''t think I don''t know what you''re thinking," Felix half-closed his eyes. "I just don''t want thepany to rely solely on me. It''s fine for now; I solve problems, but in the future¡ª"


    He abruptly stopped.


    "What about the future?" Lupin looked puzzled.


    But frustratingly, Felix began to hum again, leisurely sipping tea. "In the future, I''ll just wait for the money. I don''t want to work hard."


    "I recall you saying otherwise," Lupin said. "Including your registration of ''Future World'' in the Muggle government. I feel like¡­" he looked at Felix carefully, choosing his words, and said softly, "You seem to anticipate some change in the future, like aplete breakdown of the Secrecy Law?"


    "Felix, are you preparing for that?"


    Saying this, even Lupin startled himself. His mind was slower than usual. He, typically sharp, repeatedly thought over it several times in his head, arriving at a dreadful conclusion: "Are you nning to be another Grindelwald, forcibly abolishing the Secrecy Law?"


    "How unlikely," Felix chuckled, opening his eyes. "I can''t think that far ahead, nor do I want to be Don Quixote charging at windmills¡­"


    "Hmm?" He rubbed his chin, pondering. "On second thought, I do have the power to shatter windmills."


    Seeing Lupin''s increasingly serious expression, he muttered, "Why are you so much like Percy,cking any humor¡­"


    Lupin weakly chuckled. "This is a serious matter, especiallying from you. So, what''s your n? You''re handing thepany to me, and I''ll manage it ording to your ideas."


    "My n is simple."


    Felix raised a finger. "Firstly, to gradually make wizards aware of Muggle progress. As pioneers, we carry the responsibility to merge the wisdom of both sides, but for now, our customers can only be wizards¡­"


    ¡ªBut the future is uncertain.


    "Secondly, prevent Voldemort''s return."


    ¡ªIn other words, unity.


    "Voldemort?" Lupin looked surprised, initially incredulous, then visibly concerned.


    "Has anyone mentioned this to you?" Felix curiously asked.


    "Sirius did," Lupin frowned, retrieving a bottle of eggnog from a cab behind his chair. "Would you like some?"


    Felix shook his head slightly.


    Lupin took a big gulp. "He didn''t borate, seemed to involve a big secret. Dumbledore stopped him from telling others¡­ but he warned me not to ck in training, saying the war from over a decade ago isn''t truly finished¡ª"


    "All hatred wille to an end in the future," his hand clutched his knee.


    Felix watched Lupin, knowing he had an enemy still atrge.


    He spoke softly, "You''re right. Sirius was onto something. No one knows what the future holds. For the past few decades, Hogwarts'' dark magic defense has beencking. Plus, the Ministrycks a sense of urgency. Except for Malfoy, most struggle even with a basic Shield Charm."


    "It''s only been thest few years; the Dueling Club became regr, now an elective. It partially substitutes for dark magic defense, giving graduates some basic protection. But if they neglect training, in


    a few years, they''ll forget what they''ve learned¡­ Have you considered, if war trulyes, what can they do?"


    Lupin realized the gravity of the issue. A decade ago, why was Voldemort everyone''s nightmare? Firstly, his sheer power; even Dumbledore couldn''t fully contain him. Secondly, his Death Eaters, individually strong,bined with his alliance with dark creatures, resulted in countless tragedies.


    He couldn''t fathom what another war would entail, given how short the peace had been! If Voldemort returned, those who lived through the previous war would submit even quicker, aiming to minimize harm. As long as they weren''t Muggle-born, they''d mostly be spared, albeit with few genuinely supporting the Dark Lord''s rule.


    In fact, this trend began toward the end of thest war.


    As the only one Voldemort feared, Dumbledore remained confined to the school. Some criticized, but a few believed Dumbledore had already faced off against Voldemort and won. That was why the Dark Lord didn''t dare touch the students of Hogwarts during the war¡ªgiven Voldemort''s character, he wouldn''t spare young wizard-borns so easily.


    But clearly, Dumbledore couldn''t ovee Voldemort, at least not to imprison him as he did with the first Dark Wizard. Rumors spoke of a mysterious individual, skilled in an escape magic of unmatched mastery. There were even rumors suggesting this person had altered themselves using extreme dark magic, allowing rapid healing regardless of injuries, returning to life in no time...


    Lupin''s thoughts tangled, and at that moment, Felix''s voice seemed to echo from afar.


    "As for the third, I indeed disagree with the Secrecy Law and the Ministry''s ipetence¡­ but what use is my discontent alone? To oppress with power, be the second Dark Lord? Oh, sorry, the third, no matter how you look at it, it''s a foolish move."


    "So, I see myself as a variable." He suddenly showed a mischievous smile, twirling the teacup in his hand. "Yes, the original variable, the first variable¡­ Change some things, catalyze some events, drive some urrences, then wait calmly for the storm to arrive."


    "Though I''ve never passed Divination ss, I have a strong feeling¡ªI might live for a long time," Felix grinned at Lupin, half-closed eyes. "So, I can wait."


    >


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 Chapter 409: Maxim

    Chapter 409: Maxim


    Upon returning from Diagon Alley, Felix once again attempted to bypass the guardian gargoyle statue in front of the headmaster''s office using his guardian charm. This time, he encountered no obstruction and found himself facing Dumbledore.


    As he entered the office, portraits of former headmasters snored within their frames on the wall, while Dumbledore was engrossed in staring into the Pensieve.


    Felix was taken aback hearing Rita Skeeter''s voice echoing faintly. Her two-inch-long blood-red painted nails flickered within the Pensieve. With cunning, she said, "Oh, Dumbledore, you know, my book is about to be published..."


    Muttering to himself, Dumbledore replied, "That''s not a good idea... Felix?" He raised his head and with his wand, stirred the silvery substance within the Pensieve, causing Rita Skeeter''s face, along with her bright nails, to vanish.


    "Headmaster Dumbledore, you''ve been quite upiedtely, but I never expected you to be meeting with her," Felix chuckled. "Are you considering an autobiography? If so, seeking her help might not be a good idea."


    This was in response to Dumbledore''s earlier mutteredment when Felix had just arrived.


    Dumbledore chuckled, his beard trembling. "There are many ways to leave a mark¡ªmagic portraits, the memories in ssroom 7, or simply living on in people''s minds... but I don''t think an autobiography is included in that."


    Felix shrugged, idly ying with the silverware on the desk, watching it emit chirping noises and puff out wisps of smoke.


    "Any findings?" "Ah, aside from a few memories proving Voldemort''s wickedness from an early age... not much worth noting. Also, I visited the seaside cave you mentioned, and I have to say, Felix, you were quite rough. I found nothing but ruins."


    The two then discussed the Irond Curse briefly, Dumbledore disying some interest before appearing somewhat weary. Felix took the initiative to bid his farewells.


    "If you can, pay more attention to Madam Maxim," Dumbledore said from behind him.


    Furrowing his brow, Felix asked, "She''s suspicious?"


    "No, not at all," Dumbledore whispered softly. "I don''t believe she''d be one of Voldemort''sckeys. What concerns me is whether she can be our friend..." He looked troubled. "Hagrid has been given the cold shoulder by hertely."


    ...


    The next encounter with Hagrid was at the end of the month.


    Approaching December, the weather grew colder, especially afterst night''s snow and rain. Blue ice crystals adorned the ground, and students struggled through the courtyard wrapped in thick cloaks.


    Following the crowd, Felix reached the edge of the Forbidden Forest, where Beauxbatons'' carriage was visible in the distance. A few students conjured a transparent ice slide nearby, sliding down from a height. Not far from them stood Hagrid''s cabin.


    A witch wearing a scarf sat quietly near the carriage, cradling a golden egg. Spotting Felix, she eagerly ran over.


    "Professor Harp!"


    "Miss Dcour?" Felix nced at the strand of silver hair peeking from her scarf.


    "Yes, it''s me." Fleur unveiled her scarf, smiling sweetly. "Madam Maxim is waiting for you."


    The carriage wasn''t crowded, resembling a moving inn, partitioned into several spacious rooms. In the centery a lounge akin to a collegemon room. It exuded warmth, adorned with Beauxbatons'' characteristic clusters of pink and blue flowers, alongside a magical fountain emitting icy blue mists intertwined with fragrant scents.


    Guided by Fleur, Felix passed through a door marked with the Beauxbatons emblem, arriving at the carriage''s dining area. Madam Maxim was dining, wiping her mouth with a blue napkin and gesturing for him to sit.


    Graciously thanking her, Felix peered through a round window, observing Hagrid''s robust figure pacing in front of the pumpkin patch, conducting a ss with a group of students.


    "It''s strange how anyone could like those creatures... the ones called st-Ended Skrewts or something?" Madam Maxim snorted, gesturing towards the blurry scenery in the distance with a fork adorned with blue patterns, several timesrger than the ones Felix held.


    "st-Ended Skrewts," Felix corrected as he picked up some seafood, a stock he guessed was brought from France as he had never seen such fish before. The quantity was limited, mixed with fish from the ck Lake. Whether provided by Hogwarts or caught by Beauxbatons'' students themselves was unknown.


    Madam Maxim seemed absent-minded, disinterestedlymenting, "I have no interest in magical creatures."


    "I happen to know a magical creatures expert. Oh, not Hagrid, another one, Mr. Newt Scamander," Felix said. "He''s retired now, but his younger days were quite adventurous. I had many conversations with him."


    In truth, he conversed with Newt''s memory in ssroom 7. Felix had recently discovered his unique advantage in building rtionships with these memories.


    Despite resembling humans, the memories were not truly so, more akin to ghosts. One significant difference was theirck of taste buds; they could only recall the tastes of foods they once enjoyed. Felix, however, could conjure up borate feasts from his mind¡ªa specialty exclusive to ghosts and memories. Over the years, Newt expressed great nostalgia for everything in the Hogwarts kitchen, allowing Felix to glean intriguing information.


    Such as how he was expelled.


    Felix recounted some of Newt''s adventures. Unlike the tales of "wizards battling dragons" usually heard by Madam Maxim and Fleur, Newt''s experiences were filled with understanding and love for these magical creatures¡ªhe seldom used violent means against them, striving to befriend them instead.


    "After rescuing that poor Thunderbird from Egyptian traffickers, he sent it back to America..."


    "Mr. Scamander has a heart of gold, and animal emotions are more genuine. I was being narrow-minded," Madam Maxim said sentimentally, herrge ss of juniper berry gin now empty.


    "What happened next?" Fleur inquired.


    "I''m not sure," Felix spread his hands. "Perhaps a romantic love story followed. He met ady. I assume they''re ying a game of Throw the Flesh Ball at the Mooncalf together?"


    Using this as a segue, he discussed the current situation of French werewolves.


    "I know what you''re talking about," Madam Maxim interjected. "The Wolfsbane Potion, a remarkable invention. Our Ministry imported a batch, frankly, quite expensive... so our Minister is negotiating here, hoping to acquire the potion''s form."


    She expressed some discontent, saying, "Your Minister behaves like a savvy merchant, asking for quite a lot from us."


    "He doesn''t respect Madam Maxim!" Fleur eximed sharply.


    Felix nced over. Madam Maxim shook her head slightly, but her eyes were reddened, prompting him to wonder what Fudge had said or demonstrated. Wisely, he refrained from asking.


    Subsequently, the three at the table silently finished their meals. Madam Maxim then gazed back at Hagrid''s pumpkin patch. In the distance, a massive st-Ended Skrewt''s tail emitted sparks, propelling the students forward, dragging them across the snow, eliciting gleeful shouts.


    "Oh my!" Madam Maxim chuckled.


    >


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 Chapter 410: Gathering of Spirits

    Chapter 410: Gathering of Spirits


    As they parted ways, Felix presented a small gift.


    "What''s this?"


    "A reclining chair with some fascinating magic attached. It''s incrediblyfortable," Felix exined. "It''s one of the new products from ''Future World.'' Lemus, the gentleman managing thepany, mentioned you inquiring about its size and customization options in a letter¡­ I thought I''d bring it along."


    After he left, Madam Maxime and Fleur stared at a metal box that had been opened, revealing a capsule-like gadget on a crimson velvet inside.


    "I should have asked..." muttered Madam Maxime.


    "You wrote to ''Future World'' too?" Fleur asked, a curious glint in her eye.


    "Why not?" Madam Maxime huffed. "Didn''t you collect those two small magicmps at the exhibition?"


    Fleur stuck out her tongue, picked up the capsule, but couldn''t decipher its purpose. She handed it to Madam Maxime, who inspected its surface. "Huh? This magic seems unstable, almost disposable."


    She tapped it lightly with her wand, causing the capsule to crack from the center. Madam Maxime tossed it aside."Boom!"


    A mix of blue and bronze reclining chair materialized abruptly in the dining hall, looking at least three sizesrger than a standard one, resembling a bed with armrests¡ªat least from Fleur''s perspective.


    But she dared not say that, instead coaxing Madam Maxime to try it out.


    As the towering woman settled into the chair, an invisible cushion materialized on its surface. "Oh? Sofy, like sitting on clouds. ''Cloud Chair'' is indeed a fitting name..."


    Madam Maxime wore an expression of bliss, making Fleur itch to try it herself.


    After a good while, she reluctantly rose from the chair, saying, "There seem to be several beneficial spells infused inside. Not individually potent, but together, they rx the person lying on it, making all worries vanish. A fantastic creation."


    Fleur''s eyes sparkled. "Can I buy one? With this little thing," she gestured to the palm-sized box on the table, "I only need an owl to have it delivered, right?"


    "You heard it too. The product hasn''t hit the market yet; there might be ws. I''m just testing it out; I''ll need to provide feedbackter," Madam Maxime said, "ce it in my private bathroom."


    "Yes, Madam Maxime," Fleur replied, using her wand to guide the floating chair ahead, eyes gleaming with eagerness.


    ...


    "You tampered with Ollim''s gift?" Hagrid''s eyes widened.


    "Don''t say it like that, it''ll hurt my feelings." Felix lounged on Hagrid''s sofa, scratching his chin absentmindedly, clearly enjoying it, drooling a bit.


    "I didn''t tamper with anything. On the contrary, we did our best. The issue is with the test version; it doesn''t always perform as expected, especially with thisdy''s unusual size. The selected testers have a manual with simple repair methods. I just happened to¡­ forget to leave one for Madam Maxime."


    Hagrid blinked, then delved into the product manual Felix had given him, murmuring rapidly, "Softening Charm, Cloud Charm, Calming Charm, Stabilizing Charm... Maintenance manual... FAQ..."


    His eyes gradually lit up.


    Felix picked up Aragog''s cage, bringing it close to his face. The giant spider''s nose twitched, sniffing at the cage aggressively, threateningly waving itsrge pincers.


    "Back off, you dumb dog. Don''t think I''m short on venom..." the old eight-eyed spider king grumbled.


    "You seem quite spirited," Felix smiled.


    "I''ve grown ustomed," Aragog said. Its once ck hard hairs had turned grayish-white, and its pincers drooped lifelessly under the cage. "Hagrid took me to the spider''s den once; there''s no ce for me there anymore. We were driven out... I foresaw this day. The instincts of an eight-eyed spider involve bloodlust. If I died naturally, they''d surely devour me."


    These Forbidden Acromants regarded Aragog as their king. Raised by Hagrid, they were rtively gentlepared to their wild counterparts, somewhat like thestrals, almost tamed creatures. But eight-eyed spiders, created for guarding wizards'' treasures and chambers, had never aligned with the term ''tame.'' They were meant to be increasingly ferocious, and when that day arrived, it would be the end of these eight-eyed spiders. However, that would be a long time from now.


    Contemting, Felix looked up to find Hagrid staring at him, teary-eyed and smiling.


    "I understand what you mean, Felix. You''re too considerate..." Hagrid choked up, "Not many people have been this good to me, considering me, even my dad..." He sniffed loudly, then let out a hearty burp.


    Then he busied himself, rummaging through various corners of the house, collecting dusty magical creature materialsplete tusks of a Nogtail with fangs, unicorn hair, a tail-hook from a Sphinx, fairy wings...


    "I remember you needing this, all from the stock over the years, things I''ve found during my rounds in the forest. That Nogtail fell into a trap, a bit out of the way, starved to death by the time I found it... I even found the club the giant used to smash things, reeks terribly, but quite handy... I''ve washed it plenty, specifically using it to bash pumpkins, if you need it, it''s behind the door."


    "Oh, Hagrid, I don''t need... alright, just a bit, the Nogtail''s hide will do. I can mix it with Demiguise hair for a protective jacket. Of course, I won''t refuse the tail-hook from the Sphinx either."


    Elsewhere, Harry sat drowsily in the History of Magic ss, much like the other young wizards, perplexed and a bit sleepy, showing signs of not having fully woken up.


    Only a few, like Hermione, persisted in taking notes, attempting to glean details not covered in the textbook from Professor Binns'' droning, drawn-out voice. Harry wiped the corner of his itching mouth, removing saliva, surveying the room. Seamus was lightly snoring, and Neville''s head bobbed continuously, jerking up whenever he dozed off, his quill persistently jotting down whatever he heard, then, within seconds, his gaze went vacant, eyelids drooping again.


    Harry sneakily nced at Neville''s History of Magic book, thetest entry reading, "The food in Room Seven is delicious." He covered his mouth to suppress augh, wondering if Neville had mixed up his notes. He only learned the truth from Hermione at the end of the ss.


    "Room Seven has be a gathering ce for ghosts?"


    "Didn''t you notice? Professor Binns was unusually excited today," Hermione earnestly said. "He mentioned Room Seven three times in ss..."


    "Only you caught it," Ronmented.


    "So are we heading to the library today? I think themon room is better; I don''t want to see Professor Sinistra again. Have you noticed, she looks a bit like Filch? I mean the sunken cheeks, parchment-like skin, and that


    long hawkish nose... hmm, why does that sound a bit like Snape?"


    Harry and Hermione burst intoughter. Afterughing, Hermione scolded him sternly, "You''re not allowed to say that about her. Professor Sinistra takes her work very seriously."


    "Yeah," Ron grumbled, "She breathes down my neck while I''m picking books, shoos us out with a flying feather duster if we speak too loudly..."


    "Speaking of which, Harry!" Ron''s eyes brightened. "I heard Ginny won a model of the Goblet of Fire from Professor Hooch. A model with real mes! I tried to borrow it from her, but she won''t agree. I guess she intends to give it to you as a Christmas present, how biased..."


    Harry didn''t speak, but Hermione did, "Impossible! She won''t give it away. I heard her say she''d treasure it for life."


    >


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 Chapter 411: Carry On

    Chapter 411: Carry On


    December brought with it howling winds and blizzards that seemed to nket the Hogwarts castle, making it resemble a small creature braving the snowy expanse.


    Like a little Niffler, for instance.


    Two students stood in the courtyard of Hogwarts, engrossed in conversation. "Come closer," Eleanor said, pulling out a pendant box from her thin coat pocket, examining it carefully. "I remember there''s a range adjustment button around the edge..."


    The boy beside her hesitated for a moment, then scooted a bit closer. Cadwell watched as Eleanor focused on turning the knobs of the pendant box.


    "What''s that?" he asked, curiosity evident in his voice.


    "It''s a temperature-controlled pendant, a gift from my mum," Eleanor exined, studying the pendant box intently. "There! Done!"


    "What... Wow," Cadwell eximed, feeling a warm sensation seep through his icy clothes, initially diforting as it made him suddenly aware of how cold his outerwear was. But soon, he rxed into the warmth, squinting contentedly.


    It was almost like being back in summer.


    "No wonder you didn''t wear a thick woolen cloak; you''ve got this... this temperature thing!" Cadwell said, his face flushed from the heat, quickly loosening the thick scarf around his neck."It''s a temperature-controlled pendant," Eleanor repeated, showing him the pendant box. "It has two knobs¡ªone controls the range, the other controls the temperature. It''s a new product from ''Future World''pany, and Mum immediately owl-posted it to me."


    "Future World?" Cadwell caught onto another unfamiliar term.


    "Oh, they''re quite famoustely! Their magicalmp exhibits, coborations with the Quirky Sisters, branches in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade... they even have a list of uing products, more than a dozen items. I''m eyeing that emerald crown," Eleanor said excitedly.


    "You sure know a lot, unlike me who''s clueless about everything," Cadwell remarked.


    "Because my mum''s a witch, a Hogwarts graduate¡ªjust like me. She taught me a few kitchen secrets..." Eleanor squinted, her hair a shade of moonlit white, her face round.


    "So, don''t worry, ask me anything you don''t understand," she reassured, patting her chest.


    They sat on a bench in the courtyard, observing the leisurely passersby over the weekend, gesturing andmenting on each person who walked by.


    "Look, that person''s from Slytherin; you can tell by the scarf''s color."


    "Those two girls are holding magical puppets, probably for Ancient Runes ss. I bet they''re looking for a quiet spot to y."


    "Haha, look at that guy, doesn''t his clothes resemble little wizard Mike? Especially the way he scratches his head, so silly..." Eleanor giggled.


    Cadwell listened attentively, then pointed to a person in the distance. "It''s Professor Moody!"


    They fell silent, watching Moody limp closer and then move away. They held their breath until he turned a corner, the crunching of snow finally fading away.


    "He''s truly scary, isn''t he?" Eleanor said softly.


    "Yeah, you''re right," Cadwell agreed. "You wouldn''t believe how terrifying he was when he yelled at me during the selection of champions. His raggedy nose was less than three inches from mine, saved by a young professor..."


    "Let''s not talk about it." Eleanor immediately remembered the scene where Moody scolded her during ss for dyeing puff''s fur.


    Under the effect of the temperature-controlled pendant, the biting cold transformed into a refreshing spring breeze, cool enough tofort Cadwell. It felt like sitting by a firece as the snow around them gradually melted.


    "What''s that?" Cadwell suddenly pointed at something in the snow-covered courtyard.


    "I don''t know," Eleanor said, pulling out her wand cautiously, both of them watching the snow-covered ground. However, being first-year students, they hadn''t learned many useful spells yet.


    "It must be some creature!" Cadwell eximed, lifting their legs onto the edge of the chair, watching cautiously as something dragged a long trail through the snow, halting not far from them.


    Just as Cadwell started to imagine a mouth full of sharp teeth emerging suddenly, the snow formed a small lump. "It''sing out!" Eleanor tensed, gripping Cadwell''s arm tightly.


    "Don''t worry, it doesn''t look that big... I should be able to handle... huh?"


    As he was about to encourage Eleanor, a pink beak poked out, followed by a furry head.


    "Chirp!"


    Valen the Niffler raised its head, surveying the surroundings under ayer of snow, paused at Eleanor and Cadwell, nced in the direction of the courtyard exit, then dived back into the snow.


    "What''s that... it doesn''t look too scary," Cadwell said, his face reddening, perhaps from Eleanor being too close or the pendant''s warmth.


    "A Niffler," Eleanor said. "I''ve heard the prefects talk about a professor who keeps a Niffler... oh no."


    "What''s wrong?"


    "We missed an opportunity! The prefects say this Niffler has many treasures; nobody knows what it has in its pockets, but if it takes a liking to something, it''ll trade treasures with you!"


    "What could a Niffler have, pretty rocks?" Cadwell asked, unable to think of anything else.


    "More than that! I''ve heard of a set of twins giving it a box of Exploding Snap, exchanged for a quill that draws in the air and brings the drawing to life... and a student gave it a glowing grass, got a bottle of blue bubble juice in return."


    "Bubble juice?"


    "Bubbles that can trap people!" Eleanor exined.


    Cadwell imagined Eleanor trapped in a blue bubble and found himself strangely excited about it. But the Niffler had already left, and they could only watch the traces it left in the snow.


    ...


    Valen, the Niffler, was enjoying its rare holiday. It had a deal with the big wizard that for every hundred words it learned, it coulde out for a stroll, unsupervised.


    Venturing out of the courtyard, moving a distance away, it peeked out again, detecting a dozen familiar scents, selecting one swiftly. asionally lifting its head, it overheard some conversations¡ª


    "I''ll tell only you, you''re my sister after all... Professor Trwney prophesied something bad will happen!"


    "Oh, really," a disinterested voice replied, "who''s going to die this time?"


    "Padma Patil!" The first speaker didn''t sound too pleased. "You should learn to respect the professor."


    "Sorry, Ravenws only respect those truly knowledgeable."


    Valen peeked out from the snow, witnessing a pair of identical sisters, looking agitated. It hesitated and started to backtrack.


    "Look, it''s the Niffler! Don''t go, I want to trade something with you!" One of the witches ran excitedly towards it, startling Valen, who quickly dove back into the snow and dashed away.


    This time, it was more cautious. Whenever it heard voices, it deliberately slowed down. Soon, it caught a familiar scent, no, three.


    "Are people from Uagadou living in snow houses?"


    "Fred, you''re insulting my African friends; they have their own residence... not the best environment, but certainly better than Durmstrang, poor Ghost Ship swaying in the storm..." a voice spoke rapidly, sounding less angry.


    "You''ve really made friends with them?" Fred asked in surprise.


    "Look at my braids, brother, tonight we''re all bronze hawks!" Lee Jordan chanted.


    "Oh, Lee, Ravenw students won''t be happy..." George chuckled.


    Valen, like a ck shadow, swiftly passed by, heading towards the main building of the castle, finding its target.


    "That''s an absolutely dreadful idea," Ron said.


    "I disagree," Hermione said calmly.


    "Don''t you find it absurd? We''ve been squatting outside the Ilvermorny camp for two hours just to talk to those goblins... they pointed arrows at me, I almost had a heart attack."


    Harry remained silent. He had nned to sleep in on the weekend, but Hermione insisted on interviewing the goblins,paring their life at Eifernelle to that of the house-elves at Hogwarts.


    However, the goblins were impolite, and they were shooed away. As for his thoughts... he felt entirely wooden and just wanted to go back for a hot bath, not speak at all.


    At that moment, a ck shadow darted out in front of him. He instinctively drew his wand but halted when he recognized the shadow. "Valen?" he eximed in surprise.


    Valen climbed onto his shoulder, overlooking Ron and Hermione''s argument.


    "Chirp chirp (Keep going)!"


    >


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 Chapter 412: Dance Partners

    Chapter 412: Dance Partners


    In themon lounge, Felix Harp''s pet, Valen, was getting some special attention.


    After seeing off the curious onlookers, Harry and his friends settled into their usual corner. Feeling a bit embarrassed after Valen witnessed their awkward moment, Ron and Hermione weren''t too keen on talking. Harry thought it might be easier to converse with Valen instead.


    "Would you like some candy?" he asked.


    Valen shook its head, pulling out a box of Exploding Snap cards from its pocket, its bright eyes fixed on them. The implication was clear - anyone up for a game?


    Hermione, who had been quiet until then, chuckled. "Valen, you''ve picked that up too?"


    Ron blinked, then in a secretive tone said, "Let me teach you a new way to y, my exclusive invention. Not the traditional or Bavarian way, watch this!"


    He opened the box, swiftly building a foundation for a castle with the cards. "Nowes the secondyer, keep stacking up, steady hands... oh!" Ron''s face fell as sparks began to flicker from the castle''s second tier.


    Valen agilely leaped from the table,nding in Hermione''s arms, observing the two-tiered, rudimentary castle.


    "Boom!"Ron''s card castle exploded, a burst of fire and smoke rising from the table. Valen observed with keen interest.


    Harry and Hermione struggled to contain theirughter; Ron wiped his dirty face with his sleeve, jokingly, "It''s actually quite thrilling, isn''t it? I rmend ying with a professor; each builds one. It''s bound to end in fireworks. Trust me, I''m on your side!" he assured Valen earnestly.


    "Oh, right," Hermione suddenly said, lifting Valen and making its eyes meet hers. "Valen, do you know about that hourss, the one you gave to Harry?" She signaled to Harry with her eyes.


    Understanding, Harry fetched a dusty hourss from his pocket and held it out to Valen. "This one. Hermione mentioned that, um, she only heard Professor Snape mention it once. You took it from the Gringotts goblin¡¯s gem at midnight and were ordered by the professor to return it..."


    Valen stared at the hourss for a while, not remembering much about it. Such things didn''t hold much appeal for it; what had happened at that time again?


    Harry, Ron, and Hermione watched Valen''s gestures and gestures, guessing and piecing together the whole situation.


    "So, you returned the gems, but somehow left the hourss behind... and when the treasures were counted, nobody noticed." Hermione summarized.


    Valen nodded, continuing to gesture.


    "You have so many treasures... didn''t notice this hourss," Hermione said with a tinge of difficulty, and Valen vigorously agreed. That was it. Ron, beside them, widened his eyes, staring at Valen''s pocket. "How much have you hidden? Can I take a look¡ª"


    Valen immediately turned its head away.


    "Alright, I get it," Ron said.


    At that moment, Ginny approached, sitting beside Hermione. "Hey, little Valen, it''s you..." Hermione was grooming Valen, while Ginny teased it, casually asking, "Have you decided, are you going to ask someone to dance, or will you wait for someone to invite you? You wouldn''t want to be left out in the end."


    Harry and Ron widened their eyes, having been worried about this very thing. Yesterday, during Transfiguration on Friday, they''d finished their homework early¡ªturning chickens into guinea pigs¡ªand decided to y a dueling game. Harry and Ron, holding two fake wands, Ron with a tin-ted parrot and Harry with a rubber ck cod, were sword-fighting in the back of the ssroom.


    Hermione, looking annoyed, was organizing her transfiguration notes. "Gentlemen, can''t you do something more age-appropriate?"


    "See, we''re practicing swordy, emting the first Headmaster Godric Gryffindor," Ron justified his childish behavior, attacking Harry while he was distracted.


    "Oh, really? Do you know Gryffindor''s favorite spell?" Hermione asked lightly.


    Harry and Ron stopped, exchanging looks.


    "Sharp Edge," the spell could enchant weapons, significantly enhancing their sharpness and durability, almost like solidifying the effect of a cutting curse, only much better. When Gryffindor wielded the goblin sword, he could effortlessly slice through a dragon''s skin," Hermione exined, finishing her notes.


    Professor McGonagall approached, eyeing the tin-ted parrot Ron held¡ªHarry''s rubber ck cod''s head had snapped off. She pursed her lips but didn''t say anything.


    Then, she turned towards the podium, announcing the Christmas Ball.


    "The ball is open to students in the fourth year and above. If you intend to... well... let down your hair, rx a bit," McGonagall paused, somewhat dismissively, "you must find yourself a partner... of course, inviting younger students is allowed."


    Ravenw''s Lavender Brown let out a piercingly sillyugh, but she wasn''t alone. Parvati Patil nudged her hard, and both turned to look at Harry. In fact, more than half the girls in the ss were sizing him up; Harry had never felt such intense scrutiny.


    After ss, McGonagall kept Harry, Hermione, and Ron back, sharing astonishing news with them.


    "You should be aware," McGonagall said matter-of-factly.


    Harry looked at Hermione, who nodded knowingly. He nced at Ron, who was just as bewildered; Harry thought McGonagall was keeping them back because of his headless rubber ck cod. But now, he realized he had misunderstood.


    "Potter, champions all have their partners¡ª" McGonagall started.


    "Part¡ªwhat!" Harry gasped, cutting her off.


    "Partners, dance partners, interpret it as you will," McGonagall said, noting Harry''s blush with a sympathetic smile. "Yes, ording to traditional customs, the dance is led by the champions and their partners."


    Harry was still stunned; he wanted to muster some cheerful expression because Professor McGonagall clearly thought this was a privilege and honor for champions, but all he could picture was theical image of himself wearing a top hat and tails, eager to discard this ''honor.''


    Perhaps Ron would like it, Harry thought, but he quickly realized that Ron was also one of the champions, as was Hermione.


    As they exited the ssroom, Ron grimaced slightly. "You''re actually fine, Harry. You''re always popr, girls are eagerly waiting for you to invite them, maybe... someone might even invite you. I''m the one in trouble, and did you hear what Professor McGonagall said? Everyone has to wear formal robes... darn it, I have that grandmother''s embroidered skirt..."


    In truth, Ron had a point; Harry was indeed more popr than he imagined. Just yesterday¡ªthis morning, actually, while he and Ron were having breakfast in the Great Hall, a curly-haired third-year Hufflepuff girl invited Harry to the Christmas Ball, and he hadn''t even spoken to her before.


    It was a bit awkward at the time; he was discussing dance partners with Ron, both worried about it. Ron even pessimistically suggested using


    a Summoning Charm to conjure one. "Don''t use the most powerful spells," Ron said with a heavy tone.


    Harry snorted, stuffing pumpkin porridge into his mouth. At that moment, the girl walked over to invite him.


    "Oh, um, what did you say... sorry, I haven''t decided yet." Harry looked at her in surprise and declined reflexively because it was too sudden.


    The girl walked away looking slightly hurt.


    Later, as Hermione hurried them towards the Eeylops Owl Emporium, "We were just discussing dance partners, Hermione!" Ronined at the time, but Hermione dismissed his excuse, citing the dance was still a half-month away. Both Harry and Ron had thoughts of escape, so they followed Hermione¡ªuntil they found themselves bored out of their minds squatting in front of the emporium for two hours.


    If he were asked now, Harry wouldn''t know which was scarier: facing a Hungarian Horntail, finding a dance partner, or squatting in the icy cold for two hours. But what was truly terrifying was that it was now nighttime, and he was ready to shower and sleep after hosting Valen¡ªuntil Ginny''s question brought him back to reality.


    ...


    As hey in bed, unable to sleep, Ginny''s words echoed in his mind, "Have you decided, are you going to ask someone to dance, or will you wait for someone to invite you? You wouldn''t want to be left out in the end."


    He had a name in his mind initially, but he knew it was just his mind wandering. Yet, a hidden thought whispered, what if, what if Cedric didn¡¯t ask Cho? Collins is quite pretty, isn''t she?


    But now, he wasn''t so sure anymore.


    Wishing everyone a Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!


    >


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 Chapter 413: The Film

    Chapter 413: The Film


    The impact of the Christmas ball was greater than Felix had imagined, reaching even him.


    As he had his breakfast, he noticed a fiery gaze directed his way. Looking up, he found the valiant warrior from Valgadu, the witch known as Nona Leberth, quite interested in him. However, once Felix gently fed Valen a slice of strawberry cake, that intense look vanished.


    The corridors buzzed with groups of chattering girls roaming about. Whenever a decentd passed by, they held their breath, gazing at him expectantly.


    Of course, they might have gotten it wrong. Gathering in such numbers wasn''t the way to go. Whilepanions might boost one''s courage, it also diminished the confidence of the other side. Felix had seen eager wizards falter in front of a group of girls more than once.


    "Quite interesting," he thought.


    At the Magic Language Club, Felix lounged on a sofa, surrounded by club members gathered around him in groups of threes and twos.


    "Today marks thest activity of this semester. The next gathering won''t be until after Christmas. Keep an eye on your Serpent Rings for the specific timing... Back to business, my demands aren''t high. Following the progress from thest activity, deepen your control over magic."


    Felix waved his arm, and from the corner of the room flew a metal cage covered in dark canvas, emitting an annoying buzzing sound.


    All the students pursed their lips, castingplex gazes at the cage, knowing whaty inside."Oh, right, the usual rule¡ªif stung, potions are on the table." Felix said, and from his ring flew seven or eight bottles of bright blue potion,nding on the small round table in the room.


    The club members skillfully put on thick leather gloves, lining up to approach the cage. With resigned determination, they extended their hands inside. Apanied by a teeth-gritting "chirp-squeak," Draco Malfoy pulled out a half-inch long blue beetle from the cage.


    "I loathe Billywig beetles," he muttered softly. Taking advantage of still wearing gloves, he flicked it a few times. The Billywig''s body, shining like jade, wriggled continuously, its slender sting poking at the glove.


    "Perhaps I should remove your sting, so you won''t sting me anymore," Draco threatened in a low voice, "or perhaps drop it into someone''s cor."


    Harry immediately turned to him, alert, as Draco smirked silently.


    After a while, everyone had their Billywig beetle. Harry stared at his, feeling it was livelier than the others until he noticed Ron quietly casting a "Solidus Totalus."


    You can still do that? Harry widened his eyes, contemting mimicking Ron. But the next second, the spell was undone. "I''m watching, Weasley," the professor''s voice leisurely reached their ears.


    Several students, who had prepared in advance, revealed expressions of regret. Fred and George pocketed a tiny pair of tweezers.


    Hermione snorted disapprovingly at their crafty methods, sitting beside Ginny and Luna¡ªLuna was a third-year this year, having submitted her application during the first month of school and passing the assessment smoothly.


    Five more members joined after her.


    Hermione quietly demonstrated to Ginny and Luna, her fingertips radiating a light blue magic, encasing the Billywig beetle in what looked like a glowing, cocoon-like structure, restricting it within a small space.


    "See, use magic to wrap it first, then take off the gloves; two hands are more convenient... Oh, Ginny, I need your help."


    Ginny assisted her in removing the gloves, and then Hermione''s two hands swirled in the air.


    The Billywig''s wings were on either side of its head, fluttering at a tremendous speed, but at this moment, it was futilely trapped within the designated space.


    "Just like this, then gradually expand the control range. You have to make sure you can do this."


    Hermione said to Ginny and Luna, facing the Gringlegrass sisters seated opposite her, who were staring wide-eyed at her, in the same posture¡ªhand gloved, gripping the Billywig beetle, eyes intense, mouths puffed.


    On the other side, Harry awkwardly handled his own beetle. He wasn''t as adept at controlling magic as Hermione. ording to the professor, she had already reached the second stage, being able to control a Billywig beetle within a foot''s range at will. As for himself and most of the club members, they had to firmly lock it in with magic, for a slight slip would make it swiftly fly away.


    What followed was a nightmare... Harry didn''t want to recall what happened at thest meeting. Truth be told, he did fairly well, but when danger loomed all around, avoiding being stung wasn''t solely up to him.


    From his observations, it seemed like the club members from Gryffindor had lost interest in "Fizzing Whizbees" after the unfortunate stinging experiences.


    Harry cautiously and singrly focused on manipting magic. He felt he was in good shape today, so he tentatively rxed his control, expanding the magical around the Billywig beetle. The insect pped its wings, startling him. Hastily retracting his magic, the beetle''s legs immediately straightened.


    Still alive. That was his repeated confirmation. Harry nervously nced around, relieved to see Draco''s beetle''s wings looking crumpled. Prompted by Professor Snape''s reminder, Draco had to recite a healing charm on it.


    Time flew swiftly, unaffected even by Draco and Ron''s cries of pain.


    As the meeting neared its end, Harry sessfully widened the range of activity for the Billywig beetle. He watched it p its wings but couldn''t fly beyond half a foot, nodding in satisfaction.


    Others in the ss also made progress.


    Harry discovered a secret. Professor Snape always exined the benefits of what he made them do before having them do it. In the recent club activities, everyone had been moved by his description of "spell-casting without wands, controlling magic at will, learning spells in a blink."


    Especially when they witnessed Professor Snape sitting on the sofa, yet effortlessly controlling any rapidly flying Billywig beetle in the room, they couldn''t help but believe the truth behind his words.


    After the gathering ended, the young wizards streamed out.


    Hermione stayed behind to help tidy up the leftover bottles and jars. "Oh, it looks a bit pitiful..." she said to a wingless Billywig beetle.


    "This is the most suitable teaching aid I could find, Miss Granger, and they are themselves magical ingredients... I heard you''re still involved in the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare?"


    Hermione nodded. She hesitated for a moment, sounding perplexed. "I''m not sure if I should continue. House-elves seem not to need my help, and Harry and Ron aren''t interested..."


    Felix understood.


    "I know you can''t stand the way wizards treat house-elves, thinking they''re being mistreated. That''s why I suggested you investigate thoroughly. Now it seems to have worked¡ªpreviously, you only vaguely saw the unfair treatment they faced overall and projected those feelings onto every individual house-elf, naturally hitting a dead-end.


    There''s a saying that one must experience it firsthand to understand, Miss Granger. You must first realize you''re


    dealing with a race, a group, and the demands of different individuals in the group often vary vastly.


    You must first identify who is your obstacle."


    Hermione rolled her eyes.


    "Are you implying... pure-bloods?"


    Felix chuckled lightly. "I said nothing, Miss Granger. I''ve read your report, quite detailed, even mentioning the Elf from Ilvermorny... You know it yourself, the house-elves at Hogwarts live quite well. Those tragic experiences oftene from certain special groups, and with your current influence, forgive me for being blunt, there''s only so much you can do."


    "But," Hermione pondered slowly, her thoughts clearing, "I know what to do. I want¡ª"


    "No, don''t say it aloud. Once spoken, it loses its power. Keep it in your heart, remind yourself constantly. That''s the only way to drive yourself forward," Felix winked at her.


    "Oh, Professor..."


    Hermione smiled. She seemed to have solved a long-standing problem, feeling lighter. But she also felt more determined.


    "Has the secret of the second project been unlocked?"


    "Not yet," Hermione shook her head, "I''ve actually devised a method to decode the golden egg, but I''m afraid I might damage it, so I''m nning to wait a while longer."


    Felix nodded slightly.


    "By the way, Professor, will you attend the ball?" Hermione asked.


    "I might show up, have a bite to eat or something," Felix said uncertainly, directing the cage to a corner, "I''m not really good at dancing."


    "They say there''s a new song from the entric Sisters at the ball! Wouldn''t you want to try it?"


    "I know, I listened to it beforehand. Need me to get you an album?"


    "Uh... no need," Hermione said disappointedly.


    ...


    ¡°W.W.N£¿¡±Harry asked, utterly bewildered.


    "It''s the Wizarding Wireless Network. You''ve heard of magical radios, right?" Simon nced at Harry uncertainly, nodding as Harry confirmed. Simon continued, "That''s it. It''s simr to Muggle radios, but if you listen for a while, you''ll notice the songs are always nostalgic¡­"


    "New songs are hard toe by," he concluded wistfully. Everyone stared at him, and he chuckled, exining, "That''s what my mum says."


    "Yeah, after years, the entric sister duo finally released a new song¡­ I bet Mum''s over the moon," Ron affirmed confidently.


    As the final week of the term approached, the school buzzed with excitement.


    Almost all the young wizards were focused on the uing Christmas dance. With students being distracted, Felix decided to skip ss altogether, focusing on Ancient Runes as the progress in that subject outpaced others, especially for the fifth and seventh years, who had already started revising.


    He moved his mini projector to the Ancient Runes ssroom and screened movies for the students.


    "Professor Harp, I heard from students in other years¡­ We don''t want to see dinosaurs or lonely boys pranking dim-witted thieves. Any romantic films?" The brave Raven Turpin inquired.


    "Romantic?" Felix echoed. Seeing all the girls muster up courage and look at him, Simon wanted to say he''d rather see how Muggles imagined dragons, but Pettier red at him, forcing him to stay silent.


    "Alright," Felix agreed, sifting through his ring, "there''s one that might suit your needs, probably¡­"


    Thick curtains were drawn in the ssroom, dimming the lights, and with the whir of the machine, the movie began.


    It was an animated film, starting with a beautiful naturalndscape, lush greens, red flowers, waterfalls, nestled in the depths of a forest, stood a beautiful castle. Students who saw it for the first time began chattering¡ª


    "Animatedic strips? I love the new set by L.C.A. Have any of you seen it?"


    "I think this might be a Muggle movie; the Professor mentioned it before."


    "Huh? How do they make the images move? Anyone attend Professor Bubaji''s ss?"


    "Oh, don''t mention that, I don''t want to discuss disgusting flies and peas¡­ Honestly, I think her research has gone astray; I definitely won''t be taking that next year."


    As the movie narration began, they gradually quieted down, drawn into the captivating story.


    "Once upon a time, in a distant and magnificent castle, lived a young prince¡ª"


    "Wow, a prince!" a witch eximed.


    "Shut it, Raven."


    "¡ªHe had everything his heart desired, but this prince was spoiled, selfish, and heartless. On a cold winter night, an old and uglydy arrived at the castle, seeking shelter in exchange for a single rose¡­ But the callous prince, not wanting to tarnish his beautiful castle, disregarded her. The olddy warned the prince not to be deceived by appearances, for beauty lies within.


    But the prince remained unmoved¡­


    ¡­


    Thus, the witch transformed the prince into a terrifying beast, and the rose she offered was enchanted too. If he could learn to love and be loved in return before thest petal fell, the curse would be lifted. Otherwise, he would remain a beast forever¡­


    The prince fell into deep despair. Who could ever love a beast?"


    The students watched in bewilderment; what a powerful wizard to possess such dreadful magic.


    However, they realized it was not a true event but a creation of imagination, albeit by Muggles whocked somemon sense...


    As the story unfolded, they becamepletely engrossed in the movie''s plot, even the boys who were previously adamant about wanting to see dinosaurs found themselves worrying about the characters in the film.


    "That ''Gaston'' guy is so mean!"


    "It''d be great if a Dark wizard passed by now¡ª"


    "What''s going on in your head?"


    "Belle is truly kind¡­"


    As the movie reached a magnificent ballroom scene, the students were left wanting more. Felix smiled at them and said, "Alright, this ss went a bit over time. You''d better hurry to the Great Hall for dinner."


    The students poured out, excitedly discussing the plot in the corridors.


    The boys leaned more toward discussing whether the magic in the story could be real. "I don''t think turning people into teacups would let them speak or move afterward. That''s illogical!" Ron remarked.


    "Hey mate, maybe the professors can do it?" Simon argued.


    "It''s just a movie," Dean, who grew up in a Muggle household, remarked, understanding the intended message of the animated film.


    "No, it vites Transfiguration rules," Ron blushed, stumbled for a while, finding it hard to recall the corresponding knowledge, and then looked at Harry, "What do you say, Hermione?"


    "I''m busy!" Hermione replied. She hadn''t walked with Harry and the boys but apanied the girls toward the Great Hall, discussing rapidly.


    "What''s gotten into her?" Ron asked, confused.


    Harry shrugged. "Maybe she really likes this movie."


    "Do you also think the magic in the movie isn''t possible?" Ron asked Harry.


    Thinking of the Sneezing Snuffbox teacups at Zonko''s and the magical puppets rehearsing in ssroom Seven, Harry was a bit uncertain. But to cater to Ron''s emotions, he reluctantly nodded.


    In the evening, they returned from the library to themon room¡ªmuch earlier than usual. However, to celebrate finishing the first book on Alchemy, Ron and Harry engaged in a thrilling game of Wizard''s Chess. Ron, using two formidable pawns, cornered Harry, who had his white king''s crown ready to throw off.


    "Your chess skills are declining," Ronmented.


    Harry didn''t respond, intensely focused on the board, hoping for a miracle. And a miracle did happen because the sound of Ron''s chess piece getting a checkmate was too loud, and they were both kicked out by Madam Pince, the librarian.


    ¡­


    Opening themon room door, they found even Fat Lady had undergone a change with Christmas nearing. "Want to dance, braveds?" she asked tipsily, holding a box of choctes.


    "I could rmend you a dance partner," Ron muttered. Once inside, he whispered, "His name''s Barnabas, a ballet instructor."


    >


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 Chapter 414: Reply

    Chapter 414: Reply


    In the following days, young wizards were fervently discussing those boundless and whimsical movie plots, while also passing judgment on the professors at school. First and second-year students often gazed admiringly at the older students, sourly noting that even Professor Flitwick was quite nice, allowing them to y games during thest ss of the term.


    "That''s not bad, especially whenpared to other professors..." Simon grumbled as he hurried through his potion homework, his two eyes reddened as if he hadn''t slept well.


    Even though the young wizards still held a glimmer of hope for Professor McGonagall''s seriousness, they never unrealistically believed that Professor Snape would allow them to make a ruckus in his ss. In fact, he simply scheduled the potion test on thest day before the holidays, making the young wizards nervous, not daring to ck off.


    Neville sat on an empty chair next to Simon, offering some tips.


    "Be especially careful with the dosage of mistletoe berries, otherwise, your toad might nevere back..."


    "I don''t have a toad, you know that, Neville."


    On the side, Dean Thomas chuckled, "He''s just expressing his worries." He handed Simon a cookie, Simon took a bite viciously, then continued writing his essay. Suddenly, feathers sprouted all over him.


    Dean chuckled, "Fred and George''s Canary Creams, only seven silver sickles each." He popped the remaining half in his mouth, and Neville noticed he was now sitting between two giant canaries, looking around in bewilderment.


    People in themon roomughed heartily at the sight of the three canaries. Angelina Johnson wasughing so hard tears streamed down her face....


    On the eve of Christmas, Hogwarts finally weed the holiday break.


    Snow fell heavily outside, Felix and Valen huddled on the couch ying Exploding Snap. Valen insisted on a different way to y, so he watched it stack cards with its tiny paws. "Are you building a nest for yourself?" Felix asked curiously.


    Valen''s hand shook, and the cards ignited as if following itsmand.


    Felix quickly scooped it up, sitting back on the couch. With a loud bang, both of them stared at the mushroom-shaped cloud of ck smoke rising.


    "Looks like you''ve learned quite a lot," he remarked to Valen.


    At that moment, the sound of wings pping outside caught Felix''s attention. He opened the window, and several owls of different sizes and colors flew in carrying parcels and letters.


    "Tomorrow is Christmas." Felix muttered to himself. "I reckon I''ll receive a flood of greetings from readers. I better hurry and reply." He nced at the corner where a pile of neatly wrapped gifts awaited.


    Valen watched as Felix untied the packages and letters from the owls, providing them with food and water for their long journey. Afterwards, the owls flew off, leaving only a few lingering behind.


    Turning back, Felix had settled behind his desk in a high-backed chair, starting to write replies.


    "Let me see..."


    He opened a letter, quickly read it, then took out a quill and parchment, swiftly crafting a response...


    "Mr. Sirius, delighted to receive your letter. I''ve studied the scales of the Armenian Rune Snake you sent, and the patterns on them have piqued my interest. It''s still hard to say whether these patterns rte to their unique quasi-magical abilities, further research is needed... Wishing you smooth expeditions on the Iranian teau."


    Felix ced the letter in an envelope. A tawny owl hopped onto the table, extending a leg for him to tie the response. Valen handed it a piece of owl biscuit, and it flew off into the snowy winds.


    Then came the second reply:


    "Miss Meg, Merry Christmas... No, I don''t have any new book ns at the moment. There might be a small booklet about magical scripts, but the specifics are still uncertain... Also, I don''t think it''s a good idea to put my picture on the cover, but I appreciate your suggestion."


    The third letter was less amiable, but luckily Felix spotted the trap early and effortlessly dispelled the curse on it. Even the owl delivering it stayed behind, looking pitifully with its legs sped. Felix penned down:


    "Unnamed Sir, your prank is as mediocre as your handwriting. I have no interest in discussing any Muggle matters with you. Hope your messenger delivers my gift promptly on Christmas day."


    Felix cursed the parchment, then hung it on the bird''s leg. "Off you go, back to your master," he said with a smirk.


    Throughout the day, he seemed upied...


    "Miss Jane, thanks for your ongoing support. I''m not sure if you can receive this letter; those owls have never found you, returning all the mail. Perhaps your identity is an issue, needing secrecy. The ck market has been murmuringtely, and I''ve heard the Ministry is cracking down on illegal potions, possibly rted to a batch of leaked wolfsbane potions..."


    "Mr. Vera, your granddaughter is performing exceptionally. I''m considering a raise for her; you should stop pushing her into the Ancient Runes Association. I believe in two or three years, Clementine''s ie will surpass yours. And if you think a little deeper, you''ll realize what she''s doing now is more meaningful, Mr. Vice President."


    ...


    While replying to letters, Uriah Edmund and Berni Bach, along with Byles Bach, came for a visit. Byles was carrying threerge boxes, huffing and puffing at the end.


    "Professor Harp, these are Christmas gifts for you..."


    Uriah exined with a smile, "Byles insisted on carrying them himself, and Berni wanted to help, but he refused."


    Byles looked slightly embarrassed, then hesitantly asked, "Professor Harp, has Valen learned a few words?"


    "Not many yet... I don''t think he canmunicate with you yet. You can y Exploding Snap; it''s quite adept at the traditional rules," Felix said.


    Byles stared at the scattered Exploding Snap cards on the table, seeming bewildered. "This... uh... Valen is indeed clever."


    Felix, Uriah, and Berni sat on the couch. Felix served them honey tea. "Uriah, today you aren''t thinking of discussing the obscure topic of magic and non-magic in front of Berni, are you?"


    "Of course not, mainly, Berni wanted to visit, and she brought gifts," Uriah said. He had been visiting frequentlytely, especially since he lost his wand publicly and couldn''t find work as a warrior trainer. He had more free time on his handstely.


    Whenever he had nothing to do, he''d drop by Felix''s office and discuss views on the wizarding and non-wizarding worlds, benefiting both of them.


    As they chatted, Uriah mentioned Byles, nodding in his direction, "He''s the captain of the warriors now."


    "What about Greaves..."


    Uriah shook his head, "His mindset isn''t suitable for a captain." He talked about an interesting incident that happened recently. "When we arrived, we stumbled upon quite an amusing scene; one of Beauxbatons'' warriors¡ªDracul, was trying to invite your warrior, but he already


    had a partner."


    "Cedric Diggory, was it?" Felix spected.


    "Exactly," Uriah chuckled, "Her charm is strong, but it doesn''t always work..."


    The ''Armenian Runesnake'' mentioned in this chapter came from a submission by readers in the book club.


    >


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 Chapter 415: The Robe

    Chapter 415: The Robe


    On Christmas morning, Felix heard a knock at the door¡ªit was Dobby.


    "Merry Christmas, generous and great Mr. Harp!" the house-elf greeted enthusiastically, dressed in a brown vest with a hint of yellow socks peeking from its pocket, holding a purple knitted sweater.


    Felix jolted awake. "This isn''t your Christmas present to me, is it, Dobby? You really don''t have to¡­"


    "Oh no, Mr. Harp," Dobby replied nervously. "This is a gift from Mr. Harry Potter and his friends. I was there first... You mentioned not to disturb you too early or toote."


    "I did say that," Felix blinked, gauging the time from the dim light outside. It was barely six or seven in the morning¡ªDobby must have been even earlier in Harry''s dormitory.


    "Alright then... um,e in."


    He stepped aside, and Dobby momentarily vanished against the wall, reappearing with arge brown bag in hand.


    "These are gifts from Dobby and the house-elves, all for Mr. Harp!"


    In the living room, Dobby announced, sorting through the bag and handing Felix a small blue-wrapped box."What''s this? Oh, a pair of socks, quite nice," Felix observed the socks inside the package. Dobby seemed to have guessed his preference for a blue base, with ck lightning bolts and silver orbs embroidered, representing his two highly renowned ancient magics.


    "Dobby knitted them himself," the house-elf with wide, round eyes said. "Dobby went to several stores, but nothing felt right, so after discussing with thepanions, we decided on this."


    "So, all these are... socks?" Felix asked, somewhat distractedly.


    "Yes!" Dobby eximed joyously. "All sorts of socks! Each one picked by us with our favorite colors. Dobby got lucky, knowing Mr. Harp likes blue!"


    "Yes, you got that right. I do like blue. Thank you, Dobby," Felix said. "Have you nned how to spend this year? I remember Limes mentioned giving you all a week off¡ª"


    "Yes! Mr. Lupin is a good man; he gave the house-elves the same holiday," Dobby excitedly teared up. "I n to celebrate with friends, inviting everyone!"


    "Good idea. I recall there''s a magical camera in the office; remember to take a few pictures. Merry Christmas, Dobby."


    ***


    Felix spent the entire day in his office, overwhelmed by gifts and an astonishing workload of replies.


    During the rare breaks, he stood by the window, gazing at the snow-covered Forbidden Forest in the distance.


    Beauxbatons'' carriages and Hagrid''s hut resembled various-sized pastries, glistening with frosting. The Ilvermorny residence peeked out with a pointed top, while Durmstrang''s ck sails remained undisturbed by the fierce winds, firmly locked on the frozen ck Lake. The delegation from Uagadou, with their affinity for nature, chose a spot closest to the forest, setting up cabins in a style reminiscent of Hagrid''s hut.


    Felix, from his vantage point, could just about see the tracks left by students from other schools traversing to and from Hogwarts Castle, amidst vast white expanses.


    As the afternoon crept in, the crowd grew significantly, muchrger than the past two years.


    Felix rememberedst year''s rather quiet Christmas, with all the professors and students remaining at the school¡ªit barely filled a single table. This year, however, the Christmas atmosphere felt almost as bustling as regr school days, thanks to the Yule Ball, drawing nearly all fourth-year and above students to remain at Hogwarts, crowding the castle.


    But Felix knew, it was merely a psychological effect.


    He watched the students y in the snow for a while, the sky gradually darkening. Felix changed into his robe, estimating the time, and left his office.


    At the entrance to the Great Hall, he saw Harry and Ron, eagerly waiting at the oak doors.


    "Are you waiting for Miss Granger?" he asked.


    "What? Um, not exactly... We haven''t seen her either," Harry replied. "We''re waiting for Ron''s brother."


    "Percy Weasley? Or Charlie?" Felix inquired, surprised.


    "Percy," Harry said, pointing at Ron''s disheveled robe. "Mrs. Weasley bought Ron a new robe and asked Percy to bring it because she heard Percy is representing his superior, Mr. Barty Crouch, at the ball."


    Ron muttered to himself, "Mum should''ve packed it in the Christmas package instead of letting Percy bring it. If she thought Pig wouldn''t carry so much, she could''ve left the purple sweater at home, I mean, what if Percy forgets! His big brain never remembers anything other than work..."


    At that moment, a loud voice from outside the oak door resonated clearly in their ears. "Is this your brother, Percy? He''s quite interesting," said Ludo Bagman, dressed in a vibrant purple robe adorned withrge yellow stars.


    Apanying him was Percy Weasley, donning a brand-new navy blue robe, beaming broadly. Spotting the three at the door, he hurried over, shaking Felix''s hand vigorously.


    "I never expected you''d be the first person I''d meet on campus, Professor Harp. Thank you for taking care of Penelope; I''ve been meaning to visit. But I''ve been so busytely, you might not know, I''ve been promoted, from one of the assistants to the foremost one. Today, I''m here on behalf of Mr. Crouch..."


    As he spoke, he seemed to overlook Ron entirely.


    Harry smirked; he wanted to ask Percy if Mr. Crouch stopped calling him "Weatherby," but he resisted the temptation.


    Ron remained silent, eyeing Percy''s body for a ce to hide a robe. A few secondster, he angrily shouted at Percy, "Where''s my robe?"


    "What?" Percy looked stunned.


    "My robe! Mum got me a robe!" Ron eximed. Judging by his demeanor, if Harry hadn''t held him back, he might have lunged at Percy.


    Percy''s expression froze for a few seconds before he magically produced a robe identical to the one he was wearing, leaving Ron, who Harry restrained, dumbfounded.


    "Is this mine?" Ron said incredulously.


    "Thank Penelope; I did forget when I came here. She reminded me," Percy said sternly.


    Ron stared in disbelief at the new robe, gently caressing the navy satin surface, muttering under his breath, "Are you living with her?"


    "Um, not yet," Percy replied awkwardly.


    "How did she remind you before you left?" Ron eyed him suspiciously.


    "You shouldn''t pry!" Percy snapped quietly, his face turning red. "If you want your clothes."


    "Are you asking me to speak well of her? No need for that; Mum and Dad both like her," Ron retorted.


    Percy''s face seemed to be trending towards a deep crimson shade. Ludo Bagman and Felix watched the scene unfold silently, relieved when Harry tugged Ron away. "Padma and Parvati are waiting for us," so they hurried towards the washroom.


    "I remember you took out a heart-shaped mirror before leaving, some kind of


    Percy froze, his expression wooden as he said, "Penelope said Ick a sense of humor."


    Bagman widened his eyes. "This is your way of demonstrating humor?"


    "What''s wrong with that?" Percy nced at him strangely.


    "Ahem!" Felix interrupted their conversation. "We better head in. About the sense of humor, Percy, I recall a book title; I''ll tell youter."


    "Really?" Percy''s eyes lit up. "That''d be wonderful." As they walked into the Great Hall, he continued justifying himself endlessly, "I don''t think Ick humor. In fact, each one of us has a different definition of humor..."


    Felix and Bagman unconsciously quickened their pace.


    >


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 Chapter 416: The Ball

    Chapter 416: The Ball


    The hall buzzed with chatter.


    The walls shimmered with sparkling silver frost, while the ceiling portrayed a dazzling night sky showering them with snowkes that disappeared just before reaching their heads.


    Hundreds of fairies danced high above, showering colorful confetti down upon them.


    Felix stood at the entrance, surveying the scene. The house tables were gone, reced by numerous small tables adorned withnterns, each table surrounded by ten or so students.


    At the front of the hall sat a long rectangr tform with judges for thepetition. On either side of the tform were two teacher tables for Hogwarts professors and other guests who had traveled from afar.


    In front of the tform and the teacher tables were two spacious round tables reserved for the champions.


    Bagman and Percy walked up to the tform while Felix settled at one of the teacher tables, sitting between Professor Snape and McGonagall. Snape wore his usual ck robes while McGonagall donned a red checkered gown adorned with a wreath of thistles on her hat.


    "McGonagall, a rare sight," Felix teased. "Severus remains unchanged..."


    Snape scrutinized Felix, watching him curiously flip through a small menu on the table. Slowly, he remarked, "I don''t recall you ever learning to dance during your schooling. Perhaps you could join meter for a tour of the castle?""Oh, don''t be a killjoy," Professor McGonagall chimed in.


    Felix flipped the menu to its back, eyeing a line of dessert names. "No problem, but I want to try this," he pointed to a row of small words.


    "Euphemia?" Snape nced and remarked, "Too sweet."


    "A well-named dish," Felix chuckled.


    After a few minutes, Professor McGonagall stood up. "I need to organize the champions'' entrance," she adjusted her pointed hat and headed briskly toward a corner of the hall.


    Near the entrance of the hall, the champions and their partners stood together as McGonagall briefed them on the entrance procedures. "Wait a bit longer until the hall is nearly filled, then proceed in pairs. Champions and partners, walk through the left aisle across the hall and finally turn to sit at therge round table on the right side of the tform. Understand?"


    At that moment, Harry and Ron hurried into the hall. Ron finally managed to change into his new robes in thevatory. They rushed towards the tform.


    "Over here! Potter, Weasley," McGonagall called out loudly.


    Harry and Ron froze in their tracks, awkwardly turned their heads, facing the stern-looking McGonagall and the clustered champions, who, in turn, were all gazing at them. Valgadu, a robust champion, stood considerably taller than Krum, while Nona Leberth, equally tall, stood gracefully on the other side.


    Harry and Ron turned and retraced their steps. As they passed Draco Malfoy, he shouted, "Potter, Weasley, practicing your dance moves?"


    His partner, Pansy Parkinson, elicited a chorus of mocking "tsk tsks."


    Harry red at them. Draco, dressed in a high-necked ck velvet robe, resembled a rural parish priest, a fact that Harry silently scorned. Both boys reached the end of the champions'' queue, where the Patil sisters stood, arms crossed, looking displeased at Harry and Ron.


    McGonagall strode over, speaking quickly, "Get in line, you two! No, not together," she looked exasperatedly at Harry and Ron. "Stand side by side with your partners, for Merlin''s sake, do you not understand what ''partners'' mean?"


    She stepped forward, separating Harry and Ron and then hesitated, looking at the Patil sisters. Uncertain, she ordered, "Stand next to your partners,dies. A bit of coordination is needed... Honestly, it''s a bitte to say this now."


    McGonagall quickly moved back to the front of the line, and they could barely hear her faint voice, "Mr. Elephendi... please step back a bit; you''re too close to Mr. Krum. Mr. Krum, where is your partner?"


    "She''s on her way," Krum replied in a low voice.


    McGonagall appeared displeased. "Are you sure she won''t miss the time? I could find a substitute if needed..."


    "No need, thank you," Krum replied, his expression grim.


    Harry and Ron peered at the front of the line. Ron, incredulous, murmured, "Can you believe it? Krum doesn''t have a partner! He''s a big star, who''d stand him up? Oh, Merlin, Harry, help me out here..."


    He crouched slightly behind Harry, trying to hide because Fleur Dcour was looking their way. She was d in a silver-grey satin robe, looking stunning. Beside her was a tall, handsome boy. Harry vaguely remembered him as the Slytherin seventh-year and the head of their house.


    Once Fleur turned away, Ron straightened up.


    "Can''t me you, she is quite beautiful," Harry remarked fairly. A few days earlier, when Fleur invited Cedric in the entrance hall, Ron had been utterly captivated and had awkwardly approached her, only to meet with inevitable failure.


    Since then, Ron had been avoiding her, still not over the embarrassment.


    At that moment, a beautiful girl in a flowing pale lc-blue robe entered the hall, gliding past Harry and Ron. She went to stand beside Krum, speaking hurriedly, seemingly apologizing for herteness. However, they were at the back of the line, making it difficult for Harry and Ron to hear her voice clearly over the front positions.


    "Oh, sorry, Krum... I was ready hours ago... but... sniff... as a return gesture, I also didn''t expect... too surprising..."


    "Sniff? Are you talking about the magical creature that digs holes in the ground for coins? It sent you a gift?" Krum''s deep voice was distinctive enough to reach Harry and Ron''s ears.


    "Valen doesn''t dig in the ground! Oh, Valen is her name... Yes, she did send me a gift... I suppose it''s because I sent her a Christmas present first... perhaps Professor Hagrid helped pick it out..." the girl exined.


    Harry and Ron exchanged puzzled looks.


    "The voice sounds familiar," Harry said uncertainly.


    "She mentioned Valen sending her a Christmas gift, is that possible?" Ron hesitated, looking at Harry.


    "If I heard correctly, she sent the first gift... Valen just replied... wait a minute, I think I''ve got it..." Harry''s speech slowed down, his gaze shifting from the girl in the elegant robe to Ron.


    The two stared at each other for a moment, then eximed in unison, utterly surprised, "Hermione?" The guess was unbelievable; they couldn''t believe that the stunning girl a dozen feet away was their most familiar person.


    Harry stared at her back; she didn''t look like Hermione at all. But if it was true, she must have done something to her hair; it was no longer unruly but smooth and glossy, tied elegantly at the back.


    At that moment, McGonagall approached the front of the line, addressing


    the audience in a loud voice, "Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, without further ado, let us wee the champions of the Triwizard Tournament!"


    The crowd erupted in apuse as the champions began their slow procession through the hall, heading towards the tform and their designated table. Amidst the apuse, Hermione, standing beside Krum, tried to smile back at the cheering crowd, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.


    Ron and Harry stood agape, watching their friend Hermione, lookingpletely transformed, walk past them, only to take her ce beside Viktor Krum at the champions'' table.


    The crisp sound of forks tapping against ss cut through the chaotic hall,nding precisely in everyone''s ears as all eyes turned towards Dumbledore at the head table.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, please rise. I need to clear the tables for the dance floor," he said, smiling warmly.


    With a wave of his wand, tables zoomed to the walls, leaving a clear space in the middle. Students joined their partners. Harry noticed Parvati''s arm looped around his and discreetly tried to free himself, but to no avail.


    Dumbledore then conjured a long stage against the right wall of the hall, adorned with a drum set, guitars, a lute, a cello, and several organs.


    The lights around the hall dimmed, leaving the dance floor brightly lit.


    "Students, professors, esteemed guests¡ªenjoy the wonderful music!" Dumbledore spread his arms joyously. At that moment, the quirky sisters rushed onto the stage, eliciting thunderous apuse from the audience.


    With his seat near the steps, Felix felt fortunate not to be in the moving zone. He satfortably, intrigued by the entrically dressed musicians starting their performance.


    Flipping through the menu, hended on thest page. "Euplera," he enunciated clearly.


    In an instant, a delightful chocte and coffee frosted cake appeared before him. He lifted his fork, only to catch a stern gaze.


    "You know what you should be doing now?" Professor McGonagall pursed her lips.


    Felix hesitated, scanning the surroundings. "Oh..." He stood and slightly bowed, politely asking, "May I have the honor of this dance, ma''am?"


    "Of course," McGonagall smiled, extending her hand. "Drop the fork, Felix," she whispered.


    They headed towards the dance floor.


    At that moment, Felix''s thoughts raced. The hall''s activities slowed down in his mind¡ªDumbledore holding Madame Maxime''s hand, his pointed hat almost touching her chin; Mad-Eye Moody dragging Professor Sinistra, her expression resembling an unfortunate arrested dark wizard; even seeing Ludovic Bagman struggling to invite Professor Sprout while bending his belly...


    He pushed his thoughts into overdrive, capturing every detail happening in the hall. Basic positions, steps, hand movements, synchronizing with the beat... By the time hepleted the dozen or so steps from the faculty table to the dance floor, he transformed from a novice to a dancing prodigy.


    "Waltz, Milova?" Felix asked, flicking away a misfortunate fairy that stumbled onto a stiff Harry''s shoulder from the ceiling.


    "Of course," McGonagall replied.


    They danced gracefully, Felix absorbing the essence of everyone''s moves. Surprisingly, Dumbledore turned out to be the best dancer.


    Indeed, age seemed to hold an advantage. Felix pondered this peculiar notion.


    A few minutester, the dance concluded. McGonagall smiled, "You can dance! I thought this might be unfamiliar territory for you."


    Felix wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead discreetly. "I haven''t had much practice before." He nced towards where Snape had been, but his ck robe had vanished.


    The quirky sisters in the corner struck up another lively tune. "Continue?" he politely asked, catching Hagrid swiftly swallowing his Euplera cake and nervously ncing at Madame Maxime, who had moved away from Dumbledore.


    McGonagall chuckled, "Seems you''re quite unfamiliar. You can''t spend the whole dance with one person; there are many lovelydies waiting."


    "What?"


    McGonagall stepped back as a beautiful girl suddenly appeared. "Professor Harp?" Hermione blinked, looking at him expectantly, so Felix offered his hand, gesturing an invitation, and Hermione dly epted.


    The style of the music changedpletely, forcing Felix to go into overdrive again, trying to match everyone else''s moves. Secondster, he expertly led Hermione in a joyful spin around the dance floor, leaving a long, graceful trail.


    As the song ended, Hermione blushed. She tiptoed, whispering, "You''re really good at this, and thank you for saving me." Her lips lightly touched Felix''s cheek before she floated away.


    Raising his head, Felix found Fleur standing before him. "Are you good with this tune?" she teased. By now, the quirky sisters'' performance had turned into a livelier polka.


    "Of course," Felix replied.


    After exchanging partners several times, Felix found himself facing Hermione.


    "Oh, Professor, I saw you dancing so wonderfully on the side," she said.


    "Thank you, not the only one saying so."


    Felix counted down the sisters'' new song in his mind. When the music began, he heaved a sigh of relief, finallypleting a round without having to elerate his thoughts.


    He strolled and spun elegantly in the dance floor, confident and poised.


    By the edge of the dance floor, Seamus and Dean sat at a table, enjoying desserts. Seamus eximed, "I didn''t expect Professor Harp to excel in so many dance styles... He must have stayed on the floor the longest, right?"


    "Yeah, how did he manage that?" Dean was equally surprised.


    "And who was the girl he danced with? Beauxbatons or Durmstrang student?" Seamus squinted.


    "What? She''s Hermione!" Dean retorted loudly.


    Seamus stared at Dean, who nodded towards the dance floor. "Look at her prominent teeth, it''s obvious..."


    In the center of the dance floor,


    Hermione bit her lip, softly asking, "Do you know Valen gave me a Christmas present?"


    "I do," Felix replied.


    "Was that your idea?" Hermione asked sharply.


    "Of course not," Felix didn''t quite understand her tone, exining, "I was unwrapping gifts all day, replying to letters, and it wasn''t until almost evening that I realized you had prepared a gift for Valen. She was overjoyed because no one else but me remembered to give her a present, so she sent one in return..."


    "But the gift is too precious!" Hermione eximed.


    "Precious?" Felix chuckled. "No, Granger, it''s just a keepsake. I researched; it''s beyond repair."


    "Is that so..." Hermione pondered, looking down.


    At that moment, the ring on Felix''s left hand buzzed. He frowned.


    "What''s wrong, Professor?" Hermione asked cautiously.


    "Someone wants to contact me," Felix said calmly. As the music reached its final notes, Felix led Hermione to finish thest pose and left the floor with her.


    Someone approached, eager. "Sorry," Felix politely declined.


    He nodded at Hermione and hurried away, clutching a copper Knut between his fingers. Paired with the one he gave Dobby, whenever Dobby intended to report, he injected magic into it to notify Felix in advance.


    But this time, the coin felt unusually hot, almost melting.


    Felix swiftly exited the hall, finding himself in the courtyard, away from the hustle and bustle. "Psst!" A soft sound. Dobby suddenly appeared, looking highly agitated, his big eyes filled with fear.


    Most importantly, he carried a copsed house-elf.


    After ensuring Dobby was okay, Felix squatted, assessing the house-elf Dobby brought. By his estimation, this was a female house-elf.


    "What happened, Dobby?" he asked softly.


    "D-Dobby doesn''t know! D-Dobby just wanted to invite friends for Christmas. Dobby knew Winky has a master, so he specifically picked a veryte time; they should''ve all been asleep. Dobby knew her master isn''t feeling well..."


    >


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 Chapter 417: Dobby and Winky

    Chapter 417: Dobby and Winky


    "She''s called Winky? Who''s her owner? What have you encountered?"


    Tears rolled down Dobby''srge eyes, trembling as he spoke, "Her name''s Winky. We''ve known each other for a long time, back when I was still with the Malfoy family..." He shuddered.


    "Please, go on, Dobby."


    "Her owner is Mr. Crouch, Barty Crouch, sir..." Dobby said, causing a furrow on Felix''s brow. "I went to Mr. Crouch''s house. It was dark, but Dobby had been there before, knew the way... Dobby found Winky. She was terrified, urging Dobby to leave quickly. Dobby didn''t know why, and our voices woke the master of the house."


    "You mean Barty Crouch?"


    "Dobby isn''t sure!" The house elf trembled, "It was too dark, there wasn''t even a magical light! They''re so backward!"


    Felix almost chuckled but managed to focus as Dobby got to the point.


    "I heard a cold voice say, ''Something''s intruded, a filthy house elf, kill them.'' Dobby had never heard such a chilling voice! But next second, Mr. Crouch appeared, casting a spell at us, not just at me, but also at Winky!"


    "A killing curse?""No, not... bright green light, full of deathly aura, that spell!"


    "The Avada Kedavra?" Dobby nodded continuously, Felix''s eyebrows twitching fiercely.


    "What happened next? Did you manage to escape?"


    "Then... the spell went off course. Dobby used a defense item Mr. Hagrid had given, blocking a powerful cutting curse, then Dobby fled with Winky. But Winky didn''t want to go, she wanted to plead to Mr. Crouch... Dobby couldn''t leave her alone! Dobby... Dobby stunned her."


    Dobby''s slender chest rose and fell as he spoke, breathless. He reached into his pocket, pulling out a dull yellow sock, emptying a cracked, unusable amulet from it.


    Felix squatted, tracing the spider-web-like cracks on the amulet''s surface, then pointed at the unconscious house elf.


    "Revive quickly."


    Winky''s slender neck twitched, she blinked hard, opening wide brown eyes, still groggy. Spotting Dobby and Felix beside her, her eyes widened suddenly, emitting a loud shriek¡ª


    "Winky needs to go back! Winky must leave this ce!"


    Her body turned ethereal. Felix raised a finger, but the elf, flickering like a bad signal, couldn''t leave the area.


    "Dobby said urgently, ''Winky, we''re safe.''"


    "No, Winky must go back, back to the master!" She struggled desperately.


    "Dobby eximed loudly, ''You no longer have a master, he wants to kill you, think!''"


    Winky''s slender body froze as if ttened, her round head jerked, stubbornly saying, "No, it''s not¡ª"


    "The master needs care, he''s very sick!" She cried.


    Dobby yelled louder, "There were no signs of sickness when he attacked us!"


    "Because the master needs to care for Master Barty, he''s terribly ill. He feels guilty, wronged his son..." Winky trembled, tears streaming, "Oh, Winky shouldn''t say this, Winky''s a bad elf!"


    She screamed, rolling in the dirt, startling students emerging from the hall.


    "Master?" Felix spoke softly, contemting, "Barty Crouch II? But he was locked in Azkaban and as far as I know, has been dead for years..."


    "Winky!" He halted the self-punishing elf, encouraging her, "Listen, your master is in trouble, only you can help him," adding, "and your Master Barty, but I need to know the truth."


    Winky stared nkly at Felix, incessantly muttering, "Master Barty is innocent, imprisoned in Azkaban, but he couldn''t forgive himself, so he chose redemption..."


    Her condition was rming, like a soulless shell, repeating these words.


    As she spoke, a glint of eerie light shed in Winky''s pupils.


    "What''s wrong with Winky?" Dobby fretted, "Mr. Hagrid, Dobby did hear a cold voice, but didn''t see anyone..."


    "She''s under a spell... not quite like the Dementor''s Kiss, I suspect it''s Confundus," Felix said.


    Dobby jumped, "Confundus? Winky''s under a Confundus charm?"


    Felix''s wand touched Winky''s chest, murmuring, "Counter-spell." He shifted his focus, in a greyish-white scene, threads of red light evaporated from the elf''s body.


    He pocketed his wand, watching Winky, questioning Dobby, "Is the magic lifted? How''s Winky?"


    Felix breathed a sigh of relief, "Let''s see."


    Winky seemed like she just woke, blinking, then letting out a despairing cry.


    "You naughty, Master Barty!"


    Felix had to embrace Winky''s shoulders as she shook her head, iling her legs, simultaneously screaming in anguish. His eyes glowed silver, speaking in a low voice, "Winky, do you have something to say?"


    Her eyes widened like huge bells, tears flowing like streams, but she refused to say anything.


    Reluctantly, Felix released her.


    Hemanded, "Dobby, take Winky to rest. She''s been through a lot tonight." He gestured towards Winky, whose expression softened quickly, falling asleep soon after, though her eyelids twitched uneasily.


    Felix conjuredplex magical symbols in the air, imprinting them onto Winky''s body. "Mr. Hagrid?"


    "She can''t leave for now. I''ve sealed her ability to use magic. Dobby, take good care of her for a while. Fulfill her needs as much as possible."


    "Understood, Mr. Hagrid." Dobby replied, carrying Winky, hesitating, "And you, sir? Would you like Dobby to inquire about Mr. Barty Crouch''s secrets from Winky?"


    "No need," Felix said, "I''ll ask myself..." He spoke in a very intricate tone, "I''ve just witnessed a fascinating scene."


    "What did you see?"


    "A baby." Felix eximed in admiration.


    There''s another chapter undergoing revisions.


    >


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 Chapter 418: Lingering Soul

    Chapter 418: Lingering Soul


    In the deep of night, atop a deste mountain...


    A weathered house, entwined with ivy, stood amidst the hills, radiant with an aura of spells. Felix paid it little heed, his gaze fixated on the darkened window on the top floor. With a gentle push, the door yielded, revealing a silent interior.


    Navigating through a dim corridor, he approached an ancient door at the corridor''s end.


    As he drew nearer, distant sounds reached his ears¡ªa wheezing, panting wind-like noise mingled with the delicate clinking of ssware and the pouring of liquids.


    "Bring the potion!" a chilling voice demanded.


    Felix caught the sound of liquid trickling down a throat, followed by pained groans. Whoever imbibed it was suffering greatly, momentarily halting in agony.


    "You''d better hope your son intercepts that elf, or you''ll endure much more..." The cold voice seemed to converse with someone, but Felix couldn''t hear any replies. He lightly tapped his forehead, tapping into magical sight, and spotted three sources of magic.


    One seemed normal, but the other two¡­ were disturbingly sinister.


    Barty Crouch, Voldemort, and a dark wizard? Voldemort''s peculiar state¡ªwhat set it apart? Why did Dumbledore have misgivings about this visit?Felix''s mind raced, the Mirror of Erised swaying in his pocket. He raised his wand, focusing on the more pronounced magical disturbance. Dark arcs crackled at the wand''s tip, poised to unleash.


    "Who''s out there?" the chilling voice echoed.


    "Hiss!"


    A bolt of darkness surged, piercing through the wooden door. Simultaneously, Felix pushed through the shattered remains, entering the room. His body shimmered with protective enchantments, cloaked in a coat woven from dragonhide and serpent skin.


    Inside, a magical barrier intercepted his bolt. Yet, Felix took in everything.


    It was a crude room. Barty Crouch stood by a chair, unsurprising, with a cradle on it¡ªan infant resembling a skeletal figure, devoid of hair, covered in scales, skin dark and reddened, resembling wounded flesh.


    Its limbs were thin and limp, its face a t serpent''s visage with narrow slits in the eye''s ce, emitting a haunting red glow.


    "Mr. Voldemort, I must admit, seeing you in person is startling, despite my preparedness," Felix said amiably, though his gaze remained fixed on the chair''s corner¡ªa massive serpent, at least twelve feet long, slithering up Crouch''s body. Cleverly concealing most of itself, it revealed only its head behind Crouch''s neck, emitting a sinister hiss.


    Felix''s initial target was that serpent.


    The magical power within the serpent surpassed even the weakened Voldemort before him! He had misjudged the primary source based on magical sight. No, perhaps not...


    Horcrux.


    The word shed in Felix''s mind.


    Voldemort used a living being as a Horcrux. Hadn''t he considered that when this creature died, his fragmented soul would dissipate with it?


    He gained a vivid understanding of Voldemort''s madness.


    "Take Nagini and go," Voldemortmanded from his seat.


    At that moment, a bolt of darkness surged, aiming directly at the right side of Barty Crouch''s neck.


    "Hiss! Hiss!"


    After a teeth-grinding electrical crackle, the bolt was forcibly redirected, tearing a rift in the wall, allowing sparse moonlight to filter through.


    Felix watched Voldemort, who breathed heavily, his chest emitting a wheezing noise akin to a bellows. Yet, it was sufficient, a mere potion and magical constructs forming a temporary vessel, deflected his attacks twice within moments.


    He didn''t pursue further; Barty Crouch had already vanished with the serpent. Someone awaited them outside; Felix wondered if Voldemort would hemorrhage upon discovering.


    White mes slowly materialized behind Felix. He looked at Voldemort with interest. "You personally intervening, it contradicts my impression of you... Are they crucial to you?"


    "What makes you entertain such a ludicrous notion?" Voldemort said slowly, the previous two spells straining him. His infantile form leaned against the chair, resembling a talking mass of flesh.


    His voice rasped, "If you had experienced my plight, felt my despair, you''d realize even a puppet, a lowly elf, cannot be easily abandoned..."


    "So, youck enough hands," Felix nodded slightly, understanding why he survived. mes behind him dwindled; Felix had absolute control, leaving nothing but a charred circle on the floor.


    "You''re wondering why I don''t retaliate?" Voldemort''s diforting voice echoed, "No need to worry. I''m currently powerless. Mypanions... months ago, I roamed the forests of Albania, possessing small creatures for extended periods, wearied by it all, yet unable to escape. I was worse than the most wretched ghost... I can only feel a shred of life through such means."


    "Until the dwarf, Peter, found you," Felix stated, recognizing Voldemort''s single magical source within view. No portkeys, no magical traps¡ªonly Voldemort''s feeble but intensely malicious power twisted his perspective.


    He suddenly realized Voldemort genuinely wanted to converse because hecked the ability to resist.


    "Yeah, until the dwarf, Peter, found me..." the raspy voice said, "A cowardly servant, though I hate to admit it. If he were still here, I''d be more at ease. A pity." His tone was akin to losing a reusable napkin.


    "Peter was taken by the Ministry''s people; he sumbed to a Dementor''s Kiss," Felix narrated.


    "I''m aware... he died, didn''t survive a week," Voldemort replied indifferently. "I experimented, trying to extend their lives, but the results often fell short."


    "When you were at the peak?" Felix inquired.


    "Only trivial y. When your minions are out glorifying your name, you need something to upy yourself. Some of my servants... Be enjoys torture, but I grew weary. I preferred studying dark magic, the arts of the abyss, as captivating as a starless, profound night..." Voldemort trailed off academically.


    Then, slowly, he said, "My friend, ease your mes; we have ample time."


    Unmoved, Felix suppressed the mes further. His mastery over wildfire was exceptional; except for the charred circle on the ground, everything remained unscathed.


    "Aren''t you going to speak? I''m listening, but forgive my limited patience," Felix prodded.


    Voldemort snickered, "I once thought of you as another Dumbledore, but youck his patience..."


    "Voldemort, you boast about your dark magic aplishments, yet you couldn''t defeat Dumbledore. Do you know how people perceive your rtionship? He''s the only one you fear. I''m curious, if not properly taught, would you allow such narratives to spread?"


    "Dumbledore..." Voldemort murmured the name, his voice growing icier, "that old man hid himself too well. Everyone was deceived by him, a cunning hypocrite."


    He assessed Felix, sneering, "Perhaps you all perceive him as a babbling old man?"


    "Isn''t he? He''s well over a hundred," Felix pinpointed the crux, drawing upon valuable insights from his adversary.


    Voldemort''s tone dripped with disdain, but he didn''t follow Felix''s


    topic. "I''ve delved into your life, understood you in detail... Felix Harp, to my surprise, our origins are quite simr," he murmured softly. "Both of us lived, not by choice, in a Muggle orphanage, gifted yet subject to peculiar stares¡ª"


    "Sorry, I was happy in the orphanage," Felix interrupted, setting boundaries.


    The air crackled with tension as the two wizards faced each other. Voldemort''s scarlet eyes flickered in the narrow slits, a crimson glow emanating from them. His tone, filled with nostalgia, spoke of irony. "So, a Muggle studies expert... how ironic. You are like my opposite." He sighed wistfully, "I, too, once hoped to be your colleague. By your age, perhaps I could have been your professor. But Dumbledore refused me, without any mercy," Voldemortmented. "He always has been that way."


    "You must have been quite mischievous as a child to leave such a bad impression on him," Felix teased.


    Voldemort''s narrowed eyes snapped open, his skull-like face contorting. "Another one, another person brainwashed by him, Felix Harp. I suddenly don''t feel like killing you anymore. I want to see what he''ll do when you sh with him. From what I know, you''re not one to easily yield..."


    Felix observed him intently. "Is this what it takes to be the Dark Lord? Extraordinary arrogance and imagination beyond measure?"


    "It''s confidence and strategy," Voldemort corrected.


    "Alright," Felix murmured, "then I need you toe with me. You better tell Dumbledore these words face to face; you surely have many private matters to discuss."


    "There will be a day for that, but not today. I''ll make a stirring speech over his dead body," Voldemort dered.


    Felix spread his hands wide, then swiftly brought them together. A pale, eerie fire converged at the center, coalescing into a long, pale sword that plummeted sharply.


    Stepping back cautiously, Felix squinted, expecting Voldemort to employ some other tactic. Unexpectedly, the pale sword pierced Voldemort''s chest amid a burst of mes that engulfed him, climbing his form. The intense fire crackled and clung to Voldemort''s robes, consuming him fiercely.


    In the raging inferno, Voldemort emitted a chilling scream, his narrow red eyes widening to their limits, fixated on Felix.


    "Besides Dumbledore, you''re the second person to make me feel death, Felix Harp! I''ll remember you," he cried out, his voice full of agony, consumed by the fiery pyre. A wispy, ethereal shadow arose from the mes, seeming insubstantial, like smoke,cking substance.


    In fire, he became fire; in water, a mere reflection.


    "You can''t kill me, and I will return¡ª," the shadow twisted and howled in agony.


    "Swoosh!"


    A blinding green light pierced the shadow, but it had no effect. Following that, a silver shimmer crossed Felix''s eyes; spells like the Mind Pce and the Legilimens were futile.


    Trouble.


    Felix pondered. His magic was ineffective against Voldemort''s spectral form. And then he recalled that phrase:


    "Worse than the lowliest wraith..."


    Yet his hand remained steady. It was their first encounter, both caught off guard. Voldemort shielded his own Horcrux, and Felix pretended ignorance. He wasn''t sure if Dumbledore seeded. If not, the next encounter could set a trap for the final blow.


    Simultaneously, Voldemort had to stay, baiting himself. However, in his current state, he was powerless against Felix. He had prepared for losing this physical form; it meant little to him. Besides, engaging Felix in conversation might sow seeds of discord between him and Dumbledore.


    Felix adeptly cast spells during this rare moment¡ªTwisting Attraction, ck Lightning, Emerald Mist, Milky White Glow, Golden mes¡ªpowerful magic surged at the Crouch residence, illuminating the night with dazzling brilliance.


    He probed for the weak points in Voldemort''s residual soul, but Voldemort remained unfazed by these spells, breezing through the silver shields, drifting to a hole-riddled ceiling, sneering, "So many tricks, but for killing, one spell suffices!"


    He left behind a veiled yet malicious gaze, darting toward the gloomy sky, vanishing in the blink of an eye.


    After a moment of quiet, Felix breathed out softly.


    "Once Iplete the Tome of Magics, devising a runic script against you, you won''t escape," he grumbled, realizing his magic was futile against Voldemort''s spectral form.


    Voldemort was far from a true being at this point, beyond conventional means to harm. There was no recorded magic for this state in history. Perhaps that''s why Dumbledore knew about Voldemort''s lingering soul in the Albanian forest but refrained from action.


    "Magic... memories... emotions... a projected existence. Is this his true form? A shadow cast amidst life and death, relying on Horcruxes to anchor a thread of himself. If I destroy all his Horcruxes before his rebirth, could I sever his foothold in reality?"


    Felix pondered, reminiscent of his encounter with the loathsome Hallow''s Horcrux, questioning the same.


    Though Voldemort ignored many of his spells, it was due to his peculiar state. Neither could affect the other. Voldemort''s urgency to flee suggested an unknown vulnerability.


    He ruminated silently until a silver shadow abruptly appeared, descending upon the ruins.


    Felix raised his arm, the silver phoenix guardian perching on his slender fingers. Dumbledore''s gentle voice resonated, "He fled, went underground... but I intercepted Barty and that snake."


    As the phoenix finished, it transformed into silver mist and dissipated.


    "You''re something else," Felix murmured, eyeing a picture frame on the table. Within it, Barty Crouch held his wife, beside them a handsome young man.


    He had uncovered the identity of the spy within the castle.


    Felix exited the room, leaving a torrent of roaring mes behind, devouring everything. He tossed the frame into the inferno, standing in the cold night, gazing at the consuming fire.


    "Why isn''t anyone spreading your story, Voldemort?" He mused yfully.


    Raising his wand high, he chanted a spell learned from Lucius Malfoy, "Reassemble Bones!" A green light soared into the sky.


    A colossal, skeletal figure,posed of countless emerald, star-like pieces, emerged. Arge serpent slithered from its mouth like a tongue. Ascending higher, the skeleton emitted a dazzling light amid a greenish mist, resembling a new constetion against the dark night sky.


    In the distance, Dumbledore''s faint figure shook his head disapprovingly at Felix''s action. Still, he didn''t intervene. It was time for the Ministry of Magic to be vignt.


    He turned away; tonight had too much to handle. At least there was a spy in the castle, though he wasn''t sure if they''d capture them in time. Barty''s injuries were severe, and the only regret was the snake''s swift demise; it turned out to be a Horcrux, information he hadn''t received through themunication mirrors.


    Felix waved his hand, extinguishing the roaring fire, leaving ruins in its wake.


    He strode away, vanishing abruptly into the shelter of the woods, leaving behind a somber voice that lingered in the dark night.


    "Until we meet again, Voldemort. I hope you''ve recovered by then..."


    ...


    A few minutes ago¡ª


    Hogwarts Castle, Gryffindor Dormitory. Harry jolted awake from his bed, a splitting headache piercing his skull.


    About the main character


    issue, there''s an exnation in the topment of the book''s reader circle, but many readers missed it. Here''s my reply to a reader in the reader circle, which still applies:


    (Regarding the main character issue) I''m not sure either; the perspectives of readers and authors differ. The outline I''ve designed doesn''t hinge on any romantic pairing, and even popr pairings are too young, so even if there is a pairing, it''s something that will happen many yearster. What I can assure is that this book won''t involve any romantic ambiguity (normal interactions don''t count).


    When I write, I realize that while the outline sets the story''s direction, I have no idea about the specific plot for the next day. I need to think on the spot. Interactions with female characters happen naturally for me. As an author, I''ll try toy groundwork, but whether it bes the beginning of a rtionship depends on the story''s developmentter on. I''ve thought multiple times about the story''s ending¡ªit might be a sudden realization of solitude after a thousand years, or being under the spotlight amid a bustling crowd, or retiring to seclusion in the woods and finding sce.


    Summing up, will there be romantic ambiguity in this book? No. Love scenes? Unlikely or minimal. Will there be pairings? It depends on the plot''s development, the author''s feeling while writing, and the feedback from readers about the female characters.


    >


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 Chapter 419: Thrilling Cold Night

    Chapter 419: Thrilling Cold Night


    "Harry, Harry! Are you okay?"


    Harry panted heavily, hearing a familiar voice. He barely opened his eyes, seeing two blurry yet concerned faces¡ªRon and Neville. They looked terrified, arms extended in confusion. Harry found himself on the cold floor, unaware of when he fell from the bed.


    "I''m fine, Ron, Neville, thanks," Harry managed, noticing Seamus and Dean stirring from their beds. "I''m alright..." he emphasized.


    "You don''t look alright," Ron said stiffly.


    "Oh, it''s just my scar... acting up," Harry stuttered, getting up from the floor. Ron handed him his sses, and as Harry put them on, the room came into focus.


    Neville held a magicalmp, its light not ring but causing Harry a dizzy spell. It felt like he was back in that vivid dream. He was sitting in a chair, talking to someone... but it didn''t feel like him. He wasn''t that fragile, needing someone to even feed him potions.


    He tried to immerse himself in it. It felt too real. The thick potion slid down his throat like ice, swirling in his stomach.


    "Are you sick, Harry?" Seamus looked at him with rm. "I think you need to visit the school hospital."


    The dream was slipping away. No, it couldn''t be... Harry thought, finding an excuse for himself: "I need to use the loo... don''t worry, I''m fine." He stumbled out in his pajamas."I''ll check on Harry, you guys go back to sleep," Ron decided, and Neville passed his little lion-shaped magicalmp to Ron. "Oh, thanks, Neville. Harry must have had a nightmare. I''ll check the bathroom..."


    Ron exined, following Harry out of the dorm.


    Outside, he didn''t see anyone at the door. As expected, in the corner of themon room, he saw Harry. He sat on a crimson armchair, head tilted back, one hand on his forehead, the other on his chest, brows furrowed.


    Harry tried hard to recall, pretending he was still in that dimly lit room. The viscous potion tasted like an iced rock sliding down his throat. He was angry, something had gone wrong. He mentioned someone''s son, and that person was there, silently serving him. No, that wasn''t him. It was Voldemort. Sirius ck had analyzed it for him. It had to be the scar on his head, Dumbledore had exined it back in his first year.


    Voldemort was weak, constantly needing that potion. Harry wished it tasted worse. But Voldemort had a body, terrible news... Voldemort had been attacked, but he reacted quickly, blocking that... ck lightning? So familiar... It was Professor Lupin! How did he appear? Did he get a clue from Voldemort among many dancing partners?


    Harry dismissed the unreliable idea. He had to recall more details. They talked briefly, Voldemort asked someone to leave. Who was scolded? He couldn''t recall the name, but he knew it had three sybles... Professor Lupin used a powerful fire spell, not like Hermione''s, it was a pale forest green me... They continued their conversation. Harry shook his head, unable to remember clearly. His mind was like a sink with the plug pulled out; the details of the dream kept leaking away...


    They mentioned Professor Dumbledore, hypocrite? Anger surged in Harry, but quickly, nervousness took over. He knew what happened next; the impression was too deep. In the dream, he almost thought he died... Professor Lupin conjured a ming sword, piercing his chest, screaming in agony... No, he got it wrong again. It was Voldemort, not himself.


    Harry felt relieved. Professor Lupin began the attack, countless dazzling spells... Voldemort floated in the air, mocking Professor Lupin''s useless efforts... But Harry experienced firsthand that biting hatred. Voldemort''s malice was too strong, not as indifferent as he appeared... Harry felt like he was seeing through Voldemort''s eyes, not dreaming, but living the moment!


    Have I entered Voldemort''s mind? Harry thought, excited and scared, tightly shutting his eyes. He felt like he was floating in the clouds, rapidly moving forward, the night blurring everything around. Then, a dazzling silver light illuminated him, flying towards him. It was a silver phoenix, like Fawkes. He found himself gritting his teeth, shouting, "Dumbledore!"


    Then, he plummeted into the ground, darting through ck soil and brown rocks. He had something crucial to do, barging into an underground chamber, possessing an unlucky rat. The rat squeaked a few times and when it opened its eyes again, they were blood-red. It crawled onto a table, triggering something, bursting into a vivid purple light. The rat was flung, hitting the wall several feet away, twitching a few times, dead.


    Then, Voldemort''s spectral form emerged from the rat''s corpse. He stood there quietly, no sound, but Harry felt a heavy sense of oppression...


    Harry opened his eyes, finding Ron sitting across from him, looking at him with mixed expressions. "You had that dream again, didn''t you?"


    Harry took a deep breath, affirming, "Voldemort informed his spy within the school."


    "What?" Ron looked at him in shock. "Mate, do you know what you''re saying?"


    "I do!" Harry tried to keep his tone as calm as possible. "I know, I definitely know..." Suddenly, he stood up, pacing around in themon room. "Voldemortcks manpower; he can''t afford to lose his servant in the castle... I can feel it... Professor Lupin and Professor Dumbledoreunched a sudden attack, brilliant move!" He suddenly pped his hands.


    Ron looked worried.


    "But Voldemort found a way to contact the spy in the castle, the one who put our names in the Goblet of Fire!" Harry contemted, his thoughts bing clearer. "He lost


    his pet rat, Peter Pettigrew!"


    "Peter Pettigrew? The rat?" Ron''s jaw dropped.


    "He''s not just a rat!" Harry snapped, feeling his heart racing. "He''s Voldemort''s spy, the one who''s been lurking around since our fourth year!" Harry pointed at Ron. "He''s here, in the castle. He''s the one who told Voldemort about Sirius and Professor Lupin. He''s the one who gave us up!"


    Ron''s eyes widened. "What are you saying, Harry?"


    "I''m saying... Peter Pettigrew is among us."


    The air was charged with tension as spells crackled and ricocheted through the room. Ron, emerging from the invisibility cloak, cast a spell towards Barty Crouch Jr., a magic rope nearly brushing the ground, snaring his legs. Harry seized the moment, channeling more power into his spells. Barty stumbled backward, tripping over arge crate and vanishing behind it.


    Harry''s spells struck a pile of ssware in the office, shattering a mirror-like device. "Stupefy! Stupefy!"


    Harry and Ron seized the opportunity, unleashing spells, yet they only hit the wide-open crate, producing a dull thud. Harry, heedless, charged forward, seeing Barty not felled by spells but by stumbling.


    He had to seize this chance...


    Suddenly, ropes on Barty transformed into a giant snake, blocking a cutting curse and a barrier spell. His gaze darted around,nding on something resembling a mirror hanging on the office wall¡ªwithin it, shadowy figures moved hazily. But gradually, the images sharpened. Two figures emerged, one sporting a long beard, the other swift and youthful...


    "Hiss..."


    Barty''s face contorted, flipping into the crate. Harry moved to pursue, a wand tip emerging, emitting a dazzling red light.


    "Boom!"


    An enormous explosion resounded. Harry was flung, crashing into the corridor wall alongside Ron. Bones ached, and Ron, struck by arge stone, winced in pain.


    Harry surveyed the Dark Arts office¡ªa copsed half-wall, a gaping hole in the ceiling, dust clouding the air.


    "Cough, cough!" Harry coughed violently, ncing at Ron, pale and groaning. Struggling, Harry leaned against the wall, weakly raising his wand, "Repa¡ªcough, cough, cough!¡ªReparo!"


    "Reparo," a voice echoed.


    Harry looked up, eximing with delight, "Professor Dumbledore!" Amidst the haze, Dumbledore''s shadow mirrored what he had seen in the mirror before. He looked to the side; another figure emerged in the mirror, "Professor Snape!"


    "Mm," Felix nodded, casting healing spells, surveying the wreckage. "The Defense Against the Dark Arts office is quite a disaster..."


    In his first year, Felix hadn''t been aware, but since joining, the office of the Dark Arts professor had seen nothing but trouble. From Lockhart and Rita Skeeter''s quarrel causing Lockhart to be obliviated for weeks to the following year''s havoc with Lupin and Snape, forcing them to relocate to the third floor. And now, even the new office didn''tst.


    But fortunately, it seemed to be just explosive magic this time, manageablepared to dark magic. Felix waved his wand, stones floating and settling back into ce, restoring everything.


    On the other side, under Dumbledore''s spells, Ron''s expression softened.


    "Prioritize emergency treatment; after everything settles, you both need to visit the hospital wing," Dumbledore stated.


    Harry breathed a sigh of relief but suddenly remembered Moody in the office, "Professor, Professor Moody is still in there... He must have been hexed! And the spy, the one who put our names into the Goblet of Fire, a young man but showing as Barty Crouch... His name disappeared, he escaped!"


    His expression was a mix of confusion and disbelief.


    "That person is Barty Crouch''s son, also named Barty Crouch," Felix exined briefly. He nced at Harry''s Marauder''s Map, disappointed, "His name vanished; he fled."


    As he spoke, the office had returned to its former state, except for magical items beyond the spell''s range.


    Leading the way, Dumbledore entered the office, swiftly assessing and heading to the bedroom. Despite the explosion, the impact seemed minimal, thanks to Hogwarts'' protective spells. He unlocked the door, revealing Moody lying peacefully in bed.


    Although the situation was far from normal.


    "With such amotion, why didn''t it wake him up?" Ron asked, amazed.


    Dumbledore inspected Moody while Harry exined what had transpired. When Harry mentioned seeing Voldemort''s actions upon waking up, Dumbledore''s expression turned grave, "How did you see, Harry? Were you watching from above or...?"


    "I was him," Harry confessed. As he spoke, he realized what he had revealed. His voice grew hoarse, his face paling, "I... I entered Voldemort''s mind, saw through his eyes, felt his anger."


    There was something he didn''t say. Harry sensed an odd tension between Dumbledore and Snape, an unprecedented hatred towards these two individuals after experiencing Voldemort''s emotions.


    The air thickened with uneasy silence. Harry noticed Snape''s gaze shifting, expecting him to say something, but there was only silence, Dumbledore included.


    Suddenly straightening up, Dumbledore addressed everyone, "stor is physically unharmed. As for his memories... Felix, I might need your assistance."


    "No problem, Albus," Felix replied solemnly.


    "In that case, we now have onest issue to address: how did Barty Crouch Jr. hide within the castle? As far as I know¡ªFelix, have you observed stor before?"


    "asionally, not just him, but a few others I found suspicious," Felix scratched his chin. "But found nothing, quite strange."


    "Indeed...," Dumbledore stared at the now closedrge crate, "I detected no trace of unplotable spells unless he dug a passageway, but that would require the Headmaster''s authority, which he couldn''t have obtained."


    "Albus, your mention of the unplotable spells reminded me; we forgot a possibility¡ªBarty Crouch Jr. stands behind Voldemort, who''s quite familiar with the castle," Felix btedly suggested.


    Dumbledore gazed at him, murmuring, "The Chamber?"


    Or it might be the Room of Requirement... Felix thought, but that possibility seemed lesserpared to the Chamber.


    "Let''s find out," he said, "We only found one entrance in the girls'' bathroom before. But Slytherin might have built more. Or Voldemort could guide Barty to open the closest passage..."


    They opened therge crate, revealing darkness extending downward. Felix conjured a light, spotting a damp passage''s end.


    Dumbledore sighed, "Even I couldn''t unveil all the castle''s secrets. Let''s descend; if Barty hurriedly escaped, there might be an unexpected surprise."


    Harry exchanged a meaningful nce with Ron. Understanding, they silently followed the professors down a lengthy staircase, eventually arriving at a damp tunnel. Felix signaled Harry towards a faint snake symbol on the wall. Harry realized it was the entrance.


    With a serpent-like hiss, Harry, using Parseltongue, said, "Open." A greenish glow emerged from the damp tunnel beneath them. Momentster, they felt weightless¡ªa floating charm and a human-shaped armor charm cushioning theirnding.


    Curiously, Harry touched his face, feeling a thin yet resilient barrier. He recognized this spell from Professor Snape''s memory lesson in Room 7C¡ªtraversing hidden passages. Snape had used it to protect secret entrances. But Barty Crouch Jr. was long gone, and what they discovered wasn''t merely an escape route.


    >


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 Chapter 420: Occlumency

    Chapter 420: lumency


    On this Christmas night at Hogwarts, tranquility wasn''t the norm. Explosions startled many students, leaving them bewildered. Fortunately, the professors intervened, coaxing them back to bed despite their discontent, ensuring they resumed their slumber.


    Before closing their eyes, a few young wizards silently vowed to uncover the truth of the night as soon as they woke. Themotion in the castle gradually subsided, save for the brightly lit infirmary.


    "You must drink the potion and rest in bed tonight. If there are no issuese morning, I''ll permit your departure," Madam Pomfrey dered, holding a gleaming potion, her gaze sharp as an eagle''s, standing between two beds.


    Harry and Ron nervously drank the potion, and as the liquid trickled down their throats, though it felt oddly different, it reminded Harry of memories from his dreams. Suppressing the urge to retch, he gulped it down in one go.


    Satisfied, Madam Pomfrey departed.


    Exiting the ward and closing the door, she had more patients awaiting her in the intensive care unit. Bartemius Crouch had suffered severe physical and mental trauma, requiring extensive care. stor Moody''s physical state was somewhat better, yet the mental scars were significant.


    Lost in her thoughts, she contemted if she should learn a trick or two from Felix. With time, Felix Harp''s alternate identity as a Memory Master gained prominence. Many spected he''d secure a spot in the first chocte frog cards of the new century.


    Turning a corner in the corridor, Madam Pomfrey spotted Dumbledore, Felix, and McGonagall standing at the entrance to the intensive care unit.


    "Poppy, perfect timing," Dumbledore smiled, seemingly in good spirits. "Felix has just diagnosed Bartemius and stor, resolved the most intricate issues. However, their recovery will require a considerable amount of time."Instinctively, Madam Pomfrey looked at Felix, in her mind, the true authority.


    Felix nodded slightly, exining, "Mr. Crouch has long been under the Imperius Curse''s control, coupled with the effects of Confundus and Cruciatus curses, resulting in a muddled mind. Though troublesome, it''s not irreparable. I suggest relocating him to Saint Mungo''s for moreprehensive care."


    "As for Professor Moody..." He paused, uncertain. "I''m not certain about his condition. His memories have been meticulously altered, and he''s been imnted with numerous suggestions, such as not checking his room, overlooking certain anomalies, and invariably sleeping till dawn when in bed. This is why young Barty Crouch had the audacity to sneak into his room through the secret passage."


    "He''ll lose parts of his memory; which ones, I''m unsure of. I suspect his temperament won''t take well to this," Felix inquired, seeking Dumbledore''s opinion. Dumbledore subtly shook his head, knowing well how his old friend would react to tampered memories.


    Madam Pomfrey acknowledged understanding, hesitating for a moment before asking, "Felix, during your treatments these days, could I observe?"


    "No problem, madam," Felix readily agreed.


    Thanking him, she pushed open the door to the intensive care unit and walked in. The other three could see Bartemius Crouch and stor Moody lying quietly in their beds, Professor McGonagall''s lips moved.


    "Mi?" Dumbledore looked at her.


    "I¡ªI''m not suspecting... but shouldn''t we take precautions? What if they''re still under the influence of dark magic?" McGonagall interjected.


    "No need to worry, Minerva," Felix interjected, smiling. "I have some confidence in memory magic, and their wands are currently in the Headmaster''s possession."


    McGonagall breathed a sigh of relief. They descended together, and after a moment of silence, she couldn''t help but say, "Albus, you shouldn''t have stopped me from deducting points from Potter and Weasley, or at least putting them in detention..."


    Dumbledore blinked, smiling gently at her.


    "They''re too reckless; they might have lost their lives." Professor McGonagall finished her sentence.


    "Minerva, there''s no need to be so strict. That child has a sense of responsibility far beyond his years," Dumbledore murmured softly. "Take this incident, for instance. Their use of the Marauder''s Map and the Invisibility Cloak was unexpected, and they had to be decisive. If they had dyed even for a few minutes, spent precious time searching for the professors, the oue might have been drastically different."


    At least Moody was unlikely to survive.


    McGonagall pursed her lips, rxing her furrowed brow. "You make a valid point."


    ...


    Felix returned to his office, standing by the window, recalling Dumbledore''s conversation with him.


    "Felix, I need to ask you something," Dumbledore said solemnly.


    "What is it?" Felix inquired, anticipating what would follow.


    They stood atop the castle, the chilly northern wind howling, causing the window frame to creak. Dumbledore remained silent for a long while, seemingly gathering considerable resolve, finally saying, "Teach Harry lumency."


    "No problem," Felix promptly replied. After a moment, he asked softly, "Anything else?"


    Another silence ensued.


    "...Don''t harm him."


    ...


    Felix withdrew his gaze; it was now well into the night, a faint hue of grayish-green graced the sky.


    "I''m bing more sentimental; that''s not like me."


    "Chirp chirp!"


    Lowering his head, Felix saw Valen standing at the bedroom door, rubbing its eyes, wobbling over, attempting but failing to climb onto his leg.


    Felix chuckled quietly, moving his finger, causing Valen to float towards him.


    "You''re not asleep? Valen, that''s quite unexpected..."


    "Chirp chirp!"


    Valen waved its small hands, drawing in the air. Felix concentrated, trying to decipher the distorted letters.


    "A gift?"


    Valen vigorously nodded.


    Felix cautiously asked, "Are you inquiring about Granger''s reaction to the gift?"


    Valen nodded, its bright ck eyes filled with anticipation.


    "She was delighted," Felix remarked.


    Valen was thoroughly pleased; it was one of its most cherished possessions. Thinking that he''d actually given it away, Felix sighed internally. Valen yawned, opening its arms for a hug.


    Felix hugged Valen, cing it in the crib.


    As he changed into his pajamas andy in bed, his mood unknowingly lifted.


    >


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 Chapter 421: The Golden Egg

    Chapter 421: The Golden Egg


    The morning of the next day had arrived. Though Harry and Ron were eager to leave the hospital wing early, the fatigue from the previous night and their injuries held them back. Madam Pomfrey mentioned Ron''s still-swollen leg and Harry''s six broken ribs.


    "The healing charm can only address minor injuries, like a twisted nose. It''s only somewhat effective in emergencies," Madam Pomfrey had said at the time, but both of them suspected it was her way of coaxing them into taking the potions.


    After sipping the concoction, their minds immediately grew hazy, slowing down like a clock winding down. Harry and Ron exchanged a few words before drifting off into slumber. Their sleep was deep, and it wasn''t until Hermione came to check on them that they finally stirred.


    Harry recounted the events of the previous night, emphasizing, "We were in a rush and couldn''t get to you in time." Hermione shrugged. "Unless you stood outside the entire girls'' dormitory shouting, we wouldn''t have known. And even then, I might not have heard..."


    Ron coughed heavily, sounding like "dance." Hermione''s ears turned red.


    There was a slight tension between the two:


    Ron, during a break in the dance, used her of siding with the enemy. Hermione dryly exined the significance of the tournament in fostering unity. However, when Ron loudly used Krum of being interested only in the egg''s secret, Hermione was furious.


    "He never once asked me about the egg! Never!" Hermione erupted. "In fact, he invited me initially, in the library, but I hesitated. And for the sake of some silly champions¡ªguess what? Roger Davies immediately invited Cho Chang, and my two idioticpanions justined about pretty girls being picked!"


    Harry looked particrly innocent.He hadn''t considered inviting Hermione, but that was because he harbored secret thoughts, maybe about Cedric and Cho arguing... well, he knew such a thing couldn''t happen, but that conclusion left him even more disheartened, diminishing his interest in the uing dance.


    Anyway, after that, Harry and a gloomy Ron went out to the courtyard, unexpectedly overhearing a conversation between Hagrid and Madame Maxime, learning about their half-giant status, while Hermione (as she imed) stayed in the Great Hall, sulking alone.


    Harry was skeptical about her sulking because when they returned, they saw Hermione cheerfully dancing with Professor Flitwick...


    After the dance, Harry noticed that Hermione and Ron were again silent with each other. They returned to the dormitory, deep in thought, sleeping until nightmares woke them, chasing spies around the castle together. This morning, when they saw Hermione again, both she and Ron were polite, as if yesterday''s argument never happened.


    And when Hermione heard about Hagrid''s half-giant identity, she didn''t find it particrly odd.


    "Actually, I always suspected he was a giant," she said, shrugging. "I knew he couldn''t be a pure giant because they reach about twenty feet tall. There''s no need to be so touchy... It''s a prejudice, much like how people treat werewolves... maybe throw in house-elves too... though the biases aren''t the same!"


    Ron clearly disagreed with her viewpoint, but he merely delicately repeated what he had told Harryst night, pretending it was the first time for Harry''s benefit:


    "Hagrid shouldn''t be going around announcing it. Though it might be his first encounter with his own kind and he got too excited... I know he''s not dangerous; everyone who knows him knows that, but it could be trouble if outsiders heard, people are sensitive about this." He grunted, "Even if it''s a prejudice, it''s a collective one, and when it''s unchangeable, concealment is the best approach."


    He noticed Hermione gearing up to argue, so he hastened, addressing Harry, "In the public eye, giants are seen as violent, though I''ve heard tales of love between giants and goblins when I was younger, Fred and George told me... but I didn''t believe their nonsense since I was six."


    Harry suppressed augh, pretending it was his first time hearing it, nodding seriously.


    "My dad mentioned they sided with the mysterious people in the war, foolishly believing they''d be given more living space... after the war, they faced retribution, arge number of giants were killed by the Death Eaters. Maybe Professor Moody was involved; that''s probably when he got injured..." Ron spected irresponsibly.


    "...there''s still a small group of rtively harmless giant tribes driven out of Britain; no one knows where they''ve hidden now."


    Harry didn''t think continuing the discussion about ''whether giants are inherently violent'' was appropriate, especially considering Hermione''s peculiarly raised eyebrows. So he decided to take the lead, "Um... Hermione, Ron and I noticed you werete. You disappeared a few hours before yesterday afternoon. You didn''t need that much time just for fixing your hair, did you?"


    He felt he was rambling because Hermione''s hair was already back to its wild state. He thought¡ªthough not knowing much¡ªif it could stay that way, no one would refuse looking prettier.


    Sure enough, Hermione shot him a look.


    "If a girl wants to groom herself, no amount of time is enough... But I indeed didn''t dy because of that; it was Valen. She gave me a Christmas present, and I, um..." She bit her lip, unsure how to continue.


    "We know," Ron said, "I mean... we heard a bit. What did she give you that startled you so much, making you forget the time? Was it arge sum of Galleons? My great-aunt said only something shiny and cute could beat time."


    Both Harry and Hermione looked at him, and Ron shrugged, "She''s long gone, left a will to convert all her belongings into Galleons for her burial, but I''m not sure if her descendants followed through..."


    "Of course not, it''s a broken Time-Turner," Hermione said casually.


    "Valen gave you a Time-Turner?" Ron''s eyes widened, shouting.


    "It''s nothing to fuss about; it''s just a broken one," Hermione said, using the same ''fuss'' term to return the remark, but Ron didn''t catch it.


    "Quick, show us! Hermione, I''ve never seen a Time-Turner!" Ron eximed.


    Harry also looked expectantly at her. "Did you bring it?"


    Hermione''s eyes curved. "Of course," she said, pulling out a golden chain from her chest. It held a small disc-shaped timer surrounded by a gold frame, with a tiny hourss inside, intricately designed.


    "Is this the Time-Turner? It looks really beautiful... Are you sure it''s broken?" Harry inquired.


    Hermione didn''t reply; instead, she twirled it before them, tucking it back into her robes.


    "It''s nothing special to look at. Why don''t we focus on cracking the egg?" She said eagerly. "I''ve finally devised a n that''s likely not to damage its structure..."


    Harry and Ron stared at the golden egg she had brought, now sitting on a cab nearby, hesitantly. Harry nced at his pajamas; if it started screaming during the egg''s analysis, it would be hard to run away.


    He didn''t want to embarrass himself by


    screaming along.


    Ron, however, was already inching closer. "What''s the n, Hermione?" he asked, gazing at the egg with curiosity.


    Hermione leaned in, her eyes gleaming with anticipation as she whispered her strategy to her two friends.


    >


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 Chapter 422: The Secret of the Golden Egg

    Chapter 422: The Secret of the Golden Egg


    "How did you know?" Harry asked Hermione this question, seeking rification.


    "Well¡ªum," Ron hesitated, looking as if he''d been stung by a Billywig, "Colin mentioned it to me at the feast¡ª"


    "Mentioned?" Hermione and Harry eximed simultaneously.


    "I¡ªI didn''t quite catch it then, it was too noisy," Ron said, shrugging, attempting to ease the tense atmosphere, "But when Hermione mentioned putting the shard into something, it just clicked."


    Hermione seemed furious, while Harry couldn''t help but sympathize with Ron. Luckily, at that moment, someone pushed open the door to the ward.


    Neville stepped in. "Hey, Harry, Ron, uh, Hermione''s here too... I overheard some gossip in themon room, it sounded particrly sinister... But when you didn''te backst night, I knew it had something to do with you guys, and I thought you might need this..."


    He gestured with two bulging sets of clothes in his hands, walking closer, only to have his eyes widen as theynded on the heap of golden egg fragments. He was speechless.


    "Perfect timing, you''re just in time, we need something to wear," Harry eximed in relief, stepping forward to take the clothes, "Uh¡ªhave a seat, Neville, just be careful not to crush the pieces of the egg; we''re not sure if we need to put it back together."


    Hermione puffed her cheeks and snatched the only useful shard, "We''ll meet in the library." She swiftly darted out of the ward.Meanwhile, Harry and Ron began changing out of their pajamas. Neville sat nervously on Ron''s bed, eyes fixed on the broken pieces, looking like they''d been roughly handled. "So, is it true?"


    "Oh, what?" Harry asked, pulling a sweater over his head.


    "I heard Lee Jordan saying that Professor Moody was actually an imposter, a Dark wizard trying to steal your golden egg, andst night, you and Ron drove him away..."


    Harry and Ron paused, exchanging nces. Harry''s sleeve was still drooping as he decisively said, "The first part is true, the rest is nonsense."


    Ron finished changing and patted Neville''s shoulder, saying, "Mate, the real Professor Moody is just nearby in the hospital wing; maybe you can ask him. Who knows, maybe he has some idea!" Seeing Neville''s intrigued expression, he quickly stammered, "I''m joking, don''t actually ask..."


    Neville shook his head, "I won''t ask. But I''d like to visit him. He''s been kind to me, remember? He gave me that book, ''Marvelous Aquatic Flora of the Mediterranean.''"


    "What if it was sent by that Death Eater?" Ron spected, "Listen, Neville. Moody got caught this time, set up by some mysterious person. He and that Death Eater took turns teaching us, so none of the professors noticed. Now nobody knows which sses were actually taught by the real Moody¡ª"


    As he spoke, he suddenly pped his hands heavily, shouting, "Damn it! I knew which professor dared to teach us the Unforgivable Curses!"


    Neville looked stunned, never expecting this matter to involve a mysterious person and a Death Eater.


    After venting, Ron calmed down. With anticipation, he said, "I hope Professor Moody will be nicer to us next term, but who knows... he might note back."


    Inadvertently, Harry''s heart skipped a beat. If Professor Moody couldn''t teach them next term, the school would have to find them a new teacher, even if it was a temporary one, like Professor Binns in their second year.


    As Harry pondered, he recalled Ron mentioning the curse issue. But Professor Binns seemed fine... he tried to convince himself. But what if? He couldn''t bear the consequences if something happened to Sirius, even though for the first thirteen years of his life, he hadn''t known he had a godfather, hadn''t even heard of him, he found himself unable to do without him now.


    Harry was undecided for a moment, unsure whether to tell Sirius. There was something he actually wanted to say, that his godfather was too focused, spending all his time practicing magic and ying chess with Muggle old men, having all his attention on him. Sirius should have his own life, like finding a job or starting a family...


    "Harry, Harry!" Ron shouted loudly in his ear.


    "Oh¡ªwhat?" Harry lifted his head, finding Ron and Neville both looking at him.


    Ron shrugged, "Help me convince Neville. He still wants to visit that powder keg... What''s up with you?"


    "Nothing," Harry quickly said, "I mean¡ªof course, I agree."


    "You agree?" Ron widened his eyes.


    "Yeah, we should go visit Professor Moody; he seems to have no family." Harry said lightly, deciding to postpone this matter. If Sirius asked, he would make a decision then.


    ...


    At the entrance to the castle hall, Draco Malfoy leaned against the oak doors, boredom etched on his face, holding a green gift ribbon in his hand. Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy surrounded him.


    "Weren''t you applying for permission to stay over the holidays?"


    Draco''s nose twitched, "I don''t know, it was my father''s sudden demand, sorted it out with Professor Snape in advance." He asionally nced towards the hall, his father hade to pick him up this morning; on the way, they''d met Professor Snape, and then he was left aside.


    He toyed with the ribbon¡ªit was taken from a gift box. He felt his father''s gaze earlier had beenplex, carrying a hint of disappointment, but he hadn''t done anything recently, so he must have misread it.


    "...Yes, the traces that night were particrly strong... then it faded, much like fifteen years ago." Lucius Malfoy spoke softly, examining the surroundings discreetly with his gray eyes while exchanging wands.


    "I understand. If there''s any change, make sure to inform me promptly," Felix said cheerfully.


    Lucius nodded slightly, stepped back two paces, and raised his voice a bit, "You should take care of your own affairs." He turned away, leaving with a cold smile on his face. As he reached Draco''s side, his son looked at him with concern.


    "Father, what''s wrong, you¡ª"


    "Didn''t I tell you not to meddle in things you shouldn''t touch?" Lucius snatched the green ribbon from Draco''s hand, tossing it aside. He was furious with his son, but there were things that couldn''t be spoken directly, especially involving Voldemort''s diary and the agreement with Snape. Hence, he had to find other excuses.


    "Three champions of your age, why weren''t you one of them?"


    Draco felt unjustly treated, "Father, it''s Potter and his lot using some kind of cheating!"


    Lucius gave him a sideways nce, shifted the wands to his right side, and with his left hand, he pulled Draco away.


    Left behind, Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy looked at their departing figures. Pansy hesitated, "Uncle Malfoy seemed very angry, but Draco hasn''t caused any trouble recently, has he?"


    She eyed Crabbe and Go


    yle suspiciously, "Did you two stir up trouble?"


    Both of them shook their heads.


    At that moment, Felix approached holding a newspaper. The three of them called out to the professor and hurried away. Felix walked out of the castle, standing on the marble steps. At the far end, he could still see the Malfoys¡ªLucius saying something to Draco, who appeared dissatisfied.


    "Bollocks, Death Eaters still atrge? Or is the mysterious figure making aeback?" The headline in bold crimson letters on the newspaper featured a rolling Dark Mark. The headline below it read¡ª


    "Reportedly, Bartemius Crouch, the Director of the International Magical Cooperation Office, who was in charge of two major international events (the Quidditch World Cup and the Triwizard Tournament), was attacked by unknown individuals at his homest night. The scene was chaotic, Crouch is missing, and his old house has turned into ruins."


    In a world where magical markings hung high in the air, a scene that struck fear into the hearts of all, the Dark Mark loomed ominously. Every Ministry official arriving at the scene fell silent. A brusque-looking female official, her face filled with sheer horror, copsed to the ground. When reporters approached her for an interview, hoping for insights, all they received was unwarranted abuse. Later, it was revealed that this official had been demoted for ipetence and attempting to cover up a Ministry scandal involving a mysterious hero''s brother, who silently resisted during the war. For further details, readers were referred to Rita Skeeter''s new book "Defying the Dark Terror," specifically Chapter Seven.


    No one who had lived through that terrifying war could forget what the Dark Mark symbolized. Yet, in the fourteenth year since the death of the Dark Lord and the end of the war, amidst our first Quidditch World Cup win in nearly thirty years and the rekindling of the Triwizard Tournament, which now held new significance, people had to question: had we truly emerged from the shadow of war? Or was this just the herald of another conflict?


    Regrettably, the Ministry''s response to this sudden event was less than satisfactory. If some among us still yearned for the reign of a certain unnamed dark wizard and our Ministry remained oblivious, focusing excessively on trivial potion coborations, we might safely assume the Ministry was in for a rude awakening.


    As of the time of printing, thetest information obtained by this newspaper revealed that Mr. Barty Crouch had not met an untimely end. He was undergoing secretive treatment. The young Ministry representative declined to disclose more, citing an overwhelming workload inherited from Mr. Crouch.


    For Mr. Crouch''s professional history, readers were directed to the fourth edition of this paper forprehensive details. Lastly, for those eager to delve further into the enigmatic figure and his malevolent clique, watch out for Rita Skeeter''s book signing of "Defying the Dark Terror" at Flourish and Blotts on January 1st, offering owl mail support for purchases.


    "That''s it. The rest is rubbish," Hermione eximed, lifting her head from the newspaper.


    Harry and Ron exchanged nces, puzzled. Ron chuckled suddenly, gasping for breath. "She, she doesn''t know he''s still alive, does she? Otherwise, she wouldn''t have the nerve to fabricate the mystery man..."


    Harry and Hermione chuckled too, knowing exactly the kind of person Rita Skeeter was.


    They sat by a window in the library, stacks of books on the table near the aisle, evading the sharp gaze of Madam Pince, the librarian. Harry had even cast a less familiar silencing charm to keep their voices from carrying.


    Ronughed so hard he slumped onto the table, pounding it with his fist. "Oh... ''Defying the Dark Terror''... I think she''s just itching for controversy." After hisughter subsided, he said seriously, "Shouldn''t we send her an anonymous letter, give her a heads-up?"


    Hermione arched an eyebrow. "We can''t reveal... you know, we''ve promised Professor Dumbledore."


    "Alright," Ron said regretfully. "She probably wouldn''t believe us anyway and might just think we''re spreading rumors, tossing the letter into the trash... Maybe Dumbledore''s already informed Fudge."


    "That''s a possibility," Hermione nodded, agreeing with him.


    Harry picked up the newspaper and flipped to the fourth edition, finding detailed information about Mr. Barty Crouch, including his family, which proved helpful for Harry.


    "Look here," he pointed to a line of text. "Barty Crouch had an incredibly promising future, close to bing Minister for Magic. However, due to his Death Eater son''s actions, his reputation plummeted. He was transferred to the Department of International Magical Cooperation as its head. Within a few years, not only did his son perish in Azkaban, but his ailing wife also passed away..."


    Ron and Hermione looked at him in astonishment. "Yeah, we all know who Voldemort''s spy was, but the issue is... he''s officially recorded as deceased."


    "This is, this is incredible. Could it be... Barty Crouch..." Ron looked significantly at the two.


    "Are you suggesting he abused his power?" Hermione eximed.


    After contemting for a while, they couldn''te up with any other possibilities. Most crucially, Ron stated, "That was his son." Ultimately, they had to consider the possibility that Barty Crouch had manipted something to deceive Azkaban and alter official records.


    They felt a mix of emotions thinking about Barty Crouch lying in the hospital wing. On one hand, he was a victim, yet on the other, he might have secretly defied thew, releasing a heinous Death Eater. This Death Eater had found his greatest support and was devising strategies for his master''s resurgence.


    Seeing the serious atmosphere, Hermione pulled a parchment from "The Debate Over the Fifth Element" book and handed it to Harry and Ron.


    Harry looked at the poetic-like text in his hand and read aloud the first line, "Seek us where our voices sound¡ªwhat''s this?"


    "Information decoded from the golden egg," Hermione said shortly.


    Harry and Ron widened their eyes, their headsing together to read the contents:


    "Seek us where our voices sound,


    We cannot sing on the ground.


    Remember the focus when you seek:


    Purple signifies power;


    Blue indicates wisdom;


    Gold represents growth.


    Time is of the essence, danger everywhere;


    Careful consideration, choices unavoidable.


    When gold overflows,


    You shall see each other,


    Returning with full loads."


    Harry and Ron took a deep breath, stunned by the words.


    "My intuition tells me the second task will be tough," Ron said gloomily.


    Harry agreed. He tried to decipher the content, "Um¡ªseek us where our voices sound, cannot sing on the ground. So, the second task takes ce in the water? ck Lake?"


    Hermione nodded eagerly. "That''s what I think too. Keep going, let''spare our ideas."


    "Uh, then the next line obviously directs us to find something¡ªthree things, or three categories?" Harry hesitated, looking at Hermione, who only smiled, refusing to reveal any information.


    "Alright, whatever they are, they''re different, categorized as power, wisdom, and... growth? I think it''s some kind of test. Then the following lines caution us to be careful, involving choices, strange... Lastly, when gold overflows, we''ll see each other. Does it mean we have to separate? Only when this condition is met, we can reunite?"


    As they traced this trail of clues, Harry''s eyes widened, and three pairs of eyes met.


    Ron emitted a wail.


    Just then, a silver, nimble swift flew in through the library window,nding delicately before them. The swift''s Patronus opened its mouth, projecting Professor Lupin''s voice:


    "Harry, tonight at eight, in my office. Just you."


    "That''s all for today''s update."


    >


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 Chapter 423: Explanation

    Chapter 423: Exnation


    As the clock struck eight in the evening, Harry promptly pushed open the door to the Ancient Runes office.


    "Take a seat wherever you please," Felix gestured from behind the desk, engrossed in a parchment. Harry nced around and Valen, thepanion, indicated a chair to Harry''s left.


    "Thank you," Harry murmured to Valen and shifted the chair, settling opposite the professor, quietly awaiting the purpose of the summons. After a couple of minutes, Felix set down the parchment, offering a smile. "You might be curious as to why I asked you here. It''s quite simple. I''ve been entrusted by Headmaster Dumbledore to teach you lumency."


    He briefly exined, "It''s a spell to prevent intrusion into one''s mind by outsiders."


    "Why do I need to learn Oc¡ª learn this stuff?" Harry stammered, but in the next breath, his heart pounded. He realized why. "Is it because of the nightmare I had?"


    "As far as I''m aware, this isn''t the first time?" Felix inquired softly.


    "I-I... yes, there was another one over the summer," Harry reluctantly admitted. "But¡ª"


    He looked earnestly at Felix, "Sirius mentioned it might be connected to my scar. Dumbledore mentioned the failed Killing Curse linking me to Voldemort when I was in first year."


    Felix shook his head, murmuring, "That seems usible.""Currently, it seems you''re only probing Voldemort''s thoughts unterally, perhaps because he isn''t strong enough or hasn''t detected your movements, but..." He paused, locking eyes with Harry.


    With their shared understanding, a dreadful thought emerged. Harry couldn''t help but gulp, "You think Voldemort might start delving into my thoughts? That''s... quite¡ª"


    Seemingly not as significant, Harry thought. Just a student, grappling every year with different assignments. If Voldemort did catch these thoughts, he''d probably be quite annoyed.


    "Don''t underestimate your ce in Voldemort''s mind, Harry," Felix calmly stated. "You dealt him a significant blow to his dark reign. If there''s anyone he detests the most, it''s likely you. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have his most trusted follower infiltrate Hogwarts, risking exposure by putting your name in the Goblet of Fire..."


    As he spoke, he gazed thoughtfully at Harry.


    That was a reminder. Voldemort''s resources were limited. His priority was resurrection, not stirring trouble at Hogwarts¡ªeven though he was eagerly anticipating Harry''s participation in his rebirth ceremony.


    Unless Harry''s role was more crucial than imagined, possibly even deciding Voldemort''s revival...


    "Professor? Professor Harp?"


    "Apologies, I drifted off. Besides what was mentioned, you possess valuable information regarding Voldemort, Dumbledore''s movements, or people close to you. Or perhaps... Horcruxes. You wouldn''t want any of that leaking out, would you?"


    "Of course not!" Harry blurted.


    His expression was conflicted. On one hand, he wished to delve into Voldemort''s mind again, especially now that Voldemort had a powerful ally, a critical time for his resurrection. On the other, he understood the risks involved.


    "So, you''ll teach me the mind¡ª the mind¡ª" Harry faltered, and Felix nced at him. "lumency," Harry hurriedly corrected himself. "To sever the connection and prevent leaks from our end?"


    Felix remained nonmittal.


    "So, your view¡ª"


    "My view?" Harry asked, puzzled.


    "Do you agree to learn lumency?"


    "Can I refuse?" Harry looked at him, whispering.


    "Of course, I respect your choice. It''s not good to force such matters."


    Harry chuckled, "Learning a bit more knowledge won''t hurt, Professor." He felt his words sounded remarkably like Hermione''s.


    Felix tapped the table, and the scene silently transitioned. The office''s vibrant colors faded into pale monochrome, leaving only magical items glowing softly. He fixed his gaze on Harry, making him squirm ufortably.


    "Now that you''ve decided," he suddenly straightened, "let''s begin."


    Harry stood up, searching around, hoping to find a cushion or something on the floor.


    "What are you thinking?"


    "Um... Professor, don''t we need a mat or something?" Harry gestured, "We used it in the dueling club..."


    Felix looked at him, exhaling softly. "Seems like you''re not well-versed in this aspect." He beckoned, and a parchment and quill levitated from the desk, the blue quill dipping into an ink pot, writing down a list of book titles with a ''swoosh'' that made Harry jump.


    When the list floated to him, he hesitantly took it, staring for a few moments before deciphering the first title, "Locking Your Mind: A Guide." Followed by a dozen unfamiliar titles. Harry felt deeply dismayed, akin to scoring a zero on the second task.


    "These are the reference books for you to read," Felix said. "Next, I''ll briefly introduce this knowledge to you."


    "When ites to lumency, we have to mention Legilimency, Obliviate, Pensieve, and a series of rted magic," Felix gestured for Harry to sit on the couch opposite him. Drawing his wand, he swished it lightly, and the firece zed.


    "They''re all categorized as Memory Magic, but there''s a vast difference, especially between lumency and Legilimency."


    "Professor, what''s Legilimency?"


    "In a way you canprehend, it''s akin to what regr people call mind-reading, a magic to intrude into another''s mind, extracting feelings and memories. Of course¡ª" Felix emphasized, "I must stress, Legilimency and mind-reading are vastly different. The specific concepts you''ll understand from the book and reflect in your essays, distinctly noting their differences."


    Harry felt a bitter taste in his mouth.


    But he suddenly realized something and hastily asked, "Professor, are you nning to read my thoughts and then have me defend using lumency?" He felt uneasy; if the professor saw any private memories, he''d be furious.


    Such as his feelings for Cho...


    "It''s just one of the methods," Felixmented. "An efficient strategy¡ªpracticing mental defense and offense to elerate your mastery of lumency. However, frankly, we have ample time. At least, there''s no need to fret until Voldemort''s revival. But if you''re in a rush..." Felix nced at him with an insidious look.


    "I''m not in a hurry," Harry hurriedly said. "I''ll choose another approach."


    There are still two chapters being edited, thetest might not be avable until one in the morning. I suggest reading it in the morning.


    >


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 Chapter 424: First Experience

    Chapter 424: First Experience


    "Felix''s a wise choice; it''ll do you a world of good." Felix waved his wand, creating a golden trail that sprawled between them like snowkes caught in a breeze, sprinkling down in a shimmering cascade.


    "Let''s begin with a test." He leaned back in his chair, watching the golden curtain with delight.


    Harry also looked up, feeling like he was a part of the airborne gold dust, forgetting all worries and troubles... drifting involuntarily into a dreamy state, his mind experiencing profound rxation, wrapped in a warm glow. Harry found himself chasing this feeling, but a faint voice inside him hinted that this scene was familiar.


    What could it be? If he''d felt this wonderful before, he''d surely remember. Harry mused dreamily, his mind akin to a rusty clock, thoughts pausing momentarily until Professor Moody''s grim face shed before him. So repulsive... It snapped Harry out of the pleasant reverie for a moment.


    How could he think of him? Was it because of the emotions stirred by his ss? Wait, Moody''s ss? The Imperius Curse?


    Harry''s heart plunged as if dunked into the frigid depths of the December-end ck Lake. He shivered, breaking away from that state. The golden dust, once floating, nowy in a pyramidal heap on the ground, shimmering beautifully.


    But Harry didn''t fancy it now, apart from his recent experience, another tant sign was Professor Snape, clutching onto Valen, the little creature peeking through the professor''s arm, reaching out toward the golden dust.


    Harry leaned back, seeking sce as his back touched the firmness of the sofa. "Three minutes."


    Felix nced at a pocket watch. "Faster than I expected. Impressive."Harry stammered, "I-I thought of Professor Moody..."


    "I understand," Felix said, "His appearance is quite intimidating."


    "No, it''s not that, Professor," Harry said, "It''s not just because of his appearance..." He blinked, whispering, "He taught us the Imperius Curse in ss."


    "Ah, that exins it," Felix nodded slightly. "Seems like you did well in that ss?"


    Harry hesitated before nodding.


    "Professor, what was that?"


    He watched as Professor Snape flicked his wand, the sprawling golden powder in mid-air and the heap on the ground vanished simultaneously.


    "Some beautiful memories I''ve collected," Felix smiled. "Many from creatures in the Forbidden Forest, creatures that easily find joy. Maybe not what you''d define as beauty?"


    "No, I found it good, pure happiness," Harry said, somewhat reluctantly.


    "This was inspired by Dementors; if they can extract happy memories, why not other emotions?" Felix exined. "Draining happiness leaves negativity, draining arrogance leaves humility... emotions tend to swing from one extreme to another. Worth exploring, but, I must say¡ªit''s of limited use to me and easily criticized."


    Harry felt the description too mild; it seemed more fitting to call it sinister or eerie. He stole a nce at Felix. Most times, Professor Snape was gentle and friendly, his words soothing¡ªespecially after the Yule Ball, where many girls'' opinions of him skyrocketed. But in matters of certain magic, his standards were terrifyingly low.


    Like the night of his nightmare, he might never have known how adept Professor Snape was with the Killing Curse...


    His convictions shook.


    "Will this help me with learning lumency?" Harry asked tentatively.


    "Of course, in your initial learning phase, the strength of your will matters most."


    He handed Harry a book. "Each page is enchanted; apart from what you''ve experienced, there are other ways to evoke emotions and memories. Read it, ignoring the magical influence. This book holds some danger, so I can''t let you take it. My n is for you to visit every other day during the Christmas break. Once you read from start to finish effortlessly, you''ll have mastered it. Then, we''ll move to the next stage."


    Harry nodded in understanding. He took the book¡ªit didn''t look thick or extraordinary, a in cover without a title. But he didn''t think it safer than Hagrid''s carefully chosen "Monster Book of Monsters."


    He apprehensively flipped the first page, seemingly ordinary at first nce, with an unfamiliar spell illustrated, surrounded by a purple arched pattern. But as he tried to discern it, the spell exuded a strong allure.


    He gazed at the pattern, utterly captivated, as though this small spell held the ultimate answer to all unknown mysteries.


    Felix released his grip; Valen hopped out and ran to Harry''s couch, watching Harry intently without moving, then ncing at the pattern on the book. At first, it seemed unremarkable, but on second nce¡ªoh? Quite attractive, let''s take another look...


    Its focus intensified until Felix intervened, lifting Valen away. Valen blinked, recalling what just happened, expressing fear through a couple of squeaks.


    "That book isn''t suitable for you; I''ll make you a ''Valen''s Marvelous Adventure'' another day," Felix joked.


    Valen patted its tiny heart, avoiding both Harry and the book on hisp, running to a workbench, pulling out coins from its pocket, stacking them on the table to build a castle.


    Valen thought using Exploding Snap cards to build a castle was too risky; Galleons were better¡ªboth safe and beautiful. Afterpleting it, it felt aplished.


    Felix and Valen asionally nced at Harry. Sweat glistened on Harry''s forehead, a sign of rapid mental exertion, causing Felix to furrow his brows deeper.


    Still unable to detect any anomaly...


    Was it too well hidden? The realm of the soul truly held unknowns.


    As time passed, Harry''s sweat evaporated, yet he hadn''t turned the second page. He waspletely lost. Felix checked the time; it was close to lights-out. He rose, intending to interrupt Harry.


    At that moment, he halted. In magical sight, a deep darkness extended its tendrils, abruptly emerging in his field of vision, settling on Harry''s forehead, as if it had always been there, obscured byyers of mist.


    Felix struggled to conceal his shock; his and Dumbledore''s conjectures had be reality. Although unsure of the specifics, it was undeniable¡ªa fragment of Voldemort''s soul resided within Harry.


    ...


    "Harry, this is a Calming Draught. Drink it and have a good sleep when you get back." Felix gently advised.


    "Yes, Professor." Harry yawned widely; he was incredibly tired and just wanted to crawl into bed and sleep soundly.


    When he returned to themon room, few people remained. Hermione and Ron awaited him; Hermione eagerly asked, "What did Professor Snape want?"


    "Dumbledore asked the professor to teach me lumency," Harry said wearily.


    "lumency?"


    "What''s that?"


    Both Hermione and Ron inquired simultaneously, but seeing Harry too exhausted to keep his eyes open, Hermione quickly shut her book, decisively saying, "Let''s talk tomorrow. While you were away, I managed to draft a n. Though some details are unclear, we roughly understand what the second project entails. Preparation needs to be prioritized."


    "You decide, Hermione." Harry yawned again. The potion Felix gave him was effective; no headache, just an overwhelming drowsiness. He went to his dorm, changed into pajamas, and dozed off instantly.


    >


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 Chapter 425: The Broken Chair

    Chapter 425: The Broken Chair


    Inside the Headmaster''s Office¡ª


    "Are you sure?" Dumbledore''s voice resonated deeply.


    Felix nodded solemnly.


    "Leave it to me next, Felix," Dumbledore took on the responsibility.


    "Do you have a n?" Felix asked in surprise. "Albus, there''s no precedent for this. The snake is already dead. I can''t make heads or tails of it for now, at least without sufficient time. There might be a glimmer of hope if given enough time..."


    Dumbledore simply replied calmly, "I understand." Felix sensed the unspoken "that''s all for now," excused himself voluntarily. He felt Dumbledore''s considerations were diverging from his own, yet information was scarce. Nevertheless, as he said before, he wasn''t prepared to give up; the soul was also a crucial magical subject.


    However, his previous umtion was almost reduced to nothing, making the prospect of achieving results in a short time seem bleak.


    Felix stood by the window on the eighth floor of the castle, pondering to himself, "Instead of focusing on the soul, it might be better to direct attention to Voldemort. There are three very clear ways to deal with him¡ªdestroy the Horcruxes, eliminate the remnants of his soul, and capture Voldemort after his resurrection."


    Standing at a height, he gazed at the faint lights flickering on the edge of the Forbidden Forest, unaware that, at this moment, an interesting adventure was unfolding on the Beauxbatons carriage¡ªThe carriage''s lights had nearly gone out, with only a dim nightmp still glowing. Fleur opened the door, stealthily slipping out of the room.


    In her hands, she cradled a golden egg, tiptoeing towards Madame Maxime''s privatevatory. Passing by a bedroom, the door creaked open. Jacqueline Bourdelle emerged from the room in her pajamas.


    "Fleur? What are you¡ª" Jacqueline was astonished, eyeing Fleur holding the golden egg, carefully inching along the wall.


    Fleur muttered, "Oops," hurriedly covering Jacqueline''s mouth. "Quiet! Don''t wake Madame Maxime..."


    Jacqueline blinked obediently.


    When Fleur released her hand, she curiously examined Fleur, pausing for a few seconds at her bare feet.


    "You''re not wearing shoes?"


    "I don''t need to. The path is all carpeted, and I''m sticking close to the wall, untouched by anyone," Fleur said proudly, lifting her head. Jacqueline found her expression increasingly peculiar.


    "Let me take you to a great ce," Fleur decisively changed the subject.


    In fact, after the first task, she hadn''t been talking much with the other two champions. She thought them too timid, and the other two champions also felt disheartened and despondent all day.


    They walked to the end of the carpeted path, entering thergest room at the center, where the enormous oakwood door alone stood at ten feet tall.


    "This isn''t Madame Maxime''s¡ª"


    "Oh, I know," Fleur said. Approaching the door cautiously, she softly uttered the password. The door silently cracked open, and she slipped inside, leaving Jacqueline beside herself.


    She''s so adept at this...


    Before she could react, a hand reached out from inside, grabbing her shoulder and pulling her into the room as well.


    Before themy a luxuriousvatory, with silver-tiled floors and walls, a massive branch-shaped chandelier hanging from the ceiling, casting a gentle light. Apart from the usual amenities, there was a separaterge bathing area. Fleur handed the golden egg to Jacqueline, standing by the ss door of the bath, her eyes sparkling.


    "Fleur, even if you want to bathe, it''s not necessary to use Madame Maxime''svatory sneakily," Jacqueline said, worriedly. If caught, they''d be in trouble.


    "Don''t worry, I''ve been here more than once," Fleur said, wrapping herself in arge towel, shimmering with a blue hue. "Let me show you the luxurious bath."


    She pushed the door, fog filling the room, carrying the light fragrance preferred by Madame Maxime. upying most of the space was a gigantic bath that resembled a swimming pool. A wall along the corridor held a gilded dressing mirror, with two metal hooks nearby, holding towels asrge as bedsheets. "I''ve been waiting for daytime to end," Fleur said cheerfully.


    She swiftly removed her pajamas, revealing a swimsuit, seemingly prepared in advance. Fleur moved a bit on the spot, then dived into the water like a fish, swimming meters within the bath before surfacing, disying an elegant mane of hair.


    "Come on, Jacqueline," she invited, her voice echoing between the empty walls, forming a pleasant echo.


    Jacqueline shook her head, holding onto the golden egg, walking to the side. Every few seconds, she nced towards the direction of the door, fearing Madame Maxime might enter, although by all reasoning, she should have been asleep by now.


    She stood by for a while, watching Fleur''s agile strokes, resembling a beautiful mermaid, her silver hair and graceful neck appearing and disappearing in the mist. Fleur''s natural charm even made her envious.


    Holding the golden egg, her arm began to ache. She looked around and chose a beautiful lounge chair¡ªa piece simr to other furnishings in the room, enormous. cing the golden egg in the center, sheid down.


    "Hmm?"


    This trip revealed something different. As she propped herself up, her fingertips touched ayer of soft and resilient air. It felt as though shey on a soft cottony cloud but without the fear of sinking.


    "Madame Maxime certainly knows how to indulge," Jacqueline thought. The students'' bath did not have these luxuries.


    She fully reclined on the chair, using a wooden pillow that she initially assumed would be hard. However, it turned out as soft as theyer of air beneath, supporting her head in afortable manner. She seemed to hear a song by her ears, her tense nerves naturally rxing.


    She felt as if she were in the clouds, sofortable that she was almost falling asleep. She didn''t know how much time passed¡ª


    "How is it? The chair is veryfortable, isn''t it?" A voice seemed toe from the heavens. Jacqueline felt a bit dazed. Who was speaking? Opening her eyes, she saw Fleur, wrapped in arge towel, her azure eyes gazing at her.


    "F-Fleur, you''re done bathing; we should leave¡ª" She tried to get up but was pressed back down by Fleur.


    Fleury down next to her, emitting a pleasant sound.


    "This chair is toofortable. I really want to sleep on it forever, but unfortunately, it''s not avable on the market," sheined, "I''ve been waiting for almost a month, and there''s still no news about the Future Worldpany going public."


    "Is this from the ''Future World''pany?" Jacqueline asked softly. Even she had heard of this name because thispany''s branch had already opened on the most prosperous magical street in France, named Future World No. 3.


    "That''s right," Fleur closed her eyes,zily saying in anguid French ent, "The owner of the Future Worldpany is Mr. Felix Harp. You''ve met him; he''s the Ancient Runes professor at


    Hogwarts and also a director at Beauxbatons."


    Jacqueline widened her eyes.


    Comfortably lying for a while, Fleur picked up the golden egg, looking left and right. "Have you cracked the secret of the golden egg?" Jacqueline asked. The golden egg had been constantly by Fleur''s side, seldom essible to the other two champions.


    "Not yet," Fleur said. She had been anxious before, but every time she sat on this "cloud-like chair," all her worries seemed to vanish. She spoke leisurely, with thenguid tone characteristic of the Frenchnguage.


    "I heard Fran?ois (another champion) say that Madame Maxime intends to intervene..."


    In a hidden chamber, hushed whispers and secretive nces were exchanged as two remarkable women, Fleur and Jacqueline, engaged in an intriguing conversation, their wordsden with the weight of untold mysteries.


    "I know," Fleur remarked with a delicate scrunch of her nose, cing the golden egg on herp. "She told me ages ago, but I refused. I wished to unravel this mystery on my own."


    Jacqueline gazed at Fleur with a touch of envy, perhaps in Madame Maxime''s eyes, Fleur was the sole worthy warrior.


    "Click."


    A crisp sound reverberated through the chamber.


    "What was that?" Fleur asked, alert.


    Jacqueline shook her head, her posture straightening, her demeanor resembling that of a startled deer, casting a nce toward the bath chamber''s door. Even the chair beneath her failed to provide sce at this moment. With a quivering voice, she said, "Could it be Madame Maxime...?"


    "Impossible," Fleur hesitated in expression but bore a hint of unease herself, elongating her slender neck and listening intently for a while. "Fear not, there''s nothing. I''ve been here several times; Madame Maxime follows a strict routine."


    Jacqueline could only resign herself and recline once more.


    "How wonderful..." she murmured.


    "Yes," Jacqueline echoed, finding sce both in thefort of the chair and in the eased rapport with Fleur.


    Theyy in silence for a while until another sound prated the hazy atmosphere.


    "Click."


    "I heard it again," Jacqueline remarked.


    "Perhaps it''s an illusion," Fleur said, one hand caressing the golden egg, her eyes shut.


    A steady voice suddenly resounded above them, a mix of irritation and amusement evident. "It''s not an illusion. I''m quite certain it''s my chair making that sound."


    "Is that so..." Fleur pursed her lips. "I don''t feel the same way."


    "Madame Maxime! How did you get here?" Jacqueline eximed beside her ear.


    Fleur felt somewhat bewildered; who was Jacqueline speaking to? Madame Maxime? Who was Madame Maxime?


    Fleur abruptly opened her eyes, meeting a towering figure and piercing gaze. She let out a scream, jolting upright. "I-I-I''m terribly sorry, Madame Maxime. It''s all my fault¡ªI shouldn''t have sneaked in and used your chair..."


    However, Madame Maxime didn''t quite catch Fleur''s apology as another piercing, shrill cry filled the bathing chamber. The golden egg slipped from Fleur''s grasp as she jerked upright, striking the indentation on top, causing it to spring open.


    As it emitted an eerie screech and rolled, defying three pairs of eyes, it carved an arc, "Plop," and plunged into the water.


    Fleur stood still for a moment, then obediently rose. "Madame Maxime, I''ll retrieve the golden egg." Without daring to gauge Madame Maxime''s reaction, she leaped into the spacious bath.


    Onshore, Madame Maxime wore a stern expression as she inquired of Jacqueline, "Did Fleur drag you here?"


    "N-no, we came together," Jacqueline replied nervously. "It''s our first time¡ª"


    Madame Maxime snorted. "It might be your first time, but not necessarily Fleur''s. I''ve long noticed her coveting this chair." Her annoyance wasn''t directed at Fleur but rather at Hagrid.


    She didn''t know what had gotten into himtely. Every time he came to feed the symbol of the gods, he would subtly ask about any damage to the floating chair, even loudly boasting about his skill in fixing things, implying he could help if something broke.


    Madame Maxime was quite irked by this, feeling that Hagrid was insinuating her weight was causing potential damage to the chair.


    Tonight, unable to sleep because of Fleur''s stubborn insistence on uncovering the golden egg''s secrets and partly due to Hagrid, she sought sce in the bathing chamber, never expecting such an unexpected revtion.


    Seeing Fleur poke her head out of the pool, looking at her with adoration, Madame Maxime smirked coldly. Today was the day to persuade Fleur; she felt no embarrassment. After all, she didn''t think someone like Karkaroff would ensure fairness as promised.


    After the first task, anyone believing Karkaroff''s words would be utterly foolish.


    As the saying goes, cheating has always been a tradition in the Triwizard Tournament. But when to cheat? Now was the perfect time. "Madame Maxime! I-I''ve discovered the golden egg''s secret!" Fleur''s excited cry interrupted her thoughts, and she nced at Fleur skeptically.


    "It''s true! Let me sing it to you¡ª''Find us where our voices sound, on the ground, we can''t be found. When you seek, remember well: Purple for power; blue for wisdom; gold for, for¡ª"


    Fleur began to sing, her voice exquisitely enchanting, captivating those who listened. However, halfway through, Fleur stumbled. "Um, sorry, I forgot the rest. How about we alle down together?"


    Half a minuteter¡ª


    The threedies emerged from the pool, shaking their hair, and Madame Maxime sank into thought. "So that''s it. I assumed it would follow the four elements. The golden egg represents life, life refers to fire..."


    Seating herself, she contemted the clues provided by the golden egg. Soon enough, she also pondered the only ce at Hogwarts that met the conditions: the ck Lake.


    "It''s said that the ck Lake houses many creatures: mermaids, giant squids, Grindylows..." Fleur murmured, patting Madame Maxime''s shoulder.


    "But do these three creatures symbolize wisdom, power, and growth?" Madame Maxime disagreed. "There must be something else; these are mere obstacles for the champions. You need to consider underwater survival and spellcasting in underwaterbat. As for wisdom and growth... they''re not something we can infer."


    "You said it so well; why didn''t I think of that?" Fleur smiled, enchantingly.


    Madame Maxime shot her a nce but, after unraveling the golden egg''s mystery, she wasn''t inclined to pursue further. "Slightly to the left," she instructed, and Fleur''s smile widened.


    "Click-click-click."


    Madame Maxime''s chair suddenly emitted a rapid session of sounds, theyer of air beneath her shimmered twice, then abruptly vanished.


    The three women stared wide-eyed, Madame Maxime disying the most astonishment.


    Had she really broken the chair?


    >


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 Chapter 426: Twins’ Revelation

    Chapter 426: Twins¡¯ Revtion


    The next morning, Harry, Ron, and Hermione entered the Great Hall and noticed Cedric and hispanions also dining. They exchanged nces and tacitly chose seats opposite them.


    "Um... hi, there," Harry said, and Cedric set down his fork, offering them a smile.


    Harry found himself at a loss for words, especially in front of this person who had danced at least seven times with Cho at the Yule Ball, denying Harry any chance.


    He mumbled something unclear, and Cedric looked at him with confusion.


    "I, uh... I mean, Ron has something to say to Collins."


    This time, Ron stumbled. "What¡ªme? Oh, right..." He red at Harry, while Collins lowered his utensils, a stern gaze shifting between Harry and Ron.


    Ron looked at Collins, his face reddening. Collins''s bushy eyebrows and brown short hair made him seem particrly severe. Ron remembered his awkwardness in front of Fleur, muttering, "Thanks..."


    "Can''t find the words?" Collins asked.


    "I mean... thank you for the hint during the dance, about the golden egg. Even though I couldn''t quite hear it, I felt it necessary, uh, necessary to say thanks..." Ron gasped for air, with Harry chiming in, "Yeah, exactly."Even after Collins left, Ron''s ears stayed red.


    "Aren''t you allergic to Lavender?" Harry asked, trying to quell Hermione''sughter, steering the conversation to a serious tone.


    "I don''t know... My brain goes nk when she looks at me with those dark eyes," Ronmented. "First Lavender, then Collins. Is something wrong with me?"


    "Yeah, and it''s only unclear when facing those pretty girls," Hermione quipped.


    Harry felt Ron had embarrassed himself and subtly shifted his te¡ªRon nearly spilled his pumpkin pasty filling into Harry''s te. He whispered aboutst night''s events in Professor Trwney''s office to them.


    Having woken up, his memories returned, and Harry emphasized the peculiar magic book.


    "That book sounds like it should stay in the restricted section..." Ronmented, dumping the rest of his pasty onto his te.


    "No, the professor said he got inspiration from a Dementor. Frankly, I find the professor''s research area eerie," Harry shared his thoughts.


    "Any deep study might seem strange to others," Hermione remarked matter-of-factly.


    Harry pondered seriously, yet his imagination about the professors'' lives outside ss was limited. He envisioned Professor Vector enjoying operas and afternoon tea, enchanting the teacups and teapots, maybe cracking a joke or two (much like the enchanted servants he''d seen in movies). Professor McGonagall likely spent all her free time managing school affairs. Snape, in his idle moments, might dissect flobberworms, and Professor Trwney probably started her day by consulting a crystal ball to decide her attire...


    Professor Lupin possibly had card games with Valen? As for Moody, Harry might have imagined him oiling his wooden leg in the past, akin to Harry maintaining his crossbow, but now, Harry only felt sympathy¡ªperhaps for the past few months, whenever Moody returned to his office, Bartemius Crouch Jr. sneakily delved into his memories.


    Deceiving Dumbledore meant Bartemius Crouch Jr.''s disguise skills were exceptionally adept, likely skilled in lumency.


    At this moment, the trio from Uagadou passed by, chattering away. Harry caught a familiar word and thought it was a trick of his mind until he and Ron nced and saw Lee Jordan waving at the Uagadou trio. The Weasley twins surreptitiously handed a stack of parchment to the one named "Branzigo," shaved bald on both sides, with a striking pointed top.


    Harry remembered him vividly as the one who transformed into an eagle, engaging in a thrilling struggle during the first task.


    "How did they be friends?" Ron marveled.


    "Looks like Lee Jordan yed the mediator," Harry observed as Jordan gestured, his distinctive voice carrying over, "Trust me, it''s absolutely reliable."


    "I hope Fred and George aren''t ying pranks on Uagadou folks; if it causes an international dispute, they''ll be in trouble..." Hermione worried.


    "Fred and George know what they''re doing, probably just promoting their new products or something... I guess?" Ron''s tone also wavered in uncertainty.


    Soon, Fred and George departed, while Lee Jordan continued chatting with the Uagadou trio. Harry, Ron, and Hermione hastily stood up, intercepting the twins in the entrance hall.


    "Oh, hello, didn''t see you there," Fred said, surprised.


    "What were you doing just now?" Ron asked bluntly.


    "Nothing much, just getting to know Lee''s new friends," George replied evasively, nodding towards the direction of the Great Hall.


    "I saw that," Ron persisted. "You handed them something, not a prank product, but a stack of parchment. It might contain important information..."


    Fred and George exchanged nces. "If we spilled some secret and Hogwarts loses the match..." Ron deliberately made it sound grave, watching his two brothers'' expressions turn serious.


    "You''re quite vignt. Seems like bing champions boosted your confidence," Fred remarked.


    "But our little brother has a point this time," Fred stroked his chin, contemting.


    "Maybe he stumbled onto something," George added.


    Ron''s face was turning as red as his hair. Harry intervened, "So, what did you guys figure out?"


    Fred and George nced at each other. "Listen, it''s simple. Lee Jordan and the Uagadou students became friends, you know, his appearance gives him an edge..." Harry couldn''t help but chuckle. Fred continued, "The Uagadou magical school is different in many aspects. They''re adept at Transfiguration, Alchemy, Astronomy, and Gesture-based spells..."


    "They''re into various alchemical novelties. The principles aren''t difficult, but their approach is intriguing. Like different types of amulets... as Dumbledore said, it''s aboutmunication," George shrugged.


    "They approached us a couple of days ago, just before Christmas, wanting to learn about the ck Lake... It''s not really a secret; I bet there are at least a hundred books in the library mentioning it. Of course, it takes time to find them," Fred exined.


    George blinked, "Unless they''re dim enough not to ask Professor Sinistra. She''s quite prominent, stronger than the rope in front of the restricted section."


    >


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 Chapter 427: Alastor Moody

    Chapter 427: stor Moody


    Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged nces.


    "So," Ron said hopefully, "you just grabbed random stuff from the library and tried to pass it off?"


    Fred''s face turned serious. "Sorry to disappoint, but we do have some integrity. However, our knowledge of the ck Lake is limited. Going too deep might get us chased out by merpeople with forks, and their pets aren''t exactly friendly¡ª"


    "Gillyweed," George mouthed when he noticed Harry''s puzzled look.


    "Kelp, needlefish, and devil''s snare... We didn''t dare to go too far in, afraid of being strung up by mermaids. But drawing a map of theke is on our to-do list, nned before graduation," Fred confidently stated.


    George gave him a strange look. "Since when was that our n?"


    "Just now, when we were talking. Want in?" Fred asked.


    "Sounded decent," George grinned, looking at the bewildered trio. "Harry, your dad''s crew has done their thing; repeating it is pointless. It''s better to carve our own path... Besides, we''re sixth-years now, gotta leave a mark."


    The twins departed, but before they left, George reminded them, "Oh, Harry, if you head to the hospital wing now, there might be a surprise waiting."The trio stared at their retreating figures, lost in thought.


    "We should get a map, even if it''s iplete," Ron suddenly said. "It''ll save us a lot of trouble."


    "We can make one ourselves," Harry replied without hesitation. There was still plenty of time before February.


    Hermione counted on her fingers, "Aside from us, including Cedric''s group and Valgadu, half the teams already know about the second task. The other three schools might¡ª"


    "Maybe add Durmstrang to that," Ron quipped in a strange tone.


    Hermione raised an eyebrow.


    "Sorry, didn''t exin¡ªI mean, Karkaroff would surely find a way to cheat," Ron rified, "I have faith in him."


    Harry stifled augh.


    "We should really make a trip to the hospital wing, check out the surprise George mentioned..." he suggested. As they approached the wing and turned the corner, they faintly heard more than one familiar voice.


    "Professor Snape?"


    "Sirius?" Harry eximed in surprise.


    They quickened their pace and saw the door to the private ward ajar. Sirius stood opposite the door, leaning against a table, ying with his wand, his eyes fiercely fixed in one direction.


    From inside, Moody''s gruff voice echoed, "If you want a fight, take it outside! I don''t have a wand, and I''m missing an eye..."


    "Your eye''s soaking in potion, Moody. Youined about it not working properly when you woke up," Felix''s gentle voice chimed in.


    "I''m stating facts! And my wooden leg? It''s half an inch shorter, definitely the work of that scoundrel!" Moody raged, a result of Felix''s attempted treatment, which ended with Moody looking rather frustrated, expressing his frustration byshing out at everyone.


    Felix sighed, nced at Harry, Ron, and Hermione by the door, and waved them in.


    As they entered, they were surprised to find the room bustling. Snape, d in ck robes, stood next to Sirius, his expression cold and indifferent as he faced off against him, both ring at each other with disdain.


    Snape''s hand was hidden in his sleeve, and from his posture, Harry guessed he was gripping his wand.


    This resolved one confusion: Harry didn''t imagine Sirius would sh with Professor Snape. Sirius had confessed in Hagrid''s cabin in third year that he had been effortlessly caught by Snape, though reluctantly.


    Apart from these figures, there were two more in the room: Madam Pomfrey and Neville.


    Neville tried to shrink himself into his chair, not an easy feat since he had shot up at least half a foot taller thanst year, almost keeping pace with Ron''s growth. As Harry approached, he spoke in a hushed voice, wearing a mournful expression, "I just wanted to bring flowers like yesterday... But then Moody woke up, and Madam Pomfrey called Professor Snape, then suddenly Mr. ck appeared, iming some important discussion. Halfway through, Professor Snape arrived."


    Good, Harry thought, Neville urately reconstructed the sequence of these people entering the room. He could imagine the general flow of events.


    He nced around. Snape was in an umon white coat, perhaps mimicking Muggle doctors? Madam Pomfrey stood not far from him, jotting down on a clipboard swiftly. His gaze wandered, and as if stung, he saw a conspicuous ss nearby¡ªthe magical eye of Moody submerged in a pool of blue liquid, sporadically jerking as if in spasms.


    Ron made a disgusted noise.


    "Harry," Sirius approached, hugging him tightly. Whispering, he said, "Got word from Hagrid that Moody''s injured, so I came to try¡ª"


    "Where''s the problem?" Harry whispered back.


    Sirius disdainfully gestured towards Snape, who appeared oblivious, and nonchntly said, "I''ve been authorized by the Headmaster. If stor Moody wishes to continue teaching this year, during his recovery, I''ll be taking over some sses in care for my colleague."


    Sirius immediately nced at Moody, teasingly saying, "stor, I suggest youy low¡ª"


    He suddenly realized his mistake, triggering Moody''s taboo, about to face an eruption akin to a volcano. He quickly stopped but toote.


    Harry swore he''d never seen Moody''s face contort this way, every scar on his face magnified grotesquely, quivering in disgust. Moody roared, "Ha! You think I''m afraid? After being toyed with like a puppet by Voldemort and a Death Eater for months? What do you think I''d do? Cower like a coward, sobbing? I''ll tell you, dream on!"


    Sirius turned paper-white.


    Moody''s remaining eye widened, fixated on Sirius. Harry felt that Moody''s eye was more terrifying than the prosthetic eye in the jar, evenpared to the rage emitted from his empty socket.


    Pointing to the empty bed nearby, he continued, "You know the first thing Barty did after waking up? He turned himself in at the Ministry! He''s going to spill everything, atone for his mistakes! And you know what else?" He red at a disheartened Sirius, his face menacing, "I''ll broadcast everything that happened to me, just that the students won''t be enough..."


    "I''ll tell everyone Voldemort isn''t dead, not truly!"


    Dumbledore''s somber voice came from outside the door, "stor..."


    >


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 Chapter 428: Slughorns Reputation

    Chapter 428: Slughorn''s Reputation


    Dumbledore surveyed the room, catching every expression. A bit fatigued, yet smiling, he spoke, "stor, two officials from the Ministry are here seeking some information. I''ve brought them in."


    A tall man rushed in, Felix glimpsed the serious-faced Kingsley. Behind him was Tonks, sporting a new red hairstyle, a bit wild but eye-catching. She waved enthusiastically as Felix nced her way.


    From Tonks'' open pocket spilled a half-piece of blue ss, a ''Future World'' newlyunched super bubble liquid...


    Moody grinned widely at the unexpected guests. "Sent by Scrimgeour?"


    "Madam Bones sends her regards, stor. We''re all concerned about you. Oh, by the way, I''ve officially be an Auror!" Tonks eximed cheerfully.


    Sirius''s eyes shifted. Moody grumbled, "Hope they didn''t ck off in their sneaking and tracking lessons."


    "You''re too strict," Tonks huffed softly.


    The dark-skinned Kingsley opened his briefcase, his wand swishing out a scroll covered in dense handwriting and a few handwritten signatures at the bottom.


    "Let''s catch upter, stor," Kingsley, in his trademark low, slow voice, said, "We''re here on official business. The Ministry''s top officials are swamped. I represent the Minister, the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Wizengamot, and the Auror Office. We have some questions about your recent encounters..."Kingsley cautiously nced at Dumbledore.


    "Ah, we''ll leave," Dumbledore grinned, "Kingsley and stor are old acquaintances. There won''t be any conflicts." He then halted Snape, ready to leave. "Wait, Severus, I have a few minor queries about the analysis report you gave me."


    The group exited the ward. Madame Pomfrey closed the door, and from thest gap, Felix glimpsed Kingsley embracing Moody on the bed. The door shut firmly with a bang.


    "Headmaster Dumbledore, about my substitute teaching..." Sirius murmured.


    "Sirius," Dumbledore''s tone grew stern, "I won''t deny your request, but clearly, you''re not yet prepared to be a professor¡ª"


    "But my grades are excellent!" Sirius snapped, ring at Snape, itching to punch him.


    "I''m not referring to grades. You should be aware," Dumbledore replied.


    Sirius looked forlorn. Harry wanted to speak up for his godfather, but Professor Lupin, opposite him, subtly shook his head. Harry held back his words.


    "Aberforth, Professor Moody''s tenure is only for a year?" Felix whispered.


    Dumbledore gave an understanding smile. "Yes, stor is retired. I shouldn''t strain him too much, especially given the current circumstances... Just thinking about rewriting another job ad in six months is giving me a headache."


    Outside the infirmary corridors, Dumbledore and Snape headed upstairs, likely towards the headmaster''s office. Felix presumed the analysis report Dumbledore mentioned earlier might be rted to the residual potion found in the Chamber, probably what Voldemort used to sustain his body.


    But it wasn''t the time for detailed inquiries. He turned, addressing Sirius, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville, "I need to visit Hagrid. Will you¡ª"


    "We''lle too," Harry immediately said. Ron and Hermione nodded eagerly, while Neville looked around, scratching his head.


    "Then let''s go together; perhaps you can lend a hand," Felix said cheerfully. Seeing Harry''s puzzled look, he exined, "Hagrid needs me to craft some iron chains to prevent those belligerent creatures from perishing before the first winter..."


    The young wizards, familiar with st-Ended Skrewts, turned pale.


    They stepped outside, trekking through the snowyndscape. The biting wind pierced their thick clothes; the young wizards shivered, but Sirius, though pale, looked much better than before.


    Felix waved his wand, "Warming Charm¡ªone of the most practical spells in winter. If you haven''t bought Temperature-Regting Pendant Boxes."


    Instantly, they felt warm all over. Their steps slowed, treading on the snow became a wintery delight. Harry marveled, and Hermione asked, "Professor, what''s the incantation for this spell?"


    "Warmth Like Hearth."


    "Is it easy to learn? If mastered, does it match the effect of a Temperature-Regting Pendant?" Ron inquired.


    "Your two brothers asked me the same thing," Felix chuckled, "Unfortunately, it''s only effective in winter."


    Ron pouted, "Now I understand why they were unbeatable in snowball fights."


    "Professor, who''s Madam Bones?" Harry recalled Tonks mentioning the name; it sounded familiar.


    "Amelia Bones, the current Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, quite reputable," Felix replied simply.


    "Susan Bones''s aunt," Hermione murmured softly, and Harry suddenly realized.


    "Sirius, do you know her?" Harry asked his godfather, sensing from his earlier reaction that Sirius might know her.


    Sirius pondered, then shrugged, "Ring a bell... She was four years ahead of me in school. Intelligent and serious witch," he muttered, "I think I made her cry once."


    "What happened?" Hermione asked eagerly.


    "Oh, it''s a long time ago..." he sighed, noticing Harry''s keen interest, "You know, no magic allowed in the school corridors..."


    They all nodded.


    "When I first started, I was showing off a Lumos spell in the corridor, with some modifications... Amelia caught me, took the chance to dock points, she was a prefect at the time..."


    "I don''t think prefects should have the power to deduct points," Ron muttered, recalling incidents of Percy docking points in their second year.


    Sirius understandingly grinned, "Remus was a prefect too. I happen to know some inside details. Prefects can''t deduct points recklessly; they have to write a report for every point deducted, and there are other restrictions... like Amelia only docked me two points."


    "Doesn''t sound like much," Harry said.


    "Yeah," Sirius sighed, "But I was furious. Continued the Lumos charm behind her back, colorful lights shing on her spectacles... naturally, she wasn''t pleased, docked more points. I kept casting, we had a standoff for a while, and in the end, I lost around two hundred points?"


    Harry and the others widened their eyes.


    Sirius smirked cunningly, "Actually, because it was early in the term, every house had low points. I remember Gryffindor''s hourss had only a few rubies?"


    "You escaped like that?" Harry couldn''t believe it.


    "Not so simple; I got a week in detention," Sirius shrugged, "But Amelia didn''t have it easy either. Heard she cried while writing those reports."


    Harry thought it best not to tell Susan Bones about this incident; she held her aunt in high regard, while Ron had the opposite thought.


    "How about we organize a dueling practice session, Harry? It''s been a while since thest one," Ron suggested eagerly, "We can ask Sirius to guide us."


    Sirius was tempted but declined, "I can''t just waltz into Hogwarts; Hagrid did me a favor."


    They arrived at Hagrid''s hut. He was working in the pumpkin patch at the back


    , where only a dozen st-Ended Skrewts remained, but they had grown considerably. Despite the winter snow, they were still vigorous.


    "You''re here?" Hagrid panted, turning around. He shouted, then lunged at an escaping Skrewt. After a while, he crawled up from the snow, the Skrewt beneath him unmoving.


    "It''s dead?" Felix asked.


    "Not yet," Hagrid gruffly replied, "Might''ve fainted." He flipped it over, grabbing a thick rope nearby, tying it around the creature''s middle. Felix guessed it to be the Skrewt''s waist, if such a creature had that anatomy.


    Approaching, Felix lightly poked the thick shell of the fainted Skrewt. Its legs weakly kicked twice, proving it was still alive.


    Felix quickly cast the chains he had made, telling Hagrid, "Left some gaps, but if they keep growing, might need adjustments in the future."


    "I got it," Hagrid grumbled, "This''ll do fine."


    As they sat on the warm nkets in Hagrid''s cabin, Hagrid expressed regret for the st-Ended Skrewts: "They''re quite gentle, not much harm in ''em... but they do like a good scuffle. Can''t say which side''s influence that is, might be the sphinx, they''re solitary by nature."


    Harry''s cup of warm tea lost its appeal.


    Felix suggested, "Perhaps it''s best not to release them just yet. Sviflers is studying their medicinal value¡ª"


    *Cough, cough!*


    Neville suddenly erupted into a fit of coughing. "Oh, sorry..." he managed, looking rmed.


    "What''s up with him?" Hagrid asked, patting Neville with a giant hand, causing him to tumble to the floor.


    "He might be thinking about handling the Skrewtster..." Ron exined sympathetically. Snape had a habit of punishing students with grotesque potion ingredients, especially the less valuable, mass-producible ones.


    Whether it was the gooey Skrewtrvae or their slimy, rotten seafood-smelling secretion, if Snape found a peculiar use for them, it''d be a nightmare for future students.


    And Harry was certain they''d be the first victims.


    Hagrid passed Neville a towel, which suddenly wriggled on its own across his face, chin, and shirt before Hagrid hastily snatched it back, apologetic. "Sorry, it''s got a cleaning charm on it!"


    "N-No worries," Neville said, looking pale.


    Hagrid hesitated, then brought over a te of biscuits. "You might try one of these." Neville politely took one, but upon seeing Harry, Ron, and Hermione firmly shaking their heads, he immediately set it down.


    Luckily, Hagrid didn''t notice. He was engrossed in conversation with Felix. "The Skrewts molted some shells. Don''t know if it''s useful to you, kept some aside."


    Felix nodded. "It''s a new material, never seen before. I believe it might bear traits of both the sphinx and the fire crab, though it''s hard to say which it leans more toward. If it''s the former, its value skyrockets."


    "Scamander doesn''t share much with me; we mainly discuss magical creature husbandry," Hagrid gruffly remarked. "Our paths diverge a bit... but his advice doese in handy."


    Harry knew Hagrid referred to the memory entity in Room Seven. Suddenly, something struck him. "I heard many ghosts favor that ce?"


    "Spot on, seen quite a few," Hagrid replied. "Heard they''re asking Dumbledore to find a ghost cook. Bit daft, that... but these ghosts are much more active than before."


    "Any candidates?" Ron, intrigued by peculiar things as usual, asked.


    "One," Hagrid muttered. "Horace Sloghorn. The Fat Friar remembers him well, said he sneaked into the kitchen every night for a midnight snack, never missed one."


    Harry knew the Fat Friar, the ghost from Hufflepuff, but Horace Slughorn was a mystery.


    "Is that the Potions Master?" Hermione asked, surprised.


    "You know him?" Hagrid nced at her. "Interesting fe. Was around when I was at school, Head of Slytherin. Sirius must''ve known him."


    They turned to Sirius, who was holding Toothless on the couch, absentmindedly scratching the dragon''s chin as it purred contentedly. He spoke leisurely, "Of course I know him, a hedonistic old chap. He founded the illustrious Slug Club, gathered quite a few Death Eaters¡ª"


    "What?" Harry eximed in shock.


    "Oh, don''t worry, no ties to Death Eaters," Sirius reassured, seeing their frozen expressions. "He just enjoys hisforts, loves mead, candied pineapple, tripleyered cushions..." He nced at Felix. "I bet he''s eyeing yourpany. Saw a chair when I went to see Limes, his favorite."


    At the mention of chairs, Hagrid''s demeanor shifted, his gaze wandering to a toolbox in the corner beside a red umbre.


    "...He suffers from Slytherin''s traits,working, vanity, disdain for the less talented. Still, he''s a vast improvement from the current Headmistress."


    Felix red at him.


    Sirius shrugged. "I''m just stating facts. Let''s ignore a certain bat-obsessed someone," he continued, "Besides his penchant forfort, he has an uncanny knack for spotting talented students. He''s built a tform for them to connect, hoping for future payback. He relishes that feeling."


    "What about the Death Eaters¡ª" Harry pressed on.


    "I said it before, besides ability, he also values lineage. You should know what Slytherin mostly represents," Sirius said. "There aren''t many who entered based purely on merit, but Harry, your mum was one of the most remarkable."


    "My mum?" Harry was once again astonished. He didn''t know why he feltpelled to argue, but he did, "But she was in Gryffindor!"


    "She got in on her merit," Sirius insisted. "Lily had exceptional potion skills. During the war, her brews saved many lives, especially when Voldemort was after us. While the rest of us hid in safehouses, she was still making a difference."


    His tone became somber. "If she and James had survived, Lily would''ve been the brightest Potions Master. Forget Snape..."


    Sirius snorted, exuding contempt.


    "What about you guys?" Harry inquired, more eager to know about the Slughorn professor than Sirius''s and his parents'' story.


    "Me and James?"


    "And Professor Lupin." Harry corrected. "I mean, Limes."


    Sirius chuckled. "I was, uh, rebellious back then," he winked at Harry. "Didn''t approve of him, especially after seeing Regulus join that club. I didn''t want any part of it, and James was much the same, mostly because Slytherins were so abundant, and he held quite the grudge against them..."


    "As for Limes, he excelled in everything, but you know, his background was a big issue."


    "But I heard his identity was kept secret, hardly anyone realized he was a werewolf during school." Harry was puzzled.


    "That I can exin," Felix interjected. "You can''t expect to conceal yourself from a powerful wizard, especially when he''s also a Potions Master."


    ...


    The following week flew by swiftly. After the holidays for employees at ''Future World'' ended, Felix moved to Diagon Alley, spending thest few days refining new products. Unbeknownst to them, a new semester at Hogwarts began.


    >


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 Chapter 429: Store Number Seven

    Chapter 429: Store Number Seven


    On the eve of the school term starting, the lingering festive air of Christmas hadn''t yet dissipated in Diagon Alley; it was draped in shimmering silver attire.


    This year, Diagon Alley bore significant differences from the past¡ªmost shop fronts disyed Christmas gift lights courtesy of the "Future World"pany. As dusk approached, just before thest hint of twilight vanished from the sky, these magical lights came to life, illuminating a small portion of the street.


    Exiting the upright castle, Alrick and Clementine, dressed in only light clothing, seemed impervious to the biting chill.


    Clementine adjusted the temperature control pendant, stashing it away in her pocket, and observed the male and female wizards on the street. Reflecting on the changes, she remarked, "In less than half a year, Diagon Alley has seen quite the transformation."


    Alrick empathized, "Indeed... do you recall the book signing at the Leaky Cauldron on New Year''s Day? Rita Skeeter purchased two magical phonographs, and the shadow of the entric sister duo loitered at the bookstore''s entrance until the event concluded. It was like witnessing a live performance..."


    Clementine blinked, recalling the scene vividly. That journalist had remarkable audacity, weaving the ancient ck family members into her narrative. But more striking was her reference to the Dark Lord.


    Some passages in the book still made her blush:


    "''...that wizard-like figure possessed an extraordinary charisma that transcended gender, captivating even the ancient and pure-blooded descendants,pelling them to genuflect at his feet, fervently kissing the ground he trod upon. Even the slightest chance¡ªof dining with this cold, imperious sorcerer or receiving a kiss upon the back of their hand¡ªour protagonist in this tale would willingly brave anything...''


    Pure-blooded descendants would never forget the night when the Dark Lord personally summoned his loyal servants. His elongated fingers, akin to hot embers, brushed across their cheeks, whispering an irrefutablemand: ''My disciple, I need you... I need you to do something for me...''Although not explicitly named, anyone with insight could deduce the identities of the two protagonists in the story.


    "What''s wrong?" Alrick inquired, observing Clementine suddenly blushing, curious about her reaction.


    "N-Nothing," Clementine stammered, her face flushed crimson.


    ...


    On a bustling street in central London, two unfamiliar men stood in front of a tastefully decorated shop.


    Adjacent to a stationery store, the proprietress observed the strangers without suspicion, finding the neighboring shop quite peculiar¡ª


    Despite living in London for decades, she had only heard of the name "Future World" a few months prior.


    "Strange, why would a jewelry store be called that?" she pondered indignantly. "Isn''t vintage style in vogue now? Is this some new trend from Paris?"


    Another oddity: the signboard read ''Store Number Seven'' in gilt letters at the bottom right corner, which was utterly absurd. Even though the clerks insisted other branches were established overseas, she remained unconvinced.


    Pondering this, she openly scrutinized the two figures at the intersection. One appeared young yetposed, possibly from an affluent background? The other, an older man, seemed to carry a plethora of stories. She wouldn''t mind inviting him for a small ss of brandy, listening to tales of heartache...


    Meanwhile, Felix and Lupin remained oblivious to being the subject of others'' scrutiny, concluding their impromptu conversation:


    "She''s terrified now. Just finished the book signing, and the Ministry issued a warrant for Bartemius Crouch Jr. the next day. Even though Fudge suppresses acknowledging Voldemort''s existence, mere phrases like ''mysterious person, staunch follower, extremely dangerous'' are enough to keep her up at night¡ªand Sirius has been itching to confront her. Her skirting around the truth won''t convince him."


    Felix smirked, having skimmed through Rita Skeeter''stest book, feeling tainted by it. He remarked to Lupin, "Let''s not bother with her."


    Lupin wore a perfectly puzzled expression. "You''re going to make her wait for nearly two months? She''ll go insane." That time would coincide with the second event of the tournament, when the gates of Hogwarts would open for select audiences and journalists.


    Amused, Felix said, "Don''t forget our journalist friend has a special talent."


    Lupin''s heart skipped a beat, hastily asking, "Legilimency?"


    Felix nodded slightly.


    Rita Skeeter had once been an illegal Legilimens. Although she had patched that hole by registering with the Ministry, she had exposed herself, bing a considerably unwee figure.


    Reliable sources imed during that period, potions to rid oneself of beetles were flying off the shelves.


    "Do you want her to help you with something?" Lupin asked in a grave tone, feeling ufortable. He despised dealing with Rita Skeeter, someone who fabricated tales as easily as breathing. Yet, he couldn''t convince himself to watch her stumble into a death trap.


    Felix nced at Lupin, seeing through his thoughts. After all, Sirius once mentioned that what attracted him and James to Lupin was his innate kindness¡ªnobody would refuse such a friend.


    Felix reminded, "You seem to be in some moral quandary, but the fact remains¡ªwe haven''t done anything."


    "Yeah," Lupin sighed softly. "Just because we haven''t done anything..."


    Exiting the seventh store, darkness veiled the sky. Felix and Lupin parted ways. Felix felt content with everything, especially nearing thepletion of his Grimoire of Magic. His mood was unusually pleasant.


    Rarely strolling through the London streets, he found himself in a secluded alleyway. A figure, its dark hair tousled, staggered under the dim lights.


    "A vagrant? An addict?"


    Felix moved slightly away, but the man approached him directly. A sense of absurdity surged within Felix. "Could this be a mugging?" Instead of leaving, curiosity held him in ce, studying the man.


    The man, frail as a reed, slid his hand into his pocket. Felix, angling himself defensively, enchanted a body armor spell, "Do you need a doctor?" he asked slowly.


    "I do need some ''medicine''," the man licked his yellowed teeth and pulled out a folded leaflet, offering it to Felix, wearing an odd smile. Then he departed, seeking his next target.


    Felix nced at the contents on the leaflet, finding it utterly preposterous¡ª


    "Do you believe in magic? Do you believe in mystery? In this world, unknown realms exist, worldspletely separate from science. If you often feel dazed, disoriented, or wake up unsure of your surroundings (this part was emphasized)... friend, you''re likely destined to belong to the hidden world.


    "Wee to join us; we offer thoughtful guidance and fulfill one wish¡ªperhaps you urgently need to reverse your misfortune, or are desperate to witness the true perspective; or maybe you suffer from an incurable illness, feeling life has lost its hope..."


    >


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 Chapter 430: The Potential Mundaneness of Potions

    Chapter 430: The Potential Mundaneness of Potions


    The sequence is followed by a long string of ''for instance.''


    Felix figured that any regr person would surely feel intrigued by one or two of the mentioned points above, provided they could be realized.


    At the bottom of the flyery a crude map.


    Felix''s curiosity intensified. The person handing him the flyer seemed ordinary, yet they made a beeline for him. Was it happenstance or a coincidence? He felt it was more likely shrouded in mysterious deeds under the guise of magic. As for what exactly, he decided to find out.


    Following the instructions on the flyer, Felix navigated through remote streets. The hand-drawn map had its ''quirks,'' marking discreet symbols at every street corner, requiring some thought.


    Standing before a wall, Felix gazed at the graffiti. Illuminated by dim streetlights, he scrutinized it for a while, then, guided by the rat holding a vertical sign in the graffiti, he turned left.


    Here, the lights had vanished. The shops lining the street were dpidated, heaps of garbage cluttered the corners, and the lone flickeringmp, coupled with the howling chill wind, evoked a sense of a scene from a horror movie.


    However, if Felix wished, he could conjure the most realistic horror, just as easily.


    "Three individuals lurking in the shadows along the way, no trace of magic, and their negativity isn''t too strong... Merely after riches?" Felix strolled leisurely. Since it had nothing to do with magic or a dark wizard fishing, his interest in whaty at the end of the road diminished rapidly. He paused now and then to admire the graffiti on the walls along the way.If one were to describe it, this ce was like the decaying organ of London, forgotten by the city hall, repeatedly overlooked in various ns, ultimately bing a yground for stray cats and dogs, as well as the favorite haunt of those ''rebellious youth.''


    A few minutester...


    Felix pushed open a worn-out gate and stepped inside. The crude map on the flyer had long lost its relevance. He found this ce because there was activity here, and there was a finely crafted magic circle on the doorstep.


    Inspecting the storefront and the weathered signboard, this ce seemed to have been a clothing store before. However, the sign read ''House of Magic'' in graffiti-style font.


    Felix had a bad feeling. No wizarding organization would do such a thing. This seemed more like a concoction of some street-side enthusiasts fascinated with the arcane arts.


    Am I being duped here...?


    At this moment, two burly men approached him, the kind more adept atmunicating with their fists. Felix sighed and with a glint in his eyes, "Bang!" "Bang!" They thudded heavily onto the ground without uttering a word.


    After a few minutes, those who rushed to their aid didn''t flee.


    Felix searched the abandoned shack thoroughly. The thickyer of dust inside the room indicated its former upant had been gone for a while. He wore a disappointed expression.


    "A gang of robbers... perhaps add kidnapping and extortion to that?"


    This was the information Felix gathered from their minds, leaving him deeply disappointed. Especially when he learned these flyers came from a nearby trash bin, it was a double blow.


    The truth of the matter was absurd¡ª


    This used to be a secret base of a group of enthusiasts of the arcane arts. Perhaps due to winter or other reasons, they disbanded, and the flyers were casually thrown into a nearby trash bin, conveniently picked up by these passing robbers: they found familiar words on the flyers ("dazed and confused, wake up not knowing where..."), unanimously believing it described the effects of some ''painkillers.'' They highlighted this phrase, considering it an unspoken code on the streets, luring those in need.


    Including Felix, even the addict in conversation got this hint. Unfortunately, Felix didn''t notice it at all; instead, he was drawn by the word ''magic'' on the flyer, hence the misfortune for this group of people.


    "I got excited seeing those two mysterious symbols at the door." Felix grumbled, feeling he hadpletely wasted his time. He should have been in the warm office at Hogwarts by now.


    "What''s the emergency hotline number... 999?"


    Suddenly, Felix heard footsteps approaching from afar, stopping outside the door.


    "Is someone there?" A young voice asked.


    Felix blinked, pulling the door open a crack, lowering his head,ing face-to-face with a pair of gray eyes. The person held a flyer in one hand and a stick in the other, looking at him hesitantly.


    Judging by attire, Felix estimated this person wasn''t associated with the previous thugs¡ªthough in the neer''s eyes, he might appear even more frightening, evident from the shaking hand.


    "Anything you need?" Felix muttered from his throat.


    He wanted to quickly shoo away the unexpected visitor and make an anonymous call... Well, perhaps he could dy it till tomorrow morning; they say sleeping on the floor is good for the back.


    "Hello, is this the House of Magic?" the visitor asked cautiously, shaking the flyer. When Felix shifted his gaze from the flyer to the stick, the hand holding the stick promptly vanished from his view unless Felix leaned out; otherwise, it was impossible to see past the wall.


    The visitor awkwardly chuckled.


    "Do you have something to say?" Felix darkened his face, raising his voice.


    "I, uh... saw the flyer, it says it can grant a wish for those who join..."


    Felix paused, turning to look at the debris inside the room and the fugitive sleeping on the ground. With genuine sincerity, he replied, "You''re quite lucky."


    "So, it''s true?" the voice trembled with excitement.


    Felix met hopeful eyes and pursed his lips, adopting a slightly more serious tone, "So? I suggest you get to the point..."


    A trembling hand extended towards him. "I... I y the piano, but due to an ident, my hand got injured. I wish to y the piano again."


    Observing the unexpected guest before him, Felix wondered if this was science sentencing someone to death and seeking sce or hope in the arcane? Frankly, he didn''t think it was a clever move. Most wizards conscientiously abide by the Secrecy Law, rarely mingling with ordinary folks. The few exceptions without reservations mostly leaned towards dark wizards.


    But this sudden visitor made things intriguing, perhaps turning into a memorable day. Felix thought so.


    Thus, he said, "Your idea isn''t entirely impossible... However, with magic, as you might guess, the price is steep..." deliberately using a very obvious colloquial tone.


    "I have money," the person hastily replied, cautious not to look like a fool. Adding cautiously, "I only brought a third. If you can really grant my... wish, I''ll pay you the rest."


    "Money isn''t useful to me; many things are more important to wizards than money. Do you have¡ª" Felix''s voice lowered.


    "You want my eyes!?"


    Felix rolled his eyes, "I detest these kinds of horror stories, filled with baseless imagination... I have my own, and I have one more than you." Suddenly, he grinned, pointing to his forehead; a blue light radiated from the center of his forehead, and within theyered blue glow,


    an eye slowly opened.


    "Ah¡ª!"


    The unexpected shriek left Felix startled, but as the unexpected guest¡¯s eyes widened, there was no sign of escape; instead, they were filled with excitement, bombarding him with questions: "What do I need to pay, my soul? Health? Appearance? Lifespan?"


    "I''m not acquainted with demons," mumbled Felix. He hesitated for a moment before saying, "Come in."


    He turned, and ayer of dim silver light quietly nketed the entire room. The ruins and piled-up fugitives disappeared from his sight. The dust-covered floor transformed into a red carpet; debris and ss shards flew up to the ceiling, turning into orange-hued smallmps. The fugitives turned into lush green potted nts, piled up in a corner against the wall.


    The dpidated chairs seemed freshly varnished, the chairbacks elongated and elevated. Two cloth scraps swiftly wound around the chair, forming armrests. Several clothes hangers propped up semi-circr dark archways...


    As the unfamiliar visitor entered, they found themselves in a small concert hall with a piano at its center. Opposite the piano was a single-seat audience area, upying the prime position.


    "Is this... um, do wizards also enjoy music?" asked the visitor.


    "Hah!" chuckled Felix, seating himself¡ªsuddenly draped in a ck cloak that obscured his face in the well-lit room. Two silver glimmers peeked through the hood as Felix spoke in a deep, hoarse voice, "Are you ready to make a deal with a wizard?"


    "What do you need, Wizard Sir?"


    "A memory, your happiest memory."


    The person hesitated, saying, "I don''t even know what my happiest memory is, these past months have been nothing but pain..."


    "It''s alright, your heart will guide me to the answer. So... deal?"


    Felix felt he should''ve prepared bat wings and arrow-shaped tails in advance. But the thought of wings¡­


    Suddenly, Felix''s mind wandered elsewhere, struck by a brilliant idea. Perhaps he could create an entirely new flying magical creature¡ªa set of flying wings. He always felt a bit awkward riding a broomstick. Well, no rush, he''d talk to Romulus about itter, after giving it more thought.


    "What... do I need to sign something, Wizard Sir?"


    "What did you say?"


    "Like a contract, demon... I mean, the kind wizards make with ordinary people."


    "No need, do you think I''m afraid you''ll renege?" Felix reclined nonchntly on the chair.


    ...


    The crisp piano notes filled the air, initially somewhat tentative due to the injured hand''s influence. But soon, the melody became fluid and melodious. Felix squinted, tapping his foot lightly. Before long, he furrowed his brow. The style of the tune in front of him changed abruptly. It was like the chilly, mncholic moonlight suddenly turned into an exuberant battle anthem, then into flowing stream murmurs, followed by solemn woond horns...


    It was no longer music, but noise.


    However, the ''contractor'' yed with immense joy, especially upon realizing what their happiest memory was. They poured their entire being into the music, knowing it would be lost forever after tonight...


    Felix sensed a pure, radiant joy, thanks to his ability to sense and discern emotions from Dementors. It seemed like a golden vortex formed in the yard, continuously expanding outward. Felix extracted his wand, gently swirling, gathering some of the dispersed emotions.


    When magic and this precious emotionbined, they formed a drop of golden liquid.


    His fingertips danced along the piano keys, until the moon got veiled by clouds, the wailing wind interrupting the melody.


    "Have some tea, your hands are shaking from the cold," said Felix, a cup floating unsteadily to the piano with golden ripples in its liquid.


    "It''s not from the cold, it''s... it''s just how they are... What tea is this, it tastes strange?"


    Felix stood up, straightening his back. "Your music is unforgettable. I hope to see your formal performance someday. Well then... the House of Magic bids you farewell for today." He waved his hand, and the person opposite him seemed weightless, floating out of the room.


    With a bang, the door closed shut.


    "Oh, Wizard Sir, you know that''s impossible... Wizard Sir? You haven''t taken your reward, where do I find you... Goodness, why is the house gone! Did you do this, Wizard Sir..."


    The next morning.


    The miraculous little house, filled with wonders overnight, was swarmed by people. Two police officers escorted a string of fugitives out, having spent the night lying on the cold ground, looking quite sickly.


    In the crowd, one head kept bobbing up to peer inside.


    "What''s going on? Were you caught, Wizard Sir¡ªeh? Who are they?"


    "Apparently a cunning gang of fugitives, they''ve been on the run in Surrey County, heard they were discovered by a young artist who came over early and quietly alerted the police."


    "Ah, I see..." The person fell silent for a moment, then suddenly raised their hand, unting it. "Uncle, see my hand, does it still shake?"


    "Are you having fun at my expense?"


    "Oh, sorry, I''m just too delighted!"


    ...


    In the ancient magical script office at Hogwarts, Felix was conversing via amunication mirror with Lupin.


    "Two things, one about the flying wings, or rather, flying wing devices; I''ll be making a prototype soon, and I''d like you to see how we can improve and simplify it."


    "The second thing is researching the secrization of potions. Not urgent, but for now,piling a usable list would suffice."


    "Secrization?"


    "Making potions usable on ordinary folks."


    >


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 Chapter 431: Professors Tea Gathering

    Chapter 431: Professor''s Tea Gathering


    "Effective potion-making requires the involvement of wands, but it''s not about mindless, continuous waving of wands. It''s about a gentle flick at the right moment that can bring about wondrous changes in the cauldron''s contents."


    "So Muggles can''t grasp this beautiful process, and Squibs either," Snape remarked slowly.


    During the first weekend after the start of the school year, Professor Flitwick organized an afternoon tea gathering under the pretext of celebrating Professor Moody''s recovery. Though to Felix, this strict former Auror didn''t seem to require such formalities.


    Moody, absorbed in his own snacks, didn''t even nce at the exquisite pastries on the table.


    His presence here signified the end of Snape''s brief stint as a substitute, so when Felix inquired about potion-making, Snape appeared rather aloof.


    Seated in a plush chair, Snape leisurely continued the earlier topic, "We cannot discount the possibility of some simple potions not needing a wand''s involvement. They might not even require refined magical guidance. Instead, they spontaneously manifest effects, more akin to coaxing out inherent properties of potion ingredients. To those well-versed in potions, it''s like dealing with semi-finished products."


    Felix understood. The potion he''d given Felch using a form for pet remedies¡ªno wand required, primary ingredient dragon''s blood, the rest merely catalysts to enhance and temper the dragon''s blood properties.


    For wizards, some potion effects resemble spells. The choice between potions and spells rtes to the wizard themselves. They select what seems simpler or most effective to achieve their goals.


    Perhaps money ys a crucial factor too.For instance, the Cheering Charm and the Elixir of Euphoria are mostly interchangeable. The charm is taught in the third year, while the elixir features in the sixth-year Advanced Potion-Making ss. Yet, overlooking a seemingly inconsequential lesson and attempting to self-learn the charm isn''t easy, especially with a botched charm leading to side effects like hysteria and uncontrobleughter.


    In such cases, most wizards opt to buy the Elixir of Euphoria.


    Flitwick waved his wand, making a porcin teapot bow, filling his cup. "I''ve heard some wizards substitute wand movements with magical rituals during potion brewing, Severus?"


    "And incessant repetitions of incantations," Snape added, "mostly seen in the medieval era. Some inept wizards couldn''t control their magic, much like Squibs. Hence, they resorted to such methods."


    "I think I''ve read something simr somewhere," muttered Felix.


    "I guess it''s in Muggle fairy tales? Indeed, some careless wizards, once discovered, were burned alive," Snape nced at him, remarking.


    "That''s ancient history. We''d best talk about something else," uneasily interjected Professor McGonagall, turning away, "Moody, are you ready to return to sses next Monday?"


    "Been dyed long enough," Moody gnawed on a rather nd-looking piece of chicken, "n to sort everything over the holidays, won''t miss sses. But Hagrid insists on the final check..."


    "Hasn''t your memory recovered yet?" McGonagall asked him, but her gaze shifted towards Felix.


    "Voldemort was rough. And I suspect his soul is tainted by Dark magic," Felix murmured softly.


    "At least I haven''t turned into a gibbering fool, have I?" Moody gruffly remarked, letting out a short, abruptugh. Extending his oily hand to reach for a cup on the table, the moment his fingertips touched the cup, he froze as if electrocuted.


    Quietly, Moody unhooked a hip sk from his belt, gulping it down. After finishing, he gruffly said, "The old one got lost, this is a new one stor gave me... he''s considerate in these matters."


    "But it''s still affecting him," Felix thought, "Not just memory, even his reactions are slower now. Hisbat prowess has diminished."


    What he''d been doingtely was trying to minimize the adverse effects.


    Moody grimly tore into another piece of chicken, chewing vigorously, his skin trembling. He nonchntly remarked, "Compared to old Barty, I''m doing fine. His body''s giving up; he won''tst long in Azkaban."


    "Barty Crouch got thrown in?" Flitwick asked sharply.


    All eyes turned towards Moody, who gruffly said, "Indeed, Kingsley told me. Insisted on it himself. Had a private chat with Fudge before being taken to prison¡ª" noticing the odd looks, he waved his hand roughly, nearly hitting Flitwick''s nose. "Oh¡ªsorry, Professor Flitwick¡ªdon''t ask me, I don''t know what they talked about, might be rted to Voldemort?"


    "As for whether Fudge believes it, nobody knows," he took another swig, "that man appears indecisive but is quite obstinate and wishful. Anyway, he seems unwilling to stir too much panic, hushed up Barty''s affair; many still think he retired!"


    He grinned sarcastically.


    "I can''t heed him; some things surely need cautionary warnings, better than being clueless until things hit us¡ª"


    "Professor Moody," McGonagall cleared her throat, "you, um, you''re not nning something concerning young wizards, are you? Some of your past actions..."


    "You mean ''my'' past actions? I didn''t teach all those lessons, but they do align with my style¡ª" Moodyughed sharply again, his expression contorted, "He imitated quite well. I taught him for a while, maybe that''s part of it."


    Others looked at Moody perplexed.


    Moodyughed heartily, "Old Barty wanted his son to be an Auror. So young Crouch started training alongside potential candidates from the fourth year¡ªlonger than standard Auror training. By the time of graduation, he was way ahead in his scores."


    "I remember he got twelve certificates," Flitwick recalled. "Only a few have achieved that honor in my teaching tenure."


    "I''m not talking about those written scores, but the collective evaluations of Aurors! I also taught him some things¡ªinvestigation and trap-setting parts. Everyone believed young Crouch would be an exceptional Auror, stepping into his old man''s shoes!" Moody eximed.


    Everyone felt slightly ufortable. The better young Barty Crouch behaved during school, the stronger the contrast with what came afterward¡ªhe didn''t be an Auror; he chose to be a Death Eater.


    Flitwick changed the subject, "Felix, I really liked the gift you gave me; I''ve already gone through it. Must say, some African gestures for spell-casting are quite impressive; I''m thinking of incorporating them into next year''s curriculum."


    Felix smiled, "I asked a few friends for rmendations on my reading list..."


    McGonagall frowned, "Teaching methods in Uagadou differ greatly from Hogwarts. Their students decide their specialization early on, so many intricate concepts can be disassembled and integrated into lower-level teachings. But that''s not feasible at Hogwarts. The students selecting Human Transfiguration in the sixth year are a tiny fraction."


    "What about the part rted to human transfiguration? Maybe it could be included in your Transfiguration Club?" suggested Felix.


    "That''s indeed a good approach,"


    McGonagall nodded. "My club only admits sixth and seventh years. They''ve gone through the O.W.Ls and naturally grasp many techniques, like what you call ''pre-requisite knowledge''?"


    She mentioned a convoluted term, continuing, "But the knowledge of transfiguration outside Uagadou isn''t as extensive. Transforming into an African elephant ismon, but if the innate conditions aren''t sufficient, it might result in a malnourished baby elephant. From that perspective, Animagi seem better..."


    Felix agreed wholeheartedly, "After all, Animagi involve a certain randomness, linked to each wizard''s psychological state. If one turns into a snail, it''s better than opting for an African elephant."


    McGonagall looked sternly, "Felix, you didn''t study Animagi privately, did you?"


    "How could I?" Felix shrugged, "If a wizard aspires to delve deep into Transfiguration, they can experience the magic''s secrets through Transfiguration. But that''s not me... I think the cost-benefit ratio of this magic is too low."


    >


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 Chapter 432: Fleeting Victory

    Chapter 432: Fleeting Victory


    Emerging from Professor Flitwick''s office, Felix found an opportunity to have a private moment with Snape.


    "So... does this mean... Barty Crouch Jr. wasn''t prepared to poison us and kill everyone?" Felix asked, curious about the potion that Barty Crouch Jr. was brewing in the Chamber of Secrets.


    "He had to be extremely careful to evade the hundreds of eyes in the kitchen," Snape squinted as he spoke, "It was an emergency potion, prolonging the lives of the dying. I recognized unicorn blood, various toxic materials, and an unknown snake venom."


    "Sounds like a curse?" Felix queried.


    "Close. It''s an excruciating process, but the effects are evident," Snape said, opening the door to his office. Not much had changed in his office; it remained dimly lit, shelves lined with numerous ss specimen jars.


    Thinking of the agonizing sounds he heard in the Crouch residence, Felix understood the implication. ncing around, he expressed dissatisfaction, "I recall gifting you a magicalmp..."


    "Apetent potion maker doesn''t easily alter their living conditions," Snape calmly remarked, his gaze drifting over the assortment of jars on the wall, "Besides, there''s something you missed in the product description: the light emitted by themp affects certain dark creatures."


    Felix pondered; indeed, themp worked by solidifying an illumination spell that slowly released, capable of dispelling mist and warding off dark creatures.


    However, this added effect wasn''t potent enough; it couldn''t even harm the lowest level of inferi."Rimeus is unaffected," Felixmented.


    "Unlike a werewolf¡ªpotion ingredients are delicate, requiring specific spells to preserve their magical essence. I recall discussing these in ss?" Snape remarked.


    "One person''s energy is limited, and since I know you and Belby, I''m not keen on investing too much effort into potions. Understanding necessary knowledge, like antidotes, suffices for me," smoothly replied Felix. "How about we discuss ancient magical scripts?"


    Snape shot him a nce, "I ced themp in my bedroom."


    Shrugging, Felix discovered a suspicious corner in the office¡ªa half-filled bucket of greyish slime, sealed with a transparent lid. He bent down to examine it, "Is this collected from a st-Ended Skrewt?"


    "It has a mild corrosive nature, and I haven''t found a way to neutralize its properties yet," Snape murmured.


    "How about using the illumination spell?" Felix suggested.


    Snape, caught off guard, seemed to consider the possibility, standing still, "It... might work... worth a try..."


    Quickly, he extracted a few droplets from the bucket. As he opened the lid, a pungent odor filled the room instantly, prompting Felix to cloak himself in a human form iron armor charm, having reced it for the bubble head charm.


    "Need any help?" Felix asked through the magic, Snape pale but hands remarkably steady.


    "No need," Snape managed to utter, caught a whiff, hisplexion worsening, throat involuntarily twitching. Swiftly, he sealed the lid with magic as Felix conjured a whirlwind, expelling the foul air into the office corridor.


    Hope that no wizard who had just eaten dinner would pass by.


    Struggling to breathe, Snape transferred the moist slime into a small ss bottle, hurriedly sealing it. Taking a deep breath afterpletion, he exhaled heavily.


    Meanwhile, on the other side, Felix''s palm held a ping-pong ball-sized sphere emitting a faint white glow, looking like a luminous ss ball except for the superficial light halo, resembling a luminous ss ball.


    Snape directed the small ss bottle towards Felix, who guided the sphere closer. Effortlessly, the sphere slipped into the bottle, and Felix swiftly cast a spell on its outer surface, preventing the sphere''s dispersion.


    Released from Felix''s control, the sphere expanded within the bottle, filling its entire space¡ª


    "It seems to have no effect," Snape uncertainly remarked after a while.


    "The light from the illumination spell is gentle; even if released close to the face, it might cause dizziness or eye strain but won''t damage the eyes," Felix exined.


    He had settled back on the sofa, casually picking up a book, flipping through it, "Wait, let the magic slowly take effect. Sometimes, the process of saturating materials with magic alone could take months."


    Staring at the small ss bottle for a while, Snape''s eyes suddenly gleamed.


    Startled, Felix thought he might say something sharp, but Snape eagerly said, "Let''s try several times! Use different conditions topare them."


    "Oh..." Felix drawled, not eager to see that sticky substance again. "Wait." He muttered, taking a serpent''s tail ring from his ring. Under Snape''s eerie gaze, he soon conjured around a dozen orbs emitting a faint white light.


    Then, the serpent''s tail on his hand started to move, one by one, ingesting all these orbs. Then, it twisted back, hovering at Felix''s palm, transforming back into a ring.


    Handing the serpent''s tail ring to Snape, Felix exined, "It stores ancient magical scripts, primarily because its material effectively istes magic, significantly reducing its dispersion... so it can be used to store illumination spells too."


    Snape took it, ncing briefly, "Serpentine scales?"


    Felix nodded.


    ...


    Returning to his office, Valen immediately rushed over, tugging at Felix''s clothes, attempting to climb up. However, its actions abruptly stopped.


    It retracted its tiny hands, lightly twitching its nose. Its little face wrinkled, ring at Felix usingly.


    Perplexed, Felix sniffed his clothes, "Is there a smell?"


    Valen vigorously nodded, gesturing a gagging motion.


    "Probably the smell of st-Ended Skrewtrvae slime," Felix guessed, "Your nose is incredibly sharp; I''ve even used a human form iron armor charm, yet you can still smell it..."


    Valen looked smug.


    Felix cleansed himself magically, and Valen cautiously sniffed, confirming the absence of the unpleasant odor before leaping into his arms.


    At that moment, Felix, holding Valen, pondered¡ªsuch a sensitive nose shouldn''t be wasted. Maybe adding some ''extracurricr practice'' outside regr literacy courses would be worthwhile?


    In the evening, Harry came over to learn lumency.


    During the Christmas break, Felix systematically exined the techniques of lumency to Harry, who seemed rather lost. Eventually, Felix had to let him continue reading the magical book.


    Harry visited every other day, sometimes coinciding with Hermione. However, by their fourth year, Hermione didn''te every week, her mastery of ancient magical scripts surpassing anyone except Felix.


    At her current level, even if she stopped advancing, she''d have more than enough to be a professor after graduation. Hence, Felix merely assigned tasks and asionally rified doubts for his assistant.


    Harry flipped the magic book to page five, disdainfully staring at the wizard portrait. He wasn''t unfamiliar with this portrait¡ªhe had seen it in the restricted section and Ron thought it resembled Draco Malfoy.


    But this time, the feeling waspletely different. In a daze, Harry noticed the wizard''s face seemed to morph into his own, enduring torment in ce of the wizard... his heavy breaths spraying onto the wizard, feeling as if his skin


    was being assaulted by a hurricane.


    He held his breath, face flushed, constantly reminding himself that this was Professor Snape''s magic at work. He was quite adept at it...


    He knew his body hadn''t sustained any harm, but his mind was flooded with entirely contradictory emotions.


    "I can''t continue this... I have to stop this feeling, or I''ll surely go mad... Let me think, the basic method of lumency is to... calm the mind, empty the brain... breathe... breathe... it''s too hard," Harry felt as if he''d been thrown into a st-Ended Skrewt''s nest, itsrvae crawling all over him, their tails spewing sparks, causing an itchy and painful sensation...


    I have to empty my mind... empty my mind...


    But why should I! Harry thought furiously. Suddenly, an intense surge of anger flooded him, breaking free from the magical constraint. He saw his surroundings clearly¡ªhe didn''t know when he had stood up, the magic booky at his feet, and he was panting heavily.


    Professor Snape''s voice came from behind the office desk''s chair:


    "If used correctly, anger isn''t a bad method. However, obviously, anger isn''t a sustainable emotion, and people aren''t gunpowder; they can''t explode anytime, anywhere. But... not bad, you passed this time."


    Harry found littlefort in those words, despondently asking, "Am I really that terrible?"


    Felix looked at him with great understanding. "The lumency is an extremely challenging spell. Many wizards struggle with it their whole lives. The best way to learn is to repeatedly experience the sensation of being ''invaded.'' Of course, it''s hard to gauge the extent, but I happen to have some insights..."


    Harry had no clue that the ''insights'' the professor referred to involved invading others'' minds. This experience stemmed from Felix''s solitary travels for a year, during which, with the ''help'' of numerous dark wizards, he painstakingly grasped the rudiments of the Mind Enclosure spell.


    Now, all the effort seemed worth it. This magic had undergone a tremendous transformation.


    Harry could only take Felix''s words at face value. He sat down, contemting ying a round of Exploding Snap with Valen to ease the tension. But when he found himself losing to Valen, his mood soured even more.


    This led to his return to themon room, his expression still glum.


    "Is the book really that terrifying?" Ron asked quietly, slipping Harry a bottle of butterbeer. "Fred and George went to Hogsmeadest time and demanded five Sickles for it!"


    "Yeah, three brooms only fetched two Sickles," Harry said dully. He was in a bad state now, finding it hard to muster any sympathy for Ron. He took a sip of the butterbeer; the thick foam revitalized him, making him feel rejuvenated inside out.


    "Tell me more about the book, Harry," Ron pressed, locking eyes with him.


    "Well... you need to confront a lot of awful emotions and try your best to prevent them from affecting you... it''s just really scary," Harry said intermittently, seizing the chance to finish his butterbeer.


    He nced regretfully at the empty bottle, contemting whether to find Fred and George. If he could have a warm butterbeer after every practice session, perhaps it wouldn''t be so tough?


    "The professor is right," Hermione chimed in from the side, lifting her head from arge book. "I''ve read its theories. Even those who''ve mastered lumency might not be able to exin how they learned it; they usually learn passively."


    "Passive learning?" Ron looked puzzled.


    "Being invaded," Harry said, recounting the professor''s words to Ron. "The best way to learn is to repeatedly experience the sensation of being ''invaded.'' I guess it''s to make the mind sharp enough."


    Ron''s enthusiasm visibly waned.


    "Do you want to learn this?" Harry asked, not quiteprehending the desire. Ron chuckled awkwardly, saying, "Isn''t this spell supposed to be really difficult? I thought, if I learned it..."


    "Would be prestigious to brag about," Hermione supplemented for him.


    "There''s actually a simple way," Harry proposed. "Remember my Pensieve toy? The professor said it''s like a rudimentary spellbook. If you want to try, I can lend it to you." The toy was currently locked away in his trunk.


    Ron seemed intrigued but after some contemtion, he gave up. Leaning on the table, he muttered, "I''ll focus on studying the spells for the second task. Should I learn the Bubble-Head Charm or the Disillusionment Charm first?"


    "The Bubble-Head Charm is for higher years," Hermione reminded him.


    "But the Human-Levitation Charm isn''t easy either, and I haven''t met the prerequisites," Ron groaned. "I feel like I''ll drown, Harry, I''ll be the first eliminated champion."


    "Don''t think like that," Fred''s voice suddenly chimed in, plopping down next to Ron. He grinned mischievously. "Stay positive. Maybe Eeylops will end up at the bottom again."


    "I suggest you practice swimming just in case; it''d be embarrassing to tire out halfway," George grinned.


    "You''ve reminded me," Hermione said. "I''ve been so focused on the magical aspects." She took out a small notebook from her bag, jotting down George''s advice. Harry knew it was Hermione''s n to tackle the second task, already half-filled with ns they hadn''t had the courage to explore yet.


    At that moment, Ron suddenly looked up, as if struck by something, staring nkly at Fred and George.


    "Do you guys know the Bubble-Head Charm?" Ron asked straightforwardly.


    "Oh... of course, it''s a must-have spell for pranks. We had some mishaps in the past..." Fred said, somewhat nostalgic.


    "Teach me," Ron demanded.


    "What?" Fred and George exchanged nces.


    "Teach me the Bubble-Head Charm," Ron repeated.


    Fred and George exchanged quick looks, then Fred said, "Listen, we''re really busy. We''ve got a dozen products to perfect¡ª"


    "Fine," Ron said decisively, then muttered loud enough for everyone to hear, "I haven''t written home in ages. Mum must be worried, and she might know the Bubble-Head Charm. She could give me some pointers..."


    Fred and George stared at Ron, as if seeing him in a new light.


    The two silentlymunicated with their eyes, and after a moment, Fred eximed in frustration, "Alright, you win, little Ronnie."


    Ron shed a victorious smile.


    As the two left, still basking in the joy of victory, Harry couldn''t shake off the feeling that coercing others for training wasn''t a good idea. He knew this firsthand from his specialized training with Professor Snape¡ªdespite Professor Snape''s rtive kindness, the days were grueling. If it were Snape teaching him under these circumstances, Harry couldn''t imagine what he''d endure.


    He had a hunch that Fred and George would devise all sorts of odd ways to prank Ron, and the crucial part was that Ron had brought it upon himself.


    Seeing Ron''s satisfied expression, though, Harry decided to postpone sharing his concerns.


    Late at night, as Harryy tossing and turning, unable to sleep with Ron and Neville''s intermittent snores filling his ears, he thought that letting Ron try might not be such a bad idea after all. He could use this time to figure outforting words to offer him in advance...


    >


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 Chapter 433: A New Class on Dark Arts Defense

    Chapter 433: A New ss on Dark Arts Defense


    The next morning, Harry woke up groggily, feeling like he was sleepwalking, only to find himself seated in the ssroom for Defense Against the Dark Arts.


    The room buzzed with chatter as students trickled in. Padma Patil and Lavender Brown entered hand in hand. When Padma caught sight of Harry, she shot him a fierce re and loudly announced, "I made ns with Aidan to hang out next Hogsmeade weekend."


    Lavender, intrigued, asked, "The Beauxbatons boy you danced with at the ball?"


    "That''s the one," Padma proimed loudly, casting a haughty nce at Harry as they walked past.


    Ever since the ball, she''d been distant with Harry, turning her head away whenever she saw him, leaving him with only a view of the back of her head. Harry wanted to ask Ron if he faced simr treatment, but realizing Padma was in a different house, he dropped the idea.


    "You should''ve paid more attention to her at the ball. Now look... karma''s catching up," Hermione muttered, hiding behind a hefty book.


    "But she seemed to be having fun," Harry stubbornly retorted.


    He discreetly nced back; Padma and Lavender were now settled in thest rows, chatting andughing. He couldn''t discern anything unusual. Lavender pulled out a thick book from her bag, showing it to Padma with an air of mystery.


    "I got this through owl order, it''s really fascinating..."In the final moments before ss, a distinctive voice echoed from outside the door:


    "It''s called the Magic Phonograph, had it in the living room the day after it hit the market. When you listen to music, you see the Weird Sisters hovering above your head. Honestly, my mum isn''t a fan, finds them too loud... but for now, it''s the only option."


    Draco Malfoy, nked by Crabbe and Goyle, regretfully mentioned, entering the room. He scanned the room, feigning surprise when he saw Harry, "Hey, Potter! Didn''t sleep wellst night? Or trying out a new smoky eye look?"


    His twockeys snickered, pointing at Harry''s dark circles.


    Harry clenched his fists, Ron quickly restraining him. "Don''tsh out, Harry. He''s just itching for it! Just lightly touch him with your pinky, and he''ll have an excuse to explode..."


    "Your courage has waned," Draco drawled. He came closer, lowering his voice to a whisper as he addressed Harry, "I''ve learned a few more tricks over the break, Potter... nothing trivial. Found some notes in my grandfather''s ce. Perhaps we could find a time to... experiment?"


    "What do you mean?" Harry demanded, holding back his anger.


    "Oh, I forgot," Draco sneered, "your old home was reduced to rubble, no legacy left. Maybe you could ask your neighboring Weasley if their family didn''t sell off these items for a better life..."


    "Do you want a duel, Malfoy?" Harry asked angrily, "Or are you nning to report to Filch under the guise of a duel, just like you did in first year? Are you capable of anything else but cowardice?"


    Draco''s pale face reddened.


    "We''ll settle this at the Dueling Club, Potter," he retorted before hastily leaving.


    Harry watched him leave, trembling with anger. "Ignore him, Harry," Hermione lifted her head from a thick book, calmly saying, "This makes it the third time he''s provoked you recently. You know the reason."


    "He''s surely learned some powerful dark magic, Harry. You''ve got to be careful," Ron added, equally incensed.


    Harry''s rage was instantly doused. He knew the reason, especially afterst week''s sses taught by Snape. In case of a conflict, it was evident whose side Snape would favor, making Draco Malfoy even more audacious.


    Especially during the first ssst week, Malfoy discreetly showed him a badge, regretfully informing Harry that he would''ve given one to every Slytherin student if his other badges hadn''t been confiscated. It was meant to signify their support for the true heroes of Hogwarts.


    Thankfully, Neville''s consistent sensitivity to Snape''s aura had preemptively warned and diffused the danger, or he might have been punished and docked points.


    The bell rang, students settled, awaiting the arrival of the cloak that was in constant motion. Then, they heard distinctive wooden thumps against the floor. Many Gryffindors eagerly widened their eyes.


    "I never thought I''d find myself this eager to see Moody''s face," Ron muttered, a sentiment Harry silently agreed with.


    Moody appeared at the door, looking as terrifying and daunting as usual, yet many students emitted low cheers. He stood at the door, scanning the room with his rotating blue magical eye.


    The ssroom quickly fell silent.


    Moody leaned on his cane,boriously making his way to the tform, cing the cane along with a stack of parchment on the table. He drew his wand (earning a collective flinch from the students), gently waved it, and a register flew out from the drawer on the desk.


    "You might have heard rumors. Last term, I was under someone''s control. An imposter disguised as me was teaching you," Moody spoke hoarsely, and the ssroom fell silent, having heard various versions of the rumor but unsure of the truth.


    "They messed with my mind, made me think everything was normal. I stumbled through the term, barely aware, until the night of Christmas, when the Death Eaters'' plot concealed within the school was revealed, and before they left, they intended to dispose of me... Iy in bed, akin to a corpse, no reaction to the sounds in the room. It was only thanks to two students dying that I didn''t die in my sleep, a death of no consequence..." Moody spoke softly, his gaze fixing on Harry and Ron, who found his face less intimidating.


    "To heal me, your Professor Snape tried various methods. But... I''ve lost some memories. Hence, I''ve decided to reintroduce myself to all of you."


    He shook his head, clearing the gray, twisted hair from his scarred face, and began calling out names.


    The room was engulfed in a solemn atmosphere as Moody went through the attendance. Each student whose name he called responded, and Moody, stationed behind the desk, scrutinized them one by one with his magical eye.


    As the attendance concluded, Moody picked up his cane from the desk, limping around the ssroom, his voice hoarse as he said:


    "For the next few lessons, I''ll narrate my experiences over the past six months. It''s a good example. You seem to think that dark wizards are distant from you. But, in reality, you''ve spent nearly half a year in thepany of an evil wizard who masqueraded as a reclusive, unsociable retired man¡ªclever tactics! I''ll borate more on this. I''ll share every detail I remember without holding back."


    "All you need to do is ponder, why are you still alive?"


    "Professor, what do you mean?" Lavender Brown eximed, astonished.


    "I mean," Moody gestured with his rough,rge hand, his magical eye fixed on her, "take some time to ask yourself a question: a powerful dark wizard¡ªfor the past six months¡ªcould have easily aimed a wand at you and cast a killing curse. Yet here you all are, unscathed, isn''t that right, Miss Brown?"


    >


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 Chapter 434: Moodys Assignment

    Chapter 434: Moody''s Assignment


    Ravende Brown muttered something under her breath.


    "What did you say? I didn''t catch that," Moody''s rough voice cut through as he stepped closer.


    Startled, Ravende jolted back, a book slipping off herp,nding with a ''thud'' on the floor. She hurriedly picked it up and stashed it away.


    "I, uh, I just said maybe because his target wasn''t me," she blurted, her face flushing crimson.


    A few chuckles rippled through the ssroom.


    Moody didn''t join in. Harry, Ron, Hermione¡ªthey didn''t either. They already knew the answer.


    "You find that answer impressive, do you?" Moody said softly. "But what if you inadvertently hindered his ns¡­ What then?"


    The air seemed to freeze in the ssroom. Moody hobbled a few steps forward, approaching Ravende, who trembled visibly.


    Beside her, Pavati gathered courage. "Professor Moody, I think¡­ dark wizards infiltrate schools with their own motives, don''t they? We faced a simr situation in first year, a dark wizard aimed to get hold of the¡­ uh, Philosopher''s Stone?""It''s the Sorcerer''s Stone," Hermione quietly corrected, ncing at the others.


    Moody''s good eye focused on Pavati while his magical eye remained fixed on Ravende Brown.


    "Miss Patil, you''re not wrong. Dark wizards infiltrate schools with their own objectives. Until they achieve their goal, caution is paramount. But that''s assuming everything goes smoothly¡­"


    "But what if it doesn''t?" His scarred nostril twitched. "Like now, I noticed you because of a book. If ''I'' were that dark wizard, if ''I'' wanted to shift someone else''s attention¡­"


    Moody suddenly whipped out his wand, a blinding burst of light shooting from its tip, shattering the ssroom window, eliciting a string of screams.


    Calmly, he waved his wand, the shattered ss and window frame restored.


    "To a dark wizard, that window means as much as a life. If at any moment they decide a couple of deaths are insignificant in the school¡­ Why shouldn''t one of those deaths be yours?"


    "Moreover, it''s not just any dark wizard, it''s a more dangerous Death Eater, devoted to the Dark Lord''s cause, nning tirelessly for his return¡ª"


    "Professor, the Dark Lord is dead!" a student eximed, looking at Moody as if he''d lost his mind.


    "Oh, really?" Moody grinned. "During the war, the Dark Lord would asionally vanish, and some believed he was dead, but he always made a dramatic return with bloodshed. Perhaps he relished the drama."


    He extended his rough hand. "Miss Brown?"


    "W-what?"


    "That book," Moody said calmly.


    Ravende stood up, trembling, and handed over the newly bought "Contrary to ck Terror" to him.


    Moody flipped a couple of pages, revealing a disgusted expression, then returned the book. Limping back to the podium, he sifted through a stack of parchment.


    "Before Imence my tale, there''s something crucial¡ªrealization struck me: you''re too far removed from the war, your minds devoid of the concept¡­"


    "Coincidentally, during my break, I didn''t sit idly. I organized some information," Moody pointed at his head. "Professor Hipe advised me to jot down everything I could remember from the past six months, to find some lost memories¡­"


    "I refused to put it on paper but spent a considerable time reflecting on my past experiences, even recalling older events. Some of it I deemed valuable for teaching purposes¡­ Miss Brown, could you help me read?"


    He gestured with his wand, and several parchment pages drifted towards Ravende Brown. As she nced over them, her face turned pale.


    "Miss Brown?" Moody stared at her intently.


    "Oh, I¡­ alright." Ravende''s expression seemed on the brink of tears as she tremulously read aloud:


    "Betrix Lestrange, a Death Eater, tortured countless Muggles and non-supporters during the wizarding war. Infamous for the Cruciatus Curse. Associated with at least 137 acts of terror, confirmed victims include 206 Muggles and 29 wizards. Victims such as¡­"


    "Rodolphus Lestrange, a Death Eater, participated in the majority of his wife Betrix''s and brother Rabastan Lestrange''s actions¡­ sentenced to life imprisonment."


    "Antonin Dolohov, a Death Eater, involved in the brutal murder of resistance fighters Fabian and Gideon Prewett¡­ victims list¡­ sentenced to life imprisonment."


    "Evan Rosier¡­ killed by Aurors for resisting arrest after the Dark Lord''s downfall."


    "Old Mulciber, a Death Eater¡­ died during the war."


    "Wilkes, a Death Eater¡­ died during the war."


    "Young Mulciber, charged with using the Imperius Curse on multiple individuals, forcing them tomit horrendous acts, causing chaos and terror continuously¡­ sentenced to life imprisonment."


    "Fenrir Greyback, a werewolf and leader of the werewolfmunity, notorious for attacking children. Devoted to turning more people into werewolves, aiming to establish a powerful army against wizards¡­ followed the Dark Lord during the war, issued a Ministry warrant, still atrge¡­"


    As the bell rang, Ravende hadn''t finished reading, herplexion resembling that of someone struck by a serious illness.


    Moody calmly retrieved the parchment. "We''ll continue in our next ss. I find this session quite meaningful. Your homework for today is to research Death Eaters andpile a list of their actions. I''ve provided you with an example, haven''t I?"


    "We could also discuss next ss''s content¡ªa thought urred to me¡ªthose who sacrificed themselves resisting the Dark Lord''s reign during the war. You might want to do some pre-reading."


    Dragging his heavy feet, Moody left.


    Students quietly packed up, no one in the mood for conversation. Ravende gagged and dashed out in tears, Pavati carrying their belongings following behind.


    Ron stared, uneasy. "That was quite intense for her. I thought our sses this semester would be better¡­"


    Harry sat pale-faced on his seat.


    "Harry, what''s wrong?" Ron asked, concerned, while Hermione shook her head. Then it struck Ron¡ªHarry''s parents had died during the war. He patted Harry''s shoulder.


    "Fenrir Greyback," Harry suddenly spoke up.


    "What?" Ron and Hermione looked at him, bewildered.


    "Fenrir Greyback," Harry swallowed hard, "Sirius told me, Remus was bitten by someone named ''Fenrir Greyback'' when he was a child. I thought that werewolf was sent to Azkaban. Turns out, he escaped punishment!"


    Ron was startled at first, then realization dawned. Heforted, "Don''t worry, he won''t have it easy. If wee across him, we''ll catch him."


    His tone was like discussing an aggressive stray cat; all they needed to do was to kick it away if encountered.


    Harry chuckled. Hermione, irritated, said, "Let''s focus on mastering the Warming Charm first. It''ll take time to practice swimming once the ice on the ck Lake melts!"


    "Swim in January weather?" Ron''s mouth gaped, pondering this for the first time


    .


    "I''ve prepared a series of spells¡ªWater-Repelling Charm, Warming Charm, Disapparition Charm, Bubble-Head Charm, or even a suit of magical armor, alongside some standard spells¡­" Hermione disregarded Ron, continuing, "We should finish these by the end of January, leaving enough time to prevent any unforeseen situations¡ª"


    "Have you arranged a time with Fred and George?" She turned to Ron.


    Ron immediately stuttered, "N-not yet."


    "Well, why wait?" Hermione, hands on her hips, imperiously said, and Harry and Ron shrunk their necks.


    As thest few students left the ssroom, Draco Malfoy seemed troubled, his expression not much better than Ravende''s.


    Ron sniped, "Maybe he''ll excel at this assignment. All he needs to do is write home and ask what his dad and those Death Eater friends did back then¡­"


    Harry saw Malfoy pause but oddly, this time, he didn''t smirk at the remark. Instead, he walked away without a backward nce.


    Turning around, Harry saw Hermione pick up a book from the back row.


    "Oh, it''s one Ravende left behind. I think she might not be in the mood to pick it up¡­ I''ll give it to her," Hermione said, her gaze lingering on the author''s name on the cover, hesitating. "Of course, we can take a look at it first."


    ...


    Evening at the Ancient Runes office.


    A beetle crawled through the window crack, transforming slowly into a human on the floor. Rita Skeeter gasped, particrly averse to meeting Felix alone, but she was at her wit''s end.


    Her new home¡ªshowed signs of intrusion two days ago. She couldn''t fathom how ''Barty Crouch Jr.'' would risk appearing near her house when there were wanted posters stered everywhere.


    "Maybe an ardent fan¡­"


    But she couldn''t convince herself of this reasoning, especially with that ck trying to pry into her life. st it, she didn''t even mention ''ck'' in her new book. At most, she hinted at the title and character background¡­


    The room''s lights suddenly flicked on.


    Rita Skeeter startled, wide-eyed, barely making out the figure seated on the sofa. She couldn''t help but shiver.


    "Rita, I''ve been waiting for you."


    Felix spoke softly, holding Valen in his arms, the Niffler curiously observing her.


    "It''s a human (bug turned into a person)?"


    >


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 Chapter 435: Red Nails

    Chapter 435: Red Nails


    Rita Skeeter bowed her head deeply, afraid to speak aloud. She felt her breath catch, yet this time, she was certain it wasn''t the effect of magic but something more spine-chilling.


    She knew she had to make a decision quickly. She was well aware that the person before her didn''t care about her life or death. Thest time he hade calling, his sole purpose was to make her learn to keep quiet. And once she did, she hadn''t faced any trouble from that direction again. But likewise, if she wanted help, she had to pay a price.


    And she was confident that the name Rita Skeeter itself represented value.


    "Respected Mr. Harp," she spoke sincerely, "I seek some advice for when I''ve made a fatal mistake." Simultaneously, she couldn''t help but grumble about another person residing in the castle, Dumbledore.


    In her new book, despite avoiding names, she had dropped numerous hints, portraying a bold and resourceful character, using the headline of the ''Dark Lord and his loyal Death Eaters'' which couldn''t be explicitly stated but was widely recognized. About Regulus, she unearthed limited insider information¡ªher reputation among wizards had soured, and being an insect wasn''t useful; ordinary people didn''t discuss a deceased person casually. She only found some public records and patched together characteristics of a dozen or so famous ancestors of the ck family.


    Thus, the figure in the book, the ''noble and pure-blooded'' descendant of a prestigious lineage, alternated between charming and tolerant, cautious and sharp-tongued, somewhat akin to the person in front of her...


    But the person she couldn''t name was different. This was her carefully crafted drama, aiming to challenge the honor of the ''best-selling book of the 20th century''. Overseas, the book''s publicity referred to it as the ''Secrets of the Second Dark Lord'', subtly linking the mysterious figure and the prominent figure currently imprisoned in the tower. She handled these tactics skillfully, adeptly maneuvering through them.


    Her long history of eavesdropping led her to one conclusion: despite people''s aversion in words, everyone harbored a mischievous little devil inside them. They hoped to see lofty figures brought down from their pedestals or even kicked off.


    And she¡ªRita Skeeter¡ªyed the role of the stumbling stone.With this in mind, she filled the book with abundant real details, requiring her to delve into the mysterious figure''s past, especially his childhood. It was a dangerous pursuit; she cautiously sought openings and, after learning about a few prominent surnames, decisively focused on the mysterious person''s childhood¡ªthe years spent in an orphanage.


    Coincidentally, she met Dumbledore, who shared her interest in the mysterious person''s childhood. They crossed paths at the residence of an orphanage director. Dumbledore, without mentioning the potential deadly danger she might encounter, merely advised her gently, "It''s best not to do this..."


    That buzzing old bee! Rita Skeeter muttered a y on Dumbledore''s name, contemting his age. But considering his formidable powers, he might outlive her, rendering all her thoughts futile. Criticizing his management style in the newspaper or depicting him as a madman might be alright, but she dared not unearth real secrets while he was alive.


    A scrutinizing gaze swept over her, causing her to gasp, her body involuntarily shivering. The zing firece provided little warmth; herplex thoughts were extinguished in an instant.


    "You seek advice from me?"


    "Frankly, I don''t see remorse in you... Perhaps you find pleasure in it?" Felix murmured. "That might exin it¡ªmaking choices and bearing the consequences."


    "No, that''s not it," Rita Skeeter hurriedly said. "I know you have influence over certain people, like thest ck... just a word¡ª"


    "A word?" Felix interrupted. "If I understand correctly, you want me to sacrifice my friends'' interests to help someone¡ªforgive me for being frank¡ªa person of little relevance?"


    Skeeter''s breath hitched suddenly.


    "Yeah, yeah!" Valen in his arms grumbled discontentedly.


    Rita Skeeter''s posture lowered further as she recounted her experiences over the past few days. Gradually, she seemed to get into a rhythm, her usually rigid face,cking empathy, now brimming with tears.


    "I express regret for your ordeal," Felix responded simply after hearing her out, "but don''t im innocence. You made decisions while in a sober state."


    "I know..." Rita Skeeter said cunningly. "I brought some ''sincerity''." She raised her hands, disying her bright red long nails. Then, with a click-ck sound, these nails detached from her fingers.


    Ten nails, resembling small daggers, floated in front of Felix. He attempted to reach for them but stopped himself. Observing them through the air for a while, he calmly turned away.


    "I have three suggestions. You can choose to listen, or not, or pick one or two. You''re clever, Rita; you need to decide for yourself."


    "First, mitigate the influence of that book. How much you do it is up to your determination. But I must caution you, Dumbledore won''t be interested in a dead person''s childhood..."


    "Second, I''ll contact Sirius, saying you''ve agreed to write a biography for Regulus. He doesn''t care about his own reputation but won''t tolerate others tarnishing his brother''s name. So, Rita, bring out your most skilled writing for this."


    "Finally..."


    Felix''s slender fingers flickered slightly, and a ring bearing a serpent''s tail suddenly appeared, transforming into a jade-like little snake that swiftly darted towards Rita before she could react, slithering onto her bare hand.


    Rita Skeeter stared at the ring in a daze, locking eyes with the small green-eyed serpent moving continuously.


    "If there''s a threat to your life, just rub this ring. Trust me, you''ll have enough time to send a distress signal¡ªif those people act due to your ''offense,'' they won''t let you die easily."


    Rita Skeeter breathed out, her expression considerably solemn. She took two steps back, respectfully saying, "I can do all three points, Mr. Harp." Then she transformed back into a plump beetle and flew out of the castle.


    Deep in thought, Felix took out a parchment and wrote a short message:


    "Sirius, I know you''re bothered by that annoying book. I was about to talk to you about it.


    Rita Skeeter just visited me. The book won''t be reprinted, but we might not be able to retrieve the thousands already in cirction. I arranged for Lems to buy the remaining stock on the market to minimize the impact.


    Furthermore, she agreed to write a biography for Regulus, where every word needs your approval. You and Kreacher can provide enough details to flesh out the characters in the book. However, I suggest you hide the Horcrux''s name or dy that part of the publication...


    So, it''s best not to linger at Rita Skeeter''s doorstep. She''s be a skittish bird, and I wouldn''t want to read about you being sent back to Azkaban while having breakfast.


    Also, if you''re interested in entering Hogwarts next year as the Dark Arts professor, it''s best to prepare in advance. I have


    a friend in the Muggle world; he can arrange for you to be an assistant for a while.


    If interested, please contact Mr. Zacharias Colville, address at..."


    After finishing the letter, the mes in the firece suddenly turned a bright emerald green. Felix tossed the parchment into the fire, and it spun before disappearing.


    Regaining his focus, Felix noticed Valen staring at the bright red nails in mid-air. "Oh, those aren''t for you," Felix said, gathering the nails that had recorded countless secrets.


    He viewed these as something that might never be used or could be used tomorrow.


    Then, he twirled his wand, and a silver light emitted from its tip. Like silver silk, the light wound around Valen, gradually forming into a tangible entity. Valen kept twisting, amazed by everything, as if countless invisible fairies were weaving clothes behind him. Finally, it became a silver cloak.


    "Yeah, yeah?"


    "One of my recent research findings¡ªreshaping the guardian into a new form." Felix smiled. "You can try it."


    Valen blinked, staring at the glowing cloak behind him and put the hood on, revealing only half of his pink beak.


    "Yeah! Yeah?"


    Realizing he was floating, Valen looked surprised, gazing at Felix, who neither drew his wand nor extended a finger, just smiling at him.


    Valen wriggled, and the silver cloak behind him swayed ordingly. Soon, he flew toward one side of the office¡ª


    "Wow yeah! Yeah!"


    In no time, Valen adeptly handled the cloak behind him¡ªslight turns made the cloak swiftly change position.


    Enjoying the y, he flew around the room, excitedly chirping.


    Felix pondered inwardly; perhaps only he could use this magic. Yet, he had already mastered a form of flight, albeit with some side effects, which he rarely used.


    As for the principles and samples of the ''flight wings,'' he had handed them all over to Vector.


    There''s one more chapter, but it will be releasedter.


    >


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 Chapter 436: Before the Tournament

    Chapter 436: Before the Tournament


    In the remaining days of January, while no significant events urred, small troubles persisted.


    Upon Professor Moody''s return to the ssroom, he lived up to expectations, sparking new controversies. Among some senior students, he seemed reminiscent of ''Lockhart''¡ªhaving them search for information, loudly read in ss, and vividly recount their own experiences.


    His famous phrase¡ª "Constant vignce!"¡ªresurfaced in the Defense Against the Dark Arts ss.


    During this time, young wizards found themselves digging into records of a war from over a decade ago. The once silent records of the war were unearthed from the library shelves, including various newspapers from those years.


    As they pored over these documents day after day, exhaustion set in. Coupled with the fifth and seventh-year wizarding level exams, several students who were previously attentive in ss suddenly erupted into hysterical cries and were escorted to the school infirmary by professors.


    Even Fred and George, the typically carefree pair, weren''t immune. When the Defense Against the Dark Arts course returned to its ''normal'' state, they breathed a sigh of relief. One afternoon, Fred sniffled, "Our parents rarely mentioned the times during the war. If one started, the other would interrupt. Mum hardly talks about our uncles... But when we went through those years of newspapers, we learned what they endured..."


    George, looking troubled, added, "Every two or three days, seeing pictures of houses with the Dark Mark... it''s haunting."


    Harry remained reticent. Since Moody made the students read about those who perished in the war, a sense of reverence was directed at the ''war heroes'' descendants within Hogwarts.


    Neville stuttered several times, exining his parents'' recovery and showing clippings and newspapers he''d collected, yet the support for him continued to grow. Harry, too, noticed a change in the way Parvati Patil looked at him, her expression now softer...He disliked this feeling, for whenever someone gazed at him like that, it reminded him of his parents'' sacrifice. ''No one became a hero just for their son to be revered,'' Harry thought, irritated.


    He, Hermione, and Ron practiced spells in an abandoned ssroom, mastering quite a few useful incantations. In a secluded corner, they shattered a small section of the ck Lake''s ice, testing less practiced warming and waterproofing charms, shivering each time they emerged from theke.


    By the time the ice melted from theke, they were already pondering how to maintain theirbat prowess in its waters.


    "Spells fromnd lose their effectiveness in water, especially the fire-based ones. They might shoot out a hot jet, but I doubt it''d be effective against Grindylows..." Hermione nervously remarked.


    February arrived, and she transformed into someone different. When Ron suggested using their feet to push away dangerous creatures, Hermione red at him fiercely, as though ready to deliver a swift kick.


    "Perhaps we need some transfiguration and summoning charms," Hermione suggested.


    "Are you suggesting we summon a stick?" Ron asked incredulously.


    "Don''t be ridiculous, I mean this¡ª" Hermione drew her wand and loudly eximed, "Flocks of birds!" Her wand produced a loud noise, and a group of small birds flew out, fluttering their wings to encircle the three of them.


    "What''s the use of this?" Harry asked, recognizing the spell. Mr. Ollivander had demonstrated it with Krum''s wand before the first task.


    "They can peck, obscure vision, but I prefer Professor Flitwick''s approach." Hermione struggled to maintain the magic, her face turning crimson. Harry and Ron had never seen her struggle so much with a spell.


    As if battling against an invisible resistance, her wand traced a half-circle, and suddenly, these small birds inted to the size of owls. Harry widened his eyes. He recalled this image from his second year when Professor Flitwick demonstrated it in a dueling ss.


    Encountering this magic up close after two years, Harry watched these elongated, sharp-beaked birds with awe¡ªthey were about three inches long!


    Then, with a loud ''pop,'' the birds vanished.


    Hermione breathed gently, shaking her head. "I''m still not quite there yet. Despite being good at controlling magic, especially after practicing with Billywig beetles in the Magical Theory Club..."


    As they returned from the ck Lake, Ron quietly said to Harry, "She just needs to hide behind a rock and mutter these spells. These birds would sort out any trouble for her, leaving you with no grounds to argue."


    Thinking about the scene earlier, Harry couldn''t agree more.


    "How''s your Bubble-Head Charming along?" Harry asked softly.


    Ron''s face fell. "It''s a nightmare. I''ve already written to my family saying I don''t need their help... but Fred and George cut that off. You know, Mum actually praised them in her reply..."


    Harry felt for him, especially when every time Ron practiced the Bubble-Head Charm, the first thing he did afterward was take a bath, leaving behind a lingering odor of asting dungbomb.


    His own progress with the Protego Charm wasn''t smooth either. If given a choice, he''d surely prefer mastering the protective Protego Charm over the singrly purposed Bubble-Head Charm. But now, he had to make a decision about which was more advantageous.


    For the next few days, he constantly made trips to ssroom 7, pushing aside thoughts about lumency. So when he was awakened by a nightmare one day, he could only me himself for cking off on this front.


    Harry confided in Professor Lupin about this incident, hoping Lupin would convey it to Headmaster Dumbledore, though he couldn''t recall much.


    "I only know Voldemort is pleased, something good has happened," Harry rummaged through his thoughts.


    Felix nodded, "Maybe he''s found another temporary body for himself; it''s inevitable since they''ve hidden so well." Felix also hoped Voldemort would pay a visit to trouble Rita Skeeter, which would allow him to attempt to capture young Barty Crouch.


    However, Rita Skeeter had quietly moved, dodging trouble, currently holed up in Diagon Alley, arranging the materials handed over by Sirius ck.


    Harry returned home with a heavy heart, beginning to doubt the significance of participating in the Triwizard Tournament¡ªVoldemort was on the verge of resurrection, and all he could do was practice an ice-freezing charm in the ck Lake. Could he rely on it to counter Voldemort''s Killing Curse?


    The person who supported him through this period of self-doubt was Sirius ck. If anyone in the world understood his feelings best, it was his godfather, especially regarding their attitude towards Voldemort.


    But what surprised Harry was Sirius ck finding himself temporary work. When he saw the emblem of Smeltings School through the two-way mirror, he was almost dumbfounded.


    "Why are you at Dudley''s school?" Harry eximed, disregarding the surroundings. A fifth-year student in themon room looked up with a troubled expression, muttering under his breath, "Another mad one." before resuming work on seemingly endless assignments.


    The Sirius ck in the mirror was quite cheerful. "Felix introduced me. Since I can''t produce a Muggle-recognized diploma, I can only do odd jobs, not much money... But you know what? I did find some tricks with handling


    their Muggle technology!"


    Harry couldn''t help but chuckle. Sirius ck¡ªmaster of the Animagus transformation, the man who once fought against Death Eaters¡ªwas now handling Muggle tech to earn a living. The irony was not lost on him.


    "What can I say? Being a caretaker helps me gather some news, keeps me closer to you, and hey, I''ve been discovering the fun in cooking!" Sirius chuckled. "Dudley''s a spoilt one, but I''m making sure he eats his greens. I promised your mum, didn''t I?"


    Their conversation was cut short when a teacher interrupted, forcing Harry to hide the mirror under his pillow, sighing at the intrusion.


    Despite Sirius''s situation, Harry felt somewhat reassured. Sirius was always there for him, even if it meant taking up odd jobs at his cousin''s school.


    >


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 Chapter 437: The Start of the Second Task

    Chapter 437: The Start of the Second Task


    February 24th, just after Felix finished breakfast, Professor McGonagall summoned him.


    "Isn''t there still some time before the tournament?" Felix asked.


    "Mr. Bagman is looking for you regarding the champions'' arrangements... they''re all waiting," hurriedly exined McGonagall.


    They entered a room adjacent to the Great Hall where, months ago, the champions had awaited their fate after the Goblet of Fire spat out their names.


    Upon entering, Ludo Bagman paced anxiously, his round face showing deep concern. Dumbledore whispered something to him, but it did little to ease his worry.


    Upon spotting Felix, Bagman''s eyes brightened as he walked over. "You finally arrived, Felix. The Minister is bringing quite a few guests this morning, and with Barty''s situation... well, everything has fallen into myp."


    Felix nced at the six groups of champions seated in the room, all eyeing Ludo Bagman with suspicion.


    "Ahem! Let''s get started. I''ve already gathered their wands separately," Bagman wiped the sweat from his round face, gesturing to a table where a dozen wandsy quietly on ck velvet cloth.


    Felix cautioned, "You might want to stand back...""Oh, why''s that? Alright," Bagman swiftly moved away, hiding by the room''s door and peeking cautiously.


    Felix nced at Dumbledore, who winked. "Felix, I''m curious about this magic."


    "Alright," Felix replied, turning to the group, their expressions growing more uneasy.


    "Professor, what do we need to do?" Cedric asked. "Aren''t we supposed to find something in the ck Lake?"


    The other champions wore simr expressions, having deciphered the golden egg''s message and made educated guesses, but things seemed slightly different from their expectations.


    "That''s true," Felix smiled. As he conjured a colorless, transparent spherical vortex in his hand, bright blue magic encircled it like sparkling stars. "But if it were just finding something, it would be too simple. The Ministry has added a bit of difficulty..."


    "What kind of difficulty?" Nona Leberth asked, holding her shoulders. She and her teammates wore minimal clothing, donning lightweight fur coats to reduce water resistance in theke.


    Felix shrugged. "You''ll find out."


    A strong suction force erupted from the colorless vortex, pulling Cedric uncontrobly towards it. Startled, he eximed, "Professor¡ª"


    Felix nodded slightly, and Cedric stopped struggling, diving into the vortex. His two teammates followed suit.


    After a few exaggerated screams, only Felix and Dumbledore remained in the room.


    Felix held the spherical vortex, while Dumbledore bent down, peering closely at the dozen or so people within the vortex. Almost touching the vortex with his hooked nose, he marveled, "Fascinating magic. You used this to capture over a hundred Inferi? Pity I didn''t witness it..."


    "Eliminate, Headmaster Dumbledore," Felix emphasized.


    Dumbledore didn''t confirm or deny, smiling slightly. "Next, we simply need to randomly ce the champions into the ck Lake, oh, and their wands too."


    "Let''s hope they won''t be too surprised when they wake up."


    ...


    Thunk, thunk... Harry groggily pulled himself up from the ground, still feeling the effects of Professor Snape''s magic. Dazed, he propped himself up using a slender stick, surrounded by a hazy light. He nced at the erect sticks on the ground, feeling a strange familiarity.


    Thunk...


    Another impact. Harry suddenly realized that was what had jolted him awake. He swiftly reached for his wand in his pocket, only to find it missing. He didn''t have time to worry about its whereabouts; there was something more urgent to handle.


    A massive creature with a spherical body relentlessly rammed against a... shield? Harry found it perplexing. The space of about a dozen feet around him seemed protected by an inverted bowl, keeping any water from seeping in. The light he saw was emitted by this shield, and further away, the scene was all too familiar¡ªthe ck rocks covered in green algae in the ck Lake.


    No time to think. Harry took a few steps back, eyes fixed on the creature¡ªat least ten feet long, with round, brown eyes gleaming cruelly. Despite the hazy light, he could make out the colorful patterns on its body and the long fins on its sides that could bend at a huge angle...


    Wait, were those fish fins?


    Harry stared bewilderedly at this creature lifting its ventral fin, awkwardly stepping back, then suddenly lunging forward, kicking up sand. It charged like a sword, fiercely hitting the thin shield with a "thud."


    Swallowing hard, Harry felt like he''d seen this creature somewhere before. If it were shrunk down a dozen times, it would look a lot like the Grindylows he had seen in the ck Lake...


    That was a magical creature resembling a patterned spherical fish. Its notable difference was that Grindylows had two long legs with webbed feet, enabling them to walk underwater and move swiftly within it.


    These creatures usually dwelled in deepkes, patrolling thekebeds for food, particrly fond of water snails.


    While roaming the ck Lake with Ron and Hermione, they''d encountered these creatures. Hermione mentioned that Grindylows and Merpeople didn''t get along; if discovered, the Merpeople would bind their long, sturdy legs, dragging them away. Bound by their own legs, the Grindylows had to drift until their bonds loosened, which could take hours.


    The vicinity of the Merpeople''s tribe was devoid of these creatures. Harry had a rough idea of his location at least.


    "Did the professor erge the creatures in the ck Lake?" Harry muttered. Then something struck him. He turned abruptly, almost wrenching his neck. Rubbing his sore neck, his eyes stayed fixed on the stick standing in the center of the shield. It was smoothly polished, with a part of it gleaming¡ªsomething he found oddly familiar before...


    Now he was certain. That wasn''t just any stick; it was his wand. Harry''s mind seemed rusty. It took him a while to realize a fact: it wasn''t the Grindylows that had grownrger¡ªit was him, reduced by a dozen times.


    The peculiar magic from the room adjacent to the Great Hall shed in his mind, leaving Harry''s thoughts tangled. He focused on the transparent snail shells near the wand. Well, he almost understood why the Grindylows were relentlessly chasing him.


    ...


    On the shore of the ck Lake, spectators fixated on the colossal curved screen. Divided into three rows and six columns, each column represented a team, with eighteen squares in total. Every square shed with clear images.


    The first square in the second row, the Grindylow fiercely battering the protective shield, held everyone''s attention.


    Ludo Bagman sat atop a high podium, his mind racing to keep track of the champions'' progress, providingmentary:


    "Don''t worry¡ªthe shield can hold for an hour. All champions are awake now. They must quickly understand their situation and cast protective spells before the shield disappears... They have an hour to adapt to the chaotic magic; otherwise, they''ll be turned into hostages, and the difficulty for the entire team to pass will increase significantly


    ..."


    The front rows of seats were filled with invited guests, all astonished by the massive screen. Discussions among them frequently referred to the recent attention-grabbing "Future World"pany.


    Behind these guests, a group of students eagerly watched the screen, whispering excitedly to each other.


    Apologies for any gaps in this part¡ªI made some revisions. I''ll pause here, leaving you with this chapter for today. Tomorrow, the author will share the content for the second task.


    >


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 Chapter 438: The Adventure Under the Lake (One)

    Chapter 438: The Adventure Under the Lake (One)


    "Oh, look, the twodies were the first to find the wand, which might be rted to the uniqueness of their wands. I see the patterns. Yes, indeed. Let''s hope they notice the watches on their wrists soon."


    The audience murmured in astonishment. When Collins woke up, undisturbed by the Grindylows or a crab searching for food, she immediately locked onto the Cedarwood wand in front of her¡ªher hand brushed over its surface, and sparks shot from its tip, making Collins gasp.


    "Harry''s progress is slower. He hasn''t found the wand yet," Simon said anxiously.


    "Anyone waking up to a creature that can eat them would be startled," Dean said, suddenlyughing. "Look at his face! He''s found it!"


    ...


    Harry raised his arm, staring at the watch on his wrist. He assumed the professors put it on him while he was asleep. Instead of showing the time, the dial was a dull, lifeless shade of gold.


    Despite the seriousness of the situation, an unrealistic scenario flickered in his mind: Professor Snape strolling in the ck Lake, carrying a basket, casually observing. Then, he reached a clearing, picked up Harry (unconscious, head tilted), and nted him along with his wand into the soil. With a wave of the professor''s hand, a protective shield appeared...


    Harry shook his head, dispelling the unrealistic fantasy. Suddenly, a voice in his mind spoke, revealing various "challenges" scattered across theke: purple stages required battle, promising survival items, while blue stages demanded thought, offering useful information.


    As for the golden stage, it signified a gemstone that could break the "curse" on him, altering his current stature (Harry wondered what would happen if he collected more). Yet, only upon full restoration could he activate the watch and see his twopanions.Combining the clues from the golden egg, realization dawned on Harry. "Time is of the essence; choices are inevitable," he softly echoed. These two lines didn''t pinpoint specific details but rather served as general advice, something Hermione had pondered repeatedly.


    She believed they must unravel a puzzle or make choices suited to themselves. "Perhaps everyone faces different challenges," she worried. Ron spected it might resemble the massive wizard''s chess they tackled in their first year. "Maybe sacrificing a person or two will be needed..." he cryptically mentioned.


    Now, Hermione''s guess seemed closer to the truth, Harry thought.


    With time limited, finding the golden gem seemed most valuable, determining whether he''d eventually seed. The other two ensured survival in the dangerouske, especially when they were vulnerable at the start.


    Knowing the shield would onlyst an hour, Harry had to act swiftly.


    He wracked his brain: wand, wand... How could he maneuver with this thing towering above him?


    Approaching it, grateful he hadn''t woken up in the icy water, Harry ced his palm on the wand. A sense of connection surged, "d you still recognize me," he thought excitedly, "Hope things go smoothly from here."


    Taking a deep breath, he ignored the dwindling attacks from the Grindylows outside the shield. Despite their reduced frequency, Harry strained to summon his magic.


    His powers felt sluggish, a force continually affecting him¡ªthe mentioned "curse." "What curse... probably the influence of professor magic," Harry muttered. Adjusting, learning lumency seemed to make maintaining calmness effortless.


    "Armor Protection," he whispered, and his wand, made of holly, faintly shimmered, then vanished with two flickers.


    Unaffected by the initial failure, he attempted again. "Armor Protection¡ªno, wait¡ªArmor Protection¡ªArmor Protection¡ªArmor Protection¡ª" After several tries, a transparent magical barrier appeared before him.


    "Now, I need to shape it," Harry told himself. The Irond Curse adhered to his body. It felt like hitting an invisible wall head-on, squishing his nose and eyes against it.


    The projections on the shore faithfully recorded this¡ªLudo Bagman''s voice sounded somewhat awkward, "Our youngest champion has sessfully used the Irond Curse, quite an achievement¡ªthough I''m not quite sure of his intention in squashing his face against it... Nevertheless, he''s the third tomunicate with his wand sessfully. ording to our security, in this state, they can barely manage their most proficient spells."


    "Look! The Uagadou champions are taking the lead in this contest. Their wand gestures are quite magnificent! Some sort of animal transformation? I''m not certain¡ªthey don''t seem significantly changed, except for two gills on their cheeks... Oh my, what did I just see? Two Uagadou champions have directly abandoned their wands, is that against the rules? Let the other judges discuss¡ªanother Uagadou champion is carrying his wand, the weight seems negligible for him. They''ve begun searching the ck Lake, the fastest progress, while Potter is still fiddling with his transformed Irond Curse. Is he nning to suffocate himself?"


    Laughter echoed from the audience, finding Harry''s performance more entertaining or visually appealing. After watching for a while, they understood his intent. "Seems like he wants to wrap himself up with the Irond Curse," Bagmanmented btedly.


    "That''s the Humanoid Irond Curse, an advanced variation of the Irond Curse. But it seems Potter isn''t as proficient with this magic as Gryffindor," a member of the Magical Scripts Club remarked insightfully, "She''s stepped out of the shield."


    In the ck Lake, Hermione panted. She dared not stray too far from her wand, the shield acting as her beacon and refuge. Struggling to maintain the Humanoid Irond Curse, she cautiously explored the surroundings. Finally, under a bunch of ck algae, she spotted a blue light¡ªnestled amidst a group of shells.


    A surge of joy flooded her as she swam rapidly, shivering from the cold¡ªcasting spells was now challenging due to the "curse" afflicting her. Spells she thought she had mastered, like the Warming and Waterproofing Charms, were suddenly unavable. She estimated she needed at least one or two golden gemstones to improve her situation.


    Navigating through the deep waters, her bushy hair trailing behind, she asionally nced back at the distant hazy light¡ªthe location of her wand. If she lost sight of it, she''d be helpless. She didn''t want to be a hostage, waiting to be rescued.


    Drawing nearer, the algae resembled ck ribbons, swaying freely under the water''s currents. Each strand was three to four feet long, akin to a massive underwater forest. Hiding behind a pebble, Hermione peered and then brightened. Apart from spotting a blue-shell-like house, a quiet, golden gemstoney nearby.


    "Lucky!" Hermione thought gleefully. Suddenly, a dark shadow silently approached. Hermione was knocked away,nding on the sand. Fortunately, the Humanoid Irond Curse absorbed most of the impact, but...


    Blinking, Hermione watched a ck salmon swim away, seemingly intrigued by the blue-shell-like house, attempting to approach but failing.


    Quickly deciding, Hermione progressed along the shadow of theke''s rocks. En route, she found a broken strand of algae for cover. She closed in on her target and then


    saw a ck salmon charging toward her.


    Barely dodging, Hermione rolled in the water. The Humanoid Irond Curse did its job well, but she wasn''t sure if it would endure a few more hits.


    With a flick of its tail, the ck salmon charged again. At that moment, a faint white glow emanated from Hermione''s hand, revealing cryptic runic symbols.


    Wide-eyed, she watched the fish''s movements, the glow on her hand intensifying. Nervously muttering, "I have an advantage over others, even if I can''t use ancient magic. I still know many individual runes. It''s like a series of simple spells..."


    "Boom!"


    The glowing fist struck the salmon''s head, causing its belly to turn white. Drifting along with theke''s current¡ªknocked out by Hermione''s Bull Strength Rune.


    "Brilliant," Hermione eximed joyfully. She thought it would take several tries to seed.


    Ignoring the flopping salmon in the water, she swiftly swam behind the blue-shell-like house, eyeing the golden gemstone. As big as her head, she gently tapped it with her hand bearing the watch. The dim golden dial lit up, and the gem on the ground melted into the watch, slightly illuminating the dim golden dial.


    "Huh? Progress reminder? It''s somewhat like the coin Harry used while practicing the Patronus Charm. Oh, it belongs to Valen now," Hermione thought cheerfully, turning to face the challenge within the blue house.


    >


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 Chapter 439: The Adventure Under the Lake (Two)

    Chapter 439: The Adventure Under the Lake (Two)


    At the shore, Ludovic Bagman eximed excitedly, "Look! Miss Granger sessfully stunned a salmon, at least two feet long! Is this some rare talent?"


    Fred and George chuckled, "Hermione won''t be too thrilled about this."


    "Oh, Professor McGonagall reminded me," Ludovic Bagman continued, "it''s the power of ancient runes. Frankly, I don''t quite understand this field, isn''t it only for tranting ancient texts... And about Elephendi, the warrior from Uagadou who chose to abandon the wand earlier, the judges discussed and concluded that since the rules didn''t explicitly state the prohibition of abandoning the wand, it falls within the allowed range, despite the difficulties it may pose in retrieval..."


    "Let''s return to thepetition. Ilvermorny''s champion sessfully tackled the purple challenge. Now he faces a choice: a talisman, an ice bomb, or¡ªlook, he chose the second, freezing a small portion of theke."


    "Durmstrang''s Krum is nearing the area of Grindylows. His less-than-sessful transformation into a shark only added two gills and a shark tooth. Frankly, I hope those rows of fine teeth in his mouth won''te into y. Back to the point, Krum truly lives up to his Quidditch international star status. His robust physique allows him to swim with his wand, not to mention he unexpectedly found a golden gem midway, boosting himself to two feet..."


    "Oh no! He''s surrounded. Several Grindylows found him. Normally, these little things wouldn''t trouble him at all, but this time it''s different. Can he cast spells agilely? Yes, wisely, he chose to evade, foregoing that blue challenge..."


    In the ck Lake, Hermione faced a dilemma.


    After solving the puzzle, an echoing voice informed her of rewards: any question within the rules, terrain of a small area around her, or transmitting information to teammates for ten seconds.


    Hermione was enticed by each option. After some consideration, she chose the one most needed at the moment¡ªthe terrain of the small area around her.The echoing voice repeated her choice. After a quiet pause, a map materialized in the air. Hermione''s eyes gleamed, memorizing the appearance of the golden and purple dots on the map.


    Meanwhile, Harry hadpleted the Human-Shield Charm a few minutes ago. He almost repeated the development process of this spell, luckily for him, due to his frequent visits to Room Seven and the rtively idle state of Professor Snape''s memory. The details were well covered.


    His Human-Shield Charm looked like a deformed Bubble-Head Charm, covering his entire body. This made his movements considerably slower than usual, but nevertheless, he managed to acquire the ability to step out of the protective shield.


    After a few seconds of thought, he extended one hand out of the shield, touching the icyke water. The colorful fish finally grew tired, darting off somewhere for rest. Harry took a deep breath, stepping into the water. He resembled a bubble deformed by pressure, limbs rtively intact while his head and torso appeared inted, akin to a frog onnd.


    Perhaps this was more energy-efficient, Harry thought with a touch of humor.


    He swam upstream, much like he did in Quidditch matches¡ªupying higher ground, scanning for the golden thief. Only this time, he searched for a target underwater.


    Before himy an eerie scene of dark greens and cks intertwined in the ckke. Soft seaweed swayed like fabric strips, small shiny pebbles mingled in dark mud, but that wasn''t what he sought.


    He first spotted a blue shimmering light, the Wisdom challenge... Harry noted the location and decided to explore further. This time, he discovered a purple glow, thebat challenge.


    Harry hesitated but opted to take on the purple challenge. He smoothly arrived at the purple cottage, the transition from water to air sending shivers down his spine. Suddenly, he felt something brush against his mind, his practice in lumency surfacing, resisting the invasion of this unknown force.


    "Phew..." Harry exhaled, narrowly avoiding the ambush.


    He entered the purple cottage, searching thoroughly. Yet, he found nothing. He puzzled over it. What was this about? Was it a test? Harry pondered until a possible exnation struck him... Could that intrusion just now have been the test?


    Harry eased his mental guard, waiting silently. Momentster, he found himself in a spacious square. A hippogriff, kneeling, rose, spreading its wings, ring at him menacingly.


    Harry grinned. It was a peculiar half-horse, half-bird creature, but Harry was no stranger to them, having befriended one named Buckbeak. He was quite ustomed, appreciating their naturally transitioning fur: from deep grays, bronzes, reds, and whites to shining chestnuts and finally, jet ck.


    Bow, don''t blink, don''t flinch... It was like revisiting thest school year. Harry swiftly befriended it. However, it insisted Harry fly around on its back. Harry worried about how to pass the challenge until the suggestion came. He tried it, and as the hippogriff settled, the sound of passing the challenge echoed.


    "Pass in peace. Please choose: a talisman to freely move underwater for half an hour; ink to obscure vision; a fake wand for three uses of the Irond Charm."


    Harry blinked, staring at the hippogriff by his side. Suddenly, a good idea struck him.


    "I''ll take the talisman," he said.


    Minutester, back at the shield, he also managed to pick up a golden gem, slightly increasing his height and revitalizing his magical energy, capable of simple spells.


    "Now I have a better chance," Harry thought, donning the talisman and dismissing the unfamiliar Irond Charm.


    With his wand in one hand and a snail-sized water snail tucked under his arm, Harry gave a deep look at the shimmering shield, stepping into the ckke. His body initially felt a chill but soon warmed up¡ªthe talisman was incredibly effective. It made him feel refreshed and light, moving effortlessly underwater.


    Harry measured with his wand; his Holly Phoenix Feather wand was eleven inches, so now he was approximately one foot seven or eight inches tall. After some time, he sessfully located the colorful thief lingering near the shield. It seemed tired; perhaps an illusion, but Harry felt it had a small bulge on its head...


    "Come on!" Harry shouted, and the colorful thief immediately turned to look at him. Its eyes nearly popped out. Compared to the mere foot-long fish, Harry now seemed to have the advantage in height.


    Seeing the colorful thief rush toward him with long strides, Harry smiled happily.


    Half a minuteter, the thief''s legs were tied, and Harry was panting. Yet, he was quite satisfied with his aplishment, tossing the water snail he had thrown aside next to the colorful thief. It stopped struggling, nced at Harry, and then lowered its head to enjoy the meal. For the next ten minutes, Harry used water nts to craft a crude knot, tying it around the colorful thief.


    It had been twenty minutes since he woke up.


    Then, holding his wand, Harry undid the knots around the thief''s legs. "You take me for a swim, and


    I won''t hold you ountable for tangling with me," Harry said to it.


    He wasn''t sure if it was his words, the effect of his introduction, or if it simply wanted to escape, but the colorful thief indeed began to move. Harry hastily grabbed the rope woven with water nts and his wand. In the next moment, he was pulled forward as they swam.


    "Wow!"


    Harry swiftly moved through the ck Lake, manipting the thief''s head with his wand to control the direction. His goal was those golden gems. Although he had lost some time earlier, he believed his speed would significantly increase from here on.


    ...


    In the center of the ck Lake, beneath a steep and profound cliff,y a sunken rocky forest¡ªa low-lying area of the entireke, home to a small merfolk tribe.


    They possessed unique culture,nguage, and the ability to tame Grindylows. This merfolk tribe had the authority to inhabit the ck Lake, and every headmaster had promised not to intrude here.


    However, despite this, the ck Lake was part of Hogwarts. During this championship, Dumbledore and the merfolk chief reached an agreement; they would be part of the second task.


    At this moment, Felix sat in a small za, surrounded by oddly shaped cottages, many merfolk observing from afar.


    The merfolk chief was enjoying the gift¡ªa waterproof magical gramophone.


    Standing at least ten feet tall, adorned with a ne of shark teeth, surrounded by merfolk guards holding forks, the merfolk chief''s gaze asionally flickered in this direction.


    "I''m satisfied," the merfolk chief spoke with a low, hoarse voice.


    >


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 Chapter 440: Adventure Beneath the Lake (Three)

    Chapter 440: Adventure Beneath the Lake (Three)


    Felix smiled, waving his wand. A golden mist gathered in the water, forming a screen quite simr to the one on the shore, albeit smaller. Even Ludo Bagman''s voice echoed distinctly.


    "An hour remains, twenty minutes short. Six brave warriors are still struggling to adapt to the chaotic magic, yet they''ve all ventured out of the protective barrier, relying on the primitive method of breath-holding to explore. It''s an undoubtedly right strategy as each of them is surrounded by at least one golden gem."


    "An hour''s nearly up! Only two warriors remain, one from Durmstrang and another from Uagadou. These two will be turned into hostages. Security officers, ensure their safety."


    Felix rose, bidding farewell to the mermaid leader. A silver cloak materialized behind him, unfolding silently into the dimke water. In an instant, he dashed like the wind.


    The cloak seemed sentient, swiftly parting the water ahead. Within a minute, he spotted his first target.


    ncing at the diminutive student before him, Felix bent down, the cloak billowing behind him. "Adim Buweck?"


    "Y-yes, it''s me," the wizard stammered, looking utterly disheveled. An hour had passed, yet he couldn''t wield his wand, forced to hold his breath underwater. February''s waters weren''t forgiving without magic.


    "Following the rules, you''ll be a hostage next," Felix said softly, observing the wizard''s terrified expression. "If your teammate rescues you, you can rejoin the contest. There''s an opportunity with effort..."


    Amidst a cluster of mermaids...With his wand pointed at the wizard, magic gathered at its tip. Before the wizard could plea, he drifted back into slumber.


    "Next one." Felix straightened, peering towards his next destination.


    On the shore, the audience struggled to keep up with the enthralling scenes. Ludo Bagman, his face flushed from the winter wind, animatedly narrated¡ª


    "Our safety officers have sessfully rescued the first hostage. Although their pocket-stuffing technique might seem rough, rest assured, there''s no risk of drowning... Two hostages will be tied to the stone pirs at the mermaid square awaiting rescue."


    "Let''s do a quick recap:"


    "The two teams from Hogwarts are progressing steadily. Each member has collected around three golden gems, restoring their spellcasting abilities. Cedric Diggory used an ice bomb, magically erging the frozen area, sessfully immobilizing a dozen Grindylows; Colin Creevey''s dark mist was quite impressive..."


    "The second team did well too. Harry Potter''s control over the rainbow fish is remarkable. He''s the fastest gem collector among all warriors, gathering five in total. Though the poor fish couldn''t keep up with him, Potter sessfully cast an advanced variation of the Shield Charm. Hermione Granger didn''t utilize the rainbow fish as expected, an unconventional move indeed. Her progress isn''t slow; she decoded five blue-level challenges, each time choosing a map of the surrounding area as a reward, securing four gems so far."


    "Last but not least, Ron Weasley wasted some time initially. However, during his fourth breath-holding dive, he found a golden gem and managed to escape a pursuing Grindylow, thanks to his silly faces strategy. That Grindylow seemed spooked. He cast a bubble-head charm, trudging through the mud. Unfortunately, his direction seems off, heading towards the mermaid encampment. Let''s hope for his safety..."


    "The third team hails from Uagadou. They''ve passed several challenges, though luck hasn''t been on their side. They''ve averaged two golden gems so far. But from my perspective, that warrior named Elephendi has progressed faster than Potter."


    "The fourth team from Durmstrang has made excellent progress. Krum''s performance ismendable, encountering minimal danger. However, he needs to infiltrate the mermaid camp to rescue his teammate; let''s see if he can do it..."


    "The fifth team from Beauxbatons, led by Fleur Dcour, started well. However, after an encounter with the Grindylows, she had to sacrifice her ink and water bombs for self-defense. Her exploration became cautious afterward. Her two teammates haven''t faced any issues yet but seem overly cautious, falling significantly behind. Nevertheless, in these circumstances, as long as they don''t err, they''ll secure decent scores."


    "The sixth team from Uagadou, switching their captain this time, with the round-faced wizard named Byles Bach, and their former captain both performed admirably. They''ve cleared seven and nine challenges respectively, the fastest in progress. However, their gem collection speed doesn''t match their performance. Let''s wait and see..."


    Ron treaded carefully at theke bottom, a lopsided bubble-head charm adorning his head. Every two minutes, he had to recast it. While he encountered no challenges along the way, he managed to find two golden gems, totaling three.


    After another episode of face-off with some tall grass and an unexpected encounter with a colossal giant octopus, which chased him for three to four minutes, rupturing two of his bubble-head charms, Ron faced the most perilous moment. The octopus''s elongated tentacles wrapped around his neck, stifling his breath. Desperate, he wielded his wand, mming it onto the creature''s head, releasing a pungent ink. After gasping for air, he sessfully cast a disengagement spell and then used his wand to wedge the octopus into a narrow crevice between rocks.


    Before he could rx, another immenselyrge octopus soared overhead. Its colossal ssy eyes peered at him. Trembling, Ron hid behind a boulder, recognizing the creature as the infamous giant octopus of the ck Lake. Could the one he just knocked be its offspring? Hopefully, it hadn''t seen him...


    The giant octopus glided leisurely across theke, disappearing from his sight. Ron surveyed his surroundings, realizing he hadpletely lost his way. Though he hadn''t found a familiar route before, he assumed it had to do with his shifting perspective. However, he didn''t want to expose himself to the darkness. Among all creatures, human eyes were the least reliable in darkness. The thought of countless eyes peering at him from the darkness made his spine shiver.


    Tugging off the water snails stuck to his neck, Ron picked a direction and marched forward. When fatigued, he swam close to the ground. Unknowingly, a steep underwater cliff loomed ahead. Peering down, a vague, greyish silhouette of the mermaid camp''s stone pirs greeted him¡ªtwo figures seemingly bound to them.


    Ron''s jaw dropped, observing intently for a while, finally concluding he didn''t recognize either of the two people. He silently breathed a sigh of relief. Simultaneously, he made a decision¡ªabsolutely mustn''t get caught by the mermaids.


    From then on, he began to explore in various directions, but the gains were meager. Time slipped away, and he started feeling anxious. Currently, he''d only obtained three golden gems, a long way from "growing up."


    Earlier, he glimpsed a silvery glow, nearly mistaking it for Harry''s Patronus, following it far away.


    He missed Harry and


    Hermione even more now. At that moment, a familiar voice echoed in his mind:


    "Oh, Harry, Ron, listen... I''ve got only ten seconds: I don''t know how many golden gems you''ve got, but I''ve discovered a secret. The purple, blue challenges, and golden gems are grouped together. If you find one, you''re bound to find the other two nearby. I''ve tried six times¡ª"


    The voice abruptly stopped.


    Ron stood frozen, looking around, softly asking, "Hermione? She''s talking to me? Where is she? How is shemunicating with me?"


    Remembering what Hermione had mentioned, he decided to backtrack. Thankfully, he had left fairly noticeable footprints along the way. When he reached the crevice where he''d been ambushed by therge octopus, the creature was nowhere in sight. He hastened his steps.


    Returning to where he''d found the golden gem, he indeed found a blue-colored small house behind some water nts. "Blue... test of intelligence..." Ron''s heart skipped a beat, but he still stepped inside.


    The next moment, he was pulled into a quaintly designed library.


    Empty, the hollow voice echoed in the room, "Detected warrior, the test begins." A golden roulette appeared in mid-air. Ron just made out the options¡ª¡°Potionology,¡± ¡°Magical Lore,¡± ¡°Intellect¡±¡ªwhen the roulette swiftly started spinning.


    Uneasy, Ron muttered, "Please don''t be Potionology, please don''t be Potionology..."


    Finally, the roulette halted, pointing to "Muggle Studies."


    Ron heaved a sigh of relief. The voice continued, "Please choose open-book or closed-book¡ª"


    "Open-book!" Ron promptly shouted.


    A golden parchment appeared on the table. Dark shelves in the library began to shift, emitting creaking sounds. Once everything settled, a shelf full of books stopped in front of him.


    The hollow voice spoke again, "All the answers lie within these books. Test time, external ten minutes, time ratio: 1:5."


    Wide-eyed, Ron couldn''t help but feel this challenge was oddly familiar.


    >


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 Chapter 441: Adventure Under the Lake

    Chapter 441: Adventure Under the Lake


    On the shore, as the afternoon settled in, hunger gnawed at the students. Ludovic Bagman''smentary also grew weary, yet no one chose to leave. The tournament was nearing its end; most champions (except those captured by merpeople) had gathered enough golden gems. All they needed was to reach the final location, gather together, and sessfullyplete thepetition.


    "Four hours into the match, the champions are severely fatigued. As the first champion sessfully gathered the golden gems, the merfolk tribe mobilized, patrolling the ck Lake, making the champions'' situation even more perilous," croaked Bagman.


    Felix stood by theke, rubbing his nose, wondering if the merfolk leader misunderstood the purpose of the enchanted recorder he''d gifted. The merfolk guards, apanied by their trained Grindylow, had been darting through theke for the past hour and a half, capturing the exhausted champions one by one.


    Those not caught immediately were now hiding, unwilling to show themselves.


    Ron breathed a long sigh of relief; he had finally passed through. Unsure if this was a loophole, he discovered a method that worked: if unsessful on the first attempt, he could try again, and again. He also unearthed another secret; when faced with Muggle Studies or Wizarding History, he could choose between open book and closed book exams.


    Armed with this knowledge, he found the best way for himself¡ªconstantly picking the blue-level challenges. When luck struck with those two subjects, he''d open the book and search for answers. There might be a couple of failures in between, but sess was certain.


    Yawning widely, Ron felt as though he had forgotten he was in a perilous tournament; it felt more like being back in ss. He was grateful for having pored over "The Adventures of Little Wizard Mickey" several times; it had equipped him with plenty of knowledge.


    Blue and purple challenges provided a protective shield inherently. Ron took a deep breath, ready to locate the seventh golden gem. However, just as he stepped forward, a towering figure moved swiftly past him.


    It was a Vagado warrior. Ron turned his gaze back to where the warrior hade from and saw a horde of merpeople chasing him. Ron grimaced, pulling his foot back.Unfortunately, a merperson spotted him. The tall, toothy merperson blew a whistle, and three merpeople stayed back, encircling him. Despite the generally unappealing appearance of merpeople, Ron recognized the leader through attire and bone adornments.


    Ron swallowed hard, realizing he might have kicked this particr merperson in the past.


    The merperson clearly recognized Ron too, grinning widely, revealing a mouthful of fangs. Just then, the glow of several spells illuminated the underwater surroundings.


    Two merpeople dropped instantly, their braided hair floating gently. Ron took advantage, raising his wand and casting the Stupefy spell.


    The red light pierced the water, its speed visibly slowing down. Though the distance was short, the spell sessfully hit the lead merperson, who stared wide-eyed, then copsed on the muddy bottom.


    Harry and Hermione emerged from a corner, watching him with amused smiles.


    "How did you all end up together?" Ron asked, still affected by the stunning spell.


    "After collecting seven golden gems, the watches began indicating the positions of ourpanions, three small red dots. I guessed they had applied a tracking charm¡­ I found Harry first and wanted toe to you immediately, but encountered a massive merfolk movement in the water. They are incredibly agile in the water, but Harry used the Patronus Charm to scare them off, making them think it was some powerful magic, and we took the chance to escape..." Hermione exined, then turned to Ron. "How many golden gems do youck?"


    "Only one left, and I know its location," Ron hurriedly replied.


    "Then let''s hurry," Hermione said pale-faced. "We''ve taken too long; I''m not sure if we''re thest group."


    "Definitely not," Ron said. "I just saw a Vagado warrior being chased by a group of merpeople."


    "Oh, he probably won''t escape unless¡ª" Hermione said, her tone turning pessimistic. Suddenly, her eyes widened, and a loud sound erupted nearby, sending sand flying.


    "Hermione, you and Ron go for the gem; I''ll check what''s happening over there," Harry immediately decided.


    They split up swiftly. Minutester, Ron and Hermione found the gem but heard escting noises outside, cries echoing underwater.


    After a while, Harry returned. "Hurry!" he shouted, looking utterly frightened. "What''s going on?" Ron asked, puzzled.


    "Exin on the way!" Harry decisively said as they rushed toward the final spot. The thundering sound behind them grew closer, as if an army was chasing them. A towering waterspout, carrying an abundance of mud and sand, formed a swirling yellow-brown vortex.


    "Several groups of champions have coborated; they charged into the merfolk''s arena, rescuing all hostages. I saw Durmstrang, Uagadou, and Cedric there!" Harry, encased in his human-shaped armor, exined.


    "And also Vagado," Ron said, pale-faced.


    "How do you know?" Harry casually asked. As they approached the target, a bright tform seemed within arm''s reach.


    "I saw an elephant..." Ron replied dazedly.


    Harry and Hermione couldn''t help but nce back; a couple of hundred feet behind them, bright light illuminated theke bottom (Harry spected it was Cedric''s Lumos spell). An elephant charged forward, sshing mud,pletely clouding theke''s bottom. On the elephant were several individuals, including Cedric, Collins, Roger and Krum, Fleur, and two other Vagado warriors.


    "What should we do?" Ron hesitantly asked.


    Less than two hundred feet away, a raised tform stood on theke bottom, twinkling and captivating their attention.


    "You two go ahead," Harry said.


    "You''re not thinking of being a hero, are you? They''ll be fine..."


    "No," Harry hesitated, "I know they''ll be fine. I just want to use a spell. Go on, I''ll catch up. This time, we''ll definitely be first!"


    "Then do it quickly; we''ll be waiting!" Hermione impatiently said.


    Harry took a deep breath, raised his wand. Now fully recovered in magical strength and with a newfound insight into the spell from Professor Dumbledore''s silver cloak journey, he saw more potential.


    "Protego... Guardianum!"


    A massive silver radiance exploded. A silver entity of a guardian surged on silver waves towards the direction of the elephant, surrounded by numerous merpeople and Grindylows, forming a massive encirclement.


    After casting the spell, Ron pulled Harry towards the tform. Meanwhile¡ª


    "What do we do?" Collins asked.


    "Anyone got ice bombs left?" Cedric inquired.


    "All used up," Byles replied.


    "Let''s charge through!" Greaves shouted, his face as white as paper, likely from prolonged time in water.


    "Look there¡ª" Fleur widened her eyes.


    A colossal silver stag dashed through, unaffected by the water''s resistance, quickly passing them and standing between them and the merpeople. It emitted rings of silver ripples. The merpeople had never seen a Patronus


    before and hesitated, keeping a safe distance, watching this sudden apparition.


    "Let''s go! Use Transfiguration to buy time!" Cedric was the first to snap out of it, recognizing this Patronus.


    The elephant charged again, its surroundings transforming¡ªrocks, seaweed morphing into hounds, shields, and ropes. They ran toward the area enveloped by the elevated tform''s protection.


    Harry, Ron, and Hermione copsed onto the tform, utterly exhausted.


    >


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 Chapter 442: Homeward Bound

    Chapter 442: Homeward Bound


    An African elephant let out a sharp trumpet, copsing to the ground. It stumbled and jostled, unseating seven or eight individuals. Some, utterly fatigued, seemed to slide down like they were on a slide, their bodies rolling a couple of times on the tform, panting heavily.


    For these warriors, be it physically or mentally, they had reached their limits long ago.


    Harry found it difficult to even twitch a muscle at this moment. Every inch of his body ached terribly. He wanted to lift his head, but his neck seemed to have given up, allowing him only a sideways nce.


    He looked at Ron and Hermione. The trio''s breaths resembled leaky old bellows. At that moment, Ron suddenly burst into exaggeratedughter. Hey on the ground, pounding the white marble surface with his fists, tears streaming down his face.


    "Look...look at the elephant''s nose...haha...it''s like a runny bubble..."


    Harry and Hermione strained to look. The African elephanty on the ground, slowly reverting to its human form, but you could still see a bubble hanging at the tip of its long trunk... Harry spected it was the Bubble-Head Charm, but... a runny bubble?


    He couldn''t help but shrug his shoulders, trying hard not to burst intoughter. Hermione seemed to be struggling to contain her amusement as well.


    Cedric, Colin, and Roger limped over to their side, not too gracefully sitting down on the ground, breathing heavily. Cedric, already quite pale, now looked as though he''d been soaking in water for three days straight, resembling a vampire. Colin seemed to have caught a cold, his breathing producing intermittent whistling sounds. As for Roger, he justy t on the ground, engaging in a duet with the warrior beside him, with loud snores.


    "He''s exhausted..." Cedric pointed at Roger Davies, wearily speaking. "Thanks, your guardian helped a lot.""Not really," Harry awkwardly replied. He wasn''t used to this atmosphere, quickly scanning around - his neck began hurting again, the skin at the back rigid like an old tire. "Is everyone here?" he asked, struggling to find something to say.


    He saw Fleur, pale-faced, speaking to a fellow female student, while Krum, grim-faced, surprisingly robust in terms of stamina, paced around with folded legs, asionally ncing at the approaching merpeople guards. Gravely''s expression matched Krum''s as he red at a warrior who buried his face in his knees.


    "He probably shouldn''t have stepped out of the protection charm at the start; probably going to lose some points," Cedric remarked following his gaze. "Everyone''s here. What about you? Not caught?"


    Harry shook his head, a faint smile forming on Cedric''s lips. "Then you''re lucky."


    "Difficult dealing with merpeople?" Harry said, trying to keep any trace of triumph out of his voice, turning his head to look beyond the dais, where hundreds of merpeople encircled it. Yet, he didn''t feel much impending danger.


    "Merpeople''s domain is the water; they have a coordinated method," Cedric exined. "They weave ropes, cables, and evens from water grass... each one is a skilled ambush artist."


    Harry stared at the merpeople''s iron-grey skin, seaweed-like green hair, and murky yellow eyes. He had to admit there was some truth in what was said. They were ambushed too, but as Cedric said, they were lucky enough to have two people there at the time.


    "...and those Grindylows, relentless like hounds, obeying merpeoplemands or not are two different things. These Grindylows can execute simple orders, like holding a rope or such... and the more exhausted we became, the less magic we could muster," Cedric shook his head.


    At that moment, a silver light pierced the water''s surface, descending straight from above the darkke with a soft ''thud,''nding gently on the tform.


    Felix surveyed the area, his silver cloak unfolding behind him, slowly transforming into sparkling specks of light. He announced calmly to the crowd, "Thepetition is over. All warriors, stand within the circle; I will now lead you back to thend."


    He waved his wand, and the tform beneath their feet suddenly trembled. The outermost ring of stones and sediment shivered and separated. Soon, the white marble tform ascended slowly, enveloping them in a translucent, glowing shield, reminiscent of an erged protection charm.


    Harry directed his gaze outward. His mood was unusually serene. Fish darted around like small darts, and he even spotted a Chimaera fish, perhaps the same one he had encountered.


    Hopefully, it won''t be spotted by the merpeople, Harry thought sincerely.


    Merpeople guards armed with spears and forks formed two lines, guarding on both sides. After a brief distance, they split from the group. Subsequently, they saw the shimmering waves above their heads. With a ''pop,'' they emerged from the ck Lake.


    The world on the water was blindingly radiant, dazzling beyond measure. Harry''s eyes stung with brightness, tears involuntarily streaming down. His mind filled with dazzling white light.


    He heard amotion, voices growing nearer and louder, merging into a buzzing sound. It took a while before he realized it was the cheering and apuse of the crowd.


    Ludo Bagman''s voice came through timely ¡ª


    "All warriors safely return! Let us cheer for them; they spent over four hours underwater! Ah, I see Madame Pomfrey rushing over ¡ª"


    His voice was muffled, quite deep, as if separated by something.


    At this moment, Felix reached out towards the half-spherical light membrane with his hand, and where his finger touched, it quickly ignited and turned to ashes. Immediately, a fresh, cool breeze rushed in. Felix took a deep breath, smiling at the warriors who were also taking in deep breaths.


    His words were drowned by the suddenly deafening screams. Harry had never felt breathing was such a delightful thing. The distant voices became real. Madame Pomfrey was anxiously waiting on the shore. As soon as the marble tform touched the shore, she hurried over.


    "Any injuries?" she asked Felix.


    "Maybe some scrapes or bruises, nothing severe. Their issue is exhaustion," Felix replied, watching the sprawled-out warriors, some of whom were already snoring loudly, the enthusiastic cheers having no effect on their quality of sleep.


    "Um...alright," Madame Pomfrey said, taking out a narrow-necked bottle from her medical kit, administering the potion to the warriors one by one. The warrior who was sleeping soundly drank it drowsily, rolling over and falling back asleep.


    Madame Pomfrey red at him, bewildered, before moving to the next person.


    "Thank you, Madame Pomfrey," Harry said, swallowing the fiery liquid. He, Ron, and Hermione showed no sign of protest, only to divert Madame Pomfrey''s attention away from them.


    "A stimnt, perhaps with something else added; I can taste the hint of mint," Ron muttered, releasing streams of white vapor from his ears and nostrils.


    Percy strode over, grabbing Ron''s neck firmly, "I''m going to strangle you, Ron!"


    Hagrid and Lupin were seen making their


    way through the crowd.


    Hermione looked somewhat crestfallen; she hadn''t told her parents yet, but perhaps for the third task, she could ask her mom and dad. A nket was draped over her, and she looked surprisedly at Professor McGonagall.


    "I think you need a hug," Professor McGonagall said.


    "Oh... um, I suppose," Hermione pursed her lips, giving McGonagall a brief hug. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Professor Snape and Dumbledore squatting by the water, conversing with the merchief.


    Felix keenly noticed her gaze, giving her a thumbs-up before refocusing. He was quite astonished, watching Dumbledore emit a string of piercing sounds from his mouth, with the merchief leader responding in the samenguage. He muttered to himself, weren''t merchiefs supposed to speak English?


    Finally, Dumbledore straightened up. "Felix, we''re going over to have a debriefing with the other judges." The heads of the schools gathered again, Fudge and Bagman rushing over, discussing in low voices.


    Dumbledore ryed the information the merchief leader provided ¡ª unlike the footage visible only through the warriors'' wristwatches, the merchiefs could offer a more dimensional and impartial evaluation.


    Fudge offered an objective perspective, "Thispetition was quiteplex; every team showed impressive performances. Let''s start by discussing noteworthy aspects..."


    >


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 Chapter 443: Scores Revealed

    Chapter 443: Scores Revealed


    "Krum''s transformation into a shark, and his proposal for coboration with other schools¡ª" Karkaroff eagerly spoke up.


    "I must remind you, Karkaroff," Bagman sharply interjected, "the proposals for cooperatione from two people. Krum from Durmstrang sought out the Uagadou team, while Hogwarts'' Diggory contacted Beauxbatons and Uagadou."


    "But Krum was the first to consider it, wasn''t he?" Karkaroff smoothly replied.


    "That''s true, but with both his teammates captured by the merfolk, he was left alone. How could he not cooperate..." Bagman''s voice trailed off.


    Dumbledore nodded slightly, calmly stating, "At least we can confirm both champions proposed cooperation, which aligns with our principles. They deserve points for that."


    "Potter''s taming of the Snitchfish was quite ingenious..."


    "Indeed, it was spectacr, but it might not qualify as point-worthy."


    "Why not?"


    "Gentlemen, ourpetition isn''t about aesthetics but the valuable qualities showcased during the process.""Isn''t breaking the norm worth encouraging?"


    As it threatened to escte again, the judges momentarily set the issue aside. Felix inquired, "Who was the first to collect the golden gems? I was underwater and missed that."


    Bagman promptly responded, "It was Potter. He had a significant lead early on. While others had only gathered two or three, he found five. Both he and Krum are excellent seekers, with exceptional dynamic vision. Krumgged only in his slower movement, relying solely on swimming."


    "Granger ranked second, nearly on par with Potter''s timing. Miss Granger''s efficiency was due to her discovery of the secretyout."


    "That''s subject to doubt; someone might be cheating," Karkaroff interjected.


    "Come off it," Bagman retorted, irritated. "She decoded the blue-level challenge faster than anyone else. It''s her forte. You can''t deny that!"


    "We''ll continue," Dumbledore pleasantly reminded. "By the way, Miss Granger is exceptionally bright and excels in some subjectspared to graduates."


    The judges continued discussing¡ª


    "Igboanian gathered the most alchemical items and used the Water Whirl spell collectively, buying enough time¡ª"


    "Potter''s Patronus was crucial."


    "Uagadou''s distinctive gesture casting was noteworthy. The final transformation broke the Merpeople''s camp."


    "Yes, it even broke two pirs, sending the Merpeople into a frenzy."


    "But the effect was remarkably clear..."


    "Everyone, you''ve overlooked something," Madame Maxime pursed her lips. "Only two teams'' champions weren''t captured by the Merpeople throughout. One was Beauxbatons, and their captain, Fleur, decisively epted the invitation to rescue others. Her spirit ismendable."


    "Madame Maxime," Karkaroff sternly said, "Miss Dcour''s spirit ismendable, but the other two champions were simply too slow to progress... barely faster than thest one, precisely, just enough to evade the Merpeople''s pursuit."


    "What do you mean?" Madame Maxime''s face turned cold. "At least Jacqueline and Francois collected seven gems each, and Diggory didn''t even make it out with a protective shield."


    "Buweck doesn''t even qualify as a champion. I wish he could be reced." Karkaroff said, disgusted, shocking the headmasters. He then said with a straight face, "I''m only joking. Can we actually change participants?"


    "That''s hard to say."


    Felix nced at the sky, murmuring, "Anything could happen." The sky today was exceptionally blue, as if washed with water. Karkaroff red fiercely at him, making the atmosphere momentarily awkward.


    Perhaps even Karkaroff himself thought, if the rules allowed, he wouldn''t mind a substitution.


    Felix began to contemte his Book of Magic. With continuous filling and expansion, it had be more refined, undergoing a marvelous transformation, as if developing its own will.


    It stored an abundance of magical texts and power, akin to a genuine magical world, evolving hundreds of changes every minute. These alterations steered the Book towards stability, constantly improving itself.


    He had to slow down; now he dared not keep the book directly in his mental cabin anymore. If it exploded, the stored magic would not be a trivial matter.


    Moreover, he gained a lot of inspiration from it. New magical texts would spontaneously appear from time to time.


    "Felix?" Dumbledore softly asked, standing beside him, watching the clear sky.


    "Don''t you need to join the discussion?"


    Dumbledore smiled faintly, "Bagman seems more active than me, and besides, I must say, Hogwarts'' champions'' performance wasmendable enough not to be overlooked..."


    It took considerable time; the judges only reached limited consensus. Fudge checked the time and spoke, "Continuing the argument further is futile; let''s start scoring."


    There were no objections. Bagman added, "Based on thest scoring process, we''ve added a new rule: if a judge''s score significantly differs and fails to convince others, we will consider canceling the contentious score."


    Karkaroff gave him a cold nce, but he didn''t voice any opposition. Some advantages could only be exploited once.


    After a while, Ludo Bagman''s amplified voice resounded again, and the crowd gradually quieted down.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, considering multiple factors, we''ve decided to base our evaluation on¡ªnumber of people exiting the protective shield, quantity of collected golden gems, and whether they were taken hostage¡ªwhile adding points for exceptional disys. We''ll score the champions out of a base of seventy."


    "The first team, champions: Cedric Diggory, Collins Flee, Roger Davies. Three individuals exited the shield, with two collecting seven golden gems, and one captured by the Merpeople after gathering five gems. Remarkable disys include: efficient use of ice bombs, and initiating cooperation with other schools. After theprehensive assessment, we award them 59 points."


    Apuse erupted from the stands; Collins stood in silence, Cedric and Roger trying to console her.


    "I should''ve been more careful," shemented.


    "The second team, champions: Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley. Three individuals exited the shield, all collecting seven golden gems and none taken hostage, finishing the challenge first. Impressive performances include: taming the Snitchfish; discerning theyout and structure of the challenge, aiding other teams without anyone taken hostage. We give them 67 points."


    "Fantastic!" Harry, Ron, and Hermione eximed. Hermione was still draped in her nket, surrounded by thunderous apuse and whistles. She nudged Harry and Ron, gesturing towards Collins.


    "It''s not that big of a deal," Ron grumbled, "I mean, if you''re unlucky enough to encounter a whole Merfolk brigade right out the gate, you''re toast..."


    "But I was speaking up for her..." Ron said, feeling utterly unjustified.


    "But I bet Bagman got a hefty advertising fee from Professor Hype!" Ron yelled into the warm breeze, amidst the thunderous apuse, adding, "I bet Bagman got paid by Professor Hype!"


    Harry couldn''t help but agree, pping vigorously along with the crowd. This was it... three months of long preparation, the third project in four months, and


    the first result that actually mattered!


    But the greatest difference wasn''t the points; it was that grin on Hermione''s face!


    >


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 Chapter 444: Gratitude

    Chapter 444: Gratitude


    The path back from the ck Lake to the castle echoed withughter and jubtion. Felix anticipated they''d upy the Great Hall for another round of celebration, much like before. The only difference being the champions from the other schools joining the crowd, all heading towards the castle.


    "Mission aplished, wouldn''t you say?" Bagman spoke from beside him. "Letting the students experience the essence of cooperation throughpetition."


    "That doesn''t quite sound like something from your lips," Felix chuckled softly.


    "Oh, well... it''s actually from Barty''s speech; I stumbled upon it in his office," Bagman exined in a hushed tone. "I''m not particrly adept at these things, but if you need to liven things up... let''s get back to business." He suddenly seemed uneasy.


    "About that... what do you call them, magical projectors?" He nced towards the distance where students queued along the marble steps into the castle, asional bursts of crackling or red sparks emanating from wand tips.


    The projection screen by the ck Lake remained in ce, ''Future World'' staff milling around it. These screens would soon be dismantled and stored until their next use.


    "Indeed," Felix replied. In truth, there wasn''t much difference between magical phonographs and magical projectors in terms of the magic employed, but Felix hoped the projectors could disy regr movies.


    He nced at Bagman, who wiped sweat from his forehead. "I know ''Future World'' has obtained authorization tomercially release imagery from the second project..."


    Felix nodded slightly, calmly saying, "There is such a n. The Tournament brings about discussions akin to the Quidditch World Cup, and there''s a market for it. The only issue is, Lems is attempting to refine the projectors further. As Clementine puts it, imbuing it with more magical essence...""I can persuade the Ministry to promote these images," Bagman said, sweat glistening on his brow, making it shimmer in the sunlight. "To convince Fudge... he''s been having a rough timetely. He miscalcted, and no one cares if the Ministry, under his leadership, facilitated another international potion coboration. People want more thrilling, attention-grabbing news, like the Tournament. A colleague told me other countries have been reprinting a lot of our reports."


    "I don''t n to alter the contract¡ª"


    "Oh, of course not, it won''t affect you. It''s just a suggestion; Fudge will agree. He wants to divert public attention." Bagman said sluggishly. "You know, there are rumors circting in the ministrytely... the Dark Mark... old Barty''s arrest, Skele-Gro''s objections..."


    ...


    "Don''t be a killjoy, Hermione; we''re definitely going to have a st." Ron said cheerfully.


    Fleur and herpanions had just left,ing over to express gratitude to Harry. She nted two kisses on Harry''s cheeks, leaving Ron immensely envious. Then the Uagadou champions dispersed from the crowd, admiring Harry''s impressive Patronus Charm.


    Captain Nona Leberth even gifted Harry a talisman resembling intertwined leaves and branches made of hollowed twine.


    "It will protect you," Nona asserted confidently.


    Two other Uagadou champions stood beside her, guarding. Harry was up close with them for the first time, realizing just how tall all three were.


    epting the talisman, Harry murmured, "Thank you," then hung it on his clothes.


    "It looks nice," Nona smiled, and they departed.


    What followed overwhelmed the trio; one champion after another found an opportunity to converse with them individually. Even the broodingly astute Gravely initiated a conversation, surprising Harry, who hadn''t held him in high regard after his attempt to use powerful magic on Hermione.


    "What day is today?" Ron asked wide-eyed.


    "It''s probably the credit of your Patronus, Harry," Hermione pondered for a moment, offering an answer.


    "But, I just used a spell," Harry widened his eyes. "They look at me as if I''ve done something extraordinary..."


    "Oh, that''s different, Harry," Hermione gazed at him, a mix of admiration and regret in her eyes.


    Harry looked back, puzzled.


    "As we reached the end of the challenge, everyone was exhausted. Without your Patronus, they might''ve all been hauled back by the merfolk in a lump. That''s a significant difference¡ªthe evaluation between sess and failure," Hermione exined. "I believe that''s why they''re grateful to you."


    "So, does that mean," Ron was surprised, "we could''ve easily outstripped everyone in the second task?"


    "It''s just a possibility," Hermione said sternly. "I suppose if that were true, the other teams would''ve, at most, scored half of what they have now. But it''s spection; after all, Harry had already made his choice."


    Harry scratched his head; he hadn''t thought that far. He just felt in that moment that he had to do something, especially with Cedric and the others inside. Hermione''s words made him blush a bit, but fortunately, at that moment, Fred and George passed by them. He gestured to the two of them and followed along.


    "Hello, Mr. Bagman... can we buy you a drink?" Fred and George stepped forward, grinning.


    "Oh, uh, kids... alright, let''s go over there to talk..." Bagman said, hurrying away with Fred and George, nearly colliding with Harry, Ron, and Hermione, who instinctively slowed down, their ears perked up to eavesdrop.


    "I''ll be getting some money soon, when? Today, that''s when. So don''t worry, kids!" Bagman raised his voice before vanishing with the twins into the Great Hall.


    "Do you think they¡ªoh, Professor," Hermione looked at Felix.


    Harry and Ron greeted him too. Felix nodded at them, smiling. "Congrattions to you. You''re going to be famous because of thispetition," he hinted, saying, "You''ll be in the newspapers?"


    "I''ve seen quite a few reporters around, but they only circled when we emerged from the ck Lake, then turned their cameras towards the esteemed guests," Ron added sarcastically.


    "Perhaps more than that," Felix smiled. "Maybe you''ll have your own fans writing in... I reckon, a month or two from now?"


    Harry and his friends left, bewildered.


    Towards evening, Sirius burst into the office in a rush, "Felix, I need to borrow your firece. I nearly forgot, I''ve promised to return to the school to organize equipment; old Fawley can''t manage it all alone..."


    "How''s life at the school?" Felix asked, settled behind his desk.


    "It''s alright," Sirius replied vaguely, hastily grabbing a handful of Floo Powder to sprinkle into the firece. "Those mischievous students... they''re everywhere. Sometimes I really want to knock their heads with my wand."


    "Perhaps that''s precisely what Dumbledore is worried about," Felix said.


    Sirius stared at him, dumbfounded for a moment, then eximed, "Are you saying he''s worried I''ll hex the students? I wouldn''t¡ª"


    "I didn''t say anything," Felix grinned, teasingly. "But you certainly can''t treat yourself as a student anymore, can you? Perhaps you fancy the title ''King of Kids''? Want to be the head of Gryff


    indor?"


    Sirius made a crude gesture, vanishing into the rising emerald mes.


    Felix redirected his attention to the book of magical texts on his desk.


    Ity there quietly, blinking every few seconds, as if breathing rhythmically. Whether it was breathing, he wasn''t sure, but he knew one thing¡ªthis book was undeniably growing.


    Initially, it was merely a notion to organize the ancient magical texts he''d learned. Out of convenience and habit, he chose the book''s form. At first, the book of magical texts was entirely illusory,cking any solidity. Later, it gained a first page, a second page.


    "In fact, I should have realized it earlier. Quantity doesn''t matter; my understanding of ancient magical texts forms the skeleton of this book. As each text fills in, they spontaneously seek the best arrangement... and finally, it''s time for the harvest."


    His index finger lightly brushed the spine of the book, and the Book of Magical Texts suddenly opened.


    The author had an urgent matter and could only present this chapter today. Apologies to the readers and will strive to make up for it tomorrow.


    >


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 Chapter 445: The Book of Magic Runes

    Chapter 445: The Book of Magic Runes


    Pages shimmered with a soft light, illuminating the surroundings perfectly even in the darkest of ces, inviting readers to delve into its depths.


    Felix casually sketched out a sequence of "Lumos" runes on the surface. The Book of Magic Runes flipped to a new section with a cascade of additional symbols, akin to a fish sniffing out bait, connecting with the original runes, forming sequences, short and long.


    These were unperfected magical circuits or sequences.


    He plucked symbols at random from the book, mere silver shadows. But as Felix infused them with his magic, they transformed entirely, indistinguishable from the ones he sketched.


    A thought sparked within Felix, refocusing his attention on the Book of Magic Runes. With his intent, aplete sequence emerged from the book. As his magic entwined with it, it immediately transformed into a soft, milky-white sphere of light.


    Lumos.


    Felix, like a child with a new toy, continued experimenting. The book seemed like a programmed tool, arranging and coalescing magical sequences ording to his will.


    Then, a curious thought arose in his mind.


    He nced at the window; the night had fallen, but it was worth a try. Exiting his office, he strode out of the castle, the silver cloak trailing behind him, casting silent streaks of light. Swiftly, he found himself in a clearing within the Forbidden Forest.The night''s darkness enveloped the Forbidden Forest, a realm of silence save for the whispers of the wind. Within this silence, eerie sounds, clearly of living creatures, asionally echoed.


    With a wave of his hand, the Book of Magic Runes materialized and floated before him.


    His finger traced on it as he murmured, "ck lightning... swift to deploy. Let''s start with two." As the words faded, two ethereal shadows emerged from the book, hovering before him.


    Felix scrutinized them for a moment, continuing, "Golden mes would be nice too." Another phantom emerged, transforming between the runes and the specific magical imagery.


    "Some added radiance."


    "And a touch of defense."


    "What about visual distortion?"


    Felix, draped in the silver cloak, resembled someone ordering from a menu, selecting over a dozen satisfying names in one breath. When he closed the book, several blurry apparitions appeared before him. In the chilly midnight, he was surrounded by a myriad of differently colored phantoms, like a canvas of wandering spirits.


    "This state is truly marvelous... Illusory runes that swiftly transform into reality, summoning thunder." Felix mumbled to himself, unable to resist extending his hand, infusing magical energy into two dark shadows.


    The blurry figures swiftly materialized into two ck lightning bolts, crackling through the air. As Felix attempted to control them, the lightning obediently flowed, akin to liquid.


    "So, the limit depends on how many magics I can control?" Felix pondered. Dispelling the magic, he began to conceive various tactics. However¡ª


    "What''s this?" Felix frowned, staring at his hand. His index finger was slowly emitting a glimmer, as if a piece of ancient rune embedded itself not under his fingernail but within the skin.


    He double-checked twice. The rune wasn''t lodged beneath his nail; it melded into his skin, an unseen alteration allowing his skin to absorb runes.


    Standing amidst the cold breeze, he contemted cautiously, assimting with the environment.


    After a while, he exhaled deeply. His brow furrowed deeper; he confirmed repeatedly that only a small portion of his right index finger''s skin exhibited this peculiarity, invisible to the eye but discernible to Felix.


    He could only recall a simr instance¡ªwhen Dumbledore demonstrated deflecting spells barehanded. It was akin to what Professor Ravenw had described as "magical beings."


    "Am I approaching this state?" Felix wondered, amazed. "Close to the level of the four Hogwarts founders, or Dumbledore?" Unable to discern urately, the vast temporal gap between them madeparison difficult. But one thing was certain: these individuals surpassed him in understanding magic.


    Is it the Book of Magic Runes causing this change? Felix spected. Choosing the path of runes as his means of understanding magic, viewing Szar Slytherin''s manuscripts in Hogwarts'' office both perplexed him and strengthened his resolve. Later, under fortuitous circumstances, hepleted the Book of Magic Runes.


    Did this signify he had traversed far enough down this path?


    "A prelude to transformation?" Felix pondered if this demonstrated an increased affinity with runes, maybe corresponding resistances would elevate. But the extent of this change and its duration remained uncertain.


    "Magical beings? Or rune beings?" Felix contemted the difference between these two words, smiling faintly. All the numerous phantasms behind him vanished simultaneously. He eagerly anticipated the day of revtion.


    The next day was a weekend, and young wizards hadn''t recovered from the previous day''s excitement. Discussions incessantly revolved around their astonishing performances. Harry and the others had nned to catch up on assignments or specte on the third project''s test (Hermione''s idea). However, themon room bustled with people, showering them with congrattions and inquiring for more details.


    "Could you hear anything in the ck Lake?"


    "A little," muttered Harry.


    "Didn''t your hand hurt when you punched the salmon?"


    "Magic protection," retorted Hermione dryly.


    After a morning of this, Harry finally signaled Ron and Hermione with a nce, and they slipped out of the room, rushing to an abandoned ssroom, their usual spot for magical practice and the dueling self-study group''s territory.


    "To be honest, I wouldn''t mind sharing, but they know better what they did to me than I do," Ron fretted. He felt that one downside of the projection screen was losing his ability to improvise.


    Imagine trying to vividly describe how huge the giant octopus was to the onlookers. "It was much bigger than me!" someone promptly suggested using a wand as a spear; others found it too odd. Or when he wanted to tease, "Guess what I saw?" The serious answer was "Merfolk camp." Some said "red hair" or "a for the bubble-head charm." Eventually, the audience abandoned him, arguing which answer was more credible...


    Ron yawned, tears welling up. "Ah¡ªmaybe I should catch up on sleep; stayed up tootest night."


    "I want to check on Hagrid," Harry said.


    "We''ll meet at the libraryter; it''ll surely be less crowded," Hermione decisively stated.


    Hermione headed to the library alone. Her two roommates bombarded her with inquiries about the magic that "knocks out a salmon with a punch." Rolling her eyes, she handed them a rune card.


    Parvati and Lavender stared at the card, depicting a charging buffalo.


    "Does Hermione''s temper have anything to do with this..." Lavender whispered.


    Parvati tugged her sleeve, exchanging a nce. Both looked over; Hermione poked her head out from her bed, ring at them.


    Lavender quickly smirked, "How about... I lend you that book for a couple more days?"


    >


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 Chapter 446: Sense of Smell

    Chapter 446: Sense of Smell


    In the evening''s embrace, Felix knocked gently on the door of Professor Harp''s Ancient Runes office, finding the professor engrossed in a book, relishing each word as though it held the secrets of the cosmos.


    "Professor Harp?"


    Felix raised his head, and the book in his hands vanished without a sound, causing Harry''s eyes to widen in surprise.


    Yet, he''d grown ustomed to such urrences. Settling across from the professor on the sofa, with a flick of his wrist, a magical book soared off the shelf,nding perfectly in his hands.


    "Professor, I have a question." Harry refrained from flipping open the book right away.


    "Regarding?"


    Harry recounted inadvertently blocking the checkpoint information during his second project assessment to Felix, concluding with an expectant tone, "Would this count as my initiation into lumency?"


    Felix pondered, "It indicates we''re on the right track... Initiating lumency isn''t merely about resisting external intrusion consciously or when prepared. It''s about enhancing your alertness and self-protection, enabling your mind to naturally block external influences, even in sleep. Furthermore, it serves as effective mental exercise..."


    "I understand, Professor."Harry resumed perusing his book. Though the professor hadn''t acknowledged his lumency initiation, perhaps it was because his standards were too high. At least, he''d resisted intrusion once... maybe more. It had been a while since he''d had a nightmare.


    Turning a new page, he encountered a furry, orange-colored sphere¡ªa seemingly adorable sight. But the next moment, an itching sensation spread through him, worse than the aftermath of consuming Fred and George''s Canary Creams. Harry couldn''t help but reach out¡ª


    *Cough!* Felix coughed, swiftly flipping a page across from Harry, engrossed in the book once again.


    Harry withdrew his hand, battling embarrassment and this sensation. But the "itch" felt scarier than "torment." At least he knew thetter was false, for he was safely seated on the professor''s couch. Yet, he couldn''t help but suspect the professor had secretly cast an itching hex on him...


    Fortunately, his remaining sanity prevented Harry from asking aloud. He attempted to clear his mind, a hit-or-miss endeavor. Even as he walked through the castle corridors, he could still sense the "phantom itch."


    Maybe it was a residual effect of that magical book, he pondered. A hot bath seemed ideal for today.


    Taking a deep breath, Harry suppressed his inner turmoil¡ªa trick he''d devised. When faced with negative emotions, he could try sealing them with lumency and divert his attention.


    Yet, he wasn''t quite proficient, often forgetting to use it in tense situations...


    March brought slightly clearer weather, followed by gusty winds. In the first week of March, at least five days were spent in fierce gusts. Felix could witness Beauxbatons'' carriages and the statues of Uagadou from his window, gs fluttering at the Quidditch pitch.


    Felix and Valenzed about on the couch, seemingly purposeless.


    He''d been lethargic during this period, uninterested in anything except delving into ancient rune readings. Even Dueling, now an elective, only saw his attendance when it was his turn.


    He often caught wind of interesting news. Professor Moody enjoyed pairing off students who didn''t get along. "It will bring out your courage and wisdom!" he''d proudly proim. The aftermath of each Dueling ss painted a sorry picture.


    The change in his right index finger was slower than anticipated, barely covering a single finger in the past two weeks. He''d tested it himself, finding no discernible impact, as if it were all an illusion. He hadn''t realized it because he hadn''t considered melding runes into his skin...


    But such a possibility was far-fetched.


    Felix was convinced he was undergoing a benign, beneficial transformation, evident in his recentckadaisical demeanor¡ªneither his mind nor his magic sounded any rms.


    At this moment, a particr talking mirror on the shelf chimed in, triggering a headache upon recognition. "Valen, fetch it for me," Felix yawned, and Valen, eyeing a gold butterfly-shaped brooch (from Future World''s No. 7 store), nced at him upon hearing the request, chirping curiously.


    "I don''t feel like moving... It''s a chance to train your sense of smell," Felix retorted.


    "Chirp chirp (What do you want)?"


    "Anders'' talking mirror, the scruffy uncle one." Felix casually described, immediately conjuring the image in Valen''s mind¡ªthe fool who''d performed coin magic in front of it¡ªand also recalled his scent.


    Valen sniffed and, with a wiggle of its furry body, hopped off the couch, retrieving the talking mirror from the shelf. It then slinked back onto the sofa, finding afortable spot in Felix''s embrace, raising the butterfly brooch again to inspect.


    Felix picked up the mirror, scanning the messages; most were sales stats of "Little Wizard Mick''s Adventures," a tale he''d seen several times and had ceased to interest him. Following were various inquiries about his ns for the new book.


    Umm...


    Felix scratched his head; he had considered publishing a booklet on ancient runes but knew it wouldn''t align with theic''s style. However, a supplementaryic issue alongside the booklet, narrating Mick''s school days, was a possibility.


    While he had a moment, he pondered:


    "Theic''s plot would be rtively simple, involving Mick''s introduction to ancient runes in the third year, studying under the professor, targeted as a short story."


    "For the booklet, I hope it epasses more educational and informative elements. Firstly, an introduction to the history of ancient runes¡ªconcise, a few hundred words should suffice... Following that, flipping a page would reveal a series of dynamic images showcasing ancient magical practices... For fairness, include an illustration of an old schr tranting manuscripts..."


    "The second part would delve into the development and evolution of ancient runes, also requiring simplification, as nobody wants lengthy dissertations..."


    "Nextes the crux; I need to rify my distinction between ancient runes and ancient magic... Hmm, I''d better choose a simple ancient magic as an example for analysis, preferably something easily practiced," Felix''s expression brightened a bit, considering, "let''s go with the Lumos spell."


    Felix lounged on the couch, contemting while ncing at the time. There was a Dueling ss tonight, after nearly a month''s hiatus; he wondered what surprises these little wizards might bring him?


    >


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 Chapter 447: Exchange

    Chapter 447: Exchange


    The Great Hall was abuzz with chatter.


    Young wizards stood on tiptoes, eagerly awaiting today''s Dueling ss professor.


    "Please, not Professor Moody. He''s too scary," a Ravenw girl remarked. "Especially when he charges at you to correct your stance, it feels like he''s about to cast a curse..."


    "That''s why he''s teamed up with Professor Flitwick," her friend remarked.


    Just then, Felix emerged from the entrance hall, stepping into the Great Hall. As he stood on the gilded tform, he noticed students from other schools.


    "We have some new guests today. Wee," Felix said softly, drawing his wand and conjuring a few sparks from its tip. "Usually, we only get to see each other during meals or in the library. This is a rare chance for you all to learn about the magical practices of different schools."


    "Professor, are we going to have a challenge?"


    "It''s possible," Felix said lightly. "But I''d rather you focus onmunication. Any brave soul willing to try? Or perhaps introduce your school?"


    After a brief silence, a tall figure emerged from the crowd - Nona Leberth. She ran her fingers through her hair, revealing a graceful chocte-colored neck, her gaze wild and untamed."Nona Leberth," she gestured toward herself, "from Uagadou. Proficient in astronomy, transfiguration, and aftering here, I''ve found a knack for spellcasting through gestures."


    Nona waved her hand, and something more resembling a club than a wand flew to her, which she caught effortlessly. With a flick, she produced a startling "whoosh" sound. Students nearby instinctively retreated, wary of getting identally struck.


    "Wands are not indispensable to us. They aid in smoother spellcasting," Nona exined. "Apart from wands, we emphasize independent gesture casting: quick, convenient, and secretive."


    She raised her eyebrows. "If you want to dislocate someone''s jaw, just a flick of the wrist... provided you''re skilled enough."


    "Excellent, Miss Leberth. Would you like to perform or¡ª"


    "No, I heard we could seek guidance from the professors, is that true?" she asked keenly. "I''m particrly interested in dueling, especially against those stronger than me... I challenged every senior student on Moon Mountain, including the younger professors."


    "Of course," Felix nodded, patting Valen the Niffler''s head, directing it to find a safe spot.


    "Over here¡ª"


    "Look, Valen¡ª"


    More than one student called out, Valen seeming quite popr. However, it swiftly darted to Hermione''s side. Hermione, peering over, scooped it up into her arms. "Oh, we can watch closely. Perhaps the third event might involve..."


    "I don''t want to face students from Uagadou or Ilvermorny," Ron grumbled. "Whether it''s animal transfigurations orposite spells, they''re tricky. ording to Byles, they form teams in Dark Arts Defense ss based on Auro standards."


    "That''s an advanced course for higher years, like an Auror prep," Hermione reminded him.


    On the tform, Felix and Nona Leberth exchanged bows. Suddenly, Nona made a swift gesture, causing a burst of sparks from Felix''s jaw - he had preemptively cast the Irond Jaw Charm.


    "Gesture casting is swift. If uncertain, prioritizing self-defense is never wrong... You can use the Irond Charm or prepare a protective amulet," Felix''s voice apanied the action.


    Nona continued her rapid hand movements, rhythmically tapping her fingers. Soon, the floor of the tform appeared dpidated. Felix casually countered the spells, as Nona hadn''t yet disyed sufficient prowess.


    Then, fractured boards morphed into six African Porcupines. Felix jabbed his wand forcefully, sending magical ropes flying from its tip, entangling the creatures like a multi-headed serpent, disrupting the transformation.


    The Porcupines suddenly emitted dense smoke. At that moment, Nona''s figure vanished.


    Felix, using magical sight, tracked her movements. In the center of the tform, he turned slightly, witnessing her elongate into an agile leopard, using the smoke''s cover to stealthily approach. Like a feline poised to pounce, she suddenly sprang, but the previously shattered magical ropes surged upward, formingyers of serpentine shapes around her.


    "Ssss..."


    Seeing three serpents staring at her and hearing hissing sounds from behind, Nona promptly conceded.


    As the smoke dissipated, she resumed her original form. Nona calmly asked Felix, "Where do you think I need improvement?"


    "It''s clear you have your tactics," Felix considered. "But your attack intentions are too obvious, and there''s ack of protection during human transfiguration... That shouldn''t be overlooked, should it?"


    "Not oversight," Nona smiled. "We''ve been working on teamworktely. So, you weren''t facing Nona Leberth, but a third of the Uagadou Warriors'' squad. Normally, when I transform into a leopard, various protective spells cover me."


    "I see," Felix nodded slightly, mentally simting the potential of Uagadou''s transformation tactics. Even with the disyed forms - the Roc, the Leopard, and the Elephant - while individually not exceedingly potent, theirbined strength with protective spells from teammates could be formidable. They could utilize their respective advantages explosively - observe weaknesses as a Roc, surge in as a Leopard to seize vital positions, and finally charge through obstacles as an Elephant. Thisbination would pose little trouble even against regr Dark Wizards.


    Then, a warrior from Durmstrang School stepped forward, attracting curious gazes. Little was known about this individual, even less so than the Bach fellow.


    At least Bach had contributed a thrilling scene - Professor Karkaroff descending from a height at ck Lake, snatching him and causing the projection screen to go ck for several minutes.


    "Um, hello," the person stuttered, "I''m Alrik Poliakoff, and I really like the wine at the Hogwarts banquets..."


    Laughter echoed through the hall.


    Poliakoff''s face turned even redder, looking flustered. When theughter died down, he continued, "I, um... I''d like to introduce Dark Magic..."


    The hall fell silent.


    "I, uh... over these months, I''ve heard rumors about Durmstrang teaching students Dark Arts without any restraint... I feel it''s necessary to rify, cough cough! The rumors aren''t entirely true..." Poliakoff said, "...it''s necessary to introduce my school; otherwise, misunderstandings will only grow."


    "Durmstrang has, since its second headmaster, emphasized dueling and war magic greatly. Six hundred yearster, we''ve taken this tradition to its peak. Yes, Durmstrang indeed teaches Dark Arts, but each one is carefully selected, ensuring no issues... or else Durmstrang wouldn''t be on par with Hogwarts or Beauxbatons," he exined.


    Whispers spread among the young wizards.


    "What do you think, Harry?" Ron asked.


    "Seems somewhat reasonable," Harry pondered. "But I don''t trust Karkaroff." He''d heard that Karkaroff had given Durmstrang''s squad a ten in the second event, while others hovered


    around seven or eight points.


    That was after Karkaroff received a warning; otherwise, his ratings for others would have been lower.


    "No one likes Karkaroff," Ron muttered, ncing up at Poliakoff on the tform, who was exining some of Durmstrang''s rules to showcase the school''s strict attitude towards Dark Arts.


    A smattering of apuse filled the hall.


    "Our rules also forbid nighttime wandering, trespassing in forbidden forests, and trading dungbombs!" Ron whispered.


    Harry couldn''t help but chuckle.


    "Next, I''ll demonstrate a few Dark Arts," Poliakoff, encouraged by the apuse, said excitedly. "It''s not as malevolent as one might think; it''s just about channeling negative emotions in the right ce, in a reasonable manner..."


    >


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 Chapter 448: New Applications of Magical Runes

    Chapter 448: New Applications of Magical Runes


    "There''s so much buzz and excitement, mixed with fear," a girl swayed her head as she spoke.


    "Oh Luna, you''re absolutely right," Ginny agreed, tiptoeing with the others to get a clearer view.


    On the tform, Felix addressed the crowd, "There''s no harm in broadening our horizons. Professor Poliakoff, I''ll assist in your demonstration." With a wave of his wand, shattered boards transformed into a humanoid target.


    Poliakoff raised his wand, chanting, "ck Feathers of Whirlwind!" A ck whirlwind surged from the wand''s tip, containing deeper, spinning ck feathers.


    After an acidic sound, the humanoid targety battered. The ck wind and feathers vanished, leaving gashes resembling gaping fish mouths.


    Gasps filled the audience, students farther away straining to see clearer.


    "If that hit a person..." Neville shuddered, eyeing the wounds on the target. "I still think Stunning Spells are the best."


    Simon patted his shoulder. "Not everyone feels the same..." Neville nced at Draco and a few Slytherin students enthusiastically apuding, then scanned the excited crowd.


    "That''s the ck Feather Curse. It summons a whirlwind towards enemies, but the focus is on those ck feathers¡ªlike tiny knives, swift and corrosive," Poliakoff exined.Felix and the others listened silently. Dark spots appeared on the wound area, affirming his words.


    "How effective is the standard healing?" Felix asked softly.


    "Um, counter-curses work best, but they''re somewhat effective without them. Professor suggested using this when faced with dangerous creatures in the wild, like a wolf pack," Poliakoff said. "When practicing, I imagine being surrounded by ferocious beasts, forcing me to fight back."


    Felix observed the intrigued and eager faces of the young wizards. "This method might have some effect, but it''s based on Durmstrang''s perfected operational mechanisms and may not suit Hogwarts. I should probably ry your thoughts to Professor Moody; he''d be interested."


    The students shifted ufortably.


    Felix understood their thoughts; he wasn''t always obedient in school. Who wouldn''t want to master a powerful and eye-catching spell? But after bing a professor, his perspective changed. Did Hogwarts students really need Dark Magic?


    He''d pondered deeply and concluded negatively. Hogwarts wasn''t a military school; it nurtured young wizards to wield their magic responsibly, guiding them ording to their strengths. Regarding self-protection, the Defensive Dark Arts ss sufficed formon dangers, especially with the recent improved teaching quality¡ªmore students were opting for Auror training.


    He had considered introducing upper-level students to some Dark Magic, but intensive short-term studies in such magic could easily breed darkness within.


    "Why not learn one or two if the side effects can be avoided?" Ron whispered.


    "Because you don''t know if you''re affected; changes could happen subtly," Hermione retorted sharply. "For skilled wizards, there are many ways for self-assessment."


    "Maybe you''re right, but I doubt general Dark Magic has that much impact," Ron admitted truthfully.


    The exchange continued¡ª


    Cedric showcased the application of ancient runes, surprising Felix as he chose a path Felix had once abandoned¡ªintegrating runic symbols into modern magic.


    Cedric smiled shyly. "When practicing the ''Flowing Water'' runes, the magical imagery resembled a spring. I had this idea ofbining it with the Clear Water Spring Spell and tried for a long time before seeding."


    Felix smiled. It seemed everyone was growing, though he wondered how far Cedric''s research had gone.


    Cedric swiftly traced a runic symbol in mid-air, shimmering for a moment before turning into an image resembling a waterfall or spring, faintly radiating light.


    Cedric, with his wand in hand, carefully touched the symbol.


    "Clear Water Spring!" he seized the chance to call out. His wand glowed, seemingly absorbing the image, transforming it into three free-flowing streams surrounding the wand''s tip.


    "Now, to cast them out¡ª" Cedric cautiously said, then pointed his wand, the water streams mmed into the humanoid target, creating a dull thud as it flew, crashing into the wall.


    The young wizards stared at the target in astonishment. If a living person had been struck, they could imagine the agonizing scene of someone groaning on the ground, clutching their stomach.


    "Why does it feel like his spell can knock someone out... What magic is this?" Ron asked in amazement.


    "It''s supposed to be the Clear Water Spring Spell; I saw it in our sixth-year Charms textbook. But..." Hermione''s expression was puzzled. "The description I read doesn''t match this effect. Could it be, as he said, utilizing runes?"


    Her fingertips danced with bright runes, spinning rapidly.


    Several senior students discussed excitedly, whispering. They knew the Clear Water Spring Spell''s original effect wasn''t this strong, but Cedric''s improvement seemed as potent as some attack spells.


    Following Cedric, more brave souls stepped up, showcasing their abilities. It was hard to say if the onlookers learned anything; perhaps many were just enjoying the spectacle, but it at least broadened their horizons.


    Felix sensed a shift in the brave souls'' attitudes. They might still be rivals for now, but they seemed more open and willing to connect¡ªperhaps a blend of foes and friends, understanding each other''s struggles?


    Felix pondered whether to organize another exchange meeting¡ªever since the failed exchange with the Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, there hadn''t been simr activities.


    After the exchange meeting, young wizards were curious about other schools'' showcases, yet Cedric was the only one avable, so he had to publicly demonstrate several times.


    "Timing is crucial. I haven''t quite grasped this part and n to consult Professor Heap," Cedric said.


    At the Magical Runes Club gathering, Felix unveiled the mystery behind this knowledge.


    "I''ve noticed this phenomenon too, as Mr. Davies mentioned. I started with a hypothesis..." Felix sat by the warm firece, surveying everyone.


    "Is there a possibility of ancient magic and modern magic merging?"


    The club members were momentarily stunned. Most were unfamiliar with this history, knowing only that ancient wizards used ancient magic while they used modern magic. Few understood how the transition urred.


    "Of course, there''s a lot of thought behind this, too much to exin in detail. In short, after much deliberation and experimentation, I shifted my breakthrough towards the possibility of integrating ancient runes and modern magic."


    >


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 Chapter 449: The Club Scene

    Chapter 449: The Club Scene


    "Although I ultimately abandoned that line of thinking because my spell''s potency improved rapidly, making it unsuitable to augment with runic scripts and fraught with many downsides, such as the need for divided attention... But I''ve discovered that perhaps it''s more suitable for you at this stage."


    Felix spoke softly, "Judging from Mr. Malfoy''s performance, thebination of ''water flow'' and the water conjuring spell is quite exceptional. I suggest continuing your exploration when you have the time, for instance¡ª" He paused, allowing everyone a moment to ponder.


    "Combining ''me'' runic script with the fire-summoning charm," Hermione eximed excitedly, "and also the ''illumination'' runic script with the light-producing charm."


    Felix smiled at her, "It seems Miss Granger has attempted this before. Perhaps we could research in groups those runic scripts and spells thatplement and enhance each other... especially since your magical control has improved considerably recently."


    The members of the runic scripts club grinned, remembering their nerve-wracking experience facing the Billywig beetles.


    Rising from the plush sofa cushion, Felix waved his wand lightly, summoning a shallow stone basin to the table. The students exchanged nces; although they had experienced this before, they still had some psychological shadows about entering it.


    "Let''s go first!" Fred and George said simultaneously. Both reached into the basin filled with silvery substance, and in the next moment, they were sucked inside.


    "Wow! Woo-hoo!" Their excited shouts turned into muffled tones, as if echoing from a well.


    A line of young wizards gathered around, quiet for a few seconds until they heard two distinct "thuds.""Safelynded," Ron grinned, his mouth wide open.


    "Yes! We''ve been waiting for you!" Fred''s voice echoed from within the basin, creating a mixture of reverberating sounds.


    "So, that''s their n..." Ron muttered, "The first one in means nobody saw their faces hit the ground." He leaned into the basin, his entire face disappearing into the silvery substance, vanishing from sight.


    The young wizards, one by one, entered the basin. However, unlike their Lumos Charm lessons, there were no professors awaiting them this time. Felix merely sought out a spacious area suitable for spellcasting.


    Felix''s voice echoed from the high sides of the basin, booming like thunder, "Stick to the same groups asst time."


    Inside the basin, Harry couldn''t help but inhale sharply, and Ron''s expression turned strained as they both looked towards Draco Malfoy. His difort was evident.


    At the previous runic scripts club meeting, Professor Heap suggested they use a cooperative method to control the Billywig beetles'' activity space¡ªthree people in one group. But Hermione was pulled away to guide Luna and Ginny, and by the time they realized, Draco Malfoy was standing menacingly before them.


    "I applied some potion on the way here; the Billywig beetles dislike this smell..." Draco said slowly, his eyes gleaming.


    "You learned that during the Christmas break?" Harry said angrily.


    "Oh, not at all. Haven''t you experienced my Stunning Spell?" Draco smirked, satisfaction apparent on his face, reminding Harry of their duel scene in Professor Moody''s ss.


    "My Full Body-Bind Curse isn''t pleasant either, is it?" Harry grinned.


    Draco''s pale face reddened; he hesitated, "I was too careless. You broke the rules..."


    "Is that so? Professor Moody didn''t see it that way. He was very displeased with your disobedience and acting before instructions, Malfoy," Ron said, watching him with interest. "You nearly achieved something¡ªa transformation under two Professor Moodys... If Professor Flitwick hadn''t been there, we might have witnessed that scene."


    That meeting was the worst sting for Ron, dragging Harry into the mess.


    ...


    The three stood facing each other, forming a small circle, seeming particrly cautious upon reuniting. Harry''s eyes darted between Ron and Draco, and the other two did the same.


    "Weasley, Potter, my mother is nning to get a record yer, not some entric sister duo... They don''t fit the aesthetics of well-bred individuals," Draco started.


    "What are you trying to say?" Ron snapped, itching to curse Malfoy.


    "Oh," Draco paused, a slight smile appearing on his pale face, "I mentioned something about a magical phonograph? That''s it, Weasley. Surely your house doesn''t have one?"


    "My family doesn''t need that kind of thing!" Ron''s face turned red.


    "Is that so..." Draco lifted his head triumphantly, "Recently, L.C.A. Publishing House also released a series ofic book ssics. I''ve collected a set."


    Ron was trembling with anger, unable to conjure a spell, his wand tip sparking.


    "That''s nothing," Harry intervened.


    "What did you say?" Draco fixed his gaze on Harry.


    "All those... valuable things you mentioned, like theic books, can be bought with money. I don''t see your personal contribution there; it''s all your family''s money, isn''t it?" Harry said. "I can''t see your relevance in all that, it''s just your family''s wealth, not yours, right?"


    Draco red at him, slowly speaking, "The Malfoys have always been like that."


    "Is that so?" Harry retorted sharply. "Sounds uplifting, but we value things money can''t buy. Even if you bought the collector''s edition ofic books, the content remains the same. And Ron has read it at least five times¡ª"


    "Make that six," Ron interrupted calmly. "I know some dialogues from the book by heart. That''s why I did well in the second task... Didn''t the professor put those books on a separate shelf in the library?"


    "We canpare, who knows more?" Ron challenged Draco.


    Draco sneered, "I''m not interested. Maybe you''re hoping to follow in your father''s footsteps? Reporting to the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office after graduation?"


    "You''re talking nonsense." Ron gritted his teeth, panting heavily. Harry gestured towards Ginny and Hermione, who had looked over, while Luna seemed eager to get closer to witness themotion.


    For a while, none of the three spoke¡ª


    "You both know what we should do," Harry said.


    "Exactly," Ron agreed.


    "Sorry, I have some doubts..." Draco drawled.


    "Is that so? Guess what?" Ron''s rage finally erupted, threatening in a low voice, "Either youe clean or we''ll cast the Tickling Charm on your nose!"


    Draco: "...You wouldn''t dare."


    "The professor probably didn''t follow us down here; maybe he''s sleeping on that sofa upstairs," Ron spected irresponsibly, but his words visibly affected Draco.


    The rest of the time went smoothly, with asional noises¡ª


    "Weasley, tsk! How did you think ofbining ''water flow'' and the fire-summoning charm? Expecting a cloud of steam? How do you n to control it?"


    "Potter! Let me do it; my Disintegrating Spell is more proficient. I suggest merging the illumination runic script¡ª"


    "Shut up, Malfoy!" x2


    >


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 Chapter 450: The Game

    Chapter 450: The Game


    Inside the office of the Potions professor, Felix and Snape engaged in a wizard''s chess match.


    Felix, with the white pieces, opened with the King''s Pawn. Snape, holding the ck pieces, countered with the Sicilian Defense. As the game progressed, pieces were captured, strategies unveiled, yet both their minds strayed from the board.


    "How effective is the secretion of the st-Ended Skrewtrvae?" Felix inquired.


    "It''s quite satisfactory, appears to undergo an unknown alteration, a benign one in my estimation..." Snape moved his ck pawn forward, whispering, "Perhaps a path, utilizing diverse magical properties to nullify certain unnecessary yet stubborn material traits."


    "In potion-making, there''s material neutralization. Ah, I see." Felix replied, advancing his Queen two squares, eliminating Snape''s pawn.


    Snape deftly maneuvered his bishop, "Most average wizards can''t discern subtle differences, crucial for their progress in potion-making..."


    Felix''s white knight trembled under the threat of Snape''s dark bishop, crying out, "Save me! Save me!"


    With a steelymand, Felix directed his queen three squares forward, unflinching, assessing the two ck pawns. Snape deliberated and abandoned one of the ck pawns.


    Then, Felix moved the white knight deeper into enemy territory. "Charge!" the piece eximed eagerly."Indeed," Felix replied, acknowledging Snape''s remarks. "However, we must consider the foundational gaps among our newer students."


    "Already considered. The first-year potion recipes are notably simplistic, allowing ample adaptation time." Snape leisurely remarked, "Unless they''re illiterate orck any semnce of logic."


    Felix recalled¡ªindeed, the first-year potion textbooks barely contained a few recipes, mostly focusing onmon ingredients, brewing cautions, and summaries of prevalent potion traits. Even the few remaining potion forms were intricately detailed. Stirring a few times, subsequent reactions¡ªall meticulously outlined. The pages also detailedmon errors and corrective measures.


    Snape''s ck knight advanced towards the center of the board,unching an attack. Felix redirected his pieces to counter. While the tension rose on the board, their conversation continued outside of it.


    "Many students have been discussing amplifying modern magic with ancient runic scripts; some have made significant headway," Snape whispered.


    "I''m aware..." Felix focused on the board, sensing a misalignment in the center, and after a moment''s contemtion, he keenly detected a concealed trap. He nced at Snape, "Trying to distract me with conversation?"


    He promptly ordered the white knight to retreat. The ck pawn followed, the white bishop eliminated the ck pawn, the ck knight retaliated by taking the white bishop, and then the white queen suddenly emerged, capturing the ck knight. The ck queen swiftly moved in to counter, and finally, Felix used his remaining pawn


    to capture the ck queen.


    After the intense exchange of moves, Felix breathed a sigh of relief.


    "The fusion of ancient runes and modern magic seems to be a dead end," he remarked.


    "A dead end?" Snape looked at him incredulously, forgetting his pieces.


    "Indeed," Felix considered, "More urately, a fork in the road, like a tributary branching off a river, ultimately merging back into one."


    "I''ve never heard of such a notion," Snape said methodically, holding a struggling ck knight in his hand.


    Felix smiled, exining further, "Take the ''water flow'' runic script and the Water Conjuration spell, their magical ideologies intersect, enhancing the spell with the runes. However, this amplification might not suit all spells, and the specific effects could vary based on individuals..."


    "Varies among individuals?" Snape pondered the phrase.


    "Yes, indeed. Proficiency in runes and a deep understanding of them are fundamental. Although shortcuts might exist, someone must be willing to teach... and the choice of appropriate spells, the students are ardently experimenting; they might yield some results before their enthusiasm wanes... And timing, the casting moment, and other factors, all pose questions," Felix continued. "This is just the integration of a single runic script with modern magic. What aboutbining two, three scripts? Runic loops, sequences, ancient magic? You''ll find that as you progress, ancient runes dominate more, rendering it somewhat pointless."


    "Then why¡ª" Snape began.


    "I was sidetracked," Felix calmly said. "I was fixated on reaching higher echelons, understanding the mysteries of higher levels. Some routes, obviously unsuitable, naturally got discarded. Especially after acquiring the Runic Tome," Felix thought.


    Snape fell silent for a moment. "So, do you think revealing it now would yield better results?"


    "It was Diggory''s reminder that made me consider it. I''m merely capitalizing on the opportunity," Felix shrugged, focusing on the chessboard. "However, on reflection, it indeed benefits me significantly to advance the study of ancient runes... Even though I don''t need it," he added. Meanwhile, he moved a white pawn forward, the soldier brandishing a sword in an exaggerated manner, intimidating the opponent''s knight.


    "I''ve had new revtionstely. Some of what we previously assumed were purely trantional runes might actually be simplified and altered forms of practical runic scripts¡ªalbeit highly transformed..." This was one of the insights the Runic Tome provided him.


    Snape was speechless.


    With no options left on the board, apart from conceding, was there any way for the Ancient Runes Society?


    ---


    The Ancient Runes Society Headquarters.


    Compared to the grandeur of associations like the Extraordinary Potioneers Association or the Sanctum Mungo Society of Magical Healing, the base of the Ancient Runes Society seemed modest. They barely counted thirty-some members, the umtion of decades of effort and research.


    "Have you seen this? It''s normal for the field of ancient runes to produce a valuable paper every few years, but in thest half-month, I''ve received six to seven groundbreaking papers..."


    "Is their research rted to us?" An irritable old man mmed the table.


    "Old Vira, don''t let personal emotions cloud your judgment. Your granddaughter working at ''Future World''pany can''t affect our association''s integrity."


    The old man red at hispanion, furious.


    "Think it through; this matter involves three departments¡ªthe Experimental Spells Committee, the Wizarding Examination Authority, and the Auro office," the other person saidnguidly, "Rumor has it they''re nning topile a booklet on ancient runes under Felix Harp''s guidance. So, it might attract attention from the Publishing Department..."


    "The Wizarding Examination Authority is involved too?" The old man asked.


    "Initially, Griselda was patient, nning to assess this year''s results... but things changed rapidly. It''s almost a subversion of modern spells!"


    "Is it that extreme?" The old man looked incredulous.


    "At least it''s an augmentation, a supplement. I''ve already conceded a point; you can''t refute that!" the person snapped.


    "Fine," the old man grumbled, silent for a while, "Do you know Professor Marchbanks? Get her to apany me!"


    There''s another chaptering soon.


    >


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 Chapter 451: Scrimgeour

    Chapter 451: Scrimgeour


    Felix Harp stepped out of the Potions ssroom with satisfaction, gazing through the window into the distance. It waste March, and the weather had warmed considerably. The view towards the Forbidden Forest and the mountains was no longer a dull expanse of brown.


    "What a waste not to explore the Forbidden Forest on such a beautiful day," Felix murmured to himself. He cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself, stretching his body and donning a silver cloak before soaring into the sky.


    Descending at the edge of the Forbidden Forest, Felixnded, the silver cloak behind him dissolving into specks of light. He couldn''t help but ponder, "Maybe one of the future descriptions about me will read, ''Coborated with Dumbledore on twelve variations of the Patronus Charm''?"


    Amused by the thought, he strolled through the forest. Up close, despite the lingering cold, tender shoots had pushed through the icy soil.


    He even stumbled upon a clump of orchids.


    Felix took a tour around several spots in the forest, including the herds of unicorns, hippogriffs, and thestrals, and of course, the nesting grounds of the Acromant. With his presence aiding Grawp, the domination of the savage Aragog''s descendants didn''t bode well for any individual showing signs of cruelty.


    As evening approached, Felix enchanted a piece of wood he found, turning it into a dog toy, which he gifted to Hagrid''s faithful dog, Fang.


    Returning to the castle, he collided with Professor Flitwick in the entrance hall. "Oh, Felix? Milova was looking for you," he chirped.


    "What''s up?""Not sure... But she asked me to tell you to visit Dumbledore''s office first, using the password: ''Honeydew.'' It was about an hour ago," Flitwick rattled off the information.


    "Alright," Felix shrugged and made his way up to the separate tower where the Headmaster''s office resided. Uttering the password, the massive stone gargoyle moved aside, revealing the revolving staircase behind.


    Knocking on the door, the shiny oak wood door opened automatically. Inside the circr room were two people ¨C Dumbledore behind his desk and someone else...


    Felix squinted, seeing what seemed like a majestic old lion striding towards him, tawny mane and thick eyebrows dancing in the air, sharp yellow eyes piercing. Even the strands of gray in his hair and his less agile legs didn''t diminish his aura.


    A name resonated within Felix ¨C Rufus Scrimgeour, Head of the Auror Office and right-hand man to the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. But as far as he knew, he hadn''t met Scrimgeour in person.


    So, he turned to Dumbledore beside him. "Headmaster Dumbledore? Why did you summon me?"


    "Oh," Dumbledore snapped out of his contemtion, fingers intertwined before him, a twinkle in his eye. "ording to the Ministry''s arrangements, Felix, you''ll have three sets of visitors today." He nced at the memo on the table, fingers dancing over it while flicking a colored candy wrapper with his index finger.


    "The first is Professor Marchbanks from the Wizarding Examinations Authority. She arrived with Mr. Vera, Deputy Head of the Ancient Runes Association about an hour and a half ago. They are currently taking a stroll around the school with Milova."


    "Unfortunately, you missed them," Dumbledore smiled. "But don''t worry, Professor Marchbanks expressed her desire to reside at Hogwarts for a while, and I agreed."


    Felix and Scrimgeour simultaneously stared at Dumbledore. Scrimgeour impatiently interjected, "Dumbledore! You know I''m busy. I only need one answer... Perhaps I should send an assistant, but this matter is crucial, I must confirm it personally."


    "Very well," Dumbledore said regretfully, "The second visitor is Mr. Rufus Scrimgeour, the gentleman before you. You might have heard of him. He read Mr. Digory''s paper in the newspapers and was stunned by the phenomenon of amplifying spells through Ancient Runes. Incidentally, he has a prospective Auror under him..."


    He looked at Scrimgeour, who, after a two-second pause, gravely said, "Albert Burke."


    "I believe I have some recollection of that name. Burke used to be an assistant in the Duelling Club. But from what I know, his proficiency in Ancient Runes was not noteworthy," Felix mused.


    "He only validated partial information," Scrimgeour said, his face devoid of any smiles. Having dealt with dark wizards for many years, his ability to smile seemed to have vanished. "Later, I witnessed the specific effects on another young man. He took less than half an hour to unravel the points mentioned in the paper, quite impressive... It was on ''Fire'' Ancient Runes and the zing Spell, and also ''Flow'' and the Water-Creation Charm."


    "I''d wager it was a Weasley," Felix interrupted. "Percy Weasley, currently the Senior Assistant to the International Cooperation Executive. He''s responsible for Ludovic Bagman and the Minister."


    "Percy Weasley would certainly relish such an arrangement," Felix thought.


    "Let''s speak freely, Mr. Harp," Scrimgeour said. "I admire your magical abilities and your role in calming the chaos at the Quidditch World Cup... Considering the current situation, we must n ahead... I''d like to invite you to join the Ministry of Magic."


    "I''m sorry, did I hear correctly?"


    Felix was genuinely taken aback. He had at most assumed that this high-ranking Auror wanted his help in training a batch of Aurors or operatives, not to be recruited himself.


    "The situation is dire. The matter of Barty has shaken the Ministry..." Scrimgeour abruptly stopped, turning to Dumbledore, exchanging a nce, "Alright," he grumbled, "Since you seem to know quite a lot, I might as well borate a bit, but this is all ssified..."


    He limped over to the window, gazing at the distant ck Lake. But Felix felt his eyes observing him from the corner. He subtly adjusted his posture, wearing an attentive expression.


    "The office was in an uproar," Scrimgeour said. "I mean, the sharp-minded or those adept at reading between the lines were terrified by Barty Crouch''s performance that morning, during work hours... with peopleing and going..."


    Felix imagined, a meticulous Ministry official suddenly showing up disheveled, running to the Ministry and confessing. That would shock anyone who witnessed it.


    "...he seemed to have suffered horrific torture. Fudge was in a panic, facing such a sudden turn of events, he was as disappointing as ever. But Bones managed to stabilize everyone, took Barty Crouch to a small conference room... A few of


    us followed..."


    Scrimgeour paused, scratching his chin, eyes focused on the dancing ripples on theke. "We couldn''t believe our ears. There was mention of a ''Boy''... and then ''Potter''... He asked for Felix Harp."


    Felix was surprised at the mention of Harry Potter. He''d never expected to be a topic of discussion involving Harry.


    "The Ministry is under pressure," Scrimgeour continued, ncing at Felix. "Our ties to Crouch, the dark past... Everything needs to be reevaluated, reconsidered. We need fresh perspectives and strong hands."


    Felix considered the situation. The offer was unexpected, especially considering his academic pursuits and thefort of the Hogwarts environment. Yet, the idea of contributing to the Ministry, especially in these times, was intriguing.


    "Scrimgeour," Dumbledore interjected gently, "Felix has much to consider. I''m sure he will weigh his options wisely. Wouldn''t you, Felix?"


    "Absolutely, Headmaster," Felix nodded, his mind already juggling the possibilities.


    Scrimgeour handed Felix a card with a Ministry seal and a silver quill emblem.


    "If you choose to consider our offer, do send an owl to my office. We''ll arrange a meeting," Scrimgeour said, his voicemanding yet concealing a sense of urgency.


    With a nod to Dumbledore and a brief, polite nce at Felix, Scrimgeour departed.


    "Quite an intriguing proposition," Dumbledore remarked. "But I sense it has created a dilemma for you."


    Felix nodded slowly. "It''s certainly not what I expected when I woke up this morning."


    "It''s always interesting how life presents us with choices when we least expect them," Dumbledore mused, a twinkle in his eye. "Now, Felix, I believe Professor Marchbanks is eager to meet you. Shall we?"


    The evening moved forward with the excitement of meetings, discussions about the Ancient Runes program, and possibilities for future coborations. But amidst all this, Felix''s mind kept circling back to Scrimgeour''s offer. The unexpected turn of events had certainly opened a new door in his life.


    >


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 Chapter 452: The Strength of Voldemort

    Chapter 452: The Strength of Voldemort


    Behind the lenses, Dumbledore''s blue eyes blinked.


    "A very intriguing question, Felix. Few have asked me so directly," he said.


    "I mean... Voldemort showed no inclination to attack Hogwarts during the war. He seemed... well... quite wary of someone within the school. Yet, in the eyes of the public, these two individuals have no record of ever facing each other," Felix carefully articted.


    "Perhaps that''s the truth," Dumbledore smiled.


    "Or it could be only part of the truth," Felix interjected. "Some people perceive only fragments of the truth¡ªthey see results or a few moments in the process but can''t grasp the whole picture."


    Dumbledore furrowed his brow slightly, his mouth slightly ajar, seemingly selecting the right words.


    Felix knew he had to do or say something. Otherwise, he''d have to await the old man''s decision. So, clearing his throat, he spoke, "Albus, we''re aware that Voldemort and Barty Crouch Jr. were hiding while the Ministry dispatched many Aurors and hit wizards but found nothing. We might need to consider the possibility of his sessful return, and I need to understand his strength."


    After a moment of silence, Dumbledore seemed convinced.


    "I can assure you, Felix, although I''ve never seen him perish in my presence, I have indeed vanquished and damaged his body on more than one asion, leaving wounds that normal means couldn''t heal," Dumbledore calmly revealed, unearthing a long-held secret."Unheble wounds?" Felix keenly asked.


    "I remember telling you... I once interviewed him?" Dumbledore spoke softly, leaning back, gazing at the ceiling.


    "...Yes," Felix slowly, suppressing his excitement, responded.


    "That was his appearance at the time," Dumbledore dered, and with a swift wand movement, a somewhat ethereal figure began taking shape. His face seemed scorched, features blurred, with almost no recognizable contours, the skin resembling hardened white wax, grotesquely twisted. Eyes permanently bloodshot, ck pupils flickering with an indifferent gleam.


    Felix scrutinized Dumbledore''s memory of Voldemort. He wasn''t unfamiliar with this image¡ªhaving glimpsed it once when discovering the locket box, but Voldemort now seemed even less human than before.


    "This suggests Voldemort had already created the locket Horcrux before that interview," Felix thought. Considering Dumbledore''s earlier words, he cautiously inquired, "Was it the effect of Dark Magic or the impact of the Horcrux?"


    Dumbledore looked at him approvingly, dispelling the phantom from the air.


    "Both possibilities exist. Personally, I lean towards the former... though we can''t disregard the impact on his body due to multiple Horcruxes causing a fragmentation of the soul, affecting his physical form. After all, no one in history has done what he has."


    "So, Voldemort''s body differs from that of a regr person? His merging of Szar Slytherin''s blood magic and his own Dark Magic makes fatal injuries less effective on him?" Felix analyzed based on Dumbledore''s words.


    Frowning, he couldn''t help but think, how would they fight this?


    Suddenly, a possibility struck him. Felix looked at Dumbledore in astonishment, unable to contain his surprise, and eximed, "An Animagus? Has Voldemort reached the level of Rowena Ravenw, Lady?"


    Meanwhile, he recalled Dumbledore''s previous opinion upon hearing the term ''Animagus'':


    "Felix, I cannot offer you much insight. In my younger days, I did believe I was invincible for a not-insignificant period... An Animagus? That term is too humble, and I was too arrogant at that time."


    It was the same asion when Dumbledore demonstrated the ''flicking curse'' trick with his finger...


    Dumbledore sat upright in his chair, hands resting on the desk, and firmly shook his head. "I don''t think it''s that. At least, I have never possessed such an ability. Even... the other founders of the school had no records simr to that. On the contrary, Szar Slytherin¡ªthere were suspicions he possessed a magic capable of drawing life force to heal himself."


    "The diary?" Felix alerted. Two years ago, the diary Horcrux had confused Ginny Weasley, absorbing some of her life force, fortunately not much and was promptly discovered and healed by Madame Pomfrey''s expertise.


    "Most likely," Dumbledore nodded lightly. "A magic that depletes life force, though rare, exists. But transferring life force from one person (Ginny) to a fragment of a soul, I''ve never heard of."


    "Is it the influence of the Horcrux?" Felix spected on another possibility. "Perhaps the Horcrux has a feature of absorbing life force." But he quickly realized it didn''t align; he had read about Horcruxes in the chapter of an antique book titled ''Secrets of Advanced Dark Magic''¡ªhis understanding of Horcruxes wasn''tcking.


    Dumbledore also dismissed this conjecture.


    "A Horcrux is a detached piece of a soul, left in some corner of the world to ensure the creator''s immortality. In essence, it''s undying," Dumbledore exined. "To achieve this, the separated soul should be dormant, or at least extremely inactive¡ªunless there''s a mortal threat around the Horcrux, prompting a defense¡ªonly then is it secure."


    Felix nodded slightly, agreeing with Dumbledore. A normal person wouldn''t want their soul fragment within a Horcrux to be active or possess independent consciousness, fearing potential trouble if discovered and destroyed.


    "Yet... the diary should be special?" he pondered aloud.


    "Indeed," Dumbledore nodded. "When Ginny Weasley first wrote in the diary, she received a response, falling into Voldemort''s meticulously crafted trap... I can almost affirm Voldemort didn''t regard it as a life-saving Horcrux but rather as a key to open the Chamber, hence granting many privileges to the diary, including his memories up to the age of 16, sufficient activity... and naturally, the knowledge he inherited from Slytherin''s ancestor within the Chamber."


    "But all of this is conjecture," Felix wrinkled his brow, feeling a bit frustrated. Dumbledore sounded so certain, how was he so sure?


    He roughly outlined the information. Dumbledore had ndestinely faced Voldemort several times during the war, inflicting severe damage, yet Voldemort quickly bounced back. Dumbledore seemed to be investigating the reason behind this. He attributed it to Dark Magic and Blood Magic, citing evidence from Szar Slytherin''s ability to draw life force for healing and Ginny''s experience. But there was another possibility that Felix couldn''t help but consider¡ªwhy not?


    So, he voiced it out, "Why couldn''t it be that he resurrected using a Horcrux?"


    Dumbledore''s sharp gaze darted towards him, appearing highly vignt. "Why do you think so?"


    "Just a guess," Felix shrugged. "Maybe he indeed altered his body using Dark Magic, but there should be limits, right? For instance, he might have dyed death, found a loyal servant afterward, and performed a resurrection ritual... then used a Memory Charm or a Forgetfulness Charm to erase the aftermath? Or perhaps discarded it outright..."


    Dumbledore lowered his head, silent.


    "It''s indeed a possibility, Felix," he said. "But no matter what, the information we have is quite limited." He looked at the desk leg thoughtfully, speaking almost inaudibly, "


    And whatever his method, it must have been unorthodox, for he managed to return stronger than before."


    Felix mulled over Dumbledore''s words. Perhaps they weren''t close to uncovering Voldemort''s secrets, but they were taking significant steps in the right direction. It was like finding pieces of a puzzle and trying to fit them together, though there was still no clear picture.


    As he pondered, Dumbledore raised his gaze. "Felix, remember, knowledge is not always a straightforward path. Sometimes, it''s abyrinth, twisting and turning. And asionally, you have to backtrack to find the right way forward."


    >


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 Chapter 453: Observing

    Chapter 453: Observing


    The next day, Felix yawned as he got out of bed.


    He hadn''t slept wellst night, tossing and turning, and suddenly realized a problem: His responsibilities seemed to have sprawled too wide, things not belonging to him eagerly approached, and he found himself unable to resist. Strangely, he didn''t feel much resistance within himself.


    When did this begin? Felix pondered this while brushing his teeth in front of the mirror. Faces and events shed through his mind. In just over two years, he had experienced quite a lot.


    Felix knew Dumbledore hadn''t rejected his efforts to solve mysteries. He had willingly shared secretive information, things that Dumbledore had likely kept hidden from everyone else.


    At least, Felix had probed enough to confirm that Severus knew nothing about the Horcruxes. Those who knew¡ªHarry, Ron, Hermione, and Sirius¡ªwere all under a binding oath, even Remus was unaware of the truth.


    Why would a wise man, someone who guarded secrets so closely, easily divulge this to him? Felix spected that Dumbledore might be hoping to groom him to face Voldemort.


    That wasn''t a bad thing.


    Felix didn''t resist this idea. His initial thought before joining was that he was already strong enough; the only real pressure woulde from Dumbledore and the Voldemort-like soul fragment. Even if Voldemort returned, Hogwarts was safe with Dumbledore around. And he didn''t mind lending a hand while under protection. If Voldemort''s strength turned out to be manageable, he''d dly deal with the trouble himself.


    But things had drastically changed in the past couple of years. Before joining, he relied more on his natural talents, using superior spell levels to overpower others, not fundamentally different from those elite Aurors. Perhaps a few more ancient spells, sixth-level magic, and some tricks up his sleeve... but they had decades morebat experience. Felix admitted that taking a few stunning spells would leave him dazed.He guessed that back then, he might have stood a chance against the peak Moody (as he learned during treatment). But if Moody came with a trained Auror squad, the oue would be uncertain. He could resort to immature tactics, like elerating the casting of instant-killing spells, which had worked in the US, but if his tricks failed, trouble would loom.


    Now, everything was different. He had perfected instant-killing tactics, maneuvering effortlessly; the mind chamber magic was bingbat-ready, unafraid of group attacks; his memory magic was reaching its peak, almost bing an art form... The guardian''s cloak wasn''t very useful, just saved him from using a broomstick for flying; the human armor spell resisted arrows but couldn''t withstand powerful curses... Additionally, his mastery of ancient runes was bottomless.


    Honestly, Felix didn''t feel much mental pressure. Even if there was a newndscape beyond him¡ªlet''s call it "magical beings" or "legends"¡ªhe remained calm.


    You could always run away. In the records of thest war, though rare, some managed to escape Voldemort''s pursuit. Among them were the Lestrange couple, whom Felix had visited during his third-year summer break and extensively interviewed¡ªnot just their memories but also the analytical thinking of the two Aurors.


    He concluded: In terms of escape skills, he was far superior to the Lestranges.


    Considering the worst-case scenario where Dumbledore fell to Voldemort''s resurgence, and Felixcked readiness, he''d withdraw, wait for an opportunity, wait until he was ready to step over that threshold.


    Felix had the patience for this and the confidence to go further on the path of magic than anyone else, but he needed time.


    He had been thinking quite well, calm, rational, disciplined... fulfilling his usual standards. But as Felix stood in the ancient runes ssroom, teaching, and saw those familiar faces, he wasn''t so sure anymore.


    "What if the timees when someone needs to take Dumbledore''s mantle, to face what he once faced? What would I do?" Felix pondered this weighty question, scanning the ssroom. His gaze lingered slightly at the back row, and with a faint smile, he said:


    "We have two extra guests in our ss today. One is Professor Griselda Marchbanks from the Wizarding Examinations Authority¡ª"


    The young wizards pped enthusiastically, turning their heads to see the petite, hunchbacked witch at the back. She waved, gesturing, "We have much to discuss! But, I think it''s best to start the ss!"


    Ron pped while craning his neck, "She''s our examiner for next year, isn''t she?"


    Harry also watched Professor Marchbanks but divided his attention, ncing at the slightly balding old man beside her. Though not as extreme, the man''s stature and appearance resembled Uncle Vernon. Especially when he red with those bull-like eyes, the resemnce was uncanny.


    Harry dreaded this man suddenly jumping up, tongue-tied in anger, just like Uncle Vernon, unable to utter aplete sentence when infuriated.


    Hermione seemed eager to leave a good impression, sitting upright despite her eyes nearly disappearing into her eyebrows. Next to her, Neville sat red-faced, still recovering from the pre-ss encounter¡ªMarchbanks and Neville''s grandmother were friends, so she knew him. Before ss, her loud queries about Neville''s grandmother and parents kept escting, with Marchbanks constantly urging Neville to "speak up!"¡ªresulting in her voice growing louder while Neville''s grew softer.


    "The other is Mr. Vira, Vice President of the Ancient Runes Society," Felix continued as the apuse subsided, cheerfully adding, "Today, we continue our studies, as this knowledge might appear in the O.W.Ls examination..."


    >


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 Chapter 454: Between Lessons

    Chapter 454: Between Lessons


    "In magical script, the ''Sun'' describes a dynamic process of ascent, transition... it can depict the rising sun, changes in willpower, especially under magical influence... and also denotes the path to sess, the honor achieved through personal resilience..."


    Felix stood at the lectern, discussing animatedly, while at the back, Professor Griselda Marchbanks widened her eyes.


    She was quite elderly and a bit hard of hearing. She was about to use a charm to enhance her hearing¡ªusing it often left her feeling irritable, as if a thousand bees buzzed around her ears. So, she only used it on important asions, like the annual wizarding level examinations. Yet, before she could draw her wand, Felix''s voice had already reached her ears clearly.


    The key was¡ªshe nced around¡ªno one else felt difort, which meant Felix had subtly influenced only her.


    Moreover, as she observed the bright symbol held in Felix''s palm, she unraveled a puzzle. Why would this youngd dare to assert in front of her, the chief examiner, that ''this knowledge might appear on the O.W.Ls exams''...


    Because this was practical ancient magical script. Apart from this young professor and his students, there weren''t many with authority in this field.


    At most, a few alchemists, but they only had a shallow understanding, focusing on the script''s application in alchemy.


    Apart from them, those from the Wizarding Examinations Authority couldn''t match up, nor could the members of the Ancient Runes Society¡ªshe nced at the old man with wide eyes beside her, quite certain¡ªthey wouldn''t cut it either.


    A student raised their hand."Miss Greengrass?"


    "Yeah, so is this a dual-use magical script? Both trantional and practical?" asked Daphne.


    "Exactly," Felix nodded at her, "you can understand it that way."


    At that moment, Heidestrand Vira, seated at the back, stared at the magical script in Felix''s hand, astonished. He rubbed his eyes in disbelief, his face breaking into an ecstatic expression. Mimicking Daphne, he too raised his hand, eagerly looking at Felix.


    "Well... Mr. Vira?" Felix held back a chuckle.


    "It''s like this," Heidestrand Vira''s eyes widened, speaking proudly, "I''ve studied this magical script too, only the way I learned to write it is quite different from yours." He pointed at the symbol with his chubby fingers, "And I''m pretty sure yours differs from the markings in ''The Codex of Magic Symbols'' too, the correct way seems to be... uh..."


    At the lectern, Felix, matching his speech''s pace, slightly tilted the symbol in mid-air, adding a bit more curvature on both sides. "Like this?"


    Strangely, when he did this, the magical script immediately dimmed, losing its brilliance.


    "...Right," the old man looked puzzled.


    Felix nced at the people below the lectern.


    "Thanks for your reminder, Mr. Vira," he said cheerfully, seemingly genuinely grateful, "this is something I need you all to pay attention to."


    The students stared at him wide-eyed.


    "Recently, I made a new discovery: many supposedly trantional magical scripts are actually variations or misinterpretations of some practical scripts, probably due to the passage of time... So, I n to review all the knowledge you''ve learned."


    "For example, in this case, trantional magical script appears like a slightly curved lightning bolt or a ttened nted letter ''S''; while practical magical script," Felix readjusted the script in his hand, letting the students see theplete change, the curved line gradually straightening, resembling¡ª"


    "An upside-down capital ''N'' with protrusions at the top and bottom," he said. The symbol in his hand lit up again, shimmering faintly.


    Heidestrand Vira''s face flushed, struggling for words.


    "Evidence can be found in the magical notes of two medieval wizards, ''The Will of Magic'' and ''Derek Prudlin''s Notes''. They came from a highly skilled wizard and an apprentice wizard, judging by the depth of their recorded content... When they used the same magical script, their writing styles were significantly different. A reasonable guess is, the former knew the true appearance of this script, while thetter merely copied or took shortcuts..."


    Heidestrand Vira looked around while the students busily took notes, only he had nothing in front of him... Then he thought of a solution.


    Crabbe felt a forceful poke on his back, then heard a hushed voice say, "Chubby!"


    Chubby?


    He turned around, ring at the simrly not-so-lean Heidestrand Vira, and after a few seconds realized the person behind was an onlooker, staring at the vice-president of the Ancient Runes Society, looking like they''d been hit with a dumbfounding spell.


    "Chubby! Hey!" Old Vira waved his wand in front of Crabbe, "Lend me your parchment and quill to copy."


    Crabbe made a bewildered expression, as if he didn''t understand at all.


    Old Vira stared at him, then, after a few moments of standoff, his wand deftly pointed, "Parchment flies in, quill flies in... Good, copy it twice! Copy it twice!"


    Old Vira looked at the copies in his hand, nodding in satisfaction. "There you go, your stuff." He returned Crabbe''s things and immediately started taking notes.


    He absolutely had to go through every bit of data thatd mentioned. Who knew if it was a bluff? He couldn''t let that boy slip through!


    As he recorded, he felt irked at being a few minutes behind every time. Frustrating.


    Finally, the bell rang, and the students filed out, leaving only three adults in the ssroom. Felix was about to say something when the diminutive Griselda Marchbanks leaped forward, grabbing his hand in a rush:


    "What spell did you just use?"


    "Just a simple application of the Sonorus Charm," Felix answered, puzzled.


    "Simple application!" Professor Marchbanks looked astonished, "It seems you haven''t neglected your research on charms... But do you have any good methods for the elderly''s hearing?"


    "Of course, I know a spell: ''Aures Luminis,'' Professor Flibbertigibbet studied it extensively..."


    Felix smiled, engaging in conversation with Professor Marchbanks, somewhat alleviating another person''s embarrassment.


    Heidestrand Vira quietly breathed a sigh of relief. He suddenly feared facing this young man alone. Felix Harp had shaken his steadfast career in just one ss.


    He looked somewhat dazed, scenes from the ''Future World''pany his granddaughter always chattered about were vivid in his mind.


    "Mr. Vira... Mr. Vira?" a voice seemed toe from afar.


    "What''s up?" Old Vira responded absentmindedly.


    "...Nothing," Felix subtly sized him up, "just that Professor Marchbanks inquired about your opinion. She isn''t quite familiar with ancient magical scripts, and it seems you volunteered to assist¡ª"


    "Oh, uh," Old Vira straightened up, putting on a face as if he were preparing for a duel, speaking earnestly, "Ahem! Conclusions shouldn''t be rushed at the moment... There are many vague areas


    , I need to, um, organize everything."


    "Of course, no problem," Felix said with a smile, "that settles it. I''ll be waiting for your report." He pretended to sigh, "Professor Marchbanks, Mr. Vira, you might not know, but I''ve been under tremendous pressure these past two years..."


    "Pressure?" Professor Marchbanks looked at him skeptically.


    Old Vira also stood there dumbfounded, while every student who graduatedst year except one got an ''Outstanding''. He clenched the parchment in his hand; there were still a pile of questions waiting for his confirmation.


    For the next few minutes, the three acted as if their previous conversation had never happened.


    Ah, just missing those few minutes always feels stifling.


    >


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 Chapter 455: Responsibility Breeds Courage

    Chapter 455: Responsibility Breeds Courage


    Professor Marchbanks abruptly shifted the conversation to her friend Gilbert Wimple in the Experimental Spells Committee. "Wimple wanted toe over! But I advised him to deal with those horns on his head first, it''s been a while. I just happen to know Dorothy was in Saint Mungo''s yesterday, so I told him to hurry over there... He asked me to bring these materials to you."


    Felix took the materials. Marchbanks added casually, "Inside are some questionnaires, assessing the dangers and ease of mastering spells, along with potential risks. Just pass them to those students and have them filled out and sent back to the Ministry''s Experimental Spells Committee. They''ll have people check themter."


    Before leaving, she tentatively asked, "You really don''t n to put your name down? There might be new spells named after you!"


    "Oh, no need. I suffer from namers block," Felix replied.


    Old Vira paused at the door, in a nonchnt tone asking, "By the way, those ancient magical texts in the library¡ª"


    "They''re in the usual spot, second tost row on the bookshelf," Felix immediately replied.


    Old Vira paused for a moment, waved, and muttered a "Thank you" as she left.


    ...


    Felix left the Ancient Runes office, contemting the recent events. He couldn''t help but curl his lips in a smirk. "A little jab at that stubborn old man today, another one tomorrow, and then I can sit back and watch things unfold. After all, with Clementine involved... I''m such a good person!""P-Professor?" A head poked out from the corridor, stuttering.


    It was Neville.


    "You heard something?" Felix asked with a smile.


    "Y-you... you''re a good person..." Neville replied dumbfoundedly, then instantly showed a terrified expression, desperately covering his mouth.


    "You''re not to tell anyone," Felix stated.


    Neville stared at the stern-faced professor, nodding like a chicken pecking.


    "Anything you want? Oh, by the way, how are your parents? I heard they got discharged from Saint Mungo''s," Felix inquired.


    "Yes, they''ve recovered," Neville hurriedly replied. "The director from the Auror Office visited a while ago, hoping they''d return to the team, maybe even as squad leaders."


    "Strd?" Felix furrowed his brow slightly.


    "Yes, him," Neville said. "But mom and dad decided to take a break, they''re traveling abroad for a bit, for recovery training... They''ll decide when they return."


    Felix nodded slightly. "Sounds good. Alright, Neville, why were you lurking in the corridor? Anything you want to tell me?"


    "I-I..." Neville suddenly stuttered again, his face turning red, swallowing hard. "I want to ask if there''s a magic to make someone brave?"


    "Make someone brave?" Felix looked at him oddly. "What do you intend to do?"


    "I-I''ve noticed improvements in my talents and grades, but I''m still cowardly. I can''t even speak loudly in front of others, afraid of ridicule... a-and the tournament¡ª"


    "You want to join the tournament? Like Potter and the others? They''repelled," Felix remarked.


    "N-no, I mean, for both events, Ick the courage to challenge. Not an ounce of bravery... When I think of the tasks, like the Hungarian Horntail or the depths of theke, I can''t help but shiver," Neville said, tears welling up.


    "So, I want to ask, is there any magic to shield me from these negative emotions, including what others think of me?"


    Neville looked at Felix expectantly.


    Of course, there is, Felix thought, lumency, tailored just for you. But if you aim to gain courage by blocking emotions, that''s putting the cart before the horse.


    "You''ve caught me off guard," Felix scrutinized Neville, making him visibly ufortable. "Your idea is quite unique... A curse work?"


    "A c-curse?" Neville seemed startled.


    "Yes," Felix casually scratched his chin, then suddenly changed his demeanor, saying ominously, "I curse you: from this moment onward, every insult, nder, mockery, resentment, dissatisfaction you hear shall turn into the most pleasant praises... You won''t hear harsh advice... Or honest warnings..."


    Neville shivered as if something vile wrapped around him, trembling uncontrobly.


    "P-professor?" Neville, with a mournful expression, said despairingly, "Did you really curse me? At least ask me first..."


    Felix''s expression turned stern. "You''re a dunderhead."


    Neville froze. His eyes widened until he blinked. "I... I''m fine? I heard you call me a dunderhead... So, I wasn''t cursed?"


    Felix chuckled.


    Neville''s round face couldn''t help but tense up. Felixfortingly patted his shoulder, "Remember what you saw when you got the invitation card for the Brave Warriors?"


    "I saw... Hogwarts... Ennd... the ocean... the world and... the sparkling starry sky," Neville said. He recalled the awe-inspiring experience of drifting through the vastness of the cosmic stars, a silent contrast that needed no words to feel his insignificance.


    As he thought, his mind diverted, recalling the previous challenges¡ªstanding on stage singing to a row of ''Professor Snape'' in the audience. It was a nightmare: Snape expressing delight, snapping angrily, wearing a ck cloak and ring coldly, attempting to approach him...


    The scene was so impactful that afterward, even when he saw the actual Potions Master, his mood felt odd. He feared that Seamus or Dean might suddenly turn their heads, revealing a face with an impassive expression and a long hooked nose.


    However, despite it all, he was less afraid of attending Potions ss.


    He heard a snap and looked up to see Professor Harp staring at him. "Apologies, Professor, I zoned out," Neville stuttered.


    Felix looked understanding.


    He hadn''t used Legilimency and assumed Neville was immersed in the magical memories attached to the invitation card.


    "Do you have any ns for the future?" he asked, leading into the next topic. Most students usually have an epiphany about it during the fifth year career advice sessions.


    "Just a suggestion," Felix said, "If you''re a professor, you''ll have to deal with various lively students or if you''re an Auror, think long-term as a squad leader, right? Then you''ll have to constantly monitor your team members'' emotions; otherwise, a slight mistake could mean a life."


    Neville''s expression turned serious, nodding along. He''d heard simr things from his parents. Some of the perspectives aligned with the professor''s words...


    The professor knows a lot, Neville thought with envy.


    "...So, you should also possess such capabilities," Felix concluded.


    "Uh..." Neville''s face reddened again. He wasn''t good at this, and at this moment, he only thought: I''m done for. Can''t be a Potions professor or an Auror. But he quickly rallied and said softly, "I''ll try?"


    Felix nodded approvingly and, sifting through his ring, pulled out a small booklet. "I happen to have a spell here for you to look at... It''s the magic attached to the


    Brave Warriors tournament."


    Neville was surprised but looked intrigued.


    Felix briefly exined, "It''s an incantation that aids in channeling and controlling one''s emotions. It''s not foolproof, but it might help you build courage by understanding and managing your feelings. However, be warned, it doesn''t nullify fear; it''s more about understanding and confronting it. Mastery wille with practice and experience."


    Neville took the booklet with shaky hands, looking at the spell with reverence.


    "Professor," Neville hesitated for a moment, "thank you."


    Felix patted his shoulder once again. "Remember, Neville, bravery isn''t the absence of fear; it''s facing it despite being afraid."


    Neville nodded, feeling a warmth inside him. He nced at the spell, determination flickering in his eyes.


    "Practice it diligently," Felix advised. "And when you feel ready, take the step. But do it for yourself, not to impress others."


    Neville left the corridor, clutching the booklet with newfound resolve.


    Felix watched Neville disappear around the corner before turning back towards the Ancient Runes office. His lips curled into a slight smile. He had a stack of parchment awaiting him, and he couldn''t help but think, Maybe a new spell named after Longbottom? That would indeed be interesting.


    >


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 Chapter 456: Transaction

    Chapter 456: Transaction


    Let me enlighten others... Neville pondered, a heavy sense of responsibility weighing on his mind.


    He rather enjoyed the feeling.


    ...


    Meanwhile, Professor Marchbanks and Old Vira strolled through the castle corridors.


    "A talented youngd, I knew when I invigted him, he''d make it big!" Marchbanks eximed loudly.


    Old Vira seemed less convinced.


    "You shouldn''t underestimate a wizard," Professor Marchbanks pointed out.


    "A wizard... you mean him?" Old Vira widened her eyes, and the diminutive Professor Marchbanks met her gaze unabashedly. He attempted to speak several times, but under her stern look, he faltered.


    "Don''t tell me you''ve not been following the news, Heidestrand!" Professor Marchbanks proimed loudly.Old Vira was speechless. If there was anyone in the entire wizarding world keen on Felix''s news, he''d definitely be among the top, his expression when his granddaughter unearthed that set of scrolls from the study¡ªonly he knew what it was.


    He wasn''t just worried thed might break a few bricks off the Ancient Runes Tower again!


    "His ''Exploration of Ancient Runes,'' I just read it a couple of days ago! That''s his level from three years ago," Professor Marchbanks bluntly stated, "more fascinating than the primer your lot put out!"


    Old Vira attempted to retort, but before she could, Professor Marchbanks continued, "I even wrote to Babbling! She praised him profusely in her reply!"


    "That half-blood¡ª" Old Vira frowned, but catching Marchbanks''s severe gaze, he immediately mmed up and sheepishly said, "Apologies, it wasn''t intentional."


    "Seems she had a good reason for declining to join your lot!" she said, displeased.


    A few students nced their way, neither spoke, and they reached the spiral staircase, descending together. "What day is it today?" Professor Marchbanks inquired.


    "What? Uh, I think it should be¡ªoh!" Old Vira was considering the answer when, unawares, his foot got caught in a step of the staircase, trapping him.


    Hogwarts had many of these trickster stairs. For students, crossing them became second nature, but Old Vira hadn''t been to the school in over half a century, and he distinctly remembered no anomalies when he came in the morning.


    "It''s Thursday," Professor Marchbanks remarked thoughtfully.


    ...


    At noon, while heading to the Great Hall for lunch, Felix pinned the Experimental Incantation Committee questionnaire on the bulletin board, courtesy of Professor Marchbanks. He added a Bubble-Head Charm outside for fun.


    Then, with a flick of his wand, a piece of parchment flew out from his ring, affixing itself to the wall, shimmering with glowing text.


    After he departed, young wizards approached, reading the new announcement from a distance:


    ''For individuals, groups, or teachers who have sessfullybined Ancient Runes with stable enchantments, receive a questionnaire from the Experimental Incantation Committee. Answer it thoroughly along with a paper detailing the new spell. Upon validation, the inventor earns the "Spell Inventor" honor and a chance to name the spell.


    Refer to "The Daily Prophet" article dated March 12th, "Invention of a New Spell: Fusion of Aquamancy and Practical Ancient Runes ''Aquaflow''" for paper guidelines. Temtes avable from any Ancient Runes Club member.


    One questionnaire per person, copies avable from others if insufficient.


    Note: Safest and easiest way to imprint your name in textbooks.


    Good luck!


    Signed: Hogwarts Ancient Runes Professor, Felix Harp.''


    Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged nces.


    Excited voices arose behind them, "Warren! Look! We just finished the rted paper yesterday!" Seventh-year Pat Seldon tugged a Ravenw boy''s sleeve, "Oh, hi Hermione, Harry, Ron."


    "Hello," Warren Pardis added; both were among the first members of the Runes Club.


    Harry and his friends greeted them warmly.


    "Imprinting your name in textbooks... sounds quite appealing," Seldon said, squinting as she reached into the sticky bubble on the notice board, pulling out a parchment. Hermione keenly noticed the Ministry seal.


    "Ugh, gross! The professor''s peculiar sense of humor!" Seldon recoiled, her fingers clean. Pardis also took one, and the two left together.


    "We better grab some, or we''ll have to borrow from others," Hermione decisively said, and they each took one, examining it from the sidelines.


    Harry read the questionnaire; the first line was a small script: ''Ensure all involved in spell development are named to avoid disputes:''


    The first question: Briefly describe the spell''s principle.


    The second: Briefly describe the spell''s function.


    The third: Confirm spell type: General Utility Charm/Protective Charm/Curse/Dark Hex/Poison Hex/Bane/Unraveler/Transfiguration/Other.


    ...


    "Oh no!" Ron muttered.


    "What''s wrong?" Harry and Hermione asked simultaneously, scanning the questions.


    "Look at the first line!" Ron widened his eyes, reading aloud, "''Ensure all involved in spell development are named,'' it''s ''all.''" He nced meaningfully at Harry, "In the club, webined Lumos Runes with Incendio..."


    "Malfoy!" Harry gasped, a chill running down his spine.


    At that moment, Draco Malfoy strolled over with Crabbe and Goyle in tow. "I heard someone mention my name..." Draco squinted, slyly.


    "Nothing!" Harry and Ron immediately said.


    Draco, suspiciously eyeing them, fixed his gaze on the notice board, tilted his head toward Crabbe, who followed his line of sight, then back.


    "Get one," Dracozily ordered, and Crabbe immediately jostled into the crowd. Ron discreetly tugged Harry''s sleeve, who retreated.


    "Wait, Potter!" Draco said. Harry turned back, coldly facing him, "Say what you want, Malfoy."


    Draco said, "Heard Professor Harp is favoring you?"


    Harry, Ron, and Hermione tensed. Legilimency! The professor had warned them to keep it quiet, but Harry had been learning for almost three months now, checking in at the Ancient Runes office every week, and there had been a few instances where someone had caught sight of him.


    "So what if?" Ron stepped in to cover for Harry, provocatively.


    Draco nced at him,zily pulling out a small piece of paper, waving it. Grinning, he said, "Sorry, I got one too."


    "Got something?" Harry grumbled, then paused. "You''re signing up for Professor Snape''s special training?" His voice carried a note of disbelief that Ron and Hermione echoed.


    "You can see for yourself, Potter." Draco beamed, passing over the parchment. Harry, Ron, and Hermione leaned in to inspect its contents.


    "It''s real," Hermione murmured, recognizing the familiar script in an instant.


    Meanwhile, Crabbe pushed through the crowd, handing the questionnaire to Draco, who scanned it swiftly, pausing at the top line.


    "Tsk tsk," he remarked.


    Ron and Hermione looked up from the note, visibly dismayed and puzzled. Harry kept scrutinizing the small print, seemingly searching for a loophole.


    "No names." Harry spoke suddenly.


    "What are you¡ª" Draco''s smile faltered.


    "No names," Harry repeated, eyeing him suspiciously. "No mention of spell names, just a weekly check-in at Professor Snape''s office."


    Draco paced towards Harry, speaking softly, "It''s to maintain secrecy, but I can tell you, Potter..." His pale eyes sparkled. "It''s about the Animagus and Polyjuice spells."


    He was pleased to see Harry''s astonished expression. "Indeed, hasn''t it always been your privilege? Flouting rules shamelessly, with followers everywhere, even among the professors¡ª"


    "So, jealousy then?" Harry met his gaze squarely, reiterating Ron''s words.


    "If you choose to see it that way," Draco admitted, snatching the note from Harry''s grasp. He gestured to Crabbe and Goyle, heading for the Great Hall.


    Harry watched his retreating figure in silence.


    "Who knows what he''s done to win Professor Snape''s favor!" Ron fretted, looking at Harry with concern. "Maybe his dad bought two hundred magical gramophones in one go!"


    ...


    That evening, Felix sat in his office, penning a letter. He lightly touched the parchment with his index finger, causing the writing to gradually vanish.


    "Lucius, thank you for your tip-off, your information is valuable. Remember: every slight movement regarding the Dark Mark, notify me promptly. As promised, I''ll begin training your son in survival magic, starting this Saturday..."


    He sealed the letter, gazing at the nk envelope for a while before setting it aside and retrieving a stack of manuscripts.


    This was his project¡ªa booklet introducing magical runes for wider use. It detailed the origins and development of ancient runes, focusing primarily on the Illumination Charm, a crucial aspect.


    Learning ancient magic was never easy, even the simplest Illumination Charm posed challenges. Felix intended to employ a remote learning approach, usually appealing to those unfamiliar with magic.


    But he wanted to challenge conventions.


    The keyy in thorough understanding of the Illumination Charm and extensive promotion of rune cards. ording to Limes'' data, a thousand sets of rune cards had been sold in Britain, reaching nearly forty percent of potential buyers¡ªfamilies with young wizards not yet enrolled.


    Of course, it didn''t hurt to have widespread advertising and affordable prices.


    For wizardscking entertainment, both adults and children, rune cards served as an excellent pastime. Most parents viewed them as intellectual toys¡ªa concept concocted by the young minds at ''Future World'' to satisfy their boss''s advertising criteria.


    Time slipped away, night deepened. Valen, the Niffler, yawned, blinking his shiny ck eyes, tired from flipping throughic books.


    "Chirp! (Not sleeping yet!)"


    "Just a little longer, Valen. You don''t have to worry about me." Felix smiled, picking up another manuscript to edit.


    "Chirp! Chirp chirp? (Waiting for that magic bloke?)"


    Felix chuckled. "Don''t call him a bloke, Andros shouldn''t have performed the Galleon trick in front of you. Taken and mocked by you..." he pointed to Valen''s pink beak. "It''s Dobby," he rified.


    "Chirp!" Valen perked up, taking a sip of lemonade through a straw, fluffing up instantly. "Hmph chirp chirp? (That wealthy one?)"


    "Well, Dobby has been collecting golden buttonstely, if that''s who you mean."


    Finally, the golden clock on the desk struck midnight. Almost simultaneously, a copper Knut in Felix''s hand grew scalding hot¡ªan inquiry from Dobby. Felix dispelled the office''s protective spells. Half a minuteter¡ª


    "Pfft!"


    The house elf Dobby appeared suddenly in the office.


    Valen widened his eyes. "Chirp chirp chirp chirp!"


    "Hello, Mr. Heap!" Dobby bowed deeply, then turned to greet Valen enthusiastically. "Hello to you too, Miss Valen!"


    Valen was delighted, gazing at Dobby with anticipation. "Chirp chirp?"


    From his tiny suit pocket, Dobby took out a gleaming metal button, eximing, "This is from Dobby''s collection, a gift for Miss Valen!"


    Valen extended her small hand, receiving it and inspecting it for a while before retrieving a golden bottle from her own pocket and passing it to Dobby.


    "Oh, Miss Valen is so generous!" Dobby eximed excitedly, ncing at Felix. Felix smiled as Dobby examined the bottle in detail.


    "It''s transparent! Look, it''s beautiful! Dobby received another gift!" Dobby peered into the bottle with his tennis ball-sized eyes.


    After a while, Felix had to remind him, "Dobby, Lucius Malfoy is waiting..."


    "Oh..." Dobby sighed, his bat-like ears drooping. Clearly, he''d been avoiding this topic.


    "Don''t worry, he won''t dare touch you," Felix assured.


    "Dobby knows, Dobby has the great Mr. Heap backing him! But Dobby feels conflicted..." The house elf mentioned, picking up the envelope that had been sitting on the desk for a while. "I don''t have to talk to him, right?"


    "No need," Felix reassured him. "If you want, you can toss the letter at his feet."


    "Oh~" Dobby seemed tempted, but he declined. "Representing Mr. Heap now, no need to fear him..." He puffed his chest out, speaking confidently.


    "Chirp! (Your legs are trembling!)" Valen pointed with a finger.


    Felix was grateful that Dobby couldn''t understand Valen''s words.


    >


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 Chapter 457: Extra Examiner

    Chapter 457: Extra Examiner


    "There''s one more thing," Dobby held an envelope, hisrge round eyes hesitatingly ncing at Felix, fumbling with his words, "It''s about Shiny..."


    Felix''s expression faltered; he had almost forgotten about Shiny.


    "What happened? Her magical constraints should have disappeared," he inquired.


    "Yes, you''re right," Dobby''s body began to sway, his slender arms entwining, "She wants to be with her master, Dobby told her Mr. Crouch was imprisoned, she... she fell ill."


    "I understand," Felix calmly stated.


    Dobby looked at him, puzzled. Felix pulled out a note and scribbled something on it. Dobby tiptoed trying to peek, but being too short and with Valen blocking, he could only see the back of Valen''s head.


    "Do you know Ludovic Bagman?" Felix whispered, swiftly writing with his quill.


    "Dobby knows!"


    "Good," Felix handed him the note, "Bagman owes me a favor, I think he won''t mind helping me out.""You don''t have to do this!" Dobby eximed, looking startled, "Dobby didn''t ask Mr. Hep to help!"


    "Take it, let him take you to Azkaban, he has the authority," Felix said, "Also, take something for Mr. Crouch, you can discuss it with Shiny. As for where Shiny wants to go afterward, that''s not my concern."


    Dobby bowed deeply, his nose touching the floor, trembling with excitement like a salmon leaping ashore.


    Valen watched where Dobby disappeared, then turned to Felix, "Squeak?"


    Felix picked Valen up, "Let me tell you a lesson, magic may not bind a person, but love can. Tsk! That''s something Dumbledore should say... Hungry for ate-night snack, Valen?"


    "Squeak!"


    ---


    The next day in the Ancient Runes ss for seventh-year students, Professor Marchbanks and Old Vira appeared once more.


    The old man clearly hadn''t slept well, evident from the dark circles under his eyes as prominent as his double chin.


    Seeing Felix standing at the lectern, his expression held both excitement and disappointment.


    Excited because Hogwarts'' library was rich, he found many magical notes not even in the Ancient Runes Association ¨C these notes came from donations by alumni, tranted and organized by Bathilda Babbling, akin to a treasure trove for him.


    But he was disappointed; he finished verifyingst night, finding not a single error. Thatd... Felix Hep seemed to have memorized these materials, even the page numbers were urate.


    At that moment, Felix calmly surveyed the students below, his eyes sharp and keen. He wore a blue shirt today, hands tucked in his pockets.


    "Today, it''s an advanced ss," he announced.


    The students emitted low cheers, while Marchbanks and Vector were perplexed. Wasn''t seventh-year already advanced enough?


    Felix exined softly, "To give you both a brief understanding of what the ''advanced ss'' means since our guests are unaware, I''ll briefly exin the significance of this ''advanced ss.''¡± He smiled lightly, extending his hand from his pocket. His wand appeared like a magic trick; a gentle wave and clear script started appearing on the ckboard behind him.


    "We''ve finished the first round of reviews, as nned, two more rounds remain. To prevent the next three months from being too dull, I''ll consciously prepare some advanced courses to exin more profound content. These topics aren''t part of the exam sybus but are beneficial, especially after you graduate, for personal enjoyment in Ancient Runes..."


    "The advanced ss will use the Thought Chamber, no need to worry about danger, just rx your mind. Alright, let''s begin."


    Felix snapped his fingers gently, deliberately noticeable for Marchbanks and Vector to adapt. A golden ripple emanated from his fingertip, spreading rapidly, swiftly tinting the entire room with a faint golden hue.


    Marchbanks and Vector watched in astonishment; Marchbanks blinked, seeming to have discovered something. After a few seconds, everything returned to normal.


    From mid-air descended ancient magical notes emitting an aura of mystery and antiquity...


    Amidst the crisp bird chirps, Felix leaned against the brown trunk of an ancient tree, addressing everyone, "Despite saying it multiple times, I''d like to emphasize once more: exercising your minds is more crucial than acquiring knowledge. After all, your graduation thesis ispleting a piece of magical parchment."


    Having studentsplete a magical parchment?


    Marchbanks widened her eyes, swiftly surveying without any objections from students; evidently, this wasn''t an impromptu arrangement.


    Her mood becameplex; if this was true, did their exams still hold meaning?


    A low groan came from beside her, Old Vira appeared troubled, fidgeting incessantly, his hand resting on the magical parchment scattered before him.


    ---


    In the final minutes before the ss ended, students rapidly transcribed notes, while Marchbanks, the petite professor, sauntered through the gaps in the ssroom seats. asionally pausing, she watched the students'' quills fluently inscribing one magical script after another. Honestly, theplexity far surpassed the N.E.W.Ts exam standards.


    Old Vira sat in his seat, looking deste. He was the one who understood the vast gap between himself and Felix the most, feeling like a fish out of water.


    The bell finally rang, and he almost immediately leaped from his seat, ready to leave.


    "Mr. Vector," Felix called after him from behind. "About that report..." He had mentioned it yesterday; at the time, Vector had instantly agreed, only now realizing the magnitude of this request.


    How was he supposed to write that report? Praise Felix Hep in every possible way?


    The old man flushed, covering his face and scurrying away.


    "Mr. Vector! Mr. Vector!" Felix called ''urgently,'' though not moving an inch himself. "What''s wrong with him?" he murmured.


    Marchbanks gave him a strange look. Couldn''t figure it out, the little fellow sure holds a grudge!


    "Stop calling, he''s busy," she said.


    Felix looked at her searchingly.


    "Probably busy burying himself!" Marchbanks remarked. "I won''t being in this afternoon."


    "You''re leaving?" Felix asked.


    "Not leaving," Marchbanks sighed, "just won''t being to your ss. I''ve got a fair idea about why these students have made such strides in the past two years. I''ll stay a few more days, visit other sses... can''t waste this trip."


    Felix nodded understandingly.


    "There''s one more thing," Marchbanks said, a smile creasing her wrinkled face, "Interested in bing an external examiner?"


    "An external examiner..."


    "You''d only be responsible for the practical part of the Ancient Runes exam," Marchbanks said, sighing, watching the slow-moving students leaving the ssroom, "I can''t have these recent graduates handling this!"


    "You n to increase the practical assessment for Ancient Runes? Assessing practical magic?" Felix asked excitedly.


    "Yes," she said, "When I return, I''ll push the department to divide Ancient Runes into two directions¡ªtrantion and practical. Of course, this report will most likely fall on you, you understand it best... and the career direction for practical magic. If you describe it attract


    ively, the department might recruit a few people this year."


    "Why''s that?" Felix was intrigued.


    "I reckon except for yourpany, the entire wizarding world has no clue what to do with practical magic. Usually, it''s the Ministry''s responsibility: recruit a few people, research the potential and direction of new professions."


    "Any simr examples?" Felix was highly interested.


    "Take the example of the Namers, they branched from the Seers. They predict newborns'' futures and offer suggestions for names, of course, for a hefty sum of gold. I recall Sybill Trwney spent some time as a Namer... seemed like a long time ago."


    Professor Trwney... you surprise me, Felix widened his horizons.


    "Sounds good," he smirked, "I agree."


    >


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 Chapter 458: Dossiers and the Warning Bird

    Chapter 458: Dossiers and the Warning Bird


    In the most secluded corner of the library sat Old Vira.


    The events of the day had left an immense impact on him¡ªThe Thought Chamber! The enchanted parchments! The sheer vastness of knowledge belonging to Felix Harp weighed heavily on his mind, stirring a sense of despair within.


    From day to night, he hadn''t touched a morsel of food. The librarian had passed by several times, each nce filled with suspicion directed at him.


    As evening approached, students trickled in. Fortunately, his spot was remote enough to evade their interruption and indulge in self-pity.


    "Let''s head inside," a voice chimed in, "Professor Harp stashed the books for the second project deep within the shelves. There are two tables behind the rack, well-hidden..."


    Old Vira raised his head, spotting three students engaged in a rapid, hushed discussion as they approached.


    "Don''t fret," Hermione advised, the same voice as before, "think of it as an extracurricr club activity."


    "Easy for you to say," Ron grumbled, "What if we run into Malfoy? I can''t afford that."Harry wore a simr expression of frustration.


    Spotting Old Vira, Hermione exchanged a meaningful nce with Harry and Ron, taking a seat at the table in front of him.


    "What''s the n then?" she asked in a hushed tone, subtly casting concealment charms around them.


    "Knock him out when he''s not looking, take him to our usual spot for practicing spells," Ron suggested.


    "No, we''ll need that roomter," Harry objected.


    "Then, how about thevatory by the Honeysuckle?" Ron quickly amended, "It''s less crowded. Sounds good, right?"


    Hearing Harry ponder for a moment, Hermione was surprised. "He''ll snitch," Harry regretfully concluded.


    Hermione pulled out her textbook from her bag. By the time she turned around, Old Vira had vanished.


    "He went that way," Harry whispered, pulling out his own potion assignment, "Do you two know about the Ancient Runes Society?"


    "No idea," Ron said.


    "Yes," Hermione replied.


    Harry and Ron looked at her expectantly. She exined, "They''re a semi-official group; part of the exams for wizarding levels is based on their work. Professors prefer practical runic methods, but the Ancient Runes Society opposes that."


    "Sounding like stubborn old fuddy-duddies," Ron mused, "My great aunt is one of those. Stuck in her ways, always grumbling about our family having too many kids, especially after Percy."


    Harry and Hermione looked amused and surprised.


    "How could she say that?"


    "Who knows," Ron shrugged, "Maybe because Fred and George put dungbombs under her chair... Thank heavens, she rarely visits after that."


    Harry and Hermione shared a chuckle.


    After a while, Hermione stood up, "I''ll grab a few reference books, you need any?"


    "Absolutely!"


    "Thank you so much."


    Hermione hummed, heading to the section with Ancient Runes books. Unexpectedly, she saw Old Vira still present. His greeting left her miffed; ''little girl''? She was almost sixteen, rarely addressed that way.


    "Hello, Miss Granger," Old Vira greeted. "I''ve read your articles in the journals¡ª''me'' Runes and the Incendio spell, and ''Light'' Runes and the Luminous Charm."


    "Oh," Hermione nced at him, holding her books.


    "I''ve heard you''re Mr. Harp''s assistant?" Old Vira observed as Hermione nodded. "Could I inquire about a few matters?"


    Hermione regarded him skeptically.


    "Ahem! Please, don''t misunderstand," Old Vira awkwardly interjected, "I mean no harm¡ª"


    "You didn''t seem that way in the newspapers," Hermione sharply retorted.


    "Oh, well," Old Vira wiped his sweat, the dim magical lights on his balding forehead reflecting, "Back then, it was a different stance. I''ve reconsidered these past few days, realizing my previous thoughts... might have been somewhat wed... maybe!"


    Two minutester.


    Seeing Hermione lead Old Vira to their table, Ron''s eyes almost popped out. He mouthed: "Did he overhear what we said?"


    Shaking her head, Hermione exined, "Mr. Vira wishes to ask us some questions. It''s about the professor," she added.


    Harry and Ron exchanged puzzled looks. "Don''t think we''re selling out Professor Harp!" Ron eximed loudly.


    This time, Old Vira widened his eyes, "What do you take me for?" he eximed in frustration, "I''m the Deputy Head of the Ancient Runes Society! How could I stoop to disgraceful acts?"


    "Isn''t that so?"


    Old Vira nodded nkly. Hogwarts seemed entirely alien to him now.


    At that moment, Mrs. Pince appeared behind the bookshelves, wielding a feather duster, ring at them.


    "Oh, dear!" Hermione muttered.


    Simultaneously, in the Ancient Runes office, Felix was receiving a visitor from the Ministry of Magic.


    "Please, take a seat," Felix said gently.


    "Not necessary," John Deirdre spoke shortly. He appeared sturdy, muscles evident under his gray-green overcoat. He stated matter-of-factly, "At the Director''s behest, I''ve brought some dossiers on Aurors and operatives. You''re allowed to read them only within my sight. Once done, I''ll witness the documents'' destruction."


    "You haven''t seen these?" Felix asked, surprised, eyeing the briefcase in Deirdre''s hand.


    "These are confidential files," Deirdre asserted.


    Approaching, he ced the case before Felix and, pulling out his wand, silently waited. When the clock''s hands struck eight, Deirdre touched the lock with his wand, causing a series of whispers before thetch sprang open.


    Felix watched with interest as a verdant bird, norger than his palm, perched within the box. It chirped loudly, standing atop a pile of documents¡ªthe personnel records.


    As the bird emerged, it hopped out, spreading its wings and flying toward the window. Felix extended his hand, trapping it gently, examining it closely.


    "You''d better not," Deirdre cautioned, wand in hand, "It''s a Warning Bird, bred for secrecy. It''ll carry ''all''s clear'' orders back to the Ministry. Keep it restrained for too long, and it might self-immte."


    "An alchemical creation?" Felix expressed interest, releasing the bird, which flew off smoothly.


    For the following time, Deirdre stood opposite Felix like a stone statue, wordlessly watching him peruse the documents.


    Felix came across familiar names¡ªTonks, Abbott, Kingsley, even Deirdre himself. An hourter, he finished reading.


    From Deirdre''s wand shot out orange mes, reducing the documents to ashes. Only then did he visibly rx.


    >


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 Chapter 459: Salmon Skewers and the Patron Saint

    Chapter 459: Salmon Skewers and the Patron Saint


    "Is Fudge doing okay?" Felix asked.


    "The Minister is well," Deirdre replied stiffly, closing his empty suitcase, rising to leave without ever sitting down.


    "Wait, Deirdre," Felix called after him, sending several parchment sheets flying his way, which Deirdre caught, looking puzzled.


    "I''ve been busy too. Here are some things I''ve prepared that might be useful during the Halloween break. Please pass them on to Director Scrimgeour," Felix exined.


    "These... ancient magical texts?"


    "Exactly. You can purchase a batch of magical text cards from ''Future World''pany for the training of Aurors andbatants. It''ll save a lot of time during training."


    "Understood. I''ll pass these on to Director Scrimgeour," Deirdre promised.


    The next day, it was the weekend.


    Felix slept inte, having stayed up all night. But it was effective. In his office, he held a small, fiery red bird in his hand."Um, can''t call you Warning Bird, how about Echo Bird?"


    Due to time constraints, he''d only briefly scanned through the knowledge of Nics mel via magic and mental elerationst night. However, armed with all of mel''s knowledge, he quickly found a simr alchemical item from his memory and spent half the night sessfully replicating it.


    This alchemical item acted as an extra eye. Once amand was given to it, it would remain stable until themand waspleted or it was destroyed, at which point it would fly back to its owner or self-destruct.


    Felix looked down at the fiery red bird in his hand, bouncing around agilely.


    "You watch over the room. Prevent unauthorized entry."


    The fiery red bird chirped twice and hopped onto the magicalmp on the ceiling, nearly invisible unless one paid close attention.


    Checking the time, Felix estimated that the dining time in the Great Hall had long passed. Familiar with the path, he took Valen towards the castle''s underground structures, encountering a few students on their way to the kitchen.


    Felix exchanged some tips with them, rmending lemon salmon slices. "Scale and bone the salmon, slice it, coat with ck pepper, pan-fry, and finally drizzle with lemon juice... tastes quite good."


    The two Ravenw students walking with him couldn''t stop salivating.


    "Professor Harp, did you invent the Fishbone-Removing Hex?" one of them asked.


    "No," Felix immediately replied, "but I happen to know that spell."


    The two students exchanged nces. "Really... We happen to have an issue. Whenever we use the spell, some fishbones always remain. What could be causing this?"


    "Is there an issue with the spell''s casting process?"


    "It shouldn''t be. Autumn does it perfectly... she''s my roommate and she can grill fish herself!"


    "I see," Felix pondered for a moment, "it might be rted to magical control. I suggest stabilizing your magic within a range, somewhat like the process of casting Transfiguration. Of course, don''t exert too much force, or you might pulverize the fish..."


    As they discussed magic, they made their way into the basement. Felix thought he glimpsed a red-headed figure disappearing around the corner ahead. A Weasley? He shrugged it off.


    Valen stood on Felix''s shoulder, its small ck eyes also fixed on the end of the corridor, detecting a familiar scent.


    In the kitchen, the house-elf Yunber warmly weed them.


    Felix handed over a box of sweets, and after several refusals, Yunber and the eager house-elves brought out a jar containing fresh salmon after a few rounds of insistence.


    "This is specifically for Mr. Harp!" Yunber struggled to hold the jar.


    "Thank you, but make some for them too," Felix gestured towards the two Ravenw students, who were looking amazed.


    Ten minutester, Felix and Valen walked out of the kitchen, each holding a skewer of salmon, strolling proudly in the deserted underground corridor, relishing the food. The aroma wafted around, catching the attention of the wizards in the frames on the walls.


    "How about visiting the Uagadou camp? Their talismans and curses are quite intriguing..."


    At that moment, they heard Snape''s voice from around the corner.


    "Thirty points from each, plus detention," Snape drawledzily, "Potter, Weasley, can you manage to astonish me more? Regr rule-breaking seems insufficient; now you''ve disrupted Slytherin''smon room... Potter, tell me, are you trying to showcase your exceptional bravery?"


    "We didn''t disrupt Slytherin''s room!" Harry said in frustration.


    "No backtalk, Potter. Ten more points from Gryffindor," Snape continuednguidly, "exceeding thirty indicates the use of a Patronus¡ª"


    He suddenly stopped, sniffing the air lightly. In front of him stood Harry, Ron, and Draco, wide-eyed, staring at something behind him.


    Snape turned abruptly, and there stood Felix and Valen a short distance away, holding salmon skewers, frozen in ce.


    "Um, Severus, and you three, what''s going on?" Felix asked lightly, and the two skewers of salmon in his hand suddenly disappeared.


    Valen''s two tiny hands were full, butcking Felix''s ability, unable to stuff it in its pocket, it turned and hid behind Felix, stuffing the salmon into its mouth with visible oil stains on its pink beak...


    Snape was momentarily speechless, eyeing the duo with a piercing gaze.


    "Potter¡ª" after a long pause, he drawled, "intruding into Slytherin''s room using a Patronus, attempting to incite panic¡ª"


    "It''s not panic!" Harry eximed, "We just wanted to inform Malfoy toe out! We couldn''t barge in, and we didn''t know the password¡ª"


    "It''s true," Ron gulped down a mouthful of water, the aroma of the grilled salmon too tempting, "We wanted to discuss the parchment... I mean, discuss the Bright Magic and me Charmbination."


    Felix understood what was going on.


    "Hand them over to me, Severus," he said, "I happen to have something to discuss with them."


    Snape nced at him, "Detention remains." He turned and left.


    "Let''s go," Felix said to Harry, Ron, and Draco. The Uagadou camp visit was off the table.


    As they ascended, the three followed behind him. Harry felt a faint aroma of fish behind Professor Harp and his stomach rumbled.


    "Harry, did you use a Patronus?"


    "Yes, Professor," Harry replied quietly.


    "Just a Patronus?"


    "Harry can use his Patronus to convey messages," Ron added.


    Felix stopped and looked at Harry, somewhat surprised. Harry stammered, "You mentioned the principle of using a Patronus to deliver messages, and I tried itst night. It seemed quite simple..."


    >


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 Chapter 460: The Disguise Charm

    Chapter 460: The Disguise Charm


    Felix had known for a long time that the Protego Charm was an incredibly useful spell. It held powerful restraints against specific creatures like Dementors and Inferi, capable of transmitting information over great distances and even passing through solid objects. He had developed various clever uses for it himself. Yet, one question lingered in his mind: what was the original purpose of this charm?


    Few realized that the Protego Charm wasn''t specifically developed to counter Inferi. In fact, its appearance predates that of Inferi by a significant margin. "Invincible Andros," a wizard who could summon giant-sized protective figures, was active in ancient Greece, while Inferi were first documented in the fifteenth century.


    Felix once suspected that the charm served another purpose. Regrettably, he hadn''t found evidence to support this theory. He had an idea, though: during the era of dark magic, releasing a Patronus might have been seen as an act of "noble character." Individuals possessing both strength and virtue naturally earned respect from others.


    The Protego Charm likely acted as a sort of detector, granting a special status.


    ...


    "Please, have a seat," Felix said.


    They returned to the ancient runes office. Harry, Ron, and Draco hesitantly settled onto the same lengthy couch. Harry felt uneasy; he had never been this close to Malfoy before. He nced around and quickly focused on the small square table in front of them.


    There sat a contraption resembling a toaster, apanied by a stack of brown "slices." In the groove of the device, a simr "slice" featuring the handsome Cedric Diggory stuck on it, smiling faintly at them.


    "What''s this, Professor?" Harry couldn''t help but ask."It''s a magical projector," Draco interjected suddenly. Harry and Ron shot him a strange look, but they quickly epted the exnation. The wealthy Malfoy family was no stranger to such gadgets.


    "That''s right, a magical projector," Felix confirmed from his seat on the adjacent armchair. "A sample sent by the ''Future World''pany. I''m referring to those films," he added.


    Harry stared at Cedric''s smiling image and felt a surreal sense wash over him. "So, these... all of these..."


    "Are the champions'' performances in the second task," Felix smiled, pointing at the stack of t, brown boxes on the table. "All of them. But they certainly can''t be sold like this. Currently, there are no regtions. However, the ''Future World''pany hopes to establish some standards and self-regtion."


    Harry grasped the concept. This was akin to Muggle movies, except this time, he might be the lead in the film, or one of the leads. He recalled the professor''s words after the task: "You''ll be famous for this tournament."


    He finally understood what those words meant.


    "So, our performances will be seen by more people?" Ron''s eyes lit up eagerly.


    "In theory, yes," Felix nodded, as tes of small snacks and butterbeer floated over,nding on the table. He gestured, saying, "However, there are some details to confirm, considering your personal preferences¡ª"


    "I agree," Ron immediately interjected.


    Felix chuckled.


    "In essence, by participating in the tournament, you tacitly agree to your performances being seen by the audience. ''Future World'' merely extends your performance to a wider audience. Yet, some might not want their images broadcasted... We''ll try to amodate your wishes."


    "So, we can refuse?" Harry asked.


    "On inconsequential and independent scenes, yes," Felix exined. "But for crucial moments during thepetition, it''s not feasible. Of course, we''re willing to offerpensation, not much, but as I mentioned, we aim to set some standards."


    "That sounds good," Ron said. Fame and earning opportunities¡ªwhat reason was there to refuse? The only concern was affordability; this might be expensive, and his family might not afford it.


    Harry harbored some worry. What if these scenes were seen by Death Eaters and Voldemort? But then, he realized that if Death Eaters and Voldemort wanted to know his secrets, he couldn''t stop them. There had been too many witnesses.


    "I agree too," after much consideration, he finally said. Except for lumency, the magic he knew wasn''t much of a secret. And lumency wasn''t something visible; unless he spoke of it, others wouldn''t notice.


    Draco''s eyes shimmered with an unknown thought.


    "Very well," Felix said. "That wraps things up for both of you." He gave them their dismissal. "These clips will eventually bepiled, and before their release, you''ll be invited to preview them. Payment will also be made then. If there are no issues, consider it settled."


    Harry and Ron left with mixed feelings.


    In the office, only Felix and Draco remained, along with Valen, nibbling on crispy finger biscuits, upying a separate armchair, with "The Adventures of Little Wizard Mickey - Volume Two" resting on its legs.


    "Do you have any knowledge about the Disillusionment Charm and the Disguise Charm?" Felix inquired.


    Draco nodded. "I''ve looked into them. They''re advanced magic, usually taught in higher years."


    "Correct. The Disguise Charm can be learned in the advanced spell ss in sixth year. The Disillusionment Charm, however, requires instruction from an instructor designated by the Ministry of Magic, and the students must be of age."


    "But Potter knows that magic!" Draco blurted out, his face turning pale. "I mean¡ª"


    "I understand," Felix smiled. "He seems to have broken the rules once again. This was his third-year Dueling Club prize, which he chose himself. It''s not such a big deal for underage students to learn Disillusionment, only public usage causes legal trouble... Luckily, Potter''s first public use of Disillusionment was to earn honor for the entire British wizarding world."


    "If there''s no objection, shall we begin?"


    "The Disguise Charm is used to disguise oneself magically. When using it, one must ensure that their body''s color and texture match the environment around and behind them... Easy to learn but difficult to master."


    "These two spells have differentplexities, but both require control over the body''s magical energy. Youck in this area, so I''ve prepared some targeted exercises..."


    For the next two hours, Draco Malfoy practiced leaving undispelled traces in the air, solely using his hands and meeting specific criteria for speed and aesthetics.


    The heat from the firece flushed Draco''s face, despite the damp and cold weather of March. Professor Heap mentioned that some instructional materials weren''t ready yet, so the actual practice wouldmence the following week. Nevertheless, when he left, he carried with him a detailed diagram exining the Disguise Charm.


    It was his assignment due before next week. He had to submit an analytical paper.


    >


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 Chapter 461: The Intern Journalist

    Chapter 461: The Intern Journalist


    Thest few days of March passed rather calmly, and stor Moody''s procurement work came to an end on a stormy morning when a flock of owlsnded on the table in the Great Hall, dragging a massive package. Feathers ruffled, Professor Moody requested a few students to take these poor creatures to Madam Pomfrey for treatment.


    "Long-haul flight!" Moody eximed. "Trustworthy folks are scarce these days. Being cautious about matters of security is never excessive."


    "That vile person destroyed my collection," he grumbled hoarsely, "It took me decades to amass! That Mirror had an astonishingly good surveince effect, monitoring schemes within a one-kilometer radius. The only issue was its hypersensitivity, hence why I moved to a remote location. Otherwise, it''d have been constantly squawking..."


    Professor Marchbanks and Old Vira left the school on the same day. Professor Marchbanks carried a report provided by Felix. ording to her, convincing the Ministry of Magic to acknowledge a new profession wasn''t an easy task. "They bring up a lot of irrelevant issues, like the sries for the new department," sheined loudly. "Always getting bogged down in irrelevant matters, but I''ll do my best to push this through!"


    "Are youing over during the Easter break?" she asked Felix, to which he replied, "April 17th? I''ll remember that and schedule the meeting around that time."


    "What should I prepare?" Felix inquired.


    "Shut them up with irrefutable facts!" Professor Marchbanks eximed, making a forceful gesture.


    Before departing, Old Vira invited him to the Ancient Runes Society during the summer. Felix agreed but hadn''tmitted to joining. He needed to witness "more proactive" changes or perhaps intended to contend for the presidency of the Ancient Runes Society.


    And thus, April arrived.The vegetation within the school silently turned green, and the climate became warm andfortable. Besides the weather, professors from different subjects began review sessions. With heaps of assignments, students grumbled, fostering an oddpetitive spirit.


    "I was up until midnightst night," a fifth-year student remarked in themon room. "To finish that sted essay on Wizarding History!"


    "But he''s got three more months to go, hasn''t he?" Ronmented,paring two papers as he fretted over his own Wizarding History essay. "First it was fairies, then vampires, now it''s centaurs... What''s wrong with Professor Binns? Does the ghost cake in ssroom 7 not suit his taste buds?"


    "All this knowledge is necessary," Hermione said while perusing today''s newspaper.


    "I know, but I couldn''t care less about what the Centaur Chief said while rejecting the term ''human,'' or the significance of the Centaur Liaison Office. My dad says that department''s never been truly used, not a single centaur''s set foot in there yet!" Ron ranted, his voice growing louder. "It''s be a running joke now. If you dislike someone, pray they get sent to the Centaur Liaison Office because they won''tst long there¡ªHarry, what''s this word?"


    Harry, busy with his Divination homework, peered over and, after gazing at his own essay for a while, uncertainly said, "A Banshee?"


    "It''s a Banshee," Hermione calmly corrected, "Centaurs, Banshees, and vampires have historical conflicts. That''s one reason why centaurs refuse to share the term ''human'' with them."


    Ron paid no heed, mimicking Harry''s handwriting, scribbling aimlessly for a while, then measured something before concluding with a short poem. "Mission aplished," he happily dered.


    ncing over, Hermione quipped, "Whose poem is that?"


    "I wrote it myself," Ron decisively closed his essay.


    "You''ve broken a single long sentence into seven or eight paragraphs," Hermione remarked, Ron chuckling as he stuffed the essay into his bag. "Actually, it''s nine paragraphs... Anything new? You''ve been reading for ages."


    "There''s an increasing discussion about Ancient Runes," Hermione mentioned. "It''s like a hurricane, and the sales of Rune cards are soaring... Many are eagerly awaiting the professor''s new book. They clearly know who the harbinger of change is."


    "And we benefit from this, don''t we?" Ron grinned. His mood had been quite goodtely. Last week, employees from ''Future World'' came over and handed them a hefty bonus¡ª80 Galleons each. ording to Neville, even in his dreams, Ron was smiling.


    Ignoring him, Hermione continued flipping through the newspaper. "I feel like someone''s missing. It''s odd she''s notmenting on this significant matter..."


    "Who''re you referring to?"


    "Rita Skeeter," Hermione said.


    "Isn''t that great? That annoying ghost disappeared. Maybe someone knocked her out," Ron guessed.


    "She''s writing a biography of Regulus," Harry interjected. "Or maybe she''sying low."


    "Oh..." Hermione drew out the word. "That exins it."


    "What''s up?"


    "Do you know what she''s written in her new book? Honestly, if she were abducted by some mysterious person one day, I wouldn''t be surprised. But are you sure she''s got the nerve?" She looked at Harry inquiringly.


    "I don''t know the reason," Harry shrugged. "But Sirius said she''s quite serious about it, showing him the manuscript periodically. Otherwise, she''spletely elusive..."


    "How''s Sirius coping with his job? Is he adjusting?" Hermione couldn''t resist asking. "Can''t believe he''s been at a school for so long."


    "He''s adjusting well," Harry said. "Sirius said he''s found a way to interact with students."


    "He won''t be casting Confundus charms on students, will he?" Ron asked, and Harry didn''t reply. He couldn''t rule out the possibility.


    April 7th.


    ''Future World'' simultaneously released the magical projector and the second project of the Championship, offering them at 40% off during the promotional period, priced at 120 Galleons. It wasn''t cheap, but it still garnered significant attention.


    Especially coupled with the buzz around the ongoing Championship, its name sparked the market. In the first week alone, they sold 150 sets, not including international orders. Though future sales were expected to decline and stabilize, it was a promising start.


    This led to fervent discussions about the champions. Wizards seemed to have entered Easter early, with a plethora of owls flocking onto the campus daily. Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade were adorned with posters supporting the champions.


    Amidst this atmosphere, Rita Skeeter emerged from a Muggle-rented house.


    Arranging her manuscript, she wore a satisfied expression. Under immense pressure, she''d produced an unprecedented level of excellence. She believed that if this book were published, it would be a market sensation.


    Moreover...


    "My peers aren''tcking in skill," she mused, gazing at the reporter''s card on the table, bearing her photo and the title¡ªIntern Journalist at the Daily Prophet.


    Yes, during this time, she''d vanished from the magical world, not by hiding indoors but by temporarily disconnecting from it.


    Upon review, it seems Rita Skeeter''s internship location was altered to better fit her¡ªThe Daily Prophet.


    >


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 Chapter 462: Birthday Gift

    Chapter 462: Birthday Gift


    Rita Skeeter had her own schemes.


    Her knack for stirring trouble while keeping herself afloat stemmed from knowing what not to report and whom to avoid offending. An interesting fact emerged from this: different people valued different things, and the same person prioritized things differently.


    She could cover the opulent extravagance and societal standing of the Malfoy family but refrained from delving into their connection to Muggle royalty and their dark history with Death Eaters. She''d employ cutting words to paint Dumbledore as a "stuffy old lunatic" but steered clear of his forbidden friendships of yesteryears or the loss of his loved ones.


    Unless they were no longer around.


    Her unique grasp of news formed her distinct reporting style, earning her a loyal following in the wizarding world. Yet, her luck had taken a nosedive in thest couple of years.


    The first tumble urred two years back when she misjudged a low-profile wizard, assuming she could offend without consequences, only to face repercussions.


    The second, also two years prior, was when that bumbling Lockhart stumbled upon her secret about illegal Animagi. She resorted to Obliviating her troubles away, only to realize Lockhart was a true Legilimens. Her inadequate Memory Charm couldn''t hold him for long, prompting her swift report to the Ministry.


    Though her reputation worsened, she escaped with a mere fine.


    The third fiasco involved her ambitious piece, "Diverging from the ck Terror." Ever since her rival and personal nuisancended in Azkaban, she contemted a high-impact book, intertwining Dumbledore''s endorsement and the heritage of Regulus ck, an ancient pure-blood with a hidden past as a former Death Eater!She cared less if it was true; the story had a selling point, especially since both protagonists were deceased.


    The only hurdle was the sole heir of the ck family, Sirius ck. If not for his cleared name, she wouldn''t dare. But since his innocence was proven, she felt less threatened. Thest scion of an ancient pure-blood family, leaving home at 16 without inheriting any connections¡ªwhat was there to fear?


    In her mind, Sirius ck must have been busy reiming family glory.


    Things spiraled out of control when Sirius incessantly sent her howler letters, followed by rumors of the Dark Lord''s loyalpdog rising from the dead, escaping custody. It terrified and infuriated her. When had Azkaban be a sieve?


    Damn Bartemius Crouch! Both of them!


    She probed relentlessly, using every connection, only to discover a terrifying truth. Even resorting to an elusive source, she confronted a Ministry official whose expression resembled that of a corpse.


    She made a bold move, aligning herself with the most powerful wizard she could reach, Felix Harp, offering years'' worth of gathered covert information.


    Finally learning who she''d offended¡ªan array of possibilities had crossed her mind, suspecting even sainthood but never imagining it was someone deceased.


    A servant faking death, a master doing the same. What a peculiar penchant!


    Despite Harp''s assurances, she feared bing bait. After weighing her options, she decided to disappear for a while, using book writing as an excuse, moving quietly to a Mugglemunity, cutting ties with the magical world temporarily.


    During a stroll, she stumbled upon a newsstand and found a Muggle newspaper that oddly suited her taste. Despite disliking the third edition, she used some "skills" to secure a role as an intern reporter.


    After a few sessful attempts, she became the standout intern under the chief editor, with a promotion to an official reporter imminent. She had no intention of relinquishing this role, nning to convince the poorly dressed chief editor to grant her some autonomy.


    On that morning, Rita Skeeter left the headquarters of The Daily Prophet. Promising a substantial piece each month, she gained flexibility in her working hours.


    By noon, she returned to Diagon Alley.


    Rita Skeeter took a deep breath, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. On her way back to The Daily Prophet, she noticed various posters covering Diagon Alley, even masking Bartemius Crouch Jr.''s wanted poster.


    Expressionless, she stared at over a dozen figures on the posters¡ªchampions of the tournament. She was familiar with them, having covered the wand checks and the first task. Yet, evidently, something significant had urred, unbeknownst to her.


    Half an hourter, at The Daily Prophet''s headquarters, she learned the details from the photographer''s assistant.


    The second task!


    The magical projector!


    And, of course, Ancient Runes!


    Having spent two months at The Sun, Rita Skeeter understood what a projector was and even grasped the operations of the ''Future World''pany.


    "These kids are getting quite famous, aren''t they?" She adjusted her curly hair and asked.


    "Rita, you''ve missed out on a fortune!" her photographer eximed.


    Rita Skeeter nced at him from behind her jeweled sses. "Oh, Bazzo... News nevercks. I''ve done something more important."


    "So, uh, what''s your n now?"


    "Of course, I''m going to get a piece of it!" Rita Skeeter said, pulling out a dark green pen and a shorthand notebook from her crocodile-skin bag. The photographer was surprised by her new gear. Rita Skeeter casually shifted the Slytherin serpent ring on her finger, revealing a green circle.


    "Hurry up!" shemanded sternly. "Don''t tell me you''ve done nothing these days! Show me all the photos you''ve taken!"


    ...


    Meanwhile, Felix stared at the package delivered by an owl.


    It was a birthday gift.


    He gently unwrapped it, finding a birthday card and a cake inside. After checking for any magical traces and finding none, he opened the card. The greeting was brief, signed with a simple name, Jean, without a surname.


    "Weird... Did I mention my birthday? And a weekte, no less..." Felix murmured. His birthday was on April 8th, but it was already the 15th. The owl with the post office band had flown away, indicating no need for a reply.


    >


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 Chapter 463: Easter

    Chapter 463: Easter


    Felix was intrigued as he pulled out colorful candles from the package and ced them on the cake. Lighting them one by one, when he blew them out, it suddenly dawned on him that he was now 24 years old.


    It was the first day of the Easter holiday, and he had no sses, even Valen was stillzing around.


    Reviewing his recent schedule, Draco Malfoy wasing over in the afternoon to practice the Disillusionment Charm. He had a basic grasp of the spell, but the fluctuations in magic were too noticeable, easily exposing the ws at close range. Later in the evening, it was Harry''s turn. His lumency had finally started to take shape, with just a few pages left in that magical book.


    Tomorrow was Easter, and there was a banquet in the evening. Rumor had it that the other four schools would be performing. He sincerely hoped that the busy goblins he had seen at the Quidditch pitch weren''t preparing for this... The next day, he''d head to the Ministry of Magic to train the Aurors and the hit-wizards, and on the way, he''d deliver thepleted magical manuscript to the publisher. Skringle wrote, mentioning a honorary advisor role they intended to bestow upon him. Though indifferent, he politely expressed gratitude in his response.


    The bedroom door creaked open, Valen stood yawning at the entrance.


    "Chirp chirp...?"


    "A familiar smell?" Felix chuckled. "It''s a birthday cake. Let''s start with the fruits and choctes on top. I only had them when I was at the orphanage..."


    "Chirp!"


    The next evening, the Hogwarts Great Hall was brightly lit. Many young wizards had gone home for the holidays, but a significant number remained, all eager to witness the legendary and unique performance by the house-elves.As Felix entered the hall, he saw a huge Easter egg at the center of the room. Upon closer inspection, he realized it wasposed of various sweets - fruit preserves, puddings, mint toffees, nut brittle, liqueur choctes, and soft-centred candies. A group of students gathered around the egg, pointing and discussing.


    The heads of the student council had to loudly announce that the egg could only be shared after the banquet.


    However, Harry wasn''t particrly interested in the egg. Over the past couple of days, he had consumed an excessive amount of sweets. Besides the birthday cake Professor Snape distributed yesterday afternoon, this morning he received a dragon-sized Easter egg from Mrs. Weasley, filled to the brim with homemade fudge. He felt a bit stuffed, even burping a sugary aftertaste.


    He sat with Ron and Hermione, waiting for the banquet to begin.


    "I told you that woman wouldn''t stay quiet!" Hermione tossed a newspaper over.


    Harry nced at it. "Doesn''t seem to be anything too outrageous..."


    "She''s spreading rumors that I''m practicing a giant''s strength!" Hermione said in frustration. "Do I look like I''m rted to giants?"


    "What''s that?" Harry asked.


    "Giant''s heritage. But the wizarding world has always been skeptical about it. But they have toe up with something, otherwise giants would be just like any other creature," Fred and George, sitting beside them, chimed in.


    Soon, everyone had gathered. Students from the other four schools sat at four long tables. Byles and Jacqueline chose to sit at the Gryffindor table. "What performance are you nning?" Harry asked.


    "Oh, that..." Byles seemed uninterested. "You''ll know when it happens. How about your school?"


    Harry shook his head; he had no idea either. Neville interjected, "It''s a ghost performance. I overheard Nearly Headless Nick and Friar Fat Friar discussing it. Friar Fat Friar was worried about the shortage of food being distributed..."


    Everyone exchanged puzzled looks. "They want to bring ghost food into the hall?" Ron shivered.


    "Don''t forget, we have the Room of Requirement now. Maybe the taste of the food will be better there," Harry reminded him.


    "I still can''t forget Nearly Headless Nick''s five-hundredth deathday party," Ron said gloomily. The ghosts deliberately let everything go moldy to enhance the vor.


    The banquet began. The tables were adorned with various delicacies. Harry''s gaze fell on a salmon, reminding him of the skewers he had seen the kitchen house-elves working on. Regrettably, he hadn''t seen them on the banquet table yet.


    At that moment, the lights dimmed.


    A group of silver ghosts floated in like waves, forming a queue in the hall. Harry spotted Nearly Headless Nick¡ªholding his head, ensuring it didn''t fall off¡ªperforming rehearsed moves with the other ghosts. He seemed ecstatic.


    Harry knew Nick had put in a lot of effort to join the Headless Hunt, but due to a congenital condition¡ªhis skin was still slightly attached to his neck¡ªhe had been ruthlessly rejected, something he hadined about before.


    A few minutester, the ghosts gathered and the students courteously apuded. Suddenly, the ghosts dispersed, flying into the air and showering silver dots.


    Harry, rmed, looked up to see something egg-shaped. He couldn''t resist reaching out, a risky move as his experience told him that touching ghosts would give him an icy plunge feeling.


    But the next moment, a wave of happiness washed over him. It felt as if he was back in the Ancient Runes office, flipping through that magical book, stuck on the chapter titled "Happiness" for ages.


    "That''s my memory!" a ghost floated excitedly in front of him¡ªit was Nearly Headless Nick.


    "Oh, um, it feels great," Harry sincerelyplimented.


    "Thank you, I''ve been striving for this opportunity for so long!" Nearly Headless Nick said, excitedly. "I mean, I foresaw this oue... I was once a courtier to Henry VII and tasted the pce''s cuisine!" His tone turned somber. "Although he did sentence me to death."


    "That''s unfortunate," Harry could only say. But what he thought was that Henry VII must have been quite poor, not even able to afford a decent axe, as Nearly Headless Nick had mentioned being struck 45 times and still notpletely beheaded.


    "Want to try it?" Felix asked from the teachers'' seats. "My memory spirit loves doing peculiar things; heins to me about not being able to get out..."


    "Not necessary," Snape said coldly, pushing away the silver dots enveloping him.


    Then, the hall brightened again. A line of small house-elves walked into the center of the hall. Their faces were even stiffer than Snape''s, expressionlessly wielding miniature bows, seemingly ready to shoot arrows from behind at any moment. The hall was silent until they left.


    Dumbledore politely pped, starting a sporadic round of apuse. The following acts proceeded more smoothly. Uagadou''s students performed a lively African dance, attracting quite a few male students'' attention towards Nona Leberth''s graceful movements. Students also witnessed Beauxbatons'' sylphs'' choir, and Fleur''s enchanting voice singing a serenade.


    "So, Professor Snape''s birthday is on April 15th?" Fred asked, skewering a piece of chicken with his fork.


    "Probably," Harry paused. "I didn


    ''t ask specifically, but Professor Snape mentioned that the cake was only opened in the morning, so it''s fresh..."


    "Oh." Fred and George exchanged a knowing look. Fred said seriously, "George, next year is ourst year at school."


    "Yeah," George replied without hesitation. "We should get the presents ready."


    "You nning some birthday prank for the professor?" Hermione asked sharply.


    "Don''t say it like that," Fred didn''t deny it, "just want to leave a good memory behind... I only just realized that our birthdays are all in April¡ªmine, George''s, and Professor Snape''s. It must be a special fate."


    "Yours?"


    "April 1st, yeah, April Fools'' Day, but this isn''t a joke."


    >


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 Chapter 464: Elite of the Ministry of Magic

    Chapter 464: Elite of the Ministry of Magic


    The next day, Felix arrived punctually at the Ministry of Magic. Disguised as a red telephone booth, the elevator halted on the dark floor of the Ministry''s grand hall. "The Ministry hopes you have a pleasant day today," uttered the indifferent voice of a woman inside the elevator.


    Subsequently, the booth''s door flung open. Perhaps due to the Easter holiday, the magnificent hall appeared deserted, evoking a profound sense of solitude. Felix immediately spotted the person he was supposed to meet not far away¡ªTonks.


    She sported violet-hued hair, her nose appearing softer than before. Metamorphmagus... truly fascinating, Felix thought. If only I could examine it further.


    But he refrained from vocalizing that thought.


    "Mr. Harp, I''ve taken over this task from Kingsley," Tonks cheerfully stated, approaching him and appraising him. "Is this how you arrived?"


    "Would there be another way?" Felix inquired.


    "I thought you might bring some teaching tools," Tonks said. "Ryms mentioned you always have interesting inventions and ideas."


    "I did bring them. I''ll unveil them at the appropriate time," Felix smiled faintly, walking toward the elevator with her. "Are you still in touch with Ryms?"


    "Oh, yes," Tonks replied. "I like wandering around Swordhold on its open days. Ryms has given me plenty of advice. He''s still troubled by the stunning incident, but he didn''t mean it, did he? We need to head to the second floor; Scrimgeour is waiting.""Swordhold?"


    "It''s the headquarters of Future Worldpany. It looks like a sword stuck in Diagon Alley. That''s what we call it," Tonks exined, fiddling with the elevator buttons. The elevator jerked, starting its ascent.


    Felix realized he always learned about hispany''s undisclosed information from others. It gave him a sense of a rapidly growingpany, expanding its influence. Tonks brought the conversation back on track, "I''ve been saving for the Jade Crown recently, but I''ve always been a bit extravagant."


    "It''s indeed popr among girls," Felix remarked understandingly.


    "Oh, uh," Tonks seemed flustered. She hurriedly exined, "I don''t mean to wear a princess dress or two. What I meant is, although it''s beautiful... Ites in six styles and can be customized. Don''t you think it suits my abilities?" She gestured to her face, swiftly sharpening her previously gentle nose, giving her a more refined and formidable look.


    "Ding! Second floor," interrupted the elevator.


    Felix pretended to be convinced. They reached Auror Office, an open space divided into several cubicles, each belonging to an Auror. Despite the holiday, most of the seats were upied.


    The Aurors conversed in groups of two or three. As Tonks led Felix in, all of them turned their attention toward them. Felix sensed various emotions¡ªa mix of curiosity, admiration, suspicion, scrutiny, and one or two hints of malice.


    "That''s my seat," Tonks pointed to a cubicle. Stickers adorned the cubicle''s wooden board, and scattered across the desk were a few pending files and a water cup with a discount coupon for Future Worldpany beneath it.


    "Thank you, Tonks," Kingsley interjected. "I''ll take it from here."


    Felix felt like amodity briefly transferred through Tonks'' hands to a more professional individual. Kingsley escorted him to the inner side of the open space where a heavy oak door hung. The door bore a gilded wooden sign disying Scrimgeour''s name and job title.


    "Hello, Mr. Harp," Scrimgeour greeted from his office. He didn''t use the cane resting on the shelf but limped from behind the solid wood desk. He appeared warmer than before, his lion''s mane-like hair swaying as he shook hands with Felix. "The Ministry has been discussing youtely. Griselda highly regards you."


    Felix presumed he referred to the reorganization of Ancient Runes sses. "I hope everything is proceeding smoothly."


    "Indeed," Scrimgeour said. "Your chances are significant. Griselda''s timing is strategic, and one must acknowledge her vastwork. She''s also a Wizengamot elder; her rmendation holds weight."


    Felix found it peculiar; their conversations seemed unrted. Before he could inquire further, Scrimgeour walked out of the office, yelling to the Aurors, who promptly stood up and headed towards the door.


    "We''re going to the training room," Scrimgeour informed him.


    "The training room?" Felix was taken aback, quickly realizing that Aurors must have their own training grounds.


    "The Magical Law Enforcement Department is thergest in the Ministry," Scrimgeour chuckled. "It reflects in various aspects¡ªnumbers, space, and, of course, expenses." They exited and moved in the opposite direction of the elevator, passing through some corridors before turning into a dim, decre


    pit hallway. Scrimgeour lifted a tapestry that revealed an archaic door behind it.


    Felix barely contained his surprise as they stepped into an expansive chamber. The room housed various training facilities¡ªtarget boards, mock-upbat models, obstacle courses, and a sand-filled pit that seemed to absorb spells.


    Satisfied with Felix''s reaction, Scrimgeour nodded approvingly. "Wee to the Auror training ground, Mr. Harp."


    >


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 Chapter 465: Flames

    Chapter 465: mes


    "You all possess the ability to break free from the constraints of the magical cards and outline magical runes... But this is just the first step. You still need to grasp the magical imagery of ancient runes, and this isn''t an easy task. Unless¡ª" Felix gazed at the group in front of him "¡ªyou take some radical measures."


    "Mr. Harp, are you suggesting¡ª" Kingsley spoke for the rest.


    "Take risks, show courage... You need to deeply feel it." Felix spoke earnestly. Several feet away, his wand in hand seemed like a sharp de cutting through the air. With a soft ''whoosh,'' a vibrant orange me shot up behind him, twisting into the shape of a fiery serpent.


    Kingsley widened his eyes, taking two quick steps back. Other Aurors and hit wizards also drew their wands, pointing at the proud, towering me snake and Felix Harp standing in front of it, his demeanor calm, the wand already vanished into his sleeve.


    Gradually, the group calmed down. Tonks looked at the ming serpent in astonishment. It towered nearly a hundred feet tall, its fiery form burning intensely on every scale.


    She took two steps forward. "Tonks!" Kingsley called from behind, but the ming serpent let out a soundless hiss and abruptly descended, mming onto the ground with a ''thud.'' Its snake shape vanished, leaving behind a straight pathway of mes.


    About six or seven feet wide, the head of the snakey just in front of Tonks. Its tail extended backward, enveloping Felix within, his figure faintly visible amidst the mes.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, pass through the mes and feel the power of me runes with me," Felix stood within the mes, addressing them.


    The Aurors were stunned. "Mr. Harp, is this some sort of illusion?" Kingsley asked slowly, sensing theplexity. Whether it was him, Scrimgeour, or even the Minister of Magic, they couldn''t control everything, especially when facing those who had already exhibited formidable power. Their actions were unpredictable.His role was to handle these "unforeseen" situations.


    Tonks nced back at Kingsley, then at the silently observing Felix within the mes. His head slightly tilted, silently studying her and everyone behind her, seeming curious about their choices.


    She began to feel excited.


    "I won''t cause harm," Tonks affirmed, taking another step forward, just a step away from the mes. The scorching heat formed gusts of hot air, and the smell of singed hair reached her nose. Suddenly hesitant, her thoughts wavered, and she involuntarily looked at the man in the mes.


    "I won''t harm anyone unless provoked," he assured her.


    Her heart raced. Under everyone''s watchful gaze, Tonks closed her eyes and stepped into the mes. Contrary to her expectations of searing pain, she felt waves of warmth. Gasps echoed around her as she opened her eyes, and the mes appeared entirely different now.


    She saw individual me runes, almost like sprites, burning and leaping, transforming between fiery symbols and mes. Light emitted from Felix''s right hand as tendrils of fire emanated from his arm, each symbol embedding itself...


    Tonks stood there, entranced. Felix gently reminded her, "Feel the emotions of the mes, sense the power of the runes."


    Extending her palm, a bright me leapt onto it. Her arm flinched, but she didn''t pull away. The me danced in her palm before transforming into a shining rune.


    A surge of joy filled her, and suddenly she knew what to do next. Mentally calling for more runes, soon, mes surrounded her, forming an imprable cocoon.


    "This is¡ª" Kingsley widened his eyes, trusting Dumbledore, he stepped in second. The mes didn''t harm him but gently brushed against his robes. More people stepped into the mes, still unharmed, their faces disying incredulity.


    Was it an illusion? Kingsley wondered. Suddenly, a scream sounded behind him. "Yaxley!" someone yelled. Kingsley spun around, seeing Yaxley retreat from the mes, seemingly injured, though not a trace of burn marred his skin, smoke billowing from his clothes.


    Yaxley sat on the ground, a pained expression on his face, fear and anger in his eyes. "What have you done!" he eximed.


    "This only indicates that you didn''t pass the screening," Felix calmly stated. "You didn''t expect I''d hand over power without any restrictions, did you?"


    "Mr. Harp," Kingsley sighed, troubled. "Our agreement didn''t cover this. You should have at least informed us of your demands beforehand."


    "Because I don''t think this would pose an impediment," Felix lightly said. "Those who harbor ill intentions toward ancient runes naturally won''t be recognized by them. You should have been prepared for this."


    "You mean, Yaxley¡ª" Kingsley hesitated, looking at Felix and then at Yaxley, who sat in anguish. Waves of turmoil surged within him.


    "Perhaps I should have a chat with this Mr. Yaxley. There might be some misunderstanding between us," Felix smirked, remembering Yaxley''s name.


    "No misunderstanding," Yaxley gritted his teeth, standing up. "I just simply dislike ancient runes! Sorry, Kingsley¡ªI shouldn''t have been here." He limped away.


    Kingsley hesitated for a moment. "Apologies, Mr. Harp, I need to check on him¡ª"


    "His body won''t have any issues."


    "I don''t doubt that," Kingsley said sternly. "But¡ª" He paused, addressing the others, "Don''t let Yaxley''s situation affect you. I''ll go check on him." He walked out of the corridor of mes, heading toward the door.


    Felix calmly spoke, reassuring the bewildered Aurors and hit wizards. "The principle behind this magic is simple... I amplified the emotions of the me runes so that you could better perceive the magical imagery. But inevitably, the runes have absorbed my own will. Anyone conflicting with this emotion will face rejection..."


    After a while, Kingsley returned briskly.


    "The healer says it''s nothing major, just shock. Scrimgeour granted him two days off." He addressed the group, and they sighed in relief, feeling sorry for Yaxley. A few more cocoons of me appeared on the field, mes melding into them.


    Felix nodded, ncing at Kingsley, who seemed hesitant. "Is there anything else?"


    "Scrimgeour would like to invite you for lunch."


    >


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 Chapter 466: Two Agendas

    Chapter 466: Two Agendas


    Meanwhile, in the Gryffindormon room, while other students were busy rushing through holiday homework, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were engaged in a lively discussion, busily determining the spells that mighte in handy for their third project.


    "It''ll be almost a month before we know the exact details of the third project, but we can''t afford to wait till then to start working," Hermione said to them. Harry noticed she had her little book out again, still brimming with ideas and information she''d prepared for the second project.


    Hermione caught Harry''s nce and exined, "There are some spells that could be really useful; we just didn''t have the time to learn them back then, and now they mighte in handy."


    "What spells exactly?" Ron asked, genuinely interested. "I feel like we''ve got enough under our belt for now."


    "No, nowhere near enough," Hermione said seriously. "For instance, during the thirty-second tournament, champions were asked to locate an invisible beast based on a rudimentary map."


    "Doesn''t sound too dangerous," Ron remarked. "Invisible beasts aren''t that aggressive."


    "Oh, the danger doesn''t lie in the invisible beast itself, but in the other creatures in the mountains. Besides, in the end, after six weeks of exploration in the mountains, the champions came back empty-handed, and the judges had to dere their efforts aplete failure," Hermione exined.


    "Six weeks? Out in the wild?" Ron shrank a bit.


    "Imagine how worn out those champions were," Hermione said shortly. "On average, they took even longer to recover..."Ron''s body visibly shuddered.


    "We really should be prepared," Ron said seriously. "Any good advice to avoid getting lost?"


    "Survival skills in the wilderness, Professor Belby covered that knowledge; how to deal withmon dangerous creatures in the wild, Professor Lupin covered that part... and there''s the amplifying charm, the alerting charm, directional charms... I think the Cutting Charm would be useful too, for clearing bushes and setting up temporary tents... I say, Ron, how''s your Disillusionment Charm practice going?"


    "What?" Ron looked startled, nervously swallowing.


    "Don''t look at me like that; you haven''t been practicing since the end ofst school year, have you?" Hermione stared at his face.


    "Oh, well," Ron stammered, "I''ve seeded a couple of times, remember?"


    "That wasst year; if you haven''t practiced since then..." Hermione looked at him sternly.


    "What about you?" Ron couldn''t help but retort.


    "I''ve known it for a while," Hermione said. "Of course, not as well as Harry does..."


    Ron looked disheartened, gazing at her. "So, I have an extra taskpared to you guys? Harry, I need your help, Harry?"


    Harry raised his head from the book ''Famous Wizards and Their Patronuses,'' looking drowsy.


    "What''s wrong with you?" Ron asked in confusion.


    "Professor wants me to find time to practice the Patronus Charm more," Harry yawned.


    "Patronus Charm? Why?" Ron raised an eyebrow.


    Harry shrugged. "The professor says this magic has great untapped potential."


    ...


    About a weekter, the Ministry of Magic was gradually bustling with more people returning to work, staff members trickling in.


    Felix''s special training had also gained momentum. The most advanced among the proud Aurors andbatants had begun experimenting with the integration of me Runes and Firestorm Spells. At this stage, the difficultyy in controlling magic and timing the fusion¡ªa task deemed manageable for the Ministry''s elite.


    Kingsley and Deirdre led the way in achieving sess. For them, the power of individual spells might not be extraordinary, but they faced an entire magical system.


    Everyone highly regarded this rare opportunity. Felix silently expanded his influence onto one of the most crucial factions within the Ministry.


    Reflecting on the experiences of the past few days, Felix had a peaceful lunch with Scrimgeour, free from conflicts. Scrimgeour hadn''t even brought up Yaxley''s issue, instead presenting Felix with an offer to be a consultant for the Ministry.


    "A consultant? What''s the use?" Felix asked, examining the content without discovering anything rted to magical contracts.


    "Additional ie and the authority to suggest and oversee certain matters," Scrimgeour said, his tone enticing. "If you intend to pursue politics, it''s an important qualification."


    Felix shrugged and epted it.


    One afternoon, Felix borated once again on the meaning of ''Fluid'' Runes for everyone. Professor Marchbanks found him and invited him to a meeting.


    As Felix walked into the second-floor conference room of the Ministry, it was already packed. These individuals were wearing crimson robes with a delicate silver "W" embroidered on the left front. They all looked at him, some with severe expressions while others barely concealed their curiosity.


    His gaze swept over these wizards, pausing briefly at Dumbledore''s half-moon spectacles and the dark yellow-green domed hat on Fudge''s desk.


    Wizengamot... Felix had a guess. Calmly, he walked to the empty seat next to Professor Marchbanks and whispered, "What do you need me to do?"


    "Nothing at all!" Professor Marchbanks eximed loudly, looking towards the opposite end. "Dumbledore, can we begin?"


    "Of course," Dumbledore said cheerfully, but Fudge''s expression seemed uneasy as he wiped the sweat off his forehead.


    Dumbledore opened a document on the table, cleared his throat, and began, "As the Chief Wizard of Wizengamot, I, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, summon all wizards of Wizengamot to discuss


    thew revision regarding the ban on the employment of werewolves."


    Felix''s eyes widened slightly in surprise. This was quite an unexpected discussion to walk into.


    >


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 Chapter 467: A Starkly Different Attitude

    Chapter 467: A Starkly Different Attitude


    A loud gasp echoed through the conference room as the wizard who had been inquiring about discounts for his granddaughter''s new products slid from his chair to the floor. He cursed under his breath, but no one paid him any mind. The room resembled a bustling market, even Professor Marchbanks looked astounded by Dumbledore''s presence.


    "Are you sure he''s truly returned? Dumbledore, I mean... really back?" Amelia Bones'' face, beneath a single lens of her sses, wore a serious expression.


    Dumbledore gently shook his head. Bones'' tense posture rxed, her thick eyebrows finding their proper ce once more.


    "So, we have time to prepare," she breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Provided we don''t turn a blind eye and act as if nothing has happened¡ª"


    "Enough, Dumbledore!" Fudge shouted, his face flushed, spit flying, seemingly oblivious to it all. "Stop spreading this atmosphere of terror! There''s no evidence he''s truly back... no signs of his return!"


    "The evidence is right under your nose, Fudge. You just need to take a moment to look down," Dumbledore said.


    "Where?"


    "Barty Crouch¡ª""Ah-ha! Knew you''d bring that up!" Fudge rudely adjusted his cor, his face and neck reddening with anger. He stood, squashing his hat in his hand, waving his arms passionately. "Gentlemen,dies, let me elucidate on this so-called evidence, and you''ll see how absurd it is¡ª"


    Members of the Wizengamot stared as Fudge paced the room, speaking loudly.


    "Barty Crouch! I didn''t want to bring it up, involved as it is with scandal, but¡ª former Head of the International Magical Cooperation Department,mitted a serious breach of duty twelve years ago, pulled his damn Death Eater son out of prison, hoodwinked everyone! Barty Crouch used Polyjuice Potion to swap his wife and son, eluding even the Dementors... I admit there are ws at Azkaban, and we''re considering adding a Thief''s Cascade to erase all charms and effects¡ª"


    Fudge abruptly halted. Clutching his hat tightly in one hand and leaning on a chair with the other, he said, "Think about it! His actions were insane. A murderer over a dozen years ago, he''s so... evil! Not much better than those Death Eaters."


    "Cornelius," Amelia frowned, "Barty did indeed err, but ording to his testimony, his wife was in a critical state, and he couldn''t resist her final plea¡ª"


    "Not just that!" Fudge interrupted, "Barty Crouch''s crimes aren''t limited to that. He drove his own son mad!"


    Silence fell in the room, only broken by Fudge''s heavy breathing. He seemed like a dangerous diator, not in the Ministry''s chamber but an ancient arena, poised to fight anyone who dared challenge him.


    He had met his match in Dumbledore, who sat calmly with his hands crossed on the table, watching Fudge with interest. "Interesting perspective, Fudge. I''m increasingly intrigued by your thoughts. Pray, continue."


    Fudge, seemingly aggravated by Dumbledore''s serene expression, raised his voice as if enchanted with a Sonorus charm.


    "I have evidence too, Dumbledore. If you choose to believe Barty Crouch, you must believe it all, right?" Fudge wore an odd smile, having prepared extensively for this day, speaking effortlessly now.


    His small eyes fixed on Dumbledore, who met his gaze without flinching. Dumbledore seemed to exude an indescribable force, prompting Fudge to avert his eyes.


    "The Imperius Curse... yes, everyone, have you considered how Barty Crouch controlled his son? To conceal his crimes, to climb higher in the Ministry, he subjected his son to the Imperius Curse, keeping the young Crouch confined beneath an Invisibility Cloak for twelve years!"


    "He got what he deserved, that little Death Eater!" Professor Marchbanks eximed. "He wasplicit in the torture of the Longbottoms, utterly despicable. If not for Felix," she nced quickly to her side, "that poor couple would still be in St. Mungo''s, barely living."


    "I know," Fudge said impatiently, "I assure you, I have no sympathy for that Death Eater. My uncle perished in the war; I detest them as much as you do! I merely wish to tell you, Barty Crouch has gone mad, long gone, not the man you imagine. Someone who consistently uses an Unforgivable Curse for twelve years, what bes of their soul? Hm?"


    Felix looked surprised at Fudge''s insight, finding a whole newyer to Fudge''s character. His resistance and stubbornness widened Felix''s perspective. Fudge''s strategy was convincing: first, expose Crouch''s crimes, painting Crouch as a dangerous criminal, and then justify young Crouch''s behavior, although wed. It was apelling story, with some loopholes, yet apelling narrative nheless. If Felix guessed correctly, Fudge was about to dismantle Crouch''s entire testimony¡ª


    "Barty Crouch is insane!" Fudge eximed, "His reappearance was met with severe torment, both mentally and physically!" He looked at Amelia Bones, "You understand this, don''t you?"


    "Barty Crouch did endure inhuman torment, but¡ª" Bones cautiously started.


    "St. Mungo''s confirmed his condition!" Fudge immediately turned to Doris Purkiss, "Your therapist... he admitted Barty Crouch was under severe Confundus and memory tampering!"


    Purkiss nodded slowly. Several members of the Wizengamot seemed swayed, expressing a mix of sympathy and regret.


    "That''s the truth!" Fudge waved his hat, "No mysterious figure! No war!" He ced the hat back on his head, smiling at Dumbledore.


    Dumbledore smiled back. He even pped a few times. "Fudge, your stories are all built on imagination¡ª"


    "So, you have evidence?" Fudge asked eagerly.


    Dumbledore calmly responded, "If you''re expecting evidence of Voldemort standing before you," Fudge shrank at the name, Dumbledore continued, "then, no, I don''t. But I''m happy to share some facts and my spections based on them."


    "So, you''re spinning tales too, Dumbledore? I''m busy and not interested in these¡ª"


    "Unfortunately," Dumbledore interrupted.


    "What¡ªunfortunately?" Fudge gasped, as if Dumbledore had brandished a wand at him.


    "Forgive me, Fudge, I am the Chief Wizard of Wizengamot. Despite your role as Minister, as per protocol, you''re a member of Wizengamot and must hear me out," Dumbledore said, and Fudge stared as if someone hadshed out at him.


    Felix sat quietly, pondering. If Dumbledore intended to reveal all about Voldemort''s secrets, he wouldn''t believe it. He leaned towards Dumbledore''s n to issue a warning, but to what extent?


    "Where do I begin?" Dumbledore spoke softly. "Fourteen years ago, that night, Voldemort, with the aid of a traitor, entered the Potters'' safe house, killed them, but failed before baby Harry Potter. His Killing Curse rebounded, ro


    bbing Voldemort of his physical form. No one saw him after that night."


    Dumbledore paused, surveying the room, a calm demeanor enveloping the chamber.


    "Then, as days turned into weeks, and weeks into years, whispers began among those who felt his return imminent. He was a shadow¡ªsubtle, cunning, and patient, waiting for the right moment, right followers. His methods were not without error, leaving traces... smaller incidents," Dumbledore continued, emphasizing each word with precision.


    Fudge''s expression shifted, showing signs of irritation and impatience. "Get to the point, Dumbledore! What''s your evidence?"


    "Ah, yes," Dumbledore nodded, "the prophecy. Heard by Severus Snape, overheard by another. The Dark Lord sought to mark his equal; thus, Harry Potter became his target. But the prophecy also foretold that neither could live while the other survives. Voldemort knows of this prophecy, for Severus delivered it to him. He acted upon it, seeking Harry Potter."


    "Rubbish!" Fudge eximed.


    "s, the prophecy is genuine," Dumbledore continued, ignoring Fudge''s outburst. "Voldemort might not have returned in flesh, but he''s risen in influence and power. His followers have been gradually regrouping, awaiting his instructions. Pettigrew''s resurrection, a riddle to all but a few, was part of his design."


    Fudge frowned. "Pettigrew''s resurrection? You''re inventing these stories now, Dumbledore!"


    "I assure you, I am not," Dumbledore replied calmly.


    The room was silent, the tension palpable. Dumbledore''s words hung heavily in the air, the weight of their implications sinking in. Felix watched as the once bustling chamber became a stage for a battle of narratives. It was no longer just about evidence; it was about belief.


    "Back to the point, I read in the paper about an expedition team that caught wind of the terrifying tales in the Albanian Forest. Strange deaths of small animals and livestock, behaving oddly before their demise. An eight-year-old swore he saw a snake reading a newspaper with moving pictures."


    "Do we all understand what this might imply?" Dumbledore addressed the group.


    Tabulous Ogden grumbled discontentedly, "Which foolish wizard casually left the paper around?"


    "This doesn''t necessarily signify anything..." Fudge stubbornly asserted. "It could be an Animagus from another country, coincidentally in snake form."


    "I checked, they were possessed," Dumbledore stated.


    "What¡ªwhat?"


    "Posessed," Dumbledore repeated, "It doesn''t exin everything. It could be a malevolent spirit, but I must remind you, it might also be someone who has lost power. I continue investigating in the forest... I found arge pit filled with animal carcasses, mostly rodents and snakes. Lots of snakes, in fact. I tried unraveling the mystery and at one point, I thought I saw a familiar figure, tattered, turned into a specter. But I haven''t seen him since."


    "You mean that thing... he''s avoiding you?" Amelia Bones asked seriously.


    "I believe so," Dumbledore nodded slightly. "I persuaded nearby households to relocate and asked the local wizard pub''s owner to keep an eye on the specter. And so it went on for over a decade. I gathered more information, solidifying my spections."


    "But if it is indeed that person, why hide in the Albanian Forest for over a decade?" Amelia Bones inquired.


    "Exactly! I''d like to know that¡ª"


    "I''m afraid I can only offer some spection," Dumbledore said.


    "Your spection holds weight," Mrs. Bones acknowledged, some wizards in the room nodding in agreement, others shaking their heads.


    "I believe¡ªbefore I make any assumptions, I need to remind you, Voldemort has been greatly weakened, more limited than a ghost, even. His w is he can''t suppress strong resistance for long, so he''s more inclined to possess simple minds, especially snakes. He has a peculiar influence over them."


    "Snake-tongued," Mrs. Bones grimly remarked.


    "Exactly. Perhaps in the years of his weakened state, he hoped some Death Eater would find him, help him regain power... but he was disappointed, ruling through fear, destined to fail," Dumbledore spoke softly. "Of course, a few loyal to him ended up in Azkaban."


    "Little Barty Crouch, Lestrange!" Mrs. Bones eximed.


    Felix''s mind raced; he felt a tug, the first time during the conversation with Neville when he thought about Azkaban and Dementors. He had failed to grasp a crucial point - Azkaban was a prison, housing various criminals.


    Leaning back in his chair, he gazed at the ceiling, deep in thought. Dumbledore''s voice turned into background noise, sparking inspiration...


    "About four years ago, Voldemort possessed a professor at Hogwarts, tried to get the Philosopher''s Stone... finally stopped by Harry Potter and his friends... the Stone destroyed."


    "Over a year ago, presumed dead war hero Pettigrew reappeared, along with a Death Eaterter revealed to be young Crouch. Ordered to infiltrate the school, but before their conspiracy could unfold, they were discovered by Harry Potter and his friends. A fight broke out on the edge of the Forbidden Forest, thanks to the timely intervention of the once-used-as-a-Death-Eater Sirius ck and two school professors, they survived."


    "Unfortunately, these people almost died at the hands of rogue Dementors." Dumbledore''s tone turned severe; Fudge shrunk, Umbridge hiding behind files. "Pettigrew died that night, by a Dementor''s kiss... he repented at the end, admitting to betraying the Potters, and he said one thing."


    The room fell silent, everyone holding their breath, watching Dumbledore.


    "He said: He''sing back, that person whose name we can''t even mention, he''sing back. I''ve done wrong, forgive me¡ª"


    "What!" Mrs. Bones gasped, staring at Fudge incredulously. "No one told me about this! Did you impose a gag order?"


    Fudge stuttered, wiping sweat, finally blurting out, "What do you want me to do? Lock down everything over some meaningless words? Undo all the peace we''ve worked for over these years?"


    "Peace isn''t feigned," Felix smiled, finally understanding.


    Azkaban, Dark Wizard, Death Eaters... Voldemort, resurrection... and Dumbledore.


    All of this pieced together a spection. If Dumbledore inflicted fatal wounds on Voldemort multiple times, if Voldemort was incredibly weak and reliant on others'' help, his options would be limited.


    This person had to be a Death Eater, fiercely loyal to Voldemort, believing in his ideals. Only then could they gain Voldemort''s limited trust and the honor of assisting the "great Dark Lord" with injuries or even a resurrection ritual.


    If this person had evaded capture post-war, they couldn''t have stayed inactive for over a decade; they must have been in Azkaban.


    Would they know more, like about Horcruxes?


    Of course, Voldemort was extremely selfish; he wouldn''t allow anyone, even a loyal servant offering their life, to know about Horcruxes. He might have used a spell to safeguard the secret, a forgetfulness charm or confusion charm could achieve that...


    Fudge red at Felix, his expression stubborn.


    "Towards this year, the signs became clearer," Dumbledore said. "Several disappearances urred. Bertha Jorkins vanished from Voldemort''sst hideout, then a Muggle. Frank Bryce, living in the vige of Voldemort''s father''s birth. I read about it in the newspaper, remember? I read Muggle papers... and Crouch, if not rescued, could have been another disappearance."


    "Dumbledore, what you''re saying is spection, perhaps mere coincidence!"


    "I have a witness," Dumbledore said gravely.


    Fudge nced quickly, almost twisting his neck in the speed, others also turned to Dumbledore, Fudge muttering, "You''re not suggesting it''s Barty Crouch, his testimony is unreliable¡ª"


    "What about his house-elf?" Dumbledore politely asked, waving his wand, and suddenly, Dobby and Winky appeared in the office.


    Dobby seemed bewildered, but Winky adjusted quickly to the setting. They both bowed deeply, saying, "Good day, gentlemen wizards."


    Everyone stared¡ªnot because of Dumbledore''s magic but because both wore well-kept clothing. They understood:


    These were two free house-elves.


    >


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 Chapter 468: Winkys Testimony

    Chapter 468: Winky''s Testimony


    Amelia Bones wore a surprised expression, her monocle slipping down her face, and she took it off to wipe the lens.


    "Dumbledore, if I''m not mistaken, neither of them has an owner..."


    Winky had been standing nkly until that moment when she suddenly screamed, "No¡ªWinky belongs to the Crouch family! Winky has her own master! His name is Barty Crouch¡ª"


    "Not true!" Dobby retorted. "Wizards, Mr. Barty Crouch gave Winky her freedom! Dobby saw it himself!" Winky closed her eyes and screamed, "No! No! No!" Dobby shouted louder, "Now Winky is free like Dobby!" He proudly puffed out his chest, leaving the surrounding wizards bewildered.


    Never had they seen such an unconventional house elf¡ªor rather, some had¡ªin the "Future World"pany. They turned their heads towards Felix.


    Felix calmly stated, "Winky used to serve a prominent family, then she gained her freedom, and I offered her a job," he emphasized, "just a job."


    "I''ve heard about the odd house elves at the ''Future World''pany," muttered one wizard.


    Winky continued to scream while Fudge rudely interrupted her, "You, little creature! Are you called Winky? Formerly owned by Barty Crouch?"


    "No¡ªnot¡ªnot¡ª" Winky continued shouting, rolling on the ground, tears and snot streaming. Dobby tried to pull her up, but his attempts failed. He stood in front of her, helplessly waving his slender arms. "Yes! She''s Winky, and I''m Dobby.""Dumbledore, do you want them to testify? House elves aren''t trustworthy¡ª"


    "I don''t agree," Dumbledore smiled, "Their clothes indicate theirplete free will. There''s no need to worry about them being bound by unbreakable magical contracts."


    Fudge stared, watching Winky rolling on the ground. "Are you sure? Apart from an extra piece of clothing, she''s no different from other house elves."


    "Dobby, could you talk about what happened that night at the Crouch Manor?" Felix asked. "Only what you saw."


    "Oh, of course! Dobby¡¯s more than willing!" Dobby quickly recounted the events of that night, mentioning only the chilling voice and Crouch''s unusual behavior. But most present seemed to believe him, confirming that Crouch was indeed under someone''s control, and it wasn''t his son¡ªhe was at Hogwarts at the time.


    As Dobby spoke, Winky gradually quieted down, sobbing softly.


    "He didn''t mention that person," Amelia Bones quickly checked her notes and asked.


    "Dobby is an outsider. He had nothing to do with this incident other than inviting friends for Christmas," Felix said. "For more information¡ª" He nced at the house elf sitting on the ground, speaking gently, "Winky, your testimony is helpful. It at least proves that Mr. Barty Crouch isn''t an evil lunatic."


    "The master is not a lunatic!" Winky hoarsely shouted. "He''s under a terrible spell!"


    "Then¡ªWinky? Is that the name? Can you borate?" Amelia Bones inquired. "If there''s more to this, I can consider reopening the case of Barty Crouch."


    "Will the master be freed?" Winky asked excitedly, finally calming down.


    "Impossible!" Fudge eximed. "Impossible." He repeated, and Amelia Bones reproached him, turning to Winky, "Acquittal... highly unlikely, but we''ll reconsider his sentence. He was supposed to be in Azkaban for life."


    Winky''s eyes sparkled with hopeful light. "Winky... Winky is willing to testify."


    "A year ago... the master was at work when suddenly, someone barged in. He disarmed me and freed young Master Barty¡ª"


    "Who was that person?" Amelia Bones asked sternly.


    "A man named ''Peter,'' he could turn into a rat, Winky saw!" Winky squeaked, and wizards exchanged nces. Someone murmured, "The little dwarf, Peter." Winky continued describing him, "Short, plump, somewhat bald... with small eyes..." She nced at Fudge and whispered, "Reminds me a bit of this wizard."


    Fudge''s chest heaved like an ancient bellows, about to explode.


    "Short, plump, somewhat bald..." Amelia Bones repeated yfully, tracing an outline in the air. "Was it him?" The portrait in mid-air depicted the little dwarf, Peter.


    "It was him!" Winky confirmed and mentioned crucial information, "He held an ugly baby and called that baby his master!"


    The meeting room echoed with gasps.


    "Are you sure it was a baby?" Amelia Bones asked seriously.


    "Y-yes!" Winky stammered, not daring to look at her. "A very, very... very ugly baby!"


    "When the master returned in the evening, Master Barty finally got a wand, hiding under an invisibility cloak, and attacked him when the master uncovered¡ª " Winky gasped, in pain, "Oh, Barty is such a bad boy, he brought back a terrible friend!"


    "We got it, what happened next?"


    "After that, the master was controlled and went to work as usual. Winky even cooked for them..." Winky wailed, tears streaming like beans, "It seemed fine to Winky, my goodness!" Winky mourned, tears dripping, "Winky even took care of them, made them food..."


    "Likely Confundus," Felix suggested.


    "Later, they identally mentioned nning to ambush someone, to substitute for him at school andplete a dangerous mission¡ª"


    "What mission?"


    Winky widened her eyes. "Winky doesn''t know! When they discussed, Winky was ordered back to her ce. Winky obeys orders, Winky is a good house elf!"


    "Good, we can roughly guess who it is, poor stor. Keep going, do you know anything else?"


    "That man named Peter disappeared, supposedly caught. Later, young Master Barty also left, returning only after several days. Winky was tasked to take care of that baby. Winky..." she suddenly looked terrified, "Winky sometimes saw that baby tormenting the master! Winky watched!" she eximed, tears streaming down her face.


    She covered her face, tears flowing through her fingers.


    "That''s enough," Felix said, signaling to Dobby. With a nod from Dobby, he pulled Winky away with a soft "pop."


    An oppressive silence filled the office.


    "You should have let her finish," Amelia Bones looked displeased, addressing Felix.


    "She said what needed to be said. If you''re expecting a specific name or a grand n, I''m sorry, you''ve heard it all. She knows limited information. In fact, you had a chance, that was Peter¡ªunfortunately, the Dementor took his soul."


    Fudge red, speaking slowly, "That house elf¡ªshe''s been cursed too."


    "I can''t pretend it didn''t happen," Felix said. "It''s likely a Confundus. Voldemort underestimated house elves, thinking a Confundus was enough, or maybe she was meant to be disposed of, not worth the effort. But anyway, Winky''s memory hasn''t


    been altered. Her actions afterward, even before, show a consistent line of thought."


    "If Winky is testifying, I''ll arrange for a healer from Saint Mungo''s to verify."


    Fudge was dumbfounded for a moment and then erupted, "All this is mere conjecture! All of it! I don''t know the point of our discussion today!"


    "Cornelius," Dumbledore spoke wearily, "I brought this up not to deny or overturn anything, but to remind. We discussed this in private, but you¡ªdue to certain reasons¡ªrefuse to believe the existing evidence. You should know how much we lost in thest war; do you want to go through another unprepared conflict?"


    "I¡ªYou¡ªthis isn''t¡ª" Fudge was bbergasted.


    "A crucial question is, do you know what you''re doing, Minister Fudge?" Felix softly questioned.


    "What do you¡ªmean?" Fudge''s face turned beet red.


    "We could consider a hypothesis." Felix leaned intriguingly towards Amelia Bones and those present. "Please, Madame Bones, and everyone here, witness¡ª"


    Madame Bones adjusted her monocle to better see Felix.


    "Today, we heard twopletely opposite views, neither yielding. But time will prove who''s right. However... we need to ask ourselves if, in the event of war, someone should be held ountable¡ª"


    "Nonsense!" Fudge shouted loudly. "Do you know what you''re saying? using a sitting Minister of Magic¡ªWho authorized you to do this?" He red fiercely at Felix, shifting his gaze between him and Dumbledore.


    "As I said, Minister Fudge... I know what I''m saying, but it seems you don''t understand what you''re doing." Felix smiled. "These are merely hypotheses, discussing possible futures, right?"


    "I indeedck the power to dismiss a sitting Minister of Magic or subject them to punishment," he said contemptuously. Fudge was close to boiling in anger; no one had openly threatened him like this before. Yes, he took Felix''s words as a tant threat.


    "...But, everyone should be responsible for their words and actions, especially those in power," Felix said. "So, I''d suggest everyone present remember today''s arguments. Keep your thoughts, and when everything bes clear, you''ll naturally know whom to support and whom to deny."


    >


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 Chapter 469: The Well of Good Fortune

    Chapter 469: The Well of Good Fortune


    The meeting ended on a sour note.


    Felix Harp adopted a stalling tactic in the end. He agreed to investigate the existing leads, but Felix had no doubt that once the meeting concluded, themitments made would be cast aside.


    "You''re too straightforward; Fudge might not be able to handle it," Dumbledore said outside the Ministry of Magic.


    "Indeed, he''s as narrow-minded as theye," Felix sarcastically replied. "What do you think of Mrs. Bones?"


    Dumbledore''s sharp blue eyes fixed on him.


    "Imagine," Felix gazed at a distant street corner where an ice cream van was parked, "when the wares, how much of a hindrance our Minister might be. I don''t want to face both Voldemort and the Ministry''s threats simultaneously. It''s essential to sort one out while we have time."


    "Your ideas are risky, Felix," Dumbledore disagreed. In truth, that was putting it mildly.


    "Just nning ahead," Felix shrugged, shifting the topic. "If the war erupts, Fudge won''t be fit for that role anymore. He could resign and leave a mess behind."


    His notion was simple: if Fudge proved ipetent, they could rece him. Amelia Bones seemed promising and conveniently close to the position.Pondering, Felix made his way back to the Ministry. In a way, the meeting had served the purpose of publicly estranging Fudge and Dumbledore. It had raised rms for some, especially Amelia Bones. Felix sensed she was a crucial figure.


    She controlled ny percent of the Ministry''s forces, includingbat units, strike teams, and magicalw enforcement. She had authority over any operation, even those involving Dementors, not under her directmand.


    "Sirius seems to know her?" Felix recalled.


    In the afternoon,bat units practiced on the field, their magical progression surpassing that of students in schools. Felix had been busy these past two weeks, collecting ample data for future teaching.


    Sitting in a corner at the training ground, Felix toyed with a red nail, attracting Tonks''s interest. "Is that some new product? What''s its use? Does it change color?"


    Felix chuckled, pocketing the nail that belonged to Rita Skeeter. "It''s far more potent than you imagine. I hope never to have to use it."


    "Is it a weapon?" Tonks clearly didn''t believe him. She nced at the field. "Kingsley''s about to seed."


    Kingsley, with wand in hand, traced flowing runes. A tough, pale-green magical barrier struggled into existence, resembling a fluid curtain.


    "Ready?" Dawlish shouted from a distance.


    People gathered around, watching their actions closely. Dawlish swung his wand, spells hitting the runic armor; concentric ripples shimmered across the surface. "Try this!" Dawlish shed his wand, a bright red runic script forming into a zing fireball, shattering the still-maturing barrier.


    Kingsley stepped back, steadying himself. Cheers erupted around them.


    "My task is nearly finished. Hogwarts starts in two days," Felix said thoughtfully.


    "You could stay longer," Tonks suggested. "You''re wee anytime. Scrimgour said your consultant status remains."


    "Staying longer would draw attention," Felix replied with a smile. He pulled out amunication mirror, gently adjusting it. A gentle voice came from the other end. "Felix?"


    "Romulus, it''s me," Felix said calmly. "There might be some hindrances for thepany soon. Pause expansion temporarily."


    "What''s happened?" Romulus asked anxiously, while Tonks widened her eyes, listening quietly.


    "Just a precaution, being prepared for anything," Felix spoke vaguely. "If thepany''s affected, inform me promptly; don''t dy. I''ll help sort it out."


    "Is that so..." Romulus spoke from behind the mirror. "I''ve been expecting this. It''s a good time for staff training."


    "I can help," Tonks suddenly offered.


    Felix looked at her.


    "I can help," Tonks repeated, surprising Romulus on the other end. "Dora?" "It''s me," Tonks grinned, pointing to the mirror. Felix kindly passed it to her.


    ...


    Hogwarts, Ancient Runes Office.


    Valen, the Niffler, woke up from its cradle. It was the tenth day of its independent living. Though the great wizard had asked Hermione to look after it before leaving, Valen preferred its cozy bed.


    Days without anyone around were delightful!


    "Squeak!"


    Valen spent quite some time rearranging its collection, then happily climbed onto the sofa, flipping through "Tales of Bardic Poet," having finished "Adventures of Young Wizard Mick." Felix had given Valen the fairy tales previously used as reading practice material.


    Of course, officially, it was a gift for Valen once it learned to read.


    Valen particrly loved the illustrations. Yawning, it read the story of the Well of Good Fortune: three witches and an unlucky knight set out to find a spring that bestowed good fortune. They had to pass three challenges. The first was a gigantic white worm blocking the road. The knight''s sword didn''t affect it; only proving "pain" made the worm move aside.


    Why didn''t they take a different path? Or create an opening? Valen wondered. Perhaps they didn''t have a sniffer friend. Oh, that would be terrible.


    As it continued reading, a witch afflicted with a terminal illness, seeing time slip away, shed despairing tears. Finally, the worm made way as the woman expressed her anguish.


    The second challenge involved a magically bewitched hillside. They had to "sacrificebor''s fruit" to ascend. They offered all their wealth¡ªValen shuddered¡ªbut the magical hill remained indifferent. Time passed, leaving only the second witch climbing. Her forehead glistened with sweat, and they were able to continue.


    Valen stared wide-eyed. Wasn''tbor''s fruit money? It would dly exchange some sweat for a few Galleons, just like the grand wizard had made it learn to read.


    The third challenge was a river encircling the mountaintop. To pass, they had to exchange "past wealth." The unlucky knight used his shield as a makeshift boat, much to Valen''s amusement as it dipped its thumb biscuit into jam, enjoying a leisurely afternoon.


    The knight in the story undoubtedly failed despite being generous. But in the end, it was the third witch who had an answer. She abandoned her obsession with the past at the third challenge, freeing herself from emotional entanglements.


    Finally, all three witches agreed to let the unlucky knight immerse himself in the Well of Good Fortune as a reward for his bravery. Emerging from the spring, he felt he had shed his ill luck, finally expressing his affection for the third witch.


    At the story''s conclusion, the unlucky knight married the third witch and¡ªbecause of their unity and mutual aid¡ªthe four decided to bridge the gap between wizards and Muggles, living together. They lived happily for a long time. When the unlucky knight passed away, he firmly believed the Well of Good Fortune changed his destiny. But he didn''t know, though the magical garden where the well was located brimmed with magic, the well itself held no magic.


    But why? Valen couldn''t understand. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door


    . Valen leaped from the sofa, scurrying to hide its book beneath the cushion.


    "Good morning, Valen!" Hermione greeted as she entered. "How are you today?"


    "Squeak!" Valen replied, eyeing her warily.


    Hermione chuckled, knowing Valen was hiding something. "What have you been up to?" she asked yfully.


    Valen hesitated, ncing at the cushion where the booky concealed.


    "I see you''ve found the ''Tales of Bardic Poet,''" Hermione observed, smiling. "Did Felix give that to you?"


    Valen nodded shyly.


    "Well, it''s a good book," Hermione said, sitting down. "Would you like me to read it with you?"


    "Squeak!" Valen''s eyes sparkled with excitement.


    Hermione chuckled, pulling the book out from under the cushion. Together, they started reading the adventures of the unlucky knight and the Well of Good Fortune, Valen squeaking happily with each turn of the page.


    >


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 Chapter 470: Resurrecting Mystery

    Chapter 470: Resurrecting Mystery


    Valen gazed up at Felix, clutching his clothes with tiny hands, eximing, "Cheep cheep! (The taste of ice cream!)"


    Felix chuckled. "Your nose works wonders," he said, patting the creature''s head. With an expectant look, a ring on his hand shimmered, conjuring a scoop of ice cream.


    "Wow, cheep cheep!"


    "I''ve got more," Felix added, "picked them up on my way back." With a wave, two more ice creams floated in the air.


    He handed one to Hermione. "Oh, thank you," she said, nibbling on it. This vor was different from what Hogwarts offered.


    "How''s the third projecting along?" Felix asked, munching on the chocte-covered ice cream.


    "It''s progressing smoothly. We''ve been practicing with Cedric, Collins, and Roger," Hermione spoke between bites. "Though Harry seems a bit... um... regardless, progress is rapid. It''s astonishing, really. Collins, in her seventh year, hasn''t quite mastered the Animagus transformation yet!"


    Hermione continued chattering, "We''ve bet on who between Ron and Collins will master it first. Professor, we''ve shared the secret of the Room of Requirement with them," she nced cautiously at Felix.


    "That''s alright," Felix assured her. "Over the years, quite a few have known about it, but very few unearth its true secrets."Relieved, Hermione added, "Also, the spectral book you gave Harry, his prize from the Dueling Tournament... He took it out recently, but after more than a year, the magical response is somewhat sluggish." She didn''t mention how Professor Snape''s face in the book had be blurry, her attempts at fixing it proving futile.


    Listening with a smile, Felix opened the office door.


    "Mr. Wimble visited the school a couple of days ago for the Experimental Spells Committee," Hermione continued. "He''s here to evaluate the ancient magical texts we''ve discovered. Everyone''s curious about the horns on his head, but he mentioned it''s been much better... Also, Harry, Ron, um..." She hesitated, then continued, "and Malfoy, the three of them discovered that the Lumos Heralds spell seems to have a restraining effect on dark creatures. Mr. Wimble ns to test it individually. If it proves effective, he''ll apply for recognition from the Ministry and might even invite Harry and others to join the Anti-Dark Magic League."


    "I hadn''t expected that," Felix was mildly surprised.


    "And... um," Hermione hesitated again. "What is it?" Felix asked, his surprise mounting when he heard her reply. "Harry had another nightmare."


    "Rted to Voldemort?"


    "Y-yes," Hermione hesitated, "he''s not entirely sure. He dreamt vaguely of Crouch Jr. and Voldemort scheming. Harry found himself in Voldemort''s perspective again, witnessing Crouch Jr. kneeling at his feet... After that, Harry woke up, his lumency kicking in."


    In hindsight, Harry regretted this. His lumency seemed to have backfired, preventing him from gaining more useful information.


    Felix''s expression turned serious. He realized something. "Does Dumbledore know about this?"


    "He does," Hermione nodded quickly. "Harry''s scar was burning intensely, so Ron took him to the infirmary, and Dumbledore appeared shortly after."


    Felix nodded, vaguely understanding why Dumbledore chose to reveal the truth suddenly at the Wizengamot meeting, even openly opposing Fudge, because Voldemort''s resurgence loomed nearer, and the magical world remained unaware.


    Lucius Malfoy''s end showed no signs of anomaly. This was normal. Horcruxes were evidently more intimately connected than the Dark Mark and Voldemort''s connection. Harry could sense Voldemort''s intense emotional fluctuations, but that didn''t mean Death Eaters could achieve the same using the Dark Mark.


    What Felix hoped for was to be the first to know once Voldemort returned and to understand the subsequent actions of the Death Eaters.


    Upon returning to reality, seeing Hermione staring at him with hesitation, he asked, "Professor, if Voldemort truly returns, besides Dumbledore, is there anyone else who can stand against him?"


    Felixughed, "Are you asking if I''m his match?" Her question seemed reminiscent of his inquiry to Dumbledore.


    Caught off guard, Hermione looked at him sheepishly.


    "Well, it''s hard to say. I haven''t actually faced Voldemort," Felix shrugged uncertainly. "There might be some distance yet." His judgment was based on Dumbledore''s prowess; he had obviously undergone a transformation towards ''magical creatures,'' as described by Lady Ravenw. Yet, perhaps due to age or other reasons, his condition had slightly declined.


    While Voldemort could challenge this weakened Dumbledore, just a tad inferior, it meant they stood at a simr level, the difference not too distinct.


    As for him...


    Puzzled, Hermione watched Professor Harp staring at his arm lost in thought, a bit baffled. However, she had at least heard the professor''s answer, feeling a bit disheartened; even the professor, so powerful, wasn''t Voldemort''s match.


    Leaving the Ancient Runes office, she returned to themon room. Harry and Ron were racing against time to finish their assignments. Hermione sat down heavily, cautiously saying to the two, "I asked the professor."


    This abrupt statement made Harry jolt upright, identally knocking over an ink bottle. "Ah¡ªIt''s fine, don''t worry," he pulled out his wand, pointing it at the fragments. "Reparo." The pieces immediately rejoined.


    Then he and Ron looked intently at Hermione. "What did the professor say?"


    Hermione recounted Felix''s words to them. Harry looked visibly shocked.


    "Thinking about it, it makes sense," Ron said. "Professor Harp is only, only... um... in his twenties."


    "Twenty-four," Hermione corrected instantly.


    "Yeah, that''s it," Ron acted like he had known all along. "He''s still so young. I mean, he''s a genius, but even geniuses need time to grow, right? Honestly, except for Dumbledore, I can''t think of a wizard stronger than him. Dad''s been saying since the Quidditch World Cup that he might follow in Dumbledore''s footsteps."


    "You mean Professor Harp might be the Headmaster of Hogwarts?" Harry asked in surprise. He hadn''t thought about this before, but upon reflection, it seemed highly probable. Wide-eyed, he imagined the scene¡ªdecadester, a silver-haired professor (bearing some resemnce to Dumbledore but with an intact nose) weing new students in the Great Hall. He wondered what the professor''s wee speech would be like.


    "No," Ron interrupted his musings, "Dad said he might be the strongest wizard after Dumbledore."


    Suddenly feeling a sense of relief, Harry thought, with Dumbledore and now Professor Harp, even if Voldemort returns, it wouldn''t cause much turmoil, would it? Yet, Dumbledore''s repeated confirmation of his dreams at the infirmary had cast a shadow on his mind.


    Hugging her knees on a cushion, Hermione fell into silence for nearly ten minutes.


    "Guys, do you think," she spoke softly, slowly, "V-Voldemort... could he have already returned?"


    ...


    "I''ve had the same doubts, Felix," Dumbledore, in pajamas, his long silver beard


    swaying as he walked, said. "It''s not just your concern."


    Sitting in his office with a cup of hot cocoa, Felix looked at Dumbledore as he poured another cup.


    "Did you foresee this?"


    "More like a series of conjectures," Dumbledore said with a sigh. "The Order members have also sensed a shift in the atmosphere. Some events are difficult to ignore."


    "And you didn''t inform the Ministry?"


    "They might use me of fear-mongering again," Dumbledore chuckled. "They prefer to live in denial. However, I''ve requested extra surveince around the Riddle estate."


    "The servants and that house?"


    "Yes, the wards there have been tampered with."


    "You don''t believe Voldemort is there, do you?"


    "That would be too straightforward," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling with a mix of concern and contemtion.


    "Once he returns..."


    "Yes, Felix?"


    "What will be of Hogwarts?"


    Dumbledore hesitated before answering, "I intend to dy his return until we can find a way to counter him."


    "Counter him?"


    "A strategy beyond the mere defeat," Dumbledore rified. "A way to undo him, to prevent this cycle from repeating."


    "You mean, to kill him?"


    "That is an option, but perhaps not the only solution."


    They sat in silence, each contemting the events that might unfold. Dumbledore suddenly looked at Felix with a wry smile. "You know, I had a vision. Hogwarts, under attack. But amidst the chaos, a phoenix soared, lighting the darkened sky. Do you think it''s a mere metaphor?"


    Felix remained silent, his eyes filled with uncertainty.


    "I trust your judgment, Felix," Dumbledore said, cing a hand on his shoulder. "Should you sense any change, let me know immediately."


    "Of course," Felix nodded.


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 Chapter 471: May

    Chapter 471: May


    After the Easter holiday, the weather grew clearer by the day. Standing atop the castle, one could see the Forbidden Forest lush with a soothing green. The ck Lake brimmed with life, drawing students to its banks and under the green willows on weekends, basking in the warm sunlight.


    Of course, this leisure was reserved for students who had finished their assignments.


    "I''ve had enough! We''re just in our fourth year, why do we have so much homework?" Simonined loudly. "Professor McGonagall couldn''t have made a mistake, could she?"


    "No, she couldn''t," Dean said pessimistically. "In ourst ss, she even said we should shift the fifth-year career counseling to fourth year, iming it would motivate us more."


    "Oh..." Simon let out a weird cry. "Cut me some ck," he grumbled. "We still have a full three years until graduation."


    "Well, actually, the professors are doing it for our own good," Neville said, swallowing a gulp of water. "Don''t forget, next year the school ns to implement grade assessments for fifth and seventh years. Fifth years need to master the Animagus transformation, seventh years must grasp the Patronus Charm¡ª"


    "What if we don''t pass?" Simon asked uneasily.


    "Then, naturally, we sacrifice our Christmas holidays, Easter breaks, and the time right after every yearly exam," Dean counted on his fingers. Simon''s expression immediately changed, but Dean added, "Also, the professors are considering moving the Disarming Charm and the Shield Charm to other years, but it''s not confirmed yet."


    Simon sighed in relief; he''d already mastered those two spells. He paused and asked, "Has Harry not organized a dueling practice group in ages?""Yeah," Dean said, "they''re prepping for the third project. Honestly, they''ve pulled ahead of us; even Ron has mastered the Patronus Charm."


    ...


    While the sun shone brightly by the ck Lake, the atmosphere in ssroom 7 was starkly different.


    The sound of des cutting through bushes echoed in the depths of the Forbidden Forest. Ron cautiously moved forward, asionally stumbling over twisted tree roots. The sensation of leaves underfoot felt so real that he had forgotten it was all an illusion, his nerves stretched to the limit.


    Rustling sounds emerged behind him¡ªRon sharply turned around. "Obstacles ahead!" he shouted as a spell froze the eight-eyed giant spider that had suddenly appeared. Ron spun around and bolted.


    "You should''ve used the Banishing Charm," the memory of Felix floated in the air, while Ron hid behind arge tree, carefully scanning his surroundings, only to be startled.


    "I know," Ron grumbled, "you might as well tell me where Harry and Hermione are."


    "Oh, that," Felix''s memory pointed in another direction.


    Ron looked skeptical. "You''re not trying to trick me, are you?"


    "I''m a professor," the memory smirked, arms crossed.


    "Just a memory," Ron muttered quietly, "alright, I''ll trust you one more time."


    Ten minutester.


    "Ahhhh¡ª"


    Ron stumbled out of the mist, a group of horse-sized eight-eyed spiders chasing him. He kept casting spells to repel the spiders while angrily yelling, "You''ve fooled me again!"


    "I haven''t; look ahead," the memory said with a smile.


    In the midst of his panic, Ron nced up and saw a faint light ahead. Hope surged within him, the "ttering" sound behind him seemed less daunting. A surge of energy coursed through him, propelling him to the end of the path. He finally saw Harry¡ª


    Harry leaned against arge tree, standing on a protruding ck stone, continuously casting spells around him. White mes¡ªthe Ring of Bright mes¡ªformed a circle around Harry, shielding him from the approaching giant spiders.


    "Yeah," Ron pped his head. The next moment, the Bright mes spellbined with the Ring of mes on his hand, creating a long me. He ran behind the me, yelling, "Harry, I''m here¡ª" Harry looked up, raised his wand in Ron''s direction, and cast the Banishing Charm, scattering the eight-eyed giant spiders behind Ron.


    Ron scrambled up the ck stone.


    "You found a good spot," Ron said, calming down and starting to assist Harry with the Banishing Charm.


    "The good spot is up there," Harry mumbled.


    "Hey, Ron," Hermione''s voice appeared above them. Ron looked up to see Hermione sitting on a branch of the tree they were leaning against, grinning mischievously. He suddenly realized¡ªthe white mes were controlled by Hermione.


    "Why did you climb up a tree? That''s not conducive to escape," Ron remarked.


    "Oh, my Banishing Charms are pretty good, so I wanted to try a new spell¡ª" Hermione said. She stood high up, scanning the distance with her hand on her forehead. "I seem to have spotted Collins and the rest; they''re dealing with a big one. Let''s hurry!"


    She dispelled the me magic, deftly releasing bursts of red light from her wand, with Harry and Ron joining in with Stupefy spells. Soon, the giant spiders were sprawled on the ground.


    Hermione used a Cushioning Charm tond softly. They moved toward the direction Hermione had pointed out earlier, encountering various magical creatures along the way. "Wow!" Ron eximed, freezing a group of Cornish Pixies with an Ice-Freezing Charm. "I''m starting to like this ce more and more."


    Harry grinned; he couldn''t argue with that. If it were just monotonous spell practice, he''d have a hard time enduring it. His fastest progress happened either during Professor Hape''s rigorous training or when he was in ssroom 7.


    As they proceeded, they came across a leisurely strolling Erumpent, arge beast resembling a rhinoceros with gray, thick skin that repelled conventional spells. Its horn was not only sharp but could inject an explosive liquid. The three quickly hid behind a rock.


    "Oh, move away quickly," Ron whispered, watching a small figure beside the Erumpent¡ªa young one, far livelier than the adults, constantly bumping into a stall.


    After a few minutes, the Erumpent mother finally left with her young one. They emerged from behind the rock and each picked up a tonic from the unmanned stall.


    "I love this setup," Ron said, grabbing two bottles of butterbeer and stuffing them into his pockets.


    "It''s fake," Hermione reminded him, "it disappears once you leave. Besides, it was initially meant for the ghosts at school, so the kitchen wouldn''t have to stock rotting food."


    "I know," Ron shrugged, "but you can''t ask for more in ssroom 7. I mean, although Professor Flibbertigibbet''s memory gives out uniquely vored jellybeans after dueling, every time youe out, you feel like a fool."


    "A baboon who only knows how to swing a stick," Hermione quipped, smiling.


    Using a Directional Charm to confirm their direction, they eventually found Cedric''s team.


    "Need help?" Harry shouted from a distance.


    "That would be great," a voice said at their feet, startling them. Harry stared at the gray-green thing before them¡ªit was Roger Davies lying on the ground. "What happened to you?"


    "Quite obviously, I''ve been poisoned by the tail of a Sphinx," Roger Daviesy on the ground, surrounded by a gray-green mist.


    They exchanged looks. Then hurried over to help. Cedric and Collins were in a dire situation; the Sphinx''s skin could repel almost every known spell. Cedric kept transfiguring chains in an attempt to entangle its legs while avoiding the swishing tail.


    Collins released bursts of ck mist,bining them with quickness spells and slippery surfaces, trying to restrict the extremely dangerous beast.


    Harry cast a powerful Disarming Charm; the bright red light hit the Sphinx, although he didn''t know if it worked. He enjoyed using the spell; recently, he''d been attempting to incorporate runes into it, without sess. The Sphinx took two steps back, then swung its tail; Harry''s spell rebounded, grazing Cedric''s hair.


    "Great way to say hello," Cedric remarked, Harry grinned and cast a Water-Making Charm in Mermish, water hitting the Manticore like cannonballs. "That''s not going to do much¡ª" Cedric started, interrupted as Hermione swiftly followed up with a Freezing Charm, rapidly encasing the Manticore''s body in ice.


    "Are you okay?" Ron hurried over, supporting the shaky Collins. Collins shook his head, about to say something when his eyes widened.


    "Look out!" A glinting tail-hook pierced Ron''s chest. Ron blinked incredulously, feeling no pain, yet the hook had indeed pierced through. Harry and Hermione shouted, watching Ron slowly fall...


    Two minutester, Ron sat on the ground, a gray-green mist continually emitting from his chest¡ªmuch like Roger''s earlier appearance. He quipped to Collins, also hooked: "Thanks for keeping mepany."


    Collins rolled her eyes at him but didn''t refuse the butterbeer Ron offered. Together, they watched from a distance as Cedric, Harry, and Hermione continued their battle.


    Hermione employed ancient magic, golden mes transforming into a fiery phoenix, swooping down to peck at the Manticore with its sharp beak. The Manticore emitted a distressed hum from its belly, struggling and thrashing its tail-hook underfoot. But with the trio''sbined effort¡ªHarry''s excellent Mud spell¡ªthe Manticore''s movements significantly diminished.


    The tide seemed to turn in favor of victory until another Sphinx-like Manticore emerged from the depths of the Forbidden Forest, apanied by a smaller one.


    What followed was gruesome. First, Harry was trampled by the rampaging Manticore mother, then Hermione. Within a minute, six individuals sat amidst the gray-green mist, watching the triumphant Manticore family swagger away.


    "It''s not our fault," Ron consoled them. "That creature was beyond our league. It''s rated 5x at the Ministry, far more dangerous than the Acromant colony."


    "Let''s hope the Ministry''s judges think the same," Roger Davies chimed in. "But, uh, I''ve heard rumors about these things in the forest depths..."


    "Right," Hermione said. "Hagrid bred a st-Ended Skrewt with the Sphinx Manticore."


    Cedric and Roger Davies didn''t look pleased.


    "Don''t worry, I doubt the Ministry would let us face an uncontrolled Sphinx Manticore," Hermione stated confidently. "It''s too dangerous. The books say it only needs a slight sting to take a life, no reaction time. The Ministry must have learned from past tournaments, like the one in 1792..."


    "Is she always like this?" Collins whispered to Ron.


    "Oh, um..." Ron shrugged, feigning nonchnce. "Sounds pretty reasonable, doesn''t it?"


    Except for Hermione, no one shared that sentiment, despite the historical uracy in what she said. They took a brief break, dispersing as the mist lifted. Cedric nned to consult Professor McGonagall about Transfiguration issues, while Collins preferred discussing spell coordination with Professor Flitwick.


    Harry andpany stayed in ssroom Seven until dusk, only interrupted by a procession of ghosts.


    "Hello, Nearly Headless Nick," Harry greeted the Gryffindor ghost. "Is it time for dinner?"


    The ghost paused. "Yes, you''d better hurry, or there won''t be any food left." He nced at the tail end of the ghostly queue. "I need to hurry too."


    "We should get going," Ron immediately said, taking the lead. However, Nearly Headless Nick suddenly grabbed him¡ªor more urately, passed through his arm¡ªcausing Ron to stiffen.


    "Oh, sorry, we should hide for a bit until she passes..." Nearly Headless Nick said.


    "Until who¡ª" Ron attempted to ask, but Harry and Hermione grabbed him, concealing themselves in the mist. Two secondster, a squat, plump ghost passed by, wearing thick, pearly sses. Harry surmised they were to conceal e¡ªwhen she was alive.


    "It''s Moaning Myrtle!"


    "Shh¡ª" Nearly Headless Nick nervously gestured with translucent fingers on his lips. From Harry''s perspective, both Nick and Moaning Myrtle, at a distance, appeared suspicious.


    Moaning Myrtle was a pitiable ghost. Despite their brief encounters being less than pleasant, Harry still felt sorry for her.


    More evil done by Voldemort... His eyes stared at Moaning Myrtle''s receding figure, pondering how this was Voldemort''s first murder, albeit through the eyes of a serpent.


    Harry''s expression darkened. Throughout May, he tried not to dwell on whether Voldemort was alive or dead, focusing on preparing for the third task. But when alone, he couldn''t help revisiting intelligence about Voldemort. He inadvertently glimpsed Hermione''s notes, mentioning Voldemort''s childhood¡ªhe didn''t know where she got the information, nor did he want to ask. Perhaps Professor Snape?


    If Hermione knew he was interested in these matters, she''d surely advise him not to dwell.


    But Harry couldn''t forget the records in the notes: outstanding magical ability before Hogwarts; feared by peers; reclusive and aloof; and... in a certain day in 1937, meeting a young Dumbledore and being allowed to attend Hogwarts.


    Why didn''t Dumbledore see through Voldemort''s facade then? Harry thought angrily. Let him stay in the orphanage, maybe none of this would''ve happened. Wool''s Orphanage, was it called that? Harry strained to remember; thanks to Uncle Vernon''s threats of sending him to an orphanage in Surrey, he was familiar with the name.


    But then he thought, Voldemort probably didn''t live in Surrey, and a sense of disappointment washed over him.


    Suddenly, he felt like he had fallen into an ice pit¡ªNick had hurriedly reached out to grab him again. He quickly stepped back, distancing himself from the ghost''s outstretched arm. "What''s wrong?"


    "You nearly got caught," Nearly Headless Nick said apologetically, as they hid in the mist. "Listen, the appearance of ssroom Seven is a godsend for all the ghosts; we can savor the taste of food again, though not as good as when alive, limited taste... but... it''s something..."


    "How does that rte to Moaning Myrtle?" Ron asked puzzled, quickly peering out from the fog. "She''s gone."


    "As a ghost, you see, she doesn''t join collective activities... too introverted, haunted by her own death..." Nearly Headless Nick said. "We had a meeting, Friar suggested avoiding her a bit when heading to ssroom Seven, to prevent her from feeling too down and noting anymore."


    "You guys are considerate," Ron said with uncertain attitude.


    "Thank you," Nearly Headless Nick happily replied, bidding them farewell.


    As Harry, Ron, and Hermione left, they continued discussing the matter.


    "They did the right thing. I mean, ssroom Seven belongs to Hogwarts, and all ghosts have the right to use it, right?" Hermione asked.


    "We just had some disagreement about Moaning Myrtle''s personality," Ron said. "Introverted? She''s pretty bold in some ways..." He looked at Harry, who immediately understood his implication.


    Rumor had it, Moaning Myrtle''s hobby included sneaking into the Prefects'' Bathroom to watch the male Prefects bathe. Ron had enthusiastically questioned Ced


    ric and Roger Davies about it¡ªyeah, it was true.


    Exiting ssroom Seven, they reached the Great Hall, catching the tail end of mealtime. Roger Davies waved at them from the Hufflepuff table, and Ron suddenly chuckled, "Ah¡ªthinking about Moaning Myrtle peeping¡ª" Harry grinned too, feeling much better.


    Beside them, Hermione looked at them quizzically. At that moment, a group of owl messengers swooped in, a brown one dropping a copy of the Sunday Prophet in front of Hermione. She flipped it open, scanning quickly.


    "Any news?" Harry inquired.


    "Oh, let me see..." Hermione said, still looking down. "I actually wanted to see something about ''Future World,'' but considering the recent bad news, no news might be best... ah, here! Rita Skeeter''s new book is out, a biography of Regulus," she looked up at Harry, "I should get one, see what it says."


    "When did you start paying attention to her?" Ron asked, puzzled.


    "Oh, well, let''s put it this way," Hermione smiled brightly, "I''ve found she''s done some research, maybe one-tenth truth?" she said uncertainly, "Your job is to sift out the useful bits."


    Harry had to admit there was some truth in that, especially after ''Future World'' underwent sudden scrutiny by the Ministry, citing "misuse of Muggle items" and "illegally modifying Muggle objects," alongside "tendencies to expose the wizarding world."


    They were frantic, repeatedly sending letters to Ron''s father, Percy, Remus, and Sirius to inquire. But in a few days, the issue vanished, instead, Fudge was exposed for takingrge bribes, involving several pure-blood families.


    During that time, newspapers were filled with articles where Fudge rified "false news" and new evidence exposing him. Eventually, news about the ''Future World''pany dwindled.


    All of this somehow circled back to one name¡ªRita Skeeter.


    >


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 Chapter 472: Time and Hourglass

    Chapter 472: Time and Hourss


    Towards the end of May, Professor McGonagall detained them after their Transfiguration ss.


    "Potter, Weasley, Granger, tonight at nine, go to the room next to the Great Hall," McGonagall said, "Mr. Bagman will reveal the third task for the champions."


    Exiting the Transfiguration ssroom, they stood in the corridor gazing towards the Forbidden Forest as a group of staff members crossed the grounds.


    "What are they up to?" Harry asked puzzled, "Looks like they''re heading towards the Quidditch pitch."


    They lingered a few minutes, watching as the group turned away from the Quidditch pitch, walking along the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Harry sighed in relief; he didn''t want the pitch damaged, especially with one nest of Acromants around. Realizing they had ten minutes until their History of Magic ss, they hurried to the ssroom.


    When the bell chimed, Professor Binns, the ghost, floated through the wall, delivering his monotonous lecture as he had for decades.


    "Even food in the Room of Requirement can''t save him," Ron remarked.


    Harry felt restless; he was eager to know about the third task and wrap up the tournament. After preparing for so long, he felt more confident than in the previous tasks, yet his focus had drifted elsewhere.


    Should he ask Hermione where she got the information about Voldemort? The thought lingered as he imagined using the summer break to investigate with Sirius''s help. Sirius would surely assist, providing cover for his magic use outside school grounds, making it harder for the Ministry to track.ncing at his watch, which had stopped, he turned to Ron to ask the time. Ron had a puzzled look, slowly nodding. Not wanting to disturb Ron''s snooze, Harry removed the broken watch and slipped it into his pocket, brushing against something hard. He pulled out a hazy hourss.


    It was from Valen, hidden in the deepest corner of his pocket, forgotten until now.


    Harry stared at the stagnant, dark golden sand inside the hourss, lost in thought.


    Suddenly, an idea struck him. Surprised by the notion, he looked around¡ªno one was watching. Harry swiftly took out a piece of parchment and scribbled a line, passing it discreetly to Hermione, who was attentively listening in ss.


    That was something Harry admired about Hermione: despite finding History of Magic tedious, she managed to retain and utilize knowledge at the right moments. Hermione nced at the parchment that had suddenly appeared on her History of Magic book, and with a disapproving pout, puffed her cheeks.


    Harry gestured with his eyes for her to read the message. Hermione lowered her head, reading the small text: "Did you bring the broken Time-Turner?"


    She nodded subtly, lowering her head further to pull out a slender gold chain from her cor. Harry widened his eyes, seeing her ce a golden timer on the parchment, sliding it towards him.


    "Thanks," Harry mumbled quietly, eagerly picking up the timer. ording to Hermione, a functional Time-Turner would emit light, but this one looked worn out. It had a core of two spherical hoursses within a metallic ring frame, with adjustable knobs at the edges.


    Harry took a deep breath, holding it, cing the hazy hourss and the Time-Turner together, astonished to find both hoursses nearly identical in height. Identical... Could they be interchangeable? He tried to pry the hourss from the Time-Turner, but it wouldn''t budge.


    He stopped, too anxious to continue. Harry nervously looked up, meeting Hermione''s astonished gaze.


    "How did youe up with this?" Hermione immediately asked as ss ended. For the past half-hour, she had forgotten Professor Binns''s droning about giants¡¯ aggressive nature, throwing her notes aside, focusing solely on Harry''s hourss and the broken Time-Turner. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity.


    "I don''t know. Just... an idea?" Harry innocently replied, as Ron looked at them, puzzled.


    They hurriedly finished dinner, passing through themon room''s door. Fred and George were pitching a new product to Lee Jordan, but Harry didn''t divert, usually intrigued by the Weasley twins'' products¡ªjust not on himself.


    Instead, they went straight past the crowd to a secluded corner. Following Hermione''s cues, Harry brought out the hourss and Time-Turner, intentionally aligning both hoursses'' heights.


    "Whoa," Ron gasped. "Could it be¡ª"


    "Yeah, we thought so too," Hermione eximed excitedly. "I didn''t notice earlier! Even though they''re about the same size... who would have thought tobine them? One from a Greek Dark Wizard thousands of years ago, the other from the deceased alchemist Nics mel."


    Ron shook the hazy hourss vigorously, the dark golden substance inside solidified against the ss, immovable, "Except for a bit," he said, "they''re both broken. Hermione, you''re wasting your effort; you said Professor Snape checked."


    "Oh, um..." Hermione said dismissively, "But Snape wouldn''t know Valen stole the fairy''s hourss. In his mind, he made Valen return everything."


    Harry''s heart raced. If they fixed the gold timer, they''d possess an unrestricted Time-Turner, although Hermione had listed several usage restrictions earlier.


    But in case of an emergency, like on the viaduct when Hermione had the Time-Turner and managed to summon Professor Snape in time, without which one or two might have died, or at least Peter Pettigrew would likely have escaped.


    Harry was deeply invested in this, "Let''s at least try! What if it works?"


    "The problem is, how do we dismantle..." Hermione furrowed her brow.


    "True, we don''t have the tools. Does Hogsmeade have a shop selling pliers?" Harry asked.


    "Don''t be daft," Hermione said, "It''s more intricate than anything you''ve seen. It''s not something a pair of pliers or a screwdriver can fix... Let me think," she examined the broken gold timer repeatedly, murmuring to herself, "No... this is beyond our capability, unless..."


    "Unless what?"


    "Unless we can ess the previous research," Hermione concluded firmly.


    "Meaning¡ª?" Ron gawked at her.


    "This broken Time-Turner belonged to Nics mel. The professor mentioned Mr. mel left behind plenty of things. I think, um, if Professor allows Valen to give away the broken Time-Turner, he wouldn''t mind us checking some of the research..."


    "Why don''t we just ask Professor Snape for help?" Ron asked, puzzled. He reminded them, "That''s the quickest way."


    "Of course, but we should present some evidence, right?"


    ...


    At half-past eight in the evening, they emerged from themon room, heading downstairs towards the Great Hall. Along the way, Ron inquired about the appearance of screwdrivers. Initially exining the purpose of screws, Harry then delved into different types of screwdrivers, "There''s a toolbox with various tool sizes that can loosen nuts¡ª"


    "What''s that?" Ron asked, amazed. "Dad would love that; he collects a drawer full of switches."


    In the entrance hall, they encountered the Beauxbatons champions.


    Fleur Dcour, smiling politely, greeted Harry, who nodded back. Cedric Diggory, on the other hand, stopped to chat with Harry briefly about their shared excitement for the final task.


    The four of them entered the room adjacent to the Great Hall. Dumbledore was present, as was Ludo Bagman, who had several rolls of parchment in hand. The Headmaster looked up with his twinkling eyes, acknowledging their arrival.


    "Ah, Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley," Dumbledore greeted, "You are right on time. Please, have a seat."


    "Thank you, Professor," Hermione said, as they took their ces.


    Bagman cleared his throat, unrolling one of the parchments, "Ladies and gentlemen, the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament shall take ce on the grounds of Hogwarts. As for the details..."


    Harry listened with half an ear, his mind fixated on the broken Time-Turner and Valen''s hourss. He wondered about the possibilities thaty in unlocking theirbined potential.


    The evening passed in a blur of excitement and anticipation for the final task. Amidst the discussions about the Tournament, the strategy, and the thrill of the unknown, Harry''s thoughts kept drifting back to the potential solution lying within the hourss and the broken Time-Turner.


    >


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 Chapter 473: Surging Undercurrents

    Chapter 473: Surging Undercurrents


    "It sounds silly, I know," sighed Hermione, "but my mum insists on at least two letters a month. It''s hard toe up with a decent excuse. It''s not like it''s for Divination ss for you guys."


    "Why didn''t I know about this? You''ve never borrowed Hedwig or my pig," Ron asked.


    "Because I used the school''s owl - stop interrupting!" Hermione paused at themon room door. "You see, ourbined fame doesn''t match up to even one of Harry''s fingers. It was easy to find a paper that only mentioned Harry''s name and send it home."


    Harry suddenly looked embarrassed.


    Ron red at her, somewhat disgruntled. "Thanks for the reminder, your metaphor is just great."


    "The problem is, I don''t know what to do now," Hermione said helplessly. "Maybe apply to Professor McGonagall to cancel¡ª"


    "Don''t!" Harry interjected quickly. "You better tell them the truth. I don''t think they''d want to miss this crucial moment."


    Ron nodded in agreement. "Think about it, if next year they find out all this from someone at Flourish and Blotts, their daughter participating in a highly dangerous event... they''d chase you to the ends of the earth or at least send a howler."


    "Oh, they won''t," Hermione said casually. "At most, they''ll threaten that they won''t pay for my teeth straightening in this lifetime."In the portrait by the door, Vi visiting chatted with the Fat Lady. "Do Gryffindors always talk like this?"


    "I''m just a portrait," shrugged the Fat Lady.


    "Barmy Butterflies," Hermione''s face slightly flushed, "the password is Barmy Butterflies."


    "My favorite," the Fat Lady chuckled. As they entered themon room, Ron grumbled, "Is she talking about herself? You should really ask how she sang operas so loudly, uh, actually, don''t ask¡ªshe even included me in one."


    Harry couldn''t help butugh. Ron had sneaked into ssroom 7 trying to get an invitation card for the Triwizard Tournament, and the Fat Lady made it part of her new opera.


    Later, Fred and George had critiqued the song, both agreeing that the Fat Lady had a habit of exaggerating facts - if it hadn''t been their brother as the main character, they''d have thought it was adventures of young Arthur.


    Sitting down, Hermione flipped open her textbook, but not a word was written. Before lights out, she finally made up her mind. "You''re right, I''ll write home tomorrow."


    ---


    Felix flipped through the newspaper of the new day, the headline read: "Trouble Looming! Minister of Magic in Public Opinion Whirlwind."


    "Ever since current Minister Cornelius Fudge was embroiled in a bribery scandal earlier this month, he''s been in the eye of a storm. Fudge''s dealings among multiple pure-blood families have been an open secret. He''s boasted more than once about his private friendships with these ancient families, leveraging their intricatework and influence to secure his own power.


    Fudge repeatedly insists he hasn''t abused his power or epted bribes.


    ''I''ve indeed received some generous donations, all put to noble causes! I can present evidence, you have no idea the effort I''ve put into the Quidditch World Cup and the Tournament!''


    But when pressed about what he''d aplished aside from contributions from former International Magical Cooperation Head Bartemius Crouch and Sports Director Ludovic Bagman, Minister Fudge remained tight-lipped.


    Five months after the Dark Mark appearances, the Ministry, apart from stering the streets of Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade with the wanted poster of a deceased person, has provided little convincing evidence. This raises the question: Is our Minister truly fit for his position? Does he possess half the prowess he ims?


    Random interviews with individuals seem to reflect a trend.


    Editor-in-chief of ''Dissonant Voices,'' Xeno Lovegood, alleges our Minister has a secret armyposed entirely of st-Ended Skrewts - fiery, monstrous creatures capable of annihting anything. This army is said to be pivotal at crucial times and not beyond being employed to discreetly eliminate adversaries.


    Madame Griselda Marchbanks, Head of the Wizarding Examinations Authority, states that Fudge was initially Dumbledore''s protege, ''but once his power was secure, he leaned fully into pure-blood ideologies.''


    Senior Elder Tiberius Ogden from Wizengamot also holds a low opinion of Cornelius Fudge. He''d rather call him ''Lucky Fudge,'' citing how the highest contender for Minister suddenly revealed a family affiliation to Death Eaters. Combining Mr. Lovegood''s testimony, perhaps Fudge''s secret army isn''t just one.


    Moreover, the suspicious imprisonment of the former International Magical Cooperation Head has raised eyebrows. He initially received a life sentence, and no one knows if this is a political strike from adversaries. Yet, recently, Wizengamot secretly re-tried Barty Crouch, reducing his sentence to three years for misuse of power and corruption."


    ---


    "Nonsense!" Fudge eximed in his office, teeth gritted as he read the names aloud: "Lovegood, Marchbanks, and Ogden, splendid..."


    "Minister," Umbridge squinted with her perpetually smug expression, "these clowns can''t shake your position. Theyck evidence!" She smiled insincerely. "Instead, you can hold them ountable."


    "What can I do? Their mouths¡ª " Fudge hesitated.


    "Picking faults is simple, especially with Marchbanks and Ogden. They''re in the Ministry, and if we just¡ª" Umbridge suddenly stopped, her broad, toad-like face turning towards the door, speaking softly, "Yaxley? Returning from vacation, you seem a changed man; you should knock first."


    "Apologies, Minister," Yaxley said, no hint of regret on his face, "I needed to deliver these documents, the guards'' roster for the third task, Skeletrange and Bones have signed, only you''re pending." Walking up, he ced the file on the table, his peripheral vision gauging the silent duo.


    With a slow retraction of his arm, he stood tall. "You know, I happened to overhear your conversation."


    Fudge''s eyes widened.


    "I''m on your side, Minister," Yaxley immediately reassured.


    "You''re on my side?" Fudge repeated, his gaze probing, absentmindedly signing the document with a quill. "Dolores might have a point. You seem different; you never used to say such things."


    Yaxley shrugged. "Times have changed, Minister. I was neutral before, but... during those two days off, I reflected. I believe it''s time to take a stand."


    "Is this about Felix Har¡ª"


    "Not just that, Minister," Yaxley said, "it''s not personal vendettas, it''s a sh between two different fronts¡ªpure-blood and non-pure-blood. I sense the impending showdown; Harp ys the role of a fierce vanguard. If we do nothing, we might all vanish in a few decades." He was exceptionally articte today, appearing prepared. "As one of the twenty-eight pure-blood families, despite the decline of the Yaxley lineage, the essence of being pure-blood isn''t wealth; it''s the legacy of ancient magical contracts... to this day, my family receives a small dividend, not much, but it grants me ess to any pure-blood family''s doors."


    "Wait! Gringotts counts, doesn''t it?" Fudge said slowly, "I''ve read some records, during our most intense conflict with the goblins, both sides suffered losses, and some families brokered peace, giving goblins special status."


    Yaxley smiled without answering.


    "Who are you backed by?" Fudge asked, suddenly interested. After the recent revtions, a third of the families that were close to him had distanced themselves, heightening his insecurity.


    "That''s not important," Yaxley said mysteriously, but now Fudge dared not underestimate him. Names of various families shed through Fudge''s mind, especially the ones with the strongest anti-Muggle sentiments; despite their significant losses in thest war, their unity was a force to reckon with.


    "Who''s your target?" Fudge inquired.


    Yaxley''s expression showed surprise. "Come on," Fudge impatiently said, "don''t im youck the means." Yaxley grinned.


    "Minister Fudge, have you ever yed Wizard Chess?" he whispered. "The most annoying piece on the board is the pawn that reaches the opponent''s baseline; it transforms into a knight, bishop, castle, even... the boldly charging queen."


    "No!" Fudge protested. "You don''t know how aggressive he is, and Dumbledore will certainly protect him¡ª"


    "Then, use the most legitimate reason," Yaxley interjected, looking at Fudge. "Minister, don''t forget, you represent the entire magical order of Britain. If the reason ispelling enough, even Dumbledore will be on your side."


    "A legitimate reason," Fudge mused, passing the signed document to him.


    ...


    "You still need apelling reason to oust Fudge," Felix sighed, folding the newspaper. He realized his previous efforts had, at best, irked Fudge a bit, lowering his public image while allowing ''Future World'' to escape trouble.


    But getting Fudge ousted in a short time? That''d require Voldemort hosting a party at the Ministry''s doorstep. Or him storming in.


    If something like that happened, Dumbledore would be the first to oppose. It would render everything he had now futile¡ªhis professorship, Merlin''s Order, Wizengamot membership, ''Future World''pany, and the people he knew...


    "Is there any way to settle this once and for all?" Felix pondered. His and Fudge''s thoughts rmingly aligned, both fearing the backfire.


    Just then, a knock interrupted. "Come in," Felix said. The door creaked open, revealing a furry head peeking in.


    "Hey, Professor," Hermione dashed in.


    "Are you looking to borrow Mr. LeMay''s information on the Time Turner?" Intrigued by Hermione''s request, Felix asked, "Why?"


    "Oh, uh¡ª" Hermione hesitated, ncing at him.


    Felix conjured some fruit preserves onto a small table from a distant cupboard, smiling warmly. "Have you formted your reasons?"


    Hermione slumped on the couch, visibly deted.


    "Well, you see, it''s the Christmas gift Valen gave me¡ªthe broken Time Turner. There might... possibly be a way to fix it, and I want to try," Hermione confessed.


    Felix looked at her, surprised. "So, have you found a substitute for temporal energy?"


    "Temporal energy? What''s that?" Hermione''s eyes widened, excited to learn something new during her visits to the professor''s.


    "I named it myself," Felix said, reciting from LeMay''s notes, "''The Time Turner harbors a unique energy, nestled in every grain of sand within the hourss, serving as its most intricate container.'' That''s my conclusion after repeated disassemblies and attempts at repair. Unfortunately, I couldn''t verify it. Perhaps the Ministry''s Department of Mysteries might hold the answer..."


    "Wait! The Department of Mysteries?" Hermione eximed. "I''ve heard of it, Mr. Weasley mentioned it at the Quidditch World Cup camp, talking about the Silent Workers."


    Felix nodded approvingly.


    "So, the temporal energy is within the Department of Mysteries?" Hermione inquired.


    "I''m not certain, Miss Granger," Felix replied. "The Department of Mysteries is the most enigmatic within the Ministry, where Mr. LeMay spent a considerable, perhaps a lifetime, trying to unveil time''s secrets. But hecked the crucial element¡ªtime itself."


    Hermione felt an ominous air surrounding her. Her voice unconsciously softened, "I''ve attempted time travel many times, in my third year."


    "The maximum safe backward journey for a traveler and time itself is five hours, using a spell called ''Hour Reversal,''" Felix shared LeMay''s information. "However, both he and I doubted this im heavily, as it suggests stable technology to create Time Turners. But evidence shows Time Turners are bing increasingly scarce..."


    "Why still issue them to students?" Hermione interjected.


    "For negligible purposes, and to collect minimal data on student use," Felix said. He got up, entering the adjoining room and returning after a while, holding a magical scroll. "These are cases Nick collected, where meddlers faced consequences. Once the protective energy depletes, the oues turn grim."


    "Ellyse Mintab traveled five centuries back using a Time Turner from her era, but errors urred. Only when the device ran out of energy did she return. Severely injured, she soon passed away. It wasn''t the Ministry''s first experiment, but it was thest. After that, such trials ceased," Felix exined.


    "She was with the Ministry?" Hermione asked in disbelief.


    "A Silent Worker, I presume," Felix said. "Aside from personal effects, the time distortion spread externally, drastically altering life trajectories and rendering some nonexistent. Moreover, in the days following her return, time itself became erratic: the first Tuesdaysted two and a half days, while Thursday spanned only four hours... The Ministry had to fabricate a historical asteroid to cover up, at great cost."


    Hermione''s expression was of utter shock. "I read about a rare celestial event in thete 19th century, causing prolonged daylight followed by heavy rain, inducing temporal disorientation and equipment malfunctions..."


    "Fortunately, technology wasn''t advanced then, and it rained incessantly..." Felix shrugged. "I suspect even that downpour was engineered by the Ministry."


    Hermione felt her understanding shaken.


    "So, why do you think you can fix the Time Turner?" Felix asked.


    "Harry has a hourss from Valen, traded from the vile Horcrux altar..."


    "Valen?"


    At that moment, Valen emerged from the bedroom, lifting its head inquisitively upon being called. "Squeak?"


    Regarding the time-turner and time magic: Stories involving time often end up with a bunch of bugs; Rowling herself toned it down while writing.


    This book briefly expands on prophecy and an important plot point. There won''t be any altering of history, and restrictions will be exceptionally stringent.


    Felix himself won''t engage in time travel; consider it a special prop for this storyline.


    >


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 Chapter 474: Rules

    Chapter 474: Rules


    Under the tempting allure of strawberry preserves, Valen quickly divulged the sequence of events. However, evidently slower on the uptake than Hermione, it hadn''t quite realized the severity of the issue. Hermione, feeling awkward, fed it a few dried fruits before leaving with the magical parchment Felix had given her.


    "Professor, I believe Valen simply made an innocent mistake," she attempted to rectify her previous error before departing.


    Valen blinked, clueless about what an "innocent mistake" meant.


    "I understand," Felix reassured Valen. Hermione hesitated for a moment, poised to leave, but he called out to her from behind. "Miss Granger, you might refer to Nick''s magical parchment to attempt repairing the time turner, but regardless of the oue, remember, do not use it, don''t put yourself in harm''s way."


    "I promise you, Professor," Hermione replied.


    Felix watched the door close, then shifted his gaze to Valen sitting on hisp. It squinted its eyes, thoroughly enjoying the pat on its thigh. "Chirp chirp! (Keep feeding me!)" Felix chuckled at its nonchnt demeanor.


    "Aren''t you reading ''Tales of Beedle the Bard''?" he asked.


    Valen looked at him skeptically.


    "Some time ago, you were pestering me about ''The Fountain of Fair Fortune,''" Felix said. "Actually, you''d find the story following it equally captivating, called ''The Wizard''s Heart''...""Chirp!" Valen jumped, "Chirp chirp chirp! (Don''t fool me! That''s a horror story!)"


    "It''s true, every tale in Beedle has a metaphor," Felix grinned. "For instance, a wizard separates his heart from his body using dark magic, locking it in a crystal casket to evade emotional wounds from society... Perhaps Beedle''s artistic expression of Horcruxes; not to mention, the story''s warning against tampering with life''s deepest secrets¡ª"


    At this point, he paused. Not tampering with life¡ªwas he tampering with life by transfiguring towards magical creatures? Pondering over this, he realized he should be more cautious and careful. Staying at school until the transfiguration wasplete seemed like a wise choice.


    Who knew if, during one of hispany inspections, he might stumble upon a Noseless Niffler?


    He suddenly tasted sweetness in his mouth. Felix snapped back and found Valen extending a strawberry preserve to his lips.


    "Chirp chirp! (Change the story!)"


    Biting into the sweet treat, Felix mumbled, "Alright, how about a different tale, ''The Tale of Three Brothers''?" Valen vigorously nodded, clearly uninterested in anything ''heart-rted.'' It was a term reserved for describing cold-hearted wizards.


    After all, it had gone through the entire series of ''The Little Wizard Mickey''s Adventures.''


    "Once upon a time, three brothers were traveling down a secluded path..."


    Meanwhile, Hermione returned to themon room, clutching the magical parchment.


    "Did you send the letter?" Harry inquired, lending Hermione his Hedwig for her family correspondence.


    "Yeah, and I brought this back," Hermione proudly stated, waving the parchment, catching Harry''s attention. "Information on the time turner?" he whispered, swiftly joining Hermione.


    "Didn''t see Ron?" Hermione casually asked, carefully unrolling the scroll.


    "He went back to the Great Hall to check if the rules for the third task were posted," Harry said, quickly eyeing the parchment, eager to click on the iconbeled ''Nick Lemaire Disassembly Solution.''


    "Wait, Harry," Hermione stopped him, "Professor suggested we read through Nick Lemaire''s research on the time turner first." She clicked on the first icon¡ªa witch in apparent agony. Harry felt uneasy but regainedposure as rows of text appeared on the parchment.


    "Elloise Mintab? What did she do?" he curiously asked.


    "She terminated all long-distance time-travel through personal experience," Hermione sinctly exined.


    After a while, Harry finished Elloise Mintab''s ount. He pursed his lips, about to share his thoughts when Ron returned jubntly.


    "The rules are out!" he eximed loudly, the sheepskin parchment rustling in his hands, drawing everyone''s attention in themon room.


    "Read it out!" Seamus called.


    "Oh, uh... alright," Ron basked in the attention, cleared his throat, and nced at the parchment. "First, the scores for the first two tasks¡ªCedric''s team got 126 points, Uagadou 113, Beauxbatons 110, Durmstrang 100, and Ilvermorny 73."


    "You missed one," Neville reminded him.


    "Did I?" Ron''s smile was about to falter.


    "You forgot to mention¡ª"


    "Oh, right," Ron pretended to pat his forehead, "I forgot our score,dies and gentlemen, ready for this moment?"


    "Ron, if you like your nose in its current shape, you better spill it out," Fred threatened mischievously.


    "It''s 128 points," Ron admitted, "putting us in first ce." He added.


    The room quieted for a few seconds, then erupted into deafening cheers; everyone pped and cheered, "Well done!" Seamus eximed, pumping his fist.


    Ron''s face quickly reddened.


    After a while, he managed to break away from the crowd, meeting up with Harry and Hermione, with Ginny trailing behind.


    "They''re too enthusiastic," Ron downyed it casually, "I mean, it''s not entirely my doing."


    Ginny stared at him intensely, as if he had dirt on his face, making Ron squirm ufortably. He stammered, "Alright, I admit, Harry and Hermione did more..."


    Hermione snatched the parchment from him, reading the specific rules. After a while, she sighed in relief, saying, "Better than I expected."


    "How so?" Harry asked.


    "Before getting the cup, you won''t be attacked by other champion teams; you just have to deal with the maze''s dangers. The person who gets the cup will be revealed every two minutes, helping their team and others figure out the direction. But who finds the cup first will depend on luck¡ª"


    "How do they n to¡ª" Harry couldn''t resist interrupting, "If I get the cup, how do I get revealed?"


    "Well," Hermione quickly scanned the parchment, "it says the cup will sing loudly for ten seconds, and the Weird Sisters specially recorded a war song for this. Also, it''s crucial we abide by international duelpetition rules, meaning dark magic will be banned, and there are strict limits on curses. Our practice with the stinging hex might not be of use..."


    Hermione proceeded to list a dozen or so restrictive rules, like refraining from using harmful spells against the champions themselves. If one loses consciousness, such as from the Stupefy spell, the victorious champion must signal for patrol guards.


    "...Finally, exit the maze with the cup, which ends the tournament," Hermione concluded.


    "So, the key is to grab the cup first, then¡ª" Ginny began slowly.


    "Stay mobile," Hermione said.


    "Watch out for ambushes," Ron added.


    "Defeat opponents quickly," Harry responded without hesitation. The other three turned to him simultaneously, prompting him to exin, "I think the closer you get to the end, the easier it is to get exposed. Dodging won''t cut it anymore, as you might bump into others at any moment."


    >


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 Chapter 475: A Memory Fragment

    Chapter 475: A Memory Fragment


    "Ginny''s summing it up," she said, her vibrant, me-like hair swaying as she counted on her fingers. "Early phase, snag a trophy - either win or snatch it from others, then keep mobile¡ª"


    She tilted her head at Hermione. "While finding teammates, watch out for ambushes, dodge the maze traps, and the dangerous creatures within it¡ª"


    Ron nodded solemnly, affirming his agreement.


    "¡ªand the final stage," Ginny''s gaze rested on Harry, "as time stretches, all champions edge closer to the trophy, likely meeting new enemies just steps away, so it''s swift and decisive action!"


    She gestured fiercely, and Harry thought she was incredibly cool today.


    "You could also bank on luck," Ron earnestly suggested, "consider the best-case scenario, haven''t you forgotten? We''re among the first in the maze. If we''re lucky enough, we might not even encounter anyone else¡­"


    They discussed in the corner the entire day, untilte afternoon when Professor McGonagall surprisingly showed up in themon room, summoning Harry and Ron, leaving Hermione and Ginny puzzled. They returned just before lights-out, unable to conceal their excitement.


    "What did Professor McGonagall say to you guys?" Hermione lifted her head from a stack of thick parchment, her eyes lifeless, staring through the gap between Harry and Ron. She spent considerable time reorganizing the rules again.


    "It''s people from the Anti-Dark Arts League," Harry eximed, handing over a certificate. Hermione and Ginny leaned in to see; Ginny let out a short, sharp scream. "You''re officially in the Anti-Dark Arts League? Harry, is this for real?""And me," Ron reminded her.


    But Ginny, ignoring Ron, eximed to Harry, "Do you know what this means?"


    "It means, um... I''ve joined a magical organization?" Harry hesitated in response.


    "No, definitely not!" Ginny''s fiery hair danced again. "Listen, it''s not an honorary membership! There''s a difference¡ª"


    "Hold on, I vaguely remember¡­" Ron racked his brains. "Someone mentioned this to me, several times."


    "It was Lockhart," Hermione, as reliable as ever, chimed in.


    "Exactly! He imed to be an honorary member of the Anti-Dark Arts League, not a full one... What does that imply?" Ron stared at his certificate, seeking a perfect exnation.


    "Full members need assessment or substantial contributions, preferably ones that can be showcased," Ginny, more knowledgeable in this, exined. "I reckon Lockhart refused to demonstrate any abilities because he simply doesn''t possess any!"


    Harry was thrilled, divulging more information. "The Anti-Dark Arts League said if I n to pursue an auror career or simr, they can provide a rmendation, even if Ick a couple of O.W.Ls¡ª"


    "But you won''t take advantage, will you?" Hermione eyed him sternly.


    "No, of course not," Harry reluctantly agreed, feeling the League''s promise could serve as a safety.


    "The only regret is Malfoy got the same honor," Ron said, "quite ironic, isn''t it? During the Quidditch World Cup chaos, he hinted that his dad was involved in the riot to us."


    "Why didn''t Professor Snape arrest him for that!"


    After a while, Ginny elegantly yawned and headed off to the girls'' dorm to sleep.


    Harry and Ron gleefully examined their certificates, caressing the patterns and seals. No matter how many times they looked, they still adored them. Later, as theyy in bed after lights-out, Ron said to Harry, "I reckon being an auror wouldn''t be too bad." Neville listened for a while, unable to resist joining in, "Actually, um, I wouldn''t mind being an auror, or, well, a professor."


    Harry was surprised to find three in their dorm aspiring to be aurors. Soon, Seamus and Dean joined the discussion, and they didn''t sleep until the wee hours.


    Half in dreams, Harry imagined himself as an auror: Ron and Hermione by his side, Neville, Seamus, and Dean around him. Surprisingly, amidst the crowd, he saw the figures of Luna, Ginny, and Draco Malfoy.


    Malfoy? Even in slumber, Harry found it odd. He muttered discontentedly, and the images vanished swiftly. He stood in an ancient room, smelling something akin to Grimmauld ce, though definitely not the same location.


    Sitting on a couch, he was talking to someone. "You''ve done well, Yaxley, proving your loyalty anew¡­"


    Harry turned over, lumency kicking in, and he fell back into a sweet dream.


    After June began, time quietly elerated. Following thepletion of the Wizarding exams for fifth and seventh years, the finals for other years officiallymenced. This also meant the approach of the third task¡ªthepetition would take ce on thest evening after the exams.


    The castle buzzed with tension and excitement. After the Ancient Runes exam on the third day, Felix overheard a student saying, "Just endure these four remaining days, and we can watch the final match, then go wild for a week, embracing the long and beautiful summer!"


    He wholeheartedly agreed with the student.


    For the first two-thirds of June, he''d been blissful. His body''s transformation was nearlyplete¡ªthough he couldn''t see any use for it yet, there were no hindrances, indicating smooth progress.


    The next morning, on June 21st, while overseeing the fourth-year exams, though the champions were exempt, Hermione persisted and spent twenty minutes on her paper before taking out her Runes notes to mull over Nick LeMoyne''s Time Turner dismantling n. From her recent queries, Felix deduced she should finish before the school year ended.


    However, what surprised him was Hermione handing him a paper on the day exams concluded.


    "Professor, this is my design. I made some alterations to Nick LeMoyne''s research. It''s a bit more intricate, but it bypasses theplex alchemical techniques."


    "I don''t see any issues, a very clever transformation, especially suited to your magical aptitude, Miss Granger," Felix remarked after a thorough inspection.


    Hermione left the office satisfied.


    Before bedtime, an owlnded outside the window, incessantly pecking at the window ledge.


    After Felix opened the window, the brown owl with a postal band flew around the room, dropping a palm-sized package and swiftly departing.


    Upon opening the package, inside a small box was a thumb-sized ss vial. Felix held up the translucent vial, gazing at the magicalmp on the ceiling; inside was a silvery substance, swirlingzily, neither solid nor liquid.


    It was a memory fragment.


    Whose memory could it be? Felix smirked faintly, genuinely intrigued by the memory''s owner.


    Gently tapping the wand on the stopper, the sealed cap popped open instantly. The obsidian-like wand swirled silver threads around its tip, then with a forceful flick into the air, an image appeared abruptly:


    In the picture, Felix''s body shattered amidst a ze of green light, while simultaneously, a chilling voice lingered in the office¡ª


    "Avada Kedavra!"


    "Cheep!" Valen, startled, froze momentarily, then jumped into Felix''s arms, covering its eyes with both tiny hands, gripping his shirt tightly.


    "It''s alright," Felix reassured softly, staring at the vanishing light, re-forming the memory into silver threads in his hand, his fingertips twirling, lost in thought.


    >


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 Chapter 476: Speculation

    Chapter 476: Spection


    Fear? Well, perhaps a bit... but more so, it''s curiosity. Felix couldn''t fathom why he couldn''t escape a Killing Curse. In that memory, the curse''s green light was released directly, no element of surprise. And yet, when he thought about his reaction in that memory¡ª


    Remarkablyposed.


    Would he truly ept death so calmly? That intrigued him.


    Valen, his Niffler pet, gently tugged at his clothing. Felix lowered his head, smiling. "It''s probably just a prank," he said. He walked into the bedroom, ced Valen in his crib, then returned to the office.


    The little box that held the "Memory of Death"y silently on the desk. Felix meticulously examined it, pulled out some packing paper, and retrieved a postcard. The front featured a scenic depiction of Big Ben with an inscription: "Everyone has the right to choose."


    It was an ordinary card, easily surmised by Felix, perhaps from a Muggle newsstand? Flipping it over, the back was nk.


    Who could have sent this? Was it really a vile prank?


    Yet, within that sentence, Felix detected a trace of goodwill. And when it came to matters of life and death, no one would be careless, at least not him.


    For now, he entertained the idea that someone had witnessed his death and risked traveling back to warn him.At that moment, the golden clock pointed to eleven. Felix ced the golden clock on a small table in front of the couch along with the postcard. Then, with a gentle wave of his finger, all items capable ofmunication were arranged on the table.


    Leaning against the sofa''s backrest, Felix resembled a silent statue, asionally ncing at the golden clock. Time passed slowly, midnight came and went, yet no one reached out to him. In the serene night, the asional chirping of insects was the only sound. No sudden appearance disrupted the tranquility, no summons to an unknown battlefield.


    When the clock''s hands settled at four in the morning, he finally stirred. Five hours had passed since receiving this peculiar gift. Felix knew what this meant¡ªthe maximum duration for time travel without causing significant damage was approximately five hours.


    Someone had embarked on an extensive journey through time!


    Lifting his head, Felix stared at the ceiling. The magicalmp''s white light wasn''t ring, but it left him slightly dizzy. Slowly closing his eyes, he found himself the next second seated in the bronze armchair of the thought chamber.


    Felix still clutched that memory, tossing it once more into the air. The familiar scene materialized, until¡ª


    "Avada Kedavra!"


    The voice, cold and sharp, was unmistakably Voldemort''s.


    "So, this is a warning from an uncertain time in the future when Voldemort has returned," Felix muttered. He stared at the repeating scene. It was clear the memory had been tampered with, hiding the owner''s perspective, but the technique was rudimentary. For someone like Felix, a memory expert, the ws were evident.


    However, recognizing the ws didn''t mean he could reconstruct the true memory or confirm its authenticity.


    What Felix could ascertain was that the memory''s owner wanted to remain anonymous, was meticulous, and was familiar with memory magic. What more could he deduce? Felix pondered, "Of course, the perspective is crucial."


    Leg draped over leg, he sat on the bronze chair, observing the illusory images below. Except for the chair and the stairs, the thought chamber was empty, resembling a vast square.


    The square echoed Voldemort''s incantation of the Killing Curse.


    "If Voldemort had indeed returned during that time, anyone witnessing this¡ªdid it mean they were a Death Eater? No, not necessarily... it could also be Voldemort''s enemy."


    Felix wanted to identify this person, gather more intelligence.


    From the avable information, this individual¡ªwhether male or female¡ªmust have had a close rtionship with him, meticulous, possibly discussing memory magic together. Their identity had to be sufficiently unique to participate in a sudden battle, potentially a Death Eater, an Order member, or a possibility he hadn''t considered yet. And most crucially, this person must possess a Time-Turner.


    But by dawn, Felix was still puzzled: given that time was not an issue, why would this person risk such a perilous long-distance time travel?


    Did they disregard their life? Or was there no alternative? What significancey in such an action?


    Felix''s emotions wereplex. If this was real, and he truly died at the hands of Voldemort¡ªor at least that''s what the memory sender believed¡ªthis action was akin to altering established history, inviting repercussions from time itself.


    Changing known history was risky enough; he hadn''t heard of anyone sessfully manipting it and walking away unscathed, let alone involving long-distance time travel.


    Not rushing to a decision... Felix cautioned himself. He needed to confirm several things first.


    On the early morning of June 22nd, Felix appeared in the Great Hall, awaiting a few individuals. When Snape, d in ck robes, arrived, Felix smiled slightly and shifted his seat next to Snape.


    "You have a Time-Turner," Felix asserted confidently.


    Snape stared at him expressionlessly for a moment. "Your jokes have worsened," he retorted coldly.


    "I just wanted to lighten the mood, Severus," Felix shrugged.


    Not him, Felix thought, observing Snape''s departing figure.


    The second person was Dumbledore. Felix consulted him about the "trick" Dumbledore used with his fingers to cast spells, wondering if it stemmed from abilities acquired after transformation.


    "Have you finally reached this point, Felix?" Dumbledore asked softly. Lost in reminiscence, it took him a while to raise his head. Felix waited for his response. Dumbledore nodded gently, "What you call transformation or evolution towards ''magical creatures,'' though worded differently, in my understanding, involves delving so deeply into a field that it bes inexplicable. Then, a sudden sh of inspiration, a synthesis."


    "Once you reach this stage, your magic begins to spontaneously adapt, matching your understanding of magic... as for what each person gains, it''s likely linked to their field of study. My ability to flick spells essentially stems from a higher level of human transfiguration."


    Felix suddenly understood.


    Previously, Dumbledore had performed a profoundly profound transformation on his hand, simting the abilities of a magical creature. A series of powerful creature names shed through Felix''s mind: dragons, sphinxes, chimeras, and more...


    And it seemed that Dumbledore had the ability to challenge some of the magical world''s norms. Wizards turning into magical creatures was deemed impossible, not even achievable by Animagi, yet Dumbledore had undoubtedly breached that territory.


    Magical creatures... was that what it meant? Felix wondered.


    He couldn''t help but specte about what abilities he might gain afterpleting his transformation, rted to ancient magicalnguages. He began pondering the distinct traits of ancientnguages, but providing a precise definition was challenging due to their vast diversity.


    A realization struck him. Boundless transformations... applying that term to himself, wasn''t it embodying ancient magicalnguages? This idea seemed to align with the scene in his memory¡ªVoldemort casting the Killing Curse, him transforming with ancientnguages to evade it.


    Quite fascinating to consider.


    Yet, new questions surfaced. If he wasn''t meant to die at all, why would someone risk everything to alter that moment? Did they believe it was necessary, or had they simply wanted to protect him?


    He had some puzzle pieces, but the picture was far fromplete. The thought swirled around his mind like leaves caught in an autumn breeze, forming patterns that hinted at therger truth.


    >


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 Chapter 477: Repairing the Time Turner

    Chapter 477: Repairing the Time Turner


    "Don''t worry, Hermione. Hedwig will send the letter to your parents on time," Harry assured confidently. "She''s never failed before¡ªplus, Professor McGonagall said they''ll arrange for a professor to pick them up on the day of the match. It won''t dy anything."


    "I''m not worried about that... I, sigh," Hermione sighed, "they mentioned in their letter that they went to Diagon Alley, saying they were exchanging money¡ª"


    "That''s pretty normal," Ron interjected.


    "You don''t understand them," Hermione impatiently shook her head, "exchanging money is just an excuse. I bet they''re actually there to gather information about the tournament."


    Harry and Ron exchanged looks. They didn''t share Hermione''s concern. Ron''s whole family were wizards, and as for Harry, he didn''t believe the Dursleys would sneak into Diagon Alley worrying about his safety; they''d just hope he''d nevere back. Besides, in Harry''s eyes, Sirius was his only real family.


    "You can''t avoid these things," Ronforted her, "they''ll find out sooner orter¡ª"


    "No, you both don''t get it," Hermione took a deep breath, "is there any more direct information in Diagon Alley than the merchandise sold by ''Future World'' about the tournament? I can imagine my dad impulsively buying a magic projector and footage of the second task. Maybe they''ve seen it already and just didn''t tell me!"


    They arrived at the Transfiguration ssroom Professor McGonagall had lent them, ready to practice spells, especially those that might be useful in the maze. That''s how they''d spent the past month. But today, Hermione waspletely off her game.


    "I can''t focus, not at all," she said in frustration."Take a break for a bit," Harry suggested, "we''re well-prepared already, no need to stress thesest two days."


    Normally, Hermione would vehemently oppose, but today she agreed with Harry, sitting on the cushion, looking utterly helpless.


    Harry and Ron didn''t know how tofort her. They stood silently for a while. Harry pulled out the magic book from his bag, having read it cover to cover. The professor mentioned it had a very slight impact on him, the magic insidesting a few months at best, so he might as well keep it as a memento.


    "Do you think it''s because of this book?" Ron leaned in, whispering, "Hermione''s read it too, hasn''t she?"


    "That wasst week," Harry replied in the same hushed tone, dismissing the book''s influence, "magic effects wouldn''tst this long."


    "You have a point," Ron said, taking out his magical notes, asionally ncing at Hermione in the distance. He deliberately raised his voice, "No matter how many times I read this, it''s still so scary... I wonder if Hermione, in her third year, would still dare to use a Time Turner if she''d read these stories..."


    Hermione suddenly stood up, taking a few deep breaths, grabbing her bag.


    "You''re right, I should find something to do," she said before walking out of the ssroom.


    Ron hesitated for a moment, turning to Harry. "Did I say something wrong?" Harry shook his head. They followed Hermione to the Room of Requirement. "I need an alchemist''sb... I need an alchemist''sb... I need an alchemist''sb..." she repeated.


    A rustic door appeared before them.


    Hermione exhaled slowly, pushing the door open, prompting Harry and Ron to guess her intentions. "I was waiting for this," Ron muttered, and they followed her inside.


    The room was spacious, with severalrge workbenches in the center holding various peculiar contraptions, odd-shaped ss bottles, casually ced wooden toolboxes, golden scales, weights, crucibles... Two bookshelves were affixed to the walls, filled withmon alchemical texts.


    Hermione dropped her bag, took out the Time Turner, nced at Harry, who promptly handed her the hazy hourss.


    "Are you nning to fix it now?" Ron couldn''t help asking. "I thought we had another month or so."


    "No need to dy," Hermione replied calmly. "It''s not exactly fixing, just dismantling it and recing a part... with Nichs mel''s sessful experience, I''m quite confident."


    "Let''s hope it''s as simple as she says," Ron hoped optimistically.


    Harry had expected screwdrivers or something at most, maybe one that screws itself... but Hermione only held her wand, reciting lengthy incantations, tapping the golden timer asionally, or tracing magical runes and alchemical symbols, branding them onto the hourss. Sweat glistened on Hermione''s forehead, her expression intense. Harry and Ron dared not even breathe, afraid of disturbing her.


    After about an hour, Hermione was visibly fatigued, but her eyes were bright.


    "Quick, Harry, Ron, lend me a hand."


    "What do you need?" Harry hurriedly asked as they approached the Time Turner¡ªthis thing was flying in mid-air, spinning endlessly while emitting a soft white light.


    "Grab it, take the original hourss off, and rece it with the t-headed one! Hurry!" Hermionemanded, her face flushed, straining to maintain the magic.


    Harry and Ron exchanged nces, reaching out cautiously. Harry grabbed the spinning timer, like catching a dizzying golden thief, while Ron tried to pry open the circr hourss inside. "I can''t get it off!" Ron shouted.


    "Then put in more effort!" Harry grimaced, the thing was surprisingly strong, desperately trying to break free from his grip.


    Gritting his teeth, Ron used both hands, applying force¡ª*click*¡ªthe hourss came off sessfully.


    Harry immediately grabbed the hazy hourss with his other hand, found the right spot, and fitted it into the slot. "Done!" Then, a sudden shockwave erupted from the center of the golden timer, throwing all three of them off.


    Harry winced, sitting up, his arm having hit the sharp edge of the workbench; he suspected it might be broken. Then, he heard two gasps. Lifting his head from his arm, Ron and Hermione were gaping in the same direction. He turned, equally astonished.


    The Time Turner hung mid-air, emitting a dazzling golden light. Harry squinted and could clearly see the hazy surface of the hourss, as if an invisible hand had wiped it clean, restoring its shine. The substance inside¡ªthe dark gold clumps¡ªkept melting, twisting, and transforming while emitting a beautiful metallic gleam.


    After who knew how long, all the golden light vanished. The Time Turner dropped to the ground, rolling a couple of times, motionless.


    "We did it?" Ron couldn''t believe it.


    "Yes, luckily we did," Hermione grinned. "If it had failed, we''d have spent the whole night searching for scattered parts."


    After resting for half an hour, they left the Room of Requirement. It was already midnight, and they carefully made their way back to themon room. Before going to their respective dorms, Ron still looked amazed. "Incredible... we repaired aplete Time Turner. When can we try it?"


    "Not now," Hermione said.


    "I know. I mean, after the tournament, Hermione. I''ve never experienced this


    feeling!" Ron pleaded.


    A moment of silence.


    "Alright," Hermione hesitated, "it''s not that I''m stopping you; it''s just there might be risks. You''ve seen the fate of wizards trapped by ''time,'' right? It''s better to have the professor check it over."


    Ron was convinced, with one request.


    "Just don''t tell Professor McGonagall. If she knows we have an uncontrolled Time Turner, she''ll definitely confiscate it!"


    "We can ask Professor Snape for help," Harry chimed in, thinking Ron''s idea was quite reasonable. In fact, apart from Professor Snape, he couldn''t think of any other adult who would permit them to have a Time Turner.


    ...


    On the morning of June 23rd, Felix finished invigting the final exam of the year, returning to his office looking rxed. Valen was sitting on the desk, sniffing aimlessly. It held a postcard and when Felix entered, Valen lifted its head, staring at him with curious, shiny eyes.


    "Squeak! (Familiar scent!)"


    >


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 Chapter 478: Not as Planned - (1)

    Chapter 478: Not as nned - (1)


    As it¡¯s widely known, Nifflers have a penchant for all things shiny, making them particrly adept at finding treasures. This inclination stems from their extraordinary sense of smell. At this moment, Felix watched Valen, his Niffler, and a new idea sparked in his mind.


    "Whoosh¡ª"


    Felix raised his hand towards the empty space in his office. The ring on his hand emitted a strong light, and in an eruption akin to a volcano, various items surged out: parchment, notes, scrolls, potions, letters, and gifts from Christmases past¡ªoverflowing, filling nearly half the room.


    Seated on a chair behind, Felix observed Valen, who seemed stupefied. He exined, "Everything from everyone I know seems to be here. The scents on those letters or gifts are well preserved... Thanks for your help, Valen. Finding this person means a lot."


    Valen nced at the towering pile of objects, taller than himself, and shivered. In Felix''s expectant gaze, Valen tiptoed, flipping over a pair of blue woolen socks embellished with a rough design of ck lightning bolts and silver orbs¡ªa gift from Dobby to Felix. He liked them, but they were two sizes too small.


    Near the edge of the desk, Valen leaned down, almost tipping a drawer open halfway. From Felix''s angle, a stack of parchment covered in writing was visible. Valen turned back, ring at Felix, pointing down vigorously.


    "Squeak! (This one!)"


    Felix was taken aback. Had he acted too hastily? He instinctively raised his arm, catching the stack of parchment. He knew what it was but scrutinized it nheless, lifting his head to confirm, "Are you sure, Valen? This isn''t a joke..."


    Valen, standing tall, vigorously nodded.Felix''s gaze returned to the parchment. It was a thesis detailing the dismantling process of a time turner¡ªthe one he had seen a couple of days ago, authored by Hermione Granger.


    Hermione... Granger. It truly was her.


    Felix exhaled softly. Now that the target was confirmed, he wouldn''t need to flit around like a headless fly searching for clues. However, he furrowed his brow. He had cautioned Hermione multiple times about the dangers of long-distance time travel. She was well aware, yet she went ahead...


    Was it out of necessity, or a mistake?


    At that moment, he recalled something¡ªHermione''s time turner core part came from a dark wizard over two thousand years old. Though Felix had confirmed through magical means in the underground space of the Egyptian pyramids that the statue and altar, bearing the soul of the vile Herpo, held no magical traces rted to "time," he was utterly clueless about "time" itself.


    So, when Hermione mentioned recing it with the hourss from the altar, he had been supportive. Regardless of sess or failure, if taken seriously, it would yield substantial gains. He added one precaution¡ªurging Hermione not to use it even if the recement seeded. Felix thought that was enough, but evidently, unforeseen circumstances urred beyond both his and Hermione''s expectations.


    Such as his "death."


    More urately, Hermione believed he had died, coupled with the urgency of the situation, she couldn''t verify the truth, or perhaps¡ªdidn''t want to. Anyway, she hastily used the time turner, and things went awry...


    Felix pondered silently, trying to sketch out a somewhat usible timeline.


    Yet, many inexplicable questions lingered.


    Valen, ustomed to the Dark Lord''s asional stillness, sniffed the scent on a postcard. Indeed, it was that witch with unruly hair who loved hugging it. Her scent filled the office, something Valen hadn''t noticed before.


    With eyes sparkling, Valen surveyed the heap on the floor. What a treasure trove! ncing at Felix, it understood that as long as it didn''t disturb, this situation wouldst a while. With two quick steps, Valen leaped from the table to a pile of colorful socks, its tiny hands swiftly rummaging through, disappearing into the mess.


    The joy of scavenging!


    Happily navigating the array of items, Valen found a handful of Galleons in no time, its mouth unable to close from sheer delight. Pocketing the coins, it nced aside, spotting a temperature-regting locket. After a moment''s hesitation, Valen "resolutely" decided to pass¡ªit already had three lockets in its pocket.


    It wasn''t interested.


    Sniffing gently, Valen caught a familiar scent, emanating from a rolled parchment. Thinking for a moment, it emerged from the pile, cing the parchment next to the postcard.


    "Squeak! (There''s more!)"


    It proudly eximed. Valen felt fulfilled, working for the Dark Lord and earning rightful rewards throughbor.


    Coming back to his senses, Felix watched Valen rummaging through, asionally popping up to ce items on the table. Papers, gifts, handcrafted magical items from Hermione... Simultaneously, he keenly noticed Valen''s round belly. If he wasn''t mistaken, there was a portion of a ne peeking from its pocket.


    Felix contemted whether it was time to enlighten Valen about job descriptions and wages¡ªrevealing Valen''s pay rate within thepany might cause a meltdown.


    Once again, Valen emerged from the heap, trembling its ck fur. One hand held a card, the other grasped what seemed like a ss ball¡ªstruggling to cram it into its pocket, which seemed too full, despite several attempts.


    Felix glowered at the greedy creature, gesturing for Valen toe over. Uncontrobly, Valen flew towards him. Meeting the disapproving gaze of the Dark Lord, Valen realized it had gotten too excited. Shrinking its body, it eagerly handed the ss ball to Felix.


    Felix continued to stare.


    Valen blinked, disying a sudden realization, handing over another card, bragging:


    "Squeak! (Finally found this!)"


    Felix looked at Valen, annoyed. You think I don''t know what schemes you''re hatching? Forgot the morality sses, did you? Just as he was about to say something, his peripheral vision caught a birthday card, and suddenly, his eyes widened, waves of shock and surprise churning within.


    The card was from "Madam Jacqueline," over two months ago, arriving with a massive birthday cake.


    Felix''s hand trembled involuntarily. Fourteen years ago, specifically during his fourth-grade induction feast, he received her first letter. Amongst hundreds of insulting letters, this one encouraged him. She sent a few more letters afterward, stopping only when he graduated.


    Recalling Nick LeBeau''s notes, Felix''s heart sank. There wasn''t a single surviving example of long-distance time travel... If Hermione was brought back ten years due to the time turner, how severe would the temporal bacsh be on her?


    Drawing conclusions hastily wasn''t wise; he knew nothing about temporal maniption. Nick hadn''t experienced time travel either; he merely gathered data.


    "What''s most important right now?" Felix murmured to himself. "Exactly this."


    Expressionless, he extended his hand, and the items on the floor flowed into his ring like water. Val


    en quickly perched on his shoulder, observing the spectacr scene. In a couple of minutes, only three items remained.


    His hand-drawn live map, the half-finished peephole Valen had held, and¡ªa small ss vial containing a tuft of gray hair.


    Felix spread out the map. Inked lines radiated from a central point, swiftly depicting the entirety of Hogwarts Castle. The ink trails hadn''t stopped, extending beyond to the Forbidden Forest, the ck Lake, the surrounding mountains, including the bases of the other four schools, all distinctly visible.


    Hogwarts Castle upied merely a tenth of the map. The dense dots and names on top of each other resembled a squashed, wriggling ball of yarn, giving one the shivers.


    Felix tapped his wand on the map, whispering, "Hermione Granger."


    The map transformed instantly. The wriggling lines melted away like spring snow, vanishing. On the entire map, only one golden name remained¡ªHermione Granger, currently in the potion ssroom conducting final exams.


    "Just one name," Felix said, somewhat disappointed.


    >


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 Chapter 479: Night at the Ministry of Magic - (1)

    Chapter 479: Night at the Ministry of Magic - (1)


    As night descended, the 24-hour restaurant sat in eerie silence. Waiters dozed off behind the bar, and the gray wall clock''s hands pointed to ten o''clock.


    Hermione sat by the bedside, gazing through the window into the bright, clear night sky. She estimated the time, wondering if the owl would deliver the letter by noon tomorrow. Would this unexpected time travel finally draw to a close?


    Lowering her gaze to the time-turner ne around her neck, the once-golden sand had turned pale, asionally flickering a faint light. Hermione remembered vividly that this had been going on for quite some time.


    After a moment''s reflection, she retrieved a ck notebook from under the pillow and made today''s entry:


    "Day 72 of time travel, Day 7 at this current time point: Sensory experiences are bing more genuine as I approach the normal timeline. It''s a wee change from the aimless wandering that felt ghostly at the beginning... Feeling abandoned by the entire world is awful. The time-turner keeps flickering, preventing me from touching anything. If not for the food I packed in the bead bag, I wouldn''t have survived the initial period... Two new cracks appeared on the time-turner today, reasons unknown..."


    Hermione paused, studying the words on the page for a moment before cing the notebook on the bedside table. Quietly slipping out of the room, the ck notebook flipped through its pages as the door closed behind her, an ethereal image murmuring, "The third item: a trophy, a door key, and the root of everything... So, it''s you, young Crouch."


    Meanwhile, Hermione cast a Disillusionment Charm upon herself. Standing at the staircase on the second floor, she observed the couple in the living room. They sat on the couch, watching TV and chatting.


    "Tomorrow when we see Hermione, I must ask her properly. Helping? She''s involved in the tournament!" Mr. Granger said, clearly irritated.


    "She''s always been headstrong since she was young. You used to praise her for being smart," Mrs. Granger replied, looking at him."Using that intelligence to deceive her own parents?" Mr. Granger looked visibly upset. "Do you know what it was like for me to ask a wizard about the tournament? It hasn''t been held for centuries due to the high death rate. Just listen to this!"


    "Hermione''s letter mentioned that this year''s security measures are robust... and we''re at the final task. I saw security personnel in the footage too," Mrs. Granger intervened. "Maybe we should ask what the third task is tomorrow. If it''s too dangerous, we''ll discuss it with the school..." She pursed her lips, her frustration evident. "This girl has gone too far. After the tournament, we''ll educate her together!"


    They bickered for a while, turned off the TV, and headed upstairs. Hermione brushed past them at the corner, reaching out her hand, only grasping at thin air. In the silent stillness, her arm slowly dropped down.


    The 24-hour restaurant.


    The silver glint in Felix''s eyes gradually faded. After a moment of silence, he retrieved two ss bottles, onerge and one small. Therger one contained a viscous liquid resembling mud, slowly bubbling, while the smaller one held a handful of gray hair.


    This was a potion and a lock of Minister Cornelius Fudge''s hair. Felix''s face broke into a faint smile. The origins of the hair were quite dramatic¡ªtwo years ago, Fudge had identally poisoned himself while inspecting a snake carcass and was rushed to the school''s hospital.


    Felix took the opportunity to pluck some hair.


    It had saved him a lot of trouble back then.


    Felix unscrewed the bottle, dropping the hair into therger ss container. The potion immediately boiled, turning an unattractive grayish-blue color, resembling a bottle of boiling cement.


    "Cashier, settle the bill," Felix called out, pocketing the potion in his sleeve.


    As he exited the restaurant, the time had struck half past ten.


    The London night was eerily quiet yet riddled with pockets of noise. Felix walked alone down the streets, his footsteps echoing in the darkness. His figure flickered several times, appearing in front of a rundown red telephone booth.


    He pushed open the door and stepped inside, dialing the number 62442, greeted by the indifferent voice of a woman within the booth.


    "Wee to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and the purpose of your visit."


    "Minister Cornelius Fudge. Verify my identity with the personnel on duty," Felix calmly replied. The potion had transformed his body into that of a short, stocky man with disheveled gray hair and a potbelly.


    He waited for a few seconds before a noticeably more alert wizard''s voice spoke up, full of surprise. "Minister Fudge? Is it really you? What brings you here at this hour?"


    "That''s not for you to know," Felix said sternly.


    "Oh, of course... But why not use the dedicated firece?" the voice inquired.


    "I''m visiting a friend nearby, had a sudden emergency to attend to. Do I need toplete any formalities tomorrow?" His tone turned stricter.


    "No need, I''ll let you in..." the voice replied, sounding apprehensive.


    The telephone booth began its descent, the pavement outside gradually rising above the window. After a stretch of darkness, Felix regained his sight. He calmly surveyed his surroundings. The main hall was dimmer than his previous visits, the firece unlit, and the distant statues stood silently in the pool of water, the only sounding from the fountain''s flow.


    At that moment, hurried footsteps approached from a distance. Felix''s gaze crossed the statues, looking at the wizard rushing from the security checkpoint.


    Coincidentally, he knew this person.


    "Eric Munch," Felix said.


    "It''s me, Minister," Eric Munch replied, apanying his words with a smile, visibly honored.


    "d to see you weren''t dozing off in your chair," Felix scrutinized him.


    "I would never¡ªof course¡ªnot shirk my duty¡ª" Eric stammered, his face reddening.


    "Get back to your post, Mr. Munch! I''ll depart from the firece after my task," Felix instructed.


    "I understand, Minister," Eric replied, breathless.


    Felix nodded at him, taking a few steps, then paused. "By the way, who else is still here in the department?"


    "I... I''m not certain, Minister," Eric cautiously nced at him. "I suppose Ms. Bones, Ms. Marchbanks, and Mr. Ogden should be here... and those odd people from the Department of Mysteries, uh, I mean, those silent folk. I can never tell where they are."


    "It''s thiste¡ª" Felix began, frowning, knowing Eric would provide an answer.


    Sure enough, Eric''s tone became more respectful and humble. "Ms. Marchbanks and Mr. Ogden are workingte, grading the wizarding level exams. They''re always busy at this time of year. As for Ms. Bones," he nced at Felix, "you relocated a batch of Aurors as guards for the third task, and they''re short-staffed there."


    Felix fell silent for a moment, snorted


    , then nodded slightly. "You''ve got some brains, Munch. Carry on."


    "Thank you, Minister. Have a good night," Eric Munch replied, bowing slightly before hurrying back to his station.


    Felix continued on his way. His steps echoed in the quiet hallway as he made his way to the Department of Mysteries. The magical lifts appeared to be inactive, so he took the long route via the marble staircase.


    The door to the Department of Mysteries was ajar, and Felix cautiously pushed it open. The room was bathed in an otherworldly blue light, emanating from various containers and enchanted objects lining the shelves.


    "Hello?" Felix called out, his voice echoing slightly in the cavernous room.


    There was no immediate response. Felix scanned the room, recognizing some of the objects. His gaze lingered on a series of floating orbs, each emitting a different hue.


    He approached a dusty crystal ball nestled in the corner. This was the moment. He uncorked the bottle, releasing the boiling grayish-blue potion. With utmost care, he poured it onto the surface of the crystal ball.


    The potion sizzled and evaporated upon contact with the crystal, emitting a faint bluish smoke that swirled around the ball. Felix watched intently, his eyes reflecting the orb''s changing colors.


    Suddenly, a vision materialized within the crystal. It was an image of the Hogwarts grounds, specifically the area surrounding the maze. He saw shes of figures darting about, and amidst the chaos, a young girl moved with determination.


    His lips curled into a smile.


    The vision flickered, and just as quickly as it appeared, it dissipated into thin air. The crystal ball remained dormant, returning to its natural state.


    Felix pocketed the empty bottle, his expression pensive. With onest nce around the room, he swiftly left, shutting the door behind him. As he retraced his steps, the corridor seemed quieter than before, the echoes of his footsteps fainter.


    Exiting the Department of Mysteries, Felix nced at his wristwatch. It was almost midnight.


    He strode purposefully through the Ministry halls, his mind filled with thoughts of the impending task at Hogwarts. The future was veiled in uncertainty, but Felix had set his ns in motion. Now, it was a waiting game.


    >


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 Chapter 480: Safe Return

    Chapter 480: Safe Return


    Scrimgeour stood not far from the magical fountain, his yellow eyes fixed on the empty firece.


    The entire hall was eerily quiet. Every time a new Ministry employee emerged from the firece, they were met with the intense gaze of hundreds. Arthur Weasley looked around; the Ministry seemed to have weathered a massive battle¡ªchaos littered the ground, and the office resembled a prowling old lion, ready to pounce at any moment.


    He edged away from the firece, joining a wizard at the scene. In a hushed tone, he asked, "What''s going on, Arnold?"


    The wizard wiped his brow. "Terrifying, Arthur. If you''d arrived just two minutes earlier, you might''ve collided with that person..."


    "You mean there''s only one enemy? And they escaped?" Mr. Weasley asked, surprised.


    "Yeah, let me tell you..."


    Abrasive clinks echoed as the elevator gates parted, and a throng spilled out.


    Leading the charge was Amelia Bones, wand held high, striding purposefully. Surveying the scene, her furrowed brows demanded attention. "Healers, take the injured to the infirmary for treatment!"


    "Surveince team, coborate with Aurors for the investigation."Aurors and members of the Magical Law Enforcement responded in hushed tones among the crowd.


    "Kingsley, Dawlish!"


    The two Aurors marched forth, chests puffed out.


    "Track the target with your team," she paused, "observe first, refrain from engaging."


    "Understood!"


    "Minor urrences Reversal Unit, and all members of the Magical Law Enforcement Office!"


    Almost half the hall stood at attention, awaiting orders.


    "Clean up debris and clutter. Witnesses, step forward to register clues. Others, resume your duties." It wasn''t until the crowd began moving that she turned to Scrimgeour. "Rufus, any findings?"


    Scrimgeour''s eyes darted, his voice low. "I saw his face."


    A surprised expression crossed Ms. Bones'' face. "Who?"


    "He''s disguised, I''m not certain. Currently, no evidence¡ª" Scrimgeour halted mid-sentence.


    Ms. Bones shot him a stern look. "Come with me, Rufus."


    ...


    "I must lend a hand too. Goodbye, Arnold," Mr. Weasley hurried away, also a member of the Magical Law Enforcement Office.


    "Goodbye, Arthur," the wizard muttered. "Lovely day, I thought a war had erupted!"


    "Be cautious in your words, Piskood," a cold voice spoke from behind. Arnold Peasegood turned, startled. "Axley?"


    "It''s me," Axley said. "From your words, it seems you''re anticipating a war?"


    The wizard flushed, vehemently denying, "Nonsense!"


    Axley smirked coolly, "Hope you remain as resolute when the timees." Without a backward nce, he walked toward the firece embedded in the wall.


    "Wait, where are you off to?" the wizard called.


    "Ordered to be stationed at Hogwarts," he said without looking back. "Came to collect something this morning, didn''t expect such a show."


    ...


    Ms. Bones and Scrimgeour arrived at the circr pond near the magical fountain, the rushing waters masking their conversation. She asked in a hushed tone, "You''ve faced him before; you should have an opinion, right?"


    Scrimgeour didn''t name names. Leaning on his cane, he stared at the central statue, a set of gold statuesrger than life. The tallest depicted a noble wizard, wand raised high. Around him stood a beautiful witch, a centaur, a fairy, and a house elf.


    The centaur, fairy, and house elf gazed adoringly at the two wizards.


    "He not only disguised his face but his abilities too," Scrimgeour focused on the house elf statue, water trickling from its ears. "Initially, he disyed power simr to retired stor''s, battle-hardened, excellent judgment. He seemed reluctant to expose himself, using only conventional magic..."


    He continued, "But his final strike was astonishing, a magic I couldn''t recognize."


    Ms. Bones listened intently, lost in thought. Gazing at the fountain, she said slowly, "Shattering a thousand ss pieces with just one strike... Do you believe that was his usual power or an extraordinary disy?"


    Scrimgeour hesitated, "I believe it was the former. He''s adept at disguises."


    Ms. Bones looked at him gravely. "ording to your description, the pool of potential suspects is limited. I only know of two, perhaps three. Few abroad would meet these criteria, and they''re unlikely to suddenly infiltrate the British Ministry... I need evidence!"


    Just then, a burly Auror approached with a guard.


    "Ms. Bones, Mr. Scrimgeour, Eric has an important report!"


    Both turned to Eric Munch, who seemed nervous. "I, uh, I''m not sure if..."


    "It''s alright, we''ll make the right judgment," Ms. Bones reassured him.


    "Well,st night, during my shift¡ªI saw someone, it struck me as odd, but I didn''t think much at the time¡ª"


    "Who did you see?" Scrimgeour asked, his voice grave.


    "Yes, um..." Eric stammered, his gaze past them to a stout man approaching, eyes wide. "Minister Fudge!"


    ...


    "Sir, you''ve arrived at your destination," the driver said politely.


    "Thank you." Felix looked weary, paid, and stepped out of the taxi. He retrieved a ring from his pocket, and with two flickers of light, a ck wand and a brown amulet appeared in his hand.


    Putting away the spare wand, he sat on a bench under a hanging willow tree. A young mother strolled by with a baby in a pram. The infant, chubby hands raised, spotted Felix on the bench and curiously eyed him.


    Felix winked at the baby, then retrieved a vial of potion, swallowing it.


    Standing up, he approached a house, donned the amulet, tapped it lightly twice, and his body gradually faded in color. Steeling himself, Felix said, "Just one more step, you can do this, Felix... Just need to redirect the energy, won''t take much effort."


    ...


    "Is this really happening?" Voldemort asked softly, a sardonic smile on his lips. "The Ministry has lost its way this time."


    "Master, do you need me to leak this out?" Yaxley lowered his head, kneeling on the ground. His borate robes, embroidered with golden threads, trailed along the floor.


    "Not at the moment," Voldemortzily remarked. "You just need to subtly guide Fudge''s suspicions towards our young ones..."


    "Why?" Yaxley inquired, trembling the next moment. "I-I apologize, Master, I''m not questioning you¡ª"


    Voldemort paced before him, Yaxley lowering his head further, only catching a glimpse of pale feet until they halted in front of him. "M-Master?"


    "I can answer that," Voldemort murmured. "Though you''ve never actively sought me out these years, Yaxley... slipping into the enemy''s ranks after my downfall, pretending to be innocent, yet still enjoying luxury. But upon seeing me, you immediately returned to my fold. So, I am willing to forgive you."


    "M-Master..."


    "I have a n," Voldemort whispered. "That young one left a deep impression on me. Just as I was beginning to regain some power, he stormed in, nearly ruining everything. At that moment, I realized, I cannot let him grow..."


    "Master, with your power, killing him would be effortless."


    "Oh? Is it really so? If you truly believed that, why serve the enemy for all these years?"


    Yaxley fell silent.


    "I''ve done nothing during this time¡ªno gathering of Death Eaters, no rallying of old allies. Before you, I had only one loyal servant. Think, why would the great Dark Lord hide away like a rat?"


    "I told that young one, even if he stands with Dumbledore, a slight defiance of Dumbledore''s ideas would rupture their rtionship... I look forward to that happening, and of course, if the opportunity arises, I wouldn''t mind killing him myself."


    "Yaxley, my friend," Voldemort lowered his head, fixing his gaze on Yaxley. "Do what you ought to do. I will await our guest..."


    ---


    In the Ministry''s hall, Fudge eximed incredulously, "Someone''s impersonating me?" He nced around swiftly, then lowered his voice, "This can''t be, I''ve never handed my hair over to anyone!"


    "Could be an advanced human transfiguration skill," Madam Bones suggested.


    "Must be," Fudge immediately agreed, his hand fidgeting with the button on his coat. His gaze shifted between Bones, Scrimgeour, Gravely, and the guards. "Until we ascertain the truth, keep this under wraps. Understand?"


    "So..." He extended his stubby finger, gesturing aimlessly in the air. "Can anyone tell me the purpose of that person breaking into the Ministry?"


    "Not clear yet," Scrimgeour responded.


    "Not clear?" Fudge repeated, ring at him. "Then what have you been doing for so long?"


    "Waiting for updates, Minister," Scrimgeour replied stiffly. "There are two Auror squads outside, investigating the criminal''s whereabouts." He gestured to the surroundings. "Others are examining the scene."


    "Any witnesses?" Fudge inquired.


    Bones, Scrimgeour, and the Aurors turned their attention to the guard on duty that night, Eric Munch. Annoyed, Fudge said, "I want witnesses besides him! He proves nothing."


    "Not at the moment, Fudge. We need time to gather evidence," Madam Bones said gently.


    "Time, time. If those reporters get wind of this, they''ll swarm like flies," Fudge muttered in disgust, his eyes glinting oddly. Under his breath, almost inaudibly, he mused, "No witnesses?"


    He hurried away, adding, "I''ll be at Hogwarts this afternoon as a judge. I hope you''ll have some good news by then."


    ---


    Grimmauld ce.


    "Young man, you look terribly pale. You ought to see a doctor," a kind-eyed elderly woman observed Felix with concern.


    "Thank you, I''ll be fine," Felix grumbled.


    "Oh, your face is paler than my hair," the olddy said seriously, studying him. "Honestly, this abnormal grayish tone I''ve only seen in the dead... Oh! I''m sorry, that was unintentional."


    "It''s alright, ma''am," Felix patiently replied. "I''ve just been burning the midnight oil. A good sleep will fix it."


    After gently dismissing the concerneddy, Felix walked towards the space between numbers 11 and 13. His mind was foggy, but he felt a sense of familiarity with the person he had just encountered. Had he given her a enchanted card before?


    He shook his head, fighting off drowsiness. He had recharged the converter on Hermione earlier at the cost of a part of an hourss he had obtained from the Ministry, now reduced to shards.


    And now, he could barely perform any magic himself. Using what little reason he had, he surmised that the Aurors were probably scouring London for him. Diagon Alley was definitely out of bounds. Hence, he had employed Muggle means to make his way here.


    Felix struggled to squeeze through a thin wall of air, vanishing from the real world.


    "The defensive magic hasn''t changed yet? Excellent, little Sirius," Felix whispered, and the next moment, Number 12 Grimmauld ce materialized before him.


    "Bang!"


    A grotesque, elderly house-elf suddenly appeared at the doorstep. Kreacher, with a hoarse voice, said, "Wee, friend of the Master, powerful Mr. Felix Harp, the Master isn''t home..."


    "I know," Felix said. "I just wanted to use his firece."


    Kreacher deeply bowed, "The Master said to fulfill your requests as much as possible. And, I''ve read Master Regulus''s biography. It''s written so well... His honor remains untarnished..."


    "Good for you."


    ---


    Felix smoothly returned to his office, but a shadow pounced on him. He instinctively dodged, but Valen clutched onto his clothes.


    "Chirp!"


    It eyed him disapprovingly.


    "Oh, Valen, let me catch my breath..." Felix patted his chest, and Valen jumped down from his embrace, hands on its hips, fingers pointing usingly at Felix, reprimanding him incessantly.


    "You worried me," Felix grinned. "But I need your help, get Sylvester for me, just keep it low-key."


    Valen looked puzzled.


    "Off you go."


    After a while...


    "What have you done now?" Snape looked at him disdainfully.


    "yed a thief, got caught by the Master, barely escaped," Felix slumped on the couchzily. His appearance was quite odd; he wore pajamas but topped with a hat.


    Snape looked at him strangely, unable to speak for a moment. After a while, he mockingly retorted, "I must hear this, whatever can make you look this disheveled, I can''t fathom who the victim could be."


    "Someone from a wealthy family," Felix casually diverted the topic. "Sylvester, do you have that potion that enhances potential?"


    >


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 Chapter 481: Various Pre-Game Scenes

    Chapter 481: Various Pre-Game Scenes


    "Unleash potential?" Snape peered at Felix, arms crossed. "What are you up to?"


    "I''m a safety officer, can''t go out like this, it''d be too embarrassing," Felix replied.


    Snape eyed him for a moment, then asked in a low voice, "I won''t stumble upon a wanted poster of you next time I visit Diagon Alley for potion supplies, will I?"


    Felix rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Can''t say for sure... Don''t re at me, alright? I''m kidding. Truth is, I got carried away with magical studies," he earnestly exined.


    Snape didn''t buy it at all. The next moment, arcane symbols appeared on Felix''s face, leaving Snape astounded.


    "What kind of potion effect are you after?"


    "The best, of course. Something that''ll let me pick a fight after a sip." Felix grinned. "Considering I''m your student, how about a 50% discount?"


    Snape frowned. "The side effects of such a potion are severe."


    "I can handle it," Felix said seriously. "Severus, I really need it."After a moment of silence -


    "Hold on!" Snape waved his hand dramatically, looking stern.


    "Thanks, Professor." Felix grinned and waved back as he walked away.


    ...


    "Hermione Jean Granger!" Mr. Granger eximed loudly, watching his daughter poking her head into the room with a guilty look.


    "Oh, Dad..." Hermione entered from outside, while the other champions and their families inside the room observed the scene with interest. She moved closer, seeking help from Mrs. Granger.


    Mrs. Granger waved her hand, looking amused. "I''m waiting for your exnation too."


    "Um, how about... I take you around the campus?" Hermione suggested softly. "It''s your first time here, you must be curious. I''ve made some arrangements, you''ll surely like..."


    "Your ''arrangements'' involve leaving your parents hanging for most of the day?" Mr. Granger interrupted.


    "I have an exam," Hermione defended herself.


    Mr. Granger looked visibly upset, while Mrs. Granger teased her, "Howe I heard that champions don''t have to sit exams? It was your friend Harry who mentioned it. You''re not trying to avoid us, are you?"


    Hermione was left speechless.


    After spending a good while, Hermione managed to appease her parents. They toured the castle, strolled around the ck Lake, and bumped into Harry and Sirius. Sirius tried hard to engage the Grangers in conversation about Quidditch, dueling, and adventures, but they couldn''t findmon ground.


    When Sirius vividly described how he tackled a giant creature, instead of admiration and detailed questions, he was met with nk stares and wariness.


    Right before the mood hit rock bottom, Sirius finally found amon topic.


    "Don''t worry, it''s safe. They''re a top contender! And they have a safety officer... Felix Harp, you know him too? Met at the Leaky Cauldron? Brilliant! I''m quite close with him..."


    Harry felt odd; Hermione had been ring at him while the adults conversed.


    He leaned in quietly. "What''s wrong?"


    Hermione turned away, refusing to talk to him.


    ...


    "Knocked out three Unspeakables? So, does that mean the target was actually the Department of Mysteries?" Fudge inquired from behind his office desk.


    "That''s right. He stole all the hoursses; the energy within the crystal casings was reduced by half..." Auro exined, the three previously knocked-out Unspeakables standing silently behind him, not uttering a word.


    Fudge twirled his quill for a while before looking up.


    "What do you think his aim was?" He nced at the three Unspeakables. "Time travel? Altering history?"


    "Minister, rest assured, he can''t do anything," Croft said eagerly.


    "Why?" Fudge stopped twirling his quill. "He took so many hoursses... just hoursses?"


    "That''s right!" Croft was pleased that Fudge understood. "He only had hoursses, no intact time-turner."


    "What if he finds a damaged time-turner outside and fixes it¡ª"


    "Impossible! No one can do that! Every dmissioned time-turner undergoes multiple confirmations by Unspeakables, impossible to repair. We''ve been trying for centuries without sess, leading to a decrease in usable time-turners... an outsider wouldn''t manage it."


    Fudge looked at him skeptically.


    "It''s true," Croft grew more confident; this was his field. "Plus, the stolen hoursses had very low energy. I assume he realized that and risked staying the entire night to recharge¡ª"


    "So?" Fudge impatiently asked.


    "Of course, he failed." Croft shrugged. "No one can master that technique overnight. Hence, the energy naturally dissipated..."


    "But if the hoursses were useless, why take them all?" Fudge stared with cow-like eyes.


    "Minister, understanding a criminal''s mind isn''t my expertise. I can only make judgments based on my profession," Croft shrugged. "The only issue is the security system at the Department of Mysteries needs an upgrade."


    "Thank you, Croft," Fudge interrupted him. "I''ll consider it, but you should understand the Ministry''s tight on funds now. If there''s new funding, I''ll prioritize your department."


    Silence engulfed the office.


    After a while, Fudge hesitantly asked, "Did any of you see the person''s face?"


    Broderick Bode and Saul Croker shook their heads, both witnessing Felix after he''d imbibed the potion. Observing Fudge''s strange expression, they were wary, fearing he might suddenly brandish his wand at them.


    "You, however, should''ve seen something. By then, the potion''s effects had certainly worn off," Fudge inquired solemnly.


    The third silent person looked embarrassed as they spoke, "My attention was diverted. That person used a despicable trap..."


    Fudge lowered his head to scrutinize their testimony, "A fireball plummeting from the sky, burning debris? Yes, indeed, quite despicable."


    "..." The silent one bowed their head, saying nothing.


    Continuing to peruse the report, Fudge muttered, "Ambushed while looking down, saw only a pair of feet... just feet?" He raised his head, "Do you remember what those feet looked like? Any distinguishing features?"


    The silent one shook their head, "Sorry, Minister, I can''t recall."


    "I don''t think so," Fudge smirked slightly, "At least a vague outline, right? Like whether the steps were light, belonging to a young person?"


    In the evening, young wizards dined exuberantly in the Great Hall, awaiting the start of the third task.


    "Fudge, you''ve brought quite a few people today," Dumbledore said gently.


    "I believe it''s necessary. The Ministry has just experienced an attack," Fudge murmured, "I must be cautious."


    "Ah, I see," Dumbledore murmured back, a regretful expression on his face.


    "Oh, by the way," Fudge scanned the surroundings, "where''s Professor Snape?"


    "Perhaps held up with something?" Dumbledore chuckled softly.


    ncing around, seeing everyone eating, Fudge wiped his forehead and, after a moment of hesitation, finally resolved, "Dumbledore, I need your help. ording to Auror investigations, that lone traveler is frightfully powerful, perhaps evenparable to the unmentionable one!"


    Dumbledore wore a perfectly puzzled expression.


    "Dumbledore, I know we have some disagreements¡ª"


    "Not disagreements," Dumbledore interjected.


    "You¡ªwhat?" Fudge looked at him, bewildered.


    "That''s not a disagreement, Fudge," Dumbledore patiently exined, "Your hesitation will cost us a lot of time¡ª"


    "Enough! Dumbledore," Fudge snapped, "That is a disagreement. I''ve taken a step back, sent an Auror team to explore the Albanian forest. We''ll have results soon. But what I want to discuss now is something else!"


    He mmed the table, making the cutlery jump around.


    Several other school heads at nearby tables looked over, puzzled. Fudge quickly gestured an apology. When others turned away, he leaned in again, saying, "Dumbledore, I''m seeking your help regarding dealing with a dangerous criminal. He recklessly infiltrated the Department of Mysteries, stole the Time-Turner hourss and stored decades of energy. It''s an incredibly sinister act!"


    Dumbledore remained calm, "Forgive me for saying, Fudge, but you don''t seem the least bit anxious."


    "I am, of course! What if he intends to alter history? What if, on the day the Order loses power, he reminds them?" Fudge''s temper red uncontrobly, "You should understand the severe consequences!"


    Dumbledore''s expression turned serious.


    "That''s it," Fudge wiped his sweat, continuing, "So, I''m seeking your assistance. Our goals align. I promise, once the investigative team brings back concrete evidence, I''ll issue a public warning."


    "Do you have any leads?" Dumbledore asked quietly.


    "Of course, he spent a night at the Ministry, attempting to steal energy... Exhausted, and wounded by an Auror. Unfortunately, we couldn''t find his blood at the scene... Regardless, such injuries can''t heal quickly. Hence, my curiosity about Professor Snape. I''m not suspecting him, just cooperating with the investigation¡ª"


    Dumbledore''s expression grew more serious, and Fudge felt his n had seeded, tedly continuing. At that moment, someone entered the hall.


    Fudge red at the person. Felix appeared flushed, vibrant, showing no signs of injury. He''d even changed into formal wear, taking a seat not far from them.


    Fudge''s face turned crimson.


    "It seems Felix isn''t the person you were looking for. He looks excellent. This outfit reminds me of the ball six months ago. If there were music ying now, I''d have no doubt he''d steal the show..." Dumbledore inteced his fingers, looking at Fudge''s face with keen interest.


    "Perhaps I jumped to conclusions, Dumbledore," Fudge panted, his eyes fixed on Felix, unwillingly adding, "I need to confirm this again."


    "My office is always open to you, Fudge, but next time, bring evidence," Dumbledore said, his gaze also on Felix¡ªunlike Fudge, his deep blue eyes were profoundly inscrutable.


    "Time..." he murmured softly.


    As the enchanted ceiling shifted from blue to a dusky purple, Dumbledore rose by the table, and the room quieted.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, in five minutes, I''ll ask you to join me at thepetition grounds for the final task. Now, champions, please leave with Mr. Bagman."


    >


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 Chapter 483: The Maze Castle - Enormous Advantage

    Chapter 483: The Maze Castle - Enormous Advantage


    Harry felt a rush of excitement as he restrained the urge to p, his eyes fixed on Felix.


    "Ahem," Bagman sounded a bit uneasy, "Well said, Felix. Can I repeat your words after the match? Just kidding, truth be told, wouldn''t a hug be better?"


    "Exactly, Professor!" Roger Davies cheered, "What we really need is a hug."


    Harry agreed with Roger, seeing Hermione''s eyes sparkle. However, Felix hesitated for a moment, smiling as he shook his head. "Let''s wait until after the match."


    He stepped out of the tent, the smile fading from his face. "Professor''s peculiar speech before the match and refusing the embrace¡ªdone. Now, it''s just about waiting quietly, minimizing contact with them... right?"


    He paused, as if waiting for a response, then smiled faintly and walked away.


    Back at the stands, an air of cheerful excitement filled the atmosphere. At one entrance of the Maze Castle, selected champions strolled into the darkened gateway.


    The outside voices became almost inaudible in an instant. Felix wandered through the maze, quietly contemting¡ªanimagus transformation, could he really do it? He should, just needs a bit of pressure... after all, he had sessfully mastered the first seventh-level spell.


    On the fifth level of the maze, a pacing Sphinx spotted Felix. Its body resembled a fearsome lion: massive paws, a yellow elongated tail with tufted fur, yet it bore a woman''s head.The Sphinx blocked his path, its voice hoarse. "You''re close to the entrance of the next level¡ª"


    Felix nced at it, a silvery glint in his eyes. The Sphinx froze in ce as Felix passed by.


    "Animagus transformation... How should I proceed?" He pondered as he walked away.


    ...


    "Ladies and gentlemen, the final challenge of the Triwizard Tournament is about to begin! Let me update you on the current score! At this time, the first group of champions can take their positions... Hogwarts, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, total score 128, leading the pack! With a five-minute interval between teams..."


    "Five minutes!" Harry felt a surge of excitement, eyes fixed on the pitch''s dark entrance. He realized he had a lead of half an hour over thest position! This advantage was immense. With a short, sharp whistle, Harry hurried into the maze entrance.


    He knew, at that moment, Hermione and Ron had also entered.


    Everything around was eerily quiet and dark. The high hedges almost touched the towering ceiling, casting vast shadows. Blue-med candles hung at intervals from the ceiling, their light dim, offering Harry only a limited view.


    "Lumos." He waved his wand, illuminating the area. Feeling uneasy, he dimmed the light. Walking several meters along the only path, he encountered the first junction.


    "Guide me." He whispered to his wand. The wand spun and pointed right, the northern direction. "Alright." He quickly set off, ncing left and right.


    The first maze level should be the simplest¡ªthey discussed this. He recalled their strategy: find the passage to the second level as soon as possible.


    This was critical for the match''s oue!


    Another junction. Harry chose the left path this time. He caught a glimpse of a dark figure on the right side and swiftly turned away.


    No time for unnecessary detours; the first five minutes were crucial.


    ...


    "The first team has entered; let''s see¡ªOh? They''ve adopted a different strategy," Bagman eximed, eyes widening. "Granger used a Disillusionment Charm, remarkable at her age!"


    Draco, on the stands, snorted disdainfully, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the huge screen.


    "Weasley''s moving steadily. He paused¡ªspotted a trap, perhaps? False rm, might''ve been the wind. Not too many traps on the first level, meant to let the champions limatize, real dangers lie ahead¡ª" Bagman ducked as a pebble flew by.


    Professor McGonagall angrily shook her fist at him, drawing a chorus of boos from the stands.


    "Ah! My apologies, an unintended slip. Let''s focus on the smallest champion, oh, look!" Bagman swiftly redirected, "He''s sprinting in the maze. Has he figured it out?"


    The crowd hushed, fixated on the screen. Harry wasted no time, using the Direction Hex at every intersection, swiftly moving forward. "Look, Harry''s encountered a st-Ended Skrewt!" Simon shouted.


    Ludo Bagman noticed it too, rising excitedly.


    "Will Potter dodge it? No, he hasn''t. He''s chosen to fight¡ªSilent Disarmament Charm! Oh dear, the spell bounced, an excellent Binding Hex. The Skrewt''s temporarily trapped, but what''s next¡ªOh, Potter didn''t continue the attack. He''s chosen to leave, and the Skrewt escaped the pit, losing track of Potter!"


    Bagman was ecstatic. "Less than five minutes into the match! Potter is nearing the entrance of the next level; his two teammates are far behind. Other teams haven''t entered... Does he want to be the first to reach the Cup within the maze? It might not be wise; his teammates can''t keep up."


    The crowd spected, understanding Harry''s race against time but clueless about his intentions.


    "He wants to be the first to the Cup, fits his personality, doesn''t it?" Dracomented. "Always seeking attention."


    "But the Cup''s on the seventh level, it''ll get tougher. He''s setting himself up for a big setback," Daphne remarked, perplexed, eyes glued to the screen.


    ...


    "Phew... phew..." Harry breathed heavily, feeling like his chest might explode, but it was all worth it. With a brilliant smile, he approached the vine-made steps, a concealed entrance hidden in the ceiling.


    He struggled up the steps, feeling light-footed, as if stepping on soft cotton candy, barely using any force. Climbing halfway, he nearly tumbled down.


    Yet, he stood atop the highest point, his head almost touching the ceiling, revealing about a foot''s gap between the hedges and the roof. Harry grinned, his palm extended, wand glowing and forming a milky-white orb.


    Outside the Maze Castle, everyone stared, wide-eyed.


    The orb drifted slowly, Harry sat on the steps, gazing at it for two seconds, softly saying, "st." The orb expanded rapidly, an endless sh of light¡ª


    The milky-white radiance spread through the maze. The hedges suddenly flickered with faint light. Under this glow, Illuminating Charms'' effects rapidly diminished, but it was enough. At different locations on the first level, Hermione and Ron simultaneously looked up towards the explosion''s direction. Following that, the path before them brightened, stretching ahead.


    "Brilliantly done, mate!" Ron pumped his fist, excitedly yelling. He dashed forward; the maze was now as bright as day, and he had noticed the light fading, precisely what he wanted¡ªhe could chase the light.


    Outside, from the judges'' seats to the stands, there was utter silence.


    "This is cheating!" Karkaroff eximed in frustration.


    "Karkaroff, they haven''t vited any rules,"


    Bagman countered habitually. "This magic isn''t on the prohibited list, and it''s non-lethal. Even though... well, its range is quite extensive."


    It took Bagman a moment to realize what had happened and its significance.


    "Good heavens! Unbelievable! Potter, Potter has found this method... His two teammates are catching up rapidly, faster than Potter before. They''re following the light!" Bagman''s face reddened; he excitedly unbuttoned his cor. "Though reluctant to admit, the match is nearly half decided... The rest depends on the other teams; they need to hurry."


    Collins, Cedric, and Roger each stood before their entrances, bewildered. What had Harry''s team done to earn such praise from the judges? All the champions simultaneously realized that Harry''s team had gained a significant advantage, and they needed to catch up.


    With another short whistle, the second group of champions entered. Unbeknownst to each other, they all opted for a more aggressive approach.


    ...


    Harry sat on the vine-made steps, casting two Healing Charms on himself. The soreness in his legs lessened considerably, and his chest no longer felt ready to burst. He counted silently; nearing 100, footsteps approached, and Hermione emerged from the corner. She walked up to Harry, ran her fingers through her hair, and chuckled softly. "Harry, you''ve really done it."


    After a dozen more seconds, Ron rushed out from another passage, looking a bit disheveled, covered in dirt.


    "Ran too fast, stumbled into a big hole, wonder who made it... sneaky." He half-joked, extending a hand to help Harry up from the steps. He nced at the entrance above them, a look of surprise on his face. "Are we almost at the second level? Shame it''s a one-time deal."


    "Yeah, let''s go." Harry agreed.


    >


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 Chapter 484: The Maze Castle - Dialogue on the Seventh Floor

    Chapter 484: The Maze Castle - Dialogue on the Seventh Floor


    An hour flew by in the blink of an eye.


    "The match is getting more exciting. The oue is still uncertain. Let me summarize¡ª"


    "Potter''s group is still in the lead. Their quick assembly has given them an absolute advantage. Whether it''s the bogarts, devil''s snare, or the reversed traps, they breezed through effortlessly. Currently, they''ve just entered the fifth level of the maze."


    "The second team''s three champions have reached the fourth level, but they haven''t gathered yet. One of them just entered; it''ll probably take until the fifth level for them to meet. Some might wonder why they aren''t using amplification spells. The hedges are enchanted, greatly diminishing sound and light... Potter''s magic is an exception."


    "Vagado''s champions have maximized their strengths. Let''s remember Lashawn Elephendi''s name. He showcased the wildest power of the African ins in the first two tasks. But this time, he showcased incredibly delicate transformation control. As the third team to enter, Elephendi used elephant vibrations to locate teammates, sessfully meeting in the first maze level. Afterward, nzigo transformed into a blue hawk, swiftly finding the entrances to the second and third levels. Their team used vibrations again for positioning, heading straight for the entrance. Their efficiency was astounding, nearly catching up to Potter''s group. However, Vagado''s champions faced a challenge in the fourth level when nzigo got entangled in thorny walls. Now, they''ve switched to having Nona Leberth lead the way¡ªthis girl is exceptionally fast, and they''re the only team with a chance to surpass Potter''s progress."


    "Next is Beauxbatons; they''re in the third level, all nearing the fourth level. They might meet at the entrance."


    "Durmstrang''s strategy is noticeably different. Krum has been on the fourth level for a while, but his two teammates are on the third level. It seems they''ve devised a n, indeed! Adim Buweck paused at the upward entrance of the third level; he''s waiting for another person. I get it! Their n involves the strongest person continuously forging ahead while the slightly weaker two travel together. Clever move! You see, the third maze level isn''t as perilous, and it''s also one-third smaller in size..."


    "Lastly, Uagadou, they''ve just reached the second level, entering half an hourte. No, they''ve adopted the same strategy as Durmstrang! However, they''ve chosen three individuals to proceed together, although they''ve lost time initially. Considering theirbined magic disyed in the previous tasks, their speed will likely be very high from now on."


    The audience anxiously watched the screen, clutching various gs, even the judges on the referee''s stand were glued to the scene."Will they meet? Will they?" Mrs. Granger covered her face, leaving scratch marks with her nails.


    "I think they will... conflict is inevitable," Sirius mumbled nearby.


    ...


    "The fifth level is too dark," Ron whispered. Until the third level, there were blue-med candles, but they became sparser. By the fourth level, they could barely discern the color of the hedges from the darkness, and now, there was no light at all.


    Harry and Ron held their wands, prepared for sudden dangers. Hermione, controlling a white me, stayed slightly behind, illuminating a small area above their heads. They struggled to lift their legs from the vineden ground, trudging for ten minutes to cross this lengthy corridor.


    "I don''t believe there could be anything weirder ahead," Ron said.


    "Don''t jinx it."


    They turned a corner, and suddenly, the world flipped. Harry found himself standing on the ceiling. Blood rushed to his head, a simr experience when he got caught in a golden mist in the second maze level, hanging upside down in an endless void. That trap tested the champion''s courage, demanding them to firmly pull their legs out...


    He attempted but raised a leg with no response; he was still standing on the ceiling. Unstable footing almost made him stumble¡ªnot downward, but onto the ceiling. Blood pounding in his ears made it hard to think. Then, he heard Hermione saying, "I think we need to walk out like this."


    Harry was about to ask how when he saw Hermione cautiously moving forward. After about a minute, she dropped from the ceiling.


    "Avada Kedavra!" She softlynded mid-air, looking at Harry and Ron. "Just keep walking on the ceiling as if it''s the ground, but brace for the difort of blood rushing upwards."


    Soon, Harry and Ron safely made it out.


    "It''s strange; gravity still exists, but we''re being held to the ceiling by a stronger force..." Hermione nced back reluctantly.


    "What''s gravity?" Ron asked.


    "The force that keeps us firmly grounded," Hermione exined simply.


    "Isn''t that obvious?" Ron was puzzled.


    "Lower your voice, don''t attract any creatures," Harry warned.


    For the next ten minutes, they encountered quicksand traps. Ron remembered Hermione''s previously used levitation charm, breezing through. Next, they encountered a narrow bridge over an abyss instead of water, where the levitation charm failed. Harry crossed effortlessly, "This is much easier than Quidditch."


    Ron was a bit slower but sessfully crossed. When it was Hermione''s turn, she hesitated, "I... uh, I''ll try..." She trembled, peeking down and quickly recoiled.


    Harry and Ron exchanged nces¡ªHermione seemed to use flying brooms rarely.


    "Don''t worry, it''s not dangerous¡ª"


    "Yeah, you''ve attended flying sses and passed the exam!" Ron tried to recall, seeking Hermione''s help.


    "It''s Nona Leberth!" Hermione said, "Looks like she chose to separate from her teammates, embarking on her own adventure. Her speed is remarkable; we need to hurry!"


    They jogged, encountering two dead ends before navigating a narrow and rugged path where a colossal creature blocked the way.


    "It''s a sphinx," Hermione whispered.


    They nervously continued, the white mes illuminating its body. With a beautiful woman''s head, it seemed lost in thought. Upon hearing movement, it raised its head and took a couple of steps forward, speaking in a deep, hoarse voice.


    "You''re close to the stairs leading to the next level. The fastest way is through me. All you need¡ª"


    "What season is the shortest?" Hermione interrupted.


    The sphinx''s beautiful eyes blinked. Hermione continued, "What''s something that''s clearly yours but everyone can use?"


    "Umm¡ª"


    "There are always lies in the newspaper, but what''s something that''s always true?"


    The sphinx fell into contemtion again.


    Hermione waved them over, carefully passing by, the sphinx ignoring her. Harry and Ron followed suit, breathing cautiously, until they covered a considerable distance, relieved to see the staircase to the sixth maze level.


    "Hermione, how did you know?" Harry gasped.


    "Hagrid mentioned it to us, don''t you remember? If you can quickly answer three riddles, it confuses them. I wasn''t entirely sure..."


    Outside the maze castle.


    "Someone''s catching up to Potter''s group; it''s Vagado''s champions. However, Potter''s group entered


    the sixth level first, but it doesn''t prove much. Nona Leberth is too fast; she''s shielded with many protective spells, cast by her teammates."


    "Nona took a detour, the sixth level is within reach! Maybe she''ll beat them to the seventh level, putting Potter''s team at a disadvantage," Bagman shouted. "Other champions are gathering, mostly on the fourth level. Potter''s initial advantage is quickly diminishing. Who will im the championship? Let''s wait and see!"


    ...


    The seventh maze level was only half the size of a school auditorium, eerily empty. At the maze''s centery a stone. On it rested a trophy.


    Felix sat on the stone, murmuring, "The trophy indeed had a spell cast on it. It didn''t change its original destination; it added a middle point... a clever way, nearly undetectable without careful scrutiny."


    "Yes, Professor," a muffled voice responded from his hat.


    >


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 Chapter 485: The Maze Castle - The Trophy Within Reach

    Chapter 485: The Maze Castle - The Trophy Within Reach


    Chapter 485: The Maze Castle (3) - The Trophy Within Reach


    "Is the next part a free-for-all?"


    "Only three people made it up. Nona got the trophy, I¡ªI stopped her, then Viktor came up, and finally, Cedric. We used the sixth-level maze as our battleground for the final duel."


    "I understand."


    Silence enveloped them. "Professor¡ªwill you really be okay? I saw it with my own eyes¡ª"


    "Ah, sorry to worry you. The new abilities I''ve gained recently, I haven''t told anyone about them."


    "But¡ªside effects from the potions¡ª?"


    "Not a big issue, just a bit of weakness for a while, but," Felix hesitated, "I might be asked for a chat."


    "A chat?""It means cooperating with an investigation. My suspicion''s too high, whether it''s the theft of the time-turner or what''s going to happen tonight... Fudge finally got a chance."


    "But that''s not your fault at all!"


    "Don''t worry too much, Miss Granger. I''ve made some preparations in advance. If things progress as normal, Fudge will have to stay in that position for a while longer. Tonight is a test for both him and me; if he chooses wrong, he''ll be ousted."


    "Oh¡ªalright. What can I do then?"


    "Work on improving your skills quickly. Even though Voldemort is destined to fail, there''ll certainly be a lengthy war because of the Horcruxes. You know, in troubled times, strength matters the most. And also, help me with a small favor."


    "What is it?" the voice from the hat was eager.


    "I''ve stashed some contraband in a ring. To avoid the Ministry''s confiscation, I need you to keep it safe for me."


    "No problem, Professor, I''ll make sure to hide it well."


    "The contents aren''t overly important, just a bit sensitive... I''ve deliberately left some magical documents; you can take a look. Just in case..."


    "In case of what?" The hat moved uneasily.


    Felix fell briefly silent before smiling, "Of course, in case of danger during my absence."


    Just then, Felix lifted his head. "Someone''sing." He stood, pointed his wand at himself, and his body blurred, bing transparent, melding into the surroundings. He silently moved to the corner.


    A sleek figure dashed in, incredibly fast. In the well-lit seventh-level maze, Nona Leberth spotted the glittering trophy at a nce. She transformed into a cheetah, agilely turned, grasped the handle of the trophy with her mouth, and dashed out like a gust of wind.


    The sixth-level maze no longer had the twelve-foot-tall hedges almost reaching the ceiling, now reced by clumps of waist-high shrubbery trimmed into elongated shapes.


    Harry eyed a stone statue, having spent a while on the sixth level. Except for encountering a group of disguised big-brained creatures and rabbit-sized cloak squirrels, they hadn''t faced much danger.


    It was their first real encounter with these big-brained creatures. Initially, they thought these "round stones" were part of the maze until the trio''s inevitably lowered spirits triggered Harry''s mental closure, making him realize the issue.


    Harry cast the Cutting Charm; his wand emitted a golden stream, shaping into a longsword. He used the t of the de on those stones; they immediately bounced up, their shiny gray heads bouncing around, and when they moved, their hairy bodies became quite conspicuous.


    Ron also shook off his despondency, kicking thestgging stone creature. These one-foot-tall beings had poor bnce; a nudge made their huge brains tilt forward. After trying a few times, the stone creatures simply curled up and rolled away like stones.


    "Weird creatures, hard to believe Scamander''s kettle noises scared them off." Ron remarked.


    Later, they encountered cloak squirrels standing on statues, a rabbit-sized magical creature resembling a squirrel. Initially, this critter''s appearance shed with Hagrid''s taste: its rabbit-like furry head and long ears were red, while its soft "cor" gleamed in a dazzling gold, appearing both adorable and friendly.


    The first time Harry saw it, he almost fell for its cute looks. The consecutive challenges kept him in a tense state; cautiously approaching, these cute creatures immediately turned, disying their extended tails¡ªa cloak of numerous spikes, emitting a threatening sound.


    "Don''t provoke them; getting stuck with these things is a nightmare. Compared to them, goblins and kneazles are friendly," Ron said disgustedly.


    "Do you know about them?" Harry asked.


    "Fred and George caught one," Ron wore a pained expression, "they wanted to extract the spikes from it, those you see... Though not poisonous, once affected, it can make you wish you''d passed out."


    He shook his head, firmly pulling Harry away. Harry didn''t inquire further; he guessed it''d lead to a dismal tale.


    At that moment, Hermione recalled their details.


    "Cloak squirrels, renowned for their cute appearance and dangerous tails. They have two ways of attacking: one is when strangers approach, they whip their tails abruptly. Many first-timers, out of curiosity, lean closer, with obvious consequences... Their spikes enhance pain and can make one utterly miserable. The second attack method involves wrapping their bodies with their tails, bing a ball of thorns that shoots like a missile¡ªthese creatures possess astonishing bouncing abilities."


    Harry shivered slightly, unable to resist looking back at the cloak squirrel, which had already withdrawn its tail, two small hands sped in front, ears flicking cutely.


    "These little guys hold grudges and are a bit neurotic. Once provoked, they''ll chase and attack until the spikes on their tails fall off before they flee. But don''t worry, those spikes will grow back in a while..."


    "Thank you, Hermione, for reminding me of that." Ron said gloomily.


    "Oh, um, we better avoid them," Hermione fidgeted, looking around, "speaking of which, the sixth-level maze seems like a blend of a chessboard and a garden, filled with bushes and statues. It''s much brighter..."


    "It is peculiar, why rece hedges with low shrubs?" Ron was equally curious.


    "This is a natural battleground," Harry suddenly spoke.


    Ron and Hermione turned frightened faces. "The light provides visibility, stones can serve as barriers, the shrubbery creates maneuvering spaces... Yes, that''s what I believe." Harry said, his eyes suddenly brightening, darting off in a direction.


    "What''s happening?"


    "I saw Nona Leberth!"


    Ron and Hermione chased after him swiftly. They witnessed a figure swiftly jumping among the shrubbery. Agitated cloak squirrels curled up, attempting to attack Nona, but she had already left.


    One dizzy cloak squirrel charged towards Harry. "Stun!" Harry''s spell hit the squirrel, and it fell from the air, bouncing twice on the ground.


    They ran several steps, and ahead, it opened up. It was a circr za, steps at the center connecting to the upper level¡ªthe seventh level where the trophy was stored.


    "She''s emerged!" Ron yelled.


    A cheetah agilely leaped from the steps. Harry, Ron, and Hermione raised their wands simultaneously.


    The cheetah nced at them, then turned and fled in the opposite direction. Just then


    , she tripped and tumbled despite the urgency, and Harry found the action somewhatical.


    "Is she out of energy?" Harry guessed as he immediately ran after her.


    The next moment, he knew the answer. A colossal voice reverberated through the entire maze castle. All the champions instinctively looked up, listening to the deafening sound, "Fearless warriors, forge ahead! No matter how many difficulties arise, they can''t knock you down... To win courage and honor, I''ll await you at the finish line, brewing up a pot full of love potion..."


    "Oh my goodness!" Hermione covered her head.


    Harry cast a muffling charm for himself; the thunderous noise diminished. He pushed through the difort and approached the trophy. But Nona was in trouble; her teammates obviously hadn''t blocked her hearing. She looked dazed, constantly shaking her head.


    Finally, the song stopped.


    The magical creatures, cloak squirrels, and bouncing grass depicted in this chapter were submitted by readers from the "Mothman"munity and brought fascinating elements to the story.


    >


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 Chapter 486: Triumph in the Maze Castle

    Chapter 486: Triumph in the Maze Castle


    Harry raised his wand at the pained expression of the leopard on the ground¡ªher acute hearing had been causing her distress. Hesitating whether to act, he kept reminding himself it was apetition; if they obtained the trophy, they''d win. But another voice whispered that taking advantage was wrong, especially after Nona had given him an amulet earlier...


    At that moment, Nona regained consciousness. She shot a deep look at Harry, grabbed the trophy, and bolted.


    Desperate to stop her, Harry yelled, "Disarm!" His spell missed. Frustrated, he berated himself for his thoughts. This was apetition, and he had just missed a golden opportunity. Determined, he pursued, casting spells, but Nona skillfully dodged, jumping back and forth.


    A stunning spell hit her, and Harry felt a surge of joy. However, the leopard''s body exploded into a bright light, unaffected, disappearing into the bushes.


    "Where is she?" Ron and Hermione caught up, panting.


    "She got away!" Harry sat, pounding the ground. "I shouldn''t have held back."


    Ron nced around, perplexed. A lone cloak-wearing squirrel poked its head out of the bushes. Hermione thought for a moment, then decisively said, "There''s still a chance. Let''s head that way." She gestured in the opposite direction.


    Harry looked at her expectantly. "What''s the n?"


    "She must take the trophy to the next level and meet her teammates. But her escape direction is opposite to the entrance of the fifth level. Maybe we can intercept her!" Hermione exined.Harry wished he could hug Hermione.


    "What are we waiting for?"


    They dashed back. "Left¡ªright¡ªno, right!" Hermione kept pointing the right way. "Almost there."


    A figure darted out diagonally.


    Harry''s eyes widened. It was Nona Leberth! But then he realized they were too far, unable to catch up.


    A sharp birdcall rang out, and something, engulfed in mes, shot past him, covering hundreds of feet in the blink of an eye. Harry recognized it¡ªit was Hermione''s ancient magic!


    The firebird, with its long feathers, blocked the leopard''s path before the entrance. Cautiously, she eyed the firebird. As it showered mes, blocking her way, Nona Leberth reverted to human form reluctantly.


    No one made a move.


    Nona stood, tossing the trophy far away, looking eager.


    "You can''t take us three down," Harry stated calmly.


    Nona chuckled, raising her hands. "That''s not necessarily true," she huskily replied. Her hands intertwined suddenly.


    "Armor protection!" Harry instantly cast the spell, sparks flying around the magical barrier.


    "Be cautious of her gestures for casting spells!" a bted warning came.


    ttering steps! Someone dashed from the fifth level¡ªit was Krum. He spotted Nona and the trophy on the ground, wand raised, shouting, "Trophy, fly!" Harry cancelled the armor spell, shooting a red beam from his wand to send the trophy flying far away.


    "What¡ª" Krum shouted, disbelief evident, then turned to Harry''s trio, gasping, quickly moving towards Nona.


    "Are you cooperating?" Nona looked at Krum.


    Krum, with a grim face, nced at Hermione but remained silent.


    After a standoff, a third person rushed in¡ªCedric. The sight stunned him too. All eyes focused on him. Harry was initially relieved but realized this wasn''t the Room of Requirement; they were opponents now.


    Cedric hesitated, taking a step toward Harry.


    "Fairpetition?" Krum grumbled.


    Cedric paused, torn. He wanted to secure the trophy for his team, but helping Harry''s team might be the better way. After a long moment, he walked toward Harry.


    "Well said, fairpetition." Harry suddenly spoke up. "Three on three, fair enough, isn''t it?"


    Cedric looked at Harry, astonished.


    "I want to win fairly," Harry said shortly.


    "Exactly, we don''t want people gossiping behind our backs," Ron added, standing with Harry.


    Hermione waved her wand, and the firebird settled in front of her, its long beak and golden eyes fixed on them. "Three on three, no escape, the winner decides the trophy''s fate. Agreed?"


    Everyone assented.


    Outside the Maze Castle, the audience held their breath. The entire screen switched to the seventh level, constantly shifting among the perspectives of six individuals, enveloped in solemnity.


    "Absolutely thrilling! Not only did the champions offer us an exceptional match, but they also disyed remarkable moral standards," Ludo Bagman eximed enthusiastically. "It''s my honor to preside over this contest."


    "Allow me to introduce thebatants: Potter, Weasley, and Granger form a team with exceptional teamwork. Despite being from three different teams, let''s not forget, they are the leaders of their respective teams!"


    One second, two seconds, three seconds¡ª


    All six figures on the screen moved simultaneously, and spells flew!


    The battle went on for a while¡ª


    Harry dodged a spell, retaliated swiftly, hitting a statue. Krum was startled and retreated into the statue. But another spell came from a diagonal direction. "Armor protection!" Harry shouted loudly, and a magical shield rippled around him.


    It held, and Harry''s heart raced. "Hermione, can''t your firebird do something?" he panted.


    "Oh, no, this magic''s too powerful. ording to the rules, it can''t be used to harm people¡ª" Hermione grimaced.


    "Then let it attack the statue!" Harry yelled.


    "That makes sense."


    "Wait, I have an idea." Ron''s body shook violently. "It''s worth a shot."


    "How are you going to do it?" Hermione asked.


    "Disarming Charm."


    "No, it''s too risky¡ª"


    "Let me." Harry realized Ron''s idea was brilliant; he wondered why he hadn''t thought of it. Harry leaned out and cast the Disarming Charm, hitting the statue, causing a burst of red light.


    "No," Ron declined, holding the Irond Curse, ncing at the opposite side, then quickly retreating. "Listen, you''re our backup. If even you fail, Hermione and I won''t stand a chance against the three of them."


    Harry hesitated.


    "Don''t hesitate. Who knows if someone else will show up in the next second? The issue now is choosing a target¡ª"


    "Krum." Harry agreed.


    "Nona Leberth," Hermione said.


    They exchanged nces. Ron said, "Let''s go for Nona; she seems farther away from the other two."


    The circling firebird turned into golden mes, instantly enveloping a statue, burning the stone and air. The warriors behind stumbled back.


    "To your left!" Hermione shouted.


    "I see it." Ron concentrated, keeping his eyes fixed on Nona Leberth''s left side. If she attacked from there, he could flip into the bushes... His body suddenly disappeared, reappearing slightly disoriented, but disregarding that, he raised his wand in an awkward position.


    "Stupefy!" Ron shouted loudly.


    Time seemed to freeze. Nona quickly turned, looking incredulously at her chest, slowly falling to the ground, a stunned


    expression on her face. Ron clumsily lunged into the bushes¡ªsess! He grinned widely,ughing silently, darting deeper into the bushes.


    The rustling sound snapped him out of his jubtion. Lifting his head, two cloak-wearing squirrels stared at him, silently turning away, raising their tails...


    Meanwhile, Krum and Cedric felt bewildered. They knew that using the Disillusionment Charm inbat was impossible. Only two people could break that limitation currently: Harry and Professor Felix Harp.


    In the brief dy, Ron slipped into the bushes. Krum raised his wand, but the next moment, a burst of golden mes exploded three feet in front of him. He hurriedly dodged, the mes condensing into a firebird, gently pping its wings without further attacks. Hermione... Krum felt a mix of emotions. Soon after, he felt a tingling sensation, and slowly fell.


    Harry, panting, appeared behind him. He had used the Disillusionment Charm; the opportunity was rare... The next moment, he disappeared again, now behind Cedric. Cedric swiftly turned, their wands facing each other¡ª


    "You''ve won," Cedric said, dropping his wand, sitting on the ground, panting heavily.


    >


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 Chapter 487: The End of the Maze Castle

    Chapter 487: The End of the Maze Castle


    Harry was about to say something when suddenly he heard Ron''s desperate cry. Turning back, he saw Ron emerging from the bushes, clutching his face, followed by two furry hedgehogs ¨C cloak hogs, their feet and noses peeking out, leaping high andnding on Ron''s back, eliciting another cry from him.


    "Stone them all!"


    "Knock them out!"


    Harry and Hermione cast spells simultaneously, hitting the two cloak hogs.


    "What happened to him?" Cedric asked, puzzled, as Ron groaned in pain.


    "He got a p from the cloak hogs'' tails," Hermione exined, fishing in her pocket for quite some time before pulling out a vial of potion.


    "You have some small quills on you... need to remove them. I''m not sure if it''ll hurt," Hermione said, plucking a tiny quill from Ron''s neck.


    Ron let out a loud yell.


    "Hold on..." Hermione''s fingers trembled as she pulled out another quill, causing Ron to scream even louder. She looked to Harry for help, and he approached."I''ll lend a hand." Cedric picked up his wand and stood.


    "The cup," Ron muttered incoherently.


    "What?" Harry asked, bewildered.


    "I think he means the trophy," Cedric chuckled. "Trophy,e here!" Pointing to a distant trophy, it flew into his hand. He nced at it with mixed emotions before reluctantly passing it to Harry.


    Harry hesitated for a moment.


    "Take it, it''s rightfully yours," Cedric said.


    Harry epted it and, after a thoughtful pause, said, "You''re a great opponent."


    Cedric grinned, "As are you, Harry."


    Meanwhile, Hermione, impatiently, said, "Could you two help a bit? We''re still in the middle of thepetition. It''s been ages, and others haven''t shown up yet."


    Cedric felt a bit awkward, rubbing his nose.


    "Well, I suppose they''re tangled up with the fluffy grass..."


    "Why thith happening?" Ron slurred.


    Cedric exined, "Roger and I met on the fourth floor and then found Collins on the fifth. So, we teamed up. That level had bizarre terrains..." Harry nodded; they encountered several themselves.


    "As we approached the entrance to the next level, we identally stumbled upon the domain of fluffy grass. These magical creaturesck blood and bones; they look like a big puff of fur at first nce and can split at will... but it''s a misunderstanding. They love to gather, often rolling into a bunch. They''re rted to the puffapod. Like nts, they roll wherever the wind blows. Their hunting method involves waiting for prey toe close, then rapidly extending their fur to entangle and trap you entirely..."


    "So, Collins and Roger got stuck?" Harry interrupted Cedric''s lengthy exnation.


    "Just Roger," Cedric rified. "Initially, we didn''t pay much attention. Though the fur of the fluffy grass is incredibly tough, as long as you don''t struggle or make noise, it won''t contract further, simr to a devil''s snare..."


    "There must''ve been an ident," Harry asserted confidently.


    "Yeah," Cedric sighed. "Actually, if they''d taken the time to calm it down, it would''ve settled. But two others from Vagadu came over¡ªone turned into an elephant, the other rode on it, making the floor thump... Collins tried to persuade them to stop because there was a narrow passage inside, but they didn''t listen. They thought we were deliberately hindering them..."


    "Their suspicion was valid; the trophy''s song made everyone anxious..."


    Harry could vividly imagine the situation.


    "They got trapped naturally, and because they struggled too hard, some fluffy grass got blown around, blocking all nearby corridors. I had to split from Collins; he was soothing the grass at one end while I reached the sixth floor..."


    So, now all the other champions, except them, were soothing the fluffy grass? Harry envisioned the bizarre scene.


    After a while, Ron''s quills were removed, Hermione applied a healing solution to his face, and his wounds healed quickly. During this time, the trophy sang twice more, and Harry had to temporarily set it aside.


    ...


    "Well then... see youter," Cedric sat on the ground, leaning against a statue, with Nona Leberth and Krum asleep nearby. Ron and Hermione held the trophy on either side, and as soon as Harry ced his hand on it, the portkey''s function activated.


    Harry paused and extended an invitation to Cedric, "Why don''t we leave together? The rule only requires assembling a team; it doesn''t say we can''t add others."


    Shaking his head with a smile, Cedric replied, "I''ll wait for my teammates."


    "Alright," Harry said, turning his head to look at Ron and Hermione, both covered in dirt. He guessed he probably looked just as disheveled, but they all had excited expressions on their faces. "Ready? The portkey''s not a pleasant experience."


    "Is this thest bit of bitterness before receiving the award?" Ron asked cheerfully.


    Harry grinned too, ced his hand on the trophy, and felt as if a hook had pulled his navel. The seventh level of the maze vanished before his eyes, and he caught onest glimpse of Cedric smiling and waving at them.


    Thepetition ended sessfully; they had won the championship. All Harry wanted now was a deep sleep, preferably to wake up and find it was already summer vacation.


    ...


    "Atst..." Felix sighed. Clutching his hat, his figure abruptly vanished. When he reappeared, he was standing on a dpidated path, in a secluded vige. Not far from him, a small church stood darkly, its outline visible in the darkness.


    There were vague shadows in the distance.


    "Is that the graveyard?"


    "Yes, Professor," Hermione hidden in the hat confirmed. Felix rested his hand on the hat, bent down, and turned it over. Hermione cautiously jumped out, still adorned with a chain erged several times, almost as tall as her.


    Under the shrinking spell''s effect, Hermione slowly grew back to her original size.


    "This is your beaded bag." Felix took out a small bag from his clothing and handed it to Hermione. "Shrinking spells do affect these magical items, as does the Time-Turner... Oh, and the ring." He removed a ring from his hand and gave it to Hermione.


    "Keep it for now."


    "Professor, do you really think the Ministry woulde after you? How dare they?"


    "Just being cautious," Felix shrugged. "We''re parting ways. Estimate your time, use the Disillusionment Charm and other concealment spells to hide. Go over when the time is right... You''re capable of it, Miss Granger."


    "Understood!"


    Felix smiled slightly, turned, and walked towards the graveyard.


    >


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 Chapter 488: Felixs Death and Return - (1)

    Chapter 488: Felix''s Death and Return - (1)


    Chapter 488: Felix''s Death and Return (Ten Thousand Words)


    Howling winds and swirling colors enveloped Harry, Ron, and Hermione, dragging them forward until Harry''s feet touched solid ground once more. They found themselves in apletely unfamiliar ce.


    It was a graveyard.


    Seated on the ground, the three felt deeply shocked.


    "Where are we?" Ron asked. "I don''t see anything familiar. Are we in a graveyard?" Weeds grew around, ck stone bs stood erect all around. Harry shook his head, scanning around. Behind a tall sequoia, he spotted the outline of a building.


    To the left was a hill. Harry could make out a quaint old house on the slope.


    "Looks like something went wrong with the trophy''s transportation," Harry said, searching around. The trophyy several yards away from them.


    "Would the Ministry make such a basic error?" Ron asked in disbelief.


    "Oh, Harry, look over there!" Hermione pointed anxiously in a direction."Wind?" Ron guessed, the night wind had started blowing.


    "It''s people, pick up your wands," Harry said decisively. They tensely squinted into the deep darkness as three figures made their way toward them between the graves. Were they nearby Muggles? Harry pondered, but quickly dismissed the idea; they were all wearing wizarding cloaks.


    "Halt! Who are you?" Harry shouted at the approaching figures.


    Laughter fragmented on the wind; this was not a friendly sign. Harry raised his wand, but they halted at a distance of a dozen feet, reaching up to remove their hoods. Harry, Ron, and Hermione rxed a bit. Harry noticed the person in the middle had unnaturally pale skin, almost like someone suffering from a dreadful disease.


    The person on the far left revealed his face. "Barty Crouch Jr.!" Hermione shrieked. Harry was startled, forgetting about the person in the middle, shifting his gaze leftwards. Memories from a Christmas night half a year ago flooded his mind. "It''s really you!"


    "Potter," said the younger Crouch, grinning widely, "you should call me ''Professor.'' After all, I taught you so much."


    Ron beside him tugged on his sleeve. "H-Harry¡ª"


    He didn''t need to say it. Harry also noticed a pair of eyes brimming with malice, emanating from the person in the middle. As he removed the cloak, his nose ttened like a snake, with nostrils as narrow slits... Harry felt a sense of familiarity in this appearance; the person used unnaturally pale, elongated hands to touch his forehead, revealing crimson eyes.


    Not a trace of warmth in those eyes.


    "Voldemort?" he shouted aloud.


    "How dare you speak the master''s name!" Barty Crouch Jr. angrily drew his wand, but a hand stopped him. A chilling, sharp voice followed, "They are my guests, brought back by me. Barty, I permit their rudeness this time," said Voldemort.


    "Master, shall I handle those two nuisances?" Yaxley humbly asked, bowing his head. "I emerged from the maze castle to offer my help."


    Harry, Ron, and Hermione hadn''t recovered from the immense shock. The night air felt like piercing ice, a chilling sensation spread from their lungs to their whole bodies.


    However, Voldemort showed no reaction to Yaxley''s words. His eyes, red and unable to discern pupils from whites, lingered on Harry, exuding greed, hatred, and a hint... of fear?


    Standing on the far left, Barty Crouch Jr. returned to his gentlemanly facade,zily ying with his wand, casting a disdainful nce at Yaxley¡ªwhat did he know, wanting to rece his position? Crouch licked his lips, disying a sickly smile.


    "So, you''re back?" Harry stepped forward, shielding Ron and Hermione behind him, bravely locking eyes with Voldemort. He needed to attract the attention, create an opportunity for Hermione and Ron to escape, inform the professors, inform Headmaster Dumbledore.


    But his heart sank, plunging as though into an abyss. A voice told him, the chances were too slim. A year ago, Crouch was stronger than all three of thembined, not to mention Voldemort, who was now resurrected.


    Harry stared into Voldemort''s eyes, trying to disy his fearlessness. Yet, his scar unexpectedly red up violently, more intense than ever before. His head felt like it was about to explode. One hand clutched his scar, while the other gripped his wand tightly. The excruciating pain made him convulse on the ground, a nauseating turmoil surged through his stomach, even suspecting he might die any moment.


    He heard Ron and Hermione shouting something, followed by sharp whistling sounds and bodies hitting the ground heavily.


    Then, a sudden coolness spread through his brain, swiftly alleviating his agony. It was lumency.


    "Tsk, tsk... your friends are quite concerned about you," Voldemort said, devoid of any emotion.


    Harry opened his eyes, seeing stars, his vision blurred, remnants of intense pain lingering. It took several seconds to focus on Voldemort''s face so close¡ªalmost a corpse''s color, bone-white. He had no hair on his head, vivid red eyes appearing sinister in the darkness, pupils regressed to two slits, like snake''s eyes.


    What did he just say? My friends? Harry had a dreadful suspicion, no... absolutely not... he struggled to get up, each movement piercingly painful, yet he didn''t release the wand in his hand.


    If Ron and Hermione... he dared not entertain the possibility, his stomach churned again, fingers cut by the stones from gripping the wand tightly. Harry gritted his teeth, the pain providing some relief. Struggling to rise, he red at Voldemort with eyes full of hatred.


    A cold, sharp, mockingugh responded to him.


    He staggered to his feet, shook his head vigorously. Voldemort silently stepped back two paces, still ring at him with those loathsome eyes.


    Then, Harry heard a faint moan. It was Ron! Harry felt a surge of joy; he hadn''t died, thank goodness! But what about Hermione? He couldn''t hear any movement from her position on his left; it was deathly silent. Harry didn''t dare turn to confirm.


    "You''ve been too heavy-handed, Yaxley, that girl could''ve died," Voldemort spoke softly, "Barty did well."


    "Ma-Master...?" Yaxley lifted his head, puzzled, while Barty Crouch Jr. sneered silently beside him.


    "I have use for all three of them," Voldemort spoke softly, his eyes still on Harry, "but those two... not only are they the best friends of the ''great savior'' Harry Potter, but also¡ªording to Barty¡ªthey''re both close to Felix Harp?"


    "Yes, Master," Barty Crouch Jr. said deferentially, "especially that Muggle girl. She became Harp''s assistant in her second year."


    Voldemort sneered twice.


    "Pure-blood families have fallenpletely. Their descendants have be useless, allowing vile Muggle blood to rise above them."


    He started pacing, back and forth in front of Harry. Harry stood, eyes fixed, gripping his wand tightly. If he used a spell now against Voldemort, then summoned the trophy with


    the io charm... but no, both Crouch and the Death Eater were watching him.


    Harry was frantic. Voldemort had spared him temporarily, not out of kindness, but with a more sinister n in mind. Harry''s mind raced; surprisingly, even in his weakened state, the lumency was still working, preventing him from falling into despair.


    "I''ve been eagerly awaiting this, meeting with the ''great savior'' Harry Potter..." Voldemort softly said. Harry''s peripheral vision followed his slender, pale fingers, loosely holding a wand, as if any Disarming Charm could make the wand slip away.


    Harry was itching to act.


    Voldemort was too arrogant, considering himselfpletely defenseless. Could this be his vulnerability?


    "...I''ve been looking forward to being reborn through his blood, breaking free from the prophecy''s bonds, and then killing him. But my n failed," Voldemort regretted, bare feet trampling over soil and grass, rustling faintly, "Hogwarts is more dangerous than thirteen years ago, besides that Mudblood and the Muggle''s protector, Albus Dumbledore... there''s also Felix Harp, more radical, more proactive than the elderly Dumbledore..."


    "I had to abandon the best n¡ªafter almost losing my only loyal servant," Voldemort stopped, his snake-like eyes narrowing as he spoke unpleasantly. Harry tried to keep his focus on Voldemort''s hands without making it too obvious.


    "So I settled for the next best thing... You have no idea how frustrated I was, Harry Potter. I tasted defeat once again."


    "Besides, you''re wi¡ª" Harry shouted, but Voldemort abruptly waved his hand.


    "Crack!"


    The wand fell to the ground. Harry widened his eyes, unable to follow Voldemort''s movement. His reaction was too quick, as if he had been anticipating it. Voldemort slowly turned, stared at him for a few seconds, and raised his wand murmuring, "Crucio!"


    Harry felt every bone in his body burning. His head felt like it was splitting along the scar, his eyes bulging, ready to burst under immense pressure. His body contorted in the opposite direction, as if it would snap in two. He wished for it to stop... wished to pass out... wished for it all to end...


    Then, Harry felt a slight reduction in the pain, a warmth from his pocket. Two forces were shielding him: one was lumency, the other was the knot gifted by Nona. Though both were weak, they were effective.


    Voldemort''s serpent-like face twisted into a cruel, satisfied smile. His wand remained pointed at Harry, but time seemed indefinite.


    The torment finally ceased.


    Harry feltpletely drained, sweat soaking his back, breathing heavily. His head still against the ground, he sensed Voldemort''s delight. Why did torturing him make him so happy?


    Harry couldn''t grasp this emotion, but he was certain of one thing¡ªhe hadn''t made a mistake¡ªespecially since he felt no joy in himself.


    "Bind them," Voldemort softlymanded.


    Someone approached. Harry''s face was in the mud, the wand nearby but out of reach, a rope entangling him as he was dragged along the ground. He caught sight of Ron and Hermione simrly restrained¡ªRon''s leg unnaturally twisted, his face pale, Hermione limp, as if lifeless.


    Then, they were hoisted up by the ropes, their backs against a cold surface¡ªHarry realized it was a ck tombstone. He saw the person before him, Barty Crouch Jr., one hand adorned with a silver glove.


    "Recognize this, Potter?" Crouch nervously licked his lips. "This is the reward from the Dark Lord to me." Harry red, but Crouch remained unaffected. The ropes wound around Harry relentlessly, from neck to ankles.


    Crouch departed.


    "Extend your arm," Voldemortzily said. Yaxley and Crouch simultaneously extended their left hands, revealing a vivid red tattoo. Voldemort pressed his long, pale finger on Crouch''s arm, turning the mark pitch ck. Crouch emitted a faint gasp.


    Voldemort straightened, scanning the dark graveyard.


    "How many had the courage to return after sensing it? How many were foolish enough not to?" he murmured.


    Voldemort resumed pacing, asionally ncing at the graveyard. Harry didn''t know what was happening, but he sensed trouble. He struggled to think of a way out¡ªApparition? Impossible without a wand, especially with two others by his side.


    He couldn''t escape alone.


    Wait... Professor Snape? Harry''s eyes widened as he desperately grasped at that glimmer of hope, thoughts racing to anything rted to Snape... He finally remembered¡ªthe Sign of the Deathly Hallows.


    In his third year, Snape had mentioned that their Hallows were specially charmed to contact him proactively, a precaution against potential Animagus Peter.


    But Harry''s hopes faded; he didn''t have the Hallows on him. Yet... someone else might.


    He strained to look left¡ªHermione remained unconscious.


    "Hermione..." Harry whispered, but the gap between them was too wide. He was tightly bound, and his struggle drew Voldemort''s attention.


    "Concerned for your friend, Potter?" Voldemort softly spoke, pacing closer. "Though just a mere Mudblood, her use is greater than you imagine..." His gaze swept over Hermione, Ron, and Harry, mockingly adding, "Muggle-born, half-blood, and pure-blood¡ªa dramatic ensemble!"


    "Revive her!" He pointed his wand at Hermione. She weakly opened her eyes, seeing Voldemort nearby, her body recoiling, aggravating her injuries and eliciting a painful moan.


    Voldemort, however, disregarded her agony, turning his attention back to Harry.


    "I believe letting your best two friends witness your demise would be fitting," he said cruelly, a savage smile on his face. "After that, shall it be the pure-blood killing the Mudblood, or the Mudblood killing the pure-blood? Or perhaps, both at the hands of this little boy... I haven''t decided yet, but I''m sure it''ll make quite the spectacle."


    "You''re... dreaming," Ron grimaced.


    Voldemort turned to him, sneering. "Weasley? A disgusting family... Crucio!"


    Ron screamed in agony.


    "No¡ª"


    "Don''t¡ª"


    Harry and the just-awakened Hermione yelled, but Voldemort''s smile grew wider. "I relish this feeling, the power over life and death..." He continued to torment Ron with his wand, yet this time, the torture was shorter. Voldemort stopped of his own ord, scanning around.


    The air suddenly filled with rustling cloaks. Figures emerged from every shadowy corner¡ªwizards in hoods, faces concealed. Carefully they approached, Voldemort stepping forward, silently waiting.


    A Death Eater knelt, crawled to Voldemort, and kissed the hem of his robes.


    More Death Eaters followed suit, including Crouch and Yaxley. Only Harry, Ron, and Hermione remained.


    "Wee, Death Eaters," Voldemort calmly spoke, delivering a speech on his return. Harry wasn''t paying much attention, instead signaling Hermione subtly. She hadn''t noticed; injured¡ª


    "I sense guilt... no one sought me out proactively... didn''t you all know I had taken measures to prevent my death?" Voldemort''s voice echoed. "Perhaps you thought a stronger power overcame Voldemort, overcame your master... like hiding behind that old man at Hogwarts? Or the seemingly lucky boy in front of you?"


    The kneeling Death Eaters trembled when they looked at Harry, gasping collectively.


    "Lucius, surprised? I heard your son and Harry Potter were in the same year?"


    "M-Master," Lucius Malfoy''s voice emerged from the sea of Death Eaters, "the Malfoy family has always been loyal to you. Draco and Potter are enemies at school! Like me, he hates Muggles, hates Potter, hates Dumbledore."


    Lucius raised his head. "Master, your return is a relief¡ª"


    "Lucius," Voldemortzily said, "my cunning friend, hypocrisy runs in your veins. Like everyone else, you never tried to seek me out... But your performance at the Quidditch World Cup was intriguing. I believe... you still enjoy leading in the torture of Muggles? Despite your earlier disappointments... I hope you''ll serve me more faithfully."


    "Of course, Master, of course... Your generosity, thank you¡ª"


    Voldemort proceeded to name others, even those absent. The kneeling Death Eaters awaited their fate. Harry continued tomunicate subtly with Hermione. He seeded


    , seeing a faint nod from her.


    "Weasley... isn''t it curious?" Voldemort hissed, slowly approaching Ron, whose breaths were ragged. "Being the youngest of your siblings... most expendable, perhaps?"


    "Leave him!" Harry''s voice trembled. "You''ve done enough!"


    Voldemort chuckled, but before he could speak further, a distant rumble echoed. The ground trembled beneath their feet. The Death Eaters exchanged uneasy nces.


    Voldemort raised his wand,manding his followers to stay put. But the tremors intensified. The ground cracked, a fissure forming, rapidly expanding. A blinding light emerged from the crack, engulfing Voldemort and his followers.


    Chaos erupted. The Death Eaters struggled, attempting to escape the escting pandemonium.


    "Harry!" Hermione shouted, frantic.


    Harry strained against the ropes, desperation in his eyes. The ropes loosened, giving him enough space to move his hand. He reached for the wand, uttering, "Diffindo!"


    The ropes snapped. He turned to Ron, freeing him next. The fissure widened, swallowing the Death Eaters one by one.


    Hermione joined Harry and Ron, her wand already in hand.


    "Confringo!"


    The tombstone exploded, debris flying in all directions. Harry, Ron, and Hermione ducked, shielding themselves. The ground continued to quake.


    Then, as swiftly as it started, the light and chaos vanished, leaving the graveyard eerily silent.


    Harry looked around, finding himself, Ron, and Hermione alone, the Death Eaters vanished. But Voldemort? He was nowhere to be seen.


    "Where did they go?" Ron panted.


    "I don''t know," Harry admitted, scanning the horizon. "But we need to find out."


    >


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 Chapter 489: Testimony of Death

    Chapter 489: Testimony of Death


    "Professor, how are you¡ª"


    "I''m fine." Felix struggled up from the ground, Harry quickly fetching him a chair to sit. He closed his eyes, panting lightly. The three looked worriedly at Felix; the professor seemed to have recovered from a dreadful state earlier, but not entirely¡ªhis face, neck, hands... asionally turned into intricate runes, then reverted to normal skin the next second, repeating this process.


    "I''m not quite familiar with this condition. To avoid rming others, I''ll stay put for now... You all go find Headmaster Dumbledore and exin what happened to him."


    Felix opened his eyes, startling Harry, Ron, and Hermione. The professor''s light blue pupils were reced by numerous runes, like small, shifting orbs within his eye sockets. After speaking, he shut his eyes again, his body starting to flicker once more.


    The three exchanged nces.


    "Clearly, the professor needs time to master this new power. Someone has to stay here during this time," Hermione suggested.


    "I''ll go, you and Ron stay," Harry decided after a brief pause. "You both are injured¡ª"


    "As if it wasn''t you who got hit by several piercing curses," Ron smirked.


    Harry returned a smile. "At least my legs are intact, and besides¡ª" He hesitated, not entirely sure. "Towards the end, I felt like Voldemort''s curses weren''t affecting me as much. It was as if... my body was gradually adapting to the harm caused by the curses..."Ron and Hermione stared at him, skeptical.


    "Harry, you better see Madame Pomfrey. I heard enduring multiple piercing curses could have serious side effects¡ª" Ron uneasily suggested.


    "You think I''m losing it?" Harry widened his eyes. Ron looked away from their eye contact, muttering softly, "It wouldn''t hurt to confirm at least."


    "Perhaps it''s... um... the protective magic in Harry''s blood," Hermione cautiously worded, "Let''s not jump to conclusions. Honestly, with Dumbledore not here, I''m a bit anxious." She nced carefully at Felix, her hand covering the pocket where she kept the ring he entrusted to her.


    Earlier, the professor imed the ring contained prohibited items, handing it over temporarily to avoid scrutiny from the Ministry of Magic. She hadn''t thought much about it then, but now, out of danger, she began pondering: Did it really warrant such caution for a routine investigation?


    Harry nodded, heading towards the door. As he prepared to draw back the tent''s curtain, Hermione halted him.


    "Wait, Harry¡ª"


    He turned, seeing Hermione looking at him earnestly.


    "You know what to say, right?"


    "The Time-Turner," Hermione reminded.


    Harry suddenly realized. Yes, Hermione had gone back in time, altered history... no, ording to the materials he recently read, using the Time-Turner had only two oues:


    Either it fails¡ªresulting in bacsh for the user and a threat to the ''time'' from the past to the present;


    Or it seeds¡ªthe user''s actions during time travel be part of history, like a predetermined event. Hermione exined that what seemed destined was the result; if they seeded, and if they failed, it would lead to severe consequences, akin to Eloise Mintumble''s case.


    How should he say it? Harry thought deeply and quickly found a solution. It was quite simple, omitting Hermione''s use of the Time-Turner. As for how the professor managed to e back from the dead," he didn''t know. Maybe it was a special kind of magic he wasn''t meant to know about?


    Suddenly, a detail struck Harry. Barty Crouch Jr. obviously recognized the Time-Turner and wanted to expose the secret... so the professor chose to eliminate him right away? Harry felt a repulsion towards killing but immediately chastised himself; this was war, he reminded himself, and besides, Crouch had done so many wrongs. Professor Moody''s loud recital of Death Eaters and their deeds in ss was vivid in his mind...


    He had never realized how close the war was to him. Harry felt oddly sentimental. He still had another month before he turned fifteen.


    The night sky was filled with stars, a looming maze castle to his left, silently standing in the darkness. To his right, a high arc-shaped stand, figures moving all around.


    He saw two burly figures, muchrger than the rest, almost as if they had been erged by an Engorgement Charm. They had to be Hagrid and Madame Maxime. Not far from them, Harry spotted a tall, thin silhouette, translucent silver beard swaying in the cool night breeze... Dumbledore. Harry''s heart calmed as he made his weary way towards him, step by step.


    "The Forbidden Forest has been thoroughly searched, not a trace found!" Hagrid waved his arms in frustration. "I even asked the centaurs for help, no word yet..."


    "You''ve heard it too, Cornelius, we''re still in the dark about specifics... I''m afraid all we can do is wait." Dumbledore spoke calmly.


    "How can I rx, Dumbledore?" Fudge protested, "Three champions who just won the Triwizard Cup disappeared collectively. We still have no idea of their fates... How will the reporters spin this tomorrow?"


    "Cornelius, it''s not about how the reporters write it, it''s about the significance behind this¡ª" Dumbledore exined.


    "What significance?" Fudge immediately demanded.


    "Isn''t it obvious enough!" an angry voice roared near Fudge''s ear. Startled, Fudge turned to find Mad-Eye Moody standing next to him, his heavy body leaning on his staff, his magical eye fixed on him.


    "Sorry, I can''t see it," Fudge coldly replied, while ncing disapprovingly at the Death Eaters behind Moody, who had clearly failed their duties.


    "Think about why I was made a puppet? Who put Harry Potter''s and his friends'' names into the Goblet of Fire?" Moody growled, tapping his staff on the ground, creating a loud impact.


    "You mean Barty Crouch Jr.?" Fudge furrowed his brow. "But he''s escaped; a third of the Death Eaters have been tracking him all this time, except tonight¡ª"


    "So you think it''s over? Crouch and his backers went to great lengths to get Harry out of the school. Do you think they''d just give up so easily? Tonight''s events haven''t made you vignt?" Moody spat on the ground, leaving Fudge red-faced.


    "stor has a point, Cornelius. You cannot turn a blind eye to the approaching danger. I can almost ascertain we''re part of a huge conspiracy," Dumbledore said softly.


    "A conspiracy?" Fudge repeated, Harry standing behind the crowd. The moon wasn''t particrly bright tonight, casting shadows over Fudge''s face. He looked far from as affable as he did during Harry''s second-year summer, despite discussing Harry''s illegal incident with Aunt Marge.


    "I know what you''re about to say, it''s the same old story retold... I already mentioned during the banquet, I''ve dispatched an elite team, and we''re awaiting their findings," said Fudge impatiently. "If we''re talking conspiracies, I''d like to know, where did Felix Harp go? You''ve been evasive, Dumbledore..."


    "I believe," Dumbledore spoke calmly, "Felix might possess a unique insight into the whereabouts of Potter, Weasley, and Granger. He''s adept at crafting various gadgets and often proves pivotal in crucial moments... For instance, the protective charm he gifted me during Christmas was of immense help."


    "I don''t have time for your circumlocution¡ª"


    "I''m merely giving an example," Dumbledore gently intervened. "Conversely, I''m equally curious¡ªthere seems to be one less guard emerging from the maze castle. Where has he gone?"


    Fudge turned to his two Aurors behind him, one nodded and murmured, "Yaxley is missing."


    "That doesn''t prove anything," Fudge immediately replied. "Maybe he noticed something amiss... Add him to the search list," he instructed the Auror who nodded and departed.


    "You''re looking for Yaxley, who happens to be a Death Eater!" Harry couldn''t contain himself, shouting from the back.


    People in front were startled, the nearest¡ªJacqueline, one of Beauxbatons'' champions¡ªjumped, apanying Madame Maxime. Her eyes widened, staring at Harry, covered in dust, as she retreated.


    The onlookers stirred. "Harry''s back!" a voice eximed, "He''s back alive!" The news spread like wildfire, drawing more people closer. Footsteps converged from all sides.


    Wands were raised, the multitude of lights overwhelmed Harry. Gasps and shrieks echoed. Amid the cacophony, he discerned Mrs. Weasley''s distinct voice and Hagrid''s excited roar.


    Soon, strong arms enveloped him, Dumbledore. "You''re all back?" he swiftly inquired.


    "Yes," Harry replied, glimpsing Sirius and Lupin trying to edge closer.


    "So, Felix seeded?" he continued in a low tone.


    "Yes¡ªwhat?" Harry looked bewildered at Dumbledore. He mischievously mouthed: Time-Turner.


    Harry was too shocked to speak. But Dumbledore seemed to read the answer from his expression, his voice regainingposure as he asked aloud, "Did you encounter Voldemort?" The question startled everyone; their forward motion ceased as all eyes fixed on Dumbledore and Harry.


    Fudge''s eyes widened like saucers.


    "Yes! Dumbledore, we saw Voldemort; he returned months ago! He orchestrated tonight''s conspiracy, and¡ªHarry suddenly remembered something¡ªYaxley! He altered the Cup''s portkey destination!"


    The approaching crowd erupted again, spreading further. Hundreds gasped collectively.


    "Are you sure?" Fudge barged forward, grabbing Harry''s cor, spittle flying. "Are you sure? What about Harp? What did Felix Harp do?"


    "He saved us!" Harry retorted in frustration.


    "Is everyone alive?" Fudge demanded, his nostrils ring.


    Harry didn''t want to answer Fudge''s question, but he saw the fearful hope in the eyes of the Weasleys and Grangers. So, he dered loudly, "Yes! Ron and Hermione are alive, they''re both fine! Except for that Death Eater, I don''t know if he perished in the aftermath of the battle."


    Mrs. Granger screamed and fainted, Mrs. Weasley fared slightly better, sobbing loudly, their loved ones soothing them.


    "Madam Pomfrey, pleasee here," Dumbledore said firmly, grasping Harry''s shoulder, causing Fudge''s grip to loosen, "Some here need treatment. Miller, attend to the Grangers."


    Professor McGonagall nodded.


    Hagrid squeezed in, followed by Sirius and Lupin, finally reaching Harry.


    "Are you hurt? Harry, are you hurt?" Sirius tried to glean something from Harry''s appearance, but he was covered in dirt, impossible to decipher.


    "It''s nothing," Harry whispered, "just a few curses..."


    "What! Those are curses!" Sirius eximed, "Why didn''t you say so earlier?" He scolded Harry, who felt warmth despite Sirius'' outburst, then Sirius attempted to lift him.


    "Let me do it." Hagrid''s gruff voice intervened, cradling Harry in his arms.


    "No, wait," Harry struggled in Hagrid''s embrace, "Professor Dumbledore, Professor Harp and Ron, Hermione are still in the tent, Professor Harp... he''s, uh, tending to injuries, doesn''t want others disturbing..."


    "I understand," Dumbledore said, "I''ll set up another tent nearby."


    Hagrid, Sirius, Lupin, Dumbledore, and the others headed towards the temporary tent, the crowd silently following, all seeking a definitive oue... Fudge remained, his expression hesitant.


    At that moment, the Auror who left returned, whispering to Fudge. His eyes widened in astonishment, his mouth opening and closing several times.


    "Wait, Dumbledore!" he called out.


    "Fudge," Dumbledore, showing impatience for the first time tonight, said, "You''ve seen their condition¡ªthey need treatment, not interrogation by the Ministry. If you want the truth, perhaps stay tonight, and tomorrow morning we can¡ª"


    "No, Dumbledore, you better hear this," Fudge appeared perplexed yet relieved, pointing at the Auror, "Repeat what you just learned."


    Under everyone''s gaze, the Auror stammered, "Just got word, Yaxley''s been found, he, he''s dead¡ªbefore he died, he told us... he said it''s all Felix Harp''s conspiracy, he''s the mastermind!"


    >


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 Chapter 490: Unpredictable Hearts - (1)

    Chapter 490: Unpredictable Hearts - (1)


    Within the temporary tent, Ron sat back in his chair, sighing deeply, "This night seems never-ending."


    "Yeah," Hermione absentmindedly replied.


    "Do you have anything to eat?" Ron inquired.


    Hermione turned to look at him.


    "Hermione, I barely had dinner," Ron spread his hands, looking forlorn. "If I don''t eat something soon, I''ll starve before Mrs. Pomfrey arrives."


    "Always about eating," Hermione grumbled as she rummaged through a beaded purse, tossing some snacks to Ron. After doing so, she realized she''d snapped for no apparent reason.


    "Don''t worry, Hermione. Professors havee back from the dead; nothing''s going to happen now," Ron, understanding her thoughts,forted her before examining the package in his hand. "What''s this?"


    "Chips and chocte," Hermione said.


    "I''ve never seen these before..." Ron murmured softly, tearing open the bag and scrutinizing a chip before tasting it, his eyes lighting up."Muggle snacks," Hermione exined.


    "Tastes good," Ron sighed contentedly. "You used to eat these as a kid? Let me try the chocte... Hmm, not bad, but I still think Chocte Frogs taste better."


    Before long, he finished them.


    "Any more, Hermione?" Ron couldn''t help asking.


    Hermione searched carefully. "All that''s left are somepressed biscuits, not much vor¡ª"


    "No problem!"


    For the next while, the only sounds in the tent were Ron eating.


    "Crunch, crunch."


    "How long do you think Professor will stay in this state?" Hermione asked worriedly, Felix now resembling a luminous statue.


    "Um... not sure. Dumbledore will be here soon; you can ask him... Crunch, crunch..."


    Suddenly, urgent footsteps approached the tent from outside.


    "Someone''sing," Hermione said.


    "Great," Ron said.


    "I''ll go check," Hermione, feeling somewhat anxious, got up and walked towards the tent''s curtain.


    ...


    After some time passed, Felix opened his eyes, slowly scanning the surroundings.


    The tent was empty.


    He barely suppressed the boiling magical energy within him, keeping it from bing too active.


    He had just experienced... no, the ongoing miraculous changes. Firstly, magic, akin to boiling water, had be highly unstable, far surpassing any magical outburst he''d ever experienced. Even now, magic flowed through him like a bubbling stream. Secondly, his body; magic surged in every corner, causing transformations in his flesh, skin, and bones.


    These changes seemed to touch the essence of life and magic. Felix believed his body was a vast treasure trove awaiting his exploration.


    Only now did hepletely rx his heart.


    Felix thought calmly, admitting to himself that he had weakened slightly during the battle with Voldemort. In theory, they should have been evenly matched, but Voldemort''s Killing Curse was unexpectedly powerful. Every encounter with the green light of that curse sent shivers down his spine.


    He absolutely couldn''t be hit; it was a survival instinct. Yet, at that time, he had no choice. Magical puppets and illusions crafted by the Thought Chamber couldn''t deceive a wizard as skilled as Voldemort.


    He had to genuinely die once.


    Unless he wanted to witness others dying...


    "Everyone has the right to choose. I''ve made mine, Miss Jean. Farewell," Felix said softly.


    Amotion outside the tent reached his ears, along with the hurried footsteps of hundreds, but Felix paid them no mind. He was entirely absorbed in his changes, lifting his left hand, where every line gleamed with crystalline light.


    Under his gaze, a book of runes materialized out of thin air, pages flipping with a rustle. Magical projections emerged, and Felix felt a sensation. At his will, countless runes surged within him, no longer needing active concentration; ancient magic formed instantly.


    "The Book of Runes should be used in conjunction with the transformed body," Felix pondered. He''d try it sometimeter. He tucked the book into his left hand, seamlessly merging it with his body¡ªa fortuitous solution to the problem of where to keep it.


    By now, the outside voices grew louder. He heard Hermione''s sharp voice, Harry''s frustrated cries, Dumbledore''s steady rebuttals, and Fawkes''s agitated squawks, apanied by uneasy movements that seemed chaotic.


    "Fawkes..."


    Felix''s gaze flickered, anticipating this scene, bound to ur sooner orter. If not today, then tomorrow or the day after. As long as Fawkes denied Voldemort''s existence, he would trouble Dumbledore and Felix. To prevent this from continuing, Felix had made some preparations in advance.


    "Dobby," he whispered.


    A loud explosion was confined within the narrow space, reverberating within the temporary tent, unable to escape. Felix withdrew his hand, calmly watching the appearance of the house-elf.


    Dobby maintained his usual attire but carried arge bag.


    "So, Voldemort and the Death Eaters left?"


    "Y-yes, Mr. Hepburn! You guessed it correctly!" Dobby trembled at the name, then his big eyes gleamed with adoration, staring at Felix. "I never imagined Dobby could participate in such a grand event. Dobby is so honored."


    "However, some unfortunate things were damaged," he cautiously nced at Felix, opening the bag behind him. "It''s not your fault. I was prepared for this."


    The bag contained some small handheld cameras and their shattered remains¡ªyes, Muggle products, devoid of any magical traces, purchased in bulk by ''Future World'' for research purposes at a discount.


    During Harry''s ordeal with the Cruciatus Curse, Felix had ced some around the graveyard''s periphery. Understandably, due to the massive destruction in the graveyard battle, some were lost.


    "Dobby collected what he could find. Maybe they can be repaired," Dobby straightened his chest proudly.


    "...You did well, Dobby." Felix nced at the thoroughly damaged tapes in the bag, unsure if they could be magically repaired.


    He picked up a functional camera, fiddled with the buttons, and peered down at the poor-quality image. Nheless, he was satisfied. "Voldemort''s bald head stands out... Dobby, hide them, and don''t disclose it to anyone."


    "Understood, Mr. Hepburn!" Dobby beamed, pleased at gaining Felix''s trust. He shouldered therge bag again. "Sir, if Mr. Lupin or Harry Potter ask¡ª"


    "They know nothing of this," Felix said expressionlessly.


    "Oh... alright." With a snap of his fingers, Dobby vanished from the tent.


    Felix gazed deeply at the spot where Dobby had disappeared.


    He should have informed Dumbledore. That would''ve been safer. But ultimately, he vetoed that approach. It had nothing to do with personal feelings¡ªhis rtionship with Dumbledore had always been fine. It was about minimizing variables,pletely controlling the situation. So, he chose Dobby over Dumbledore, to maintain control.


    "Hearts are inscrutable..." he murmured.


    >


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 Chapter 491: The Hat and the Ring

    Chapter 491: The Hat and the Ring


    Chapter 491: The Hat and the Ring


    The snap of a camera echoed as several young wizards stared at a stout man holding a smoky camera, the source of the sound. Rita Skeeter, beside the photographer, eagerlymanded for more shots. This was groundbreaking news,parable to the recent protests in France by the Ilvermorny students, or perhaps even more significant in Rita''s eyes. While the President of the American magical congress hadn''t resigned, Rita felt it was inevitable for Fudge to step down.


    Suddenly, Rita found herself the center of attention. "The public deserves the truth, um... I''ll report urately," she insincerely smiled.


    Rita, donned in a dark red robe with glittery edges, was less conspicuous at nightpared to her previous appearances, evading the notice of many young wizards.


    Harry noticed her nails had changed from bright red to emerald green.


    "An unpleasant person," Ron muttered, adding, "but not entirely dreadful. Besides being initially annoying, she does things somewhat decently. Helped us out a few times, quite strange..."


    Collins grunted nearby.


    "What?" Ron asked, puzzled.


    "Have you not seen her recent articles?" Cedric hesitated, "After months of silence, she''s been publishing extensively, creating false heroes, fabricating private lives..." Autumn had had a few arguments about this, though they were happy disagreements.Bozzo, the short photographer, kept quiet but was temperamental. "Make way! These photos could win awards," he gruffly said, pushing a young wizard aside, capturing suitable angles. With a few clicks and purplish smoke, Fudge''s imposing face was captured on film.


    At that moment, Felix emerged from a makeshift tent, cleared his throat, and surveyed the surroundings.


    "Professor, you''re awake!"


    "Professor Hape¡ª"


    "Thank goodness!"


    Harry, Ron, and Hermione eximed in surprise, diverting their attention from Rita Skeeter''s odd curly hair and the ck camera continually emitting purple mist, focusing on Felix.


    "Thank you, thank you all," Felix said. "You truly helped a lot. If my... treatment had been interrupted, it would have caused quite an impact." In an instant, Harry and his friends understood his unspoken words.


    Other students gleaned the truth from Hermione''s earlier remarks. They waved their wands excitedly, Fred loudly eximed, "It''s what we should do, Professor. How many detentions have you helped us escape from?"


    Fred''s cheekyment shattered the solemn atmosphere, surprisingly gaining nods of agreement from several students.


    "Professor Hape taught me the technique for the fishbone hex¡ª"


    "He knows everything about the creatures in the ck Lake!"


    "They say the house-elves in the kitchens have a mysterious cookbook contributed by Professor Hape¡ª"


    "No wonder I often hear about the professor and Valen having midnight snacks¡ª"


    "Professor Hape caught me trespassing in the Forbidden Forest, not only did he not punish me, he invited me to explore with him... We encountered terrifying eight-eyed spiders, and I had nightmares for two days! In hindsight, it might have been arranged by the professor..."


    "Quite cunning, Professor!"


    The students buzzed with conversation. Professor McGonagall''s lips tightened into a line, her stern gaze shifting between the students and Felix.


    "Let it go, Miller, see how popr he is," Professor Flitwick chuckled.


    "Inyman''s terms, he leads the infractions, but I didn''t see..." Professor McGonagall hesitated, "We''ll let bygones be bygones, but it''s not to set a precedent."


    As the voices settled, Felix turned his gaze toward Fudge and the haughty Aurors from the Ministry. They stood like pumpkin lights, adding festivity to the Christmas hall, unmoving.


    "Allow me to defend myself," he said. "If the Minister still thinks I''m responsible for tonight''s events, I am willing to cooperate."


    "Professor!" Harry looked at him anxiously.


    "It''s fine," Felix shook his head at him, hesitated for a moment, then said to Hermione, "Miss Granger, could you please help?"


    Hermione nodded eagerly.


    Felix locked eyes with her, casting a swift Memory Room charm. Then he withdrew his wand and ced it in front of her. Hermione grabbed it. Subsequently, wisps of mist emerged from the wand''s tip, enveloped in soap-like bubbles, expanding.


    "Imagine the most vivid memory from tonight," Felix said, mostly for the benefit of the others, havingmunicated specifics with Hermione in the Memory Room.


    When the soap bubble reached the size of a human head, Felix severed its connection with the wand. It shimmered in the dark sky, slowly floating upwards.


    "I seem to see some figures," a young wizard staring at the soap bubble eximed.


    "I see them too."


    As the soap bubble soared thirty feet high, everyone present could clearly see it. At that moment, Felix waved his wand, and the bubble burst with a ''pop,'' releasing mist that fluttered like snowkes, forming a moving picture.


    Everyone saw Harry and, in a blink, Ron bound to a ck tombstone. It was evidently from an observer''s perspective, matching the professor''s actions and likely what Hermione witnessed.


    In the scene, Harry, covered in dust, stood with his back to them, passionately yelling, "You dare not use the Killing Curse on me, do you? You fear my mother''s magic protecting me with her life, afraid the curse will rebound on you, ending you utterly, making you aplete joke!"


    Everyone was captivated. Soon after, they saw a person opposite Harry, a chilling sight tied to the ck tombstone¡ªa nightmarish face, paler than a skull, blood-red eyes, with only thin slits where a nose should be, snakelike. d in a thin ck robe, billowing in the night breeze, revealing a skeletal frame...


    "The Dark Lord!" someone panicked. "He''s truly returned!"


    Adults¡ªprofessors, Aurors, and others from different schools¡ªdisyed grave expressions. Some might have only heard tales of Voldemort''s terror, while others might not have heard at all. Yet, the ominous presence of the figure in the picture conveyed the exact apprehension to all.


    Just knowing someone ''returned from the dead'' was enough for them to be on high alert.


    In the scene, Voldemort''s red eyes fixated on Harry, seeming to stare at everyone, and then he revealed a dreadful smile, uttering the curse, "Crucio!" The crowd gasped, some dared not to look, yet Harry unexpectedly stood firm, openly provoking, causing everyone to sweat nervously. Sirius fixed his gaze on Voldemort''s shadow, his teeth grinding audibly.


    Voldemort was clearly angered by Harry; he loudly invoked the curse. At that moment, a red light descended from above, shielding Harry...


    "It''s Professor Snape!"


    "He''s in the air, it''s unbelievable¡ª"


    "Stop being so surprised, didn''t you see his silver wings during the second task?"


    "I just never thought that thing could actually fly!"


    The scene ended there. Felix decided not to reveal theplete process for now, both to prevent people from witnessing Voldemort''s strength and losing confidence and because he didn''t want his resurrection process to spread...


    He nced at Rita Skeeter in the corner, her pudgy fingers gesturing urgently for the photographer to snap pictures.


    He only needed to select a segment that showcased Voldemort''s cruelty.


    "For now, that''s all," Felix said in the stifling silence. "Just evidence, not absolute proof. And Granger''s condition is somewhat deteriorating..."


    Hermione gasped for breath at the opportune moment.


    "¡ªI have more evidence, more reliable than memories, but perhaps I''ll present it at the trial?" He looked to Fudge for input, but Fudge seemed ashen-faced, seemingly deaf to his words.


    "Of course not," Dumbledore gently interjected. "I will convene a meeting of all Wizengamot members in my capacity as Chief Warlock. Felix, I hope you can attend to testify."


    "It''s what I should do," Felix responded cooperatively.


    Fudge muttered to himself, "He''s back¡ªtruly back¡ªhow¡ªhow is it possible¡ª"


    "So, Minister, do you have any more questions? Or concerns that I might flee before the meeting?" Felix inquired.


    Fudge''s lips trembled, shaking uncontrobly. "No... not...," he managed a forced smile, but someone rudely interrupted¡ªMadam Pomfrey, who had been waiting on the sidelines.


    "So¡ªis everything finally over? Thank goodness!" She hurried over to Harry and the others. "You need treatment; it''s been hours already. Did you think the curse would be so easy to withstand?" She hustled and bustled, shoving Harry, Ron, and Hermione as if she were herding ducks.


    "Ouch¡ª" Ron yelped in pain. "Easy, Madam Pomfrey."


    "Weren''t you just heroes a moment ago?" Madam Pomfrey scowled at him. "That was an Unforgivable Curse¡ª"


    "But it was my leg that got injured," Ron protested.


    "...Alright, you have a point. I won''t argue with a patient..." She rambled on, leading the trio to a nearby temporary tent for treatment.


    Dumbledore timely arranged for professors to escort the students back to the castle.


    "While I appreciate your tremendous integrity and courage tonight, I must remind you that it''s veryte. Go on, rest. There won''t be any sses in this final week of the school year..."


    The students erupted in cheers. Soon after, a few yawns escaped, like a contagious wave, and soon everyone was yawning, heavy with fatigue.


    While no one was looking, Fudge slipped away like a fat old rat.


    "Wait, Minister, you''ve left your hat¡ª" George picked up a dusty hat from the ground, calling out to Fudge. Fudge mechanically turned back, and with a spell, the hat flew towards him, smacking him on the nose.


    The students who witnessed this scene chuckled softly.


    The Death Eaters showed no reaction, trudging away with heavy steps.


    "Draco," Felix, satisfied with Fudge''s embarrassment, called out to Draco who was walking behind. "Pass a message to Miss Bones for me; I''ll make time to visit her in the next couple of days."


    Draco nodded.


    Fudge heard this but hesitated, not turning back. He stumbled several times before disappearing from Felix''s sight.


    "I used to get along somewhat well with him," Dumbledore murmured softly, gazing into the distance. "At the beginning of his tenure as Minister, he''de to me for advice constantly, seeking guidance. Butter, his confidence grew, and he could make decisions on his own. Perhaps, because of his cautious past experiences, he became enamored with power, and he now eyes everyone who could threaten his position..."


    "Albus," Felix smiled faintly, "I''m already looking forward to the days without Fudge."


    ...


    Late at night.


    The room was dimly lit, the portraits of former headmasters snoring softly on the walls.


    Dumbledore sat quietly behind his desk, lost in thought. The silverware on the table produced faint noises. After a while, he opened the left drawer, which held a locket box and a wand.


    These two items were both rted to Voldemort¡ªthe former was one of his Horcruxes, and thetter was his yew wand, which Dumbledore had seized from Barty Crouch on Christmas night.


    But apart from the locket box and wand, there was now a ring in the drawer. It wasrge, seemingly made of gold, roughly crafted, with a heavy ck stone in the middle, cracked.


    "The Resurrection Stone... not yet the time." Dumbledore murmured softly, his finger brushing the ck gem on the ring.


    With great restraint, he closed the drawer, exhaling softly.


    "You''re getting old, Dumbledore," remarked the Sorting Hat on the shelf.


    "Thank you for the reminder," Dumbledore smiled faintly. Then he delved into contemtion again. "Just one more or two?"


    After a moment of silence, he waved his wand, summoning the silver phoenix guardian calmly. "Fawkes,e to my office."


    "3.8k words today. The fourth part of the plot is about to conclude. The author will spend time reviewing the previous chapters, tying up any loose ends, so updates might be slightly fewer than usual. Thank you for your understanding, dear readers."


    >


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 Chapter 492: Amelia Bones

    Chapter 492: Amelia Bones


    The morning after, Felix woke up feeling refreshed, the potion''s side effects seemingly neutralized by changes in his body. He gazed at the ceiling, Valen, his pet Niffler, absentmindedly clicking away in the cradle nearby.


    Grinning, Felix got up, stretchingzily.


    "Bam!"


    The metal rm clock on the cab exploded. Felix frowned at the broken parts, waving his hand to repair it. "Still need some getting used to," he mused, telling the still-sleepy Valen, "It''s okay, get more sleep."


    Valen sleepily waved back, nestling in thefy velvet, having stayed upte waiting for the Grand Sorcerer''s return.


    From the office window, lush Forbidden Forest and rolling mountains greeted him. The sky, a clear, inky blue, brushed his face with a gentle breeze.


    A tawny owl flew towards him, a newspaper in its beak,nding in front of him as it neared the window.


    Flipping through the paper, Felix mumbled, "Quite the news, Fudge." As the owl chirped, he handed it five Knuts.


    The owl flew away.Throughout the day, he honed his new powers in the office, surprised by his increased magical prowess, likely tost a while.


    In the afternoon, he made a trip to the school hospital. As he arrived, he overheard Mr. Weasley''s voice. He entered.


    "¡­Fudge locked himself in his office, out of sight," Mr. Weasley said, "I guess he wants a few moments in the Minister''s chair before his ''holiday''¡­" Perhaps sensing his harshness, he shrugged, changing the topic. "Anyway, Fudge did one good thing, he appointed Miss Bones to handle the department''s affairs temporarily."


    "Thank you, Arthur," said a tired-looking Bones.


    The room was filled. Besides Harry, Ron, and Hermione lying on beds, speaking Mr. Weasley, Lupin, McGonagall, Dumbledore, an unfamiliar woman - Amelia Bones.


    "May Ie in?" Felix asked from the door.


    "Of course, Mr. Harp," the woman replied, "We have much to discuss concerning you."


    With interest, Felix surveyed her, picking a chair by the wall.


    Bones spoke gravely, "No outsiders here, so I''ll be frank. There''s panic in the Ministry; news from the Malfoys has disheartened everyone. Today''s paper spread panic among wizards. We must stabilize this quickly¡­ Dumbledore, I need your help."


    Dumbledore nodded slightly, "We mustn''t lose our calm before darkness fully emerges."


    "Exactly," agreed Bones. She produced a document, put on a monocle, and examined it, "First, I need to confirm if the mysterious figure has truly returned. Not ack of trust ¨C your plea using the Ring of Serpents in dire circumstances was impressive. But I need absolute certainty to enact wartime policies."


    "A reasonable request," Dumbledore smiled, "Amelia, perhaps you need conclusive evidence?"


    Bones nodded solemnly.


    Dumbledore nced at Felix.


    "Well, I can''t show the full picture¡­" Felix snapped his fingers, softly calling, "Dobby."


    The house-elf appeared.


    "Great Mr. Harp, you¡ªoh, what has Dobby seen?" Dobby blinked, startled by the familiar faces, "Mr. Lupin, Harry Potter and his friends, Mr. ck, and¡ªMr. Dumbledore!" he shrieked.


    "Hello, Dobby," Harry and Hermione greeted softly.


    "Dobby," Ron started, Dobby immediately looked at him with sparkling eyes, "Actually, the pronunciation of my name, uh¡ªI''ll tell youter." He didn''t dare discuss the ''Weasley'' and ''Weezly'' differences publicly.


    "Alright, Dobby,ter I''ll get you their signatures," Felix said, "For now, fetch something you''ve kept for me."


    "At once!" Dobby eximed, then vanished.


    Bones turned to Mr. Weasley, "Shouldn''t we be wary of the elf''s magic? They''re not restricted by Anti-Disapparation charms¡ª"


    "Oh, Amelia, I think¡ª" Hermione gripped the sheet nervously, sharply interrupting, "You shouldn''t doubt Dobby or the kitchen elves; they tirelessly serve."


    "Yes, you''re right," Bones looked at Hermione for a moment, then said, "But we know the dark wizard has rallied pure-blood families, and they have their own house-elves."


    Hermione fell silent.


    Meanwhile, Felix retrieved parchment and a quill from a nearby cab, writing and drawing on it, "Excuse me, could you help with some signatures?" Dumbledore dly obliged, judging by the length of his signature, probably his full name.


    One by one, they signed. When the parchment reached Harry, he stared at the script: To the brave Dobby, who obtained crucial evidence under Voldemort''s nose. Below were several signatures.


    Harry added his name.


    After a few minutes, Dobby reappeared with arge sack.


    "Everyone''s here, Mr. Harp."


    Felix curiously sifted through the sack, pulling out a peculiar square object, pressing its buttons. After fiddling with it, he handed it to Bones. "You can stand near the glowing part, yes, that''s it¡­"


    In reality, Felix did two things: avoiding the camera capturing Hermione''s Time-Turner, and adjusting the yback to his appearance. Otherwise, exining his early observation or exposing Lucius would be difficult.


    Following his instructions, Bones viewed the device. She frowned at the poor quality, then gasped. She silently watched for a few minutes before setting down the camera, aplex expression on her face.


    "If I''m correct, this is a Muggle item?" Bones asked in a hushed tone.


    "Indeed, you''ll find no trace of magic on it. It''s to avoid Voldemort and his Death Eaters'' attention," Felix retrieved the camera, "You can consult experts on this. The footage cannot be altered due to technical reasons, making it quite convincing."


    "Then may I take it¡ª" Bones tentatively asked.


    "Oh, not for now," Felix declined straightforwardly, "I trusted you with information not meant to be disclosed. With others, I''d have taken precautions."


    "But you mentioned it couldn''t be altered¡ª" Bones puzzled.


    "Ma''am, it can''t be altered but can be overridden," Felix stressed, "For instance, if I cast a permanent inscription on a wall, you can''t change it, but you can paint over it¡­"


    "I understand. I''ll arrange for verification," Bones calmly said, masking the storm raging inside her. Returning from the dead¡­ Felix understood her reasons for not revealing theplete footage.


    And that was the illusion Felix provided¡ªa secret hiding another secret. Let the Time-Turner remain buried in history, for it had entombed countless secrets.


    "So, um," Bones tried to rephrase, "Secondly, confirming the reappearance of the mysterious figure, I suggest dying it for a few days."


    "Why? How is this different from Fudge''s approach?" Harry asked loudly.


    "Completely different. At least the Ministry knows; I won''t deliberately halt dissemination of the news. Just¡­ formal acknowledgment implies war. Dying might leave room for hope on their side, buying us time," Bones calmly exined, "The Ministry is urgently printing wartime survival manuals. I need time to convince influential figures, as I mentioned earlier, consensus¡­ Additionally," she hesitated, "I hope Cornelius stands up to announce this."


    "That coward?" Sirius grumbled.


    Bones gave him a stern look, "Mind your words, Sirius. He''s still the Minister."


    "Alright, Madam Amelia," Siriuszily acquiesced.


    Harry looked oddly at his godfather, suddenly remembering Sirius admitting to making her cry during school. His gaze was peculiar.


    Madam Bones gave him a stern look but calmly exined, "Cornelius... Fudge may not stay in office. I want his final public image to be one of bravery in announcing the return of the mysterious figure, rather than quietly stepping down before the war and disappearing."


    "Are you nning to keep him?" Sirius protested. "Look at all the mess he''s caused!"


    Madam Bones ignored him, focusing on perusing the documents instead. "Setting aside personal ws, Cornelius has significant abilities. He''d be more than adequate as an advisor."


    Sirius grumbled discontentedly, sounding something like "women..." Instantly, thedies in the room red at him. Sirius shrunk, "My mistake, too broad a statement."


    "Speaking of advisors," Madam Bones'' finger traced the documents, "Dumbledore, have you reinstated the Order of the Phoenix?"


    The atmosphere in the room turned tense; everyone looked to Dumbledore.


    He nodded slightly, "You''re right, Amelia." He patiently rified, "As you know, once the war starts, Voldemort will nt spies extensively in the Ministry. I must ensure an independent resistance outside the Ministry."


    "I believe," Madam Bones pursed her lips, "we should coborate."


    "What do you suggest?" Dumbledore inquired curiously.


    "The Ministry won''t interfere with the Order''s actions, but at least, we should share information. It''s beneficial for both sides," Madam Bones preemptively proposed, speaking fluently. "And in the short term¡ªuntil the situation stabilizes, we must station someone as a liaison on each side."


    "You mean... mutual cement? Exchanging personnel?" Dumbledore rified.


    "Exactly," Madam Bones affirmed. "I can''t and won''t order you, but during this critical time, forging a rtionship with the ''Greatest Wizard'' is the best way to stabilize things."


    Harry, Ron, and Hermione widened their eyes, finding it hard to imagine this woman speaking so candidly about Dumbledore.


    "Beforeing here, I consulted with our department; there''s a considerable interest in signing up," Madam Bones revealed with a hint of resignation. "If you agree, I can provide a list for your selection."


    "I have no objection," Dumbledore agreed.


    "Your selection for our side¡ª" Madam Bones sighed in relief and asked.


    After a moment of contemtion, Dumbledore looked at someone.


    Sirius was lounging, absorbed in his own thoughts, even crossing his legs until Dumbledore''s gaze fell on him, and he abruptly straightened up.


    "Headmaster Dumbledore, you don''t want me at the Ministry, do you?" He jumped up, "You promised I''d be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor next term! I''ve prepared for so long, to outwit those troublemaking students at the Muggle school..."


    "It''s only temporary," Dumbledore showed a faint smile. "You''ll only need to stay a month or two, won''t affect your work next term."


    "What about the others? Hagrid? Lupin? And¡ª" Sirius trailed off.


    "They all have their own matters," Dumbledore replied.


    "Yeah, Headmaster''s right; you''re the most idle among us," Felix couldn''t resist adding. The thought of the carefree Sirius in the Ministry gave him a sense of amusement.


    Sirius red fiercely, noticing everyone''s amused expressions, even his godson looking at him expectantly. It grated on Sirius''s nerves.


    "Well then¡ªhey, Amelia, I want an advisory title too, not lower than Felix and Fudge''s!" Sirius interjected.


    "...It''s just temporary," Madam Bones reluctantly agreed.


    Her opinion of Sirius was substantial, rooted in unforgettable memories from their school days.


    "Onest thing," she said, taking arge bag from Mr. Weasley and cing it by Harry''s feet. The bag rustled. She briefly stated, "The prize for the tournament. It was supposed to be a thousand Galleons. I personally added five hundred aspensation¡ª"


    "This isn''t nearly enough," Sirius couldn''t help but pick at it. "They''ve suffered so much, disyed incredible courage, escaping Voldemort. The Ministry should award them a medal."


    Madam Bones''s chest heaved heavily. She said each word deliberately, "That''s what I was going to suggest!"


    She took a deep breath, calming herself, and addressed Harry, Ron, and Hermione. "The Ministry will discuss awarding you the Merlin Order, second ss, to honor your bravery against the mysterious figure and your unwavering spirit¡ªalso, Mr. Lupin, we''re considering awarding you the first-ss Merlin Order."


    Felix smiled and shook his head.


    "This is your due," Madam Bones immediately insisted. "During wartime, we need a few role models. If I live to see the end of the war, I''ll surely hand out a heap of medals."


    Harry was once again stunned by Madam Bones''s frankness and directness but found this approach quite agreeable.


    "I''ll take my leave," Madam Bones said. "Arthur, I''m giving you a few days off to be with your kids, but don''t be gone too long; the Ministry will be quite busy..." She reached the door of the ward, paused, and let out a heavy snort.


    Everyone looked at her in confusion.


    "Sirius ck! Catch up!" she eximed angrily at the slouched and dispirited Sirius sitting in the chair.


    Sirius incredulously pointed at himself, "Now?" Getting an affirmative response, he reluctantly stood up, muttering, "Fine, Minister Bones has a way with orders..." His grumbles echoed until the ward''s door closed behind him.


    The people in the ward exchanged looks.


    "Is it really okay to let Sirius go over there? I don''t doubt his abilities, but temperamentally¡ª" Professor McGonagall asked, her expression serious. "I worry he might make a mess of things."


    "Don''t worry, Professor McGonagall," Lupin smiled, "Sirius learned how to handle the Minister during school. Perhaps we have a chance to develop her into a member of the Order..."


    Professor McGonagall didn''t seem entirely convinced.


    At this moment, Mr. Weasley, unable to contain his keen interest, pointed at the camera held by Felix and asked, "Can it record without any magic?" After receiving confirmation, he marveled, "Incredible... simply wonderful."


    He grew more fascinated and couldn''t resist asking Felix, "Mr. Lupin, where did you get it? I''d like to have one too."


    Felix provided an address and advised him, "It''s best not to keep it at home; it''ll be affected by magic¡ªoh, do you know any Muggle addresses?"


    "I can call a taxi, I know how!" Mr. Weasley eximed happily, as if he''d been looking forward to this moment for ages. "I have a garage at home with many treasures... have you heard of doorknobs?"


    "Have I ever told you that my dad''s obsessed with Muggle stuff?" Ron muttered, covering his face.


    Harry and Hermione nodded slightly.


    Harry reminded him, "Mr. Weasley even showed me around his garage. Don''t you remember? A few weeks before second year started..." He nced at Dobby, remembering how Dobby''s well-meaning "advice" had resulted in the Ministry using him of performing magic outside school and issuing a written warning.


    It was a nightmare at that time. He worried about missing


    the train for school, being expelled; worried about starving to death, or worse, Hedwig starving. That''s why he was eternally grateful to Ron and the Weasley twins foring to his rescue.


    But that was a long time ago. He was doing well now. "Dobby," he whispered.


    The house-elf perked his bat-like ears, gazing at Harry with adoration.


    "This is your autograph, obtained by the professor for you."


    >


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 Chapter 493: The Last Night of the School Year

    Chapter 493: The Last Night of the School Year


    Dobby left happily, ted. Ron found the house-elf''s ecstatic shrieks a tad unnerving, which sent everyone else packing. With Mr. Weasley visiting Mrs. Weasley, the infirmary was left with only Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Felix.


    "Professor, this is your ring," Hermione reluctantly said, pulling out a ring from under a pillow. "I hadn''t had a chance to open it."


    Felix took it, noticing Hermione''s expression. He spilled out a pile of magical notes from the ring, nearly engulfing her.


    "It was meant for you, Miss Granger. What you need now is extensive reading and practice, finding your own insights. Others'' help might not be as fruitful."


    Harry took the opportunity to inquire about the protective magic on him.


    "That''s a field I haven''t delved into," Felix shrugged. "I suggest asking Headmaster Dumbledore. He''s woven more than one protective spell on you."


    While Hermione joyfully stowed the magical notes in a bead bag, Ron, curious, asked, "Professor, how did you resurrect? Also, Hermione used a Time-Turner. Does that mean you arrived earlier, witnessing it all?"


    Felix chuckled. "Actually, I had cameras set up around, though I didn''t quite catch the specifics... Your screams were quite unsettling; I almost thought something went wrong," he teased Ron.


    Ron scratched his head sheepishly but shuddered at the thought of the Cruciatus Curse''s dreadful punishment."As for resurrection... I''ve never died. Consider it a form of advanced mour, but admittedly a bit frightening," Felix exined.


    "Oh," Ron sounded disappointed. "I thought¡ª"


    "That I could withstand Voldemort''s Killing Curse?" Felix smiled, and Ron nodded. "That curse might just be Voldemort''s forte. His understanding of it surpasses anyone globally. I''m not keen on experiencing it firsthand..."


    "The Killing Curse, the Cruciatus Curse, the Imperius Curse¡ªthe reason they''re deemed unforgivable is not just due to their uncounterable nature. I believe it''s also because their power subtly touches the realm of the soul¡ª"


    "The soul?" Ron eximed in shock.


    "Yes, torment, control, obliteration..." Felix said softly, causing a shiver to run through the trio on the hospital beds. "Though I haven''t tried, I suspect these curses work just as effectively on ghosts." Seeing their terrified faces, Felix changed the subject. "However, there are ways to counter the first two curses, intricate memory magic being one. But I tend to believe it''s a result of extreme self-will control."


    "Do you think willpower can resist the Killing Curse and the Cruciatus Curse?" Hermione asked sharply, finding the notion far-fetched.


    "It''s firm determination," Felix corrected. "I could cite some examples, like the Longbottoms or Harry''s recent experience. But these are circumstantial and rife with interference... Yet, there''s substantial evidence suggesting wizards can resist the effects of the Cruciatus Curse."


    He tilted his head towards Harry. Harry had previously resisted Barty Crouch Jr.''s Cruciatus Curse while the imposter posed as Professor Moody in ss. Harry had confirmed with the real Moody, who regretted noting up with that idea.


    As Felix rmended the Happiness Charm to Harry and Ron, Madam Pomfrey entered. Ignoring their protests, she insisted they each gulp down arge dose of cheering potion. After drinking it, Harry, Ron, and Hermione burst intoughter.


    "Madam Pomfrey, they''re stronger than you think," Felix told her before leaving the ward.


    Outside the Ancient Runes office, he saw Uriah, Byles, and Berni waiting.


    They were bidding farewell.


    "Mr. Hap, I appreciate our time together. I have an idea¡ªstarting a newspaper to promote the Society for Innovation. Would you mind if I include some of our previous discussions...?" Felix had no reason to decline.


    ...


    Harry stayed in the infirmary for a full five days, undergoing various tests with Madam Pomfrey each day, feeling like ab rat. Hermione recovered first and left the hospital wing, followed by Ron. This made the following days excruciating. After several requests to leave, Madam Pomfrey finally agreed.


    But before leaving, she gave Harry arge jar of cheering potion, feeling like all the hospital''s supplies were in that one jar. "All three of you have some, one cup a day during this time," she said sternly. If Harry disagreed, she seemed ready to keep him there and monitor until he finished the potion in the jar.


    Exiting the hospital wing, Harry didn''t know where to go. He felt silly holding onto the jar. He didn''t want to return to themon room; during those days in bed, discussions with Ron and Hermione about the implications of Voldemort''s return had consumed most of their time. His mind felt numb.


    Standing in the corridor, he looked out the window. From his vantage point, he could see Hagrid''s hut, Beauxbatons'' carriage still there, but the magical creatures statue from the Quidditch pitch was gone. Harry realized the Tournament must''ve ended, and they should have left Hogwarts...


    However, Durmstrang''s peculiar sailboat was still docked by the ck Lake. He saw tiny figures moving around, wondering if Krum was in there.


    "Hey, Harry," came Neville''s voice, "You''re out of the hospital. Wow, that must be cheering potion, but yours is way bigger than Ron''s bottle. You missed some things while you were in there; the teams from Beauxbatons and Venda Duellum have left."


    Harry felt a pang of regret. He hadn''t had a chance to thank Nona personally; her talisman had been quite effective. Then there was Byles, whom he considered a friend, but Dumbledore had prohibited others from bothering them. It was inevitable; they were too popr, and the ward was overflowing with baskets of flowers and fruits that Madame Pomfrey had brought.


    "...They couldn''t see you, so they prepared some farewell gifts, left them in the dorm... Ron''s decided to wait for your return before opening them, and it''s been tough for him to resist," Neville said, holding back augh.


    After pondering for a moment, Harry broke into a smile too.


    "Hey, why are both Beauxbatons and Durmstrang still here?" he asked.


    "Well," Neville scratched his round face, "Beauxbatons'' students chose to stay voluntarily. Madame Maxime is still around, and I''m not sure why. But Durmstrang''s students got the short end of the stick."


    "What happened to them?"


    "Durmstrang''s Headmaster, Karkaroff, ditched his own students and vanished. No one knows when it happened. Alrik Poliakoff mentioned it was after you guys came back that night; Karkaroff disappeared."


    Harry was utterly surprised. A headmaster of a wizarding school scared away by Voldemort, hundreds of kilometers away? It weighed heavily on his heart, as if a stone had been tied to it, dragging it down.


    "How will they get back then? They must be terrified."


    Surprisingly, Neville grinned.


    "Well¡ªtruth be told, they seem quite steady. Karkaroff wasn''t that well-liked, remember? It''s


    because of Poliakoff; he demonstrated some Dark Magic during a Dueling lesson, and Karkaroff gave him a good thrashing when they returned."


    "But he was defending the school''s honor!" Harry eximed.


    Neville shook his head, finding Karkaroff''s actions unreasonable as well.


    At that moment, Professor McGonagall hurriedly approached them.


    "Potter,e with me. The Headmaster wishes to see you¡ª"


    Harry bid Neville farewell, grateful as Neville offered to help him take the Elixir of Joy back to the dormitory. Following Professor McGonagall, Harry found himself at the statue in the headmaster''s office. As McGonagallgged behind, he pushed the door open, almost colliding with Snape. Snape''s expression was grim, his face even paler, emitting an aura of coldness.


    Without a second nce, Snape flicked his cloak and walked away.


    Entering the office, Harry found Dumbledore, hands resting on the desk, gazing into a shallow stone basin ¨C he recognized it as the Pensieve. It was Harry''s first encounter with the real Pensieve, though he''d seen simr items at the Ancient Runes Society.


    "You must recognize this, Harry," Dumbledore smiled, lifting his gaze.


    "Yes, Professor," Harry''s heart raced. "Professor Snape made some magical artifacts that mimic Pensieves..."


    "Ah, ancient runes are indeed versatile," Dumbledore chuckled softly. "They serve both in ancient magic and crafting magical items. If not for my endless dutiestely, I''d certainly have devoted time to studying..."


    "So, Harry, perhaps you can guess why I''ve called for you?" He sped his fingers, sitting quietly behind the chair, his gaze filled with myriad emotions Harry couldn''t decipher.


    "Um, I guess¡ªYou want to tell me something?" Harry voiced his thoughts honestly.


    "Indeed, Voldemort has returned, and Harry, your fate is deeply entwined with his," Dumbledore spoke through half-moon sses, "I believe¡ªit''s time to enlighten you, to address some doubts," he paused, concealing a plethora of emotions, leaving Harry utterly puzzled.


    "Well, I suppose... I guess I¡ªYou want me to know something?" Harry earnestly shared his thoughts.


    "That''s right," Dumbledore nodded gently. "Considering the failed Killing Curse that bonded you to Voldemort, in certain situations, you can sense his emotions¡ª"


    "So that''s why you had Professor Snape teach me lumency?" Harry blurted out.


    "Exactly," Dumbledore nodded softly. "Considering Voldemort''s escting strength and his seemingly unstoppable return, I fear he might discover this connection and even attempt to control you."


    Harry was terrified at the thought. The scar on his forehead throbbed faintly, a minor difortpared to the potential consequences. He never imagined his scar would be a conduit for something akin to the Dark Arts.


    "But your lumency skills are progressing well," Dumbledore smiled faintly. "I merely wanted to highlight the gravest consequences. Moreover, I believe Voldemort will find it challenging to control your body from a distance."


    Harry breathed a sigh of relief, but Dumbledore''s earlier request echoed in his mind. An idea emerged, "So, do you believe my visions¡ªum¡ªmight reveal something different?"


    His disposition swayed again; thus far, his connection with Voldemort had seemed beneficial. Yet, the looming dangers couldn''t be overlooked.


    "I can''t provide a precise answer, Harry," Dumbledore said, "but I have a theory. When you and Voldemort draw closer, this connection strengthens, perhaps revealing some secrets hidden in your memories."


    "I agree," Harry nodded, then hesitated, "But I haven''t mastered the art of extracting memories. I understand the theory, but I''ve never attempted it myself¡ª"


    "I can assist you in performing the spell," Dumbledore assured. "But there''s no rush; let''s first explore a few memories together."


    Meanwhile, Draco Malfoy stared at a letter, lost in thought. It was from his mother, seemingly ordinary at first nce, expressing maternal affection and even listing dinner menus ¨C something rare for his mother.


    Draco only realized on his second read that something was amiss; his mother was rarely this verbose.


    The Malfoy family had many rules, but it seemed there was only one to address the current situation. Draco mentally recited a series of numbers while sequentially picking out letters from the paper. Soon, his eyes widened. The encoded message conveyed: "Find an opportunity to duel Potter fiercely."


    On the eve of departure, The Daily Prophet''s front page buzzed with discussions about Hogwarts. Finally stepping out of his office, Fudge swiftly acknowledged the return of the mysterious figure and admitted his unsuitability for leading the wizardingmunity into a wartime state, voluntarily stepping down as Minister of Magic.


    Harry stared at the newspaper, the images of a much older-looking Fudge, worn and thin, surrounded by shing lights. Alongside the satisfaction, he felt a twinge of pity for him.


    Dumbledore stood up to address the audience, confirming the authenticity of Voldemort''s resurrection and reiterating the significance of the impending battle, emphasizing the importance of "understanding and unity among wizards" now more than ever.


    "Every guest in this hall is wee back anytime they wish."


    Harry scanned the paper, discovering that the new Minister of Magic, Amelia Bones, would take over from the former Minister, Fudge, next week...


    Is Sirius with her now?


    "...Voldemort''s adeptness in creating conflict and hostility is remarkable. We must disy an equally unyielding friendship and trust to counter it."


    The second edition detailed the Ministry''s urgent production of a wartime survival guide, set to be distributed in theing days via owls to every wizarding family.


    Hope it works...


    "We''re about to face dark and difficult times... Many families will be torn apart, and you''ll have to choose between the right path and shortcuts..."


    The fourth edition brought bad news ¨C a massive breakout at Azkaban, Dementors and Death Eaters escaping en masse. The good news was the limited casualties. Interim Minister Bones decided to rx restrictions, recruiting Aurors and Hit Wizards.


    The pace of war hastened...


    "We must thank four individuals, three of them students. I''m referring to Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger. They''ve shown tremendous bravery in various aspects, rare courage when facing Voldemort. Theirbined courage and intelligence cleverly sought help from Professor Felix Harp and sessfully escaped Voldemort''s clutches, unveiling Voldemort''s schemes."


    Dumbledore raised his goblet. Harry scrambled to follow suit, joining Ron and Hermione in the gaze of the hall''s varied eyes.


    The school year was ending, Harry thought.


    But the war was beginning.


    >


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 Chapter 494: On the Train

    Chapter 494: On the Train


    Early the next morning, the students packed their luggage and crowded the hall, waiting for the carriages to take them to the station. Harry held a trunk in his left hand and Heidestrand Vira''s cage in his right, watching as Madame Maxime and Fleur headed toward thewn where Beauxbatons'' carriage stood.


    "Fleur said she ns to find a job in Ennd at this sensitive time... what could she be thinking?" Ron asked.


    Harry shrugged, equally unsure. His gaze shifted past the crowd, catching Hermione and Krum exchanging final goodbyes. Krum said something, but Hermione shook her head in difort.


    "They''re all in theirst year at school, aren''t they?" Harry suddenly realized.


    "Right, which means our House Cup triumph was top-notch," Ron grinned satisfactorily. "Plus, with the reward from ''Future World,'' I''ve almost saved up a thousand Galleons... that''s a hefty sum," he said, flush with excitement.


    "I heard you''re aiming to be an Auror?" Collins teased from behind him.


    "Yeah," Ron turned slowly to face her.


    "You better step up then... or you''ll struggle once you''re in," Collins said.


    As Ron mulled over her words, Harry''s eyes widened."Collins, you haven''t already¡ª"


    "I''m d you''ve caught on, Harry," Collins smirked, her thick eyebrows standing out like caterpirs. She happily stated, "I''m already a prospective Auror; Ms. Bones herself replied to me¡ª"


    "That''s impossible!" Ron eximed.


    Collins smugly produced a letter from her pocket. "Arrived this morning... a bit messy but understandable. I reckon she''s been busy these days."


    Harry stared dumbfounded at the scrawl before him, the writing unmistakably familiar.


    It was from Sirius.


    "Hold on¡ª" Ron also noticed something, squinting as he scrutinized the note, seemingly confirming.


    Harry hastily patted Ron''s back, awkwardly blurting out, "Collins, do you greatly admire Ms. Bones?"


    Collins snorted, pleased, as she tucked the note away. "Of course, my aim is to be the next Minister for Magic."


    At that moment, Hermione returned, overhearing thest sentence. Clearing her throat behind Collins, she remarked, "So, I havepetition?"


    Collins turned, appraising Hermione. "You also aim to be Minister for Magic?"


    The sparks in the two girls'' eyes seemed to ignite a fire, making Harry and Ron shiver. Hermione squared her shoulders, locking eyes with Collins.


    "What are you thinking? Wanting to make history, bing the first Muggle-born Minister for Magic?" Hermione stated without hesitation.


    "We already had one, Nobby Leach, he was the first," Hermione replied without missing a beat.


    "Then the first female Muggle-born Minister for Magic?" Collins instantly retorted.


    "I''m not particrly interested in that title; I just feel certain things need doing..." Hermione gazed at Collins, casually asking, "By the way, do you have house-elves at home?"


    "Yes," Collins replied.


    "Do you get along with them?" Hermione followed up.


    "Alright, I guess¡ª" Collins looked bewildered.


    "We''ve got somemon ground then. I established an organization, well, it''s on hiatus... but if you''re interested..." Hermione drew Collins aside into a corner.


    Harry and Ron exchanged nces.


    "Is Hermione thinking¡ª"


    "Quite likely..."


    They stared intently at Collins and Hermione, the hall abuzz, drowning out their conversation. Harry and Ron could only observe the expressions of the two girls. After a while, Hermione returned, looking triumphant.


    "You seeded?" Ron asked incredulously.


    "Oh, well, sort of?" Hermione shook her head. "She''s quite interested, but she strongly resists that name."


    "That''s odd," Ron said dryly. "Why can''t a Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare be called ''Ouch''?"


    "I''ve told you! It''s not ''Ouch,'' it''s S.P.E.W.!" Hermione said, annoyed.


    At that moment, the carriage without a driver approached, and they hastily jumped aboard. Harry stared at a spot on the reins, lost in thought. "There''s something there, isn''t it? A creature called... um, Thestrals?"


    It was strange he hadn''t noticed this in almost four years. But once he knew the name from the book, he noticed many peculiarities¡ªthe faint sound of breathing, the clop of hooves, all so obvious.


    Hermione also stared at the nk space. The carriage moved forward, pulled by an invisible force.


    "I''ve only seen these creatures in pictures... of course, I''m not feeling sorry about it; they don''t have a good reputation... it''s connected to their traits, only those who''ve seen death can see them, perhaps it''s a unique invisibility principle..."


    "Luna can see Thestrals," Ron suddenly said, then exined, "I overheard Ginny talking about it."


    Hermione red at Ron, sarcastically saying, "You''re not discreet at all," her tone a bit sharp toward Ron.


    "I didn''t mean to," Ron shrugged. "It was just after Christmas, she was nning a birthday present for Luna..."


    Harry suddenly remembered his experience at ''Future World No.1 Shop'' before school started. Luna came with her dad, and despite knowing her for so long, she never mentioned her mom.


    "Hope we never see one in our lives," Ron said hopefully as they got off. "Though it''s a bit unlikely¡ªwhat I mean is, a high hope!"


    Harry and Hermione shared a faint smile.


    The sky was cloudless, yet the trio felt a bit mncholic.


    "They found an emptypartment on the train to Hogwarts before it made its stop at Hogsmeade Station. Harry ced Hedwig''s cage in the corner, as far away as possible from Ron''s noisy pygmy puff that had already disturbed Hedwig''s nap. Hermione''s Crookshanks curled up in the vacant spot next to her, looking just like a ginger cushion.


    "Is Krum inviting you over for the summer?" Harry inquired, recalling Hermione mentioning it earlier.


    "Yeah," Hermione replied, "but I declined. You know, given the circumstances..."


    At that moment, the door was pulled open from outside.


    Fred poked his head in, grinning, "Up for a game?" He darted in, "Watch it, George."


    "I didn''t¡ªthis door seems jammed!" George struggled to shut it, resulting in a banging noise.


    "Ouch!" A yelp came close to George''s ear. The door shut.


    Startled, George took a few steps back, staring at the door in astonishment.


    "There''s something there," he asserted.


    Without his prompting, everyone in thepartment noticed the anomaly: outside the window, a round, startled face emerged from the air.


    "It''s Crabbe!" Harry eximed, realizing something and swiftly withdrew his wand, scanning the air around them.


    "What''s¡ª" Ron and Hermione panted, Ron still with arge chunk of Cauldron Cake in his mouth. Yet, their long-standing understanding made them both draw their wands simultaneously.


    A half-glowing wand was thrust out of the air; Harry widened his eyes. Suddenly, it seemed as if someone had set off a box of fireworks inside thepartment. Spells shot from different angles, bursts of light and noise erupted in the confined space.


    Once everything quieted down, Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked down at Draco and Goyle, unconscious and bewildered, sprawled in the corner. Fred crouched beside them, inspecting.


    "They seem to have used a Polyjuice Potion, and it had a peculiar reaction with the curses on them..."


    Draco and Goyle were covered in bruises, various patches of hair, and boils, looking rather pitiful.


    George opened thepartment door, quickly nced around, then turned back, "The chubby one fled¡ªwho cast the Hair-Growth Charm?" He gestured towards Draco on the floor.


    "I did," Harry confessed.


    "Marvelous effect, Fred, don''t you think? Perhaps we could start a series of ''hairy people''?" He quipped.


    Finally, they moved Draco and Goyle to the nextpartment and returned to ying Exploding Snap.


    Fred and George were thoroughly engrossed. By the fifth round, Harry couldn''t help but ask them, "What''s so amusing?"


    "Are we being that obvious?" Fred and George exchanged nces, simultaneously asking.


    "Yeah, don''t keep us in suspense," grumbled Ron, his face covered in scraps of paper, "we could use some fun."


    "Alright then," George said seriously, "we can''t wait."


    "What can''t you wait for?" Harry inquired.


    "The prank on the professors... Remember we said we''d try it on the next professor''s birthday? But then we thought waiting a whole year would be a shame."


    "What have you done?" Harry held his breath, "The professors will surely find out."


    "Not necessarily," Fred countered, "we took a leaf out of ''The Adventures of Martin Miggs, the Mad Muggle''... a surprise box,plete with springs and a terrifying doll, all handmade. I doubt he''ll catch on ahead of time."


    "What kind of doll?" Ron was taken aback.


    "The Noseless One," Fred said matter-of-factly.


    Ron started coughing violently, cake crumbs flying everywhere. "V... Voldemort?"


    "You guessed it. Great idea, isn''t it? We figured it won''t go out of style for another year or two." George grinned.


    Hermione looked up from her magical scrolls, surprised by the twins'' ability toe up with such a scheme; it must have taken a lot of effort...


    Meanwhile, Felix sat cross-legged on the train roof, one hand propping up his chin, idly watching the rapidly passing scenery. He extended his other free hand and flicked the bare head of the doll; it immediately started swaying back and forth on its spring.


    "Finely crafted, and surprisingly bold... Hopefully, the uing journey will offer a few Death Eaters for me to practice on," Felix remarked, scratching an itch at the thought that, for a moment, he had indeed been startled.


    ...


    The Hogwarts Express passed through viges and towns, finally stopping at King''s Cross Station without any mishaps. As Harry bid farewell to hispanions upon exiting the tform, he caught sight of a familiar figure. He turned, and the person seemed to vanish suddenly.


    Strange. Was that the professor? Or did his eyes deceive him?


    "I say, what are you waiting for?" Uncle Vernon red at Harry¡ªor rather, at the cage containing the owl, muscles twitching on his face.


    Harry followed him, oddly unaffected internally. Compared to the troubles ahead, the Dursleys seemed more bearable now.


    Just one chapter''s worth of words today. I initially intended to segue into the summer break, but got stuck repeatedly.


    >


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 Chapter 495: The Red Scar

    Chapter 495: The Red Scar


    As twilight descended, a tall figure emerged on the outskirts of a Muggle town. He turned down a fork in the road, walking for a dozen minutes through the dim woods until there was no path ahead. Unhesitatingly, he approached a dpidated old house.


    *Knock, knock!*


    The rhythmic knocking echoed.


    With a grating creak, the door cautiously opened from within.


    "Who?"


    A hoarse voice, as if soaked in brine for days, inquired. Then, a wand emerged tremulously from the darkness.


    "Is it Moses Redscar?" asked a young voice.


    The stranger paid no attention to the wand aimed at him, instead checking a list. With an intrigued tone, he read the text aloud, "Leiden Seymour, born in the renowned Timothy Witch Town in 1947, raised by his aunt. Hmm¡ªdespite being a man, you inherited various dark arts, smuggling and dealing in dark magical items, channeling all earnings into dark magic research. During the wizarding war, you chose to aid Voldemort, allegedly praised by high-ranking Death Eaters..."


    "It''s you?"The visitor raised his head, revealing a youthful face with luminous pale blue eyes asionally reflecting magical scripts.


    The wand ttered to the ground.


    "You''re, you''re, you''re¡ªFelix Harp! You''ve finallye!" The man named Leiden Moses Redscar slumped against the doorframe, the dusky light outside revealing a visage gripped by fear.


    This stranger epitomized the ssic look of a dark wizard. Wrapped in an imprable ck robe, his frail frame hinted at various magical experiments beneath the exposed skin. His right index finger wore ayer of silver powder, but on closer inspection, it was wrinkled skin. His neck bore a patch of tender red flesh, contorted up half his face, vividly red, seemingly freshly healed yet existing for over two decades.


    His moniker stemmed from this.


    Felix darted into the house, cautiously navigating the floor littered with mold and dust-covered debris. He avoided any traps in the room, eventually selecting a rtively clean chair to sit.


    The homeowner regainedposure, at least on the surface. Moses gripped his wand, gaze deeply fixed on Felix. A contrast to his prior timidity, his voice lowered, "You shouldn''t be here, Harp. I''m not like those lone wizards you''ve driven away. I have friends, they¡ª"


    "Are you referring to Bonnell, Elinor? Or Kennedy?" Felix inquired.


    Moses stared at him in shock. "What have you done to them?" The wizard scanned frantically, seemingly seeking an escape.


    "Well, under my persuasion, they evidently realized how unwise it was to stay amidst this situation. Hence, they decided to temporarily leave," Felix nonchntly remarked. "It took some convincing, but the oue was pleasing. I told them, once news of Voldemort''s demise spreads, they''ll bepletely safe."


    "That might take a while," Moses sneered. "How long did thest warst? Ten years?"


    "Not my fault," Felix gestured toward the documents, "just following protocol."


    Moses''s nose twitched abnormally; a vibrant red crawled up his half-face scar. He snarled, "You''re purging dissenters! You didn''t convict me all those years ago, and now, for some inexplicable reason, you''re kicking me out of Britain?"


    "Lack of evidence," Felix retorted.


    "What¡ª"


    "The reason you weren''t captured back then was due to your sufficient concealment, Moses. The Ministry didn''t have concrete evidence. But don''t pretend to be innocent. You can''t fool me, nor a skilled Legilimens. Hence, this task fell into my hands."


    Felix calmly pointed to his eyes, silver specks flickering around the pupils like rings orbiting a blue. Moses, intimidated, averted his gaze. He''d never seen such terrifying eyes.


    Felix raised the documents again.


    "There are hundreds like you; the Ministry struggles with cases like yours. Ignoring them might lead to troublester on. Yet, if action is taken too early, say, locking you up, it might seem too harsh. Though¡ªexcuse me, in my view, your offenses are ring¡ª"


    "Don''t read my thoughts!" Moses growled. "Memories can never be evidence!" His wand glowed, a ck mist coiling around the tip, darkening the room.


    "Are you sure you want to do this?" Felix asked softly.


    Moses''s gathered courage deted like an old tire. He leaned against the table in the corner, avoiding Felix''s gaze.


    "What do I need to do?" he muttered, loosening his grip on the wand.


    "As I said earlier, leave this ce. Take a break, travel, bide your time... until Voldemort falls, then you can confidently return, resume your promising illegal work. I won''t be involved by then."


    Moses muttered something under his breath.


    "Sorry, didn''t catch that," Felix inquired.


    "When did you start working for the Ministry? Weren''t you a professor?" Moses couldn''t fathom why he''d crossed paths with Felix.


    Felix sighed. "Can''t help it. They offered conditions I couldn''t refuse¡ªwell, I could, but my morals forbid indebtedness, and honestly, I don''t mind this temporary job. It''s an opportunity to refine my magical abilities."


    He touched a ring on his left hand, where a Ministry-issued hourss was stored, filled with temporal energy.


    Following the Wisengamot meeting''s end, Ms. Bones had asked him to neutralize certain instabilities. "Each of them has a history, but evaded punishment due to various reasons, albeit minor characters in the grand scheme. Yet, they''re akin to the wings of the mysterious people now."


    She cryptically referenced the intrusion into the Ministry''s Department of Mysteries.


    "Whoever it is, I just hope they''re not siding with the mysterious ones," she sighed with a headache. "The Unspeakables gave an unworried conclusion, but I believe... Well, maybe it''s a good thing, at least if the mysterious ones n simr ideas, it''s toote now."


    Ms. Bones attitude mirrored the Ministry''s own indecision¡ªthey wished to reim the Time-Turner but feared it being snatched by Voldemort before it heated up.


    And thetter''s potential harm was far more significant.


    ...


    Mozier stared at the ck square table, which held several newspapers and two small booklets. One was the "War-Time Survival Guide" sent by the Ministry of Magic, and the other was the "Ancient Magical Script Easy Illustrated Guide," jointly published by Felix and a publisher a few months ago. Its cover, adorned with vibrant colors, resembled a children''s book.


    "Ancient magical scripts? Quite enviable," he remarked sarcastically.


    "You got one too?" Felix said in surprise, following Mozier''s gaze to the booklet. Intrigued, he asked, "How is it to read?"


    "Not great," Mozier shook his head. He extended his hand, his face turning red with effort as he struggled to conjure an ancient magical script. However, the magical symbols shattered the next moment. "I''m getting old, not adapting well to new areas..."


    "Could it be because of your research in Dark Arts? Others seem to find it useful," Felix calmly discussed with him.


    "Really? I''ll give it another try..."


    Felix took some time to guide him. Then, Mozier started packing his bags. Despite the Ministry''s prohibition on the excessive use of Untraceable Extension Charms, it evidently didn''t constrain dark wizards. Moreover, Mozier was almost an alchemist himself, capable of crafting simr storage items.


    All the furniture was abandoned, and Mozier selected bottles and jars from various corners of the room. Some were clearly enchanted to hold objects many times their size. Finally, with some effort, Mozier managed to cram them all into a single box, slightly out of breath.


    "Are you going to watch me Disapparate into thin air?" Mozier picked up the box, nced around the room nostalgically, and asked, "I have limited magical power; I can only guarantee leaving tonight."


    "Oh, no, I can provide some untraceable Portkeys," Felix waved his hand, and a row of junk items appeared ¨C boots, tin cans, butterbeer bottles, and a piece of rotten wood.


    Mozier hesitated for a moment. "Any rmendations? I don''t want to end up in Azkaban the moment I Apparate."


    "No need for that. Your concern should be whether to continue engaging in shady activities or start fresh in a new ce, abiding by the local magical authorities," Felix replied calmly.


    Mozier chuckled, unbuttoning his shirt to reveal extensive magical scars.


    "People like me?"


    He said no more, randomly picking a Portkey and holding it in his hand. It didn''t matter where he ended up; it wouldn''t significantly affect him. "Well then, Mr. Harp, see you in ten years?"


    "It won''t take that long; remember to read the newspapers."


    Felix waved at him. "Are you really letting me go like this? Don''t I need to sign a magical contract? What if I sneak back..."


    "Mozier," Felix said calmly, "who do you think benefits from such an arrangement? Don''t be foolish. If a Death Eater appeared at your doorstep today, you''d have no choice. And I¡ªwhen I see you among Death Eaters, I won''t show mercy."


    After the wizard in front of him disappeared, Felix checked off a box on the paperwork.


    "Everything went smoothly."


    >


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 Chapter 496: Hermiones Visit to Privet Drive

    Chapter 496: Hermione''s Visit to Privet Drive


    At the same time, at Number 4, Privet Drive...


    "So, that guy found himself a job?" Uncle Vernon red, his eyes wide.


    "Yeah," Harry said dispiritedly. He had thought it was a good thing Sirius was working at the Ministry of Magic, considering Sirius hadn''t held a proper job besides a few months as a teacher''s assistant at a Muggle school.


    In Harry''s mind, he pictured his godfather with a structured routine like Mr. Weasley, clocking in and out at regr hours. But he overlooked something¡ªthings were different now,pletely different. He hadn''t seen Sirius for days in a row.


    During the initial days of the break, Sirius was happy to sit with Harry and mock how he teased Amelia, the head girl (though that wasn''t right), and how he held the upper hand in their banter. It seemed serious to Sirius, a serious back-and-forth like a boxing match.


    But soon, almost visibly, the time Sirius spent with Harry decreased drastically.


    One day, Harry stayed at Sirius''s ce until eleven at night, and Sirius didn''t return. It shook Harry to the core. Was something wrong? His mind spun with terrible thoughts, but he forced himself to believe Sirius was held up unexpectedly. He resisted acting impulsively, returned to the Dursleys'', and tossed and turned in bed all night. As dawn broke, he jumped up, skipped breakfast, and dashed to Sirius''s ce.


    But there was no one there.


    Harry panicked, considering using the Disillusionment Charm to search¡ªGrimmauld ce, or perhaps Diagon Alley¡­ He even had his wand out, only to spot a conspicuous note on the table. In hindsight, Harry realized he was overreacting, but thankfully, he didn''t cause more trouble out of haste.The contents of the note relieved Harry. Sirius hade backte the previous night, expecting to sleep in a bit, only to be called away before dawn. Sirius left a note exining the situation for Harry.


    Since then, Harry was eager to have Sirius bring the two-way mirror so they could stay in touch. But every time he saw his godfather looking exhausted, he couldn''t bring himself to ask.


    In the following week, Harry saw Sirius only twice, both timeste at night. Sirius''s eyes were so swollen; he''d doze off after a few words. When Harry offered him crisps, Sirius identally pushed them into his nose.


    ...


    "What''s he doing now?" Uncle Vernon asked at the dinner table.


    "Not much," Harry said calmly. "He''s now the assistant to the Minister of Magic."


    The Dursleys looked puzzled.


    "Like the Muggle Prime Minister''s secretary," Harry rified, pleased to see their surprise, trying not to show his satisfaction too overtly. "It''s nothing, really. Hisst job was as a teaching assistant at a school; Dudley should remember, right?"


    Dudley choked on his sd, coughing dryly.


    "Boy, what have you done!" Uncle Vernon red fiercely at Harry, while Aunt Petunia patted Dudley''s back, calling out in a syrupy tone, "Diddy darling, what''s wrong? Choked on your food?" Dudley''s face turned red; he pushed Aunt Petunia''s skinny arm away with his plump, tripleyered one, shrugging his shoulders.


    Though Harry wanted to watch a bit longer, Uncle Vernon''s face turned beet red, as if he was the one choking on sd now. He kept flexing his fingers as if he was about to charge at Harry''s throat any moment.


    "I didn''t do anything," Harry hastened to say. "I guess he just misses his assistant P.E. teacher." He met Uncle Vernon''s small eyes, "Yeah, Sirius''sst job was at that... what''s-it-called... Smelting School!"


    "It''s Smeltings!" Uncle Vernon roared; that was his alma mater, and Dudley attending there made him extremely proud.


    Dinner turned chaotic. Uncle Vernon''s reaction to Sirius appearing at his and Dudley''s alma mater exceeded Harry''s expectations. He seemed to think¡ªthese ''weirdos'' were finally targeting his precious son. "Are they nning to monitor us from all angles?" he said, referring to wizards (or ''freaks,'' in his words), his face turning a pig-like shade. He kept flexing his fingers, as if he might rush and strangle Harry the next second.


    "This is an ident; Sirius was gaining experience by going to a Muggle school. He''s going to teach at Hogwarts next year," Harry exined. "And he''s quit now."


    "That hippie as a professor?" Uncle Vernon sneered, while Dudley finally stopped coughing and started burping asionally. For a while after that, Uncle Vernon grumbled discontentedly, "Look at you people! You have schools, governments¡ªhow many of you are there?" He asked, switching on the TV.


    "Probably a few thousand," Harry said dryly.


    "No wonder," Uncle Vernon eximed, as if he had found the basis for all his previous questions. He wanted to say more, but the evening news interrupted, "No need to worry, folks! The slowdown in the economy and the soaring unemployment rates are temporary, and things will pick up soon..." The man on TV strained to speak.


    "Only fools would believe him!" Uncle Vernon''s attention was captivated by the TV; he stared at the screen, saying, "This Prime Minister is terrible..."


    Harry nced too, but the man next to the Prime Minister caught his eye¡ªa tall, dark-skinned figure in a dark suit, exuding a profound sense of stability. Harry looked again, yes, it was Kingsley Shacklebolt.


    What on earth? Harry could hardly believe his eyes. He stared fixedly at the TV screen, but it stayed on the Prime Minister''s face. He was desperate, scratching his head in frustration.


    As the Prime Minister rambled on and wiped his balding forehead with a handkerchief, preparing to leave, the camera finally panned to the man beside him. Harry held his breath, confirmed he hadn''t mistaken.


    "You''re still watching the news?" Uncle Vernon said in a sour tone to Harry, "Hell, how can our news have anything to do with your kind¡ª"


    "Too bad," Harry said calmly, pointing at the TV, "I just saw someone I know." In the bewildered expression on Uncle Vernon''s face, he shrugged, "Yeah, looks like the connection between wizards and Muggles runs deeper than you''d imagine..."


    Before Uncle Vernon could erupt again, Harry hastily slipped back to his room, lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling. Sirius should still be at work by now. How to pass this time was a challenge. Harry picked up a purple booklet next to his pillow, the cover embossed with bold letters:


    "Wartime Survival Guide¡ªAuthorized by the Ministry of Magic: Protecting Your Home and Loved Ones from Dark Magic"


    Harry flipped to the first page, a sort of table of contents¡ª


    "The wizarding world is currently threatened by an organization iming to be Death Eaters. Adhering to the following simple safety guidelines will help protect yourself, your family, and your residence from attacks.


    1. Do not leave home alone.


    2. Be extra cautious at night. Return home before dark whenever possible.


    3. Check the security measures


    around your residence, ensure everyone knows emergency spells like the Protego Charm, Disillusionment Charm, and underage family members should know how to Apparate at will.


    4. Establish secret safety codes with family and friends to detect Death Eaters using Polyjuice Potion impersonations (see page 2).


    5. If possible, learn the anti-Dark Magic spell Lumos Solem.


    ...


    At some point, there was a tapping sound on the window.


    Harry jolted up from his bed, not even noticing the booklet slipping to the floor. He looked toward the source of the noise, finding a squashed, ginger-colored head pressed against the windowpane. It startled him; he nearly fell off the bed.


    "Crookshanks?" he eximed in disbelief, hurriedly making his way to the window. A ginger-colored cat jumped into the room from the windowsill, meowing at him.


    "Crookshanks, how did youe here? Did Hermione send you with a message? But this is too far..." Harry was bewildered.


    Crookshanks licked its paw and gestured outside.


    Harry mechanically turned his head, gazing outside, only to widen his eyes the next moment.


    Hermione stood lively by the flowerbed at Number 4, Privet Drive. She waved vigorously, holding a suitcase in one hand.


    Harry rushed downstairs in a flurry, followed by Crookshanks, ignoring the shouts of Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia. He burst out the door, running toward Hermione.


    "How¡ªwhy¡ªare you here?" Harry gasped for breath.


    "I wrote to Professor asking where I could practice freely¡ª" Hermione smoothed her hair, delighted.


    "But I can''t¡ªhere¡ªcast¡ªfreely¡ª" Harry panted, then spat out, "Sirius isn''t home during the day."


    "I know, the ce Professor mentioned isn''t here," Hermione said.


    "So, um, are you here to bid me farewell?" Harry said, a bit disappointed. He thought he''d havepany.


    "No one told you?" Hermione looked surprised, "We''re leaving together."


    >


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 Chapter 497: Clarifications

    Chapter 497: rifications


    Harry was still filled with questions. Yet two weeks of dull life made him eager to return to the magical world, especially since Hermione gave him apelling reason - to cast spells without reservations - he couldn''t ask for more.


    "I''ll pack up immediately!" Harry eximed hastily.


    The Dursleys were peering cautiously out the window, disying caution and suspicion in their eyes.


    "Who''s she?" Uncle Vernon was the first to ask when Harry entered the hallway. He carefully eyed Hermione, who stood alone near the flower bed, unable to detect any ws even with his scrutinizing gaze. "She''s also - also from your school?"


    "Yeah, that''s right." Harry walked past them straight upstairs.


    "Exin yourself! What''s she here for - did you give our address to someone else?" Uncle Vernon aggressively followed, blocking the stairs in front of Harry, pointing and spluttering, "I don''t know if we''ve given you the wrong impression, but - this house - I''ll never allow it - to be - a freak show!"


    "She has a name!" Harry retorted irritably. "Her name''s Hermione, and she''s not here to stay."


    Ducking under Uncle Vernon''s arm, Harry disregarded the rough tone. He was about to depart for somewhere else, a voice of joy humming within him.


    ncing around, he suddenly noticed the mess in his room - parchment papers, an ink bottle, and a few quillsy on the floor; unfinished Astronomy homework. The rickety bedside table piled with a small heap of candies, snack wrappers from the train partially torn, a half-bitten Chocte Frog; and the scattered books he''d left lying around for the past two weeks, Hedwig''s owl cage...Luckily, Hermione hadn''t followed him in. Harry couldn''t help but think.


    He sat on the bed, pulling out a trunk from beneath, cluttered with Muggle clothes and wizard robes. Dobby''s socks, a gift,y on top, conspicuously visible. For the next few minutes, Harry crammed the scattered books into the trunk, recalling where he''d ced each item.


    The cupboard held snacks,ic books, and unused textbooks. The former consisted of aplete set of "Adventures of Mickey the Wizard"ics and a series by Gilderoy Lockhart - books Harry had wanted to dispose of. Lockhart, a fraud who gained fame by appropriating others'' stories as his own, had even taught Defense Against the Dark Arts during Harry''s second year before his misconduct was exposed,nding him in Azkaban prison.


    Harry chuckled, feeling like he, Ron, and Hermione contributed to that downfall.


    He opened the closet, bundled up the dirty clothes to fill the gaps in the trunk, then absentmindedly picked up a purple booklet lying by the pillow. As he nced at the cover, he froze, fixated on the inscription:


    "Survival Handbook during wartime - Ministry of Magic authorized publication: Protect your home and family from Dark Magic attacks."


    Harry held his breath, delicately flipping to the fourth item - "Agree on safety code with friends and family to detect Death Eaters'' use of Polyjuice Potion in impersonation (see page 2)."


    His breath quickened, mouth parched.


    Slowing his steps, Harry stealthily approached the window as if up to no good, quickly peeking outside - Hermione was gone.


    Harry''s mind went nk.


    What was happening? Was Hermione fake? He swallowed hard, forcing himself to calm down.


    Hermione unexpectedly showing up to take him somewhere wasn''t really a big deal, given that he gave her the address... But someone should have informed him. Could it be that Sirius was too preupied and forgot about this? But Professor Lupin shouldn''t have forgotten.


    Harry felt he was overthinking. If Hermione were a Death Eater disguised, upon seeing him, she should''ve cursed him immediately instead of letting him go upstairs to pack... Yet, he couldn''t shake off the doubt: what if the Death Eaters wanted him to willingly leave?


    To stage an ident, making it harder for investigators afterward, suspicion would fall on the real Hermione.


    "Agree on safety code with friends and family..." He hadn''t even asked Hermione where they were going; his tion had clouded his judgment.


    Polyjuice Potion... He had seen it before, but how to discern? He had no recollection.


    Harry peeked out the window again. Hermione had returned and - she clearly spotted Harry on the second floor, smiling at him.


    Where had she just been? Who had she spoken to?


    Harry''s heart raced.


    Crookshanks - that waspelling evidence... Death Eaters couldn''t administer Polyjuice Potion to animals. Hermione had received a lesson on that earlier, but Harry wasn''t certain if it was Transfiguration, something he hadn''t paid attention to.


    Hurriedly carrying his trunk and cage downstairs, the cage bumping against the banister, Hedwig protested noisily. Right, Harry thought as he stood downstairs, he could ask someone if this was true.


    But it seemed toote. If Hermione was truly a Death Eater in disguise, she wouldn''t give him much time. Even a slight dy, and the Death Eaters and their allies might burst in at any moment.


    Harry stood frozen in ce, mind a whirl.


    "Boy, what are you waiting for? No one wants to keep you here!" Uncle Vernon shouted from the living room, his voice overpowering the television program - "Goal! Leading 1-0."


    Harry turned stiffly, looking at Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and Dudley, each engrossed in their own activities, seemingly normal. Strangely, Harry''s inner turmoil surged; if he encountered danger, he could preemptively Disapparate, but that meant unknown risks for the Dursleys.


    Like facing the wrath of angry Death Eaters.


    But they weren''t nice to him, Harry thought. He looked at the people in the living room as if reassessing them, judging them from a different perspective...


    "No more ice cream." Dudley''s chubby arms thumped the table.


    "It''s in the fridge, sweetheart." Aunt Petunia stacked the tes.


    "I want chocte-vored! Choc-ote!" Dudley loudly demanded.


    "Alright, Diddy," Aunt Petunia indulged. She put down the half-set table and wiped her hands. "Mom will get it for you, go ande back quickly. You can have another piece of fried steak during this time¡ª" she headed toward the door.


    Harry stared at her, his heart tensing as her hand touched the doorknob.


    "Don''t go out," he said hoarsely.


    Aunt Petunia turned, eyebrows quirking oddly, thin lips turning into a tight line, her once doting gaze swiftly cooling off.


    "You haven''t left yet." She said, turning back and twisting the doorknob forcefully.


    "Don''t go out!" Harry eximed. Suddenly, it seemed he regained his ability to move and stepped forward, pulling Aunt Petunia away from the door, drawing his wand.


    The Dursleys screamed and jumped up. "Put - that thing - away!" Aunt Petunia eximed.


    "How dare you!" Uncle Vernon thundered.


    Harry ignored them, carefully concealing his wand up his sleeve as he peered outside through the window. The noise inside the house made its way out, evident as Hermione craned her neck, scanning the yard. Harry pushed the door open, themotion audibly leaking outside.


    Walking slowly out, Harry pondered Hermione''s question, "What''s up? Still not done packing?"


    He hesitated, scratching his head, "I, uh... I just thought of something. Where are we going? Are weing back?" He shrugged nonchntly. "You know, I''ve got too much stuff, it''s slow to pack."


    "Oh," Hermione didn''t suspect a thing. "I''m not sure. The professor asked me toe by seven. He said if I got here early, I could wait with you at Sirius''s ce."


    That brought Harry some relief; at least she knew Sirius had a nearby rental.


    Comining, he muttered, "It''s only five now. You''vee way too early."


    "Hmm," Hermione huffed. "I had to give you time to pack, and I haven''t been here before. My parents were worried we''d get lost. Surprisingly..." she nced toward the street corner.


    "Parents?" Harry eximed.


    "Yeah," Hermione nodded towards the corner, catching sight of a familiar car parked on the street. He recognized two distinct silhouettes. If his memory served him right, those should be Mr. and Mrs. Granger.


    "You told me how unfriendly the Dursleys are," Hermione pursed her lips. "I think¡ªif too many people gather at the door, it might cause trouble for you."


    "Very considerate," Harry stuttered, all his doubts unraveled. Yet, he was now at a loss on how to exin things to the Dursleys. Nervously turning back, he glimpsed through the living room''srge window, catching a glimpse of two figures huddled together, the round shapes contrasting with Aunt Petunia''s almost skeletal appearance, as if Dudley had lent her some clothes.


    For a moment, Harry stood bewildered. His open mouth closed shut. Waving a hand, he looked dejected.


    "I''ll go get my luggage," he said, his tone resigned.


    Returning to the living room, the suitcases and birdcagey undisturbed on the floor. The Dursleys crowded in one corner, mirroring the scene he observed from outside. Harry silently picked up the cage and grabbed the suitcase''s handle, hoping... hoping that he could pretend none of this ever happened.


    "Boy! Exin yourself, what trickery are you ying?" Uncle Vernon bellowed, attempting to shield Aunt Petunia and Dudley behind him, while ring at Harry. But his attempt failed miserably. Anyone could see past him to the whale-like Dudley, squashed in the back.


    Aunt Petunia, red-faced and almost breathless, was the one managing to speak.


    "I... I misunderstood," Harry dryly replied. "The magical world isn''t safe recently. I need to be careful. That person is back."


    "Who are you talking about?" Uncle Vernon asked.


    "Voldemort," Harry uttered in a hoarse voice. Let it go... stop prying... you don''t know anything...


    "Vold¡ªwhat?" Uncle Vernon shook his head, trying to put on a contemtive look.


    "He''s back?" Penny Aunt whispered from behind, "That... murderer... he''s back?"


    Uncle Vernon nced at his wife, then at Harry, a realization dawning on him, "I''ve heard that name before. He''s the one¡ª"


    Who killed Harry''s parents.


    But nobody answered him.


    Harry stared at Aunt Petunia, initially feeling perplexed, a hint of absurdity creeping in¡ªthe Voldemort, whom the magical world feared to mention by name, reduced to a mere murderer by a Muggle, especially a housewife. Yet, looking into Aunt Petunia''s fear-stricken pale eyes, Harry hazily realized that in this room, more than just himself understood what Voldemort''s return truly meant.


    Aunt Petunia gave him a strange look, one she had never given him before. This made Harry immensely ufortable. The room''s air seemed suffocating; he grabbed Hedwig''s cage and his suitcase, swiftly exiting Number Four, Privet Drive.


    "Let''s go," Harry told Hermione, panting.


    "What''s wrong with you?" Hermione took Harry''s cage; Hedwig, just manhandled, was now disoriented, her once bright and dignified amber eyes now vacant and irritated. She hooted angrily.


    "Nothing," Harry replied.


    "You look like you''ve just had a fight."


    "I''ll tell you on the way," Harry said.


    Mr. and Mrs. Granger got out of the car, loading Harry''s luggage in the trunk. "Thanks¡ªI''ll handle the cage," Harry blurted, flustered, joining Hermione in the backseat, almost squishing Crookshanks. Crookshanks jumped onto Hermione''sp, meowing sadly.


    Harry didn''t notice the Grangers, equally silent, harboring their own thoughts.


    "Where to next?" Mr. Granger croaked.


    "Just turn at the corner and keep going straight; it''s very close," Harry replied, then heard a low sob.


    Harry looked up, seeing Mrs. Granger wiping her eyes from the rearview mirror. The atmosphere inside the car seemed even more oppressive than Number Four, and Harry couldn''t quite grasp what was happening. He only looked at Hermione, who shook her head slightly; her eyes were now red, too.


    The car stopped in front of a red house.


    Harry carried Hedwig''s cage out of the car, then fetched their luggage from the trunk, heading toward the door. But there were no footsteps behind him. He turned around, seeing the Grangers tightly embracing their daughter.


    Harry suddenly understood the eerie atmosphere in the car¡ªHermione''s parents had known about Voldemort''s return long ago, perhaps even witnessed the event. While he spent two boring weeks on Privet Drive, the Grangers carried an immense mental burden, worrying about their daughter.


    Finally, Hermione separated from her parents. She watched as they got into the car, the car starting and disappearing around the street corner.


    Hermione stood still, staring at where the car had vanished for a long time. Eventually, she wiped her eyes, dragging her suitcase toward Harry.


    "Is this Sirius''s rented house?" Hermione asked gloomily.


    "Yes¡ªHermione, you can stay at home for two months," Harry gathered courage, "You''re not like me¡ª"


    "Don''t joke, Harry! Doing nothing after knowing the war ising?" Hermione cut him off, her tone intense. "I don''t want to die in a war."


    These two chapters primarily focus on Harry''s perspective, not as an authored plot. They serve to underscore the impact of the impending war, delineate the Dursley family, and set up Dudley, dropping a hint about his future. If anyone''s interested, there''s a puzzle regarding Dudley''s future in these passages.


    >


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 Chapter 498: Negligent Mundungus

    Chapter 498: Negligent Mundungus


    "Let''s go inside," Harry whispered to Hermione as they entered Sirius''s rented house together.


    But someone was already inside.


    Harry stared, fixing his gaze on the scruffy stranger in front of him. The man sported a messy mop of ginger hair, looking as though he''d rolled down a hill in the Crookshanks. He lounged against the sofa, one short, stubby legzily propped on the table, seemingly dozing off.


    "Who are you?" Harry and Hermione simultaneously brandished their wands.


    Crookshanks growled, crouching on the floor.


    The man in tattered robes was startled awake. He rolled over and sat up, raising his hands in surrender as he noticed a wand, sparking at his neck.


    "I''m Mundungus Fletcher, sent by Dumbledore to protect you," the stout man said.


    "You''re lying," Hermione sharply retorted, "Dumbledore wouldn''t send someone like you¡ª"


    Mundungus looked at her intively. "What''s wrong with me? I''ve been working for both Dumbledore and H¡ª for over a decade now, a member of the Order since¡ª""But why are you here? This is Sirius''s rented ce," Harry asked, keeping his wand pointed.


    "He asked me toe, he can''t leave right now," Mundungus replied cautiously.


    "So you''re the one supposed to notify me to leave early?" Harry''s eyes widened. "But you did nothing, just slept here," he said in frustration, nearly misunderstanding Hermione due to the mismatched information.


    Mundungus gestured to his droopy, bloodshot eyes. "Look at me, just finished a big task, couldn''t keep my eyes open. I came early, thought I''d take a nap... didn''t expect you two to show up."


    "Were you busy with Order tasks?"


    "More or less," Mundungus vaguely replied.


    "But aren''t you supposed to protect Harry?"


    "Cough, temporary assignment..."


    Harry and Hermione exchanged looks, finding the guy suspicious, his eyes darting around.


    "Since you''re the one sent to inform Harry, you should know where we need to go," Hermione asked.


    "I can''t disclose the exact address, not yet, need to wait¡ª" Mundungus paused, waving a hand, "Hold on, don''t rush. It''s the ck''s old ce!"


    Harry and Hermione lowered their wands.


    "How do we leave from here?"


    "Through that," Mundungus pointed to the firece, "The Floo Network."


    "What about the time?"


    "Seven o''clock, plus we need to wait for someone with a note," Mundungus muttered, "Don''t ask me, I don''t know who it is."


    Harry and Hermione exchanged nces, almost figuring out who it might be.


    "What about the note you mentioned?"


    "A specific address written by the Secret Keeper, the key for the Fidelius Charm," Mundungus exined, "The ce we''re going is under the Fidelius Charm, after casting it, no one can reveal the address, outsiders can''t find it. Only the Secret Keeper has the right to disclose it to anyone. Once we''re there, we won''t have to worry."


    Harry and Hermione temporarily believed him, but felt the need for necessary questioning.


    "Are you close to Sirius?" Harry asked.


    "Of course, I often use this firece, safe, concealed! Not regted by the Ministry!" Mundungus said.


    "Not regted?"


    "Yeah, I bet the cks paid a hefty price to acquire this technology, think about it, if I had it too, I could set up secret bases all around the world, so convenient! Avoiding magical authorities from all countries!" Mundungus boasted, praising his grand ns.


    Unfortunately, the n stalled at the first step.


    "Mr. Fletcher¡ª"


    "Just call me Mundungus, missy, I''m not some dignitary," Mundungus scratched his scruffy chin.


    "Okay," Hermione paused, "I''ve heard that connecting to a private firece requires the owner''s permission¡ªand unless there''s a legitimate reason, wizards aren''t allowed to link Muggle fireces to the Floo Network..."


    Mundungus waved his hand.


    "Rules are dead. You get what I mean," he winked at Hermione, a sly, tacit understanding, "Do you dare say Sirius''s ancestors never secretly connected fireces? And the Ministry¡ªhmph, sounds good on paper..."


    He started rummaging through his pockets, finally pulling out a filthy pipe, stuffing it into his mouth. Only then did he look at Harry and Hermione.


    "Do you mind?"


    "What? Oh, um, no¡ª"


    "Thanks." He ignited the pipe with his wand, taking a deep drag. Secondster, he exhaled a big cloud of greenish, foul-smelling smoke. "Need a puff every hour to stay alert," Mundungus exined through the smoke, as if justifying himself.


    Harry and Hermione subtly shifted away to the other end of the sofa.


    "Would you like something to eat, Hermione?" Harry asked loudly.


    "Since you put it that way..." Hermione nced at the expanding smoke, decisively getting up. "I am hungry."


    They headed for the kitchen.


    "Get me something too, thanks¡ª" Mundungus shouted from the living room.


    "Can you cook?" Hermione whispered in the kitchen.


    "A bit, practiced at the Dursleys''. You?"


    "A bit too," Hermione admitted nervously.


    Harry''s hand touched the fridge door. "Oops," he said.


    "What¡ª"


    The refrigerator door swung open, revealing only two tomatoes on the top shelf and emptiness inside. Harry reached in, his fingers brushing against arge patch of mold on one of the tomatoes.


    "I forgot Sirius hasn''t been home for mealstely," Harry remarked.


    Hermione blinked. "Would you fancy somepressed biscuits?"


    "I suddenly lost my appetite," Harry hurriedly replied, "just had dinner."


    "Me too," Hermione squinted, nodding.


    In the end, it was only Mundungus who indulged in the biscuits. Harry and Hermionecked appetite due to the pervasive smell of burnt socks that lingered in the room, prompting Harry to open a window for fresh air.


    At that moment, he spotted a familiar figure crossing the street.


    "Professor?" he eximed, pleasantly surprised.


    Felix nced at Harry through the window, nodded with a smile, then was promptly overwhelmed by the odors in the room.


    "Ventus Erupto."


    A whirlwind swept through, carrying away the smoke and dust, visibly easing Harry and Hermione''s difort. Hermione took a deep breath, relieved.


    "I arrived half an hour early, found you both had left," Felix exined to Harry and Hermione, "then got held up by some issues, had to spend some time persuading your family."


    "Did you see the Dursleys?" Harry interjected.


    More than that, Felix thought. He nced at Hermione, realizing her parents were quite persistent too, seemingly aware of his arrival, waiting by the roadside to intercept him.


    "Saw them," Felix said briefly, "your cousin caused a bit of a ruckus, squealed at the sight of me, your uncle almost charged at me..."


    Harry looked puzzled.


    "...only to discoverter that it was your cousin who had raided the Honeydukes'' Ice Mice, nothing to do with me."


    Felix nced at the clock on the wall. "Time''s almost up." He pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Harry. "Take a look, both of you. Remember this address, won''t need this again."


    Harry and Hermione took the note, reading "12 Grimmauld ce." After memorizing it, the paper turned to ash.


    "Professor, are you the Secret Keeper for Grimmauld ce?"


    "I''m not," Felix replied without boration, "Dumbledore is, and he provided the note."


    At exactly seven o''clock, a vivid green me rose from the firece.


    "As agreed, we have about two minutes, make it quick." Felix nudged Harry toward the firece, urging, "Questions can wait on the other side."


    He stowed the luggage into a ring.


    Harry, holding Hedwig, stepped into the mes, called out "12 Grimmauld ce," and vanished in a whirl. Following were Hermione with Crookshanks, Mundungus, and finally Felix, standing alone in the firece.


    "Master Harry," a raspy, low voice spoke.


    Startled, Harry''s sses were obscured by thick dust as he faintly saw a small figure.


    "Kreacher?" he ventured.


    "It is Kreacher!" the elderly house-elf eximed joyfully, bouncing forward with a feather duster to clean the dust off Harry.


    "Oh, thank you¡ªthank you, no need, I can manage¡ª" Harry said, noticing a small square thing dangling in front of him. He removed his sses, using them to wipe his clothes.


    Hermione, Mundungus, and Felix arrived by then.


    Having cleaned his sses, Harry stared at the small green object¡ªa pendant box hanging from Kreacher''s chest.


    "Sirius gave this to you?" Harry asked in amazement. It was Regulus''s relic, a forged Horcrux that Kreacher had worn before, even across the two-way mirror. Harry had assumed it was a replica, but it turned out to be real.


    "The master is generous, allowing me to safeguard this item," Kreacher said.


    At that moment, someone rushed out from the living room.


    "Reems," Felix greeted, "didn''t expect to see you again so soon. Is your taskplete?"


    "Yeah," Lupin replied oddly.


    "I''ll go change, then I''ll be in the study for a while. You can handle their queries," Felix said.


    Lupin nodded. "Leave it to me."


    "I''ll take a nap, call me for dinner," Mundungus yawned, heading towards the sofa in the living room.


    "Professor has joined the Order of the Phoenix too?" Harry asked, watching Felix disappear upstairs, quite intrigued.


    "He hasn''t," Lupin rified, "but he''s on our side, an ally¡ª"


    >


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 Chapter 499: Recent Developments

    Chapter 499: Recent Developments


    Hermione smirked, while Harry seemed carefree.


    "What''s going on?" Luna asked, puzzled.


    "Nothing, really," Harry chuckled more, "The professor, naturally, is on our side. It''s entirely normal, isn''t it?"


    "You make a valid point," Luna said seriously. "But he''s too independent; sometimes, the information doesn''t match... I almost got killed by him."


    "What happened?" Harry''s smile faded.


    "I took a few days off recently, caught up with friends," Luna said gloomily. "As you know, I mean my kind..." Harry and Hermione nodded knowingly, understanding she referred to werewolves.


    "Dumbledore wanted me to infiltrate the werewolfmunity, but my face had gained some notoriety, appeared in the papers a few times... So, I opted for semi-public activities, trying to persuade the more moderate werewolf groups, promising a stable wolfsbane potion to keep them neutral, if not on our side. One time, I encountered Felix looking for a dark wizard¡ªaplicated rtionship exists between werewolves and dark wizards, sometimes entwined due to both being on society''s fringes, albeit under different circumstances... Conflict erupted; a few impulsive werewolves rushed in, only to be struck back by ck lightning the next moment."


    "It was too fast, couldn''t react," Luna said, still shaken. "But the mission was aplished; that pack of werewolves moved out overnight."


    Harry and Hermione exchanged looks."Kids, I''m not saying this to me Felix¡ªalthough his methods were indeed rough," Luna concluded, "but you must realize: werewolves are all dangerous. Though divided into aggressive and moderate factions, they''re all within the danger category. So, don''t fall into the misconception that the moderates are just amiable."


    "I don''t think so, Limes. You''re nicer than most people I know," a young woman''s voice entered the living room.


    The witch had a pale heart-shaped face, sparkling ck eyes, and a vibrant violet short haircut. Her attire leaned toward Muggle style, with an entric shirt and patched jeans, like the rebellious girl Harry asionally saw.


    Harry found the face vaguely familiar, recalling meeting her in third year after a few seconds.


    "Hello, Tonks," Luna calmly introduced them, "Tonks is the Ministry''s proud auror, chosen to be stationed at the Phoenix as a liaison between both sides."


    Harry and Hermione suddenly understood.


    Tonks approached, highly interested, extending a hand. "Hi, been wanting to chat with you both," she said casually.


    Harry and Hermione hurriedly shook hands, and Tonks leaned in to whisper, "I''ve joined the Phoenix."


    "Congrattions¡ª" Harry awkwardly replied, unable to find a fitting response.


    During this time, Kreachur had remained silent. When Harry looked at him, he respectfully bowed. "Allow Kreachur to brew tea for the young master."


    "Um, okay," Harry said. Then, Kreachur disappeared before his eyes. Harry found Kreachur''s attitude peculiar.


    "He''s treating us like air," Luna remarked. "Because of my werewolf status, he should actually treat Tonks better, but..."


    "My mum was disowned by the ck family," Tonks shrugged. "I guess he doesn''t approve of me either."


    "Disowned? The tapestry?" Harry asked.


    "Yeah," Tonks mimicked sparking fireworks.


    Hermione looked puzzled by their conversation.


    Harry softly exined, "There''s a tapestry on the second floor wall, the ck family''s genealogy. But not everyone''s on it; some members who seriously vite family traditions get removed, like Sirius did before."


    Hermione nodded in understanding.


    "So¡ªwee to our gathering," Luna smiled, opening her arms and hugging Harry.


    ...


    Harry and Hermione sat on the couch, everything feeling quite novel around them.


    "Are there only a few of you here?" Hermione asked.


    "Of course not, Sirius offered this ce as the Phoenix headquarters. Everyone''s usually busy, rarely get together like this, only when they find spare time," Luna exined, "Molly cleaned up a few rooms; it''s barely suitable for habitation now."


    "I remember Sirius and Kreachur tidying up before," Harry said. He had stayed here a few days, and back then, the environment was pretty bad.


    "Alright, let me rephrase that¡ªit barely meets the needs of the new residents," Luna smiled. "Sirius is a bachelor, and Kreachur... I''d say he''s diligent, but he''s old, and I strongly suspect his taste has gone astray..."


    Luna checked the time, "Sirius should be back soon; he said he''d try to finish work early today. I''ll go cook."


    "Need any help?" Tonks asked.


    "Not necessary," Luna declined, but Tonks followed her out. Soon, sounds of ttering from downstairs and Tonks'' apologies echoed, "Oh! Sorry¡ª"


    As soon as they left, Kreachur appeared again, bringing a teapot. "This is for Master Harry¡ª" he poured hot tea into the cup considerately, then nced at Hermione, making no move.


    Hermione awkwardly poured herself a cup of tea and started sipping.


    "If Master Harry has any orders, just call for Kreachur. Kreachur is at your service," the household elf vanished with a "pop."


    Harry whispered, "Kreacher served the ck family for generations, deeply influenced by pure-blood beliefs. Sirius spent quite a bit of effort to stop him from swearing, but I reckon he only seeded halfway. Kreacher nowpletely ignores non-pure-blood wizards."


    "I understand," Hermione said, holding her teacup, gazing with interest in the direction Kreacher had disappeared.


    "Let''s go, I''ll show you around the house. I''ve been here a few times before, but it''s odd, I haven''t found a suitable ce for practicing magic... We''re currently on the second floor. The ground floor is the entrance hall and dining room, while the third floor has several bedrooms, but during thest clean-up, a lot of junk was piled up inside, I''m not sure what the situation is now... At the end of the corridor is the study..."


    Harry and Hermione nced into the study, where a professor sat muttering to himself. "Animagus?" he lifted his head, looking at them, "Has Sirius returned?"


    "Not yet," Harry replied honestly.


    "Professor," Hermione asked, "where can we practice magic?"


    "There are two ces. On the fifth floor, apart from two bedrooms that used to belong to Sirius and Regulus, there''s a spacious activity room that was previously locked. Practicing regr magic there isn''t a problem. The kitchen is on the underground floor, but through another hidden entrance and down a long flight of stairs, you''ll find a huge space, somewhat like a basement level two. I suspect it was the ck family''s spell experimentationb,ter abandoned. However, the walls there are made of extremely solid stone, and there are various magical protections..."


    After Felix finished exining, he inquired, "By the way, do you know about the honors?"


    "Honors?" Harry and Hermione eximed in unison.


    Felix smiled, "Ms. Bones herself mentioned it. You have the chance to receive the Second Order of Merlin; it''s not a hoax."


    Harry hadpletely forgotten about this.


    Even upon returning to the living room, Harry''s mind remained dizzy. Was he about to receive the Order of Merlin?


    ...


    As it neared eight o''clock, some noises drifted down from downstairs.


    Harry perked up his ears, recognizing familiar footsteps. It was Sirius!


    "Harry!" Sirius appeared at the living room door, smiling at him, "Mondongus has finally managed something sensible." He sat opposite Harry, almost plopping onto Mondongus, "Oops¡ª"


    "Is it dinner time?" a sleepy Mondongus mumbled.


    "Not yet," Sirius replied, shifting to another spot, allowing Crookshanks to leap onto him, seeking a scratch under its chin.


    "What have you been up totely?" Harry asked.


    "Plenty to do," Sirius slumped wearily on the couch, "We''re in a preparatory phase. Both sides are cautious; we haven''t had direct confrontations¡ªexcept for a few incidents involving Inferi. We suspect Voldemort is secretly recruiting, gathering forces, or nning something... never idle. On our end, it''s about fortifying defenses," he nced at Harry, "living on the move while handling family matters; that''s the situation."


    "The wizarding world has been peaceful for many years. Most folks aren''t vignt; there are plenty of loopholes to exploit. You might have heard about Azkaban... Amelia''s been quite the paperhangertely."


    "And the Floo Network," Mondongus mumbled in his sleep.


    Sirius grinned.


    "True, who''d have thought the inconspicuous Floo Network Authority would be so crucial during wartime? Amelia''s ordered the team to clear out old and illegal routes and monitor any anomalies¡ª"


    "What about here?" Harry remembered Mondongus mentioning the ck family''s involvement in some aspects of the Floo Network.


    "No need to worry for now," Sirius smirked mischievously, "This ce is under a loyalty enchantment. The Ministry can''te snooping; at most, they''ll discover uncontrolled nodes but won''t be able to locate us."


    ...


    During dinner, they exchanged information.


    "Fudge''s been sent to various European countries, advocating vignce against Death Eater activities... making good use of him," Sirius shrugged.


    Harry was greatly surprised.


    "Molly mentioned she''s moving in with a few kids in a couple of days," Lupin also shared.


    Harry and Hermione were thrilled to hear this news.


    "I''ll be gone for a few days," Felix said, "I''ll return before the honors ceremony starts."


    "Where to?" Lupin keenly inquired.


    "Visiting Mr. Scamander; I miss those little creatures he keeps in the basement."


    >


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 Chapter 500: The Hatching of the Bird-Snake

    Chapter 500: The Hatching of the Bird-Snake


    On the northern coast of the English Channel, in Dorset County.


    "Hiss? (How much longer do we have to wait?)"


    "Patience, Valen. It''s almost time."


    Felix and Valeny on a bed of thick, dry leaves, each holding a pair of binocrs, scanning the distance. Surrounding them was dense woond, and about sixty to seventy feet awayy a nest woven from vines.


    The nest was intricate, filled with fallen leaves, and nestled within were six or seven silvery eggs that resembled delicate works of art.


    This was Newt Scamander''s home, more specifically, a part of his underground cer. Felix and Valen had been here for nearly a week, spending most of their time in this ce, experiencing various magical adventures without stepping outside. Justst night, they were rowing in the marshy waters, and today, they were observing the bird-snakes hatching in the woods.


    Everything was happening in Newt Scamander''s wondrous underground sanctuary.


    This ce was a gathering of magical creatures to rival Romania''s Dragon Sanctuary. Since Newt''s retirement, his outings had significantly reduced. Several magical ministries secretly breathed a sigh of relief... but the scale and variety of magical creatures hadn''t diminished. If anything, they had grown even more extensive. Apart from those Newt brought back himself, there were creatures from his son, grandson, Ministry workers, the Magical Creatures Association, the sanctuary... and enthusiasts from abroad seeking his help and advice.


    This time, Felix brought along aplete set of ''Future World''pany products as rent for his peculiar journey. Newt was initially taken aback, but his wife rather liked these novelties."Rolf visited us and brought a chair, veryfortable to lie on," Tina Goldstein mentioned to him.


    ...


    "Tap, tap, tap¡ª"


    A crisp metallic tapping echoed through the woods. "It''s hatching!" Felix whispered to Valen. Both of them raised their binocrs, carefully observing the nest. Initially, there was just one source of sound, but it was like a signal as all the bird-snake eggs started emitting the same sound.


    "Hiss?"


    Valen gently nudged Felix.


    "The record button? The red one¡ª" Felix whispered, all the while keeping a close watch. Cracks swiftly appeared on the surface of the silvery eggshells. Then, the shells contorted and twisted as if something enormous inside was expanding. After a few probing attempts, the pecking began, and the cracks continued to widen.


    "ck, ck, ck," the sounds chimed together, creating a symphony.


    Finally, the first bird-snake emerged from its shell.


    The bird-snake was a two-legged winged creature with a snake-like body adorned with beautiful feathers, usually exquisite and brilliantly blue, though exceptions existed. The newly born bird-snake''s legs were still weak, pressed against its body''s sides, moving more like a snake. It swam in circles in the nest, curiously surveying its siblings.


    They were still trying to break out of their shells.


    "Did you capture it on video?" Felix whispered.


    His partner Valen hummed happily, envisioning that the footage they captured might be a precious imagery released by the ''Future World''pany, to be seen by countless wizards.


    "I did too. We canpareter... Let''s get closer; the bird-snake mom isn''t around..."


    "Hiss? (Because you lured her away with a bucket of bugs!)"


    "Haha, the bird-snake mom needs a nutrient boost, right? We came in quietly and will leave quietly."


    "Hiss? (Any transformation to see?)", Valen asked.


    The bird-snake possessed a special ability even among magical creatures¡ªthey could stretch or shrink at will, filling all avable space or reducing their bodies ording to the space avable.


    "Are you referring to them or me?" Felix gestured towards the nest in front of them. His binocrs were almost poking into the nest, and the first bird-snake that hatched was drawn to their voices and the glittering lenses, curiously tilting its head to scrutinize them.


    The gaze of the young bird-snake shifted from Felix to Valen, fixating on its long, pink beak for a while. Then, it tilted its body to inspect its reflection on the surface of the silver eggshell, seemingly confirming that the two in front of it weren''t its mother. The little one immediately unfurled its bright blue wings in a disy of protest toward them.


    The body of the bird-snake expanded a bit too.


    "Wow-hiss!"


    Valen watched in amazement; after all, sniffing wasn''t its forte. Slowly reaching behind, it gestured frantically to Felix, who grinned and handed it a small ss jar.


    Valen stared at the young bird-snake, waving its fist in front of it and revealing a beetle.


    The small bird-snake, still trying to puff itself up, stopped in its tracks, tilting its head to inspect the food Valen offered. Its stomach grumbled irresolutely. Though it didn''t speak, its mouth edged closer and closer...


    The young bird-snake quickly sumbed to the temptation of food.


    With the first one setting an example, the other newly hatched bird-snakes, not bothering to ponder theplex issue of ''why does mom look different?'', began moring for food. Felix and Valen took the chance to reach out, caressing their lovely feathers.


    Especially Felix; his fingertips emitted a faint magic as he touched them, not to harm but to analyze...


    The joy of feeding was short-lived. Before long, Valen was shaking the empty ss jar and holding it up for Felix to see.


    "Gone?" Felix asked.


    Valen turned the jar upside down, shaking it twice,pletely empty.


    "Should be enough, right? They''ve just been born; it''s best not to feed them too much at once..." Felix was undecided.


    At that moment, rustling sounds came from behind them.


    Valen looked up, mouth gaping through the bottom of the ss jar.


    "Umm¡ª" Felix felt something amiss. He turned around and saw the bird-snake mother slowly rising behind them, growing in size, its huge bird-like head looming down toward them.


    ''Bird-snakes will attack anyone near them, especially when they''re protecting their eggs.''


    As this thought shed through Felix''s mind, he grabbed Valen and appeared twenty feet away. To the bird-snake mother, this distance was insignificant; a leap forward could bring her to them. Luckily, Felix had spent a few days here and was somewhat familiar.


    So, the bird-snake mother only encircled the nest, watching them warily.


    As Felix and Valen cautiously retreated, the bird-snake mother''s body gradually shrank. Soon, it revealed the protected nest, and the young bird-snakes chirped and climbed onto their mother, awkwardly pping their wings, watching the "caretakers" depart.


    "Let''s head back too."


    Felix said contentedly.


    On their way back, they passed an empty tree hollow. "Hey, Lightning," Felix greeted, waving at the tree hollow where an invisible creature lived. Then, they crossed a small open in, walked across a long wooden bridge, and returned to their base.


    This area was


    adjacent to the exit, the most human-like part of the entire underground chamber.


    It was filled with pots, pans, and books, and Felix suddenly felt as though he had stepped into the territory of a Potions professor, despite the contents of the bottles being entirely different.


    He had never intended to introduce these two individuals to each other.


    That meeting was destined to be unfriendly.


    >


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 Chapter 501: Magical Creatures

    Chapter 501: Magical Creatures


    "Hey, Newt," Felix addressed the busy figure, "any discoveries?"


    "I''m not sure," Newt straightened from the table, hastily jotting notes, eyeing the frantic movement of several ''st-Ended Skrewts'' in the ss cab. He hesitated, "Hagrid calls them that? They seem rather temperamental, in a mating season, perhaps? Some creatures act daft during that time... as do some people."


    "No one''s certain; these beings have only appeared in the real world for less than a year. No one can fully grasp their behaviors," Felix replied. "Hagrid was looking after them, but he''s off on a trip and left thest few in my care. He''s keen on hearing your thoughts too."


    "We need more observation time." Newt fixed his gaze on the cab. "We must confirm if the Skrewts can breed stably in natural conditions¡ªthat''s crucial. Otherwise, they might just vanish into history. Too many failed attempts at creating new species through intervention exist. Hagrid didn''t involve magic, which is good; there''s a chance for a stable existence. I''m considering setting up an enclosure; your magic has been keeping them confined."


    He looked up, an eager expression on his face.


    "Make it sturdy," Felix reminded. "I''ve never seen a tame Skrewt. It seems theyck a brain as an organ."


    Newt nodded.


    Felix cradled Valen, examining a dangling ball of yarn with it.


    It was a spiked pod, but as they observed, it suddenly unfurled into a massive, bat-like crawling creature with skeletal wings, a terrifying sight. It hung upside down, eyeing them, startling Valen in Felix''s arms.The next moment, it retracted.


    "The Unflying Wyvern. They curl into a spiked pod when not flying. This one isn''t dangerous, but it''s best not to get too close. Norris is a bit shy," Newt smiled to himself.


    "Huh?" Valen, still startled, patted its chest.


    "Norris, that''s its name," Newt repeated. "Just like you''re Valen."


    He looked at Felix. "It''s hard to imagine; she''s already learned to write, though a bit messy, but... well, quite impressive. Reminds me of my brother," he added in a near whisper.


    Felix gazed at the coiled Unflying Wyvern, unable to help but click his tongue. "Valen looks better," he didn''t want to turn into that. "So, you''ve trained it?" He suddenly had a thought, curious. "These things are quite dangerous in the wild."


    Newt had a nostalgic look.


    "I once had a Wyvern that helped me immensely. Norris is its descendant."


    "I see," Felix nodded. He asked curiously, "Did that Wyvern assist you in catching Grindelwald?"


    "Oh, uh¡ª" Newt looked at him, "Dumbledore told you?"


    "No, my source was a magical assistant from the American Institute. He told me there''s an inconspicuous Wyvern statue in the American Institute''s hall... near the trial room... with an inscription stating ''It once assisted in defeating the source of turmoil,''" Felix exined. "The statue is attributed to the American Institute''s President Seraphina Picquery. Given the context at that time, I deduced."


    Newt halted his actions, lost in distant memories. "I can''t disclose more¡ªit involves Dumbledore. But so far, what you''ve said is urate."


    "What kind of person is Grindelwald?" Felix keenly inquired. "This shouldn''t breach any prohibition, right?"


    "...No, it doesn''t," Newt''s voice lowered. "He''s very proud, or confident... charismatic, although I didn''t particrly like that aspect. He caused a lot of trouble then..." His voice trailed off, and in that moment, he seemed like an almost centenarian.


    Two dayster, Felix bid farewell.


    "Hey, sh, you''re here too," Felix addressed the invisible creature next to Newt, which today appeared as a sloth-like animal. Felix handed it an apple.


    "Done with your investigation?" Newt asked.


    "Done, quicker than I anticipated," Felix said contentedly. "I suppose it''s because I voluntarily gave up on certain goals. After all, Venomous Tentac and Mooncalves aren''t quite suitable..."


    Plus, they don''t look good.


    "Can I ask," Newt looked interested, "you mentioned wanting to study magical creature structures, using magic¡ªwas it ''scanning''?"


    "Yes¡ªusing magic to scan. Honestly, I don''t fully understand it. Sounds like the process of familiarizing oneself with transfigured creatures in Transfiguration," Felix nced at Newt, who nodded.


    "You''re right," Felix smiled faintly.


    "But it shouldn''t be that. Regr transfiguration only changes the appearance of magical creatures, unable to reveal their essence. Even the advanced Animagi just remove certain drawbacks..." Newt mused to himself.


    "Even Dumbledore... wait, I seem to recall a simr scene, not aplete transfiguration though, hardly any changes on the skin. I always thought it was some magic I didn''t know."


    Newt''s eyes sparkled, fixated on Felix, brimming with curiosity.


    "Can you truly do that? Can I see?"


    "Of course, showcasing this ability to the world''s greatest expert on magical creatures would be an honor."


    Valen stood on the table, also eagerly looking at Felix. Although it had seen it beforehand, the sight was still astonishing. What species exactly was the grand magician? The invisible creature nibbling on fruit suddenly widened its eyes, dropping the fruit¡ªit had seen what wasing next.


    Felix tilted his head, cautiously eyeing his fingers and began the transfiguration. A strange sensation swept through him. His body seemed to melt, his hands shrinking and melding into his sides, torso and neck elongating, a pair of blue wings akin to scimitars breaking through his clothes from the back... Felix felt no pain, only a warm sensation; no panic, just tranquility¡ªbecause he knew the transfigured form and that his body could adapt to this extent of change.


    He became a magical creature.


    Felix lowered his head, but his body quickly expanded, taller even than Newt. With a bird-like, blue head almost the size of the invisible creature, he looked down at the people present, his gaze slightly shifting, easily seeing the rivers, caves, and ins in the distance.


    Towering stature, radiant feathers, over a hundred feet long.


    He had turned into a bird-snake.


    >


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 Chapter 502: Bait - (1)

    Chapter 502: Bait - (1)


    Newt appeared both surprised and fascinated.


    He gazed at an unusuallyrge bird-snake, his focus intense and fervent, murmuring to himself, "Am I dreaming? I hope Tina doesn''t wake me up halfway." He cautiously approached, but the bird-snake seemed startled by his demeanor, pping its wings to create a strong gust, pushing him back a few steps.


    "Wow, easy¡ª"


    Newt wasn''t sure where he found a jar from, filled with beetles. "I know you like these, no harm meant. Look, it''s food¡ªuh¡ª" he said while trying to slowly unscrew the lid, only to find the bird-snake gradually shrinking.


    "Felix?" he eximed, clearly puzzled.


    Soon, the bird-snake was no bigger than a newly hatched creature, coiled up. Valen hopped off the table, eyeing the bird-snake; its bright, ck eyes shimmered, both little creatures almost the same height.


    "Chirp!"


    Valen reached out, but the bird-snake darted aside, a mist rising as Felix''s figure reappeared. He gestured, his robe draping over him, restoring to his initial form.


    "Performance over."With a snap of Felix''s fingers, the mist swiftly dissipated.


    Newt visibly showed disappointment.


    "You wouldn''t want to study me, would you?" Felix cautiously inquired.


    "Oh, no, why would I¡ª" Newt, slightly flustered, interrupted, his gaze fixed on him, "Certainly not¡ªI can differentiate between you guys. There''s no giant bird-snake in reality, at least not that I''ve seen. Is it because of you?" He awkwardly changed the subject.


    Truth be told, Felix also breathed a sigh of relief. Newt''s eyes seemed like he was observing a magical creature he adored, one he hadn''t encountered before.


    "It''s likely because of me," he sat on a nearby rock, "I''ve been experimenting with magical creature transformationstely, but it seems the most recent bird-snake alteration I''ve grasped is easier and moreplete. I suspect it''s due to my adeptness with the scale-reducing charm."


    "The one you used on the st-Ended Skrewt?" Newt asked astutely.


    Felix nodded.


    "That exins it," Newt said, "The ancient runes'' connection to magical creatures runs deep¡ªI''ve read your paper¡ªbut, um," he pondered his words, "you should understand, the talents of ancient runes and magical creatures are distinct."


    "I understand," Felix nodded, "Perhaps initially, ancient runes might have mimicked magical creatures and nts, but when wizardsbined purely magical symbols to create the first entirely new magic, the two became distinct."


    "However, I''ll try to restore their abilities."


    His light blue eyes brimmed with infinite desire. "The talents of some magical creatures are truly fascinating." He nced down at the Invisible Beast, this little creature not only could turn invisible but also had the fleeting ability to prophesy the future. Then his thoughts shifted to the phoenix Fawkes in the Headmaster''s office¡ªrebirth from the ashes¡­ that must be incredibly challenging.


    "You''re the most qualified to talk about this," Newt also remarked, "Everyone underestimated the potential of ancient runes¡­ When will you visit next? I''m eager to see the new changes."


    "When I hit a wall," Felix somewhat regretfully said, "I need time to digest the current gains, and these next couple of years might be quite busy."


    "Because of the war," Newt murmured.


    ...


    Exiting Newt''s house, Felix first strolled around the headquarters of the ''Future World''pany in Diagon Alley.


    The development of ''Future World'' had taken off, and¡ªmuch to Felix''s surprise¡ªmost of the employees were rather young, with many recent Hogwarts graduates among them.


    "We currently have 267 employees. Following your instructions, the focus in Britain remains steady while we rapidly expand overseas, establishing new bases," Clementine said, holding a thick set of documents.


    "Is the n for integrating alchemy progressing smoothly?"


    "People with a foundation in ancient runes are catching on quickly; the rest are progressing slower."


    "No rush," Felix nodded, "What about defense training?"


    Clementine sighed.


    "Not all wizards fancy fighting, especially since dueling sses haven''t been offered at school for a few years. You know the level of Dark Arts Defense before¡­ Over a third of the employees don''t even know a singlebat spell, let alonebat awareness. They might know a fair amount of minor curses, but they''re mostly for pranks andck any real utility."


    "Pranks, when used well, aren''t bad," Felix said, "However, thepany''s employees must possess the most basic self-defense abilities. The Rune Armor charm¡­" he paused for a moment, reconsidering, "scratch that. Not everyone has studied ancient runes. Let''s focus on the Shield Charm and Stunning Spell, these two must be mastered promptly. Disillusionment and Bright mes charm can be postponed. Orders can be dyed or assigned to our overseas employees; we currently have nopetition."


    Clementine quickly noted it down.


    "What about the progress on the Thieffall Barrier?"


    "Limes is still negotiating with Gringotts, but the goblins are giving him the cold shoulder," Clementineined.


    "The goblins aim to stay neutral, or the more intense our conflict, the happier they be¡­" Felix mused, "Isn''t there still the Ministry of Magic?"


    "The Ministry has the technology, but it hasn''t been used for centuries," Clementine said, her expression peculiar, "They can''t find the right person to construct the Thieffall Barrier."


    "Hasn''t the Alchemical Association sent anyone to assist?" Felix inquired curiously.


    "It''s a magical organization spanning across Europe," Clementine shrugged, "Many are hesitant toe during these sensitive times. As for native British alchemists¡­ there aren''t many famous ones, unless you count Zoko."


    "Zoko¡­" Felix was somewhat speechless.


    Zoko was the proprietor of Zoko''s Joke Shop in Hogsmeade, formerly an alchemist who initially struggled in business. After a few years of barely making ends meet, he nearly starved before reluctantly shifting to researching pranks and magical products, unexpectedly skyrocketing to fame in that field.


    What could be done about that? Felix pondered. As his goals expanded, he worried Voldemort might set his sights on the ''Future World'' employees. Aside from conventional protective magic, the Thieffall Barrier seemed strategically valuable. It could wash away all enchantments, magical disguises, potentially even covering Polyjuice Potion and the Dementor''s Kiss.


    "Professor¡­" Clementine raised her hand, her eyes gleaming at him.


    "You want to try, don''t you?" Felix understood.


    "Exactly," Clementine said, relieved; she felt she and the professor were on the same page, "Our R&D wizards exceed fifty, each skilled in two or three areas, having experienced the development of multiple new products. I can''t think of a more cohesive team."


    Felix contemted the feasibility of the n. The Ministry had the tech, and they had a mature team with enough brainpower. It seemed like a win-win oue, except he wasn''t sure if the Ministry would agree to share the technology. During the first war, the Ministry had coborated with the ''Prophet.''


    The ''Prophet'' had seen rapid growth after the war.


    "Professor," Clementine urged eagerly, "Now''s the chance."


    "Alright," Felix agreed, "I''ll speak with Ms. Bones. If she doesn''t have a better option now, I''m confident I can persuade her. Anything else new?"


    "We do!" Clementine said, "But they''re just minor things."


    She swiftly flipped through the documents.


    "The Weasley twins are interning here, and their¡ª"


    "Wait, Fred and George are here? At thepany? Right now?" Felix asked in surprise.


    "Yeah," Clementine nodded, "They came over on the first day of their break, brimming with all sorts of peculiar ideas¡­ Limes values their Anti-Curse Hat and Anti-Curse Cloak series; he appointed them as team leaders and even assisted them personally." She pursed her lips, "However, Limes declined their series of mysterious prank items like the Jump-Scare Box, the Constipation Nugget¡­ Fred keptining about Limes being clueless and said you highly praised these things¡ªis that true?"


    "Well, I appreciate their design thinking, but joking about Voldemort¡­ certainly isn''t advisable; Death Eaters would be cursing them non-stop¡­" Felix exined, noticing Clementine''s doubtful expression.


    Coughing, he continued, "Let''s continue."


    "¡­because of the Ministry''s endorsement, sales of Rune Cards have surged significantly. At this rate, soon every household will have a set¡­ Actually, everything rted to rune promotion is selling well, whether it''s Andis''s releasedic extras or the rune guidebooks, all of them are constantly being reprinted¡­ Many people are writing in asking for illumination charm casting techniques; Penelope has been working overtimetely."


    Felix wasn''t overly surprised by this.


    >


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 Chapter 503: The Fishing Operation Begins - (1)

    Chapter 503: The Fishing Operation Begins - (1)


    After dinner, the parents had discussions with their respective children.


    "They want us to keep our heads down, you know, stay at the school¡ªdeal with the mundane textbooks," Ron described Mr. Weasley''s mindset. "As if in the blink of an eye, the war''s over, and it''s best if we haven''t even noticed."


    Back in the third-floor bedroom, they exchanged information.


    Harry felt frustrated. "Why don''t they understand? I won''t sneak out of school, of course, but necessary preparations need to be made, right? For when Voldemortes for me again."


    Touching the scar on his forehead, despite his reluctance, he felt an inexplicable connection with Voldemort¡ªnot just physically but emotionally¡­ their mutual hatred, wishing for each other''s disappearance.


    "He''sing for us¡ªI don''t think he''ll let me and Ron go," Hermione spoke from the other bed. "That''s the problem. Clearly, the adults want to keep us away from the war, away from Voldemort."


    "It''s always himing for me!" Harry burst out in anger.


    Bang! Bang! Two jarring noises echoed in the old room, Ron''s two older brothers¡ªFred and George¡ªsuddenly appeared, tumbling onto Harry''s bed.


    "Ouch¡ª"Harry sat up, holding his throbbing scar, but he was certain it wasn''t Voldemort this time. "How''d you get here?" he grumbled.


    "Just dropping in to see you lot, poor souls, in your misery," George said melodramatically.


    Fred mimicked Harry''s gesture¡ªholding his forehead, groaning in pain. Unfortunately, he collided with Harry.


    "Makes a bet with George, guessing who''ll get tackled¡­ should''ve taken precautions. Harry, check this, is there anything weird on my head?" Fred grumbled.


    "If you mean a lightning-shaped scar, nope," Harry responded quickly. "Apart from a bump that keeps swelling, I see nothing."


    "Guess we''ll need Tonks again," Fred sighed.


    "Why?" Ron, justing to, asked.


    "She''s cheerful¡ª"


    "A bit absent-minded¡ª"


    "And gets along with everyone¡ª"


    "Plus, she''s got special potions, Fred''s specialty." Fred and George chimed in.


    Harry stared at them, momentarily forgetting the seriousness from before, though Fred and George grew solemn.


    "Don''t me Ginny, Harry," Fred said. "Your training''s been intense, even for us, and truth be told, we spend most of our days in Diagon Alley. But Ginny sees it all, every day. She''s worried about you."


    "I''m not ming her," Harry shook his head.


    "That''s good," Fred and George rxed, exchanged a look, then Fred handed Harry, Ron, and Hermione each a long, flesh-colored string from his pocket.


    "What''s this?" Harry asked, twirling the string in his hand.


    "Oh, I''ve been wanting one of these!" Ron eximed, eagerly taking it. "It''s an Extendable Ear, lets you eavesdrop without drawing attention¡­ I really want to know what Snape''s up to, so secretive, always sneaking around¡­"


    Harry was intrigued.


    Hesitant, Hermione debated taking it. Just then, Ron demonstrated; he inserted one end into his ear, and the other wriggled like a worm, squirming out under the door.


    "Hmm, I hear some noise¡­ it''s the corridor, nothing much now, unless we''re in for a surprise¡­"


    Suddenly, he yelped, and distinct cat screeches echoed from Ron''s ear and outside the door.


    Hermione jumped up, opened the door, allowing Crookshanks in, holding the other end of the Extendable Ear. "Release it, Crookshanks, that''s not for eating," she said, taking the device from George. "It mighte in handy at the right time," she said, smiling.


    ...


    "I''m concerned they''re still affected by what happened a month ago," Sirius frowned.


    "It''s indeed hard to pretend nothing happened," Felix said calmly. "They were besieged by dozens of Death Eaters, an experience not easily forgotten, especially seeing theirpanions tortured¡­ I doubt they want to go through that again."


    "I can''t even imagine what the Cruciatus Curse feels like, let alone pretend it didn''t happen," Mrs. Weasley covered her mouth, tears glistening in her eyes. "I''ve had nightmares for days¡­ always dreaming of Gideon and Fabian, their faces turning into Ron and Harry''s¡­"


    Mr. Weasley hugged his wife, consoling her.


    Sirius and Felix exchanged a nce, tacitly avoiding discussing the bait n at this moment.


    In the blink of an eye, it was thest day of July.


    "Happy birthday."


    As Harry pushed the door open, he saw Neville holding a gift box at the entrance.


    "Thanks, Neville," Harry yawned, pulling Neville inside while Ron struggled to put on a sleeve.


    "Why''d they schedule the awards ceremony for today?" Neville sighed with regret.


    "It''s actually quite alright," Harry said. Watching everyone bustling for his birthday felt odd, leaving him unsure of how to react.


    Once dressed, they began unwrapping gifts.


    "A wand holster, brilliant, Neville," Harry eximed happily.


    "I''m d you like it," Neville said, then nervously added, "Hope it''s not just to make me feel better?"


    "Definitely not," Harry assured him.


    Yesterday was Neville''s birthday. Worried that the new term might cancel the dueling club ns, Harry had created an invitation card for the club, mimicking the style of the Hogwarts eptance letter. Hermione was interested and enchanted it¡ª


    When someone opened it, amanding voice echoed.


    "Are you the chosen one, ready to face the challenge?"


    Neville felt ecstatic.


    Sirius gifted a pop-up book about Quidditch. Each page formed a 3D Quidditch pitch, with imaginary yers reenacting ssic match scenes.


    "From this angle, Lynch stands no chance against Krum," Ronmented, staring at one particr page¡ªa scene fromst year''s Quidditch World Cup finals where Krum deceived the opponents with the Wronski Feint.


    Lupin wasn''t present; Harry guessed he was in a new werewolfmunity. Still, he sent a handmade bone bracelet as a birthday gift through Tonks. Harry silently prayed it wasn''t made from werewolf teeth.


    Hermione''s gift was a parchment enchanted with various spell names¡ªall those Harry had mastered. Looking at the lengthy list filled him with a sense of aplishment.


    At that moment, the door creaked open, and Bill peered in.


    "Breakfast''s ready. We''ve got to hurry; the award ceremony starts at ten. It''s best to be at the Ministry early¡­"


    As they followed Bill downstairs, Harry saw two strangers at the table: a plump-cheeked witch with dark hair and a short man wearing a violet top hat¡ªsimr to Tonks''s hair color today.


    "Hestia Jones and Dedalus Diggle," Mr. Weasley introduced at the table.


    The two looked curiously at Harry. Dedalus exaggeratedly removed his hat in a not-so-standard salute. "Hello, delighted to see you again."


    Harry looked at him, utterly confused and with no recollection.


    "At the Leaky Cauldron, before you started school," Dedalus provided more hints. "I shook


    your hand then."


    Ah, Harry thought. He recalled now, a wizard just as excitable as Colin back then.


    "Hello, Harry," the witch named Heidi said. "We''re your guards for today."


    "Guards?" Harry blurted out, a bread crumb falling from his mouth.


    "Don''t worry, it''s a standard procedure," the witch reassured him with a smile.


    Meanwhile, Hermione was talking to Tonks. "No, I don''t n on letting them know now. We''ll do it when there''s an opportunityter."


    Breakfast consisted of smoked meat, roasted potatoes, toast, and vegetable soup. After eating, they left through the front door of Grimmauld ce 12. "No Floo, too conspicuous," Felix said. "Harry, stick close to me."


    Harry felt the atmosphere grow increasingly peculiar.


    "Professor?"


    >


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 Chapter 504: Illusions - (1)

    Chapter 504: Illusions - (1)


    Time ticked away.


    Felix and hispanions grew increasingly anxious. Harry fixed his gaze on the mes flickering in the firece, hoping they might suddenly change color or a wizard would emerge from within to tell them what had urred. Or even a messenger Patronus would suffice... but nothing happened.


    The crackling of the wood filled the office, the atmosphere turning heavy. Harry attributed it to the high temperature; it waste July, nearly August, and not many people opted to light a fire during this time.


    "I need a constant temperature pendant..." Harry''s thoughts meandered aimlessly. But then, heavier concerns flooded in; he couldn''t contain the thoughts popping into his head... He had handed over the hair willingly, agreed to the n, and if Sirius were to suffer as a result, it would be solely his doing.


    Just then, the mes in the firece suddenly surged, shooting up to a person''s height and changing color to a lush green, spiraling as a figure emerged.


    It was Kingsley Shacklebolt.


    Harry''s heart raced. He heard a muffled shriek beside him, but he couldn''t discern if it came from Ron or Hermione. The mes reverted to orange, signaling no one else behind. Harry''s heart clenched.


    Where was Sirius? What about Mrs. Bones? He yelled inwardly.


    "How did it go?" Felix jumped up from the sofa, the coin he had been fiddling with held tightly in his fist."Fairly well," Kingsley said, sweat on his face, clothes disheveled, smudged with shades of earthy brown, like someone who had just been through a battle. "We apprehended two Death Eaters, the escaped Mair and McNair, Augustus McNair."


    "Voldemort? Was he there?" Felix asked, furrowing his brow.


    Harry, Ron, and Hermione held their breath, eagerly gazing at Kingsley, who shook his head, looking puzzled and perplexed. "No sign of him. In fact, it was just these two Death Eaters. The rest were a motley crew¡ªDementors, a few werewolves and vampires, and some dark wizards from who knows where... Bones believes they fell under the Imperius Curse."


    "So Voldemort was merely testing? Observing from the shadows?" Felix muttered to himself, dissatisfied with the oue.


    "It seems so," Kingsley panted. "There were plenty of foot soldiers, a horde charging at us, caught us off guard. I even wondered when Death Eaters had be this courageous... the casualties urred then¡ª"


    "Casualties?" Hermione gasped.


    "Oh, no deaths," Kingsley rified. "Some injuries, nothing life-threatening¡ªI continue, those two Death Eaters stayed further back, merely conducting reconnaissance. Sirius and Bones coordinated to bring one down; as for the other... I suspect Dumbledore intervened."


    Felix pieced together the whole scenario.


    "And where''s Sirius now?" Harry couldn''t help but ask.


    "With Bones, I came back alone to report, and to bring some people to escort the captives back, ah, and of course¡ªa healer." Kingsley said, turning to Felix. "Mr. Harp, this operation barely met the expectations. You can take them away now; Mrs. Weasley has been arranged in Arthur''s office."


    Felix nodded silently. Then, with urgency, Kingsley hurried out of the office.


    "Let''s go; I''ll take you back," Felix said.


    "Is that it?" Harry felt incredulous.


    "No choice, Voldemort didn''t take the bait," Felix shrugged. "This is war; you can''t expect the enemy to make a fatal mistake at the start, and that''s it forever, though..." He frowned, recalling the report from Lucius, Voldemort had been unusually low-keytely, barely showing up.


    Of course, not discounting his possible aim to rally followers.


    He dispatched those Death Eaters who had escaped from Azkaban, those in the shadows and not easily traceable.


    "Let''s meet up with Mrs. Weasley first, then you''ll head back to the Order''s headquarters," Felix said, leading them out of the Minister''s office, descending via the elevator to the second floor where the Office for the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts was located. They stepped out into a corridor lined with doors on either side.


    "We need to go through two doors, then turn left, then right, and keep going straight to the end of the corridor," Ron said to Harry, who seemed somewhat dejected. "I''ve been here a few times; the cubicles of the Unspeakables are quite distinctive..."


    After entering the first oak door, they reached an open area, where the Unspeakables worked. At the moment, not many were present; those who were seemed a mix of excitement and worry.


    "The operation was sudden... not much information..."


    "Hope for good results."


    "Didn''t Kingsley say it was a great sess?"


    "Chesteron, congrattions on your promotion; you must be the youngest head of the Beast Division?"


    "I got some help from home," a young man said modestly, subtly disying his family crest on his chest.


    ...


    "Chesteron Avery!?" Hermione suddenly turned around, sharply, staring at the boastful young man.


    Chesteron stood in a small cubicle, looking in their direction. His smile quickly faded to an air of haughtiness. "It''s me, and you''re..."


    His gaze shifted among Harry''s trio and then to Felix behind them. Then, his voice faltered, "So, the ceremony''s over?"


    However, Hermione was not in a forgiving mood. She locked eyes with him and muttered, "You evil¡ª"


    "Hermione," Felix interrupted her.


    Chesteron appeared flustered, wearing an expression swinging between intimidation and venom. Finally, he huffed and turned away without another word.


    Hermione continued to re.


    "A person like him got a promotion?" They had passed through the second oak door, walking down the deserted corridor. Hermioneined bitterly, surprising Harry and Ron with her fervent demeanor.


    They had never heard of Hermione having any connection with that person.


    "I remember!" Harry suddenly eximed. "Avery, remember? At the graveyard, the Death Eater Voldemort first tortured because he pretended to be under the Imperius Curse after Voldemort''s fall, thereby escaping punishment..."


    Ron also recalled. "There was something like that, but the voice doesn''t quite match. That Avery seemed older¡ª"


    "Doesn''t this further prove that their whole family is corrupt?" Hermione remarked acerbically. "Professor, why doesn''t the Ministry apprehend all the Death Eaters whose names they know?"


    "Calm down, Miss Granger," Felix said. "The Ministry represents order; they can''t just arrest people without cause... though there''s certainly covert surveince. One escape doesn''t count for much; Lucius can produce a whole slew of names to send to Azkaban."


    But what might Voldemort, without influence and hope for ruling, do, nobody knew.


    The crux of this war had always been Voldemort alone.


    "Mrs. Bones really ought to thoroughly investigate those pure-blood extremists..." Hermione muttered under her breath. Ron nced over, and she hastened to add, "Oh, of course, not your family; you''re¡ª"


    "¡ªa pure-blood traitor," Ron nodded, amusing himself.


    On the second floor, in the


    Department of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts, they found Mrs. Weasley, rtivelyposed, with Percy by her side. Seeing Harry and the otherse in, she rushed over, embracing and kissing them.


    "Thank goodness you''re all okay¡ª"


    "Mom," Ron struggled. "We didn''t even leave!"


    "Well, even so..." she chuckled, "your dad went to help out. I heard no one got hurt, and they captured a bunch of troublemakers. It was a swift and sessful operation... Mrs. Bones took the lead; we''ve got ourselves a good Minister."


    Mrs. Weasley seemed very pleased with the oue. Harry nced at Professor Hagrid, who wisely didn''t mention that the greatest danger of the entire operation¡ªVoldemort¡ªhadn''t shown up.


    "We''ll wait a bit for Arthur, let me see him," Mrs. Weasley said, a bit embarrassed. "Then we''ll head back, prepare for your birthday party," she said to Harry. "And you, Percy, you muste tonight."


    "Mom, I''m really busy," Percy grumbled. "I''ve got a dozen reports to write¡ª"


    "Take Penelope along¡ªif you forget, that''ll be risky," Mrs. Weasley finished her sentence matter-of-factly, leaving a reluctant Percy behind.


    They took the elevator down to the Ministry''s main hall, gazing at the wall with the gilded firece from afar.


    After ten minutes¡ª


    Felix stared at the firece area, where the fires surged up, figures triumphantly emerging. The magnificent hall suddenly buzzed with excitement, apuse thundering.


    The Unspeakables escorted over twenty wizards in ck robes, all wearing hoods, resembling Death Eaters. However, their masks had been removed, their robes dirty, being led forward unsteadily.


    In Felix''s eyes, these assants¡ªmost of them looked quite downcast, some pale with thick, dark circles under their eyes like they hadn''t slept in days, making them stand out amidst the crowd.


    But among the vampires was one peculiar individual. He looked in good spirits, constantly looking around without a hint of fear. When his gazended in Felix''s direction, he broke into a joyful grin.


    >


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 Chapter 505: Conflict

    Chapter 505: Conflict


    Voldemort gazed at the night sky, his ck robe rustling alongside the wild grass in the cool breeze.


    Crunching footsteps echoed from behind.


    "Felix Harp..." he said slowly, turning to watch as Felix approached calmly, as if strolling through a park, observing his surroundings with a hint of curiosity.


    "No one else around, no traps," Felix remarked. "Honestly, I''m a bit surprised."


    "Do I need them?" Voldemort countered.


    They locked eyes in the dim light, Voldemort holding his wand ready for battle yet desiring a few more words before engaging.


    "I had intended the battlefield to be at the Ministry of Magic, but interference would have been too much," Voldemort regretfully shared.


    "I thought you were concerned about being caught between me and Dumbledore," Felix said.


    "I did have that concern. It turns out such caution is necessary..." Voldemort uttered softly. "Just one inferior vampire was enough to test the waters. Whose idea was that? Certainly not Dumbledore; he knows I''m not that gullible."Felix remained silent.


    "The Minister?" Voldemort grinned. "She''s clever but doesn''t quite understand me yet. The fiercer the resistance, the more casualties."


    "It''s strange how tantly you speak of preserving your life. Dumbledore saw through you long ago¡ªYou value your own life but care little for others''," Felix remarked. "Like that vampire and those two loyal Death Eaters, discarded like trash."


    "Loyalty? I don''t need that. As long as they fear my power, they''ll obey me," Voldemort murmured. "You know, those who first followed me, the ones who are old now, dead... when you''ve lived as long as I have, servants are endless. Do I need to understand each one?"


    "Felix Harp, you still hold onto human emotions, clinging to those feeble sentiments... When you''re as old as Dumbledore, unable to even hold a wand, and I remain as powerful as ever, then you''ll understand my greatness."


    "You ce yourself in the position of the immortal?" Felix asked, surprised.


    "I am now," Voldemort stated.


    He held his wand, slender and pale, his fingers tracing its surface as he calmly introduced it, "Yew, dragon heartstring, 18 inches, an excellentbination, previously wasted in the hands of an incapable owner..."


    Felix recognized it as Lucius Malfoy''s wand.


    "Your turn, Felix Harp," Voldemort said, intrigued.


    Felix, empty-handed, pulled out a coin to toy with.


    "ckthorn, dragon heartstring, thirteen inches, my first wand. Unfortunately destroyed that night," he sighed. "I haven''t found a suitable recement yet, but it''s not a big issue. I don''t have the same dire need for a wand as you do¡ªcan''t cast the Killing Curse without one, can you?"


    "Because my magic is too potent," Voldemort maliciously smiled. "It was foolish for you to appear here tonight empty-handed, but it''s normal. I''m troubled by it too. Wizards like you and me, finding a fitting wand isn''t easy."


    "What about your own wand?" Felix curiously inquired.


    Typically, unless one''s character or magical abilities drastically changed, wizards wouldn''t readily rece their wands. The initial wand grew alongside its owner, adapting to each other, allowing them to unleash their full magical potential without inhibition.


    Voldemort''s face twisted slightly. His wand... Dumbledore had taken it. He gritted his teeth; it might have been destroyed.


    Since his return, he couldn''t wield his full strength because his wand couldn''t endure it. Little Crouch''s wand was decent, but it, too, had suffered after the battle a month ago. Each time he held it, he felt the wand''s distress.


    Forced, Voldemort switched to Lucius''s wand. Lucius was fortunate; otherwise, he''d be held responsible for today''s daytime attack. Who let his son develop the Fiendfyre spell with Potter?


    Though Lucius swore it was Felix Harp''s perverse pleasure¡ªpairing up students with vendettas¡ªDraco was an unintended victim, offering up his own wand voluntarily, yet the great Dark Lord remained dissatisfied.


    He desperately desired a potent wand that matched his strength and status.


    Felix smirked, unaware that Dumbledore had taken Voldemort''s wand, assuming it was lost years ago. Still, that didn''t stop Felix from needling Voldemort''s sore spot.


    "It seems only the two of us understand this kind of trouble. You know, resurrection."


    He emphasized thest word, expecting Voldemort''s reaction to be intense.


    "You''re lying," Voldemort retorted sharply, his crimson eyes fixed on Felix''s face. "Felix Harp... I''ve pondered for long; my magic didn''t strike you, or at best, only hit a part... Have you also altered your body?"


    Felix sensed something in that statement but set it aside forter. He made a mental note, then continued strategizing for the impending battle, "You''ve guessed it. Seems my modifications were sessful. The only downside is losing my own wand, but at least it didn''t disfigure me... And I think my eyes are much prettier than yours."


    Compared to the crimson depths in Voldemort''s sockets, Felix''s pupils exuded an enigmatic allure, captivating.


    This was the price for acquiring power; you wouldn''t understand! Voldemort thought bitterly. However, these words couldn''t be uttered to Felix, and there was no need to continue. He raised his wand, a brilliant green light piercing through the darkness, aimed directly at Felix.


    In Felix''s hand, the coin rapidly expanded in the air, growing to immense proportions, resembling a thick copper wall shielding him.


    The Killing Curse was blocked.


    "What¡ª" Voldemort eximed incredulously.


    "This is the power of money," Felix teased. "Maybe that''s something you can''t fathom, considering you were broke in school and didn''t bother with an honest job after graduation¡ª"


    "You think I only know the Unforgivable Curses?" Voldemort disyed an icy smile. His wandshed out like a whip, sending shards of stone hurtling towards Felix, emitting a piercing shriek. Felix vanished from sight, only to reappear behind Voldemort, holding a glowing book of ancient runes. Flipping open a page, phantom forms of ancient magic surged from the book, intertwining with the myriad runic symbols, forming hundreds of ck lightning bolts that rained down upon Voldemort.


    Following the ck bolts, pale mes congealed into sharp swords, piercing through the darkness like thin paper.


    A cacophony of ripping and thudding filled the air. Voldemort conjured a silver shield that blocked the ck lightning bolts, but it was swiftly pierced by the fiery swords, emitting a sizzling sound.


    With a forceful gesture, Voldemort sent the silver shield soaring into the sky, where it was incinerated in the air.


    Felix instinctively extended his arm, his wand drawing a circle, enclosing himself within. Instantly, the surrounding weeds surged, transforming into writhing serpents that hissed and coiled around Felix. Then, this endless sea of green serpents surged forward. Prepared, Felix unleashed streams of golden mes from his hand, shaping into furious Erumpents, massive creatures from the uncharted mountains. Rearing up on their colossal hooves, they trampled the grass snakes, turning them to ash.


    Voldemort muttered incantations in a raspy, eerie hiss¡ªa peculiar serpentine tone that made Felix shudder; he recognized it as Parseltongue.


    With caution, he shifted his phantom form to the other side, but abruptly, everything darkened, the sound vanishing alongside. It felt like his senses were seized, cursed¡­ It struck Felix in an instant. Through his magical sight, Voldemort¡¯s power surged, forming an ominous fluctuation¡ª


    "Avada Kedavra!"


    "Armour Protectus!"


    The Killing Curse and the corporeal Iron Armor Curse shed. A towering steel knight brandishing a blood-stained shield stood in defense. The force of the Killing Curse made Felix''s hair stand on end; he wondered if Harry''s protective magic would hold up...


    In the midst of chaos, Felix, cing his hand on the knight''s armor, redirected the curse onto it. In an instant of regained vision, Felix vanished from the spot, simultaneously engulfing the knight in a dazzling green light.


    What was Voldemort''s weakness?


    Emotions?


    Felix pondered swiftly, conjuring Patronus Swallows. The silver guardians gracefully maneuvered, dodging green spells. As they neared Voldemort, they suddenly expanded, unleashing two ck Dementors.


    A chilling cold spread, freezing the air, mist gathering in the frigid night, hovering around.


    "Dementors?" Voldemort sneered. "You employ Dementors against me?" His eyes reddened. The Dementors dared not approach; they scattered, fleeing. After two deep ck res, they hung still, like withered rags, suspended in mid-air. They seemed not dead but immobilized, drifting in the air, the folds of their ck cloaks swaying weakly, bing a backdrop to the battle.


    However, that wasn''t Felix''s aim at all.


    He forcibly dragged the Room of Thought from his mind into reality. Felix and the Patronus Swallows'' senses connected, the guardians also serving as anchor points for positioning. Then Felix''s figure flickered continuously, much faster than before! Silent spells cleaved through the air and rock, fracturing the earth into an imprable grid. Voldemort struggled to keep up; he attempted apparition several times, only to be effortlessly pursued by Felix. Both darted at high speed, disappearing the instant spells were cast, but Voldemort soon ceased, unable to adapt as well as Felix to this tactic.


    Brown earth and stones were magically fused into solid walls, barely holding against spells from all sides, yet Felix sustained his first injury in the battle.


    "Felix Harp!" Voldemort roared.


    In response, a lightning-like silver streak¡ªFelix''s Patronus Swallows¡ªcoiled around Voldemort. Empowered by the Room of Thought, it briefly solidified, mping onto Voldemort''s wand while Felix held a swirling, sphere-like vortex. Deep blue magical energy spun rapidly inside, unleashing a powerful suction force¡­ Voldemort''s face contorted, the protective walls shattered.


    Felix released his grip, and the colorless vortex swiftly headed toward him.


    Voldemort finally broke free from the entanglement. The serpent-bird entwined around him took on a deep emerald hue that swiftly spread, then vanished. Immediately, a green light surged from his wand, piercing into the vortex. The blue magical energy inside exploded, entangling Voldemort, his body rapidly shrinking.


    "Hiss~"


    Voldemort''s face oscited, swelling to the size of a pumpkin, then shrinking to that of a fist. Clearly disadvantaged, his crimson eyes fixed on Felix, who was turning the pages of an ancient spell book, preparing for an immense ancient magic.


    A ck mist burst from Voldemort''s body, lingering as the grass and leaves around dried instantly, the soil tainted ck. Voldemort decided to depart but attempted onest move, lifting his wand. Its tip emitted a deep green light, so deep it banished the darkness, revealing vague figures within.


    Felix felt a chilling sensation, his thoughts seemingly halted as he stared at that green light.


    The spellbook rustled as ancient magic poured forth freely. Felix distanced himself, erecting an air barrier in front.


    The green light and the violent explosion lifted the battleground, soil, debris, and rippling green light halted three feet from Felix, then slowly advanced, apanied by crackling sounds as his magic began to crumble.


    Forced to disappear once more, Felix watched Voldemort through the swirling dust, realizing the air barrier he had high hopes for hadsted less than three seconds before crumbling.


    Voldemort''s Killing Curse was incredibly potent, seemingly able to ''kill'' magic itself. If I had such a spell, I''d probably rely on it alone, Felix thought.


    Voldemort stood still, casting a cold nce at him, before contorting and vanishing. He was gone.


    "tter."


    The wand fell to the ground. Shattering into shards.


    >


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 Chapter 506: Post-War Reflections

    The turmoil had ended, and Felix felt a wave of relief wash over him.


    Bending down, he gathered the shattered remnants of the wand from the ground, still reying the recent battle in his mind. All in all, he''d performed admirably, nearly matching Voldemort blow for blow. Perhaps he''d appeared somewhat disheveled at the end, dodging that exaggerated killing curse, but his primary objective had been achieved¡ªFelix had roughly estimated Voldemort''s power range, providing a foundation for their next encounter.


    A smirk yed on Felix''s lips as he suddenly realized the situation seemed to have reversed from a decade ago.


    Voldemort had repeatedly challenged Dumbledore because he believed he was on the rise in power. That was the only reason he''d engaged in what appeared to be self-destructive actions. Now, the tables had turned. Felix was the one continually improving, more than willing to engage with Voldemort. But Voldemort surely didn''t share the sentiment; he probably wished to end Felix outright the next time they met.


    "Perhaps it''ll be quiet for a few months," Felix pondered. In this battle, Voldemort hadn''t returned empty-handed. He''d concluded something grim: Felix was on par with him now.


    This was a fundamental truth in the wizarding world. The gap in abilities among wizards wasn''t as vast as one might assume. Even elite wizards like Snape, McGonagall, or Moody would struggle to withstand multiple curses, let alone the Avada Kedavra, an overpowered spell. So when Voldemort realized he could face two equally skilled wizards at any moment, his movements would be more enigmatic, more elusive, only appearing when assured of absolute safety.


    "What will Voldemort do next? Search for a suitable wand, sow chaos, cause discord, passively wait for an opportunity..." These were the three strategies Felix envisaged. ording to his estimation, Voldemort would likely attempt them in sequence.


    Firstly, the quest for a fitting wand.


    Coincidentally, Felix shared the same need.While tales of powerful wands abounded in the magical world, delving into them often proved futile. Many regarded such stories as fairytales, making them rare to pursue, let alone find a suitable match.


    Felix possessed some knowledge of wandlore but was limited to understanding the distinct properties of different wand materials. As for determining which rumor was more credible or founded, he was at a loss. Nheless, he could seek counsel from those knowledgeable in this domain¡ªDumbledore and the proprietor of Ollivanders.


    If Ollivander could fashion a personalized wand for him, it''d be even better. He had plenty of hair and wouldn''t mind sacrificing a bit for a custom wand. Amusingly, Voldemort faced a conundrum; he didn''t even have eyebrows.


    "Voldemort''s strength is truly excessive, particrly his assaults," Felix muttered to himself, then chuckled dryly. "But Dumbledore''s mastery over Transfiguration utterly outshines Voldemort''sbat system."


    Felix, Dumbledore, and Voldemort¡ªthe three apex figures in the wizarding world.


    Yet, upon closer inspection, their magical paths diverged. Felix''s knowledge was extensive, not just restricted to magical theory but also epassed research akin to Szar Slytherin and Rowena Ravenw''s pursuits. His grasp of conventional spells wasmendable. Dumbledore, the eldest, polished by time, had almost no weaknesses but excelled remarkably in Transfiguration. Voldemort pursued a single path, progressing swiftly after absorbing Slytherin''s heritage, veering towards dark magic. Perhaps he had interwoven his understanding of death into dark arts, resulting in the most potent spellcaster among the three.


    If given the choice, Felix would rather confront Dumbledore. His mastery of ancient magic could rival Transfiguration, and he could prolong the battle or employ ancient spells for offense.


    Magic, Transfiguration, Dark Arts¡ªforming an elusive cycle, making Felix marvel at fate''s mysteries.


    However, now that he stood alongside Dumbledore, it was Voldemort who should be feeling the headache.


    ...


    As Harry woke in the bedroom of ck Manor, he heard Ron''s loud snores nearby.


    Getting out of bed and slipping on his sses, the room''s contents became clear. He nced cautiously at Ron, who was sound asleep. It was only now that Harry had a moment to ponder.


    Firstly, he had received the Order of Merlin¡ªthe pocket was empty when he checked, as expected. The gold medaly beside his pillow, wrapped in a purple ribbon. After the ceremony, he was briefed on the fishing operation''s n. After a considerable period of anxiety, he finally received concrete information, but things took an odd turn afterward.


    He''d seen Voldemort.


    From the discussions he''d overheard, it seemed Voldemort had hidden his powers within a vampire''s body. Harry''s breath hitched; the wording felt hauntingly familiar, akin to what Dumbledore had once mentioned. ?


    He shivered, worried that he might silently die like the vampire he''d seen during the day.


    His mind started buzzing; it felt like someone was speaking to him.


    But Dumbledore had assured Bones that there wouldn''t be any adverse effects, neither for him nor for others. Others... Harry mulled over the term, finding it a bit grating. He nced at Ron, who was deep in slumber, which eased him somewhat. At least Ron wasn''t concerned about drawing his wand and attacking him out of the blue.


    But did Dumbledore''s assurances hold true? Harry harbored doubts.


    His situation was pretty unique, wasn''t it? If there were others with lightning-shaped scars on their heads parading around, it would surely be documented in some book. Hermione would zealously seek it out and excitedly inform him of another unlucky soul sharing his fate.


    Even without her searching, people would automatically link that person''s name with his and marvel at the magic''s wonder.


    But the truth was, there was only him, unharmed after being hit by the Killing Curse, even Professor Snape denied the resurrection notion. Only him. Harry thought, even though it was in no way his doing.


    Because his case was so rare, it led back to the previous question¡ªwas Dumbledore''s statement urate?


    >


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 Chapter 507: The Kiss

    Chapter 507: The Kiss


    To a certain extent, Harry felt he had more of a say.


    He rubbed his forehead hard, his mind buzzing like a thousand bees. He kept recalling the moments when his scar had pained him. It was undeniably more intense only when Voldemort was around, save for a few exceptions during intense emotional fluctuations on Voldemort''s end. But since the lumency lessons, these urrences had lessened significantly.


    Yet, he was different. The voices in his head attested to that.


    Swallowing hard, Harry picked up his wand and stealthily slipped out of bed. Grimmauld ce had two ces suitable for practicing magic. Harry chose to head downstairs; the fourth floor housed the Weasleys, the Longbottoms, Fred and George, and Neville. Sirius was on the fifth floor, and he was always alert.


    The night was eerily silent, darkness enveloping everything. He dared not light any magicalmps, relying solely on memory in the dark. Each tiny sound made him jumpy, and he was relieved he wasn''t wearing shoes.


    He quickly found the banister leading downstairs. As he approached the second floor, he treaded even more lightly ¨C Hermione and Ginny lived here. *Thud!* Harry missed a step, nearly stumbling. His heart raced; he listened intently for any noise around him.


    He was worried about waking Hermione and Ginny but equally concerned about rousing the portrait of Mrs. ck hanging on the ground floor. Sirius''s mother was filled with antiquated and rotten thoughts, inherited by her portrait. With the recent influx of residents, she was particrly hostile. If he woke her, she wouldn''t miss the chance to disrupt everyone''s sleep.


    Harry waited in silence for a dozen seconds, relieved when he heard nothing.The rest of the journey went without incident. He avoided the wrinkled heads of house-elf ornaments on the first-floor staircase and steered clear of the umbre stand made from a giant''s broken leg, finding his way to a trapdoor. Opening it revealed a straight staircase downward.


    Arriving at the basement, Harry found a spacious area enclosed by walls of ck stone. Professor Lupin had mentioned this might have been the ck family''s abandoned experimental chamber, though when he, Ron, and Hermione werest here, they found clutter in the corners,yers of dust, and cobwebs.


    Cleaning up had taken hours. With spells cast, they''d transformed it into a decent training space.


    The soundproofing here was impressive; Harry had no worries about anyone overhearing. He flicked a switch, and torches on the walls illuminated the room. In the centery seven to eight tattered targets, disying traces of various spells ¨C evidence of their recent efforts.


    Sitting on a cushion, Harry hesitated.


    "I''m just trying," Harry muttered to himself. He stood, raised his wand, hesitated multiple times, but finally, he gritted his teeth ¨C


    "Avada Kedavra!"


    A dazzling green light shot from the wand but veered off, hitting the ck stone wall. Harry gasped, feeling a rush of destructive satisfaction. The buzzing in his head heightened, tempting him, but the lumency kicked in, freeing him from the state. He started loathing his actions, feeling disgust surge within, almost making him retch.


    Maybe the best thing now was to go back quietly, pretending nothing had happened.


    Until he heard a stifled scream.


    Harry snapped his head towards the entrance, which had been left open or he''d forgotten to close it, unable to dwell on that as a more pressing trouble needed addressing.


    "Ginny!?" Harry blurted out.


    Ginny, d in pajamas, stood at the doorway, hand over her mouth, eyes wide in disbelief and fear. When Harry called her name, she instinctively stepped back.


    She saw! Saw me use the Killing Curse! Harry''s mind screamed, the voice tempting him again, but he wouldn''t agree.


    Harry reached out to exin, but seeing the fear in Ginny''s eyes made him stop.


    He, Harry Potter, had just used an Unforgivable Curse.


    Harry couldn''t meet her gaze, overwhelmed by intense shame and nausea. How would Ginny see him? A potential dark wizard? Voldemort''s seconding? He''d dealt with such rumors in his second year, some believing him to be an even darker force than Voldemort, leading to the Dark Lord''s desire to eliminate him as an infant. ?


    But when Harry discovered his mother''s protection ran through his veins, that worry dissipated.


    Now, that fear had returned.


    Without any knowledge, he''d uttered one of the most despicable Unforgivable Curses, nearly as powerful as his best Disarming Charm. That was the scariest part.


    He heard footsteps.


    Should he escape? Harry pondered. It seemed reasonable; Ginny hadn''t woken others, which surprised him. Perhaps he should exin, at least to prevent her from disclosing it. But he couldn''t think of a reason. A greater concern emerged ¨C if Ginny told others, how would they look at him?


    A stream of names shed through his mind ¨C Ron, Hermione, Sirius, Fred, George, Mrs. Weasley... The mere thought of Mrs. Weasley''s altered gaze made his heart ache.


    Harry saw a pair of shoes.


    Startled, he lifted his head and met a pair of brown eyes, lips around Ginny''s mouth drawn tight.


    "Do you... want revenge that badly?" she asked softly.


    "It was an ident!" Harry blurted out, surprised by her question. "I mean, I want to defeat Voldemort, but not like this, not with... um... the Killing Curse."


    Ginny observed Harry''s face closely. After a while, seemingly convinced of his honesty, she tossed her fiery red hair and demanded, not mincing words, "So, what really happened?"


    "I¡ª" Harry started, feeling a pounding headache, but he could tell Ginny needed an answer.


    "Okay," he relented, moving toward the cushion and plopping down. Ginny sat close. "It all started after the Order of Merlin ceremony. Professor Lupin, Hermione, Ron, and I were taken to the Minister''s office..."


    Ginny listened quietly, not interrupting.


    Initially hesitant, Harry soon spoke fluently. He recounted seeing Voldemort in the Ministry''s hall, overhearing Dumbledore and Bones, and the peculiar sensation tonight ¨C the buzzing in his head, the exhration of casting the Killing Curse for the first time... Even his various worries spilled out.


    "Dumbledore said it makes sense ¨C your connection with the mysterious figure makes you more susceptible to his influence," Ginny said gently.


    "I''ve always known that, just didn''t expect it to be this intense." Harry sighed, feeling lighter after sharing. "If it''s not because I''m inherently evil, there''s only one possibility ¨C Voldemort transferred his knowledge and experiences to me. I don''t know if it was deliberate, but I''m influenced now ¨C"


    "What makes you say that?" Ginny sharply interrupted. "You''re nothing like him, right?" She searched Harry''s eyes.


    Harry suddenly felt parched; Ginny''s face, lit by the dancing mes, had a unique allure. A rush of impulse surged, and he eximed, "Of course, I''m nothing like him! I''d never use that curse on anyone; it''s Voldemort''s style."


    Once the words were out, Harry felt an immense weight lift off. The buzzing noise vanished.


    Ginny caught Harry''s determination, ruffled his hair, and smiled. "So what''s troubling you then?" She pulled Harry up from the cushion. "You need a good night''s sleep now." Her face drew closer, lightly kissing Harry''s cheek. "In my heart, you''ll always be the hero who defeated the Dark Lord."


    Then, like a sly fox, she slipped away with light footsteps.


    Harry stood frozen in ce, as if under a peculiar spell, entirely petrified.


    >


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 Chapter 508: Ollivander

    Felix stayed the night at the ''Future World''pany. The next morning, he found himself at a small, shabby shop on the south side of Diagon Alley. The gold paint on the sign had worn off, but this shop was renowned in Diagon Alley¡ªit was Ollivander''s.


    As the sign imed ¡ª "Crafting fine wands since 382 B.C." ¡ª its long history and exceptional, consistent quality made it the go-to ce for most British wizards. Notably, it was the only wand shop that coborated with Hogwarts, offering discounts to all new students purchasing wands.


    For many, the first wand became a lifelongpanion. Ollivander, the shop owner, held a high position in the magical world, earning respect wherever he went.


    Today, the owner of the wand shop received Felix.


    "Thirteen inches, ckthorn, with a dragon heartstring core, a very robustbination¡ªof course, I refer to the wand''s character¡ªsuitable for various types of offensive magic and transfiguration. It''s nearly the most versatile type of wand, my masterpiece from my younger days, always hoping someone would take it off my hands."


    Mr. Ollivander''s light-colored eyes seemed to gleam in the darkness.


    "As it turns out, my judgment was correct, the wand''s owner has excelled," he said. "What might you want to purchase? A wand maintenance kit? It includes exquisite velvet and beeswax, ensuring your wand leaves asting impression¡ª"


    He assessed Felix, trying to figure out where Felix had hidden his wand.


    "Unfortunately, Mr. Ollivander, that wand was destroyed," Felix said."Destroyed?" Mr. Ollivander repeated, blinking disbelievingly with his light-colored,rge eyes. "Do you mean damaged? If it''s a minor issue, I can repair it¡ª"


    "No, it''s not," Felix rified. "It''spletely gone, not a trace left."


    The old man fell silent, seemingly merging with the dimly lit shop, only the nearly colorless pupils flickering.


    "I see," he murmured softly. "I hope it fulfilled its duty."


    "What?" Felix asked in surprise.


    "I read the papers, Mr. Harp. In the final event of the championship¡ªdid you battle the mysterious figure? Was that when the wand was destroyed?"


    "Yes, it protected me until the very end," Felix said.


    Mr. Ollivander became more excited. "Indeed, just as I had hoped to rectify a mistake, it all feels like yesterday... that unnamed individual who came alone to buy a wand. I attended to him and was surprised by his wand choice, purpleheart with phoenix feather, very powerful... I praised it highly."


    "He must have been ecstatic," Felix said with a deadpan expression, as if talking to a fraudster. "You said simr things to me back then, just repeated it now."


    "Ahem! You''re different, I could see pure affection and a longing for magic in your eyes! I could tell... but that unnamed individual was different. When I mentioned his extraordinary potential, he tried hard not to appear too excited," Ollivander gave a sly look. "I indeed say these things to many, like a lovely blessing that makes guests happy... and I''m not entirely lying. Wands select wizards, aid wizards; nobody can determine a person''s future achievements."


    "Besides, he did indeed achieve greatness, albeit through wrongful means."


    He drifted into reminiscence, then snapped back. "Alright, Mr. Harp, so what brings you here?"


    "To purchase a new wand."


    "Ah, a new wand! Of course," the old man said confidently, turning towards the shelves. "But it might take a while, selecting a wand for an adult wizard is always trickier, more factors to consider." ???


    "Mr. Ollivander¡ª" Felix attempted to interrupt.


    "... You might know Sirius ck? He tried an entire wall''s worth of inventory..."


    "Wait, Mr. Ollivander. If possible, I''d like an old wand," Felix hurriedly said.


    Mr. Ollivander turned around, his eyes shining strangely.


    "An old wand?" he murmured, partly questioning, partly talking to himself.


    "Yes, I''d like to provide the core materials needed for making a wand by myself, following the standards of ancient times, to create a unique wand," Felix exined. Rather than chasing elusive legends, he preferred a wand that perfectly matched him.


    "Surprising," Mr. Ollivander hesitated. "I rarely take on such tasks¡ªcustom-made wands¡ªseems a bit unstable, time-consuming."


    "But you can do it. When this idea came to mind, you were my first thought," Felix said slowly. "You understand what I mean, over two thousand years of ancient heritage, the fusion of wand families and brilliant minds..."


    "You''ve found the right person, young man," Mr. Ollivander said cheerfully. "In the wandmaking trade, the Ollivander family is the finest in all of Britain!" he said, then added in a whisper, "Perhaps even in Europe."


    "So, does that mean you agree?" Felix asked.


    "I''m willing to try¡ª" Mr. Ollivander said enthusiastically. "It''d be my honor, Mr. Harp, a First ss Merlin Medal holder." He gave a slight bow, then pointed to a cluttered table with a stack of papers, the Prophet lying underneath.


    Felix pulled the paper out from under the books, showing yesterday''s ceremony photos. In the picture were five people, Felix and Ms. Bones stood on either side, faintly smiling. In the middle, Harry kept fussing with his hair to make it neater; Ron had a serious expression, but in the next moment, he turned away to sneak a kiss on the medal, while Hermione beamed, repeatedly tracing the patterns on the medal.


    The headline of the article read "Defeaters of the Dark Lord."


    "Do you have any suggestions for wand core materials?" Mr. Ollivander asked.


    "Of course," Felix replied, lifting his head from the paper. One of his hairs began rapidly growing, about a foot long, then snapped off from the root, floating towards the surprised old man.


    "Hmm, it''s hair..."


    Mr. Ollivander caught the hair, reaching for a pair of sses from a box. After putting them on, he examined it carefully, "Amazing... an incredibly potent magical substance... if I may, do you have any ancestry with non-human creatures?"


    "I don''t think so," Felix said with a dark expression.


    Mr. Ollivander clicked his tongue, clearly skeptical. "Not a big deal, even though such unions defy conventional beliefs, the offspring sometimes possess enviable talents. Like the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts, you must know him... andst year, a girl from Beauxbatons with Ve lineage... of course, I suspect even the headmistress of Beauxbatons might..." He closed his mouth, looking serious, gazing at Felix''s hair.


    "What''s wrong?" Felix asked.


    After a while, Mr. Ollivander raised his head, surprised, "I can''t find traces of an anomaly. This suggests that even if your ancestors had mixed blood, it would be many generations back,


    possibly before your family even settled in Britain."


    "Mr. Ollivander," Felix interjected, "let''s just focus on the wand."


    "Right, right," he said, suddenly enthusiastic again. "It''ll be a fascinating endeavor. I''ll need some time to prepare; in the meantime, I''ll study the materials and n."


    "Thank you," Felix said, then took a look around the shop. The sun had fully risen, casting a soft light into the room, illuminating the shelves of wands. He hoped the wand to be crafted would serve him well in the future battles he might face.


    As he left the shop, he noticed Ms. Bones standing across the street, seemingly deep in thought. Felix waved at her, and she started walking towards him.


    "Find anything interesting?" she asked.


    "A wand, hopefully," Felix replied, then decided not to mention the uniqueness of the wand-to-be.


    "Great, d to hear it," Ms. Bones smiled. "Shall we head to the Leaky Cauldron for lunch?"


    "Sure, let''s go," Felix said, relieved that he wouldn''t have to figure out where to eat.


    >


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 Chapter 509: Two Meetings

    The shops in Diagon Alley were quieter than usual.


    "It''s only natural when your shopfront is stered with rows of Death Eater photos," Mrs. Mogin remarked, eyeing the measurements on Felix''s robe.


    Felix received warm service at the robe shop.


    ncing at the wanted posters and various purple notices in the disy window, he agreed with her reasoning. Pedestrians hurried along the street, purposeful and focused, heading straight to their destinations. After their purchases, no one lingered, swiftly departing via the public fireces.


    Emerging from the store, he strolled into the Leaky Cauldron with a vani ice cream from Florean Fortescue''s, spending the entire day there.


    "The principles behind the Anti-Thief Cascade are intricate. It hinges on a mix of seventeen alchemical materials and various magic incantations. Some obscure aspects might involve unique fairy magic. I checked; the emergence of the Anti-Thief Cascade technique coincided with the honeymoon period between wizards and fairies?"


    "Absolutely right, Mr. Haipu," a Ministry employee dispatched there said. "Those fairies were deplorable, sneaking things in during their interactions!" the short, stout wizard grumbled indignantly.


    "But you all never noticed," Fred remarked quietly to George amid the crowd.


    Next, everyone worked coboratively, each fulfilling their role. Clementine was right; the research wizards at the Future Worldpany were incredibly efficient. Several Ministry staff present marveled; they found their knowledge of the Anti-Thief Cascade swiftly understood and digested, as though they weren''t dealing with individual minds but rather a creature with dozens of heads.By quitting time, the researchers at Future World had caught up to the Ministry''s previous progress, sessfully reconstructing the ratios of three alchemical materials.


    "Tonight, I''ll be staying at the old manor," Felix told Fred and George. They were currently in a room at the topmost level of the Leaky Cauldron. The interior was in, much like an unused office, but its firece was connected to the ck Manor.


    If Tonks and Sirius ck connected the Ministry and the Order of the Phoenix, what Reims Lupin connected was the ''Future World''pany, led by Felix, and the Order of the Phoenix. In some way, Fred, George, and Penelope yed simr roles.


    It took Percy a while, arriving half an hourter than anticipated.


    "Miss Bones has been working you too hard," Penelope grumbled.


    "The department is severely understaffed," Percy said cheerfully, "it''s my time to shine!" He hastily rolled up a few documents and stuffed them into the pockets of his robes before swiftly passing through the firece, just in time for a pot of piping hot food.


    Mrs. Weasley warmly weed Penelope.


    "We got back toote yesterday. Harry''s birthday feast had to be canceled, and I haven''t had much of a chance to talk to you," Mrs. Weasley said.


    "Mom, there''ll be plenty of time for that," Percy muttered.


    "But those initial few times were the most important," Mrs. Weasley said sternly.


    At the dinner table, Bill was discussing his new job.


    "It took some adjusting initially, sitting in an office, much less exciting than what I used to do. The advantage is having a lot more time to help out at the Order of the Phoenix¡­ I''m paired with a group of elderly men whose pace of life is frighteningly slow." He mimicked his colleague, passing a bottle of ketchup to Harry at a snail''s pace, ten times slower.


    Everyone at the table burst intoughter. Harry unintentionally met Ginny''s eyes; her wide grin quickly vanished, and her handling of the cutlery became more refined. "Exactly, Ginny''s imitation is spot on," Bill praised loudly.


    Hermione chuckled.


    "What''s wrong?" Ron asked her, puzzled.


    "Nothing," Hermione quickly said, then turned to Harry, whose face suddenly felt extremely hot for reasons unknown.


    Dinner consisted of stew, syrupy fruit pies, and vegetable soup. Felix, having set down his utensils just before Mrs. Weasley served soup, drew her attention towards Penelope.


    "Doesn''t the food suit your taste, dear?"


    "Oh, no," Penelope said, only to find her soup bowl instantly refilled.


    Sirius arrivedte, finding everyone almost finished with their meals, deeply engrossed in their conversations. He took a seat at the empty spot and voraciously ate the remaining food.


    "The interrogation is only a third done¡ª" he finished the soup in one gulp, "thanks, Molly, a bit more¡ªEveryone''s iming they were Imperiused, but Amelia isn''t nning on letting them off easily, especially Yaxley and Mair; they both have a history."


    Felix knew well: the former was seen as the mastermind behind the Quidditch World Cup disturbance, while thetter was a convicted Death Eater who had just escaped Azkaban a few days ago. Amelia Bones wasn''t keen on leniency.


    Sirius wolfed down a filled pastry roll in three bites, let out a satisfied sigh, slowing down his pace.


    Ron stared at him, eyes wide, as if watching an intriguing TV show.


    "Oh, Sirius," Felix inquired, "I heard a Mute was injured?"


    "Really?" Sirius looked up from his bowl.


    "Named Bode," Felix reminded.


    "Bode," Sirius pondered, speaking slowly, "rings a bell¡­ seemed to have stumbled upon something unexpected and was sent to St. Mungo''s. I was too busy yesterday to pay attention to these trivialities. What happened?" He asked sensitively.


    "We''ll discuss it at the meeting," Felix replied sinctly.


    Sirius pondered, having spent a month beside Amelia Bones. His sense of smell had sharpened; he immediately sensed this might not be a coincidence. Harry, Ron, and Hermione showed interest in the matter.


    "That name sounds familiar," Ron muttered.


    "We met him at the Quidditch World Cup camp," Hermione whispered, "he works in the Department of Mysteries?"


    Harry remembered. Suddenly, it clicked in his mind, linking it to Voldemort. He looked at Mr. Weasley, "You told us, the Department of Mysteries'' work is highly confidential."


    "Well¡ª" Mr. Weasley''s expression was shocked, but Harry was struggling to piece together his thoughts.


    "This means¡­ Voldemort wants something from there! Or some information! And Bode is either a Death Eater undercover or cursed!"


    "Children¡ª" Mr. Weasley hesitated.


    "It''s alright, Arthur," Sirius said, "let them analyze it. I can take this to Amelia¡ªwhat I mean is, even if we stop them, they''ll discuss it privately. Better to listen; they mighte up with useful insights."


    Harry nced gratefully at his godfather. "Uh," he suddenly faltered.


    "What exactly is Bode''s job?" Hermione inquired. Sirius frowned, "I''m not sure¡ª"


    "Which hall? The Time Hall, Prophecy Hall, Brain Hall, Space Hall, or the room with the stone archway?" Hermione asked again, almost catching Sirius off guard.


    "How do you know!?" Sirius nearly bit his tongue.


    "You¡­uh¡­ I guessed, from some book?" Hermione nced sneakily at Felix. "I¡ªum¡ªguessed from some book?"


    "


    Brilliant guess," Sirius muttered under his breath. "He''s researching something¡­ about the future?"


    "Future!" Harry''s eyes widened. "The prophecy!"


    "Exactly," Hermione said excitedly.


    "The prophecy about me and Voldemort?"


    "Yes, Harry," Hermione confirmed.


    "But that''s at the Ministry," Ron pointed out.


    "The real one might be there," Hermione said softly.


    Mr. Weasley looked grim, "That''s why Voldemort is obsessed with the Ministry. There must be something we''re unaware of." Sirius nodded solemnly, indicating he''d discuss this with Amelia.


    Felix took note of their intense discussion, feeling they''d stumbled upon a substantial clue. He could sense the gravity of the situation. The prophecy held tremendous importance, and Voldemort seeking it was an ominous sign.


    As the evening progressed, Felix excused himself, bidding the others good night. He stepped into the firece, disappearing in a sh, heading to the ck Manor to oversee preparations for tomorrow''s meeting.


    >


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 Chapter 510: Voldemorts Concerns

    The mes danced within the firece, casting a hint of warmth upon the long-neglected, cold, drafty walls on this night. Yet, all warmth vanished when everyone''s gaze fell upon the speaker.


    Voldemort sat directly facing the firece, the roaring logs casting deeper shadows around him despite the proximity to the mes. Apart from his silhouette, what stood out were his crimson eyes and pallid skin.


    "Severus?" He looked towards the seat next to his right hand.


    "The Longbottoms have confirmed their return to the Order of the Phoenix. It seems they''ve been assigned a separate task, but specifics remain undisclosed. Possible surveince under Dumbledore''s orders, targeting someone present here," came the report from the table.


    A slight stir rippled through the upants. Some shifted ufortably, others seemed excited.


    "Master, let me go¡ªlet me find them, I will capture them," an impassioned plea came from a woman with dark skin. Her features hinted at a once youthful beauty, now permanently marred by years of imprisonment, leaning more towards the unfavorable side.


    Gaunt cheeks, protruding eyes, and a mess of ck curls adorned her head.


    "Betrix, I have no doubt of your capabilities, you''ve proven yourself," Voldemort assessed her with his red eyes. "But you have more important tasks."


    He ceased looking at her, turning to Snape. "Anything else?""The Ministry and ''Future World'' corporation reached an agreement concerning the Thief''s Cascade. It seems this will significantly impact our endeavors," Snape''s voice lowered.


    This caused more unrest among the Death Eaters.


    "It''s that person''spany¡ª"


    "We cannot allow this!" A Death Eater mmed the table, shouting, "We should organize an immediate attack¡ª" Many joined in, causing amotion in the room.


    "Would you lead the charge, Selwyn?" Voldemort softly asked, his voice effortlessly cutting through the mor.


    The Death Eaters fell silent, their gazes shifting to the wizard who initiated the conversation. Selwyn stuttered, "M-master, if it is your will, I¡ªI would¡ª"


    Voldemort smirked. "No need for your sacrifice yet," hezily remarked. "I can almost ascertain that the Ministry and Felix Harp are on alert... We must adapt to new rules of war. Felix Harp has brought forth some surprising elements, some unexpectedly useful... the Serpent''s Ring, is that its name? Serpent, hmm?" His crimson snake-like eyes locked onto Snape.


    "Indeed," Snape murmured, "He used it as his symbol in his early years. Many here might recall," Death Eaters either frowned or shook their heads. "The symbol vanished after his graduation until he returned to Hogwarts as a teacher and started his own club."


    Voldemort made an ambiguous sound.


    "Professor''s club, Serpent... Severus, judging by the name, I thought this was a wee gift prepared by you for my return."


    Snape bowed his head. "Master, he is the most ambitious and organized person I''ve ever taught."


    "You''re right. I can picture him in his school days..." Voldemort''s voice was deep. "I couldn''tprehend why Felix Harp arrived so timely before. I even suspected betrayal among you. But this newspaper provided the answers." A newspaper lightly floated from his side, gliding across the table. ???


    The Death Eaters raised their heads, attempting to read, but Voldemort evidentlycked patience to have them go through it individually. "It''s clear, the Potter trio received assistance through the Serpent''s Ring."


    "Besides that? Many of you might have heard of, or even used, products from the ''Future World''pany. I''m intrigued by the Sonorus Mirror; it¡¯s said to have limited range but in these times, the tide of war is changing. We once led with our unique mark over the Order and Ministry, now we''re back on the same starting line."


    "Master, do you mean...?"


    "Crack the magic within it, and if possible, counter it," Voldemort calmly said. "Let''s return to the Thief''s Cascade; it''ll disrupt our recruitment pace. Though we can directly knock on the targets'' doors, drag them out from their warm beds, and threaten their families to work for us¡ª"


    Loudughter erupted.


    "That''s what I excel at, Master!" a Death Eater loudly expressed loyalty.


    "Thank you, Rodolphus, you''ll have your chance." Voldemort remained indifferent. "But as I said, it hinders us. Does anyone have a solution?"


    "Master, even with the Thief''s Cascade, we can gather various intel through our establishedworks," a Death Eater suggested.


    Voldemort showed genuine interest. "Impressive, Selwyn. Any suitable candidates?"


    "There is one, surname Umbridge. She''s been trying to cozy up to me, boasting about being rted to the Selwyn family. But everyone knows her father was a janitor; I merely entertained her due to her past connections to Borgin... I''m sure she can pass on messages for me." Selwyn respectfully conveyed.


    "I know of one, my nephew works at the Ministry, the youngest supervisor. He''s well-connected within the Aurors," another Death Eater added.


    "Good, Avery. Since losing Yaxley, our actions against the Aurors have been a nk te." Voldemort seemed pleased. "Even in death, he contributes to our cause; we''re currently meeting in his house."


    Soon, Death Eaters began discussing animatedly, sharing contacts they knew from the Ministry. Altogether, they gathered around sixty to seventy names. These individuals became the next targets for the Death Eaters'' operations.


    "Lucius."


    "Yes, Master¡ª" Lucius Malfoy lifted his head, cautiously meeting Voldemort''s crimson eyes, then hastily lowered it.


    "Any news from Mair and Ludlow?"


    "Not yet," he answered quietly.


    "Not yet," Voldemort echoed tly. Lucius shuddered involuntarily. "Does this imply you''re losing influence at the Ministry?"


    "Master, please, give me some time! I''m trying to establish connections with the new Minister, but she''s unyielding. And¡ªthere''s always Sirius ck by her side, clearly from the Order!" Lucius exined.


    "Sirius ck," Voldemort looked at Betrix. "If I recall correctly, he''s your cousin?"


    "Y-yes, Master," she excitedly said, leaning in closer, trying to get nearer to Voldemort, "No, he''s not my cousin. He''s a disgrace, scum from the ck family. I''d love to kill him myself."


    "That''s quite a list of people you want to take care of," Voldemort coldly remarked.


    Betrix seemed confused, "How¡ª"


    "Your niece recently joined the Order and seems close to a werewolf. Truly a family trait, she''s even further ahead than your sister... When will I hear news of their wedding? Will you gift them something?" Voldemort taunted.


    Betrix red fiercely at Snape; all the information regarding the Order was provided by him.


    Snape managed a sardonic smile.


    "Master, she isn''t my niece anymore. Ever since my sister married that mudblood, they''ve had no ties to the ck family," Betrix immediately distanced herself, though her words didn''t satisfy Voldemort.


    She sensed it, her face showing fear. Leaning forward, she tried to express loyalty. "Master, I won''t stand for this¡ªdespite their choices, I won''t allow the ck lineage to be tainted further. I promise you! Right, Lucius? You wouldn''t want someone with Lupin''s blood connected to the noble cks, would you?"


    "Absolutely not," Lucius said dryly.


    "Then let''s act. Let''s dispose of them before the next assembly," Betrix eximed.


    "I have an appointment with the Ministry''s Senior Undersecretary, Thicknesse. If there''s a conflict in timing... sacrifices must be made," muttered Lucius. "Master, I have two matters to report."


    Voldemort''s attention shifted back to him.


    Lucius hesitated, "Firstly, I encountered Snape at Ollivanders. He wasn''t friendly and warned Ollivander about being cautious around me, us."


    "He has reason to do so," Voldemort calmly stated, his face subtly contorting, resembling a pale serpent in the firelight. Those around him dared not meet his gaze.


    "Bad news, Lucius. I hope your second piece is more uplifting," Voldemort softly said.


    "Of course," Lucius gasped, "I''ve located Bode precisely. He''s in St. Mungo''s Hospital, currently incoherent. The Ministry hasn''t noticed anything yet. But if he were to disclose our pursuit of the prophecy¡ª"


    "Then silence him," Voldemort said. "Who volunteers to rid me of this nuisance? Antonin, what do you say?"


    "It would be my honor, Great Dark Lord," Antonin Dolohov, a Death Eater with a twisted face, grinned.


    ---


    After the meeting, Voldemort kept Severus Snape behind.


    Gazing at the ck night sky, he regretted more than ever. Perhaps waiting a few more months, even years, might yield the perfect resurrection: using Harry Potter''s blood, the same blood that held the protection from him¡ªPotter''s mother''s love¡ªinside him.


    Regret and frustration tormented Voldemort. He had contemted active suicide to revive, ridding himself of a formidable foe and growing stronger. But impatience had consumed him then.


    The Christmas night ambush by Felix Harp and Dumbledore had left him deeply shaken. If he hadn''t quickly alerted Barty, the closest he''de to revival in over a decade might have ended there. Knowing Barty nearly got caught carrying out the n to "eliminate Mad-Eye Moody" made him even more anxious.


    He wouldn''t let Barty out of his sight since then.


    Months of hesitation and fear marked his most dreadful days. He feared Felix and Dumbledore might appear any second, taking away his only loyal servant. He hadn''t considered that his resurrection materials¡ªhis father''s bone, servant''s flesh, enemy''s blood¡ªhad an expiration.


    In a hundred years, he might oust Dumbledore, but loyal Death Eaters and his fearful enemies would fade. His name wouldn''t endure longer than Dumbledore''s corpse. How would he revive then?


    Despite thinking he''d conquered death, time forced his head down.


    Moreover, Felix Harp''s rising prominence troubled him. Gossip magazines debated Felix''s potential to surpass Dumbledore. Some imed Felix had already bested hundreds of wizards at the Quidditch World Cup single-handedly¡ªan idea Voldemort scorned but found intriguing. Others argued that while Felix was strong, he hadn''t faced true challenges like Dumbledore.


    Their only consensus: Felix Harp, under thirty, posed a significant threat and might be the next Dumbledore.


    That, Voldemort feared most. Even if he outlived Dumbledore in a hundred years, Felix might rece him.


    So, he chose to abandon Harry Potter''s blood and proceed with a covert resurrection.


    But since his return, nothing went as nned. Apart from the ludicrous Boy-Who-Lived, Harry Potter, and his braverades (as per the Ministry''s recent propaganda), there emerged an ancient runes professor. As he denied his failing fate inwardly, he couldn''t help but entertain doubts.


    Especially after he heard a partial prophecy about his fate. He turned to Snape, his red eyes seeming to bleed, both inscrutable and impatient.


    "That prophecy, repeat what you heard."


    "Word for word?"


    "Exactly."


    Snape stuttered, sounding unlike himself, transported back to that shabby tavern in 1980, his lips trembling involuntarily. In a hoarse voice, he said, "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him... born at the end of July..."


    The dim room fell silent. After what seemed an eternity, Snape dryly said, "Master, that''s all I heard before being discovered by the barman and thrown out."


    Voldemort remained silent, lost in thought.


    What did the full prophecy entail? Did it mention Felix Harp? Or... his own fate?


    "Master¡ª?" Snape raised his voice, devoid of emotion.


    "You may leave, continue gathering information for me," Voldemort paused slightly. "If there''s a chance, find out Amelia Bones''s whereabouts; she''s bing a threat."


    "But master, I have no contact in the Ministry¡ª"


    "Use that Sirius ck; aren''t they getting closer recently?"


    Snape bowed his head, his ck eyes flickering uncertainly. "As you wish¡ªmaster," he finally said.


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 Chapter 511: Guidance

    Chapter 511: Guidance


    At the ck family mansion.


    Penelope was in the living room, exining the defense arrangements of the ''Future World''pany to Harry and the others.


    "Because of the business nature, Gringotts couldn''t employ concealment spells like here. Their protection is more akin to Hogwarts. It''ll improve significantly when they develop anti-thief waterfalls and a series of protection spells. Additionally, every employee at thepany must grasp the basics of self-defense. Professor Hep chose Stupefy and Protego as the basic ones."


    "No Disarming Charm?" Harry expressed some regret.


    "Perhaps he believes stunning is more reliable," Penelope said uncertainly. "There are other useful spells¡ªlike the Bright Fire Charm, Illusionary Shift, Disguise Charm, and the Magic Iron Armor Spell. But not everyone can handle these advanced spells; it''ll take time to spread themprehensively."


    Then, Penelope suggested ying a dueling game.


    They headed to the training room on the second basement level¡ªarger space than the fifth floor, and they wouldn''t disturb anyone.


    "Who''s going first?" Penelope confidently stood in the center of the room.


    "You sound like you''re nning a tag team match with us," Fred teased, a hint of mischief in his tone."It''s guidance," Penelope corrected seriously. "I''ve mastered every one of those spells you mentioned."


    "I see traces of Percy in her," Harry overheard Ron muttering to Neville. "I should''ve realized earlier. Why can she tolerate Percy, the workaholic? Because they''re the same type of person."


    Harry chuckled, catching Ginny staring at him through the corner of his eye, but as he looked, she averted her gaze. He suddenly rememberedst night''s kiss¡ªor whatever it was. He wasn''t entirely sure.


    "Harry! Harry!"


    He snapped back. Everyone had retreated to the edges of the ck stone walls, while Penelope eagerly looked at him. He instinctively tightened his grip on the wand.


    "Oh, Harry spaced out. That''s not good," Fred murmured softly before excitedly saying, "Three, two, one, begin!"


    "Protego¡ª"


    "Bang!"


    A red light hit Penelope''s chest, sending her flying. Shended solidly on the mat, her wand gracefully arcing through the air andnding in Harry''s hand.


    Struggling, Penelope pushed herself up from the mat, wearing an expression of disbelief.


    Harry was surprised himself; his spellcasting speed seemed faster, but he suspected it might be an illusion.


    "Mate, you better tone it down," Ron leaned in, whispering, "or Percy wille storming down for revenge."


    "I didn''t use my full power¡ª" Harry exined quietly.


    "Another round, I was too careless just now," Penelope said, determinedly.


    "So, round one goes to Harry; round two, ready¡ª" Fred fulfilled his role.


    This time, Penelope held on longer. Harry refrained from using the Disarming Charm, instead seizing an opportunity for a Leg-Locker Curse. Penelope took a hard fall and couldn''t get up.


    Others rushed over. Hermione cast a counter-curse and fetched a swelling solution¡ªPenelope''s face was bruised, but everyone restrained theirughter.


    "Do you fully master non-verbal casting?" Penelope asked in frustration.


    "I''ve improved a lot recently," Harry admitted sheepishly. He was now certain it wasn''t an illusion; he''d previously been limited to silently casting a few dueling spells, but today his touch felt surprisingly good.


    Could it be another impact from Voldemort? A shadow loomed over his mind.


    "Will this leave a mark?" Fred, concerned, asked, "I mean, if Mum finds out¡ª"


    Harry drew a sharp breath, his thoughts vanishing.


    "Don''t worry, I won''t spill," Penelope shrugged. "Skill mismatch."


    Harry''s fondness for Penelope increased significantly.


    Next, Harry and Hermione started their match, spells shooting from their wands in the training room. Almost half a minute passed, nothing but the sound of spells hitting the walls echoed, neither speaking a word.


    "They''re too familiar with each other, sometimes just sensing what spell the other will use," Ron exined. "But Harry''s in great form today. Remember, he''s no match for Hermione in non-verbal casting."


    "Can you do what they''re doing?" Fred and George carefully examined Ron.


    "Of course¡ªjust a bitcking," Ron said, panting heavily, seeing their eager expressions.


    "Look, Hermione''s about to usebined magic, that one Flitwick favors. Oh, what''s that?" He widened his eyes, surprised by the sudden change in the situation on the field.


    At some point, a series of chestnut wood chips flew out from Hermione''s bead bag. These chips shimmered with red, hot magical circuits. Under Hermione''s precise control, they encircled Harry.


    Harry felt uneasy; he instantly cast an advanced Protego, integrating ''flowing'' magical circuits into the barrier, creating an invisible spherical shield rippling with light green ripples, enclosing him. He looked up, seeing Hermione craning her neck, peering to check if he was ready, then swiftly swiping her wand downward.


    The chestnut wood chips exploded simultaneously around him, turning into dazzling fireballs.


    Harry felt dizzy momentarily. The explosion hadn''t harmed him, but the loud noise was overwhelming.


    "What kind of magic is this?" When the mes subsided, he couldn''t help asking. "It looks somewhat like magical circuitry."


    "You''re right," Hermione said cheerfully. "It''s unstable magical circuitry, something one should avoid, but if controlled properly¡ª" she made an explosion gesture.


    "Turning failed magical circuits into an offensive strategy?" Harry pondered; this approach wasn''t simple, demanding high control of magical power.


    "How did youe up with that?" Ron couldn''t resist asking.


    "Well¡ªI''ve been studying a lot of magical circuitry recently. While reviewing my experiences in studying ancient magical circuits, I suddenly remembered the professor pointing me in that direction during our first ss." Hermione smiled, her eyes forming two crescent moons. The sess of the new move put her in high spirits.


    "I think he might''ve just been demonstrating a wrong example back then," Ron cracked the truth.


    Next were Neville and Ginny. Neville seemed ingrained with defensive counterattacks, hardly leaving any openings. Ginny tried several spells in session but found no weaknesses. Moreover, she wasn''t adept at dueling; she just stood and cast spells in ce. In frustration, she employed her signature Bat Bogey Hex, only to be easily knocked down by Neville.


    "Are you okay?" Harry asked.


    Ginny shook her head, picking herself up.


    "You two have changed so much," Fred genuinelymented. "Even I''m itching to join."


    "When was thest time we seriously dueled?" George pretended to inquire.


    "If we don''t count yesterday when you tried that hairy hex on me with a protective cap, I think it was during the duelingpetitionst school year. We both got knocked out, remember?" Fred said seriously.


    "The one where we fought with dung bombs?" George recalled.


    "But our fights were too boring, like looking in a mirror," Fred reluctantly admitted. They hadn''t spent much time on dueling, but their everyday brawling made them stronger than the average person.


    "You''re right. It''s better to switch partners¡ª" George nced at Ron.


    ...


    Ron got beaten badly.


    "Actually, you held on for quite a while," Harry helped him up. "But Fred and George are just too in sync, like they''ve mastered the art of cloning."


    "I thought it was a 2-on-2," Ron rubbed his shoulder. "But they''re even more shameless than I imagined. Ouch, this will definitely swell."


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 Chapter 512: The Significance of Medals

    They emerged from the training room, passing by the room where the members of the Phoenix Society were having a meeting. Fred casually pulled out Extendable Ears to eavesdrop, "No, they''ve gotten clever¡ª"


    Back in the living room, Penelope brewed tea for them.


    "Aren''t we calling Percy down?" Hermione asked.


    "He''s upstairs rushing his report," Penelope replied.


    "That sounds a bit familiar," Ron scratched his chin.


    "Change it to ''he''s upstairs rushing his essay,'' and doesn''t it sound much smoother? We''ve heard that for a good seven years," Fred said somewhat wistfully. "I kept feeling something missing this month, now it''s finally filled in."


    Neville chuckled, "Sorry, couldn''t resist."


    At that moment, Penelope directed the teapot and cups onto the table with her wand.


    "You know, the Department Head he''s under hasn''t been settled yet, and he''s quite eager," she mentioned."He''s that confident? Is that possible?" Harry asked, intending to use the word ''ambitious'' but it didn''t quite feel right¡ªPercy was in the International Magical Cooperation Department, and the previous Head was Barty Crouch. After Crouch was sent to Azkaban, the position remained vacant, temporarily filled by former Minister Fudge.


    "About as probable as him suddenly receiving the Order of Merlin," Penelope joked. "But he remains hopeful."


    "Not that difficult, is it?" Ron half-seriously remarked. "Just get hit by a Killing Curse from some mysterious bloke."


    Penelope shot him a reproachful look.


    "What do you think earned you the medal? Just because of a Killing Curse?"


    "Um¡ª"


    "Just to set examples?" Harry recalled something Mrs. Bones had mentioned to them.


    "The Order of Merlin isn''t that cheap," Penelope stated.


    Harry felt a bit indignant. If someone like Lockhart could get the Order of Merlin, what couldn''t happen?


    "Just because we''re alive?"


    "Just being alive is enough," Penelope asserted. Harry looked at her in confusion, and she exined quite rationally, "You disrupted the ns of the mysterious man. He probably didn''t count on finding three¡ªoh, sorry, four witnesses."


    She tapped her wand on the teapot, and it immediately released wisps of white steam, followed by a delicate amber swirl streaming into the cups, "Not bad, right? I learned it during the holidays with my mum."


    "Why? I mean, yeah," Harry said, still pondering the previous topic. "But why?"


    "Just shows you didn''t pay much attention to what Mrs. Bones was saying," Hermione pointed out, not very pleased.


    "Did she do anything apart from stalling for time for the journalists to take photos?" Ron asked.


    "Of course," Hermione straightened up, cleared her throat, almost signaling a forting lengthy discourse. As expected, she began to imitate Mrs. Bones'' manner of speaking¡ª


    "In the past month¡ªoh, this is for all witches and wizards, let me continue¡ªthere hasn''t been much saddening news. No mysterious deaths, no Dark Marks hovering over your neighbors. In fact, all the unrest is due to new initiatives from the Ministry. I''ve heard someints, the Ministry has to allocate a team to handle all the sharp and angry letters, but more worrying than these is the reason behind this phenomenon: many still doubt the news of the mysterious man''s return..."


    "...On this asion, the Ministry, in conjunction with the Wizengamot and the Anti-Dark Arts Alliance, solemnly deres: the mysterious man has indeed returned, lurking in the darkness, gathering Death Eaters where we cannot see, rallying his former minions. If we continue to remain oblivious, the contributions of the four individuals sitting on stage waiting for awards today will be greatly diminished. The time they fought for us will be wasted, also a huge blow to the Ministry staff who acted promptly, the Aurors, the Hit Wizards, and pioneers from various fields..."


    "...We must hold onto our confidence and courage¡ªbefore the enemy reveals himself, for the more challenging days yet toe. Fortunately, we already have examples, those who showed resilience in the face of darkness, telling us not to fear or cower, walking out with wounds but raising the rm for war."


    "I hope we can remain positive and optimistic. Even though the road ahead is shrouded in mist, I still wish to envision the joy of victory. Looking back at this time in history, people will realize the seeds of victory were nted long ago..."


    Hermione finished. Everyone in the room stared at her, captivated.


    "You memorized the Minister''s speech?" Ron asked, wide-eyed, as if witnessing some strange creature suddenly invade the kitchen, like a Exploding Snail.


    "Theplete speech is in the newspaper, I read it several times, and if you''re up early enough and willing to help in the kitchen, you''ll find this speech ying repeatedly on the magical wireless," Hermione informed them.


    "So, you did memorize it," Ron persisted.


    Penelope looked at Hermione with shining eyes, "I should''ve known you earlier¡ªwe''d have so much inmon. How about joining ''Future World'' after graduation?" She was already recruiting talent.


    "Hey, we''ve had our eyes on Hermione for a while, nning to invite her to join ''Weasley''s Wizard Wheezes''," Fred pretended toin.


    Harry almost choked on his water. He couldn''t quite imagine Hermione connected to prank items.


    "You''re already thinking of recruiting?" Ron asked, baffled.


    Fred and George sighed together.


    "Firste, first served. Look, Penelope''s doing the same thing, isn''t she?"


    "But it doesn''t have to be this early; you two haven''t even graduated¡ª" Harry said, then saw the twins share a knowing look. A bold idea struck him, and he blurted, "You''re not nning to drop out, are you?"


    "Why would we?"


    "You''re overthinking¡ª"


    Both of them said simultaneously.


    "You can''t fool even Valen with that, can you, Valen?" Ron said, and Valen, upon hearing its name, lifted its head from the sofa¡ªholding a small fishing rod with a ball of yarn tied to the hook, ying a game with Crookshanks lying on the carpet.


    "You''ve gotten smarter, my dear brother¡ª" Fred said gloomily.


    "But not smart enough," George added.


    "So, you''re really nning to drop out?" Harry said, a voice inside him screaming that Mrs. Weasley would never agree, even if they were both duct-taped and stuck to the luggage rack of the Hogwarts Express. She wouldn''t hesitate for a moment.


    "Shh, keep it down," Fred said anxiously. "Let''s put it this way, we''re not nning to drop out; we''re just getting our brand out there early."


    "There''s a better option, using ''Future World''s'' stores," George said dejectedly, "But we got turned down by Leims."


    "But why¡ª"


    "Different philosophies," Fred shrugged, mimicking an ''old-fashioned'' gesture, "We believe people will need some fun as emotions continue to plummet. Prank items will have a market."


    George nodded, "This is where we''ll shine."


    "We''re nning to open a store, not in Diagon Alley but


    in Hogsmeade," Fred shared his n.


    "So, we''re not really nning to drop out; Mum will hang us by our ears," George grumbled, "or drown us in the sink, pretend we never existed."


    "Great," Ron said, "What products have you prepared?"


    "Plenty," Fred and George grinned, "Except for the Extendable Ears and the Anti-Jinx series, those will stay with ''Future World'' until after the war."


    "Security-wise¡ª"


    "We picked a spot next to ''Future World,''" George winked at the inquiring Neville.


    "We''ll hire staffter; we''ll inspect when Hogsmeade opens and use owls formunication. It''s a shame; all the secret passages out of the school are sealed," Fred clicked his tongue, "But since we only have one more year... we can endure."


    "I might join the Ministry after graduation," Hermione said, "But I don''t want to give up my study of Ancient Runes." She seemed troubled.


    "You want to be an Unspeakable?" Fred asked in surprise, looking at Harry and Ron.


    "Hermione wants to be the Minister for Magic," Harry blurted without much thought.


    Hermione red at him but didn''t refute.


    "I just believe certain things need someone to do them," she said calmly.


    Fred and George gave her a thumbs-up.


    Just then, there wasmotion in the hallway. Fred nced downstairs, "The meeting''s over." He turned back to them.


    So, when Felix, Sirius, and the others entered the living room, they saw a group of people calmly sipping tea. "I thought you lot might be eavesdropping; the door opened several times," Tonks grinned as she sat among them.


    "I''ll talk to Amelia about it tomorrow," Sirius said to Felix, referring to Bode''s situation.


    "Give this talisman to him for me," Felix retrieved a snail-like pendant from his ring and handed it to Sirius.


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 Chapter 513: Growing Urgency

    "Children, it''s gettingte, time for bed," Mrs. Weasleymanded from the center of the living room.


    "Aunt Molly," Neville asked in a hushed voice, "When will my parents be back?"


    "Don''t worry, they''re on night duty. If it''s toote, they might stay at the safe house outside," Mrs. Weasley''s tone softened immediately.


    Neville nodded silently, following Harry upstairs.


    ---


    The bright moon cast silver light over the dense trees and bushes, creating eerie shadows that sprawled across the well-kept hedges. A very decent mansion loomed in the darkness - Malfoy Manor.


    A rustling sound filled the air¡ª


    "The peacocks kept by the Malfoys," a deep voice spoke. He nced alertly from the shadows, spotting the source - a magnificent white peacock parading atop the hedge.


    The wizard watched the peacock for a while, letting his guard down, speaking softly to his wife."We''ve been watching for days; I feel like today might yield something."


    Alice stared at a narrow, recessed corridor in the center of the hedge, leading to two imposing wrought iron gates. Wisps of mist drifted in the woods, butbined with the cool night breeze, it became less inviting.


    "I wonder what Narsissa is doing right now?" she asked softly.


    "She should be asleep by this time," Frank said gently, sping Alice''s slightly cold hand.


    Suddenly, the air distorted. Apanied by a soft crack, two figures appeared abruptly. One cloaked in long ck robes, wearing a hood that covered the entire face, seemed cautious. The other, quite the opposite - though also wearing a hood, immediately took it off upon arrival, casually tossing back their curly hair, surveying the surroundings.


    "Put your hood on," the man growled at hispanion.


    Betrix snorted, "Since when did you be so timid, Lucius? This is your doorstep."


    "I''d be fine alone; being seen doesn''t bother me," Lucius restrained his anger, "but if someone finds me with an escaped convict from Azkaban¡ª"


    He suddenly fell silent.


    Betrix wielded her wand, sneering at him.


    "Should Narcissa see you trembling at gatherings?" she mocked, "Don''t worry, I''ll only stay here for a few days, then off to deal with those smelly giants, or¡ªdo you want the Dark Lord to pick someone else?"


    "Your orders are to support the Carrow siblings, while I''ve been tasked with infiltrating the Ministry," Lucius impatiently said, "So, don''t boss me around; I won''t indulge in your madness¡ª"


    Betrix strode towards the wrought iron gates, her cloak swishing on the ground. A green light shed, and the once majestic white peacock fell lifeless from the hedge.


    "Annoying creature," she sneered.


    "Betrix!" Lucius eximed sharply.


    But her figure had vanished straight through the gates as if they didn''t exist. Lucius stood still, breathing heavily. After a while, he marched inside, and silence reimed the surroundings.


    Frank looked at his wife with concern, her fists clenched tightly, teeth audibly grinding. "That demon... she took twelve years from us..." Alice leaned against her husband, sobbing softly.


    "Alice, let her revel for a while. I promise you, she''ll pay," Frank embraced his wife, staring coldly at the dark wrought iron gates.


    ---


    Early the next day, Harry watched Sirius hastily finish breakfast, preparing to head to work with Mr. Weasley, Bill, Percy, and Penelope. He held back what he wanted to say.


    As if by fate, the scar on his head, tormenting him for years, suddenly felt more amiable¡ªbut even if Harry racked his brain, Voldemort couldn''t possibly be kind enough to impart knowledge through the scar.


    The barely convincing reason was that Voldemort didn''t know about it; it was all passive.


    But why hadn''t this happened before? Or rather, when did it start?


    Harry remembered the sudden kiss. He vigorously shook his head, dispelling the chaotic thoughts. Tracing back, it was when he ''saw'' Voldemort''s vision at the Ministry of Magic.


    "Molly, stor might drop byter; he had the night shift yesterday," Mr. Weasley reminded.


    "I know, I''ll save some food for him," Mrs. Weasley said.


    Soon, they all lined up to leave, even Fred and George.


    "Uh, Professor, aren''t you going to work?" Harry looked at Felix.


    "I''ll goter," Felix said, "Thepany is focusing on the Thief Waterfall; I just finished reviewing its principles yesterday. Is there something?"


    Harry hesitated but nodded. He actually wanted Sirius''s advice, but now, the professor seemed suitable. He knew about Harry''s previous distress with the scar and had taught him lumency. With the symptom changes in the scar, maybe the professor had an idea? Plus, he could ask about the Killing Curse; the professor was quite adept at using it...


    Felix had set up a makeshift bed in the third-floor study. As Harry entered, before he could clearly see, Felix had already extended his hand, shrinking the camp bed to the size of a matchbox and casually slipping it into a ring.


    The ck family study served both as a learning space and for entertaining esteemed guests. Apart from the long desk and three bookshelves filled with books, there was a small sofa and a wooden tea table in a corner. The edges of the solid wood table looked rough, as if it had been made from a massive tree trunk.


    "Are these magical creatures?" Harry looked interestedly at the animated sketches on the table, inked in dark green, depicting various animal shapes, many of which he could name.


    "Yeah," Felix didn''t borate, gathering the papers and stowing them into the ring.


    Harry guessed the professor might be preparing a series of magical creature drawings, but it seemed unlikely. He couldn''t fathom that Felix was attempting to construct a magical creature and magical talentbination n.


    This was one of Felix''s insights after the battle with Voldemort.


    During the battle, he hadn''t transformed into a bird-snake personally, primarily feeling it was too risky. Magical creatures didn''t hold an advantage against Voldemort''s Killing Curse. However, he keenly realized a massive treasure trove within.


    Because Felix suddenly realized that Voldemort seemed unaware of his and Dumbledore''s transformed state, at least in Voldemort''s description, the words used were "body modification" - clearly Szar Slytherin''s path.


    From this, Felix judged that even though Voldemort may have undergone multiple alterations to adapt to dark magic, his uniquely tailored Killing Curse might have originated like this - but Voldemort likely couldn''t transform into magical creatures.


    If designed cleverly enough, this cognitive defect might be Voldemort''s undoing.


    ---


    "Professor, when did you learn the Avada Kedavra curse?" Harry decided to start with a small question, but Professor Lupin was too sharp. He just nced at him and half-jokingly said, "Why, do you want to learn this curse too? Quite bold of you."


    "It''s not that I want to learn; I¡ªum¡ªjust suddenly knew it," Harry stuttered, finally confessing.


    Felix looked at him strangely. Did Harry really learn it just from seeing him use it a few


    times? He felt uneasy. Had he taught the kid something bad? But when Harry described his experiences from thest two days, Felix''s expression turned serious.


    This was more serious than he''d anticipated - Harry, in his fervor for revenge, sought to learn the Unforgivable Curse on his own.


    "Follow me," he said in a deep voice.


    He led Harry to a small training ground on the fifth floor.


    "Try using the Killing Curse."


    Harry did, a green light shot from the wand. Both of them frowned simultaneously.


    Harry felt that the spells he cast today were significantly weaker. Meanwhile, Felix noticed a hint of familiarity in his spellcasting style, indicating that what Harry had mentioned before was indeed true.


    Moreover, he knew more things, such as the fact that a fragment of Voldemort''s soul was hidden within Harry''s body. So where did Harry acquire this knowledge? Was it from Voldemort himself, or from... that fragment of soul?


    "Did you hear any noises in your head the night beforest?" Felix confirmed.


    "Yes, but they disappeared quickly," Harry nervously replied.


    Felix fell silent, carefully observing Harry through magical sight. Even he could only glimpse traces of dark magic when Harry''s mental defenses were at their weakest¡ªa matter from the previous school year. Now, however, he hesitated to probe further.


    If his guess was correct¡ªHarry inadvertently triggered the dormant fragment of the soul. Probing now might lead to extremely serious consequences.


    "Here''s what we''ll do," Felix pondered for a moment. "Try two other spells¡ªCruciatus and Dementor''s Kiss¡ªon me. Release them."


    Watching Harry''s shocked expression, he chuckled, "I can withstand these two spells, no need to worry about hurting me."


    Anxiously, Harry waved his wand, hoping for sess yet fearing it. In this state of anxiety, he inevitably failed, turning back to the professor¡ª


    "Keep going," Felix said calmly.


    Stiffly, Harry continued casting the spells, but after an hour passed, he hadn''t seeded once.


    "You need more determination," Felix urged.


    "I can''t cast the Unforgivable Curse at you, Professor," Harry murmured softly.


    And then, he ''saw'' Voldemort standing in front of him, crimson eyes fixed on him, startling him.


    "Continue," ''Voldemort'' urged.


    This time, Harry quickly found his focus. Despite only knowing the spells and having no prior teaching, he seeded. Harry appeared both bewildered and astonished, as if he had suddenly mastered three Unforgivable Curses.


    How did this happen?


    Meanwhile, Felix fell into deep thought.


    "Professor?" Harry asked anxiously. "Can Voldemort truly influence me through the scar? Even transmit knowledge?"


    "It''s a possibility," Felix said. "But don''t worry too much. From your description, the lumency is still effective, so this training must continue... I''ll inform Dumbledore of your situation; perhaps he can discern something."


    Dumbledore''s response was swifter than expected; he appeared almost immediately after the notice was sent out.


    He extensively questioned Harry''s feelings, finally extracting two memories from Harry¡ªthe scene where he ''saw'' Voldemort in the Ministry of Magic''s hall and his first release of the Killing Curse.


    Then Harry was dismissed, leaving just the two of them in the fifth-floor training area.


    "Albus, do you think¡ª" Felix hesitated.


    "I''m not sure," Dumbledore shook his head. "It might just be a mere coincidence. I can propose more than one reasonable exnation; for instance, the ancient heritage of the Potter family, Harry possibly inheriting this innate ability. Or perhaps Voldemort did indeed transfer a part of his power to Harry, leading to his current changes..."


    "But," he said with a serious expression, "there''s also the possibility of the Horcrux''s influence. We''ve overlooked something earlier¡ªwhat did Voldemort use to aid his resurrection?"


    What Horcrux did he use? Obviously... wait?


    Felix contemted the meaning behind these words.


    In theory, a wizard would only need one Horcrux, acting as an anchor in the real world after the wizard''s death, preserving their soul. But Voldemort, in his madness, created multiple Horcruxes, posing a question: which Horcrux was truly active after his death?


    Remember, Harry himself was a Horcrux, sustaining Voldemort''s residual soul.


    Of course, Harry wasn''t a proper Horcrux or one intentionally created by Voldemort. The likelihood of Harry being required to maintain Voldemort''s remaining soul was slim, but not nonexistent; there were other Horcruxes ahead in line.


    However, the problem was that before Voldemort''s resurrection, his Horcruxes had been destroyed one by one.


    The diary was the first;


    The crown was the second, followed by the locket, and then the snake apanying Voldemort, a total of four Horcruxes. Wait a minute¡ª


    "Was the locket destroyed?" Felix confirmed.


    When he handed over Slytherin''s locket to Dumbledore, it was intact.


    "I kept it for analysis," Dumbledore shook his head lightly. "But I found another Horcrux, a ring passed down through the generations of Voldemort''s mother''s lineage. Voldemort ced a malicious curse on it, and I nearly fell victim to it, luckily your protective charm alerted me..."


    "I see," Felix nodded. That made it five, with the intact locket in Dumbledore''s possession.


    If Voldemort had even an ounce of sanity, he''d have split his soul into no more than nine pieces¡ª


    "I personally lean toward the number ''seven''," Dumbledore nodded slightly. "Though I haven''t obtained concrete evidence, I''ve begun to have an inkling."


    "Do you need help?" Felix asked.


    "Ah, I can manage; Harry is assisting me... and if the persuasion bes too extravagant, it might scare my old friend away," Dumbledore said with a smile.


    Felix continued pondering.


    Suppose the diary was the first to be active. After its destruction, a new Horcrux would inevitably take its ce, like the crown. And after the crown, it would be the snake or the ring until it shifted to the locket or another unknown Horcrux now.


    But that''s in an ideal scenario.


    What if, during any of these stages, Harry''s ''half-Horcrux'' also got involved? There''s definitely a link between the fragmented soul and the main soul. When would this connection be at its strongest?


    Certainly, when the Horcrux was sustaining the main soul from dispersing.


    This also exined Harry''s increasing scar pain before learning lumency; because his Horcrux was starting to function!


    "Albus, do you think¡ªwill the fragment of soul inside Harry''s body ''resurrect''?" This was Felix''s greatest concern.


    "It''s unlikely," Dumbledore shook his head. "The Horcrux''s function isn''t resurrection, especially a mere fragment¡ªit wouldn''t serve any purpose... However, nobody knows the consequences of turning a living person into a Horcrux, not even Voldemort himself."


    "The Horcrux itself possesses extremely resilient traits, but in Harry, these traits aren''t evident, indicating that a living Horcrux is unique," Dumbledore said after a moment of silence. "I fear Harry is ''digesting'' the Horcrux, or rather¡ªmerging with Voldemort''s fragmented soul."


    Felix lifted his head in astonishment but had to admit the possibility. He began considering countermeasures.


    "lumency might alleviate this symptom."


    "Exactly," Dumbledore nodded gently.


    "And also, " Felix''s blue eyes began to shine, "we can''t wait another ten years¡ªwe certainly can''t wait longer, especially Harry! We must resolve this Voldemort issue within a year or two! The sooner, the better!"


    "That happens to be the most challenging task," Dumbledore murmured softly.


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 Chapter 514: The Predicament of the Ancient Runes Society and the Prophecy

    Felix exchanged some information and views with Dumbledore once again. Apart from the recent developments in thest couple of days, either Professor McGonagall or Mrs. Weasley wouldpile and hand over the information from each meeting of the Phoenix Society to Dumbledore.


    So even though Dumbledore didn''t visit often, he knew the ce well enough to multitask. In his words, "Dealing with giants always requires more patience."


    "You know giant-speak?" Felix''s expression turned peculiar. "Then what does this phrase mean?" He made a sound that seemed huffing and puffing.


    Dumbledore cast a reproachful look at him.


    "Well, I guess I have an idea. It probably isn''t apliment," Felix said, making a few excuses for himself in a hushed tone. "All giant-speak sounds like insults to me, and I didn''t really understand¡ªis it safe to say I wasn''t wrong in bashing those mountain giants back then?"


    "Felix, personally, I''d advise against discussing this topic with Norwegian wizards. They quite fancy these simple-minded creatures. Probably because they have a certain rugged charm?" Dumbledore said uncertainly. "They even selected giants as the mascot for their Quidditch national team. Goodness, how they manage tons of nose mucus is the real challenge, to be honest..."


    But the matter regarding Bode caught his attention. "I''ll keep an eye on it, better find a chance to speak with Amelia," Dumbledore nodded slightly, smiling. "Dealing with the new Minister has be easier, no longer needing to consider their fragile ego... well, that might sound a bit harsh, but I believe Cornelius''s current position suits him better."


    "Yeah, while we''re burning the midnight oil, he''s gallivanting around various European countries," Felix said, "hope he doesn''te back overweight; that''d stir public outrage."


    ...Conversations with Dumbledore were always intriguing. If it didn''t concern Harry''s safety, he''d dly engage this old man further on Voldemort''s strength. But it was evident that Dumbledore was truly busy and hurriedly departed.


    Felix arrived at the headquarters of Future World with a mind brimming with thoughts.


    Regarding the soul fragments within Harry''s body, neither he nor Dumbledore had good solutions for now. So, their focus shifted to Voldemort, who was too erratic... no, resurrected. As a living being, his emotions were more intense than when he was just a remnant, especially after recent setbacks. One couldn''t tell what turmoil he might face at night. Unfortunately, as a Horcrux, Harry became a receptacle for Voldemort''s emotions, a massive emotional conduit.


    This ''stirring up'' would, in turn, agitate the unstable soul fragments, akin to holding Pandora''s box, never knowing what might happen upon opening it. The lumency only dyed matters; the time bomb still existed. If Voldemort discovered it and had enough time, he could detonate this bomb.


    Pondering this, Felix ascended the spiraling staircase.


    Due to the current circumstances, the fortress hall wasn''t open to the public. Each staff member carried a special token for identification. However, this was only temporary. The real effective measure was the researched Thief''s Cascade.


    Actually, there was another method¡ª


    That was periodically scanning using the Mind Chamber spell. But due to practical constraints, Felix couldn''t be stationed at thepany permanently. Moreover, wizards harbored reservations and prejudices toward memory spells in the broader context. Felix didn''t want to sow internal unrest, especially with Voldemort lurking nearby.


    So, he chose to use it asionally and discreetly, telling no one.


    Utilizing opportunities for discussions and magical demonstrations, he''d swiftly employ the Mind Chamber spell and ascertain its safety.


    "Perhaps creating a magical item? Using a magical puppet as a guard wouldn''t be bad either?"


    But eventually, Felix abandoned this idea. Magical puppets, at best, were one of the fortress''s defensive measures. Giving them additional functions required caution. Moreover, the situation wasn''t critical enough. He could wait a while longer until the Thief''s Cascade structure wasplete.


    "Professor Hipp!"


    When Felix arrived at the fifth floor, Clementine was waiting outside his office eagerly.


    "What''s the matter?" he asked as she ran over, attempting to pull him, but he dodged.


    "Oh, it''s actually..." she hesitated, "my grandfather..."


    That stubborn old man? Felix thought to himself, vaguely recalling some promise he made to him.


    "...he wanted me to ask when you''d be free to visit the Ancient Runes Society," Clementine said in a low voice. "He said you''d know."


    "That''s true," Felix considered and replied, "but definitely not anytime soon. I need to oversee the progress of the Thief''s Cascade and reinforce the fortress''s defense... How about this, you can inform Mr. Vira that I''ll definitely visit him before the start of term."


    "Alright." Clementine visibly rxed.


    "Has Mr. Vira been avabletely?" He casually inquired.


    "Well," Clementine looked a bit strange. She pushed up her thick sses and said, "He used to be free, but ever since he took up the position of president half a month ago, he''s been busy¡ª"


    "He''s the president of the Ancient Runes Society now?" Felix asked, surprised.


    "That''s right. Grandfather''s been sighing a lot moretely. I think the society is on the verge of copsing," Clementine said without sympathy, ncing around before leaning in, speaking in a lowered voice, "Professor, I suggest you recruit them all!"


    Felix cleared his throat.


    "Why do you think that? Mr. Vira probably wouldn''t agree, right?"


    "Hah," Clementine said nonchntly, "I''ve overheard a few times. Many members have left the society recently, various reasons, from the Ministry''s war alerts to the increasing poprity of new runes... Everyone says you''ve ushered in a new era for runology."


    "Well, there''s no need to exaggerate."


    "¡ªIf it weren''t for Grandfather hinting at ''absorbing'' the essence of new runes, even more people would''ve left," Clementine stated matter-of-factly, revealing the plight of the Ancient Runes Society without any qualms, "He''s just too proud. As long as you make a visit, he''ll definitelypromise."


    Finally, Felix promised to visit soon. Though the Ancient Runes Society primarily focused on trantion-based runology, they had some foundation and potential for coboration. It was an opportune moment; in a few years, with enough graduates from Hogwarts, the Ancient Runes Society would be inconsequential.


    Meanwhile, at St. Mungo''s Hospital for Magical Mdies and Injuries...


    Sirius and Mrs. Bones had juste out of the Curse Damage ward. "Was it the token given by Professor Hipp?" Mrs. Bones asked.


    "Yeah, what''s up?" Sirius inquired.


    "Nothing, just thought the First ss Merlin''s Order was well-deserved," Mrs. Bones smiled.


    "Felix thinks Bode''s injury might be rted to Voldemort¡ªhe believed Bode, using his authority, was trying to acquire something from the Department of Mysteries. Even though it''s a failure now, Felix is worried Voldemort might silence him," Sirius exined.


    "That''s why I left two enforcers, and I''ve got an idea of what Voldemort might want," Mrs. Bones said, then her expression turned serious, "Sirius, help me schedule an appointment with Headmaster Dumbledore. I need to discuss a prophecy... no, two."


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 Chapter 515: Magical Photos

    ck Manor, Dining Room


    "stor," Mrs. Weasley spoke,ing up from the kitchen downstairs, carrying a te of vegetable sd and a tray of chicken legs. "I made this with the leftover ingredients;st night''s vegetable soup wasn''t quite fresh."


    "It''s fine," Moody said calmly, his blue magical eye fixed on the sd for a moment before he started eating heartily. "Oh, by the way," he looked at Neville, "Frank and Alice should be back around noon. They passed on valuable intel to me."


    Neville nodded, his eyes shining.


    "What intel?" Harry couldn''t help but ask.


    "I can''t disclose more, in case you get captured by Death Eaters and forced to spill," Moody gruffly said, staring at a chicken leg, sniffing it before biting into it. "Thanks, Molly," he said, tearing into it.


    Harry couldn''t decide which was more pitiable¡ªMoody''s missing nose or the bitten chicken leg. Or was it imagining themselves captured and tortured by Death Eaters, as Moody hinted?


    "Don''t think I''m joking. Many think they''re tough, can endure, act all macho, but with a single Unforgivable Curse¡ª" Moody grinned menacingly, gesturing towards the young wizards by the table who all leaned back.


    Mrs. Weasley shot him a reproachful look.Moody grabbed a second chicken leg. "Molly, they can handle it. I''ve heard they train extensively; it''s not just for show in dueling ss, is it? I''m just showing them the real world... You all want to be Aurors?" His normal eye looked at the group.


    Harry, Ron, Neville nodded, and surprisingly, Hermione hesitated before nodding too. Ginny, unexpectedly, made the same gesture.


    Mrs. Weasley appeared shocked. "Ginny, you''re only in your third year! It''s too early to think about this."


    "Not too early. I''m starting my fourth year," Ginny retorted.


    "I say it''s too early! You''re a girl, and I won''t allow¡ª" Mrs. Weasley was furious.


    The dining room turned lively for the next few minutes. Ginny argued loudly with Mrs. Weasley, her hair flying around like an angry cat; Crookshanks, who had been lying at her feet, moved closer, staring at the two sources of noise.


    "We''re going upstairs," Hermione signaled to Harry and the others, trying to escape themotion, but Ginny left before them, the stairs echoing with her steps. Mrs. Weasley followed, seemingly intent on convincing her to change her mind.


    "Shall we, um, go to the training room?" Hermione stood uncertainly, looking at her friends. She wasn''t particrly keen on training; she just wanted to steer clear of Professor Moody''s spinning magical eye.


    The others promptly stood up.


    "You alright, Potter?" Moody gruffly asked.


    "I''m fine," Harry didn''t speak the whole truth. On one hand, he hesitated to tell Ron and the others about his knowledge of the three Unforgivable Curses. On the other, he started worrying about how Dumbledore would react once he saw his memories, feeling all jumbled up inside.


    Suddenly, an idea struck him.


    "Professor Moody, I have a question," Harry said, then noticed Moody''s gaze fixating on him. "The Aurors were permitted to use Unforgivable Curses... was the situation really that dire? And didn''t the spells affect you?" ??


    "You''re talking about that," Moody mumbled, taking a sip from his sk. "That was more towards the end of the war; it was indeed tough. The Death Eaters'' numbers kept increasing, forced or otherwise... Real Death Eaters had direct contact with You-Know-Who, but there were others¡ªlike werewolves¡ªwho had a lower standing in the Dark Lord''s ranks. Regardless, it was nearly a ten-year war, and people were somewhat hopeless. Barty... he was a tough man. Many continued because of him. He suggested to the new Minister, Bagnold, to grant some privileges to Aurors, like using Unforgivable Curses on Death Eaters, among other things, to give them an edge... And Bagnold agreed, a bold witch, I think she was better than her predecessor."


    "But does it really work?" Harry asked urgently. "I mean, would a Disarming Charm suffice to subdue the enemy, or Stun them?"


    Moody looked at him for a moment, then chuckled. His face grew even more sinister.


    "Well, you''re not wrong. The Killing Curse, put simply, is a spell that, like chopping off someone''s head, can kill. But they''re entirely different. These three curses were ssified as Unforgivable in 1717, with severe consequences for the user, and they were rarely heard of afterward. However, they didn''t vanish; they''ve always circted among Dark Wizards..."


    "It was the Death Eaters who brought them back to public notice. They shamelessly used these curses, plus with newspapers sensationalizing it, they became legendary. Barty wanted to change that. He believed¡ªthere was a need to restore public confidence, and the Killing Curse definitely has more intimidation than the Disarming Charm."


    "But you¡ª" Harry stumbled, unsure how to proceed.


    "You want to know if I''ve used the Killing Curse or how it feels to kill?" Moody softly asked.


    Harry faltered, and the others remained silent.


    "Of course, I have. I remember vividly using the Killing Curse; that Death Eater, Evan Rosier, died that way." Moody revealed with a twisted smile. "But I always aim to capture alive if possible. Azkaban has quite a few friends of mine, but sadly, a bunch escaped a month ago," he muttered, sounding like a curse.


    Or maybe Harry misheard, perhaps Professor Moody suddenly craved Fizzing Whizbees, a type of sherbet.


    "As for the feeling, there isn''t much feeling... When the war raged, we wished the enemies dead clean; there was no time to think much." Moody said dismissively. "You need a tough heart and rich experiences to¡ª"


    Footsteps interrupted. Mrs. Weasley descended, and Moody resumed eating his chicken leg.


    The conversation seemed toe to an end like that.


    "Oh, right, I have something here that might interest you," he said, pulling out a tattered magical photograph from his pocket. Harry saw a small group of people in the picture, some waving, some raising sses.


    "This is¡ª" Mrs. Weasley came to take a look, frowning.


    "The original Order of the Phoenix," Moody said gravely. "You''ve seen it too, right? I''m not sure if you have it, but everyone had one then." He addressed Mrs. Weasley, "Your two brothers were remarkable, died young... I saw Emmeline yesterday; she''s alright, just injured¡ª"


    He noticed Harry and the others wanting to ask, so he preempted. Mrs. Weasley tightly pursed her lips.


    "Was it the fishing expedition?" Harry asked softly; he knew Emmeline, a witch who dressed elegantly but spoke little. She was also a member of the Order of the Phoenix, whom Harry had seen a few times before.


    "It seems you know about that expedition. Yes, indeed, you were going


    to receive an award, couldn''t avoid it," Moody said.


    Harry''s mind was a whirlwind. He''d heard about this from Mrs. Bones; the Weasleys had been reced at the time, but he never imagined that the person recing them was Emmeline Vance from the Order of the Phoenix, and she got hurt.


    "She''s lucky. Some here, their bodies were never found, or only parts..." Moody seemed to notice Mrs. Weasley''s struggle to keep silent, so he handed the photo to Harry. "Keep it; you might not find James and Lily''s... I visited once, Godric''s Hollow... now it''s a ruin."


    Harry managed a faint smile, unsure of what to say.


    He saw his parents in the photo, smiling at him. Suddenly, he had an intense desire to visit Godric''s Hollow. As hey in bed that night, the urge grew stronger¡ªa strange feeling considering he had never thought about it before.


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