days at Hogwarts

Chapter 481 The vacation is over
The hourly wall clock on the wall of the principal's office rang three times. As early as the second time, Barty Crouch, Director of the Department of International Affairs and Cooperation, had already finished processing the competition documents displayed on the desk.

Dumbledore wore nanmu reading glasses inlaid with silver wire and slowly read the last rule.

"Graves' female classmate... Delacour's sister... Krum's teammate..." Crouch looked at the names on the report leisurely and asked with interest, "This What is the relationship between Miss Weasley and our little Potter warrior? Are they lovers?"

The warrior's most beloved treasure mentioned in the golden egg clue is the one who reported it.

Hide them at the bottom of the Black Lake and give the warriors one hour to pass through numerous obstacles to rescue these hostages... Now Crouch can't understand that such a strange project plan can become the final choice.

However, he was happy to play a fun game with these people.

Hearing his question, Dumbledore blinked: "Well, I don't know... Miss Weasley is his partner at the Yule Ball. Originally, I was more inclined to let his good friend - Miss Weasley "Brother, another Weasley comes to hold the Warrior's treasure."

Crouch became more interesting and said thoughtfully: "Weasley... a very familiar name... Oh, I remembered it, the Department for the Prohibition of the Misuse of Muggle Items, a good colleague of mine."

He raised his eyebrows: "It sounds like our dear Potter has a good relationship with the Weasley family?"

"A warm and friendly family, no one dislikes them..."

Dumbledore dealt with it casually, dipped his quill in thick ink, and signed his signature in the row next to Igor Karkaroff, Olim Maxim, and Gilbert Fontana. The name is a long string, longer than the three above combined.

"I'm sorry to bother you because these documents have stayed with me, an old guy, for three hours." Dumbledore said apologetically, "Leave the rest to me. I will communicate with the mermaids about the precautions and make a contribution. exciting competition."

"Mermaid..."

Crouch's deep eyes flashed with a dark glimmer: "A group of mysterious guys, right? I also know a little bit of the mermaid language, but I have never used it."

Species on the fringes of magical society may be able to help him.

"The deep water has blocked our communication. The mermaids have a civilization that is not inferior to humans." Dumbledore looked at him with a smile. "I like their art works very much, operas, statues and jewelry. Everywhere exudes the harmony of the ocean. It’s fun to get along, you really should go see it.”

"Oh?" Crouch showed an interested expression, "How are their magical attainments?"

Dumbledore pondered for a moment: "Well... in deep water environments, they rely more on their strong tails and harpoons."

The appearance of Merkus, the leader of the mermaids, appeared before his eyes. He was the strongest and most violent, even though he was a woman...

"Really?" Crouch instantly lost interest and said half-heartedly, "Before the second project officially starts, Ludo and I will test it in the water and have a chance to see it."

Just a group of guys who can't move on land seems to have no effect.

……

Circles of soft light sway slowly on the water surface, casting mottled and swaying light and shadows into the deep water. As your eyes follow these light and shadows, your tense spirit will unconsciously relax.

The deep water bottom seems to have no end, and the sound of gurgling water seems to never stop, like the most intimate whisper.

"What a beautiful water world..."

The old man's voice flowed in the water: "Decades ago, human wizards had serious internal conflicts because a gifted wizard saw an incredible future...Muggles who couldn't use magic used what they called science. The thing created is a weapon with powerful destructive power beyond magic, which can destroy an entire city in an instant. "

Ron looked around blankly, not sure what he was talking about, while Loren, Hermione and Harry, who grew up in Muggle society, looked thoughtful.

Did a wizard predict that ultimate weapon a long time ago?

"I don't know how that wizard feels, but he tried to subvert the magic world in the wrong way, and was ultimately foiled by your old principal..."

"It turns out that Albus is right. Even if Muggles without magic created that kind of weapon, the Secrecy Act still maintains the peace of the human world." The old man showed a helpless smile on his face, "But no one expected that , the destructive power of that kind of weapon is not only the moment it explodes, but also leaves a poison that lasts for many years.”

"Toxins spread into the ocean, rotting the flesh and blood of fish, making their bones distorted, and ugly and deformed sarcomas appear on the originally thin webs. Even if the flesh and blood are cut out, the contaminated parts cannot be restored."

Loren stood behind the Old Man Fish and frowned slightly. He probably guessed the truth about the toxin.

"If there is only a small amount of toxins, we can survive relying on the protection of the ocean, but..." the old man said in a sad voice, "In the light and shadow in the depths of the ocean, I, an old guy, also saw a corner of the future!"

"In a few decades, there will be more and more toxins in the ocean, until they fill every part of the deep-water world..."

As the Old Man shouted, a thunderous roar suddenly sounded against Loren's eardrums, and a cool and calm magic flowed into his mind, accompanied by a magnificent illusion of light and shadow.

It was a silent ocean. The invisible ocean currents were filled with schools of fish emitting faint light. The pale and dark flesh was covered with curled and abnormal scales. The flesh around the eye sockets of the fish heads had long been rotten and was washed away by the current while swimming. Scattered, like white bones exposed in the mud, the unfettered eyes scattered everywhere, emitting a strange cold light.

Countless mutated fish swarms surrounded the dead and rotting mermaid, and finally sank into the dark and deep ditch.

The old man fish's old and sad voice sounded in Loren's ears: "Did you see it?"

Loren remained silent and did not answer.

"Can I trust you?"

Loren hesitated for a moment, and under some inspiration, he nodded inexplicably.

Then the dragging feeling of the swirling water came, and Loren felt like a ghost trapped in the toilet. After a moment of dizziness, his soles finally stepped firmly on the flat bottom, which were the shoulders of the giant mermaid stone sculpture.

The crystal blue light in Loren's eyes flashed away, and he felt a strong sense of horror, and unconsciously squeezed Hermione's hand.

Hermione looked at him with some confusion, concern appearing in her brown eyes.

"It's okay..." Loren shook his head and mouthed silently. He knew that he was the only one who saw the prophesied scene, and his eyes fell on the old man fish again.

So the old man knew the meaning of this surname and showed the prophecy to himself specifically to ask for help?

What does he want to do with himself?
Before Loren could ask questions, the old man turned his head and looked at them. All the unusual expressions had been put away, leaving only a really old face.

"Okay, it's time..."

Is that all?
The four little wizards were a little confused and didn't notice that the bass mermaid who had been accompanying them couldn't help but have red eyes.

The old man has a weak voice but clear enunciation, and his kind face is somewhat similar to Dumbledore. Even though he just talked about such a heavy topic, he still looked at them with a smile: "The first meeting was a little hasty, and I didn't have time to prepare, so I can only give you some small gifts. ”

His eyes fell on the bracelet of the middle-aged mermaid next to him. The string broke and four red coral stones floated in front of the four of them.

Several people caught the coral stone in a daze, with confused expressions. "Then that's it. I won't say goodbye to you anymore."

As the voice fell, the deep water of the dark lake suddenly surged, forming invisible vortices. It stopped its strength as it approached, as if soft and smooth silk was flowing across the shoulders of the giant mermaid stone sculpture.

"Do you feel it?"

“As long as I can feel the flow of water, I feel extremely at ease.”

The old man spread his hands and leaned back, with a peaceful face. The light and shadow in his eyes gradually dimmed, like bright gems gradually fading.

Under the gaze of everyone, the whole body turned into a burst of foam glowing with colorful light, and melted into the water into streaks of glow.

The next second, a gentle whirlpool undercurrent swept past, and the silt, moss, barnacles and other attachments that had accumulated for decades on the stone sculpture seemed to have been washed away by strong detergent and turned into dust.

"Let's go, I'll take you ashore." The bass mermaid said in a dull voice.

"This...we..." Ron's eyes widened and he stammered, "He, is he dead?"

The mermaid swung its tail and swam forward a few positions, and glanced at them lightly: "It is the incarnation of flowing water. The elder is the longest-lived mermaid in the tribe. We have been prepared for it a long time ago."

"Kenie——"

Ron was slapped by Loren, suppressed what he said, and followed them to the shore. He fell behind and muttered stupidly to Harry: "He obviously looks like he's about to cry..."

When traveling through the mermaid village, you can see people in the stone houses through the windows, you can hear faint sobbing, and there are also ethereal and ethereal lamentations that seem to come from afar.

The closer you get to the ice on the surface, the more the lake looks like a calm sea, with a faint glow. A slow-swimming whitebait passes through the statue, spreads its side fins, and rushes towards the rocks, turning sharply, its tail fin kicking up the mud. , the figure disappeared into a cloud of sand...

The return trip was much faster than the trip here.

The ice near the coast was cracked and before she could freeze, she swam to the shallow water and stepped ashore on the sand and stones. The soft red light on her body dissipated. Not only did her clothes not get wet, but they were filled with a warm feeling. a feeling of.

Half of the mermaid's head was above the water, floating slightly: "Goodbye, little wizard."

"Goodbye." Loren nodded.

Harry's expression was heavy: "Don't be too sad!"

Ron nodded.

The mermaid said nothing, turned over and flicked its tail, disappearing into the lake.

Ron had a complicated expression. He pinched the red coral stone in his hand and couldn't help but scratch his head when he saw the rough but beautiful expression.

He was a little happy to get a new good thing, but when he thought of the old man fish disappearing in front of him, even though he had no feelings after meeting him for the first time today, he still felt strange.

"What is the purpose of what the mermaid elder said to us?"

Harry asked in confusion. He now realized that the mermaid's invitation to them had nothing to do with the Goblet of Fire.

Hermione pursed her lips: "No matter what the intention is, we will help them in the future!"

"This really sounds like what Hermione said... But why did you take us with you..."

"Should I ask Dumbledore, but he must know about this..."

"With this red stone, I don't have to worry about my second project!"

"..."

Loren walked beside the little witch, wading through the silver snow and looking back.

The clear blue skylight did not penetrate the ice. The underwater world was pitch black and nothing could be seen clearly.

……

Fast forward to late January.

Christmas vacation has passed by in a flash, and tomorrow is the start of the new semester.

In the evening, the Gryffindor common room is crowded with little wizards who are doing their homework. Different positions for doing homework will lead to different strategies for the little wizards. The single seat by the window is suitable for working alone. One person can create miracles in one stroke and one night. You have to do it. Good planning, what should be completed first and what should be completed later, which subjects will be turned in tomorrow, and which subjects can be slowed down;
The sofa and tea table are suitable for teamwork. Three or five friends can get together and discuss problems when they encounter them. Occasionally, they can say a few witticisms to relieve boredom. The efficiency may be fast or slow, but the atmosphere is harmonious and cheerful, suitable for protracted battles.

If you really owe too much debt, you can only use the homework of diligent classmates as a reference to control the plagiarism check rate, but you will have to pay the price of a few boxes of candies.

The sixth-grade wizard has another option. He asks the Weasley twins for help. Not only does he not have to pay for candy, but he can also get candy... But no one wants to be a guinea pig, and George and Fred are very disappointed.

At the small table for four in the usual position, Harry and Ron's quills quickly crossed the paper, their movements smooth and unrestrained.

Completely different from the compact and busy atmosphere here, the two people sitting across from each other were leisurely and comfortable. One was quietly reading a book, and the other was studying how to shrink the red coral stone and insert it into a pendant.

Two weeks have passed since the underwater trip. Loren has communicated with Flamel, but to no avail. He already knows what the prophecy the mermaid elder saw is, but he can't tell others clearly.

After going round and round, I still returned to the original point of studying hard and making progress every day, and waiting for the principal to deal with Voldemort before making any plans.

"What's your class tomorrow?" Loren pinched a strand of the little witch's hair and wrapped it around her finger.

"Herbology, Care of Magical Creatures, you will be Divination in the afternoon, and I will be Runes..." Hermione didn't even look up, "We can go to Hogsmeade again on the weekend, you accompany me to the bookstore, Harry Then go to the drug store to see if they sell gilly grass. "

"Isn't there already a coral stone?" Ron looked up and asked doubtfully.

"It's better to be safe and be prepared." Harry replied, "Sirius said the same thing. When the five warriors go into the water together, there might be some accidents, and there might be a stone accidentally lost..."

Loren was noncommittal and gently shook the hair on his hand: "Speaking of correspondence, Hermione, why did you secretly write home on the second day of Christmas and not allow me to read the reply!"

Hermione's cheeks turned red, she glared at him and pulled back her hair angrily.

Why should I show you my mother’s letter?
(End of this chapter)