days at Hogwarts

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.