Hogwarts in the shadows

When Hephis walked back to the dormitory, Fox actually finished eating the new bag of bamboo shoots.

Fox's belly was full and he started to feel sleepy.

It randomly found a corner in Hephes's bedroom, buried its head in its wings and began to sleep soundly.

Hefes couldn't help but complain, "Look how hungry the child is! Two big bags! More than 20 kilograms!"

He had prepared bamboo shoots in advance just to give Fox as a snack to see if he could get closer to her.

I hope I’ll have a chance to get the Phoenix Shadow and taste it in the future.

Unexpectedly, Fox just ran after him.

Fox will definitely have to return it, so if we don’t take action now, when will we take action?

Besides, it was night time now, so he was not afraid that Fox would wake up and run around.

A pair of large black scissors appeared in his hand, and he cut off Fox's shadow in no time.

He swallowed the shadow without hesitation.

In an instant, Hephes' entire body was engulfed in flames.

The flames were very warm and gave him a very comfortable feeling.

Although the flames were burning fiercely, they did not cause any damage to the surrounding objects.

Hephes was immersed in this wonderful feeling.

He was just about to look through Fox's memories to see if he could learn some Phoenix-specific skills.

At this moment, the flames around his body began to fluctuate violently, and the space seemed to be distorted.

Hephis also noticed something unusual and hurriedly tried to spit out the phoenix shadow.

But it was too late.

The flames instantly engulfed him, and his body quickly burned into a ball of ash in the blazing flames.

Even his clothes, wand, and the small bag he carried with him were all turned to ashes.

In the headmaster's office on the eighth floor, Dumbledore's head was buzzing with the noise of the portraits on the wall.

He subconsciously waved towards Fox's position.

It was a moment later that Dumbledore realized that Fawkes had been taken away by Hephaestus.

He sighed helplessly and used his authority as the principal.

He cleared out a space in a corner of the principal's office where he could perform Apparition.

"Armando, I will be away for a few days. Tell Minerva tomorrow morning and ask her to take care of Hogwarts. If there is any emergency, you can summon me directly."

Dumbledore said to Armando on the wall.

The noisy portraits on the wall suddenly became quiet, and Delys Devonte also stopped beating Phineas.

They stared at Dumbledore in silence, with only Phineas still groaning on the ground.

"Okay, Albus," Armando Dippet agreed.

"Are you going to look for him again?" Dai Lisi suddenly asked, with a hint of worry in her voice.

Dumbledore frowned, "Hmm... there are some things I still don't understand."

"Albus, what else is there to be confused about? You have also heard Trelawney's prophecy..."

A look of worry appeared on Dai Lisi's face.

Dumbledore raised his hand, interrupting her. "The prophecy is incomplete."

He paused and continued, "In the past fifty years, Gellert's prediction has come true, and Muggle technology is developing rapidly."

"But you also know that Hephis has now used the blood contract to control the entire British military. The future..." Dai Lisi did not continue.

A trace of pain appeared on Dumbledore's face.

"War. Hephis can't control everyone with a blood contract. The only outcome in the future is war."

"You have realized all this, why do you still let him grow?" Dai Lisi's tone was a little harsh.

Dumbledore sighed, "Although I don't agree with his approach, the living space left for wizards is indeed getting smaller and smaller."

Delis remained silent, but Phineas struggled to sit up and took over the conversation.

"Albus, you are just too weak. If it were you, I would just fight the Muggles. Only by defeating them can the wizards survive."

"Phineas, many people will die in the war," Delis scolded sharply.

"Then what do you say we should do? There are only a few wizarding villages left in the whole of Britain."

Phineas stood up, stared at Delis and continued.

"Wizards are now hiding in remote mountains and forests. What about in a few decades? Where else can they hide?"

"We can continue to use the Muggle Repelling Charm..." Delis wanted to argue.

Phineas pointed his finger directly at Delis's nose.

"Do you think the Muggle Repelling Charm can keep us safe? How did Homora Village disappear? Didn't they use the Muggle Repelling Charm?"

"But...but..." Dai Lisi hesitated for a long time but couldn't make out the reason.

Finally, she made up her mind, grabbed Phineas's fingers, broke them hard, and then kicked him to the ground.

She beat Phineas while cursing at the same time.

"Phineas, you're really bold, aren't you? You actually dared to point at my nose. I let you point, I let you point!"

Phineas began to whine on the ground again.

Dumbledore got another headache when he saw this.

He shook his head helplessly, drew out his wand, cast Apparation and left.

When he appeared in the tower of Nurmengard, Gellert was reading a book leisurely.

"Albus, I remember you said before that you were very busy at the moment and wouldn't be coming over for a while?"

Gellert put down the book in his hand, and there was a hint of doubt in his tone.

Dumbledore did not respond immediately. He walked naturally to the coffee table and began to brew black tea skillfully.

The fragrance of tea gradually spread, and his heart calmed down.

He raised his head and his eyes fell on the book in Gellert's hand. "What are you reading?"

"The Qin Empire." Gellert picked up the book and showed it to him, then sat on the sofa opposite him.

“A very good book.”

"Hephaestus gave it to you?" Dumbledore lowered his head again.

"Oh? You've guessed it." Gellert didn't care about being exposed by Albus. He took a sip of tea. "Indeed, he recommended it to me."

Dumbledore was silent for a moment, then continued, "What was it about?"

Gellert spoke slowly, "It tells the great history of the ancient Qin State of China, which, surrounded by powerful enemies, relied on firm belief and determination to rise up and unify the world after more than 160 years of hard work."

He paused and then complained, "However, if you want to read this book, you have to learn Chinese first. Chinese is too difficult. If it weren't for Hephis' help... According to him, I opened a 'cheat', and I can't understand this book at all now."

Dumbledore replied bluntly: "I can speak Chinese."

"Uh..." Gellert was slightly stunned, then he smiled and said, "I forgot that you are a language genius and like to learn different languages."