The days of hanging out at Hogwarts

"Good evening, gentlemen."

Loren had a hearty voice and greeted several people with a smile. He looked around the wall of the rotunda and easily found a stack of wooden stairs leading to the circular terrace above.

Hermione, who was equally delighted, took steps to follow.

The upper terrace is very spacious and has a wide view. It was originally reserved for professors and students to watch when the sorting ceremony was held. You can see the huge Goldie's Knot and the details on the top of several statues. At this time, there were three professors standing on the terrace, Dumbledore, Snape and Fontana of Ilvermorny.

Pickley and Nancy, who returned to Ilvermorny, took their time and climbed the wooden stairs slowly, looking at the carvings on the handrails on both sides, with a little nostalgia in their eyes.

Professor Snape still had the expressionless cold face, as if everyone here owed him thousands of galleons.

Dumbledore stared at the huge Gordie's Knot below, his blue eyes filled with eagerness to try. Loren believed that Old Dumbledore really wanted to go down and give it a try. He would then take pictures and sell them to newspapers, and he would be able to hear about them soon. Front page news of the current Headmaster of Hogwarts enrolling in Ilvermorny.

"The last exchange visit to Hogwarts was too hasty. The Goblet of Fire competition attracted all my attention. It took me a long time to truly understand your excellence..."

Mr. Egilbert Fontana smiled and stood on the territory of his school. The familiar environment gave him enough confidence. He murmured: "Dear children, you really don't want to consider my invitation." ”

Loren pondered for a moment and asked seriously: "We have been studying at Hogwarts for six years. Professor, what reasons do you have to convince us to suddenly transfer?"

"Ilvermorny has an independent alchemy experiment center. At the same time, we are still exploring No-Maj technology. Look at these electric lamps. At least in these aspects, we are definitely ahead of Hogwarts. In addition, if students have the idea of ​​​​entering politics, magic Congress has separate selection tests for schools..."

Loren looked serious and thoughtful, and seemed to be really moved. He began to ask for details: "How many years of schooling is there in Ilvermorny?"

"Same as Hogwarts, seven years."

"How is the tuition calculated?"

"There are scholarships for outstanding students."

Loren held his chin in his hand, thinking seriously, asking questions from time to time.

"..."

Hermione was a little helpless, and the people next to her had mixed expressions.

At first I thought the two were joking, but then they started to look more and more serious. This must be a joke... right?

"You will hold summer camps during the holidays and raise fire dragons in Romania?"

"Not only fire dragons, there are other activities at Fantastic Beasts Summer Camp."

"Um……"

Loren nodded and turned to look at an old man with a white beard next to him: "Did you hear that, Principal, Hogwarts should also increase this kind of activities."

The others were stunned.

Dumbledore nodded in agreement, deeply convinced.

Mr. Fontana had a look of astonishment on his face, and then he couldn't help laughing.

…

"After receiving the news from you, we immediately launched an investigation operation. With the help of the Magic Congress expert team, we conducted sampling and exploration of all trees in the adjacent area. We excavated the shallow ground in a targeted manner to detect possible signs of damage on the tree crowns. A nest, a tree cavity inside a tree trunk..."

While listening to Professor Fontana describing the progress of the action at the dining table, he concentrated on enjoying the sumptuous dinner. The dishes were exquisite and delicious, showing the warm hospitality of Ilvermorny.

The candlestick is no longer a decoration, the flickering candlelight sways on the table, adding a touch of softness to the dinner.

There were still familiar faces at the table. It was said that the experts sent by MACUSA had been sent back. They only knew that there was some kind of dark magic item hidden in the woods of Ilvermorny. After investigating the clues, the school would do the rest. Handle it yourself.

By the way, Newt Scamander was invited. This magical animal expert has left several dossier records at the Magical Congress of the United States of America. The two parties are already old friends.

Pickley and Nancy had blank expressions and their eyes were a little dull. They suddenly received too much information tonight and their brains couldn't handle it.

Murder to create Horcruxes, Horcruxes to escape death, and resurrection from the dead...

The most powerful dark wizard hides a living Horcrux in his school...

The principal specifically warned that information about the Horcruxes should not be revealed to the Magic Congress...

It's a mess, my brain hurts a little, I probably won't be able to sleep tonight.

"Speaking of which, you won't believe it. We found many prohibited items during this investigation, and some of them have students' names on them. It will definitely be very busy when the school starts next semester."

Listening to the news quietly, Loren drank the remaining juice in the cup, and a Pukki waiter immediately came forward to fill it up.

This rumored distant relative of goblins is about the same height as a house elf, only two or three feet tall. It is short in stature and has slender ears. It wears a small dress to cover its gray skin and hides in dimly lit corners. It only appears when guests need it. Provide services.

Loren nodded to the little guy in thanks.

Waiter Pukki smiled back, his attitude neither humble nor overbearing.

Hermione has been paying attention to these waiters, short demi-humans who serve students and professors in magic schools. It is difficult not to think of the house elves in Hogwarts, but their postures are far less humble than the elves. He doesn't look down on himself at all, he's more like an ordinary waiter who provides services for a fee.

A deal is a deal, a deal is just a deal.

Sensing the little witch's appraising gaze, Waiter Pukki raised his head and smiled at her, saying that he could give her any instructions if necessary.

Hermione looked away with a thoughtful expression.

It seems that Pukki is just a normal employment relationship in Ilvermorny. Is it because of the outstanding achievements of the Pukki in the history of the founding of the school?

It seems to be related to the strength of the Pukki tribe itself. This creature has powerful magical abilities and is not well-known outside of Ilvermorny. It does not like to contact humans and likes to play tricks on humans, but there is no irreconcilable conflict or clear hostility.

Unlike the low-status house elves, Pukki is positioned closer to the goblins of Gringotts. It has independent sovereignty and can talk to wizards on an equal footing and engage in business activities.

"The bad thing is that the situation is the same as we expected. The biggest anomaly in the entire forest is the snake tree. Fortunately, the snake tree is not a Horcrux. We suspect that Voldemort has hidden the living Horcrux inside the trunk of the snake tree."

The news from the head of the table made the people present concentrate and slow down the speed of chewing food.

The wizards of Hogwarts sat quietly in their seats, silent.

The headmaster and the professor did not speak, and the two students also remained silent. Loren lowered his eyes to observe the reflection on the silver metal knife, recalling the scene presented by the Mirror of Erised, and many clues gradually connected.

Everyone thought that Voldemort would make the snakewood left by Slytherin into a Horcrux. Voldemort took advantage of this and hid the living Horcrux deep in the trunk, which was the most dangerous and safest.

"Voldemort thought he was very smart. He thought that the tenacious vitality of the snake tree could protect his dirty Horcruxes, and imagined that Ilvermorny would resolutely protect the snake tree, but he was wrong!" Fontana whispered, his tone calm but resolute, "Ilvermorny cannot be defiled. We are determined enough to remove this stubborn stain, even if it means cutting the flesh, even if... destroying the snake tree."

Young Pickley and Nancy looked at the professor silently.

...

The guests went back to their rooms to rest.

There are no students staying in Ilvermorny during the summer vacation. There are almost no wild animals on the top of Greylock Mountain. There is also magic to isolate the sound around the castle. If the guests from afar do not feel uncomfortable due to the mountain pressure, they can probably sleep well.

Although there is still a filthy Horcrux in the woods behind the castle that needs to be dealt with urgently, the two young wizards are physically and mentally exhausted after a day's long journey and need to rest. Ilvermorny also needs to make sufficient preparations...

The night is getting deeper, and Gilbert Fontana is not sleepy at all.

He turned off the lights in the room, leaving only the desk lamp on the desk, and went to the balcony in pajamas, while enjoying the night view of Ilvermorny in the summer night, recalling the daytime.

The Magic Congress needs to reply as soon as possible. After all, they suddenly urgently called other people's manpower and sent them back in just half a day, and they must give them an explanation.

The specific cause of the snake tree's illness cannot be disclosed, and the relevant information of the Horcrux cannot be disclosed. I really don't know how to write this reply. No matter how I write it, it will be difficult for the members of the Magic Congress to accept it.

Fortunately, we have given clues about Voldemort and the Death Eaters. With the achievements, we have the confidence and may be able to fool people.

But the source of the clues is still difficult to explain.

"Let's put it on Albus..."

Fontana's thoughts were clear, and his slightly frowned brows relaxed immediately.

"Knock knock."

There was a knock on the door, slight but obvious, followed by the voice of William Pukki, who lowered his voice and said calmly: "Professor, the two new guests have turned off the lights and gone to bed."

"Don't disturb them."

"Okay."

"..."

The sound outside the door gradually faded away, and Fontana unconsciously rubbed the balcony railing with his fingers, and the faces of the two little wizards appeared in his mind: "Loren Morgan... Hermione Granger..."

When they participated in the Goblet of Fire at Hogwarts two years ago, the two were model students in the professors' mouths, with excellent grades.

When Professor McGonagall organized special training, he was also beside them and saw the strength of the two with his own eyes, but he always felt that Harry Potter was the warrior worthy of attention.

During this period, Dumbledore and Headmaster Snape always mentioned Loren Morgan inadvertently. Fontana felt that Loren seemed to be hiding something.

This feeling was confirmed last night. Several students found clues to the Horcrux together, but from Dumbledore's tone, it was clear that Loren was the main one.

How could such an excellent student not be from Ilvermorny?

…

In a manor owned by an unknown businessman in Wiltshire.

Draco woke up from a nightmare.

Perhaps it was because his daily routine was too disordered since he took over the Malfoy family accounts during the holidays, and even the nightmares were intermittent, as if the mottled photos from decades ago were flashing in front of his eyes. Now he could only recall sporadic fragments and some faces that flashed by quickly.

The first clip was three years ago, on the night of the Quidditch World Cup final, which was filled with smoke, screams, and frenzied crowds. The Dark Mark hung high in the sky. Not far from their exquisite peacock palace tent, Aunt Bellatrix was spying in the shadows. This spying has continued to this day, and there is a pair of scarlet vertical pupils next to her.

The second clip was a year ago. He seemed to have returned to the dim courtroom at the bottom of the Ministry of Magic. His mother was imprisoned in the courtroom with heavy chains. Her once exquisite and beautiful makeup disappeared, leaving only paleness and weakness. He sat in the court and watched, and could only watch those contemptuous eyes fall on his mother, allowing them to intimidate and slander, frame charges, and extort the wealth of the Malfoy family...

The third clip is now. His father, who is now forced to follow Voldemort into exile and has no idea where to live, is curled up in a dark corner, communicating with him through the communicator. He turns to face Voldemort's snake eyes, and then a chilling green light flashes.

The head of the Malfoy family, wearing a coat, sits at the desk, takes a deep breath, and looks at the gold galleons next to the parchment account book. On it is a message sent by his father a few minutes ago: "Don't ask where I am. Take care of your mother."

The letters with a metallic luster prove that the scene just now was just a dream. Draco felt that he was gradually surfacing from the bottom of the black lake.

He rubbed his eyebrows to relax his tense heartstrings, looked up at the clock on the wall, and felt a trance. It felt like he had only taken a short nap for five minutes, but two hours had passed.

Just as he was about to continue to settle the accounts, he heard footsteps coming from the corridor outside the room, followed by a few gentle knocks on the door: "Draco? Draco, have you rested?"

"Mom, I'll go to bed after I finish this last page."

"Do you want to eat something? I'll ask the house elves to do it now. Those lowly guys have become lazy recently and didn't even clean the stains on the carpet!"

Draco frowned: "No."

"Okay, go to bed early."

Hearing the footsteps gradually fade away, Draco exhaled. Even if he was her own son, he had to admit that a small part of the charges of the Tribunal might not be fabricated.

He picked up the feather pen and looked down at the parchment. The numbers and letters became hideous, more obscure than the extended spells in the advanced class textbooks, and the pen tip couldn't write any more.

Unable to work quietly, Draco didn't continue to try. He just woke up and didn't want to rest. He picked up the gold galleon communicator again and pressed the button unconsciously, wanting to talk to someone.

Without disturbing his father or choosing those so-called allies, Draco took out another copper Knut and sent a message to that person out of some inexplicable mood.

Loren Morgan's name has accumulated many messages, but basically no one has replied.

He did not feel despised, but felt comfortable in this way of getting along, because of this just right distance.

Unexpectedly, this message got a reply.

It was not the kind of meaningless comfort, but a series of intelligence about living Horcruxes, about Ilvermorny, and about Voldemort.

"..."

Draco silently recited the above content, lowered his head and took out another gold Galleon communicator, found the message from his father, and began to press it after a long silence, as if he was talking to his father, and as if he was talking to himself:

"Betting on both sides is no longer feasible, the Malfoy family must make a choice."