Chapter 391: Persuasion
Chapter 391: Persuasion
Evening had fallen.
Felix emerged from the Great Hall after dinner, only to be intercepted by Cedric and Roger Davies, who were anxiously waiting in the corridor.
"Weather Magic? That's a rather obscure branch of magic", Felix said, looking at Cedric with some surprise.
"I think it's perfect for our first project", Cedric said calmly. "When we can't overpower our opponents, we can try indirect methods, such as hiding or obscuring their view. I found a spell in the Library called Cloud Veil. It can create a mist out of thin air, so I won't have to use the combination of Aqua Charm and Explosion Charm anymore."
"You want to delve deeper into this?" Felix thought seriously for a moment, then slowly said, "It's not impossible, but the mist can be dispelled by a fire dragon's flames. Have you thought about that?"
"Professor Flitwick gave me some advice. He said that dragon handlers use the Flame Dousing Charm to counter a fire dragon's magical flames—"
Felix nodded in approval. "That's correct, but it requires a lot of practice."
"Yes, that spell is quite difficult, and we're not sure if we can reach the level of those dragon handlers before the competition. So we need a backup plan. We've spent the last few days in Classroom 7, learning about fire dragons and understanding the characteristics of each type. Collins had an idea—"
"Why isn't she here?"
"Oh, well, she confiscated some illegal badges and is filling out forms..."
Felix nodded slightly. "Go on, what was her idea?"
"Professor Sprout's Greenhouse 8 gave her inspiration. You know, there are seven Greenhouses in the school, and if you count the virtual one in Classroom 7, that makes eight..." Cedric explained. "Professor Sprout's memory clone replicated a large number of rare magical plants, but the rarer they are, the more... peculiar they tend to be."
He chose his words carefully. He, Roger, and Collins had tried it once and were thoroughly taught a lesson by the powerful and strange magical plants inside. Devil's Snare, Whomping Willow, black thorns, explosive berries, Mimbulus Mimbletonia pus... and many other things they couldn't even identify.
In the end, it was Professor Sprout's memory clone who came to their rescue. At the time, Roger Davies had been swallowed by a giant umbrella plant, leaving only his legs flailing outside. Though they knew there was no real danger, the experience left them shaken.
This incident left a deep impression on Cedric, causing him to be somewhat wary of his cheerful Head of House for the next few days.
However, it was precisely because of this experience that they subconsciously leaned towards this approach when learning about fire dragons and devising strategies.
"Head of House Sprout was a bit reluctant", Cedric pulled out some small black lumps from his pocket, "but she gave us some valuable black thorn seeds."
He looked at Roger Davies. "Roger has learned the Growth Charm and is also good at potion-making. Following Professor Sprout's method, we can grow a batch of black thorns quickly."
"The only downside is that this method can't be used as a regular tactic. Black thorn seeds are very precious, and using potions and the Growth Charm would damage their original structure, causing them to wither quickly."
Felix thought for a moment. Wasn't this similar to the beaded purse of his little Assistant? Her purse contained a few Devil's Snare strands, which she might have forgotten about. Their function was similar to what Cedric proposed, except that the Devil's Snare was treated with Runic Script.
Felix thought silently for a while before looking at the two of them.
"I was planning to cover this topic over the weekend, explaining how spells counter and complement each other, then testing your strengths with spells and combining them with your individual characteristics to develop strategies. Finally, we would use the advantages of Classroom 7 to practice repeatedly. But since you already have your own ideas..." Felix pulled out a piece of parchment and quickly wrote down the names of several books and a list of spells.
"This contains some information on Weather Magic. You can start by looking through it." He suddenly frowned and pulled back the parchment he had extended. "I just realized, if anyone is most skilled in Weather Magic, it would be Newt, besides the tent merchants."
"Mr. Scamander?" Cedric and Roger Davies looked at him curiously.
"Yes, that's right", Felix said, a nostalgic look on his face. "He and his wife live in Dorset. I visited them once during the holidays, and that's how I got my Niffler. They have a vast basement that has been expanded with the Undetectable Extension Charm. Inside, it houses magical creatures from all over the world that need care."
Cedric and Roger Davies blinked, as if they were starting to understand.
"You should know that different magical creatures thrive in different environments. To accommodate this, Newt has divided the space into several areas, each with distinct terrain and weather. There are volcanoes, ponds, thunderclouds, and dense forests. It's not large, but it's very comprehensive."
“We completely overlooked this!” Cedric shouted, glancing at Roger Davies. Both of them felt an urge to rush to Classroom 7 right away.
Once they excitedly left, Felix pondered. He hadn't paid much attention to the students over the past few days, but it seemed these brave souls were quite proactive. Could Harry and the others be working hard in secret as well?
He smacked his lips. It was always easier to guide students with initiative, and he began to look forward to the next day.
However, tonight, he had an important meeting to attend.
Late at night, the darkness was deep, and the mist was thick.
The November evening was already quite cold, especially on the exposed mountaintop. The wind howled, and the trees swayed like ghostly shadows.
Felix sat on a bare rock, mentally calculating the time of the full moon. Before he knew it, it was eleven o'clock.
“Hiss!”
A figure suddenly appeared, hooded and wrapped in a valuable fur cloak.
Felix glanced at the stranger. “Lucius, your cane is quite impressive.”
“It’s a cane,” Lucius corrected, lowering his hood slowly. His pale blond hair looked almost silver in the night. He exhaled a puff of cold air, meeting Felix's eyes, and shuddered, muttering a sound of discomfort.
“Legilimency?” he said irritably.
“Relax, I’m usually not so forceful, but given that you seek to cooperate with me, I need to test your capabilities first. This is the foundation of any collaboration.”
Lucius frowned.
He sensed something was off. Prior to this, or more accurately, before the Quidditch World Cup, his attitude toward Felix had been distant. Except at Regulus Black's funeral, where he, representing several Pureblood Families, had tried to incorporate this shining new star into his circle, he hadn’t made any other moves.
Unfortunately, that attempt had failed.
But later, Felix had subtly expressed a willingness to cooperate. The style of his speech at the funeral was very familiar. In Lucius’s imagination, Felix was preparing to enter politics, joining the Ministry of Magic. Of course, a common position wouldn’t interest him; it could only be Fudge’s position.
To become the Minister of Magic, one inevitably needed the support of certain families. And the Malfoys could sway a significant number of people.
But that wasn’t the only possibility. Sometime, Lucius wasn’t sure when, Felix’s personal influence had become profound. With his shrewd eyes, Lucius stared at Felix, sensing that Felix was emulating someone.
Dumbledore!
Both had remarkable academic achievements, formidable power, and a preference for Muggles. Even more, they both became Hogwarts professors, teaching batches of students who naturally leaned toward them.
The only difference was that Felix also ran a company, managed by a werewolf.
How could Lucius not know who Lupin was? A first-generation member of the Order of the Phoenix. Felix’s appointment of Dumbledore’s people—what did that mean?
He carefully weighed the meaning behind Felix’s words, breaking out in a thin sweat despite the cold wind. After much deliberation, he smoothly replied, “You have it backwards, Mr. Heap. It’s you who seeks the cooperation of the Malfoy family—”
“Is that so?” Felix said softly. “It seems you don’t realize how dangerous your situation is. Not to mention your despicable behavior at the Quidditch World Cup, which I’d love to curse you for... Let me remind you, diary.”
Lucius Malfoy’s face turned deathly pale.
“Mr. Heap, I don’t understand what you mean.”
“There are some things I won’t reveal, after all, they involve your son and my student. In this regard, our interests align,” Felix said. “But I need you to understand where the danger lies, to prevent you from being unaware when the reckoning comes.”
“The Chamber of Secrets has nothing to do with the Malfoy family, and certainly not with Draco,” Lucius tightened his grip on his ornate cane. “Besides, that person is dead!”
Felix looked at him deeply. “Believe what you will, but it won’t stop you from pondering it in your free time. Now, let me tell you a story, about a clever young wizard, who, coincidentally, has the same hair color as you.”
“...He defeated the Dark Lord’s relic—a diary that held his precious memories.” Felix didn’t mention the Horcrux, but Lucius’s face was already devoid of color. “As a professor at the school, I recognized the evil of this dark magic item and destroyed it without hesitation, thus protecting all the students, especially those from Muggle families, alongside this clever young wizard.”
“A glorious victory, wouldn’t you say, Lucius?”
(End of Chapter)
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