Chapter 469: Fountain of Fortune
Chapter 469: Fountain of Fortune
The meeting ended on a sour note.
Fudge had adopted a delaying tactic, agreeing to investigate the existing leads. However, Felix had no doubt that once the meeting was over, Fudge would forget all about the promises he made.
"You were too blunt, Fudge might not be able to handle it", Dumbledore said outside the Ministry of Magic.
"Yeah, he has only an ounce of sense", Felix said sarcastically. "What do you think of Amelia Bones?"
Dumbledore's sharp blue eyes turned to him.
"You can imagine", Felix looked towards a distant street corner where an ice cream truck was parked, "how much of a hindrance our Minister will be once the war starts. I don't want to face Voldemort and the Ministry of Magic at the same time. It's necessary to deal with one of them while we still have the chance."
"Felix, your thoughts are dangerous", Dumbledore disagreed. In fact, this was putting it mildly.
"Just planning ahead", Felix shrugged, changing the subject. "If the war really breaks out, Fudge won't have the face to stay in that position. He can resign and leave a mess behind."
His idea was simple. If Fudge was unreliable, then someone else should take the position. Amelia Bones seemed like a good candidate, and she was already one of the closest to it.
Felix pondered this as he returned to the Ministry of Magic. In a sense, the meeting had ended with a public split between Fudge and Dumbledore, which had raised the alert of some people, especially Amelia Bones. Felix found this woman to be a key figure.
She controlled ninety percent of the Ministry's military power, with various combat teams under her command, including Aurors, Strikers, and the Magical Law Enforcement Squad. She had the authority to oversee any combat operations, even those involving Dementors who were not directly under her command.
"Sirius seems to know her?" Felix recalled.
In the afternoon, the Aurors were practicing Runic Script magic on the training ground. Their progress was actually faster than the young Wizards at school. Felix hadn't been idle during the past two weeks, gathering a lot of data that could be used in future teaching.
On the training field, Felix sat in a corner, fiddling with a long red fingernail. Tonks approached with interest, "Is this a new product? What does it do? Can it change color?"
Felix smiled and put away the fingernail, which belonged to Rita Skeeter. "It's much more powerful than you think. I hope I never have to use it."
"Is it some kind of weapon?" Tonks clearly didn't believe him. She looked at the training ground, "Kingsley Shacklebolt is almost there."
Kingsley Shacklebolt held his wand in one hand and traced flowing Runic Script with the other, a pale green magical barrier slowly forming, resembling a flowing curtain of water.
"Are you ready?" Delis shouted from a distance.
People gathered around, watching their actions. Delis suddenly waved his wand, and several spells hit the Runic Armor Charm, causing beautiful ripples to form on the surface of the water curtain. "Try this!" Delis's wand moved sharply, and a bright red Runic Script formed a blazing fireball. The fireball soared through the air and shattered the not yet fully formed water curtain.
Kingsley Shacklebolt took a few steps back and steadied himself. Cheers erupted from the crowd.
"My mission is almost complete. Hogwarts will be back in session in two days", Felix said thoughtfully.
"You can stay longer", Tonks said, "and come back anytime. Scrimgeour said your advisor position will always be available."
"Staying longer would be a hindrance", Felix said with a smile. He took out the Communication Mirror and gently adjusted it, and a gentle voice came from the other side, "Felix?"
"Remus, it's me", Felix said calmly. "The company might face some obstacles soon. Temporarily halt expansion."
"What happened?" Lupin asked, slightly tense. Tonks widened her eyes and listened quietly.
"Just being cautious, better safe than sorry", Felix said vaguely. "If the company is affected, let me know immediately. I'll help resolve the issue."
"Alright..." Lupin said from the other side of the mirror. "I was already prepared for this. I can use this time to train the employees."
"I can help", Tonks suddenly said.
Felix looked at her.
"I can help", Tonks repeated. On the other side, Lupin asked in surprise, "Dora?" "It's me", Tonks said with a smile, pointing at the mirror. Felix understandingly handed the mirror to her.
...
Hogwarts, Ancient Runes Office.
Niffler Valen woke up from its cradle. Today was the tenth day of its independent life. Although the Dark Lord had asked Hermione to take care of it before leaving, it preferred its own comfortable little bed.
Life was so much more enjoyable when no one was around to bother me!
"Chirp!"
Valen spent a considerable amount of time reorganizing his collection. Then, feeling content, he climbed onto the sofa and started flipping through Tales of Beedle the Bard. He had already finished Mick's Magical Misadventures, and Felix had given him the fairy tale book to use as reading practice.
Of course, it was officially a gift for Valen to practice reading after learning to recognize words.
Valen particularly enjoyed the illustrations. Yawning, he began reading the story of the Fountain of Fortune: three witches and an unlucky knight set out together to find a spring that could grant good luck. They had to pass through three challenges. The first was a giant white worm blocking the path, which the knight's sword could not harm. Only by "showing it pain" could the worm be made to move.
Why didn't they just go around it or dig a tunnel? Valen thought. They probably didn't have a Niffler friend. Oh, that would be a real problem.
He continued reading. One of the witches, terminally ill, watched as time slipped away, tears of despair streaming down her face. Finally, the giant worm moved aside, and Valen's mouth dropped open in surprise.
The second challenge was a magical hillside they had to cross by "sacrificing their labor." They offered all the money they had—Valen shuddered—but the enchanted hill remained unmoved. Time continued to pass, and only the second witch kept climbing, her forehead glistening with sweat. This allowed them to proceed.
Valen was amazed. Wasn't the fruit of labor money? He would happily trade sweat for some Galleons, just like the process of learning to read from the Dark Lord.
The third challenge was a river circling the mountaintop, which they had to cross by trading "past wealth." The unlucky knight was willing to use his shield as a boat, much to Valen's delight. He dipped his thumb cookie in jam, enjoying the lazy afternoon.
The knight, without a doubt, failed in the end, despite his generosity. But the third witch figured out the answer. She had been abandoned by her beloved, and her journey was to seek relief from her pain and longing through the Fountain of Fortune. Here, she extracted the cherished memories of her time with her cold-hearted lover and cast them into the river. Stones appeared in the water, allowing them to cross.
Finally, they reached the Fountain of Fortune.
When it came time to decide who would claim the fountain, the unlucky knight was the first to give up, leaving the three witches. At this point, the first witch, who was terminally ill, fell ill from the journey's hardships and was on the verge of death. They tried to carry her into the fountain, but she was in too much pain and begged them not to.
The second witch discovered the magical properties of the herbs around them. She gathered these herbs and, with the knight's help, prepared a potion for the ailing witch. Miraculously, she was cured! She no longer needed the Fountain of Fortune.
The second witch also resisted the temptation of the fountain. Her wand and possessions had been stolen by a despicable thief, and she had hoped the fountain would rescue her from poverty and weakness. But now she no longer needed it—she had persevered through the second challenge, no longer feeling weak, and had gathered many valuable herbs that could restore her wealth.
As for the third witch, she no longer needed the Fountain of Fortune either. By the third challenge, she had let go of her past attachments and was no longer tormented by love.
In the end, the three witches agreed to let the unlucky knight soak in the Fountain of Fortune as a reward for his chivalry. He did so, and when he emerged, he believed he had washed away his bad luck. He finally had the courage to express his feelings—he had fallen in love with the third witch.
In the end, the unlucky knight and the third witch married. Because of their cooperation and mutual support along the way, the four of them decided to break down the barriers between Wizards and Muggles and live together. They lived happily for a long time, and even when the unlucky knight died, he firmly believed that the Fountain of Fortune had changed his fate. However, he didn't know that while the magical garden surrounding the fountain was full of magic, the fountain itself had no magical properties at all.
Why was that? Valen couldn't figure it out. Just then, a knock sounded at the door. He opened his eyes wide and eagerly opened the door to find Hermione standing there. She picked him up with a smile, "Let's go get some food."
Hermione took Valen to the Great Hall for a meal and then played chess and cards with him in the common room, but he wasn't very enthusiastic.
"What's wrong, Valen? Are you sick?" Hermione asked, concerned.
Valen shook his head. In the evening, as they walked towards the Ancient Runes office, Valen suddenly sniffed the air, and his black eyes brightened. He struggled to get out of Hermione's arms and ran down the corridor.
"Valen!" Hermione shouted, chasing after him.
They reached the spiral staircase, descended two floors, and then Valen leaped around a corner. Hermione was startled, but Valen didn't miss his target—a pair of arms caught him.
"Oh, Valen, did you miss me?" Felix smiled.
(End of Chapter)
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