https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-698-The-Dragon-s-Roar-at-Gringotts/13463046/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-700-Sand-of-the-Moon-and-Forest-in-a-Bottle/13463048/
Chapter 699: The Painted Figure
Chapter 699: The Painted Figure
The dragon joyfully flapped its wings, ascending higher and higher, letting out an excited wheeze.
"Do you want to fly?" Felix muttered to himself on the dragon's back. "Then fly, I'll show you the way."
His words were conveyed to the dragon in a peculiar manner. The dragon let out a delighted roar in the sky, then spread its wings, basking in the golden glow above the clouds, and flew toward Hogwarts Castle.
On the other side, the wizards in Diagon Alley were still trying to figure out what had happened.
A few minutes ago, a large hole had suddenly appeared in the roof of Gringotts, and a loud roar instantly drew the attention of half the street. They turned their gazes to see a heavily scarred old dragon emerging from the hole, first its head, then its bloodied wings and chained claws. The dragon lay on the roof, raising its head and remaining still for a few seconds, like an unusual giant ornament.
Fred and George Weasley stood on the second floor of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, gazing out in amazement.
"Is that the dragon guarding the vaults? I've always wanted to see one."
"Oh, come on, our vault isn't important enough to have a dragon guarding it—wow! It looks really cool. What if we rent a Fire Dragon Magic Lamp from Lupin?" one of them suggested.
"I like that idea", the other similar voice said. "It has to be over twenty feet long. I remember Professor Hep using one at the Quidditch World Cup, but we haven't seen one since. It's a waste."
More than thirty Aurors appeared, having been on standby nearby, but none of them made a move. The dragon raised its head and spat a ball of fire, causing the people on the street to scream in terror and stumble away, fearing they might be caught in the blast. But the dragon pushed off with its feet, spreading its bloodied wings and flying higher, becoming a black dot in the sky.
Soon, Madam Bones emerged, unscathed, and calmly directed the Aurors to take control of the scene.
The large hole in the roof of Gringotts was quickly repaired, and Madam Bones turned back inside as if nothing had happened, except for the two additional Aurors now stationed at the entrance of Gringotts.
Fred and George Weasley retracted their satisfied gazes and descended the stairs. The store was filled with a dazzling array of goods, with noisy, moving trinkets everywhere, but it was now empty—those customers had all run off to see the commotion. The two of them looked out the window through the posters on the storefront, fell silent for a moment, and then spoke in unison.
"The joint announcement from the Ministry of Magic and the future world—"
"What do you think about that notice—"
They blinked and laughed.
Earlier that morning, Ministry of Magic officials had delivered a notice to every shop in Diagon Alley, inviting all shopkeepers to attend a meeting at Castle Rock over the weekend to discuss important matters. But they had already learned the inside scoop earlier. Penelope (the twins now adored her, affectionately calling her 'Percy's Secret Detector') had revealed that Percy was busy perfecting a lengthy report on a trade plan between the magical world and Muggles, which included a comprehensive list of potions, books, magical items, clothing, and food.
It was a massive plan, involving so many details that it could make anyone's head spin on first reading.
"We can't avoid involving the future world company. I've applied to Lupin to take charge of this part of the work", Penelope said irritably. "Otherwise, I might not see your brother for years... Oh, what should I do now? Of course, I'll nitpick his report!"
"Clearly, she's enjoying it", Fred concluded.
Since the Wizard-Muggle negotiations hadn't yet begun, this was just the first step in the entire plan.
Outside Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, Tonks, Ron, and Collins entered with a few customers, chatting and laughing.
"The alert has been canceled", Tonks said warmly, her hair a bright pink, indicating her good mood. "Everyone was very worried, and Scrimgeour tried to persuade Madam Bones not to take the risk, but she insisted... Fortunately, it turned out well." She looked around with interest.
"What was with the dragon?" Fred asked.
"They say it was an accident, something about the old building", Ron replied.
"It doesn't sound very convincing", George said.
"Surely they can't have been fighting inside, right?" Ron shrugged, pulling out a Wizard Chess piece from his pocket and making it spin on his finger.
Fred raised an eyebrow.
"If I go check the dancing Wizard Chess in the store now, will I find a missing knight?"
"Go ahead", Ron said. "By the way, I was just about to tell you, I've become an Animagus... Has Ginny told you anything?"
"You've become an Animagus?" Collins said in surprise.
Tonks, who had been lingering over a punching doll, turned her gaze back and asked, "An Animagus?" Her hair began to turn a brilliant violet.
"It's pretty easy", Ron said nonchalantly.
"True enough", George nodded. "Just among the people I know, there are... how many?" He turned to Fred. "Harry, Hermione, Neville, and the Aberforth girl. I can't keep count."
"I don't know, but Cedric has been holding onto today's Transfiguration magazine lately", Fred said with a straight face.
Ron's tousled hair fell over his forehead.
"Can you two stop undermining your little brother?" Ron muttered under his breath as Tonks and Collins enthusiastically browsed the store.
Fred and George Weasley exchanged glances and said in unison, "Sorry—no can do."
Ron held up a Wizard Chess piece and grumbled, "See these two guys? Remember their hateful faces. I’ll get my revenge sooner or later, and it’s all up to you."
...
The dragon flew north, reveling in its hard-won freedom. Felix stood on its broad back, using simple magic to treat the dragon's bloody wounds and remove the chains. He then gazed out at the clouds.
One hand rested on the dragon’s long, sharp spines, making him look like a captain holding the ship’s mast.
"Fly a bit steadier", he commanded.
They swept over gray and green towns and fields, and soon the scenery became monotonous and repetitive. Felix called out the Niffler from the silver pocket watch to play cards. After the experience of riding a flying carpet in the Arctic, Valen quickly adapted, running excitedly around the dragon’s back, where the large spines were like pillars to it.
"You lost again, Valen", Felix said smugly.
Valen’s black eyes stared at the air in front of it. The Niffler phantom, conjured from the Wizard Cards, was struck by a simple spell, flipped several times, and turned into a wisp of smoke that was flung behind. It smacked its lips, sensing something was off, and eyed Felix suspiciously.
"I didn’t cheat", Felix swore.
Valen shuffled through the cards, trying to find a loophole. This was a new deck, with some additional cards added to the original set, the Dark Lord said, to increase its playability. This was true; Valen found several cards that glowed with golden light when activated, and it particularly enjoyed them.
But ever since then, its win rate had plummeted.
"Chirp!"
Unable to figure out the reason, Valen decided to ask Hermione when the opportunity arose. The sun dipped lower, and the golden light on the clouds gradually dimmed. The dragon began to descend, and Valen ran to the top of its head, its weight as light as a feather, having no effect on the dragon.
Valen recognized a cluster of majestic castle buildings among the mountains.
Felix patted the dragon’s back, "Your identity is a bit sensitive. Well, not really, but to avoid trouble, I’ll cast a Disguise Charm on you before I send you to Charlie."
The dragon roared, indicating it understood.
Whatever you say.
Its size began to shrink rapidly, and Valen hurried back, climbing onto Felix’s shoulder to look down. The dragon, which was as big as a small square and about sixty to seventy feet long, shrank to half its size, making it difficult to find a foothold.
The dragon whimpered, struggling to keep its eyes open.
"Don’t worry", Felix reassured it casually as he stood in the air beside it, then gave the command, "Fold your wings."
The dragon—now hardly a dragon—looked only twice the size of Valen. The shrunken dragon obediently folded its wings and plummeted straight down, caught by Felix. With its wings folded, it looked even smaller, almost pitiful.
Felix descended, and at a certain height, he made a few gestures with his free hand. Hogwarts’ defenses did not obstruct him, and he continued to fall.
Inside the castle, Professor Mcgonagall was reviewing documents. She had just spoken with Madame Maxime, exchanging information about their schools’ defensive measures and start dates. The British Ministry of Magic had been taking continuous action, and as a reference, the French and some European Ministries of Magic were also gradually breaking away from the International Confederation of Wizards to contact Muggle governments.
She heard a knock on the window and looked up to see Felix waving at her from outside.
"You’re the Deputy Headmistress now, Felix", Professor Mcgonagall said irritably, pushing open the window and glaring at him as he climbed in. Valen had already jumped down, staying far from Felix; it didn’t want to be reprimanded with him.
Professor Mcgonagall led Felix over, still fuming, "What if someone had seen you? And what’s that in your hand?"
"A lizard", Felix said calmly, sending two sparks from the fire dragon’s nose.
Professor Mcgonagall ignored his nonsense and bent down to examine the creature half-sprawled on the small table, flapping its wings aimlessly. Her eyebrows knitted tightly together.
"Is this... a dragon? A Ukrainian Ironbelly?"
"Cough, if anyone asks, I’ll just say it’s a mutated lizard. Its origins are a bit questionable", Felix admitted. Professor Mcgonagall glared at him, determined to get an answer. "Alright, it’s from Gringotts", he explained briefly.
Professor Mcgonagall first frowned, then relaxed her expression.
"The Goblin Brotherhood, another secret goblin subversive group?" By subversive, she meant subversive to Wizards.
"Not really", Felix shook his head. "They at least operate openly and don’t promote violence in their ideology, at least not on the surface." He added, "That’s already quite rare among goblins."
Bode didn’t want the negotiations to go smoothly and deliberately caused a commotion with the dragon guarding the vault. He didn’t care if a few Wizards died in the process; it was all just an accident. Felix didn’t care either.
Professor Mcgonagall didn’t get involved in the Ministry of Magic’s affairs. Once she knew it wouldn’t affect negotiations with the goblins, she turned to other matters.
"Beauxbatons and Durmstrang are in similar situations. Their Ministries of Magic are secretly in contact with Muggle governments, but the news hasn’t been made public", she said, glancing at Felix with a slight smile. "Your actions a few days ago not only influenced decisions in Britain but also in other countries."
Felix nodded, unsurprised by this outcome.
As the first Ministry of Magic to publicly contact a Muggle government, Hogwarts and the British Ministry of Magic had attracted worldwide attention. The International Confederation of Wizards was closely monitoring every move, waiting for the results of the first formal negotiations. If the results were favorable, future negotiations might set a precedent for communication between the magical and non-magical worlds. Felix had met several observers from other countries at the Ministry over the past two days.
"Additionally, Wagadu has followed Hogwarts’ example by setting up shelters around the school. Some Wizards who have been exposed are temporarily staying there."
"Are those the semi-public mediums, diviners, and occult sects?"
"Apparently, even Muggles who perform magic tricks have received a lot of harassment", Professor Mcgonagall said with a peculiar expression. "Some Wizards have retreated to their tribes, which are relatively isolated and hard for outsiders to enter. The Brazilian Castrobus magic school is hidden in the rainforest, where conditions are harsh, so there’s no immediate concern."
"What about Ilvermorny? You left that one out."
"Ilvermorny is different from the others", Professor Mcgonagall said, a hint of worry in her voice. "The environment for Wizards is not promising—you know, young Wizards often show some unusual traits, and the local Muggles—what they call muggles—have started a campaign to find Wizards in their midst..." She shook her head. "Some companies openly advertise in newspapers to recruit Wizards; of course, there are also those who oppose it. Various organizations, both large and small, and religious groups have sprung up, some registered and some operating in secret."
"Thus, the American Congress of Magic was forced to order all students to return, to avoid any incidents."
Felix thought for a moment. "The problems of American Wizards are difficult to solve, and now is not the time. Once Amelia reaches a preliminary agreement with the Muggle government, we can promote it under the name of the International Confederation of Wizards. The purpose of the Confederation has lost much of its significance with the complete failure of the Statute of Secrecy. We need to find a new reason for its existence."
"What role do you hope it will play?" Professor Mcgonagall asked.
"Transition from a hidden Wizard to a mediator between Wizards and non-Wizards, and establish global regulations that can be adopted universally", Felix said.
A hint of confusion flickered in Professor Mcgonagall’s eyes. She felt unfamiliar with this future. She glanced at the fire dragon, which was struggling to adapt to its new form, and her confusion gradually faded, replaced by renewed determination.
Felix turned his gaze to the portraits of former Headmasters on the office walls. He walked up to a golden-framed portrait, and the Dumbledore inside winked at him.
"Can you come up with a new witty remark I haven’t heard before?" Felix asked.
"That’s not a fair test", the portrait of Dumbledore smiled. "There are too many ways to bluff."
Felix studied him. "Then should I add a candy shop to your portrait?"
Dumbledore laughed again. "Oh, no need. The Hogwarts students—members of the Magic Art Club—have painted a huge Hogsmeade scene. It includes Honeydukes, Madam Puddifoot’s Tea Shop, and the Three Broomsticks. The painting is displayed in the trophy room."
Felix nodded, thinking for a moment before speaking.
"The Resurrection Stone was destroyed after you left. The item you gave to Snape is still with him, and he has a new job that will keep him busy for decades."
Dumbledore looked slightly troubled. "So, Severus’s retirement plans are delayed?" But his expression lacked sincerity, and he seemed almost gleeful.
"I think so", Felix said.
"There’s one more thing", he continued. "Aberforth plans to sell The Hog’s Head. When the school reopens, Classroom 7 and Slytherin’s Chamber will also be reopened, and both places will need to be monitored."
"I hope he gets a good price for the bar", Dumbledore said.
Felix smiled. "Unless he cleans the place up thoroughly, I can always smell the sheep’s odor whenever I pass by, and the floor seems to have gone unwashed for centuries—so don’t get your hopes up."
"Hope is a precious thing for those who are suffering", Dumbledore said calmly, his gaze shifting to Professor Mcgonagall.
(End of Chapter)
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