great-warnovel Chapter 177 The Voice of Return
Chapter 177 The Voice of Return
Chapter 177 The Voice of Return
The Verdon Canyon incident has finally come to an end.
Dumbledore casually pinched a Portkey out of a stone on the ground and brought Lockhart and Hermione back to the castle.
McGonagall and Flitwick were on their way to pick up the other second-year students. Fortunately, nothing much happened during this time, except for Seamus blowing up the Transfiguration pot. Many people didn't even notice that the two professors were missing.
Gnuck gave Dumbledore a specially made two-way mirror, enough to travel through the secret realm and maintain contact with him. If the Coexistence faction can overcome this crisis, they will probably cooperate with Hogwarts more in the future.
As for the Basilisk, Dumbledore personally peeled off its tough skin and handed it to the goblins. Their secret realm had been burned for a long time, and they were only able to survive by gathering a large amount of supplies from Gonuk. It was good to save it as soon as possible.
The rest of the parts will be transported back to the castle first. The White Wizard has already sent Fox to inform the Daily News that the extermination of the thousand-year-old basilisk is a story worth telling. At least the reporters should take hundreds of photos first, and then the parts will be dismembered and given to the fairies to forge.
Besides the skin, bones, and eyes that Gonuk needs, the basilisk's venom glands will be extracted separately and kept active with magic to continuously produce venom, which will be one of the main ingredients for the Golden Cup to continue synthesizing the Resurrection Elixir. The basilisk's flesh, gallbladder, and other parts will be given to Lily, whose potions professor will analyze their medicinal properties. This thing has mutated so much that it has high research value.
When the enormous, writhing, skinless serpentine creature appeared out of thin air on the Quidditch pitch, the first-year students, who were taking their flying lesson, were startled and nearly fell off their brooms. Fortunately, Mrs. Hooch, a skilled flyer, cast a slowing spell on them from mid-air.
Dumbledore levitated the object, hanging it between the stands of the stadium, as if showing off this victory to everyone.
Lily and the others who arrived later were also surprised to see this scene. Dumbledore, who had disappeared for many days, had actually brought back this "surprise".
But then she learned that it was all a planned trial involving Professor Lockhart, Hermione, and her son.
Dumbledore sincerely apologized to her and said he would write to the Weasleys and Longbottoms for putting their child in unnecessary danger.
But Lily's reaction was much smaller than he and Hermione had imagined.
"When we decided to join the Order of the Phoenix and fight for justice and peace, James and I foresaw that our child would not live in comfort and ease, and that he would inevitably be passively drawn into the dangers we caused," Lily said solemnly.
"I certainly understand your good intentions. In fact, with all the protective measures you've taken, letting him face Death Eaters directly is a very valuable experience for me. But you really should have told me beforehand," she said with a hint of complaint.
"That way I can see this kid's performance for myself. You know, he's sometimes so stupid in practical classes it gives me a headache!"
"Hey Mom, I'm really strong now!" Harry complained.
Hermione smiled; these people are really cute.
Back in the Great Hall, the students chattered excitedly. A large number of reporters, like busy sparrows, had come to the school through the fireplace and rushed to the sports field to see the Basilisk. They photographed the skinless body from every angle before reluctantly returning to the Great Hall, where Dumbledore was to give a formal speech.
The teachers and students returned to their places, and the front of each college's long table was reserved for reporters and dignitaries from various places who had come to hear the news.
They were mostly cheerful, chatting with each other. This troublesome serpent monster had wreaked havoc in various places, causing countless tragedies.
Apart from Lockhart, who was sent to the university hospital to recuperate, all the other professors attended the event.
Dumbledore stood at the podium, Fawkes loyally landing beside him. The audience was packed, students and politicians alike, all staring intently at him. He looked at this scene, just as it had been decades ago, during Hogwarts' most prosperous period.
He cleared his throat: "A gratifying victory."
"Over the years, the Green Flame Party has gradually become a thorn in people's hearts. The shadow of fear is growing thicker and thicker over people in the new era. Death always comes unexpectedly, and even our children face omnipresent threats."
"Voldemort, and his Death Eaters, trampled on the dignity of human beings with impunity, attempting to destroy new hope through slaughter."
"The Basilisk, the legacy Slytherin left to his descendants, an ancient idea from a thousand years ago to the present."
"We cannot judge whether Slytherin was right or wrong, because we are all beneficiaries of his influence."
"But it is undeniable that in this era of reconstruction, perhaps the old things that do not conform to the trend should be buried rather than become the hands of the destroyer."
His gaze swept over the politicians below the stage. Those from other regions were somewhat better off, but the nobles of Malfoy Castle had varying expressions. Apart from Barty the Younger, who seemed still immersed in the anxiety of his father's impending death, the others probably associated the basilisk with something else entirely.
Dumbledore's words were over-interpreted by them, but perhaps that was exactly the effect the old bee wanted to achieve.
"Hogwarts is becoming great again, and that's exactly what people like Voldemort don't want to see," he said proudly.
"I will call him by his real name—Tom Marvolo Riddle, the poor boy who was terrified of death and frantically sought every way to escape his final fate, even at the cost of his humanity and his soul."
"He could not tolerate the resurgence of the school he had betrayed, so he plotted to attack the teachers and students with the Basilisk! And the Death Eaters! They did everything they could to follow Hogwarts and try to curse and kill our professors and children."
The crowd below gasped in surprise, the reporters' quills swished rapidly, and the shutters of the magic cameras never stopped clicking.
"But clearly, their plot has failed! Professor Lockhart single-handedly killed the thousand-year-old mutated basilisk! And the Death Eaters sent by Voldemort were even defeated by three second-year students!" Dumbledore proclaimed loudly.
Both professors and students at Hogwarts have demonstrated extraordinary abilities, which is enough to deter those with ulterior motives.
"We did it!" Ron shouted, surrounded by his twin brothers, recounting their thrilling battle to his friends, unaware that he had already been spotted by a number of reporters.
"From this day forward, all wizards of the world, you will no longer have to worry about waking up to find the gates of your settlements breached by the Basilisk, no longer have to fear being stared at by those dim, greenish eyes, and no longer have to fear that your children will be suddenly abducted!" Dumbledore declared to everyone in a rare, loud and resonant voice.
"The first step in comforting the dead has been completed! Tom's arm has been severed, and he can only hide in the Albanian forest, continuing his daydream of immortality!"
"At Hogwarts, thanks to the efforts of everyone here, fate and time have sided with justice."
Our world will get better and better! Our future will get stronger and stronger!
A huge cheer erupted in the hall, and everyone spontaneously stood up to applaud Dumbledore, the school, and the future they envisioned.
Immediately afterwards, the white wizard pressed his hands down, signaling everyone to be quiet.
"I also have something to announce to the public on this occasion," he said, smiling at the excited crowd.
Hermione, sitting at the Gryffindor table, exchanged a glance with McGonagall, who was at the teachers' table.
"Over the past fifty years, Hogwarts has undergone many trials, and today's grand occasion makes me believe that both professors and students are capable of bearing even greater responsibilities."
He glanced at Harry, Ron, and Neville, then looked at Hermione, and said firmly in a calm and steady voice, "Hogwarts will return to the Scottish Highlands, back to its original site. We will rebuild this thousand-year-old school and let its legacy continue!"
But this time, as the words fell, there were no cheers, no applause.
The students and professors were simply surprised by the sudden decision, while the nobles and politicians were simply stunned.
They thought more deeply than the students. Hogwarts' return to England would lead to significant changes in the existing wizarding powers, especially Malfoy Castle. Purebloods wouldn't want to see a new power emerge that would surpass their territory in both prestige and strength, especially since they were both in the British Isles.
Given that Old Barty was cursed, the purebloods who came this time were numerous and diverse. None of them could represent the entire Malfoy Castle; they were merely the leaders of a certain faction. They sized each other up and silently exchanged information rapidly using magic.
The castle seemed to fall into an eerie silence. Dumbledore maintained his spectator-like smile as he scanned each representative.
But no one dared to meet his gaze. Everyone knew that Dumbledore was a Legilimency practitioner, and even with his excellent Occlumency skills, no one wanted to take the risk.
Suddenly, Barty Jr. stood up abruptly, his eyes bloodshot, and glanced warily at his colleagues: "If Hogwarts can save my father, I'm willing to support your decision."
"Little Barty! You have no right to speak here!" A gaunt, sinister-looking wizard in black robes interrupted him. Little Barty was clearly prepared to disregard the interests of Malfoy Castle in order to save old Crouch.
But Dumbledore was even more blunt: "Karaktacus, Hogwarts' decisions don't need anyone else's approval."