great-warnovel Chapter 229 Fountain of Youth
Chapter 229 Fountain of Youth
Chapter 229 Fountain of Youth
Barty, carrying a suitcase and with his hair neatly combed, stood on the lawn in front of Hogwarts' gates, surveying his surroundings with an indescribable gaze.
"It hasn't been long since I last came, but the changes in this castle are quite significant." His voice was somewhat low, as if he hadn't yet recovered from the grief of his father's death.
McGonagall stood beside him and remarked, "Yes, even after living in this school for decades, I haven't experienced as many changes as I have these past few days."
"Sometimes I can't help but feel that I'm already old, and the future belongs to you young people."
Little Barty turned his head and said, "Professor, besides arriving early, I also need to submit the re-enrollment applications for many pure-blooded students in Malfoyburg."
The two talked as they walked toward the principal's office.
"They all expressed that the children were quite resistant to taking a break from school, while the nobles, although worried about the future, were more willing to believe that the castle could overcome the difficulties, given Hogwarts' long-standing stability and its long-standing magical heritage."
"Especially in times like these, it is crucial to stand together with Hogwarts. Therefore, after careful consideration..."
We hope to withdraw the previous leave of absence application, and the children will return to school on time on the first day of the new term.
McGonagall didn't say anything about it. Once they arrived at the headmaster's office, Dumbledore smiled and signed the application.
The drama that the nobles had previously created has become a joke.
It's fortunate that the wizards in other settlements didn't follow suit, otherwise they would have been in serious trouble because of their fickle behavior.
As far as the White Wizard was concerned, he naturally welcomed these children to school. Even if the subtle changes they brought were limited, it was still better than them hiding in their luxurious mansions and turning into cruel and indifferent noble tyrants.
As for the Malfoyburg nobles' claims of "sharing weal and woe," "overcoming difficulties together," and "being of one mind with Hogwarts," he didn't believe a single word of them.
"There is only one possibility: the struggle within Malfoy Castle has reached a fever pitch, and the bloodshed beneath the surface may have become so brutal that many families need to send their children to the castle to avoid attacks."
McGonagall said this to Hermione: the relationship between Malfoy Castle and Hogwarts is just that strange; in terms of their positions...
They do not want a new, powerful community to threaten their position, but when they face the threat of their family's destruction, they will regard Hogwarts as their last refuge.
As long as their children remain in the castle, external threats can be ignored. Even if all the elders die from murder and curses, as long as the children grow up smoothly, there is a possibility of rebuilding the family in the future.
Normally, new professors like Barty Jr. would arrive at the school a week in advance to familiarize themselves with their office environment, prepare lesson plans, and participate in the annual battle for new students with other professors, as was the case at Lockhart last year.
This year, Batistuta arrived two weeks early and has been rather idle at school these past few days.
He explored most of the castle with great interest and even chipped off a small piece of brilliance to take back and study, but there was clearly a theoretical gap between them, and he found it difficult to understand the magic of the borderlands.
"Although I have read Miss Granger's paper, this kind of pyroxene crystal is obviously far beyond the scope of the paper, and I would feel a lot of pressure working with this pyroxene teaching assistant."
However, Crouch Jr. did not come empty-handed. To express his sincerity, or rather, as a Defense Strategy professor preparing for the return of Hogwarts next school year, he also packed a special gift for the school in his suitcase.
"Fountain of Youth!"
He took out a round vessel that looked like a soup pot and placed it at the bottom of the huge bathtub in the sixth-floor washroom.
This washroom was rather special. In the past, it was only used by the prefects, the presidents of the male and female student councils, and the captains of the Quidditch team. However, as Hogwarts was built, the school needed to be more frugal with all its resources. This rather luxurious washroom, with its white marble floor, huge bathtub, and hundreds of gold faucets inlaid with jewels, was closed.
The prefect and other distinguished students also had to wash up in the public restrooms, just like the other students.
Now, Crouch Jr. has put it back into use; after the soup pot is set out, with the wave of Barty Jr.'s wand,
A stream of clear spring water gushed out and quickly filled the entire bath. The refreshing scent of lavender rose from the water, making one feel exceptionally relaxed.
"This is a family heirloom passed down through generations of the Crouch family. It can spout spring water that can heal diseases, remove curses, and mend injuries," Barty Jr. explained to the professors and Hermione.
"Unless it's a particularly powerful form of black magic, or an injury caused by the Divine Strike Without Shadow, soaking in water for half an hour will heal most of the wound, even if it doesn't fully heal."
He seemed to suddenly remember his father, who had died because of a curse, and said in a low voice, "Unfortunately, it's not strong enough. It's helpless against curses that are too powerful." It was clear that old Crouch had also tried to break curses of the Dark Lord level.
McGonagall patted him on the shoulder: "This treasure is very valuable. In any future battles, our teachers and students will have greater protection."
Although Madam Pomfrey is quite reliable and Lily's potions are incredibly effective, if there are too many injured people, we'll face a problem like we did in the first year, where the school hospital's capacity is limited.
With this pool of youthful energy, the wounded soldiers' injuries will not worsen, at least until Narcissa Ten makes her move, which is a great guarantee.
Dumbledore also used his hand to scoop some water from the pool and carefully observed it.
Little Barty perked up and forced a smile: "Not only can it cure diseases, but soaking in the spring water for a long time also has many health benefits."
"You, Dumbledore, all professors are welcome to come and relax whenever they have free time. The baths can be heated normally and will not affect the effects of the spring water." The Fountain of Youth truly lives up to its name of youth. Even the elderly, who regularly soak in the spring water, will become more energetic and may even have their lifespan extended to a certain extent.
McGonagall smiled and nodded in thanks for his kindness, but unfortunately Dumbledore was a ghost, so even if he were to soak in it, it wouldn't really do any good.
Barty turned to Hermione and said, "My little teaching assistant, you can also take a bubble bath; maybe it'll make you grow taller!"
Hermione thanked him politely. So far, he had behaved perfectly. Dumbledore hadn't commented on the Fountain of Youth, which meant the magical artifact was indeed harmless, and the Eye of Heaven hadn't given any inexplicable warnings.
He truly seemed to be a promising young man ostracized by the nobility and disillusioned by his father's death.
Now, carrying their family treasures, they are wholeheartedly devoted to Hogwarts.
The Fountain of Youth is like a pledge of allegiance, giving the impression that one will settle down at Hogwarts, dutifully serve as the Head of Slytherin, and shine brightly in the Defense and Protection Department.
However, since he had no malicious intent and all his actions were reasonable, Hermione wouldn't go out of her way to cause trouble. Now, getting Hogwarts back smoothly is the top priority.