great-warnovel Chapter 274 Not Going to Zhanggui
Chapter 274 Not Going to Zhanggui
Chapter 274 Not Returning
"I'm not going!"
In the headmaster's office, Dumbledore, unusually appearing as a ghost, crouched behind his own portrait, speaking with a resolute tone.
Hermione stood helplessly in front of the headmaster's desk, holding a letter on gold-embossed paper.
"I will never see Gellert again in my life!" The White Wizard's resolute voice came from under the table; it was his portrait speaking for him.
"But they came to invite me in person, and it's someone as important as the vice-principal." Hermione tossed the invitation on the table and picked up a Bean of Flavor.
"What kind of heavyweight is Rozier?" Dumbledore laughed.
"Why don't you ask her why she didn't deliver the invitation to me personally, but instead had Minerva deliver it?"
"Back in Paris, no one but Gellért and I could stand up!" His portrait continued, its voice strong and resolute, like that of a war god.
"Of all those who lived through that war, none could face him or me directly!"
But in reality, of those who actually participated in that war, only Rozier and Newt are probably still alive today; even Nicolas Lemaître died in Paris.
Despite being the loser, Rozier still doesn't dare to look Dumbledore in the eye, and Newt is too afraid to get close to New Paris, even trembling at the sight of Fiend.
"That's true, but since they're not bothered by Mikhail's matter, they probably really have something to discuss with us, right?" To be honest,
Hermione really wanted to go to Paris to see what the Dark Lord, who dominated the world, was like, and what the true pinnacle of this world was like. She really wanted to know.
"What other nonsense could he possibly spout?" the portrait seemed more animated than the real Dumbledore, speaking with righteous indignation.
"It's nothing more than asking for forgiveness, then painting a grand picture, promising a wonderful future together!"
"Don't let him fool you, child."
Hermione sat in Dumbledore's usual spot, bent down to look at the portrait under the table, and began to lecture her.
"He's eloquent and a master manipulator, adept at finding what people crave deep down, making you willingly do things for him without even realizing it!"
"You should come out and talk to me in person," Hermione said helplessly.
Dumbledore's pearly white, translucent body emerged from behind the portrait, his brow furrowed.
"I know you're curious about what the new Paris is like." He transformed back into a living person, leaned against the table, and looked at the girl sitting in the chair, looking up at him.
"But son, I can't face Grindelwald, I can't forgive him." His voice was low.
"Too many people died in that war. He and I fought fiercely in battle after battle. At first, we tried to avoid each other because of the Blood Alliance."
"But with the battle in Bhutan, the blood oath was shattered, and everything was beyond repair—"
"I started chasing him all over the world, from Melbourne to Washington—from Chile to India—"
"Wherever he takes the war, I will pursue him—until finally, we will end it all in Paris—"
"I lost—"
"We haven't seen each other since then."
Hermione knew that the old wizard was once again caught in endless self-blame. His soul was confined to the present world and was also forever trapped in his memories. As long as he did not cross to the other side, he would continue to feel guilty and condemn himself.
This usually confident, radiant, and powerful old wizard now looked like a defeated child, muttering to himself with his head down.
"Then let's not go," Hermione said, changing her mind.
"It's just an invitation; it's okay if we decline."
"I doubt Rozier will turn against us inside Hogwarts."
She walked to the window and looked at the dark lake under the clouds outside; their destination was not far ahead.
"It's time for us to set off. The pyroxene core has been well-fed, and the radiation level has dropped to an acceptable range."
"To hell with Grindelwald, we need to get home!"
McGonagall politely saw Rozier and Krum off. There were only two of them this time, and they clearly didn't intend to do anything regardless of the outcome.
This only made Hermione more curious about what Grindelwald was thinking and what he planned to say to her.
He specifically mentioned her name, indicating that he had long caught the eye of this dark lord.
Does he know about pyroxene magic? Has he ever experimented with it?
It is said that Grindelwald also has a third eye. Did he see something different?
It was for these reasons that Hermione really wanted to meet Grindelwald, even if it meant being taken hostage.
But Dumbledore's feelings come first. The old ghost might lose control on the spot when he sees his nemesis, or the identity of the dead might be seen through directly. All of these factors force her to abandon the plan.
"At least until Hogwarts takes root!" she thought to herself. Once everything settles down, there will be a chance to meet that Dark Lord.
The remaining distance was short; the castle lifted its giant feet again and arrived at its original location in just half a day.
This place is now a large pit filled with water.
The rising water level of Black Lake in recent years has submerged a previously protruding highland, and it is now almost bordering the Forbidden Forest.
"If we keep going, how far will the castle be flooded?" McGonagall asked with some concern.
"Even if it only spreads to the lawn, the Slytherin common room will be flooded!" The portrait of Phineas Black rarely speaks, but as Hogwarts gets closer to its hometown, the portraits of these headmasters gradually become more active.
"Then let's raise the castle's elevation a bit; that will make it easier for us to defend," Hermione said.
"Let's go straight to the Hall of Radiant Stones; it'll be easier to operate there."
The students had all rushed to the edge of the lawn, craning their necks to look at the large pit in front of them.
"Once we return to the original site, Slytherin's common room will become a lake-view room! Through the huge glass windows, we can fall asleep watching aquatic creatures every day!" Unlike now, their dormitories are like observation windows installed under the moving castle.
The loud noise interrupted the students' conversation.
A surge of energy, glowing with a purple light, rose from the circular pit in the lake, causing a large amount of water to be lifted and pushed aside, crashing onto the castle's massive stone feet and creating spectacular waves.
Although the mermaids were frantic, they retreated far away, with only a few heads peeking out from the center of the lake, observing cautiously.
Similarly, in the Forbidden Forest on the other side, some eyes were also quietly watching. The members of the Order of the Phoenix had all taken to the air, vigilantly guarding against any movement around them.
"Professor, you control the movement of the castle, and I'll control the terrain!" In the Hall of Radiant Stone, Hermione, with the immense magic provided by the core, cast a powerful gravity spell on her own, gradually raising the original deep pit.
Dumbledore skillfully maneuvered the castle's four legs, steadily stepping into the original pit and sitting down with a thud.
"Be careful, it's not just about the physical alignment, but more importantly, the reconnection of the magical nodes," the White Wizard instructed.
"Gather the soil and stones, be gentle. Oh, and at Slytherin's place, we need to leave the windows open, don't seal them with rocks!"
"Also, be careful of the passageways and sewers in the secret chamber to prevent backflow. By the way, have Hagrid's spiders dig a new path out; this one is obviously unusable."
Everything was in perfect order. Hogwarts slowly sat back in their original positions. Under the influence of gravity magic, a high ground had been artificially created, making them look like a majestic castle suspended in the lake, much taller than before, and truly resembling the border town of Carria.
The water flow blocked the path to the Forbidden Forest and Hogsmeade, but it was only shallow, reaching only to the calves, and the wizard could easily build a stone bridge.
"We did it! We're back!" McGonagall cried tears of joy. After fifty years of wandering, this greatest millennium-old university had finally returned!
"But don't get too excited yet. The real challenge is just beginning." Dumbledore looked at the restless wind around him and knew that everything was about to happen.