#167 - Dumbledore's Arrangement
Dumbledore actually put a lot of effort into the arrangement of the Mirror of Erised.
Placing this magic mirror in that abandoned classroom was also his doing.
Dumbledore originally thought that Harry should have discovered this magic mirror at least after receiving the Invisibility Cloak.
But he never thought that all the events would develop so quickly and become more complicated, even faintly exceeding his original expectations.
“Nightmares, strange willow trees, cracked scarlet moons~”
After returning from the abandoned classroom, Dumbledore kept pacing back and forth in his office, thinking.
No one knows the Mirror of Erised better than Dumbledore.
This headmaster even used his superb alchemy magic to transform the magic mirror, making it the last guardian checkpoint.
But the content seen in this mirror tonight made Dumbledore unable to calm down for a long time.
“The strange black willow tree has lost all its vitality, as if it has been subjected to some mysterious curse.”
“Being able to see nightmares means that he has witnessed death with his own eyes, but why are nightmares flying towards that row of moons?”
Dumbledore's knowledge is far greater than that of ordinary people, and so are the magic books he has read.
However, there is a huge crack in the scarlet moon.
He never remembered seeing or reading such a scene anywhere.
However, the more than one-hundred-year-old headmaster was still trying hard to recall all the books he had read, feeling uneasy.
“Scarlet moons often foreshadow ominousness, disaster, war, and death.”
Dumbledore paced while sorting out all the information he knew.
In the existing books of the magic world, all the information related to the scarlet moon is negative.
As a celestial body most liked by werewolves, vampires, and zombies, the moon often symbolizes the rise of dark forces.
However, the appearance of Pai Yue made this celestial body even more unpredictable.
“Could it be Tom? But what relationship would he have with Scarlet Moon? Or is he going to trigger a bigger war when he comes back this time?”
“It shouldn't be. According to the content of the prophecy, Harry is his real opponent. As for Mr. Scarlett:”
When Dumbledore thought of this, he couldn't help but be a little curious about Muen's secrets.
He originally guessed that this little lion was arranged by his old opponent to enter Hogwarts, but now it seems that this option can be ruled out.
Dumbledore knew the wizard locked in Nurmengard as well as he knew himself.
Letting wizards rule the world is his dream, not to cultivate a little wizard who might bring great chaos to the world.
“This information is still too little, maybe I can arrange a divination.”
On Monday morning, the Gryffindor lions only have one class in the History of Magic.
After entering December, the outside temperature is getting colder and colder, but it does not delay the little lions from dozing off in this class.
Only Muen was still listening carefully to Professor Binns' explanation in the classroom.
Hermione had already finished reading the content of this class, and she was now reading books for higher grades.
“Magic families are also an important part of the history of magic. Through their evolution, you can learn about the other side of the magic world.”
What Professor Binns is explaining today is the history of the evolution of magic families.
They were also the most important group in the early magic world.
At that time, people with magical talents mostly gathered together through the inheritance of magical genes in blood relationships.
Because these magic families possessed enormous energy, they inevitably influenced the development of magical society.
The book lists many magic families, the Peverell family, the Black family, the Gaunt family, the Ollivander family...:
Muen also thought of another world's family he had recently encountered through the content of the book.
The Bailey family of Meyerzu Castle is the same as the ancient families in early magic history.
They mostly live together by blood and use magic to treat diseases for ordinary Muggles, while rapidly accumulating wealth for the family.
But similarly, they will inevitably be misunderstood. After all, Muggles do not understand magic, they will only think in bad ways.
This is also the period the Bailey family is going through.
“After the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy came into effect, pure-blood wizarding families began to rise. They mostly occupy important positions in magical society...:..”
Muen now suspects that the author of this book should be a pure-blood wizard.
Because the author wrote a lot about the advantages of pure-blood wizarding families at this stage.
Helping to stabilize wizarding society, improve various laws, participate in the Ministry of Magic and Wizengamot, and actively lead the development of the wizarding world.::::
When Professor Binns talked about this, Muen couldn't help but feel a little sleepy.
Because the pure-blood wizards he knew did not make any of the contributions recorded in the book at all.
The most direct representative is Malfoy of Slytherin. Apart from maintaining his noble appearance, Muen can't see any advantages in him.
“The magic world is constantly developing, and the history of magic is constantly recording changes.”
“After the eighteenth century, although pure-blood families faced huge challenges, their glory has always existed.”
After Professor Binns finished reading this sentence, Muen fell asleep completely.
He really didn't want to listen to a pure-blood family compiling self-bragging history.
The History of Magic class ended on time at eleven o'clock.
If Professor Binns' class really has any advantages, it is that he never delays the class.
After the professor walked through the wall and left, Hermione nudged Muen awake.
“Let's go, aren't you going to the library to look up information?”
“Oh~~, okay!””
Muen yawned a long yawn to relieve the lack of sleep last night.
“This is the first time you've slept in class.”
Hermione asked curiously while packing her books.
“I didn't expect the history of pure-blood families to be so boring.”
When the two little wizards finished packing and were about to leave the classroom, a black shadow suddenly appeared at the door. Snape was actually waiting for Muen to find him.
Ever since he agreed to exchange magic potion ingredients for spells last week, he had been thinking about when Muen would come.
Especially after Dumbledore said that Muen still had some secrets, he became even more curious about Muen's magic materials.
After he finished teaching the sixth-year students how to make Felix Felicis this morning, Snape quickly came from the basement to the History of Magic classroom on the second floor.
When Snape appeared, not only was Muen stunned, but all the Gryffindor lions stood in place unconsciously.
“Muen Scarlett, we should talk.”
When the little lions heard the stern professor only call Muen's name, they breathed a sigh of relief and ran out of the classroom quickly one by one.
“Do you need me to wait for you?”
Hermione asked in a low voice.
“Oh, no, I don't think it will be resolved so quickly this time.”
After Hermione left, only Muen and Snape were left in the History of Magic classroom.
“I hope you didn't lie to me, it's already the agreed time!”
Muen never thought that Professor Snape would be so anxious that he would block him in the History of Magic classroom.
“Professor, I won’t run away. If you do this, others will think I’ve made another mistake.”
Muen complained helplessly.
“I don't have time to care what others think. Now, hand over the goods immediately.”
Snape coldly extended his right hand as he spoke.
Moon could only take out a small bag of powdered batfish eyes from his pocket.
He had prepared it this morning before leaving his dormitory.
He originally planned to use it on Cedric first, but he didn't expect to be intercepted by Professor Snape.
“There are ten ounces here, Professor.”
Moon explicitly mentioned the weight of the potion ingredient and then looked at Snape expectantly.
“I know the terms of the agreement. Two spells. That's not difficult for me.”
Snape took the small bag and cautiously opened it to take a look.
After confirming that it wasn't some prank ingredient, he pinched a small amount and sniffed it.
“Hmm, the material is correct, but it's not ground finely enough, and there are still many impurities inside. The price for two spells might be…: : . :”
Moon had never imagined that Professor Snape would haggle.
In Moon's usual view, the more aloof people like Snape are, the more likely they are to throw down the money and leave gracefully, never caring about the price of the materials.
“Professor, the quality of the batfish powder is the same as last week. We've already agreed on it.”
Hearing Snape's words, Moon quickly reminded him.
“Of course, I know.”
Snape said impatiently before closing the bag and holding it firmly in his hand.
“Alright, since you have no objections, Professor, I would like to learn the [Undetectable Extension Charm].”
Moon had already decided which spell he wanted to learn when he came to Hogwarts.
This spell is very useful to him at the moment.
As long as he can expand the capacity of his suitcase, Moon will be able to bring more materials, which will allow him to obtain greater benefits.
“Undetectable Extension Charm? No! This is a spell that only seventh-year students can learn. You can't master it yet.” Snape said as he took out a piece of parchment from his pocket and shoved it into Moon's hand without explanation.
“You should learn this one. It's not difficult and easy to master.”
After hearing Snape's words, Moon curiously opened the folded parchment and looked at the contents.
“This is…Professor, this is a scam!”
The parchment did indeed contain the content of two spells, but it was a spell and a counter-spell.
[Hanging Golden Bell] and [Golden Bell Landing]
“Professor, this should count as one spell.”
Snape completely ignored Moon's protest. After handing the parchment to Moon, he wanted to turn around and leave.
“We didn't agree that counter-spells don't count, did we!”
Moon really didn't expect Snape to use this kind of loophole in the transaction to fob him off.
But he naturally wouldn't suffer in vain.
“Professor, don't you need potion ingredients anymore?”
Moon, who had done business before, was very clear that the most important raw materials were in his control, so he should be the one setting the price.
Even if the previous agreement was not clear enough, as long as there was a next transaction, Moon would be able to fill this loophole.
“~”
Snape chuckled and then turned to look at Moon.
“This kind of potion ingredient is very basic. Ten ounces is enough for me to research for a long time. If you want to get a spell from me through it again, you should give up that idea.”
In Snape's view, this transaction with Moon had already violated his rule of not having too much interaction with Gryffindors.
Now that he had obtained the potion ingredients, he would naturally choose to withdraw.
After Snape finished speaking, he didn't pay attention to Moon's expression behind him and prepared to leave on his own.
“But Professor, I have another kind of potion ingredient. Don't you need it either?”
The footsteps that were originally breezy in the corridor suddenly stopped.
Moon guessed that Snape should be doing ideological struggles at this time because he wanted to continue walking several times, but he stopped abruptly.
“You better not be lying to me.”
Snape said as he slowly turned around, his expression very serious.
“Of course, look! It's this.”
When Snape turned around, Moon had already taken out another small bag from his pocket.
“This is…
,
Before Moon could start introducing it, Snape had already walked over quickly, grabbed the cloth bag, and examined it carefully.
“Still a creature from the sea?”
Snape just sniffed it slightly and then looked at Moon suspiciously again.
“Yes, this is a kind of sea snail that lives in underwater volcanoes. Their shells are very hard and are a potion ingredient that can replace dragon scales.”
After listening to Moon's introduction, Snape pinched a small handful of the powder and muttered a spell that Moon didn't hear clearly.
Just after this spell was used to verify it, Moon noticed that the material in Snape's hand emitted a burst of white smoke,
and then the professor frowned unconsciously.
“It doesn't contain as much magical energy as dragon scales, but this energy is gentle enough and is an excellent material for refining blood-stopping healing potions.”
Snape used only one spell to determine the true use of the flame snail shell powder.
However, after confirming the authenticity of the potion ingredient, Snape became even more suspicious.
He originally thought that Moon being able to come up with a potion ingredient was just a fluke, but now it seems that it shouldn't be the case.
“Tell me, where did this come from?”
“Obviously, Professor, it came from the sea.”
Hearing Moon's answer, Snape took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to explode.
“Of course I know it's a creature from the sea! I'm asking you how you discovered it? It's only been a week.”
Besides being surprised by the advent of the new potion ingredient, Snape was even more surprised by how Moon discovered these two potion ingredients within a week.
“Well, Professor, my family has a large sailing ship, which is very suitable for deep-sea salvage.”
What Moon said was the truth. These two materials were salvaged by the sailors on the Scarlet Moon and then processed by Chris.
While Moon was answering the question, Snape stared at him coldly. At one point, he subconsciously wanted to use magic that violated school rules to explore the memories in Moon's head.
However, just as this thought appeared in his mind, Snape recalled what Dumbledore had said.
“Mr. Scarlett should have many secrets on him, and I don't know much about them.”
Recalling this sentence, Snape looked at the potion ingredients in his hand again.
He now felt that he should know more than Dumbledore.
Looking at the professor's expression in front of him returning to calmness, Moon subconsciously took a step back.
He knew that this was usually a precursor to Snape going crazy.
“Professor, if you like the material, you can take it first. You can give me the spell later.”
“No need, Mr. Scarlett, the [Undetectable Extension Charm] is indeed not suitable for you now, but this should be.”
