Hogwarts wizards who signed in to Middle-earth.

Chapter 349 A Brief Calm
Since the attack on the professor, the atmosphere in the castle has become very tense.

The professors divided the work, and besides constantly patrolling, they also kept an eye on the students.

Students were strictly forbidden from leaving their dormitories and auditoriums except for classes, and they had to travel together.

All the portraits were mobilized, with at least one person in each frame watching the outside activity and reporting to the professor or other people in the nearby frames.

The armor, which had been mostly silent in the castle, suddenly came to life and began patrolling each floor.

"Are the students in all the colleges alright? Are there any signs of panic or other negative emotions?" Vice Principal Edward asked Professor Luke, who was accompanying him, as he patrolled the castle.

Although Professor Luke had been attacked just a few days earlier, he recovered quickly and rejoined the patrol and student protection team.

Upon hearing Professor Edward's question, Professor Luke smiled and said:

"Everything is fine. Apart from complaining about the cancellation of Quidditch matches, there hasn't been much negative emotion. Moreover, they all have full confidence in the Headmaster, especially the young wizards in our territory, who believe that the Headmaster will catch the rat in the shadows soon."

Professor Edward nodded, his face full of respect and trust: "It seems that the children, like us, believe that Headmaster can resolve this crisis!"

Professor Luke wholeheartedly agreed: "I have no doubt about the Headmaster. After all, he was the one who transformed us from ordinary mortals into people with magic. Moreover, the Headmaster has been in seclusion preparing for this period of time. I believe that as soon as he comes out, he will immediately catch that rat and restore peace to the school!"

“I think so too!” Edward said.

"Alright, Professor Luke, let's part ways here. You patrol the floors above the fourth floor, and I'll check the floors below the fourth floor. Also, be careful. That person in the shadows has become quiet again these past few days. They might be brewing some bad ideas. If you spot anything, send a signal immediately."

Professor Luke nodded. "I understand. Don't worry, having learned my lesson the hard way, I'll be much more careful this time!"

After they parted ways, one went upstairs and the other went downstairs.

Professor Edward patrolled down the floors, starting from the fourth floor, and asked the portraits along the way if there were any unusual circumstances.

After completing his inspection, he did not rest but instead went to Dui's private tower and gently knocked on the tower door.

"Please come in," Dui's voice came from inside the door.

Edward then pushed open the door and entered Duy's private living room.

Then, in the empty living room, Edward walked to a portrait of Dui by the fireplace and respectfully said:

"Sir, the school is currently short-staffed. In addition to teaching, they also need to manage and protect students, as well as patrol, so there is a shortage of manpower."

Could we awaken the slumbering dragon Smaug and the basilisk Helpo, and have them join us in protecting the castle?

Upon hearing this, Dui in the portrait also considered this issue.

Currently, there are only 11 people in the castle: the professors of eight courses, plus Dui and Mrs. Amanda from the school infirmary, and Elrond who has only been there for a few days.

Dui and Ellund were busy creating Marauder's Maps, while the other eight professors, in addition to teaching during the day, were also responsible for protecting the students.

At night, one professor is needed in each of the four college dormitories, while the remaining professors are constantly patrolling the vast castle. They are busy without rest and rely on potions made by the potions professor to keep going.

In the end, Dui in the portrait nodded.

“My picture is in Helpo’s secret chamber, and he only listens to me. I’ll wake him up and have him patrol the castle pipes. As for Smaug, you’re familiar with him now, so you’ll wake him up and have him get to work.”

“Yes, sir, I’ll do it right away,” Edward said respectfully. Then, Dui’s portrait turned and disappeared from the frame.

Edward then obtained the key, left the tower, and headed to the cellar.

Arriving at a mithril door in the cellar, with the words "Sleeping Dragon, Do Not Disturb" written on it, Edward inserted the key into the keyhole and said the password.

The door was immediately unlocked and opened.

Edward, as Dui's butler, was the third person, after Dui and Alvin, to be able to enter the Dragon Vault.

Smaug and Edward even became acquainted through their previous business dealings with spider silk. After all, as a money-loving dragon, Edward was able to continuously bring gold coins from outside into the treasury, unlike his master who only took money from it.

Therefore, Smaug was always kind and gentle to Edward, his steward, especially when he brought in gold coins.

Now that Edward has opened the door to the vault, Smaug, who was sleeping, smelled the scent and immediately opened his eyes.

At this time, Smaug, having devoured the dragon crystal of the Frost Dragon, is now a full 500 meters long!

Although there has never been a case of inheriting the ice magic of the Frost Dragon and becoming an Ice and Fire Dragon.

However, its own dragon flames have become even hotter, comparable to those of ancient dragons.

When Smaug saw that Edward had come empty-handed, a look of disappointment flashed in his eyes, but he immediately became wary and raised the huge dragon head from the mountain of gold, fixing it on Edward.

"Butler Edward, what brings you here today? You're not here to ask for money, are you?"

Looking at Smaug's enormous body, Edward was filled with shock, then quickly shook his head:
"No, this time the adults asked me to wake you up because an enemy has appeared in the castle, lurking among the students and causing a lot of trouble. The professors are short-handed, so they want you to come out and protect the castle."

"An enemy has appeared? Logically speaking, with Master's cunning and intelligence, he shouldn't have failed to capture an enemy. Why did he need to wake me up for help?" Smaug asked in confusion.

“That enemy is very cunning, like a ghost that can possess people, so even adults, Gandalf, Lady Galadriel and the others couldn’t see through him,” Edward explained.

"Oh, that's amazing?" Smaug looked surprised. As far as he knew, Gandalf and Galadriel were even more powerful than their master, yet they hadn't been able to see through their enemy.

That enemy is really quite formidable!

Smaug's eyes darted around, and he moved closer, staring intently at Edward.
"Since that enemy could possess someone without being seen through by my master, you wouldn't happen to be possessed and deliberately came to lure me away so you could steal my treasure, would you?"

Edward was startled by Smaug's words, and immediately looked both amused and exasperated, saying, "Lord Smaug, you really know how to joke. Besides, what kind of enemy would be crazy enough to possess you and come running in front of you? Are they looking for death?"

"That's right!" Smaug proudly raised his head. "I, Smaug, am the most powerful dragon in Middle-earth! Anyone who dares to come and steal from me, even a single gold coin, will suffer the wrath of my dragonfire!"

“Alright, Lord Smaug, I’ve delivered the lord’s message. I have to continue my patrol, so I won’t chat with you any longer,” Edward said.

Then, as he turned around, he saw the Vanishing Cabinets piled up in the corner like trash, and sighed helplessly: "Lord Smaug, these Vanishing Cabinets are precious alchemical artifacts. How could you just throw them aside like that? It would be bad if they were damaged."

Smaug glanced at the cabinets and curled his lip in disdain: "A bunch of wood, not even as nice as my gold. They're so fragile you could easily crush them if you flip them over, and you'd be afraid they'd catch fire if you sneezed. Where else can I put them if I don't put them in a corner?"

Seeing Smaug say this, Edward shook his head helplessly and stopped trying to persuade him.

He then bid farewell to Smaug, turned and left the vault, and returned to the tower to put the key away again.

(End of this chapter)