Hogwarts Study Panel

Chapter 276: Merlin (3k)

Professor Snape's hatred for Quirrell was self-evident; ever since returning from Spider's End Alley, he had been constantly looking for the guy.

"If I were you, after doing those despicable things, I would just get lost and stay far away—"

He finished speaking coldly, glanced at Professor Quirrell with the look of someone looking at a dead man, and then walked into the shop.

There are many spells that can make a wizard disappear without a trace, and he happens to be skilled in those spells...

Quirrell's face paled slightly; this was a threat from a top wizard. He glanced at the young wizard outside the shop, his dazed gaze hardening again.

He cannot die yet; this life is not just his own.

After Professor Snape rushed into the shop, Sheehan lagged behind. To his surprise, he saw Professor Tara, who was now enthusiastically buying all the Chocolate Frog cards.

This left Ron and Harry, who were in line, dumbfounded.

"I wish her to produce a rare Cornelius Agrippa."

Ron muttered that the exchange cards he was referring to were the rarest—up to last month.

But now that a Connelly Agrippa card has been released, it's impossible to say whether it's good luck or bad luck.

After all, the wizards' goals have changed somewhat without them realizing it.

"Let's go buy some raspberry ice cream."

Harry noticed Ron's low spirits and said...

"professor."

Sheen whispered from behind the crowd.

“Oh, it’s a pleasure to see you, my dear disciple. Before Abigail finishes choosing the fairy tale cookies, let’s take a look at these wonderful chocolate frogs.”

Professor Terra snapped his fingers, and then all the Chocolate Frog boxes were opened, revealing cards inside.

The cards floated in the air and then swirled around Professor Terra. With a flick of her finger, a "Hermes" card flew out.

"An invitation, looks like I'm in luck—I thought all my luck had run out after meeting you—"

She smiled and then shoved the invitation into Sheen's hand.

The crowd outside was already in an uproar, staring in disbelief at the invitation in Sheen's hand.

"Sir, I'm willing to offer one hundred Galleons for the invitation you have!"

A shrewd businessman was the first to rush over.

“Don’t listen to him, sir, I’m willing to add thirty!”

Immediately, someone realized what was happening.

Reporters frantically snapped photos, but could only capture Sheen shaking his head and walking into the shop from behind.

"It's Sheen! He's here too! He got the invitation!"

Harry looked very surprised and was excited about his friend's good luck.

"Ah—Sheen got it, Sheen got it—really—"

Ron was listless and frustrated at missing out on the invitation.

Why are the organizers getting involved themselves...? What about all those people queuing up...?

It's like we've been set up.

……

Inside the store.

Sheen followed Professor Terra to the witch, Abigail.

She was staring at Sheehan with a respectful and eager expression:

"Mr. Hermes, when will the Cerberus cookies be available? I mean, what's next? What are your plans for the future...?"

Her face turned pale after Professor Terra stood between the two of them.

"Terra, I have kept my promise and brought you the secret manual. And yet you have the audacity to want the Holy Stone—you'd better know what the Holy Stone means to Vargadu, and you'd better know why we fought each other last time!"

"Of course I haven't forgotten that the Holy Stone cannot leave Vargadu, but are you really not going to reconsider?"

Professor Terra said with great interest.

"What did Hogwarts give you to make you so devoted?"

Her angry gaze bypassed Professor Terra and landed on Sheehan.
“I’m sorry, sir. We will not accept this, not even if it is you, unless the elders agree.”

Sheen watched as Professor Terra's lips curved into a smile, then she produced a piece of parchment that resembled a contract:

"I think the elders don't seem to have any objections."

Abigail looked at the contract in disbelief, her voice hoarse:
"How is this possible? How could you possibly have gotten it—this has never happened before! What have you been doing?"

"It wasn't me."

Professor Terra smiled and pulled Sheen away.

In the cubicle.

Sheen heard Professor Terra say softly:

"The Holy Stone could never be outside of Vagad's control, and only Vagad's students are qualified to obtain it."

Otherwise, it would become an ordinary, cursed stone. Only the twenty-four special holy stones can bring Vagado out of the world and unleash its full power.

One of them is this one…

A stone was placed in Sheen's hand; though it was called a stone, it was more like a slab of stone.

"When you are unfamiliar with it, I will keep it for you. Remember, use it once a month. When using it, remind yourself not to indulge in false dreams. In dreams, whatever power you desire or how long you wish to live, you can have it."

These are the two things that humans desire most—the problem is, humans tend to choose the things that are least beneficial to them.

After she finished speaking meaningfully, she took the stone back.

"I understand, Professor."

Sheen looked at it curiously for a few seconds. According to what the professor had said, the dream linked to this stone didn't seem to be so simple.

This reminded him of a passage from the book "Dream Stories":
"He experienced many adventures here, adventures that made him linger..." The description of that place in "Dream Stories" is the world behind the veil, while Professor Terra's understanding is the world behind the veil of death.

Is there any connection between them?

"Professor, have you read this book?"

Sheen chose to ask directly.

"A very interesting book. I'm amazed you found it. Read it carefully, my disciple. The character is based on a very famous person; you all keep talking about him..."

Professor Terra said with a smile.

"Merlin?"

Sheen asked.

"The downside of having a bright student is that I can never enjoy the joy of a teacher resolving my doubts—"

Professor Terra looked somewhat disappointed.

"Sorry, Professor."

Sheen lowered his eyes.

“Oh, child, what I mean is, we don’t always have to enjoy this kind of pleasure, but it’s what alchemists crave most.”

Professor Terra seemed even more pleased.

"But you must remember that alchemists seek the truth in practice."

This book contains too much conjecture; it exists only in dreams. It can serve as a reference, but it should never be a guiding principle.

Whether it actually describes that greatest wizard remains unknown.

"So, at least some of the content in this book is true, right, Professor?"

Sheen asked astutely.

"This is certainly something that happens in a person's dream, something unreal, child, but why does that mean it's not real?"

Professor Terra spoke slowly.

Sheen fell into deep thought, realizing that the book was not as simple as it seemed.

Like the legend of the three brothers, they may be referring to something or conveying some message.

But Sheen quickly stopped caring.

Instead of wasting time on something illusory, he should practice soul transformation a couple more times.

There has always been a small group of people in the wizarding world who firmly believe that those mysterious books—such as "The Legend of the Three Brothers"—are conveying a hidden message to them, a message that is exactly the opposite of what is written in black and white, and that only they have enough wisdom to decipher it.

For example, if a person legally possesses three Deathly Hallows, he or she will become the "master of death," a phrase that is usually interpreted as meaning that he or she is invincible or even immortal.

But the reality is quite the opposite.

Sheen slowly put down "Dream Story".

If the story described inside is true, then he will be able to do it sooner or later; if the story is false, then what's the point of him indulging in it?
He then took out the secret manuals given to him by the witch Abigail. These were treasures that Vagado would never pass on to outsiders, and their allure was far greater than that of the "Dream Guide".

Beside him,

Professor Terra was slightly lost in thought, a faint smile on her face, her eyes radiating pride.

The Dream Stories originated from Wajadu and were believed by countless African sorcerers, leading to their flourishing of astronomy, transmutation, and alchemy.

But the truth is, no one really knows whether this story is true or false, just like the legend of the three brothers.

……

Fairy Tale Square is about to close.

The wizards all went out, leaving Diagon Alley in all sorts of strange and unusual ways, some even leaving England altogether.

Sheen had learned a lot about soul transformation from the book in his hand, and he walked toward Professor Quirrell with satisfaction—he needed to deliver some potions to the professor.

At this point, Snape was almost furious:
"What are you doing?! Damn it—get over here!"

Snape knew better than anyone that people who had been Death Eaters were not to be trusted.

If they can succumb to violence, desire, and fear once, it's perfectly normal for them to lose their way a second time.

This sudden attack made Abigail, who was about to leave, turn back, and Professor Terra excitedly sat back down in her seat.

"Terra, what's going on?"

Abigail asked a question.

"Shut up and watch."

Terra said calmly.

Abigail dared not speak her anger, and could only blush with rage.
"I'll give you that guide to using the Holy Stone."

She said it fiercely.

"Oh?"

Terra was surprised by this unexpected delight; she gave Abigail a deep look.
"I always love your little gestures..."

Sheehan explained the circumstances of his hiring of Professor Quirrell without much effort, while Snape remained expressionless.

He had long suspected that so many potions were missing from the young wizard's vault; it turned out they had been fed to the rats...

You'd better—know what you're doing—

He finished speaking without any emotion, then walked up to Quirrell.

“I’ll be watching you. This time, before you do anything stupid, I’ll kill you—”

His threat made Quirrell turn pale, but this time, Quirrell was no longer as weeping and weak as he had been at Hogwarts.

"I only have one life to give to Mr. Green, and I will never waste it in a place like this..."

These words even startled Snape for a moment.

(End of this chapter)