Hogwarts: A Chinese-Style Professor

Chapter 184 The Black Family's Invitation

Mid-August.

Li Wei stepped out of the locked room, letting out a soft breath; he seemed to be in fairly good spirits.

Everything is proceeding as planned—which is to be expected.

He has been engaged in the study of magical theory for more than 20 years, and his magical expertise is rare in the world. He can keep a basic understanding of the progress of spell development, even for rare original spells.

However, after immersing himself in this for half a month, he felt his thoughts were somewhat stagnant, so he decided to come out for some fresh air.

At the dining table, Barton, who had received advance notice, laid out various dishes and desserts one by one.

No one else bothered Li Wei.

He simply focused on eating.

After eating non-stop for an hour, Barton finally stepped forward, poured a glass of chilled lemonade, and waited respectfully.

"call--!"

Li Wei finished his drink in one gulp, let out a deep breath, and then took the hot towel that Barton handed him and wiped his face.

"Thanks, Patton."

He placed the towel aside, looked at Barton, and continued:

Has anything happened recently?

During the summer vacation, nothing should have happened in theory. With Patton keeping an eye on Sirius, Levi was at ease.

If nothing unexpected happens, he plans to return to his room to continue his 'seclusion' after resting.

"The gentleman you brought back has been getting very close to Harry lately, to the point where they're eating and sleeping together."

"It's alright, don't worry about such a small thing."

Li Wei waved his hand.

"Also, a strange house-elf approached me privately—he said he was sent by Principal Black to inform you."

Principal Black wants you to go to 12 Grimmauld Place; he has a deal he wants to make with you that you absolutely cannot refuse.

"An unfamiliar house-elf?"

"Yes, it says its name is Kreacher, and it is the most loyal servant of the Black family."

12 Kreacher Grimmauld Place?
Li Wei was somewhat puzzled.

He had absolutely no recollection of either of these things.

Although he wasn't particularly fond of that principal, since it was related to the Black family and the principal seemed sincere, he figured it wouldn't hurt to go and change his mood.

Did he leave anything behind?

"This is the detailed address."

Patton handed him a note.

Li Wei took it and sensed the tracking magic within it waiting to be activated.

"Looks like I'll have to go on a long trip."

In Grimmauld Place, northwest London, Levi's figure quietly appeared.

As he murmured number 12 Grimmauld Place to his mind, a weathered building suddenly emerged from the surrounding neat Georgian-style townhouses.

The walls were a dark black, filthy and greasy, as if centuries of London's soot, rainwater, and dust had been plastered on them.

This is number 12 Grimmauld Place, the ancestral home of the Black family, hidden by the Charm of Loyalty.

Li Wei walked up the broken stone steps, looked at the silver door knocker shaped like a coiled snake, and took out his wand to tap it.

Almost as soon as the sound fell, the scratched black lacquered door silently slid open a crack, just enough for one person to pass through.

In the shadows behind the door, a gaunt figure, wrapped in dirty rags, stared intently at Li Wei in the dim light.

His head was bald, but his two large, bat-like ears were covered with clumps of white hair. His eyes were bloodshot and grayish, and his fleshy nose was so big it looked like a pig's snout.

He didn't bow, but instead growled in a low, croaking voice:
"The evil professor has arrived; Kreacher must take him in. He must defile the purity of this ancient mansion for the sake of that good-for-nothing young master Black."

"You are Kreacher, the house-elf of the Black family?"

Li Wei ignored his curses and calmly inquired—house-elves are limited by their perspectives and understanding, and their thoughts are quite biased; he didn't need to bother with them.

Kreacher nodded without saying a word, and simply led the way.

But as they passed through the front hall, a huge portrait of an old woman with a fierce expression, wearing a black hood, suddenly cried out.

"Get out! You filthy, bloodless scum! Get out of the house of my most esteemed ancestors!"

"You scum aren't welcome here! You disgrace! You mud bastard!"

Kreacher trembled with excitement at his mistress's screams, murmuring in agreement in a voice a mixture of fear and pleasure:

"Yes, the mistress is right, drive him away. That filthy wizard has defiled us."

Li Wei listened to the frenzied voice in the portrait and watched the rambling house-elf calmly survey his surroundings.

It's clear that no one has cleaned this place in a long time—it's quite unusual for a house-elf to let its owner's house become such a mess.

No—since the mistress is so insane, perhaps this terrible environment was her doing.

Smelling the persistent dust and musty odor, Li Wei couldn't help but cast a scalp-soaking spell on himself.

Ignoring the woman's still-cursing voice, he crouched slightly closer to Kreacher and said:
“It was your old master who invited me here, do you remember?”
If you cause me any further displeasure, I'll leave immediately, and you can forget about carrying out your master's orders anymore.

Kreacher suddenly raised his head, his cloudy eyes filled with resentment.

“I know—of course Kreacher knows—evil wizard, come with Kreacher.”

He led Li Wei into a bedroom, then quietly hid behind the door.

"Levy, a true Slytherin, you've arrived!"

On the bedroom wall, the portrait of Phineas Nigellus Black spoke first.

Li Wei surveyed the filthy room, finding almost no decent place to stand, and frowned slightly.

"I heard you wanted to see me?"

"good--"

Phineas's voice carried the arrogance characteristic of the Black family.

"To make a long story short—my family's unworthy son, Sirius Black, his foolish prison break pushed the last bloodline bearing the name 'Black' into an abyss of no return."

"The Ministry of Magic will hunt him down like mad dogs—this is no small matter, they will definitely send out Dementors."

That creature won't listen to any explanations. Once they catch him, that reckless and foolish kid is finished!

"And once he dies, the noble Black family, the oldest and purest bloodline, will be completely extinguished."

Li Wei listened quietly without interrupting.

Phineas took a deep breath and continued:
“I know you, Levi—you’re not a fool like Dumbledore who talks about ideals, nor are you one of those idiots in the Ministry of Magic.”

You possess power, and the mind unique to Slytherin—I want to make a deal with you.

"What's the content?"

"My great-great-grandson—the last member of the Black family—Sirius Black. You must find him before the Ministry of Magic does!"

Protect him completely and let him live a peaceful life.

In return, I will give you the Black family's heritage—the entrance to a library and alchemy laboratory that belonged exclusively to the Black family and had been hidden for centuries.

Whether it's forbidden alchemy or the study of the essence of the soul, you can find it all there and try it all—believe me, the rewards will drive any ambitious wizard mad.

(End of this chapter)