Hogwarts Wasteland: The Witch from the Borderlands

The weather was getting colder and colder. Even inside the Hogwarts barrier, one could see the endless snowfields outside and the howling dark clouds in the sky.

This was the norm in the postwar world, with only a very short period of time each year when the surface temperature was bearable, and people living in burrows like rats, burning everything that could provide warmth.

If there is any difference, then at least the snowfall is more than before, and the melted snow is not as deadly. This may be a sign that the winter curse is weakening.

Hermione and her two henchmen sat on the iron fence at the edge of the lawn, swinging their legs.

Harry was copying her homework, while Ron was copying Harry's, so that everyone's grammar would have a gradual decline, and the professor wouldn't be able to see through it immediately.

"Halloween is coming soon, and I heard there will be a lavish banquet like the one at the start of the school year," Ron said casually, scratching his head with his pen.

"These days, only wizards celebrate Halloween, right? Muggles probably haven't even seen a pumpkin yet." Harry glanced at Hermione and explained to her what Halloween was.

"So, will there be ghosts on Halloween?" The latter still remembered this.

"Besides, it's been almost two months since you found Hagrid, why is he still recovering?" Hermione asked, munching on a rock biscuit.

"While having rock-skin cakes is a good thing, in the magical world, it's really strange that a half-giant's injuries haven't healed for so long."

"It's not nice to say it like this, but I still hope Hagrid can take up more of my mother's attention. She's driving me crazy." Harry ran his hands through his hair, which had been put in solitary confinement by Professor Potter again yesterday.

"Come on, I suspect that even if something happens to Dumbledore, your mother will still find time to keep a close eye on you despite her busy schedule," Ron said with a gloating laugh.

"So, will Dumbledore be attending the Halloween dinner?" Hermione suddenly asked.

"After school starts, we won't be able to hear our parents talking anymore," the two boys shrugged.

This is not Hogwarts fifty years ago, when owls could roam freely all over the world, all kinds of wizarding newspapers flourished, cunning reporters tried every means to dig up news, and students could know what was happening in the world while sitting in the castle.

Nowadays, Hogwarts is a warm, isolated island. Apart from supplies from Malfoy Castle, students rarely hear news from the outside world.

They can't even guess Dumbledore's whereabouts now.

The conversation suddenly cooled down as the three watched the castle slowly move, its rhythmic undulations and the distant mountains gradually disappearing into the horizon.

"Where are we right now?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know, maybe Eastern Europe? Hogwarts doesn't usually go to the Middle East," Harry said.

"So, we went to Chernobog to pick up the wand, and then we got lost?"

"I think so. Hogwarts students are mainly concentrated in Europe," Ron said.

Hermione didn't know where she and her parents lived, but she figured it wasn't far from the Soviet Union. She also didn't know how the Grangers had managed to travel all the way from England to this place.

"Speaking of which, in Eastern Europe, this place is quite close to the forests of Albania, isn't it?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, that's the Green Flame Party's stronghold." Harry nodded. "Why do you ask?"

"Remember the location of your enemy." Hermione narrowed her eyes; she hadn't forgotten the Death Eater who broke into the settlement and killed everyone.

"You're going to deal with Voldemort?" Ron's voice rose a little.

"Is it not allowed?" Hermione asked curiously. "His Death Eaters killed my parents."

"Uh, that's not what I meant. I meant you're still too young." Ron scratched his head.

“Ron is right, he’s second only to the Dark Lord, able to steal things right under Dumbledore’s nose,” Harry added. “Even you would have to grow up before you could possibly deal with him.”

"It won't be long," Hermione said.

She could feel the power within her called magic growing every day. In addition to practicing the magic of this world, she was also quickly getting used to the gifts given to her by the Faded Ones.

Perhaps it won't be long before she's able to truly defeat an enemy like Lucius head-on.

But those stronger than her, such as Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick, had never actually made a move, so she couldn't judge their strength. As for Dumbledore, he had never even shown his face, making it difficult for her to estimate Voldemort's power.

As for the Dark Lord who sits at the top of the world, no one can even give a clear description of him, let alone make a judgment.

"So Hogwarts is practically at our doorstep, why doesn't Voldemort come out and fight Dumbledore?" Hermione asked, puzzled.

She genuinely wanted to know where the ceiling of power in this world lay.

Harry was both amused and exasperated: "Hogwarts uses a very unique kind of magic, similar to the Secrecy Charm and the Unseen Stretching Charm."

He gestured with his hands to indicate: "Even wizards who are not allowed to see Hogwarts have a hard time. And the area where Hogwarts has been is not as big as it looks. The footprints are probably similar to those of people, so there is no need to worry about accidentally stepping on the caves of Muggle settlements."

"Fine." Hermione gave up completely. "I'm still hoping for ghosts to appear on Halloween. Hagrid must be hiding something."

Hearing this, Harry immediately woke up, tossed his homework aside, and asked excitedly, "If ghosts really exist, I mean, how do we deal with them? Can my wand hit them? Hermione, do you know any magic to deal with ghosts?"

The latter stroked his chin: "It doesn't seem to be mentioned in the textbooks, but there seem to be a few books in the restricted section that mention it."

What she didn't say was that the death magic in the borderlands was very sophisticated, and summoning ancient, vengeful spirits was a terrifying and forbidden magic. Countless spirits would swarm out from another world, relentlessly pursuing the victim until they were completely devoured.

If ghosts truly exist, I wonder if Tibia's call can command them, just like I did in Chernobog. Since one can summon the dead to speak, one can surely summon the dead to fight.

She envied the Faded Ones' summoning bells, which could summon the souls in the ashes to fight for them. Those powerful souls with different personalities were very useful in most situations. Perhaps she could create one in this world as well.

Just as I was thinking this, suddenly...

"jingle"

A crisp bell rang in my ears.

Hermione looked up sharply: "Did you hear anything?"

They were met with bewildered looks from the other two.

However, Hermione was certain that she was physically healthy and mentally stable, and there was no possibility of auditory hallucinations.

"What did you hear?" Harry asked curiously.

"Professor Potter and Professor McGonagall both suspect you have a third eye. Did something else trigger it?" Ron asked excitedly.

Hermione strained to listen, but couldn't hear anything; it was as if the clear ringing of the bell had just been an illusion.

"Never mind, I can't hear you anymore. Let's focus on the Halloween dinner..."