Hogwarts Study Panel.

Chapter 553, page 551: Fairies...An Alliance? (4k)

For the first time, Sheen realized that something like friendship could be weighed on a scale.

He had a vague premonition that the fairy's contract magic was probably indeed a huge secret of the fairies, just like the wizard's wand-making skills.

Why would they pay such a huge price just to get a vague and unattainable promise?

Why?

The little wizard spoke.

His voice was as calm as a lake, yet it stirred up a storm in Verne's heart.

"You'll find out. If you want to take a fortune from our underground vault that never belonged to you—this is the reward."

The old fairy said in a deep voice.

My husband means that the two are not equivalent.

Quirrell offered a slightly haughty reminder.

He turned his head to the side, and the little wizard was nodding at him and giving him a gentle look.

As expected, the fairy simply couldn't understand her master's status in the magical world.

"Watch your words, you wand-wielding man."

The old fairy calmed its anger, its eyes darting around before turning to look at Sheen.

"This is our offer, sir. After you see the magical legacy, you'll know it's well worth the price."

"The one with the wand?"

Sheen repeated the sentence.

"The right to carry a wand,"

The old fairy said in a deep voice,

"It's something wizards and fairies have been fighting over for a long time. Although we can cast spells without a wand, that's not the real thing—wizards refuse to let other magical creatures share the secrets of wand magic, preventing us from expanding our power, and even intending to start another massacre—especially—the Dark Lord—"

"so……"

Sheen understood something.

"There is no other choice in the world, sir. As the Dark Lord grew stronger, the wizarding race became increasingly dominant over us! Gringotts was controlled by wizards, and house-elves were slaughtered..."

He spoke, trembling, his face devoid of the pride of a fairy.

"We will place our bets on you, sir. Your failure is the fairy's failure, and your success will bring the fairy equal glory."

Sheen remained silent for a moment.

"You have good taste."

Professor Quirrell muttered something under his breath.

"What do you all know?"

Sheen felt he might have underestimated the fairies' intelligence network.

They seem to exist outside the wizarding world, but the truth is probably quite the opposite.

"Oh, if Gringotts were to believe that any wizard could be an ally without seeking any personal gain..."

Verne said,

"That's you. Fairies and elves rarely receive protection and respect from wizards—from those who carry wands."

"You investigated my husband—"

Quirrell's voice suddenly rose, his tone carrying a great deal of danger.

He even took out his wand, causing the wary fairies around him to tremble.

If they weren't mistaken, why was the wand glowing green?

"Everyone in the magical world is investigating Hermes, who has returned in glory."

The old fairy was not afraid; it said softly,

"You can kill me, but that would only make this friendship more painful."

"You know me very well?"

Sheen said.

He wanted to know how the fairies organized their intelligence networks.

"It's easy for fairies to get information out of foolish house-elves; we've heard your story from more than one house-elves."

The old fairy spoke, its eyes drooping even lower.

Sheen remained silent for a few seconds.

Just platitudes... such a simple and unadorned way of gathering intelligence.

"We believe that if anyone else is qualified to be recognized by the fairies, it is you."

The old fairy spoke bluntly, staring obediently at Sheen with burning desire in her eyes.

"Hmm... well then..."

Sheen pondered for a few seconds, then exchanged a glance with Professor Quirrell.

At this moment, he noticed that the professor seemed a little anxious.

"professor?"

He asked softly.

"If you agree, sir, then I must say this: sir, you must think carefully about what you want from Gringotts, and what you promise in return?"

Quirrell lowered his voice and hesitated for a moment.

"If you are to enter into any agreement with Gringotts, especially if it is extensive, you must be extremely careful. The concepts of ownership, rewards, and compensation in the fairy realm differ from those in humans."

This was the first time Sheen had heard this claim.

"What do you mean?"

he asks.

"We are discussing another kind of creature."

Professor Quirrell spoke quickly in a very low voice.

"For centuries, the relationship between wizards and fairies has been fraught with conflict—you know this all too well. Both sides have made mistakes, and I would never say that wizards are innocent."

However, some goblins believe—and perhaps Gringotts goblins are more likely to believe:

Wizards cannot be trusted when gold and treasure are involved, and they do not respect the ownership rights of fairies.

"I see--"

Sheen knew this.

"For fairies, the rightful owner of anything is its maker, not its buyer. Everything a fairy makes rightfully belongs to them."

If it's bought—the fairies will consider it rented by the payer. What they find most unacceptable is that fairy-made items are passed down from wizard to wizard. I believe most fairies share this understanding, believing that after the original purchaser dies, the item should be returned to the fairy. They think our habit of possessing fairy-made items, passed down from wizard to wizard without payment, is no better than theft.

Professor Quirrell glanced at the goblin who stood respectfully, showing no sign of impatience.

Sheen easily understood that the wizards viewed their contracts as buyouts, while the fairies saw them as leases.

"Please be extra careful, sir!"

Quirrell sighed softly.

"This contract belongs to you, sir. I have never seen a contract like this from fairies. They exchange your friendship for something, but don't specify the duration of that friendship."

Professor Quirrell finished speaking, a strange light gleaming in his eyes.

When you are around, fairies will be your helpers, but what about afterwards?

Fairies cannot contend with wizards, at least not now, but what about later?

In her husband's eyes, those gentle eyes made no difference between any race in the world, did they?

All beings are equal, and for wizards, this is the greatest inequality.

Quirrell knew that there was only one person in the world who could control such eyes.

Destined to ascend to legend, a person who overlooks everything yet pays attention to everything.

The clever fairy... has found the simplest way to break the deadlock.

But what does it have to do with him?

Quirrell thought so.

He was just one of Mr. Green's men.

……

In the end, Sheen accepted the fairy's terms.

The old fairy was overjoyed and bowed deeply.

"Welcome, my most respected friend, welcome to Gringotts."

It said.

People were coming and going in Gringotts, but everyone stopped for a moment.

They saw that all the fairies present bowed in the same direction.

"What are you doing?"

Some people muttered curiously, standing on tiptoe, but they still couldn't see the person the fairy had invited into the VIP room.

Please come with me.

Verne smiled, his eyes crinkling, as if he had cast aside his composure and old-fashioned ways.

Sheen's eyes flickered.

Clearly, he had thought of something else.

While the search for Voldemort and Nagini was underway, another plan had already been added to Sheen's parchment.

—Destroy Hufflepuff's golden cup.

The difficulty lies in the fact that Sheen needs to overcome the guards at Gringotts and, in the deepest part of the treasure trove, the treasure trove guarded by the dragon, Lestrange's treasure trove.

Now, Sheen may be able to fully understand the fairies' defenses.

They broke into Gringotts.

This last resort echoed in Sheen's mind.

But at the same time, he wondered if the fairy would be willing to break the rules for him, allowing him to take the Horcrux...

After walking for a while, the fairy whistled, and a small cart rolled out of the darkness along the track.

They were ushered into the trolley, with Verne in the front and Sheehan and Professor Quirrell in the spacious back.

The stroller suddenly started moving, getting faster and faster, and began to twist and turn along the maze-like passageway, rushing downhill, the clattering sound of the cart making it impossible to hear anything else.

They made sharp turns among the stalactites, speeding towards the depths of the earth.

They descended to a depth that Sheen had never reached before in Gringotts, quickly made a sharp turn, and saw a waterfall cascading down the tracks ahead, before stopping as they passed.

"Thief-proof waterfall,"

Verne respectfully explained, glancing back at the curtain of water cascading onto the tracks.

"It will wash away all spells, all magical disguises—we will activate this defense mechanism if we know someone has broken into Gringotts under false pretenses."

At the same time, the cart will derail and become unable to enter or exit the track.

Sheen silently noted it down.

The cart continued moving forward, and something nearby was making a clanging sound as it walked back and forth.

"We're almost there, Mr. Hermes, we're almost there..."

The lights suddenly became much brighter.

Sheen could see a huge fire dragon tied to the ground in front of him, preventing people from approaching the four or five deepest vaults there.

Having been imprisoned underground for too long, the dragon's scales had turned pale and loose, its eyes were a cloudy pink, and both of its hind legs were shackled with heavy chains that were connected to massive stakes driven deep into the rocky ground.

Its massive, spiked wings folded to its sides, but if unfolded, they would fill the entire basement.

The dragon turned its ugly head toward them, let out a roar that made the stones tremble, opened its mouth and spewed out a burst of fire, and the cart stopped instantly.

"Its eyes are failing."

Verne said with a smile,

"But that makes it even more brutal. However, we have a way to control it. It has become a conditioned reflex to the Ding Dang film."

Verne, rocking his tinkler, led Sheen and Professor Quirrell around the corner again. The noise echoed between the stone walls, amplified many times over, so loud that Sheen silently cast a whispering spell.

The dragon let out another hoarse roar and retreated.

Sheen could see it trembling, and as he got closer, he saw terrible scars on its face, guessing that it had been trained to fear the sound of a hot sword striking it.

He slowly moved closer, placing his hand on the dragon's scales.

He heard its sorrowful gasps, its cries of hunger and pain.

Sheen gradually came to understand those roars.

[You have gained the favor of the magical dragon (Aaron) using expert standards, affinity +50]

[You have gained the favor of the magical dragon (Aaron) using expert standards, affinity +50]

[Fire Dragon Aaron: Slightly Close (100/300)]

"It's hungry."

Sheen said.

"To better guard treasure, one must remain hungry..."

Verne gave a cold smile.

"But if it's your instruction, my most respected friend..."

After speaking respectfully, it took out a magic hand mirror.

"Feed big Aaron something."

"Please follow me again..."

Verne led the way.

Fire Dragon looked at Sheen with a longing expression.

While Sheen's gaze seemed to be surveying the entire underground space, it actually lingered mostly on the doors to the vaults next door.

He pondered which of these treasure troves was Lestrange's true treasure.

Even if Sheen finds him, how will he get in?

It seems only fairies can open the door.

"Oh, I just did it, Mr. Hermes. Please accept this first gift of fairy friendship."

The fairy said this, and then gestured for Sheen to place his palm on one of the pieces of wood.

To Sheen's surprise, the vault door vanished, revealing an opening.

Okay, now you don't need to look anymore, and you don't need to worry about how to get in.

"This is?"

Sheen did not enter immediately, but looked at the old fairy with confusion.

"This is the result of our unanimous discussion. Our most respected friend, the fairy, we share the fairy's craftsmanship with you."

Verne said respectfully.

Sheen stared at it, knowing that fate never gave anything away; it only accepted barter.

The fairy must be trying to gain equal benefits by doing this.

"You can trust them."

At this moment, Quirrell, who had been silent for a long time, spoke.

His husband didn't understand, but he knew it all too well.

The fairy's acquisition of Mr. Grimm's friendship was less a gamble and more a high-stakes gamble.

In this gamble, they never intended to exchange their winnings for Mr. Green's.

"The wizard's treasure is not the wizard's treasure, and the fairy is not the guardian of the treasure..."

Verne gave a low hum and then turned his burning gaze toward Sheen.

"Oh, right, I need to inform you."

While Sheen was pondering, Verne picked up a piece of parchment, but quickly withdrew his hand as if touching a fireplace.

Sheen watched as a parchment with gold patterns slipped from his hand.

But it tore open as it fell, turning into many parchments. A second later, with a series of crackling sounds, the floor was covered with the same parchments, making it impossible to tell which one was the original.

"We've added the Fireball Charm and the Copy Charm,"

Verne said,

"Anything that someone touches will burn and be copied, but the copy is worthless—if a thief continues to touch the treasure, he will eventually be crushed to death by the gold!"

"What if we don't use our hands?"

Sheen asked.

"Oh, you're so clever."

Verne said with a smile.

Thank you for the generous donation from Top Fun Person.

Crab

(︶`)

(End of this chapter)