Hogwarts Study Panel.

Chapter 596, Section 594: He is a Ravenclaw

"You didn't run away."

Grindelwald said.

There was a subtle appreciation in his tone, as if he were looking at a bird that hadn't flown away as expected.

"Headmaster Dumbledore invited you here."

Sheen said.

He wasn't asking a question.

In fact, while this incident was sensational, it was also somewhat expected.

The wizarding world is becoming increasingly dangerous; the second war has begun. How can we ensure the safety of Hogwarts?

Sheen could only think of two wizards.

"He asked me to come, so I came."

Grindelwald laughed nonchalantly.

This time, her smile was more casual, and the fine wrinkles at the corners of her eyes were also more pronounced.

"oh.

""

Sheen didn't know how to respond.

"Are you his favorite student?"

Grindelwald tilted his head slightly. "Do you think Dumbledore would mourn for you if I killed you here?"

Sheen shrank back a little.

He began to wonder if he could defeat the dark wizard before him.

Perhaps he was the first Dark Lord.

He eventually came to a conclusion.

He can run.

"Young wizards can never take a joke."

Seeing the young wizard's alarmed expression, Grindelwald grinned and then sat down in his chair.

A fleeting glint of light flashed in his eyes.

The young wizard in front of him quickly regained his composure. He knew that the wizard's calmness could only come from the confidence brought by the power of magic.

Just as he expected, this was an exceptionally interesting little wizard.

"Dumbledore told you I was coming?"

Grindelwald sat comfortably, asking questions casually.

"No. But you're sitting here using your real name. This castle doesn't allow Apparition, and an Anti-Apparition barrier covers all entrances. The portrait gallery has portraits of seven former headmasters patrolling on a rotating basis. If Professor Dumbledore didn't know you were here, you wouldn't even be able to get to this chair."

Sheen said calmly.

"No one can stop me from going where I want to go."

Grindelwald looked as if he had heard a joke.

"This is Hogwarts."

He heard the young wizard in front of him speak softly.

"and then?"

He laughed wildly.

Then, somewhat surprised, he saw the black-haired wizard take out his wand.

"Oh one"

He took a step forward abruptly and stared at the somewhat presumptuous young wizard.

The sound of wind swept through the examination hall.

The leaves on the edge of the forbidden forest rustled, and the surface of the Black Lake in the distance shimmered in the sunlight.

Sheen still held his wand in his hand, the tip of which was slightly upturned.

Facing this dark wizard, second only to Voldemort in the history of European magic, he did not back down or gasp as any normal third-year student would do.

He simply stood there, looking at Gellert Grindelwald with an unusually calm gaze.

"He produced a decent Gryffindor."

Grindelwald's imposing aura suddenly relaxed. He lazily shifted his gaze, and in those emerald eyes, he saw a lion about to leap out.

"You've mistaken me for someone else. I am Ravenclaw."

Sheen silently put his hands behind his back.

"Um?"

Grindelwald frowned.

"I knew it! That old thing had been used for so long, it should have broken down long ago. It was dilapidated and filthy—"

Immediately, his brows and eyes relaxed.

He seemed to be a wizard who never had any worries.

"Have a pleasant stay at Hogwarts."

After confirming that the Dark Lord before him was indeed as he had imagined, Sheehan concluded that Headmaster Dumbledore was still wise.

So Sheen prepared to leave.

At the same time, I breathed a slight sigh of relief.

With Grindelwald around, at least Hogwarts is safe.

"Are you planning to leave?"

Grindelwald said.

Sheen looked at Grindelwald with a puzzled expression, wondering what this unpredictable Dark Lord was going to do.

Does he really intend to make Headmaster Dumbledore mourn?

If you've never thought about it that way, how could you make such a joke?

"You want to————"

"In that case, oh, I can only give you a zero on the exam."

The silence between them lasted for about three breaths.

Sheen felt this was the first time he had ever thought too badly of someone.

"Excuse me, sir."

"Do you think you're being too mean to me?"

"I'm very sorry, Mr. Grindelwald."

Sheen felt a little guilty.

The other party came to Hogwarts to help them defend against the danger that was about to strike.

The young wizards here have all received favors from the other party.

"I suggest you think of me as badly as possible, but that might not be enough."

Grindelwald moved closer, his smile laced with obvious malice.

Then Grindelwald raised his hand and pulled his wand from inside his cloak.

It was a dark brown wand, slightly shorter than a standard wand, with a polished hilt.

He casually drew an arc in mid-air.

"Can we begin?"

He said that, then sat down on a chair in the middle of the lawn and took out a piece of paper.

"Third-year Defense Against the Dark Arts practical exam, the last group. The exam content includes: the Ironclad Charm, defensive reactions to unknown spells, and one optional item that may be added based on the substitute professor's on-site judgment."

Sheen walked into the center of the examination room.

The ground was compacted soil, and the morning dew had not yet dried.

The mist swirled at his calves, making him appear as if he were standing on a sea of ​​clouds.

His wand was already in his hand.

Grindelwald looked at him and said, "Ironclad Charm. I don't need to tell you what to do."

Sheen raised his wand and clearly recited the incantation.

A transparent barrier unfolded in front of him; it was the common silver-white color.

The edges of the barrier were clear and stable, without any fluctuations.

Grindelwald did not speak.

He stood up from his chair, walked over to Sheehan, and pulled out a wand. The wand didn't come out of his pocket, but slid down from his sleeve and landed directly in his palm.

The movements were as fluid as breathing.

The tip of the staff gently touched the golden barrier.

The barrier made a buzzing sound, but it didn't shatter, not even a crack appeared.

Grindelwald retrieved his wand.

"Passed."

"Next item————"

He drew his wand again, much slower than any other professor demonstrating a spell, as if deliberately breaking the entire wand-drawing process down into frame-by-frame shots so that everyone could clearly see how his fingers slid across the wand handle.

"Reaction to an Unknown Spell - Part 1"

He said that, and then casually released two spells.

Sheen reacted quickly, dodging the second spell the instant he released the Ironclad Spell.

Grindelwald scoffed. "Ironclad Charms and Evasion, against true dark magic, can only buy time, not win a duel. Your professors won't teach you those—they're not standard wizarding lessons. But I think there's one thing you need to know."

He walked up to Sheen and stopped.

"You dodged those spells, but you didn't retaliate."

"I don't know what those spells are."

Sheen pondered for a moment and said, "When faced with an unknown spell, prioritize defense or avoidance, and do not rashly retaliate."

"That's quite in line with Hogwarts' teaching style."

Grindelwald grinned. "But that's for regular students, you're not."

Sheen did not speak.

"When faced with an unknown spell, your opponent won't give you time to identify it. Your opponent is already preparing the next one while casting the spell."

If you only defend every time your opponent attacks, you'll always be on the defensive. You need to counterattack, not wait until you recognize the spell, but the instant it leaves your opponent's wand.

He paused, then said lazily, "Let's do it again. This time I won't use just one spell."

Grindelwald stood ten paces away from Sheen.

A thin morning mist swirled between them.

Then he made his move.

It was a three-shot combo—the first was a Stunning Spell, a beam of red light shooting straight out; the second was a Sandstorm, a massive wave of wind pushing forward like a wall; the third was a Silent Spell, which Sheen could see flash at the tip of the wand, but he didn’t hear any incantation.

Sheen did not back down.

An armored spell blocked the stun spell, and at the same time, he tapped his wand on the ground—the earth exploded into a wall in front of him, absorbing most of the impact of the flying sand and stones.

Faced with the third silent curse, he did not choose to defend.

His wand traced an arc in the air, and a faint light burst forth from its tip, shooting directly at Grindelwald himself.

The Swift Strike passed through the location where Grindelwald was, but Grindelwald was no longer there.

He shifted two steps to the side with an almost invisible speed, the spell grazing the edge of his cloak and striking a few rats at the edge of the examination hall.

Grindelwald stood still, ignoring the marks left on his cloak by the spell.

He watched the young wizard narrowly evade the silent spell, his expression strange: "You're really not a Gryffindor?"

"I am Ravenclaw."

Sheen said.

For the first time, Grindelwald's blue eyes held a light different from scrutiny, as if he were seeing another person in Sheen.

A person from long ago who was used to using counterattacks instead of defense.

A person who allows him to move the cage without much thought.

The silence lasted for several seconds.

Then a full smile appeared on his lips—the first genuine smile Sheen had seen during the exam.

"What's your name?"

He asked the question he already knew the answer to.

The name was written on the parchment on the wooden table, but he still asked.

"Sheen Green".

"Green".

He repeated the surname, as if putting the name into a drawer in his memory, alongside other names.

Then he said, "Say it again, what is your relationship with Dumbledore?"

"He was my principal and also my teacher."

Sheen felt something was off.

Silence, then Grindelwald narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Oh, he's your principal, and also a teacher? How strange!"

He pursed his lips and put away his wand.

"Full marks."

All the exams are over.

Even Grindelwald's bizarre exam.

But more than the sudden appearance of Grindelwald, Sheen was concerned about where Professor Snape had gone.

If Lucius is exposed, then Voldemort's choice will be much easier to consider.

-

"Did you observe closely that new substitute professor for Defense Against the Dark Arts?"

Inside the Great Hall, many young wizards were discussing the sudden appearance of the substitute professor.

"He's probably not an easy professor to get along with."

A blond-haired little wizard looked somewhat frightened.

"I wonder where Professor Snape went—"

Justin spoke to Hermione meaningfully.

"I hope he never comes back."

Ron, who was sitting not far away, answered instinctively.

He was clearly very excited.

Sheen frowned slightly, looking out the window with some concern as the rain started to fall again.

Deep in the Forbidden Forest, inside Hagrid's cabin.

It was unusual to see firewood being lit here.

The fireplace crackled, mingling with the patter of raindrops hitting the windowpane.

"Severus, how is it—"

It was a deep and full voice.

"Recently, it's only those I'm powerless to save."

A cold, slightly trembling voice said.

"Severus, how many men and women have we witnessed dying over the years?"

He spoke slowly in a deep, full voice.

The silence lasted for quite a while.

"The Ministry of Magic must change this; it's not enough. Dumbledore, even fewer deaths would be enough—"

Severus's face shifted between light and shadow in the fireplace.

Dumbledore stared intently at him, as if trying to confirm whether he was becoming more and more like the young wizard.

"You must come back after this period is over."

Dumbledore said.

"What?"

Snape seemed somewhat agitated.

"Not long ago."

Dumbledore's tone left no room for argument.

"You think I'm a coward?!"

Snape glared at him fiercely.

"No, quite the opposite, Severus."

Dumbledore said calmly, "Your task is finished. There are more important things for you to do—Severus, can I trust you?"

Snape snorted coldly and did not reply.

"He's here—"

After a long silence, he finally spoke in a low voice.

Soon, footsteps sounded at the door. He seemed to knock hesitantly, and then the door opened.

Snape also disappeared.

"Connelly, you've come."

Dumbledore said.

"Of course, Dumbledore, you invited me."

A chubby figure squeezed in.

"Those people's deaths were not an accident. Cornelius. Voldemort has regained his physical form."

Dumbledore got straight to the point.

Fudge was horrified, as if someone had hit him hard in the face.

He blinked, still dazed, staring blankly at Dumbledore, seemingly unable to fully believe what he had just heard.

He stammered, his eyes still fixed on Dumbledore.

"The Mysterious Man—is back? Nonsense. Don't be ridiculous, Dumbledore—"

Dumbledore looked at him calmly.

"Listen to me, Dumbledore,"

Fudge said, a faint smile even appearing on his face, "You—you can't really believe that rumor, can you? The Mysterious Man—is back? Don't be ridiculous, don't be ridiculous—"

Needless to say, those guys—how could that be possible?

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