The Black Bloodline of Hogwarts

At this point, the battle on the field was already intense.

Harry skillfully dodged the Loopball high in the air, while Slytherin's Seeker, Terrence Higgins, followed him closely.

Although Gryffindor was leading by twenty points, the atmosphere was tense to the point of near freeze when their captain and goalkeeper Oliver Wood was knocked unconscious by Slytherin's Marcus Flint with a Quake.

At this critical moment, Harry Potter's broom seemed to malfunction, flying wildly in a zigzag pattern in the air and occasionally making violent jerks.

It bounced and spun wildly, seemingly intent on throwing its rider off. Harry could only barely keep from falling by desperately hooking his broom with his hands and knees.

"This broom seems to be under control," Rozier suddenly said. "I've heard of such things before. The person controlling it should be in the area, not too far away."

As she spoke, she took out binoculars from her pocket and looked around.

At the same time, Hermione, sitting in the Gryffindor seat, did the same thing.

"Oh, Merlin! It's Headmaster Snape, he's been chanting spells nonstop!" Rosier turned to Julien in surprise, her mind blank with shock, unsure of what to do.

"Really?" To Rozier's surprise, Julien didn't seem worried about his cousin at all. He said slowly, "And what about Snape's back row?"

Rozier raised his binoculars again and looked. "My God! Professor Quirrell! He's chanting a spell too!"

"So who do you think is casting the curse?"

"It must be Quirrell, oh no, maybe..." Rozier suddenly thought of Snape's attitude towards Harry Potter and was unsure for a moment.

Julien glanced at her. Even this usually proud and aloof Slytherin girl had a hint of confusion in her eyes. "No, don't we need to do something?"

"Perhaps," he replied softly. "Don't forget, Professor McGonagall and many of the other teachers are here. They won't just stand by and watch something happen to their students."

Rozier paused, nodded, then shook his head as if remembering something. "Wait, why did you let me see what was behind Professor Snape just now? You seem to know something."

"Hmm, no need to dwell on these unimportant things," Julien shrugged. "Perhaps I have a talent for prophecy."

Just as Rozier was about to ask another question, a commotion broke out in the staff seating area across the way for some reason. Then Harry's broom immediately returned to normal.

Harry, back on his broomstick, suddenly swooped down, plummeting to the ground like a meteor. Julien knew, however, that he had spotted the Golden Snitch. The Slytherin Seeker immediately gave chase.

Just as the two were about to crash into the ground, the entire arena gasped! Higgins of Slytherin, clearly not yet skilled at such a dangerous maneuver, pulled the broom back up first.

Harry Potter only managed to pull up his broom at the very last moment with a Lansky maneuver, and although he fell to the ground from the broom, he spat out the Golden Snitch from his mouth.

"Gryffindor wins!" Lee Jordan's roar nearly lifted the stands.

The Gryffindor students jumped and celebrated wildly, while Slytherin was deathly silent. Only Marcus Flint was still babbling to the referee, Mrs. Hooch, that Potter caught the Golden Snitch with his mouth, not his hands, so it didn't count.

Rozier stood up and brushed the snow off her robes. "I have to go back," she said. "The atmosphere in the common room isn't very pleasant after Slytherin's loss."

"Be careful." Julien nodded.

She turned and took a few steps, then turned back: "By the way—if you find any clues about the ruins, you can tell me. I think... we might have the same goal." Her words were full of meaning.

Julien watched her disappear into the crowd, clutching the heavy ancient book tightly in his hand. The cold wind tousled his black hair, while in the distance, Harry was tossed high into the air by his teammates, their laughter piercing the clouds.

That evening in the library, Julien closed the notebook he had borrowed from Rozier, the cool touch of parchment still lingering on his fingertips. Outside the window, the night outside the Ravenclaw Tower was thick and inky, only the stars above the dome, like diamonds, silently overlooking this ancient castle.

An indescribable shock surged within him. So that's how it is.

The Arctic Circle in Scandinavia, the Dinara Mountains in Albania in the Balkans, and Hogwarts in the Scottish Highlands are areas in Europe known as "magical anomalies".

What holds these three nodes in balance are three "Originium Plates" containing the power of stars, discovered by the first generation of wizards.

One piece was found by Grindelwald and entrusted to the Rocher family for safekeeping; the second was found by Dumbledore and entrusted to the guardians of the Norse ice tribes; and the third… had always been hidden in the most secret heart of Hogwarts. Now Julien knows it is in the Mirror of Erised.

What shocked him even more was that the book mentioned that when the three stone tablets were combined, they would open a "star gate" leading to an unknown dimension. Its power might be enough to reshape the world, or it might tear it apart completely. The outcome was uncertain.

Another truth buried by time: the Black family also participated in the construction of Hogwarts and served as its caretakers for a long time.

The first-generation administrator was Pyxis, and interestingly, all four of Hogwarts' leaders were recorded calling him "the Guardian" on different occasions.

"The Black family really are... the Guardians?" Julien murmured to himself. His grandfather, Alphad, had never mentioned this, so he himself probably didn't know that such a shocking secret was buried in the family bloodline.

He had to get back to his dorm immediately. It was late, and if he didn't leave soon, he would definitely be caught red-handed by that elusive Filch.

To avoid the main staircase, he chose a little-known spiral path leading to the abandoned observatory in the west wing. The path was cold and damp, and the torches on the walls flickered, casting his shadow long and thin, like a lonely ghost.

Just as he was about to pass through an arcade, a sharp, piercing laugh suddenly came from ahead.

"Hehehe! Look who's up at night playing hide-and-seek!"

A semi-transparent ghost wearing a tricorn hat appeared out of thin air and hovered in front of Julien; it was Peeves, Hogwarts' infamous troublemaker. He was clutching a roll of soaking wet parchment in his hand, clearly having just stolen it from some unfortunate student's workbook.

Julien's heart tightened, and he instinctively took a step back. Damn it, why did he have to run into him? This guy is a real handful; even the professor can't control him.

Julien was thinking about what spell he could use to banish the Pippi Demon.

However, when Pippi saw him, he didn't throw ink bottles at him or rush over screaming as usual. His little eyes, which always gleamed with mischief, were now fixed on Julien, a rare look of seriousness in them.

"Black..." Peeves' voice suddenly deepened, no longer the sharp, playful laugh, but a hoarse voice with an ancient echo, "Shillem Julien Black. You have 'her' scent on you."

Julien was taken aback: "Her? Who?"

"Pyxis!" Peeves straightened up abruptly, his voice filled with awe. "The first Pyxis Black to arrive at Hogwarts! Only she can command me! And only her bloodline can awaken the sleeping key!"

Julien's heart suddenly raced. Pyxis?!

"What are you talking about?" Julien asked, trying to remain calm, but his voice was a little dry.

"Stop playing dumb, little Black!" Peeves floated closer, almost touching Julien's face. "I know who you are. You should already know what's hidden in that mirror. It's right there! But no one but you can get it out! Because your blood is the only key to unlock it!"

Peeves' voice was even lower, carrying an almost warning tone: "You are not only the key, but also the guardian. With the three pieces combined, the Stargate will open. Whether it brings fortune or misfortune depends entirely on your decision. Remember, little guy, don't let those vultures lurking in the shadows smell it, otherwise… hehehe!"

After saying that, Pipi Ghost laughed eerily, seemingly forgetting what he had just said. His figure turned into a wisp of green smoke and disappeared instantly at the end of the corridor.