Hogwarts: This holy light is righteously evil

Chapter 145 Draco Malfoy

The agile and gentle steed instantly caught Qiu Zhang's eye.

She tentatively reached out her hand, and the chubby, maroon body immediately came closer obediently, letting her gently stroke its smooth, firm neck, its posture exceptionally docile.

"They're so cute!" Qiu Zhang said with a smile, her eyes full of surprise.

"They used to be the main carriages on the estate, responsible for transportation all year round."

Puni explained with a helpless smile, "It's just that after my butler became obsessed with Muggle cars, the carriage was left idle, and these two horses haven't been working properly for more than half a year, staying in the pasture to rest. Now that they see someone visiting and can keep them company, they are naturally excited."

As if it understood its master's words, Fatty gently rubbed its head against Puni's palm, its dark eyes drooping slightly, revealing a hint of lazy resentment. Fatty, on the other hand, became more proactive, constantly moving closer to Qiu Zhang's side, yearning for more caresses and attention.

Looking at the two horses that had become "unemployed and on leave" due to the introduction of new Muggle transportation to the Magic Manor, Qiu Zhang couldn't help but chuckle. The vibrant pastures, the gentle and agile horses, and the relaxed atmosphere before her shattered her preconceived notions about ancient pure-blood family manors.

There are no rigid rules or serious atmosphere here; instead, it's full of life and warmth.

"It's clear they've been restless for a while now."

Puni combed his thick, smooth mane and suggested with a smile, "Why don't we hop on horseback and ride around the grassland?"

"Really?" Qiu Zhang's eyes were full of anticipation.

As if they understood, the two horses immediately pricked up their ears, became even more spirited, and eagerly awaited the two men to mount.

"They would be more than happy to do that; it's much better than spending all day doing nothing on the grassland."

The two rode slowly ahead, allowing Qiu Zhang to gradually adapt to the rhythm of horseback riding, and strolled leisurely along the grassland.

After getting acquainted, the two then wandered to the Pokémon settlement deep within the manor, where they received a warm welcome from all the house-elves.

As evening fell, Qiu and the Zhang family bid farewell and returned home.

After the Cho Zhang family left, the once bustling Lestrange Manor returned to tranquility.

Without a moment's delay, Puni returned straight to his study and spread out a sheet of clean white paper.

He picked up his pen and wrote a letter expressing his desire to visit Nicolas Flamel and seek guidance on magical knowledge.

After finishing the letter, Puni carefully sealed it with the family wax seal, and then summoned a robust manor owl.

He sent the owl soaring into the sky, gradually disappearing into the twilight.

A few days later, Dumbledore's reply arrived at Lestrange Manor on time.

The letter was very gentle; he readily agreed to Puni's request to visit him and offered to personally accompany him to Devonshire to visit his old friend Nicolas Flamel.

The letter specified a meeting date in London and informed Puni that they would be using a more efficient and discreet magical method than Floo Powder to travel there.

It's just teleportation, why are you making such a big deal out of it?

Upon arriving at the agreed meeting day, Dumbledore appeared in a dark travel cloak, embroidered with star and moon patterns on the hem. The style was simple yet elegant, and his overall attire was relaxed and casual, shedding the solemnity he usually wore at school.

After the two met at the agreed location in London, Dumbledore raised his hand, firmly grasped the Elder Wand, and with a slight wave, a low, short magical explosion rang out.

The two figures vanished from the bustling city streets in an instant, transcending spatial barriers and arriving at a secluded coastal area in Devon in a flash.

The sudden spatial displacement made Puni unsteady, his body swaying uncontrollably, and the breakfast he had just eaten kept churning in his stomach, causing him intense discomfort.

The brief teleportation process is filled with a dizzying sensation of intersecting colors, coupled with all-around weightlessness and pulling, as if the whole person is being forcibly dragged and squeezed into a narrow space, resulting in a very poor experience.

A fresh, salty sea breeze blew in my face, accompanied by the cries of seagulls rising and falling on the sea. The cool breeze gently soothed the dizziness and restlessness in my body.

The two strolled slowly along the seaside path.

This path is constantly eroded by sea winds, resulting in a rough surface, and is covered with wild vegetation adapted to the high-salt environment on both sides.

The sea breeze carries a faint salty smell, refreshing and lingering, while the rhythmic sound of waves crashing on the shore echoes in your ears—monotonous yet soothing.

Following the path to the bottom of the cliff, a low stone hut is hidden among the rocks. Its exterior walls have been eroded by the sea winds over the years, bearing the marks of time. Its color blends perfectly with the surrounding rocks, almost becoming one with the coastal environment.

Without Dumbledore's guidance, the clueless Penny would never have discovered this hidden dwelling.

The cottage has a simple and unpretentious overall design, with understated white stone walls and a low roof covered with a large area of ​​hardy herbaceous plants. Its appearance is no different from that of ordinary seaside houses in Cornwall.

It's hard to imagine that a top alchemist renowned throughout the magical world would choose to live a secluded life in such a simple and unknown place.

"This place is secluded and quiet, far from the hustle and bustle of the outside world. It's the perfect place to rest and recuperate in peace and spend one's old age," Dumbledore explained softly with a slight smile.

He didn't knock, but simply raised his wand and tapped it a few times on a seemingly ordinary rock beside him, while whispering the unlocking password in deep, pure Latin.

"Returning to simplicity and authenticity."

The heavy wooden door of the cabin, made of driftwood and metal, slid open smoothly to one side without making a sound, letting in a warm and soft glow that contrasted sharply with the desolate and empty coastal scenery outside.

The interior space is open and airy, with a comfortable and elegant layout, exuding a strong academic atmosphere and a sense of life.

The stone walls are sturdy and ancient, with a complete star map inlaid with luminous mother-of-pearl hanging on them, as well as several sets of intricate alchemical structural models made of crystal, all with complex and exquisite craftsmanship.

The huge floor-to-ceiling windows face the boundless sea, where the waves surge and roar outside, but the interior is quiet and peaceful, with only the crackling of the fireplace fire echoing in the air.

The air was filled with the crisp scent of sea salt, the stale aroma of ancient parchment, and the unique, subtle fragrance of alchemical potions.

An elderly man stood in front of the fireplace. He was very old, his face etched with the marks of time, but he was upright, full of energy, and his eyes were clear, bright, and sharp, no less than those of a young person.

He was dressed in a loose and comfortable linen robe, with a gentle smile on his face, quietly waiting for the two to arrive. He was none other than Nicolas Flamel, the foremost alchemist.

His wife, Perena, was also elderly, with a gentle and elegant demeanor. At that moment, she was carrying a pot of steaming hot tea out of the inner room, her manner composed and graceful.

"Albus, it's been a long time! I've missed you dearly!" Flamel said cheerfully, stepping forward to shake hands with Dumbledore. Then, his gaze fell on Penny beside him, his eyes filled with familiar warmth. "This must be the junior you admire. Welcome to our secluded seaside cottage."

Puni reached out to respond to the greeting, and could feel the weakness and frailty in the old man's palm, his bones withered and thin, revealing his old age and physical weakness.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the Le Maye couple invited the two to sit on the seaside terrace.

Perenaar personally prepared tea and delicate snacks to suit the seaside style. The four of them sat and chatted, and Dumbledore and Flamel naturally talked about the current situation on Hogwarts.

While chatting about school affairs, Dumbledore casually recalled something and began in a relaxed manner: "The Defense Against the Dark Arts course in the new school year may have some changes. Professor Quirrell sent a letter saying that he still lacks practical experience and plans to travel and study during the summer to make up for his shortcomings in practical skills in order to improve his teaching ability."

"It is truly rare to have the mindset of actively striving for self-improvement." Lemaître looked up at the undulating sea in the distance, lost in thought. "The fishermen of Cornwall often say that to know the full extent of the sea, one must set sail oneself. I hope Mr. Quirrell's journey will be smooth and worry-free."

The seemingly simple words concealed a profound and unspoken meaning, causing Dumbledore, who was standing nearby, to feel a slight stirring in his heart.

He knew that Lemaître possessed many alchemical artifacts with precognitive abilities and had long foreseen the hidden troubles on Quirrell's path.

At that moment, Dumbledore pondered to himself that he might need to find a replacement in advance in case the Defense Against the Dark Arts course was left unattended in the new school year.

During a brief pause in their conversation, Puni took out the Marauder's Map he carried with him and respectfully showed it to Lemaître.

He fully explained the design concept of a brand-new magical item he conceived—the "Book of Guidance"—hoping to create a magical book that can locate locations across regions in real time, freely track any target, and permanently update map information.

After listening, Lemaître became even more interested and leaned closer to observe the flowing and changing ink lines on the map and the names that were updated in real time.

The sea breeze ruffled his snow-white beard as he intently studied the magical structure of the map.

"Exquisitely crafted, a brilliant concept!" Lemaître exclaimed repeatedly. "You have combined the castle dynamic monitoring spell with the trajectory tracking technique, transforming a static map into a dynamic guide that updates in real time, just like creating a nautical chart that never expires. This approach of combining positioning and guidance is of great research value and practical significance."

Over the next few hours, Flamel revealed without reservation the underlying alchemical principles and spell logic behind this magical design.

Under the master's explanation, the obscure and complex magical knowledge became easy to understand, and many of the problems that had puzzled Puni were instantly cleared up.

During the brief exchange, Puni noticed that the two elderly people deliberately avoided him several times, taking a slow walk together along the coastline and talking in hushed tones.

The sea breeze scattered bits of the words, making it impossible to hear the complete content.

Puni knew that the two were discussing a secret matter, most likely related to the situation at Hogwarts and even the wizarding world.

He was very intelligent and did not rush to explore or spy. Instead, he calmed his mind and focused all his energy on the new knowledge he was learning.

He cherished this hard-won learning opportunity, as it was a rare chance to receive direct guidance from an alchemy master.

As the visit drew to a close, Dumbledore prepared to take Penny on their return journey.

Lemaître raised his hand and gently grasped Puni's palm, his tone gentle yet solemn: "Child, the future is never certain, and the boundaries of magic have never been fixed. All magic in the world awaits newcomers who dare to break through and explore. The guidebook you have conceived will become an excellent aid for your exploration of the long road of magic, accompanying you to go further."

On the way back, Puni's mind was filled with new alchemical knowledge and magical theories. He needed to calm down and digest these new ideas and principles one by one.

The next morning, as Penny was preparing to teach Harry the basic rules and combat techniques of the Golden Dragon Battle, a childish yet highly recognizable voice suddenly called out from downstairs, calling his name directly.

Puni leaned forward to look downstairs, and a striking strand of platinum blonde hair immediately caught his eye.

He knew without a doubt that Draco Malfoy had come again.

Puni felt a sense of helplessness in his heart.

Draco has been idle all day since the start of his vacation, finding no amusement in the dull and boring life on the manor.

For safety reasons, the Malfoys were extremely strict with their only son, keeping him confined to the manor most of the time and rarely allowing him to go out and have contact with the outside world.

Looking back, the only peer Draco could probably interact with during his childhood was Puni, with whom he had a long-standing relationship.

However, Draco's frequent visits in recent days have really given Puni a headache.

He would arrive at the same time every day, just to challenge him to a card battle.

However, in the Golden Dragon Battle a few days ago, he won easily several times in a row, which made the proud Draco unwilling to admit defeat. He came to challenge him every day, stubbornly wanting to get back at Draco.

This persistent look made Puni feel somewhat restrained, and he could no longer use various fancy tactics to overwhelm his opponent, for fear of hurting the boy's self-esteem.

Harry, who was standing nearby, also heard the shouts from downstairs and casually glanced around.

In that fleeting glance, the relaxed expression on his face suddenly changed drastically, and the ease in his eyes vanished instantly.

So far, Harry has met very few people in the wizarding world, and the only one who could evoke such strong negative emotions in him is the boy downstairs just now.

Harry's obvious emotional shift naturally did not escape Penny's notice.

He instantly realized that the root cause of Harry's sudden change in mood must be Draco's unexpected visit.

He temporarily set aside Draco downstairs, knowing that since Draco had come all this way, he certainly wouldn't leave easily anytime soon.

Puni raised his hand and waved his wand, casting a silent spell on the special dark area of ​​the wall.

The dark patterns that were originally distinct from the surrounding walls gradually faded and eventually blended into the surrounding walls, sealing off the secret passage to the upper floors.

Draco, who was downstairs preparing to climb up the magic wall, immediately let out a dissatisfied shout upon seeing this.

Puni ignored his protests and told Draco to wait downstairs.

He then turned to Harry, who looked dejected, and asked softly, "Do you know that Malfoy downstairs?"

Harry put down the cards he was playing with and nodded slightly, clearly displeased: "We're not exactly acquaintances. We just bumped into each other by chance when I was buying wizard robes. He publicly mocked and humiliated Hagrid."

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