Ancient Wizards Return to Hogwarts...

Chapter 346 Let's get to know each other again, my name is Helga Hufflepuff.

Helga ignored Cedric's thoughts and, like an elderly woman, began to ramble on, "Only children who are recognized can enter here; they are also called heirs by the founders..."

She glanced at Cedric: "Diggory, you are someone who is recognized."

Cedric felt his mouth go dry and his heart pounding so hard it felt like it would jump out of his chest. After a long pause, he finally replied, "Isn't it a bit too hasty to choose me as your successor based solely on a pinball game?"

Hufflepuff was laughing happily.

"Aren't you afraid that after careful consideration I might find it too hasty, and then erase your memory and disqualify you from being the heir?"

Cedric was taken aback, but quickly breathed a sigh of relief: "That's great. You should really think this through carefully."

He was truly relieved. When he learned that he would be the heir to Hufflepuff School, his first reaction was indeed extreme excitement. But he quickly calmed down and realized the responsibility hidden behind this seemingly tempting title.

The title of "Heir" sounds impressive, and acquiring it seems to make one the master of Hogwarts. But what is the price? You will be bound to the house, and if you cannot live up to the title, the house's reputation will be damaged!

Cedric loves his college, and he will never allow himself to become someone who tarnishes the name of Hufflepuff because of vanity.

Of course, the main reason was that Professor White's selection method seemed too hasty to Cedric—although he was the only one in the entire academy to pass the test, being good at marbles didn't seem like something to be proud of. If a more rigorous, complex, and authoritative assessment method were used, he would never shirk the responsibility that fell on his shoulders after standing out from the crowd.

Cedric has now come to realize that he has stumbled upon an "unbelievable fortune" due to sheer luck. Professor White is an ancient witch who may have lived through the era of the Four Great Witches. Judging from her attitude towards this place and her expertise in magic, Cedric believes she is very likely the chosen successor of Hufflepuff.

Then we should calm her down even more! Cedric thought of Dumbledore and wondered to himself why these legendary wizards all seemed so unreliable.

Cedric's answer surprised Hufflepuff; it was the first time she had ever been advised to think carefully after being chosen as heir—she didn't know if the other three had ever encountered this situation, but it was the first time for her.

She quickly sorted out her thoughts and realized that Cedric seemed to think she had indeed been somewhat hasty. So she began to explain.

"That's not your average pinball game! It's an alchemical artifact that showcases a student's magical talent. Don't let its appearance fool you; I bet no one in the entire magical world can make one right now!" Helga said confidently.

She wasn't exaggerating; that wooden box was truly something only she could make—it was her area of ​​expertise. Even Salazar and Rowena might not be able to make it, and it would require a tremendous amount of effort.

However, Cedric's response made her feel gratified: "It's good that the child hasn't been blinded by the glory of being an heir!"

Salazar, Reina, do you have such good successors?!

"Alright." Cedric pursed his lips. He didn't know what magical talent had to do with that wooden box, but his grades were indeed good, so Professor White's judgment should be accurate... right?

Suppressing his anxiety, Cedric followed Professor White into the underground.

After walking for about five minutes, a thick white fog appeared before them. The fog was so dense that it completely obscured the road behind it, like a ball of cotton.

"Don't be nervous, just walk straight ahead and into the fog," Helga said to Cedric before walking into the thick fog.

Cedric stood before the fog, a slight nervousness rising within him, but the allure of "Hufflepuff's Dungeons" and "The Heir" overwhelmed him. He took a deep breath and stepped into the thick fog.

As soon as he entered, he immediately realized that it was fake fog, because the fog was not damp at all. Cedric held his breath and moved forward. After a few steps, his vision suddenly brightened, and he entered an extremely open space.

Before him stretched an endless field, planted with crops, with several small ridges on the horizon that looked like houses.

"Professor White, is this Hufflepuff's dungeons?" Cedric was confused. Weren't they just underground at Hogwarts Castle? How did they suddenly end up in this place? Is it some kind of magic like a Portkey?

He looked up and found that above him was the real sky, with the sun at the very top of the dome.

"Yes." Helga snapped her fingers, and Cedric's vision blurred as the endless fields before him transformed into a quaint little village. A group of people dressed like figures from an oil painting walked past them, chatting and laughing. The two men's presence had no effect on them at all, as if they had become invisible.

Helga looked around at the scene and was filled with joy: It seems that my magic is quite reliable. This system has been running independently for thousands of years without any problems!

She clapped her hands lightly, and time seemed to stand still. Everyone stopped and stood still, like machines that had been turned off.

Cedric's eyes widened: What kind of magical time magic is this?

As if she could see right through Cedric, Helga continued, "It's not time magic. All the 'people' you see are actually puppets, just like the ones I showed in Defense Against the Dark Arts class, but most of them don't know magic."

Cedric: !!!

He had heard his father mention that the Ministry of Magic was interested in buying some dolls from Professor White, who said that the dolls could last for a hundred years without being damaged.

Now it seems she was being modest; the puppets here have been in operation for at least centuries!

Cedric's first thought was that the Ministry of Magic had made a fortune. Although the starting price of the dolls seemed extremely high, these things could run for centuries, so it was practically free.

But isn't this Hufflepuff's dungeon? Why are there so many Professor White puppets here?

At that moment, a mysterious smile appeared on Hufflepuff's face: "Cedric, let's get to know each other again. My name is Helga Hufflepuff."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

This is the first update. The next update will still be late tonight, so please read it in the morning!

(End of this chapter)