The Wind and the Wings of Hogwarts

He thought about it for a long time, but his deep resentment made him think that perhaps he could try to test the waters first...

"I'll go back to my room first."

He gave a brief explanation to the people present and then went upstairs to his room.

After reactivating the severed arm bone, Scott pulled two wands from his pocket.

Scott placed Fletcher's wand on the table and raised his own wand, waving it through the air.

As the tip of the wand swept through the air, strings of numbers formed by golden light appeared.

Scott remained calm as his wand slid through the air, displaying numbers.

He didn't wave his wand again until the air in front of him was filled with numbers.

"The laws of arithmetic!"

Then, the strings of digital dots in the air dissipated into golden light, leaving behind individual numbers.

"The numbers are revealed!" Scott waved his wand once more.

The numbers in the air came to life.

As the numbers collided, tiny specks of light exploded and scattered.

A moment later, all the numbers disappeared, and a single [9] emerged from the spot of light and flew toward Scott.

Scott reached out his left hand and grabbed the number.

The number [9] exploded in his palm, and the light spots slipped through his fingers like quicksand.

“It worked.” Scott couldn’t help but smile.

This time, he used arithmetic divination to determine the number of Katie Shafik's fireplace.

Thanks to him for having sent Rimbaud to spy on the lady.

Although he didn't get any useful information that time, he did have the known information to use arithmetic divination to calculate the woman's fate.

Strictly speaking, however, the information he possessed was somewhat insufficient to determine the number of Shafik's fireplace.

Scott's successful calculation this time can only be attributed to luck.

Scott took a deep breath, walked to the desk by the window, sat down, and took out the deformed lizard skin bag from his pocket.

He quickly took the box containing the small fireplace and Floo powder out of the leather bag.

Scott opened the box of Floo Powder, scooped some powder with a spoon, and poured it into the fireplace after opening the fireplace door.

Bang.

A small green flame ignited in the fireplace.

“Number 09,” Scott began.

The green flames in the small fireplace leaped.

Not long after, a slightly serious female voice came from the fireplace.

"Hello, this is number 09."

Scott glanced at the number engraved on his small fireplace and replied, "Hello, this is number 37."

“Number 37? Ah…” Shafik exclaimed softly, her voice softening considerably. “Are you Mr. Trollope?”

Scott blinked in surprise at the other person's respectful tone.

But he wisely chose to remain calm and say, "It's me, good evening, Miss Shafik."

Shafik immediately said, "Good evening, is there anything I can help you with?"

Scott was even more surprised.

But he suppressed his surprise and said calmly, "Yes, Miss Shafik, I would like to know the number of Mr. Bogin Burke's fireplace in Knockturn Alley."

“Bokin Burke?” Shafik asked, somewhat surprised. “Please wait a moment.”

“Okay,” Scott replied casually, his fingers unconsciously tapping the surface of the wooden desk.

Shafik quickly provided the answer, "Ah! Found it! Mr. Borgin Burke's fireplace number is 52!"

“Number 52? Thank you, Miss Shafik,” Scott said quickly.

Shafik said gently, “You’re welcome. Lady Slytherin said that if Mr. Trollope contacts me, I must do everything I can to help you.”

Scott raised an eyebrow.

He asked, "So, do you know the identity of every owner of any of these serial numbers?"

"Yes, I know the true identities of all the owners of the small fireplaces, and only I know them besides Lady Slytherin."

Shafik said with great pride.

"I helped Ms. Slytherin build this system because it was convenient for her work."

“That’s a remarkable achievement, Miss Shafik…”

Scott thanked him again and closed the small door to the fireplace.

He looked up at the moonlight outside the window and stared blankly for a while.

He was quite surprised that things went so smoothly.

But clearly, he had no time to think about it at that moment.

After calming himself down, Scott opened the fireplace door again and poured in another spoonful of Floo Powder.

Bang.

The green flames reignited.

"Number 52".

The flames began to leap, and Scott took a candy from the table, unwrapped it, and put it in his mouth.

After a while, a somewhat aged male voice came from the fire, "Hello, this is number 52."

“Hello, this is number 37,” Scott said in a low voice, his mouth full of candy. “Good evening, Mr. Burke.”

Bock smiled and asked, "Good evening. Who are you? Are you one of our distinguished guests?"

Scott deliberately said with a smile, "No, I am not your guest."

"Isn't he a guest?" Bock asked casually. "It's alright, I believe we still have a connection through business dealings."

Scott chuckled again. "That's hard to say, Mr. Burke."

Bock's tone became somewhat impatient, "What do you want? Kid, if you don't have anything to say, don't interrupt my business!"

“Mr. Burke truly lives up to his reputation as a renowned businessman in Knockturn Alley,” Scott said, drawing out his words. “I heard… your business has recently expanded to Spain?”

"That's normal. Our business spans all of Europe, and we even sell valuable goods from Asia, America, and Africa." Bock wasn't fooled at all and instead began to boast about his extensive business connections.

Scott wasn't about to let that slide. He smiled and said to the small fireplace, "You know that's not what I meant."

Bock's tone changed again.

He asked in a calm voice, "So what do you mean?"

“You know perfectly well what’s going on,” Scott said.

Bock asked fiercely, "So, you've also received the news and want to compete with me?"

“No, the map is mine. At this rate, you’ll soon be right over my head,” Scott said calmly.

"Hahahaha..." Burke's loud laughter came from the flames inside the small fireplace.

After a long silence, he said in a cheerful tone, "My lord, are you begging me for mercy?"

“Don’t you understand yet? I remember that communication between owners of small fireplaces is anonymous,” Scott said calmly. “Think about it, how would I know your fireplace number?”

Burke hesitated for a moment before saying, "My fireplace number? No, that's not entirely a secret."

Scott laughed. "You're wrong. Apart from Lady Slytherin, only one person knows the identities represented by all the numbers."

Chapter 256 Stabilize for now, check the map

Bock paused, then his voice deepened, "What exactly are you trying to say?"

“Mr. Burke, you needn’t worry about this map,” Scott said in a curt tone. “It will belong to Lady Slytherin.”

"……certainly."

Bock's tone changed instantly.

He said with a hint of flattery, "That's beyond doubt. I searched for that map to present to the esteemed Lady Slytherin!"

Scott certainly wasn't naive enough to think that a few words would fool Boking.

But he was also relieved at this point, because he was certain that Borgin Burke's actions were not at Medea's behest.

The claim by Borgin Burke that "the map was found to be dedicated to Lady Slytherin" is a joke.

In that case, there is still room for maneuver in this matter.

Scott continued in a cold tone, "You know best what you're thinking, Mr. Burke. I suggest you retract your overreaching hand, or you'll feel terrible if your arm is cut off."

Listening to the heavy breathing coming from the fireplace, he continued, "Of course, if your arms are stretched too far, it will make it easier for someone to find your way to your hideout."

“I will check with Lady Slytherin about this,” Burke said, panting heavily, seemingly quite angry.

“Of course,” Scott said deliberately in a nonchalant tone. “If you have that kind of courage, I will also look at you with new respect.”

"you……"

Bock took a few more deep breaths.

But he was still a businessman after all, and even though he was furious, he could quickly become tactful again.

His tone quickly turned respectful, "Distinguished guest, it seems your purpose is not as simple as just stopping my actions."

Scott smiled slightly and continued to cultivate his image of confidence, "Mr. Burke, if you behave more amicably, I certainly won't bring up what you've been up to in front of Lady Slytherin."

In order to gain further trust from Borgin Burke, Scott began to extort money from him.

Burke immediately understood what he meant, and he said in an exaggerated tone, "Oh! Of course! Most British wizards know that Burke is the friendliest old man in Knockturn Alley, and he never hesitates to show his friendliness."