The Wind and the Wings of Hogwarts

Because it is truly spectacular.

Apart from the twins, everyone else envied him.

Ron, in particular, was practically envious.

Chapter 447 Conditions for Opening the Passage

The tranquility of the Burrow was broken by Professor Flitwick's arrival on a new morning.

Scott had kept the prophecy a secret from everyone, only saying that he had something to do with Professor Flitwick.

Although Fred and George were very curious, Scott had no intention of telling them about those troublesome things.

He simply said goodbye to them and the others, and expressed his special thanks to Mrs. Weasley for her care, before leaving with Professor Flitwick.

Of course, there's also Rimbaud.

After leaving the Burrow, Professor Flitwick used Apparition to take Scott and Rimbaud to a deserted hill.

“So, do you know how to get to the Druids’ territory, Scott?” Professor Flitwick asked. “Or is there someone who can show us the way?”

Scott retrieved the key that had once taken him to the Sea of ​​Oaks.

After a dizzying spin, they found themselves in the underground stone chamber that Scott had once visited.

Activating the Light Charm, Scott discovered that the stone wall he had damaged had not been repaired.

Based on his past experience, Scott did not wander around the passage connecting the stone chamber this time. Instead, he used a spell to break open the top of the passage and came to the ground with Professor Flitwick.

"Is this the Sea of ​​Oaks?"

Professor Flitwick looked around, marveling at the endless oak forest.

Scott instructed Rimbaud, "Go find Savannah, Rimbaud, and tell her that the professor and I have arrived."

"no problem."

Rimbaud nodded, then spread his wings and flew into the sky.

“Let’s wait here, Professor,” Scott said, turning to Professor Flitwick. “It’s too easy to get lost in this oak forest. Last time, I had a hard time getting to the center.”

Professor Flitwick nodded without objection.

He said with great interest, "Druids are a group of conservative people. I know they exist and have tried to contact them out of curiosity, but they are very xenophobic."

“In the end, druids and wizards aren’t that different, are they?” Scott said. “They’re both humans who manipulate magic, just in different directions.”

Professor Flitwick nodded. "Although I've only read snippets in books, their magic is indeed unique."

Scott smiled. "What interests me is their shapeshifting. Unlike the wizards' Animagus, who have fixed forms, the druids can transform into different animals."

Professor Flitwick was clearly also interested, "Unfortunately, only they themselves know how they did it."

The two stood there chatting and waiting. Half an hour later, Rimbaud flew back.

“I’ve already seen Savannah, she’ll be here soon.” It landed on Scott’s shoulder.

Scott activated his magical perception and quickly sensed two magical fluctuations rapidly approaching their location.

“Every time I sense their magic, I am amazed,” he couldn’t help but say. “Pure magic is almost integrated with nature, and in such an environment, it is even more difficult to sense than the magic of wizards.”

Similarly, he cannot rely on magical perception to discern a druid's character through the nature of magical energy.

Soon, footsteps could be heard.

Scott looked up and saw two gray wolves, one large and one small, darting quickly through the woods like fleeting shadows.

Soon, two wolves arrived in front of them.

The little wolf's body stretched out and transformed into Savannah, whom we hadn't seen in a long time.

"Long time no see, Scott! Professor Flitwick!"

The girl looked completely different from how she used to attend Hogwarts; she was now dressed in traditional Druid attire.

The simple feather or bone decorations gave her a wilder, more untamed look.

Perhaps because of running, her face was rosy, just like her hair.

Welcome to the Sea of ​​Oaks.

Just then, the giant wolf with grayish-white fur transformed into an old man with gray hair and beard.

He had eyes like an eagle, and his gaze was exceptionally sharp.

Above his eyes were two thick, grayish-white eyebrows, and on his chin, a long beard was braided into several plaits, decorated with colorful beads and strips of cloth.

“Hello, I am Savannah’s grandfather, Patrick Dougherty.”

The old druid first gave Scott a deep look, then greeted Professor Flitwick in a fairly polite manner.

"Thank you for taking care of my granddaughter at Hogwarts, Professor."

“Oh, those are all my professions, Mr. Dougherty.”

Professor Flitwick shook hands with the other party with some excitement.

"Sawana was a good student, but unfortunately she didn't graduate from Hogwarts."

“She has her own path to walk,” the old druid said somewhat stiffly. “We’ve seen enough of the magic of wizards.”

“Of course, oh, I’m just a little disappointed.” Professor Flitwick smiled somewhat awkwardly.

Scott, standing to the side, looked somewhat helpless.

He had asked Professor Flitwick to come with him hoping he would back him up, but Professor Flitwick was not a strong person at all, and was too upright. He was already at a disadvantage after only a few words.

Fortunately, Savannah's grandfather was not a cunning old man, just a bit stubborn. Before long, the atmosphere of the conversation gradually improved.

“I’m sorry, because of those things, Grandfather has been in a bad mood,” Savannah quietly told Scott.

"It's alright, we're the ones who disturbed you," Scott said with a polite smile.

“You’re still so polite,” Savannah said, seemingly a little annoyed. “But you’re not like that with Luna.”

"Perhaps I'm a little embarrassed because I've bothered you," Scott said with an awkward but polite smile.

"you……"

Before Savannah could say anything more, the old druid's sharp, eagle-like eyes immediately swept over her.

“Sawana, you should remember your responsibilities,” he said in a warning tone.

Savannah's previously lively expression immediately turned dejected.

She lowered her head and replied, "I understand, Grandfather."

Scott felt the sharp gaze on him shift away and quickly changed the subject.

"How is your brother, Aaron, doing now?"

“Oh, don’t worry, he can’t do anything right now,” Savannah said. “His unauthorized actions angered me, so after becoming a priest, I used the power of the sacred tree to trap him. He can only stay there until his spirit and consciousness return to his body.”

“Is this a good idea?” Scott glanced at the old druid who was talking to Professor Flitwick.

“This is also the punishment my grandfather wanted to give him,” Savannah said. “We all hope he can reflect on his mistakes…”

"Come here, kid."

Just then, the old druid beckoned to Scott.

"Hello, Mr. Doherty."

Scott glanced at Professor Flitwick and obediently walked over.

The old druid did not answer, but stared intently at him with his sharp eyes.

Scott felt some pressure, but he did not back down.

After a long while, the deep lines on the old druid's face softened a bit, and his eyes became more peaceful.

"I must apologize for the trouble that Aaron caused you."

Scott politely replied, "Sawana has already apologized on Aaron's behalf for that matter. Since Aaron has already been punished, let's just let it go."

In any case, now that he needs the help of these druids, it's not good for him to hold a grudge against Aaron for trying to trick him in the past.

“Your guess is correct. We do indeed possess the method to open the passage, a method beyond the power of the scabbard of the Sword in the Lake,” he told Scott. “But opening the passage is a major undertaking and a difficult decision. We haven’t reached a conclusion on it yet.”

“So, which view do you prefer?” Scott asked him.

The old man's eyes sharpened again. "Although I'm old, I don't want to run away without a fight."

It seems that this previous generation priest also prefers to take the initiative.

Scott was secretly delighted.

"That……"

The old man raised his hand to stop him from speaking. "I must tell you, kid, opening the passage is not an easy task. Although we have the method, we are still lacking some conditions."

Scott quickly said, "Please tell me in detail."

The old druid frowned, and the deep lines on his face became even more pronounced.

"Perhaps Savannah once told you this."

At this point, he gave Savannah, who was standing to the side, a stern look.

Savannah quickly lowered her head.

"Humph."

The old druid snorted coldly.

"Opening the passage requires the full power of the Tree of Souls. Unfortunately, Slytherin once stripped the bark from the Tree of Souls to record the history observed by the 'Clairvoyance,' which greatly damaged the Tree of Souls."

“But a thousand years have passed,” Scott asked, puzzled. “Has the sacred tree still not recovered after all this time?”

The old druid's expression grew even uglier.

He said angrily, "Through the efforts of generations of people, the sacred tree was almost restored, but because of that brat Aaron's unauthorized actions..."

He took a deep breath.

"In short, he ruined the crucial step in the complete restoration of the Sacred Tree. Because of that kid's presence, the Sacred Tree's power has never been fully realized."