The days at Hogwarts

Is this the magic of mermaids?

A thought suddenly flashed through Loren's mind - this is the magic of the mermaid!

Just as the magic of the salamander allows the salamander to move freely in the flames, red coral stone adds a magical animal magic to them, allowing humans to live in the water like aquatic animals.

The leading mermaid shook his tail and turned around, waving his hand for them to follow.

The four people looked at each other. After knowing that the mermaid had no ill intentions, they gradually calmed down. The wonderful feeling of breathing freely underwater aroused their strong curiosity. They were eager to know what the mermaid wanted to do...

They quickly reached a consensus and followed with shaking hands and feet.

Swimming in a hazy and strange scenery, there was silence in their ears. As the depth of diving increased, they gradually could only clearly see the scene within ten feet around them. Every time they paddled in the lake, there were brand new ones. The scenery suddenly emerged from the darkness ahead.

Occasionally, small fish swam past him lightly and nimblely, like silver darts. Once or twice, Harry seemed to see a big guy swimming in front of him, but when he looked closer, he realized that it was just a fish. A large dark wood, or a dense tangle of water plants.

There are also strange-looking, ferocious-looking grindylows and giant squids...

After climbing over an underwater canyon, Loren's eyes penetrated the gray, eerie lake water and looked at the black shadow in the distance. The lake water there was dark and hazy.

Harry glanced at the mermaid leading the way, and then quietly glanced at some of his friends, feeling a little sorry.

These mermaids must have dragged them into the water because of his status as a warrior, and the little friend was implicated by himself.

Ah, I feel a little guilty...

The silence oppressed my eardrums, and I entered the deep lake bottom. There were large tracts of black mud at the bottom, and the lake water formed dark eddies due to their stirring.

I don't know how long I swam, but I saw something new - in front of me was a patch of green water plants, each one several feet long, really like a dense lawn, scattered with shiny pebbles.

Walking through the tangled green grass, we came to a wide and flat platform.

Many rough stone dwellings suddenly appeared around. The place seemed to be a small mermaid village, with some houses dotted with algae, and some mermaid faces in the dark windows.

Mermaids appeared from all directions, looking at them curiously, pointing at their hands, feet and mouths, covering their mouths with their hands and whispering.

Behind them stands a pitch-black statue. The face of the statue has been blurred, and the surface is covered with a thick layer of mud. Shells and barnacle shells are attached to it, and there are even swaying seaweeds. However, judging from the rough shape, it is A statue of a mermaid.

There is a platform under the statue, which seems to be a village square, with a large group of mermaids floating in the center singing in unison.

The sound is ethereal and ethereal.

If Loren hadn't been watching them singing, he would have thought the songs were falling from the sky.

The mermaid wearing a red coral stone bracelet came to a few people and said in a deep and rich voice like a bass singer: "Come with me, the elder wants to see you."

"You can talk?" Ron exclaimed in surprise, "Hey, I can talk too!"

"Dumbledore would come down sometimes to chat with the elders and teach us human language." The bass-bass mermaid glanced at him with disgust and swam towards the square with its tail swaying.

"Yes, Dumbledore can speak mermaid!" Ron didn't notice his dislike at all, and said proudly, "Tsk, our principal has such a wide range of friends."

No one paid attention to him, and Loren and the others swam up to follow him, discussing at the same time.

"Elder Mermaid, could he be hundreds of years old?"

"Maybe. There is very little information about mermaids. Their living environment is too special."

"What do you think the mermaid elder is looking for for?"

Hearing Ron's question, Harry pondered for a moment, lowered his head in shame and said, "It should be because of the Goblet of Fire. I'm sorry for causing trouble for you!"

"emmm..."

No one paid any attention to him.

I walked closer to the mermaid choir, but the singing still sounded ethereal.

The eyes of Loren and others were attracted by the conductor in front of the choir, and they couldn't help but look over. With just one glance, they knew that the conductor was the elder the mermaid said——

He is too old, anyone can notice this at first glance. His dark green hair and dark green hair are withered and shriveled, and they don't look like something soaked in water at all. His skin and scales have become wrinkled and discolored with age, and the iron gray on his upper body mixes with the silver on the fish's tail, turning into a color between gray and silver.

He directed the choir attentively, and the bass mermaid was waiting quietly beside him. Loren and the others seemed to feel some kind of silent solemnity, and they were waiting quietly beside them.

As the chorus comes to an end, the old man makes an arc from both sides to the middle, grabs the air with his hands like grabbing something, and finally closes it, ending with a powerful long high note.

He waved his hand to dismiss the team, turned to look at a few people, his smiling eyes shone slightly in the water, and he opened his mouth and uttered an old but powerful voice:

"I've kept you waiting for a long time. Merkus doesn't give me much free time every day. I must cherish it."

"Merkus is our leader." The bass mermaid explained without saying much.

No one answered for a moment. Harry glanced around and felt that he should shoulder the responsibility of communication. He took the initiative to stand up and said, "Old sir, do you have anything to do with us?"

"I'm going to die soon and I want to talk to someone."

Harry never expected this answer. He was stunned for a moment, opened his mouth, and finally failed to answer.

The old man smiled, shook his slightly trembling tail and climbed up: "It's not convenient for me to drink tea here, so I will show you the scenery of the mermaid tribe. Follow me..."

Follow him as he climbs and swims to the shoulders of the mermaid statue. The soles of his feet step on the somewhat slippery mud. From a high altitude, he can see from a distance that the stone houses in the mermaid village are scattered like whirlpools on the bottom of the lake. The windows reveal the light of various gemstones.

Looking further ahead, a large rock appeared in the turbid lake water in front, with many mermaids painted on it. They were holding spears in their hands and chasing what looked like giant squids.

"Mermaids are as complex creatures as humans."

The old man was talking to himself, his voice was old and distant, and sounded as clearly as if it had been washed away by the long river of time.

"We are divided into different subspecies or races based on where we live. I remember that in the early days, we were all called sirens. Later, those mermaids who lived in warm waters had a more beautiful appearance. , so we have the title of mermaid, and mermaids living in cold water, such as Selkie in Scotland and Merrow in Ireland, are not so good-looking..."

The old man trimmed his beard and smiled at them with an indescribable smile: "When I was young, I was also a famous mermaid!"

Loren, Hermione, Harry and Ron, including the bass mermaid, did not speak, but from the looks in their eyes, none of them agreed with this point of view.

“If you don’t believe me, forget it!” The old mermaid cursed a little embarrassedly, and her voice became old and distant again. “Because we live in deep water far away from land, we can’t catch up with humans. But because of the gifts of the ocean and lakes, I thought mermaids can live freely and reproduce…”

"Singing and reciting poetry, those who don't have musical talent can collect beautiful stones and make necklaces, make jewelry and weapons, and create sculptures...

"If you really don't have any artistic talent, then you can tame little guys like Grindylow, horse-headed fish-tailed sea monsters, and Loba worms. Fishing and hunting are also good..."

Loren listened quietly, and the cold water flowed into his chest with his breathing. For some reason, even though the mermaid elder was telling a beautiful vision, he still heard some sadness in these words.

Colder and more desolate than the lake in late winter.

Chapter 481 The vacation is over

The hourly wall clock on the wall of the principal's office rang three times. As early as the second time, Barty Crouch, Director of the Department of International Affairs and Cooperation, had already finished processing the competition documents displayed on the desk.

Dumbledore wore nanmu reading glasses inlaid with silver wire and slowly read the last rule.

"Graves' female classmate... Delacour's sister... Krum's teammate..." Crouch looked at the names on the report leisurely and asked with interest, "This What is the relationship between Miss Weasley and our little Potter warrior? Are they lovers?"

The warrior's most beloved treasure mentioned in the golden egg clue is the one who reported it.

Hide them at the bottom of the Black Lake and give the warriors one hour to pass through numerous obstacles to rescue these hostages... Now Crouch can't understand that such a strange project plan can become the final choice.

However, he was happy to play a fun game with these people.

Hearing his question, Dumbledore blinked: "Well, I don't know... Miss Weasley is his partner at the Yule Ball. Originally, I was more inclined to let his good friend - Miss Weasley "Brother, another Weasley comes to hold the Warrior's treasure."

Crouch became more interesting and said thoughtfully: "Weasley... a very familiar name... Oh, I remembered it, the Department for the Prohibition of the Misuse of Muggle Items, a good colleague of mine."

He raised his eyebrows: "It sounds like our dear Potter has a good relationship with the Weasley family?"

"A warm and friendly family, no one dislikes them..."

Dumbledore dealt with it casually, dipped his quill in thick ink, and signed his signature in the row next to Igor Karkaroff, Olim Maxim, and Gilbert Fontana. The name is a long string, longer than the three above combined.

"I'm sorry to bother you because these documents have stayed with me, an old guy, for three hours." Dumbledore said apologetically, "Leave the rest to me. I will communicate with the mermaids about the precautions and make a contribution. exciting competition."

"Mermaid..."

Crouch's deep eyes flashed with a dark glimmer: "A group of mysterious guys, right? I also know a little bit of the mermaid language, but I have never used it."

Species on the fringes of magical society may be able to help him.

"The deep water has blocked our communication. The mermaids have a civilization that is not inferior to humans." Dumbledore looked at him with a smile. "I like their art works very much, operas, statues and jewelry. Everywhere exudes the harmony of the ocean. It’s fun to get along, you really should go see it.”

"Oh?" Crouch showed an interested expression, "How are their magical attainments?"

Dumbledore pondered for a moment: "Well... in deep water environments, they rely more on their strong tails and harpoons."

The appearance of Merkus, the leader of the mermaids, appeared before his eyes. He was the strongest and most violent, even though he was a woman...

"Really?" Crouch instantly lost interest and said half-heartedly, "Before the second project officially starts, Ludo and I will test it in the water and have a chance to see it."

Just a group of guys who can't move on land seems to have no effect.

……

Circles of soft light sway slowly on the water surface, casting mottled and swaying light and shadows into the deep water. As your eyes follow these light and shadows, your tense spirit will unconsciously relax.

The deep water bottom seems to have no end, and the sound of gurgling water seems to never stop, like the most intimate whisper.

"What a beautiful water world..."

The old man's voice flowed in the water: "Decades ago, human wizards had serious internal conflicts because a gifted wizard saw an incredible future...Muggles who couldn't use magic used what they called science. The thing created is a weapon with powerful destructive power beyond magic, which can destroy an entire city in an instant. "

Ron looked around blankly, not sure what he was talking about, while Loren, Hermione and Harry, who grew up in Muggle society, looked thoughtful.

Did a wizard predict that ultimate weapon a long time ago?

"I don't know how that wizard feels, but he tried to subvert the magic world in the wrong way, and was ultimately foiled by your old principal..."

"It turns out that Albus is right. Even if Muggles without magic created that kind of weapon, the Secrecy Act still maintains the peace of the human world." The old man showed a helpless smile on his face, "But no one expected that , the destructive power of that kind of weapon is not only the moment it explodes, but also leaves a poison that lasts for many years.”

"Toxins spread into the ocean, rotting the flesh and blood of fish, making their bones distorted, and ugly and deformed sarcomas appear on the originally thin webs. Even if the flesh and blood are cut out, the contaminated parts cannot be restored."

Loren stood behind the Old Man Fish and frowned slightly. He probably guessed the truth about the toxin.

"If there is only a small amount of toxins, we can survive relying on the protection of the ocean, but..." the old man said in a sad voice, "In the light and shadow in the depths of the ocean, I, an old guy, also saw a corner of the future!"

"In a few decades, there will be more and more toxins in the ocean, until they fill every part of the deep-water world..."

As the Old Man shouted, a thunderous roar suddenly sounded against Loren's eardrums, and a cool and calm magic flowed into his mind, accompanied by a magnificent illusion of light and shadow.

It was a silent ocean. The invisible ocean currents were filled with schools of fish emitting faint light. The pale and dark flesh was covered with curled and abnormal scales. The flesh around the eye sockets of the fish heads had long been rotten and was washed away by the current while swimming. Scattered, like white bones exposed in the mud, the unfettered eyes scattered everywhere, emitting a strange cold light.

Countless mutated fish swarms surrounded the dead and rotting mermaid, and finally sank into the dark and deep ditch.

The old man fish's old and sad voice sounded in Loren's ears: "Did you see it?"

Loren remained silent and did not answer.

"Can I trust you?"

Loren hesitated for a moment, and under some inspiration, he nodded inexplicably.

Then the dragging feeling of the swirling water came, and Loren felt like a ghost trapped in the toilet. After a moment of dizziness, his soles finally stepped firmly on the flat bottom, which were the shoulders of the giant mermaid stone sculpture.

The crystal blue light in Loren's eyes flashed away, and he felt a strong sense of horror, and unconsciously squeezed Hermione's hand.

Hermione looked at him with some confusion, concern appearing in her brown eyes.

"It's okay..." Loren shook his head and mouthed silently. He knew that he was the only one who saw the prophesied scene, and his eyes fell on the old man fish again.

So the old man knew the meaning of this surname and showed the prophecy to himself specifically to ask for help?

What does he want to do with himself?

Before Loren could ask questions, the old man turned his head and looked at them. All the unusual expressions had been put away, leaving only a really old face.

"Okay, it's time..."

Is that all?

The four little wizards were a little confused and didn't notice that the bass mermaid who had been accompanying them couldn't help but have red eyes.

The old man has a weak voice but clear enunciation, and his kind face is somewhat similar to Dumbledore. Even though he just talked about such a heavy topic, he still looked at them with a smile: "The first meeting was a little hasty, and I didn't have time to prepare, so I can only give you some small gifts. ”

His eyes fell on the bracelet of the middle-aged mermaid next to him. The string broke and four red coral stones floated in front of the four of them.

Several people caught the coral stones in a daze, their expressions confused.

"That's it, I won't say goodbye to you."

As the voice fell, the deep water of the dark lake suddenly surged, forming invisible vortices. It stopped its strength as it approached, as if soft and smooth silk was flowing across the shoulders of the giant mermaid stone sculpture.

"Do you feel it?"

“As long as I can feel the flow of water, I feel extremely at ease.”

The old man spread his hands and leaned back, with a peaceful face. The light and shadow in his eyes gradually dimmed, like bright gems gradually fading.

Under the gaze of everyone, the whole body turned into a burst of foam glowing with colorful light, and melted into the water into streaks of glow.

The next second, a gentle whirlpool undercurrent swept past, and the silt, moss, barnacles and other attachments that had accumulated for decades on the stone sculpture seemed to have been washed away by strong detergent and turned into dust.