Hogwarts doesn't need a savior

"Ahahahaha… I'm late again, sorry, sorry!"

Alex stroked his fluffy dark brown hair, laughed, strode into the living room, and took out bottles of precious potions as if they were presenting treasures.

Seeing Ines staring at him intently, he quickly greeted her with a smile, "Are you Ms. Garcia? I'm Alex, Alex Taylor, please give me your guidance! I'm here to deliver the potion to you, and I wish you a smooth exploration!"

"You can call him Fatty, that's what we all call him anyway." Amanda leaned against Euphemia and deliberately dragged out her voice. "But his potion is okay, it's of some use at least."

"What did you say, you crazy woman—"

"Every time we meet, we end up arguing within three sentences. You two might as well just live together. It'll be more lively."

Lin En in the study room, either having finished his work or having a headache because of the quarrel between the two, came out holding a piece of parchment, and the room returned to peace.

Looking at the room full of friends, he smiled and said, "You should have all heard of it, so I don't need to introduce it. I hope everyone can work together to completely solve the problem left over from a few years ago, find the treasure we need, and repair the most important component of the Ravenclaw Crown."

"Of course, I've been waiting for a long time, Lynn!" Victor said with great momentum, "I couldn't help you last time, but this time is different."

As the only stargazer who participated in Lynn and Euphemia's exploration of the Kushan ruins four years ago, he had personally experienced the horror of the monster buried deep underground, and he knew best the significance of this operation.

That is a being more evil and dangerous than dark wizards.

Inès saw the lines on the parchment and asked, "Is this the last part of the magic circuit?"

“That’s right. Fei and I worked overtime for a few days and finally finished it. All that’s left is to fine-tune it when the time comes.” Lynn gestured complacently, looking full of energy.

"You mean three days of overtime?" Amanda glanced at him unhappily and raised her wand. "I don't know how Fei puts up with you! In the name of Igor, Green Soul!"

A crystal green light emerged from the tip of the staff. It was the same Igor's spiritual healing magic, but it had some novel features and was filled with a richer vitality.

Lin En touched his brow in surprise, and the slightly frowned tension disappeared.

“Are you optimizing it again?”

"Of course, you've taught me so many times, if I don't do something, you'll nag me again."

"I won't be long-winded, okay? Ask Brian and the others, I always just give you a little..."

"A small suggestion? Do you mean the "research intention" that takes up more than a dozen pieces of parchment?"

“Ahem!” Seeing that Amanda was getting more and more courageous and Lin En was unable to resist, Euphemia cleared her throat and said, “Isn’t it because you are too lazy?”

"...You've changed, Fei." Amanda said resentfully. Her petite figure made her throw herself directly into Euphemia's arms, shaking her relentlessly.

Seeing this behavior, several people couldn't help laughing, and Ines also felt less distant.

Although they are all famous and powerful wizards, they are not much different from ordinary people in private occasions, which makes her more confident about the upcoming cooperation.

Having escaped the danger, Lin En secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He waved his wand and objects of all sizes flew from all over the room and were collected into his magic bracelet.

He was better prepared to deal with the ruins monster independently than when he followed Dumbledore to pick peaches.

"Everyone, hurry up and get ready. We are leaving now. Time waits for no one." He said loudly, "Sonia, remember to check the puppet's additional magic. Victor, check the materials. Amanda, you and Alex organize the potions."

The four people who had been lazy just now immediately took action. Only Ines stood there, staring at Brian who was drinking tea.

"Ines, I'll give you this replica for safekeeping. Please observe it carefully. As for the Blood of Helbo, it's better for you to use it."

Just when she felt a little embarrassed, a beautiful sapphire and gold dagger floated in front of her. Lynn, who was maintaining the wands for everyone, said without raising his head.

"give it to me!"

It turns out that it only takes a moment to smile.

Inès agreed cheerfully, slapping her bluff in front of her chest.

Chapter 216: The Frost of the Hindu Kush

The mountains stretch as far as the eye can see, and the land is covered with rugged rocks and hills, with almost no flat land to be found.

Strong winds blew up the yellow sand, howling through the mountains where there were only rocks and little vegetation, decorating the world that had been burned and devastated by war.

This has been a battleground for military strategists throughout history, and it was also the most brutal battlefield in the Muggle world in the second half of the 20th century.

Hindu Kush Mountains, Afghanistan.

Lynn and his companions, who came all the way from the westernmost part of Europe, walked in the wind and sand and could hardly find any human habitation.

The continuous wars have brought endless trauma to this land and also given rise to barbarism and ignorance that are specifically adapted to war.

More than a decade ago, a powerful army broke into this place with arrogant ambitions, and left in disgrace after leaving behind countless casualties.

At the same time, wizards who had reached an unprecedented level of cooperation with the Muggle regime also came here.

Half of the purpose was to support the actions of the Muggle army, and the other half was to find historical relics hidden under the endless yellow sand.

It is a transportation hub connecting East Asia, West Asia and South Asia, and is also a fertile land that has nurtured many prosperous civilizations.

Lost history, precious treasures, and crises hidden in the darkness. Whether out of naive ideals or brutal greed, the northern wizards of that era embarked on a massive "expedition" - but it ended in an extremely tragic defeat.

It was on this hill at his feet that Lynn first met the Russian Auror, Dmitri Mikhailov.

At that time, he was traveling around the world, and he got to know this righteous and somewhat inhuman Auror. They even had the experience of fighting side by side - against some dark magic creatures that should not be here.

Many of Dmitri's men died in that battle.

After many years, he returned here again, and seeing the same wind, sand and desolation as before, he felt quite emotional.

At the end of the sight, there are small villages or tribes standing in the distance, scattered among the mountains, desolate and dilapidated, as if the war has not gone away.

Time has lost its meaning in this land. People living here seem to have no choice but to bear the name of "cemetery", welcoming one dark century after another in the waste of time.

"Let's go and meet our old acquaintance."

After standing alone in front of a small mound for a while, Lin En silently put down the white lily in his arms and walked towards the waiting people.

After a few people left, the wind blew the sand, and small petals flew into the air and fell on the mottled stone tablet.

A few names are vaguely visible.

-----------------

"Who are you and what are you doing here?"

On the way to the village, outside the narrow pass, several ragged young men with guns stopped a few people.

They speak the local ethnic language, Pashto.

This is a language between Sanskrit, Hindi, Arabic and Persian, which combines many roots of the four languages ​​and even retains many characteristics of ancient Iranian to this day, which is in line with the social and geographical positioning of this place as an Asian hub.

Lynn stepped forward alone, took off his hood, and answered loudly in fluent Pashto: "We are here to see a friend, Mansur, don't you remember me?"

"You are..." The leading young man narrowed his eyes, looked at him from a distance, and then relaxed his expression. "Don't be nervous, go and inform them! Just say that a distinguished guest has arrived!"

The tribal youths, who were on high alert, came out from their hiding places one after another. Mansur slid down the slope deftly, like a nimble monkey, walking on flat ground among the wind, sand, earth and rocks.

"Lynn! Lynn Eric! I didn't expect you to come to our place!"

"We are friends, of course we will come to visit you." Lynn said with a smile, and waved behind him. Euphemia also came with a few people, taking off her hood in the wind and sand.

"Euphemia, Victor, and... ? Are they wizards too?" Mansur had a good memory and recognized the two people who had been here before at a glance, but was a little confused about the others.

"They are also my wizard friends. We want to visit Nasir. Is that ok?"

"Of course, you are honored guests! Come with me, Nasir will be very happy to see you - there has been movement in that strange place recently, and everyone is a little scared. The wizard brother in the tribe can't do anything about it. He is preparing to write to you. In addition, your Pashto is becoming more and more fluent."

Mansur greeted several people with both words and gestures, and the smile on his face had never faded since the moment they met.

But only when you get closer can you see that the young man in front of you is only in his twenties, but he looks thin and weathered, with even more wrinkles on his forehead, and his skin has become extremely rough - this is caused by heavy physical labor and erosion by wind and sand.

Even though they were in a tribe with wizards, their lives were still not affluent - although they were much better than the surrounding areas.

While chatting and laughing, the group passed the pass and walked forward along the narrow mountain path under the escort of several young men with guns, until they came to a valley where green was rarely seen.

It is adjacent to a Kushan Empire mausoleum built around the fourth century AD. The unique terrain can block the wind and sand from all directions, giving birth to a piece of land that is not fertile but sufficient to support the survival of the tribe.

The tribal chief named Nasir was already waiting outside the village and warmly welcomed them into the most luxurious-looking house.

This is not anyone's residence, but a place for worshipping and receiving distinguished guests.

This tribe is not traditional Pashtuns, but a special settlement that is extremely rare even in Europe, where wizards and Muggles live together and integrate the cultural characteristics of multiple regions - just like the "Bimalan Relic Box" unearthed in Jalalabad.

According to the Afghan custom of entertaining guests, after three cups of tea, Nasir lit up the hookah, took a deep puff himself, and then passed it to Lynn. This is their traditional custom that the host and the guest smoke a bag of cigarettes together to show the friendship between the two sides.

Although Lin En didn't know how to smoke, he followed the host's lead and took a puff of the choking water pipe, which made him look worried.

"Hahaha! You still can't smoke at your age, which makes me less happy!" Nasir, who had a long beard, patted his back with a smile, and the wrinkles on his face were smoothed out. "But it's much better than a few years ago. At least your face doesn't turn red from coughing."

"I think I should live a healthier life, Nasir. At least I won't be able to enjoy your hookahs." Lin En didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and quickly steered the topic back on track. "On the way here, I heard Mansur tell me that there are unusual movements in that place again?"

Nasir stopped smiling and nodded solemnly. "It started about half a month ago. The surrounding grass and trees began to die on a large scale, and the grazing sheep began to instinctively move away from that place. This is not normal. I was just about to contact you."

"Then we've come at the right time..." Lin En fiddled with the hookah in his hand, "Does the International Confederation of Wizards know about this?"

"They disappeared long ago. They are even worse than those Russians!" Nasir was furious when talking about these people.

This land has never been truly redeemed. Only those who have experienced suffering can save themselves, or friends like Lin En who come from afar and do things that seem thankless to outsiders with extraordinary beliefs.

There are so many smart people in this world that naive stupidity sometimes seems precious.

Chapter 217 The edge is an unspeakable pain

After a Central Asian-style whole-lamb banquet, the people who were warmly entertained declined Nasir's invitation to lead the way, and, led by Lin En, left the village and headed for the ancient ruins more than ten kilometers away in the scorching midday sun - to be precise, the mausoleum of the Kushan Empire.

Walking out of this small village, they occasionally saw mountain people coming and going along the way. They were people from nearby villages.

Their biggest commonality is dark, rough skin and short, thin stature. Their faces, weathered by wind, sand and hunger, always show a hint of sadness, but more of it is numbness.

They have become accustomed to this kind of hard life that has remained the same for hundreds of years. The achievements of modern civilization seem to have no way of reaching this corner that is almost on the edge of the world. They are both forgotten people and seem to be not of the same species as others, but just numbers on the books.

Even the children playing around seemed to lack energy, as severe malnutrition was eroding their bodies and minds.

Lynn, who had seen many similar situations, was fine, but the ladies seemed to be heartbroken.

Further away, over a low hill, there is a little bit of arable land - not good farmland, but just the occasional flat areas on the mountain road where some plants can grow.

There are many crops growing densely here, and several skinny teenagers with pale faces are taking care of them.

"..."Amanda frowned, hesitating to speak.

"Just pretend you didn't see it. We can't do anything about it." Lin En looked straight ahead. "This is not something that any specific person or organization can solve."

"Muggles don't have the extraordinary individual power of wizards, but they can create greater disasters." Inès said in a deep voice. She had traveled to all continents as a bounty hunter, and this kind of human suffering was not the first time she had seen it.

"For hundreds of years, the owners of this land have changed one after another, and history has not moved forward, but has been repeating a meaningless cycle."

Lin En quickened his pace. "No one gave them the opportunity to choose how to live. They had no choice but to do whatever it took. They were not the ones who created the tragedy. They were just footnotes."

The only response he got was silence and the sound of even more hurried footsteps - the teenagers, who were numb from hunger, fatigue and heat, didn't even notice someone passing by.

There was only one person sitting at the foot of the hill, watching the little girl about ten years old swinging her legs, her big watery eyes full of curiosity.

A pure black kitten was lying on her legs, but its appearance was different from other cats. There was a hint of sharpness in its lazy eyes, but it was particularly affectionate to the girl.

"Meow?"

Seeing that the hand that was stroking it stopped, it raised its head and made a puzzled sound, with some bread crumbs on the corner of its mouth.

"I'm sorry, Xiao Hei, I was so engrossed in watching. Those adults didn't look too happy. Are you full?" The little girl smiled gently, but seemed a little helpless. "These are the only rations we have. I'm also very hungry. I'm sorry."

"Meow~!"

The little black cat stood up and patted the girl's chest gently with its paws. After acting coquettish for a while, it lay back on her legs and dozed off with its eyes closed.

Sleeping is a good way to save energy.

And in this corner of the world where no one can see and no one can speak, this method may be the most practical.

It may even be the only viable approach.

The more marginalized they are, the less they can speak, because no one pays attention to their situation and no one cares about their pain.

This is a structural problem that lies ahead for the entire world and is the source of countless disasters.

In the face of human desires, everything becomes fragile.

The dazed little girl seemed half asleep, and felt a burning pain in her stomach.

In a daze, she dreamed of a delicious meal - it was several years ago, when the elders in the village celebrated their birthday. She ate a lot of bread and was also given mutton.

Crystal clear saliva lit up at the corners of her mouth as she woke up.