Hogwarts and the Holy Grail War

"Well, the wall itself is nothing special... but it gives me the feeling that there should be something behind the wall, something similar to the key before."

"Aha, so that's it. I said it wouldn't be that simple. Let me think about it... maybe I can try the Apparition Spell, maybe I can find a clue - Nox." Professor Figo extinguished the light on his wand and waved it in an arc from left to right, "Revelio."

The outline of a big door appeared faintly on the smooth stone wall, and then disappeared in the blink of an eye.

"No... maybe you can." Professor Figo sighed, turned to Ethan and said, "Raise your wand, concentrate, and follow my movements - 'Reveal your true form'."

Ethan drew out his wand and followed Professor Figo's movements, saying, "The true form is revealed."

As Ethan cast the spell, a metal door suddenly appeared on the wall, with a symbol in the center of the door with the same pattern as the one on the box.

"Hmm... the same symbols as before. If it is those lights that only you can see that are guiding us forward, then we must be close to the secrets of this secret vault. This time it's up to you to lead the way. Try it, Ethan."

Ethan tried to touch the symbol on the door, and it emitted a dazzling light blue light. The light faded, and the door slowly opened to both sides. Inside the door was a dim hall with several metal pillars supporting it. The floor of the hall was as smooth as the stone wall of a vault, reflecting the figures of the two people.

"Go in, there's no way out anyway." Professor Figo said, stepping through the door into the hall, raising his wand to use the fluorescent charm for lighting.

Ethan followed Professor Figo into the hall, and when he looked back, the entire gate had disappeared.

"Well, there's really no way out now." Ethan complained, taking out his wand and casting a fluorescent spell, "Luminescent."

The two of them were exploring the entire hall aimlessly with their wands in hand. When they came to a pillar, Ethan suddenly saw a blue light on the ground not far ahead.

"Professor, there is something glowing up ahead. It's the same light as before...but it's on the floor." Ethan reminded.

"Let's go ahead and take a look."

Ethan brought Professor Figo to the light. The light was emitted by a vortex pattern on the floor. The pattern kept rotating, emitting light blue light and some extremely fine linear light.

Ethan squatted down and tried to touch the vortex. Once touched, the vortex surged like boiling water, expanding continuously until it encompassed the entire area where Ethan was standing.

Ethan suddenly had an idea, he stood up and extinguished the fluorescent light of the wand, waving the wand from bottom to top following the trajectory of the light. The vortex on the ground continued to converge into the tip of the wand along with the emitted light until it completely disappeared.

They were plunged into complete darkness, and even the Luminescence Charm on Professor Figo's wand went out.

"Fluorescence."

Light once again shone from the tips of their wands, and the environment around them changed again.

Many metal pillars had disappeared, and the floor beneath his feet was reduced to a circular table about ten meters in diameter. It was also clearer, and Ethan could see the reflection of a metal statue kneeling on one knee with a sword in hand under the floor.

"Where is this place?" Professor Figo looked around with his wand raised. As he waved his wand, the outline of the same statue appeared faintly above the reflection.

"Professor, please move aside." Ethan motioned Professor Figo to step back slightly. "The prototype is now visible."

Just as before when the gate was reflected, the hidden statue became visible.

"Is this the secret of this vault?" Professor Figo kept his distance and looked at the statue with a fluorescent spell in hand. The statue looked like some kind of humanoid creature wearing armor, wrapped tightly. Ethan walked up to the statue curiously and knocked on it.

"Professor, do you think this statue can move..."

Click——

The statue slowly stood up, leaning on the sword, and raised the sword to cut Ethan's crown.

"careful!"

"Protego!"

The greatsword hit an invisible barrier and bounced back. Ethan took this opportunity to distance himself from the statue and took a breath.

"Fortunately, I reacted quickly enough." Ethan secretly thanked himself.

The statue swung its sword at Ethan again. Seeing the situation was not good, Ethan quickly stepped aside and raised his wand to cast a spell at the statue.

"Expeliarmus!"

The greatsword escaped from the statue's hand and flew towards Ethan.

"Arresto Momentum! Descendo!"

Two more spells hit the sword, and the sword stopped and floated in the air, then smashed straight towards the statue below.

wow-

The statue shattered to the ground and turned into particles of light and disappeared.

"That was a close call." Ethan patted his chest, looked at Professor Figo, and asked for credit: "How's it going, Professor? My spellcasting was pretty good, wasn't it?"

"It's a beautiful spell, but I suggest you stay away from things whose safety has not been confirmed in the future." Professor Figo said with lingering fear.

As the statue fragments disappeared, a passage appeared in front of the platform, with a metal door frame at the end of the passage.

"Is this the exit?" The two walked along the road towards the door frame. When they got closer, they could see the same vortex on the floor in front of the door frame, but the vortex no longer radiated light.

Ethan walked to the whirlpool and waved his wand from bottom to top as before. As he moved, a light blue curtain of light appeared on the door frame, with faint ripples like the surface of water. Through the curtain of light, you can vaguely see a luxurious hall behind it. In the center of the hall is a platform with something suspended on it.

"Well, it looks like some kind of magical passage. Come on, this should be the end." Professor Figo called Ethan and carefully walked through the light curtain.

Chapter 7 Pensieve

The two passed through the light curtain and came to the round hall at the back.

The circular hall was surrounded by metal walls with intricate patterns, converging into a point at the dome. Several pillars half-embedded in the wall evenly divided the wall into sixteen equal parts, and between every two pillars there was a pattern of the same shape as the door frame the two had just passed through. A light source from nowhere illuminated the entire hall, and a strange silver light flickered on the stone platform in the center of the hall, and an object trembled and floated above the stone platform.

The two came to the stone platform and saw a thin stone basin on the platform. The rim of the basin was decorated with strange carvings, all of which were letters and symbols that they did not recognize. The silver light was emitted by the things in the basin. They had never seen anything like it before. It was like both liquid and gas, flowing constantly. It reflected the luster of metal like mercury, and it was like ripples on the water surface in the breeze, and it was like clouds that dispersed and spun softly. It was like light turned into liquid - and like wind condensed into solid.

Suspended on the stone platform is a narrow-mouthed bottle, decorated with equally strange metal carvings. The part not covered by metal emits a blue fluorescence.

"Is this a basin of some kind?"

"This is not a basin of water. This basin is a meditation basin. We can use it to view the memories of others. Maybe..."

Professor Figo gently stretched out his hand, and the bottle flew into his hand. He opened the bottle cap and tilted the bottle slightly, and a stream of glowing liquid flowed out of the bottle mouth and dripped into the meditation basin.

"Do as I say." Professor Figo said to Ethan, then leaned over and dipped his head into the Pensieve.

Ethan followed Professor Figo and bent down, dipping his head into the basin. When he touched the surface of the strange substance, he felt his body rush forward and fell headfirst into the basin.

But his hair did not hit the bottom of the basin. He fell in a cold substance, as if being sucked into a bottomless vortex. Suddenly, Ethan found himself standing in the center of the round hall again, and Professor Figo was standing next to him.

"Professor, where is this?"

"Shh, look carefully." Professor Figo pointed in a certain direction.

Ethan looked in the direction pointed by Professor Figo, and saw two people, one tall and one short, with their backs to them, gently waving their wands. As they waved their wands, the tips of the wands flashed a silver-white light, and metal carvings appeared on the walls around them like flowing water, and several pillars rose from the ground to the dome.

The shorter man put away his wand and said to the taller man, "This will make it foolproof, Percival."

The man called Percival turned around. He had a long gray beard and was a kind old man.

"Is the Portkey hidden, Charles?" asked Percival.

"To be honest, I think it's been hidden too much. I'm afraid of such an arrangement..." Charles looked worried.

"No one can possibly get through? Don't worry, it was originally prepared for people like me who can see traces of ancient magic."

"Percival, it's not enough to just have the ability to 'see' like you do. You have to understand that we are about to entrust those who will embark on this path with unprecedented secrets... That is knowledge that many people would want to obtain at all costs."

"That's right, Charles. I believe that if someone can complete these trials, it means that the witch or wizard has proven that they can bear this knowledge and the corresponding responsibilities."

"Everything that can be done has been done." Charles sighed and drew a cross in the air with his wand. The space in front of him tore into all directions, forming a silver-white light curtain.

"let's go."

Percival thrust the tip of the wand into his silver hair, close to his temple, and when he drew it out some of the hair seemed to be clinging to the tip - a tiny wisp of the same glowing substance that had been poured from the bottle.

Instantly, the two people in the room twisted and dissipated, and Ethan felt himself slowly rising into the air, with only a cold glare around him. Then he felt as if he had turned a slow-motion somersault, and his feet suddenly landed on the ground. The light around him was blinding, and he had returned to the round hall where only he and Professor Figo were.

"So you saw those things? Those silvery-white lights?" Professor Figo asked Ethan.

"Yes, Professor. Those are the lights." Ethan rubbed his head. The feeling of coming out of the Pensieve made him feel nauseous, like motion sickness.

"It's incredible..." Professor Figo muttered to himself.

"Is that the magic I saw?" Ethan asked, shaking his head after recovering a little.

"To be precise, it's ancient magic. You can see traces of ancient magic. Miriam has always believed that such magic does exist, but she has never been able to prove it." Professor Figo sighed, "But you, Ethan. You may be the key to helping us understand everything behind this."

"Me? But I've only been exposed to magic for less than a week." Ethan was flattered.

"There will be time. And I told you that you are very talented, so believe in yourself." Professor Figo patted Ethan on the shoulder and encouraged him.

"So, how do we get out of here next?"

"Professor, look there!" Ethan pointed to a pattern on a wall. The wall in the middle of the pattern gradually twisted and turned into the same blue light curtain as before.

"Aha, it looks like this is the exit. Let's go." The two of them hurried forward, passed through the light curtain, and came to an open-air ruin overgrown with weeds.

"Wow, where are we this time?" Ethan asked, turning his head to look at the light curtain that was gradually disappearing behind him.

"It looks like it's still within the United Kingdom, but the exact location is uncertain." Professor Figo looked at the sky, which was already glowing orange. "If we don't hurry, we'll miss the Hogwarts sorting ceremony."

"Wait a minute, Professor, I want to try something."

Ethan calmed down, recalling the feeling of Charles' last magic, and drew a cross in the air with his wand. A cross crack appeared in the space in front of them, and then the crack expanded and expanded, forming a silver-white light curtain.

"This is incredible..." Professor Figo said in amazement as he faced the light curtain. "Those who set up the meditation basin, the box, and the path leading to them are hoping for someone with abilities like yours to come."

"It should lead to Diagon Alley. It can't be too far away." Ethan scratched his head and stepped into the light curtain. "I'll go in first. You follow me, Professor."

"This kid." Professor Figo said with a smile, and followed Ethan into the light curtain.

Chapter 8 Sorting Ceremony

The Hogwarts Express with "5972" printed on the front of the train sped along the railway from Platform nine and three quarters at King's Cross Station to Hogsmeade Station near Hogwarts.

Above the old-fashioned train spewing steam, a two-wheeled carriage pulled by a Night Thestral was flying closely behind the train.

"It seems it's not too late." Professor Figo sat in the carriage, turned his head to look at the train speeding under the wheels, and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

"That's thanks to my ancient magic tunnel." Ethan, who was sitting opposite, put his hands on his hips, looking proud.

"Don't mention your tunnel to me." Professor Figo said unhappily.

The other end of the light curtain did lead to Diagon Alley, but it was the back room of Mrs. Prim Pyneel's Beauty and Potion Shop. When they came out, Mrs. Pyneel was treating a witch, and was startled by the two men who suddenly appeared in the shop. She broke a big pimple on the witch's nose with a trembling hand, and the pus spurted out and splashed on the two men's faces.

(Note: Mrs. Prim Pyneel's Beauty Potion Shop is a beauty potion shop dedicated to solving the problems of witches with spots, sores and acne.)

Mrs. Pennell also had a bad temper. After she sent the swearing customers away with a smile, she picked up a broom and drove the two out of the store without saying a word.

"Get lost! You smashed my sign. Don't let me see you two again!"

Professor Figo could only be thankful that it was late at night and there were few people in Diagon Alley. If he had been seen by too many people, his teaching career at Hogwarts would have been over.

Being shot in the face by a pus bubble was not the most infuriating thing, and being chased out of the store with a broom by Mrs. Neil and put on the blacklist was not the most frustrating thing. When he wanted to use this incident as a negative example to teach Ethan a lesson in the carriage, Ethan actually argued.

"Professor, just tell me if it's in Diagon Alley."

No oil or salt.jpg

Professor Figo held his forehead in his hand silently, his heart aching. He found that as Ethan became more and more familiar with him, some of his unreliable sides that were hidden when they first met became more and more obvious. No, it was not so much exposure as it was not pretending anymore.

There is a kind of dual beauty of "I am polite in front of strangers, but you are arrogant in front of acquaintances".

"Hey, little Ethan, can you go back to your starting settings? If not, just roll back the data." Professor Figo looked up at Ethan, his tone carrying a hint of sadness. He now missed the polite, gentle, hardworking and studious Ethan when they first met.

"Hey, professor, what are you talking about?" Ethan waved his hand shyly, "This is the bond we have built with great difficulty, how can it be destroyed so easily?"

"You...sigh..."

Professor Figo had a constipated expression on his face, as if to say "I believed your lies". He turned his head to look out the window and gave up thinking.

What a good child, why does he have a mouth?

"Hey, Professor, the train is getting farther away. Can we really catch up with it?" Ethan pointed at the Hogwarts Express which was gradually getting farther away.

"It doesn't matter. The express has to take a detour over the mountain. We can just fly over the top of the mountain."

Professor Figo forced himself to cheer up and tapped on the roof of the carriage with his fingers. The coachman sitting at the front of the carriage received the signal and swung the reins suddenly. The Thestrals took the carriage high into the sky and galloped straight towards the Scottish Highlands.

-

Night slowly fell over the Scottish Highlands, with a crescent moon and a few stars dotting the deep purple sky above Hogwarts Castle.

A carriage streaked across the night sky like a meteor, slowly descending in altitude and landing towards Hogsmeade village.

"Hey, Professor, we've passed it. Isn't Hogwarts Castle just down there?" Ethan reminded.

"There is a magical barrier around Hogwarts Castle. We can't get in with flying spells like this, and the same goes for Apparition." Professor Figo explained, "We will land in Hogsmeade first. The rest of the way is not far, so we can just walk there."

"Then why don't we land at the train station? Isn't it closer? Look, the trains are stopped."

"Do you think there's room for us to park?"

At this time, the Hogwarts Express had stopped at Hogsmeade Station. Hogwarts students poured out and filled the entire station. There were loud gongs and drums, firecrackers, fluttering robes, and a huge crowd of people.

"Just pretend I didn't say anything." Ethan shrank his head.