HR Chapter 102 Letters! Halloween Invitation! Part 1

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Peeking through the crack of the door.

Even in the brightly lit room, the golden cup in Dumbledore's hand was still striking, radiating an aura of craftsmanship that only the most skilled alchemists could appreciate.

"Hufflepuff's Cup!"

Ian recognized it almost instantly. It was Helga Hufflepuff's treasured artifact, one of the precious legacies of the Hogwarts founders. Just like Gryffindor's sword, Ravenclaw's diadem, and Slytherin's locket, Hufflepuff's Cup stood as a pinnacle of magical creation.

While it might not rival the legendary Philosopher's Stone crafted by Nicolas Flamel, the founders' artifacts carried immense historical significance and powerful enchantments.

Wizards of their stature were masters of many disciplines. Though goblins may have provided the materials, the enchantments woven into these relics bore the unmistakable mark of the founders themselves.

Unlike Slytherin's enigmatic locket, whose purpose remained elusive, Ian understood the properties of the other three founder artifacts. Gryffindor's sword possessed an inherent resistance to corruption and grew stronger with each victorious battle, absorbing magical power in the process.

Ravenclaw's diadem was said to enhance the wearer's wisdom. Yet, from Ian's brief encounter with Lady Ravenclaw's portrait and his research, he suspected it functioned similarly to a magical variant of Felix Felicis — luck and insight magnified. 

Perhaps it even provided effects akin to the elusive Wit-Sharpening Potion or the mythical Golden Apple.

Compared to these artifacts, Helga Hufflepuff's Cup was more unassuming, much like its creator. Practical and nurturing rather than combative, it granted no advantage in battle or study. Yet, it was an unparalleled companion for hospitality and travel.

The cup's enchantments could preserve food indefinitely, as though time itself stood still within its confines. Its spacious interior stored vast quantities of provisions, a testament to Helga Hufflepuff's exceptional skill with Extension Charms.

Ian had even read that the cup could transmute water into wine. His countless hours in the Hogwarts library had introduced him to various accounts of the founders' relics. Ever since his meeting with Lady Ravenclaw, his curiosity had only grown.

But even with all his research, Ian had found nothing of note regarding Slytherin's locket. Its secrets eluded him. Perhaps, once Sirius Black was freed, Ian would have an opportunity to investigate further.

After all, Salazar Slytherin's rebellious departure from Hogwarts had left a shroud of mystery. No one truly knew where he had gone, only that he vanished without a trace.

Ian had once stumbled across a peculiar legend in an old, unofficial chronicle. According to the story, an adventurer claimed to have seen a figure resembling Salazar Slytherin in Africa a century ago. The adventurer, familiar with Slytherin's likeness from portraits, insisted that the founder had been searching for something.

The account went further, stating that the two had shared a meal — a fantastic claim considering the advent of the Golden Apple extinction. Without the aid of a Philosopher's Stone, it was unthinkable that Slytherin could have survived for so long.

The adventurer's writings were peppered with embellishments, their tone resembling the exaggerated narratives of Gilderoy Lockhart. Ian couldn't help but think that, if reincarnation were real as Professor Morgan theorized, Lockhart's previous life might have been none other than this self-aggrandizing storyteller.

Such thoughts aside, Ian's primary concern remained the founders' relics.

"Three of the four founders' artifacts have already been tainted by Noseless Tom. I must protect Gryffindor's sword and ensure he never lays his filthy hands on it."

Ian remained hidden behind the door, peeking cautiously. Despite his expertise in Legilimency, Dumbledore was too engrossed to notice Ian's presence.

The headmaster's unwavering focus was locked on the golden cup, likely probing the fragment of shattered soul attached to it. In this state, Dumbledore's legendary awareness paled in comparison to that of his faithful phoenix.

"Chirp, chirp~"

Fawkes had been preening his newly grown feathers on a golden perch when Ian's forehead accidentally bumped the doorframe. With a swift flap of crimson wings, the phoenix glided towards Ian.

His forehead smarted slightly, but the greater concern was Fawkes' inquisitive gaze — as though the phoenix had seen through every last one of Ian's intentions.

The tip of Ian's nose throbbed.

Phoenix, as usual, built a nest on Ian's head— Ian was already used to it. He even touched the Phoenix on his head and happily reached his hand under the Phoenix's tail. Fawkes, though feeling a bit uncomfortable, still chose not to leave Ian's head.

"So warm! It's the warmth of a Phoenix!" Ian excitedly took out his palm-sized money bag and pulled out a Phoenix egg with red patterns and an extraordinary appearance.

He swiftly stuffed it onto his head, and the somewhat dazed Phoenix Fawkes, feeling something immediately uncomfortable under its tail, wanted to flap its wings and leave Ian's head.

"This is the nesting fee! You have to hatch the egg for me!" Ian anticipated Phoenix Fawkes' reaction and pressed Fawkes down. Phoenix Fawkes ultimately didn't continue trying to escape his grasp.

"Chirp chirp~"

It seemed to be cursing.

And it was the kind of cursing that was very harsh. Probably the interaction between Ian and Phoenix Fawkes disturbed Dumbledore, who finally looked up from the golden cup.

There was a flash of brilliance in his eyes, majestic and powerful, though it disappeared in an instant, it still made Ian, who was being watched, feel a terrifying fear. Of course, through the abilities of [Legilimency] and [Mind Perception], Ian knew that the person most afraid of Dumbledore in the room was obviously not him.

The will inside Hufflepuff's Golden Cup was trembling, and it was unclear what Dumbledore had done to the remnant soul inside the golden cup just now.

"Good evening, Ian."

Dumbledore put down the golden cup and smiled amiably at Ian, "Tonight is a lively night. I didn't expect you to choose to visit me."

He took off his glasses and started wiping them with a handkerchief.

"Good evening, Professor Dumbledore, has Professor Snape gone bad? He hasn't taught us for several days. I think you should manage this Hogwarts salary thief. My uncle is not only neglecting his duties but this afternoon he even made me miss a Defense Against the Dark Arts class."

Ian directly lodged a complaint.

He was still somewhat resentful about his afternoon regret.

"I heard from Severus that you secretly brewed a lot of Owl laxatives in the Potions classroom. I think our Potions teacher, no matter how bad, shouldn't be that bad." Dumbledore put his glasses back on, his tone full of teasing, making Ian's indignant expression freeze.

"Chirp chirp~ chirp chirp~"

Fawkes on his head called out to his master a few times, the voice full of resentment, as if thinking Dumbledore's evaluation of Ian was still too conservative.

"He's slandering me!"

Under Dumbledore's deep gaze, Ian somewhat embarrassedly averted his eyes, "Actually, I only brewed a little, at most enough for the Slytherin students' Owls to consume."

"Unfortunately, I was in a hurry to find you and couldn't see the scene of birds raining from the sky, but Senior Penelope promised to take photos for me." His tone carried a bit of regret.

"A long-planned prank, I think it's because you haven't received the compensation from those children yet?" Dumbledore bringing this up was really unexpected for Ian.

"Have you already sought compensation for me? They must not want to pay! I haven't received a single golden Galleon yet!" Ian's voice carried a sense of indignation.

Dumbledore chuckled lightly, "I sent them a letter. Perhaps they didn't take it seriously before, but after tonight, I believe you'll soon get the compensation you want."

His words made Ian slightly stunned.

The young wizard's gaze couldn't help but return to Hufflepuff's Golden Cup.

"Is it because of this?"

Ian thoughtfully walked forward to the opposite side of the desk. Hufflepuff's Golden Cup was placed on the table, the cup body meticulously crafted from pure gold, shining with a warm and soft golden light, with intricate patterns carved on the surface: entwined vines, blooming flowers, and grains symbolizing harvest and abundance.

As Ian gazed at the golden cup.

He seemed to feel the warmth flowing from the cup body, a magical power that could smooth the wrinkles of the soul, but it was mixed with many discordant negative emotions.

From the defilement and desecration of the noseless monster.

"Yes, that's right."

Dumbledore nodded.

"I visited Azkaban to inquire about Riddle's past. That woman is still loyal to Riddle, but in the end, I got the answer I wanted."

"That answer led me to find this thing... in Gringotts." Dumbledore's casual description made Ian's eyelids and face twitch a few times— he thought of tonight's breaking news, combined with Dumbledore's words now, the truth of the evening news was self-evident.

"Merlin Buddha above! So it was you who broke into Gringotts, and under the pursuit of goblins and wizards, nonchalantly took away an important item stored in someone else's vault!" This wasn't Ian praising Dumbledore, but the breaking news everyone was discussing tonight was reported exactly like this in the news.

Although Ian hadn't paid much attention to the matter, when William brought him the latest edition of the Daily Prophet, he couldn't help but glance at it.

(To Be Continued…)