Chapter 374: The Arrival
The notice in the entrance hall had a clear impact on the school – it informed all students that the Triwizard Tournament was no longer just a rumor but a reality.
On Friday evening, in the early hours of Saturday, Felix Harp awoke from his slumber and, dressed in his pajamas, pushed open the office door.
The corridor was pitch dark, barely any light to be seen. Bathed in the faint moonlight, a group of small figures huddled together, forming crooked and eerie shadows – they were the house-elves of the castle.
"Need any help?" Felix whispered, quietly approaching, barely two feet away from them.
"Ah—"
A suppressed shriek was stifled in the throat. The three stacked house-elves seemed about to tumble, and Felix quickly reached out to steady them. It was quite the amusing sight –
The house-elf on the top, respectfully greeting, held various cleaning tools in its hands: "Mr. Harp, greetings!"
"You too, Winky," Felix replied.
The house-elf in the middle covered the mouth of the one at the bottom, preventing it from making noise. It attempted to bow while Winky hastily patted its head, leaped down from the pile, and the middle house-elf followed suit. Finally, all three of them bowed together.
"I heard some commotion... What are you all doing – is it cleaning portraits?"
Felix looked at the cloths and brushes in Winky's hands and noticed a large bottle in the corner, its label shining in the darkness: "Madam Skower's All-Purpose Magical Mess Remover."
"And also the castle's armor... Mr. Harp! We're cleaning them anew, to let the guests feel the charm of Hogwarts! Mr. Harp!" Winky exclaimed.
"Yes," Felix nodded, curiously asking, "I didn't see any of you carrying lanterns. Are you working in the dark like this?"
"We're used to it, sir!" Winky, the same house-elf, answered proudly. "Our vision is very good. Just a bit of light is enough for us to see things clearly."
"Is that so?" Felix wasn't aware of this; the descriptions of house-elves never mentioned such abilities. "But using magical lamps would be more convenient. I recall the school procured a large batch..."
"Yes, indeed! There's a brand new, huge magical lamp in the kitchen, even bigger than Winky!" Winky spread her delicate hands wide to describe the size of the lamp in the kitchen. "Other companions are also very interested, and Dobby—"
The house-elf beside her lightly nudged Winky with its arm, and she fell silent.
"What's the matter? Dobby is also under my employ; is there something I don't know?" Felix inquired, as Dobby would visit him at the beginning of every month to report on the company's progress.
The house-elf in the middle spoke respectfully, "No, sir. Dobby... is well, and he even gifted the kitchen with some small palm-sized magical lamps, very convenient..."
Felix smiled and said, "I'm sure what you want to tell me isn't about that. Let's discuss it."
"Sir, Kaka isn't a talkative house-elf. His master passed away ten years ago, and without descendants, he dedicated himself to Hogwarts... Kaka had always been in service of his master's family..." the house-elf named "Kaka" bowed deeply.
Felix listened quietly, knowing there was more to come.
"Kaka takes pride in it, whether in his master's household or at Hogwarts... he's always been dutiful. But, but..." Kaka's eyes widened, "Dobby! He's spreading dangerous ideas, and some less resolute minds are starting to be influenced. This isn't a good sign – he could bring misfortune to the entire community..."ReAd latest chapters at n0v(e)lbin.co/m Only
"What has he done?" Felix asked.
Kaka lowered his head, and Winky interjected, "Dobby hasn't done much. He's just talking about his new life, how he... how he's putting himself on equal footing with wizards. He said he met certain people today... and will meet others tomorrow. The key point is, he has some companions under him... he's overseeing them..."
"Why is that a bad thing? I instructed him to do so."
"Ugh!" Ron exclaimed, "Smells like cleaning solution!"
In the afternoon, Hermione went to the library again, and Harry and Ron reluctantly brought Neville along for an adventure in the seventh floor corridor. They were accompanied by a young Felix Harp.
When Harry questioned the presence of a tavern in the dungeon, a group of proud house-elves suddenly burst in, engaging in a fierce battle against the dark wizard in the tavern. The three of them got caught in the middle and fled.
"This is a disguised black market; the code at the entrance is the proof," Felix Harp's memory entity followed behind, explaining.
They escaped to a hidden room filled with irritable golden thief bugs. These bugs swarmed them without the trio needing to catch them. Each bug was enchanted with the Fire-Making Charm, targeting their exposed skin.
Using the Ironskin Charm, the three managed to inch their way out of the room, wincing from the burns. The only comfort was that Felix Harp's memory entity had taught them the "Human-Skin Ironskin Charm"...
In the evening, all the selected students were called to the Deputy Headmistress's office. Professor McGonagall spent two hours providing them etiquette training. As Harry lay in bed, he could still hear Ron talking in his sleep –
"Damn thief bugs, stay away from me..."
The following Sunday morning, after breakfast, students roamed the castle as if in a daze, until a special bell chimed. They converged from all directions to the entrance hall next to the Great Hall –
"Form lines! According to your houses..." Professor Flitwick, in a moldy suit, shouted hoarsely. He suddenly grabbed a young wizard, saying menacingly, "You! Where's your school uniform?"
The young wizard was so frightened that he almost went hysterical, screaming and running away.
Students lined up by year, led by their respective Heads of House, and proceeded out of the castle. Excitedly, they surveyed the empty space.
"They're here!"
A sharp-eyed student called out. Students and professors squinted, and suddenly, the air burst into intense flames. Bright flames coalesced, forming a fiery flower with four petals, each imprinted with a magical creature.
"Ahem! Is there anyone on the other side?" a voice sounded from within the flames.
"Eligbert," Dumbledore, standing in the front row, said gently, "The school has temporarily lifted the prohibition. You may come over now."
"That's good... I was afraid I got the location wrong..." the voice faded away.
Students stared wide-eyed. After a while, a hand emerged, holding a box. Soon, a round, somewhat simple-looking face came into view – a young student. He wore robes of combined blue and cranberry, secured by a complex, golden knot on his chest.
Upon seeing the vast crowd of Hogwarts students and professors, he jumped in surprise, scratching his head, "Uh, hello, I'm Biles, Biles Bach."
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