Hogwarts: Harry Returns from Azeroth

Chapter 74 73. The Unspoken Man's Arrival and the Gift to Voldemort

The affirmation from his brothers made Ron feel even more embarrassed, but also more masculine.

It wasn't a big deal in itself. No one would talk about it anymore in a week or two. Well, there was actually another reason why Ron's condition suddenly improved.

That is, after the senior students had a new divination class, they were shocked to find that Professor Trelawney also had a pair of rune horns on her head - no, professor, didn't you fight with Professor Harry???
Why do you look like you've totally given up? Hey! Wearing those horns means you've totally given up! Professor Trelawney! If you're threatened, just blink!
It was a pity that Professor Trelawney didn't even blink. On the contrary, she looked quite happy.

There was light in his eyes, hope in his life, and he was not even drunk all day long, which made Professor McGonagall quite satisfied. She hinted to Harry several times, hoping that he could teach Professor Trelawney more.

As for Harry, he did meet the Unspeakable Man from the Ministry of Magic that Dumbledore mentioned the next day.

To be precise, it should be the Quiet Man from the Department of Mysteries, because the Minister of Magic actually has no control over the Department of Mysteries, and the powers of this department are even higher than those of the Minister of Magic.

Harry also specifically looked up the responsibilities of the Department of Mysteries. They were responsible for conducting the most secret research, and only a very small number of wizards knew what was inside. People who worked in this department were called Unspeakables because they were forbidden to disclose any content, locations and other details related to their work.

It is said that the research conducted in the Department of Mysteries is the most mysterious and cutting-edge in the entire wizarding society. They study many mysteries of the world, such as love, space, thought, time, death and so on.

It was only after some searching that Harry discovered that wizards were not completely ignorant of space, but the direction of their exploration was completely different from that of Muggles.

Silent people simply mean that they are not allowed to disclose their working environment and secrets, which does not mean that these people are taciturn or silent - in fact, the silent person Harry met was quite good at communication.

As if he was afraid that Harry would be nervous or frightened, he deliberately told a few jokes, repeatedly emphasizing that the whole process would not cause any harm to Harry.

He's a nice guy, but I just can't seem to find the funny part in the wizards' jokes about Harry.

Without letting the Unspeakable do it himself, Harry placed the wand against his temple, recalling the scene of Professor Trelawney making the prophecy last night - and then a stream of silver-grey smoke flew out of Harry's temple along the direction of the wand.

Silver-gray, winding like a snake.

The smoke was not much, nor was it thick. In the blink of an eye, it was drawn into the prophecy ball in front of the magic wand... and the originally translucent crystal ball became vivid the next second. It seemed that Harry and Trelawney could still be seen from the outside, but they were not clear and were only blurry.

"That's all," the Unspoken Man happily picked up the prophecy ball. "It's a very good memory charm. If I remember correctly, you should be in the first year, Harry. Anyway, if you need to check the prophecy in the future, you can come to the Department of Mysteries. After being placed in the prophecy, only the person mentioned in the prophecy can pick it up. It's very safe and can ensure that the content of the prophecy will not be spread at will."

"If I need anything" Harry nodded.

Looking very busy, the Silent Man did not stay in Hogwarts for too long. He left quickly with the prophecy.

"So... after we left last night, Professor Trelawney made a real prophecy?" Ron turned his head in disbelief and said, "But didn't those senior students say she was a liar?"

"Well, if we calculate the time, we were still in the cafeteria listening to senior students' comments on Professor Trelawney when she made the prophecy." Neville was tangled up, "I have never seen how traditional wizards predict."

"Maybe because she can't predict stably?" Hermione thought quickly, "Like Harry said before, ordinary shamans can only make vague divinations and interpret them, and sometimes they make mistakes."

"But that's not right?" Hermione was even more confused. "The senior students said it very clearly. Every year, students who take Divination will hear Professor Trelawney predict a student's death in the first class. And if you want to get a high score in Divination, you have to make up your own death or the death of some other person or animal. It is said that the more tragic the death, the higher the score."

"If Professor Trelawney's divination is accurate, then a student will die every year at Hogwarts—even students who have already graduated can't escape it," Hermione said disdainfully, "but the fact is that many of the students she predicted to die were fine after graduation, otherwise she would have been a celebrity on the Daily Prophet."

"Are you sure it's on the Daily Prophet's list instead of Azkaban's?" Ron complained, "If it really predicts that one person will die, it will be suspected of intentional murder, right?"

"I'm just stating the facts!" Hermione rolled her eyes.

"But to be honest, Professor Trelawney's predictions are much clearer than the divinations given by the centaurs. There is nothing about the stars." Ron shrugged and said, "At least we all know who the Dark Lord she is talking about is. It's just that the meaning is a bit..."

Ron couldn't help but shudder.

After Harry's desensitization training, Ron was no longer afraid to shrink his head when he heard the name Voldemort and the things he had done, but the brief panic still existed.

"According to Professor Trelawney's prediction, will You-Know-Who be resurrected?" Ron's eyebrows were almost pinching a fly to death. "History that people deliberately forgot resurfaces... I think it's quite appropriate that no one talks about what happened eleven years ago, and when they do, they all refer to You-Know-Who or He Whose Name Must Not Be Mentioned as a substitute."

"But what does it mean that the wizarding world has its own king?" Neville asked in confusion, "The You-Know-Who came back to life and found Headmaster Dumbledore? Did they fight?"

"Watch your words, Neville, Headmaster Dumbledore is not a king," Ron retorted.

"And the three wars of unknown significance. Obviously, Professor Trelawney's divination is better than that of the centaurs, but not much better, and she can't give a more detailed interpretation," Hermione said sharply. She looked at Harry, "What about you? Harry, didn't you do any divination?"

"I haven't had time to improve my prophecy magic, so I can't predict things too far in the future," Harry said helplessly. "You all know how busy I am every day. I can only do divination later - so come on, I'm waiting for the day when you can help me."

"Oh, I will." Hermione's face suddenly turned a little red, but not obviously.

"In short, Professor Trelawney does have the gift of prophecy," Harry affirmed, "but she lacks a way to stably use this talent. Well, her state when she actually makes a prophecy is completely different from her usual state. You should be able to tell it apart at a glance. It's quite easy to identify."

"Maybe," Hermione sighed, "but this kind of divination requires a lot of talent... I'd better wait for your shaman divination courses in the club in the future - I'm planning to take a math divination course in my third year, and I don't know how it differs from traditional wizard divination."

"You can actually give it a try if you're interested," Harry suggested. "Most wizards have a very long natural lifespan, which is enough for you to try out a path that interests you and is truly suitable for you."

"Oh, that's a bit too far-fetched," Ron patted his belly and said, "Now I'd rather know what dinner is for tonight... I hope there will be fried pork chops. To be honest, the house-elf's cooking skills are really good, even better than my mother's."

"Mrs. Weasley would be very upset to hear you."

"——I mean! The food my mom cooks has a unique taste! It's something that house-elves can never make!"

"Why are you yelling at us so loudly? We are not Mrs. Weasley."

"Hahaha."

"..."

A few people went to class while chatting and laughing.

When time passes by, we always fail to notice its existence. There are only seven days in a week, and one class follows another, so that when the snowflakes suddenly fall, everyone realizes one thing - Christmas is coming.

It means gifts, it means vacation! It also means going home!

The last point is particularly important for new students - this is the first time in their lives that they have lived alone away from their parents for such a long time, and now they can finally see their parents again.

The old castle full of history, the magical magic, the magical professor, the magical Harry, they have so many things they want to share with their families, even to the point of being impatient.

"I'm so sorry that I can't spend Christmas with you," Hermione said with sparkling eyes, wearing a scarf around her neck. "I hope summer vacation will come soon." "Uh, me too," Neville said, raising his hand.

Neither of them would stay at school over Christmas, and after signing a pledge not to use magic outside of school during the holidays, they would leave school on the Hogwarts Express.

"Don't worry, it's just a short vacation. I'll wait for you to come back." Ron waved his hand and said, "Remember to send the gift."

"Oh alright."

After watching the Hogwarts Express, a train that was not moving fast at all, leaving with black smoke, Harry and Ron turned and walked towards the castle.

"Would you like to play a game of wizard chess when you get back? Or a game of crackling exploding cards, it's up to you." Ron said happily, "I just love the holidays, the warm bed, the warm fireplace, ah... I want to lie in bed all day!"

Ron had an amazing talent for board games, at least Harry couldn't beat him.

"I have to prepare a gift - but I think it should be okay to have two first." Harry changed his tone after noticing the flash of disappointment on Ron's face.

"Aha! Don't worry, Harry, I'll help you." Ron said, cheerful again, bumping Harry's shoulder.

As a famous figure at least in Hogwarts Castle, Harry had to prepare many gifts in advance. He couldn't receive gifts from others without giving anything in return.

So he had to prepare one for each of the people he was familiar with. Most gifts didn't need to be expensive, as long as they showed the thought.

What you need to prepare carefully are the gifts for your close friends and professors.

What Harry gave to Dumbledore was a box of dessert he had made himself, which used a lot of pine nuts. It was a traditional Thunder Bluff pastry that was very popular among the Tauren. Well, it could also be considered exotic.

What he prepared for Professor McGonagall was a Quidditch match model of the Irish team. There were seven little figures flying around the field on broomsticks and making silent shouts - which could also be switched to sound, and were quite noisy.

Harry thought Professor McGonagall would like it...if not, he could give her a set of cat conditioner next year.

As for the gift for Professor Snape, it was a potion recipe, a toy potion that Harry had mixed when he was analyzing the medicinal properties of herbs and animal materials in order to recreate the spiritual bond potion in this world.

The effect is to make the whole person look brand new.

——It means to be brand new in the literal sense. At first glance, the whole person looks as if he has been polished by a wool wheel, reflecting dazzling light. The whole person is shiny and bright, and is definitely the focus of the crowd.

I hope Professor Snape likes it.

The Christmas gift for Professor Flitwick is the manuscript that Harry has left on his research topic, "How to Communicate with Magic and Use Elemental Powers". There isn't even a clear idea in it, it can only be regarded as a record of several trials and errors - but Harry thinks Professor Flitwick should like it very much and will be very motivated.

The gift for Hagrid was a whole box of mead. Before the batch of mead he brewed came out of the cellar, Harry felt that he needed to replenish Hagrid's storage of mead, otherwise it might not be enough for the two of them to drink.

Another gift for Professor Sprout was a latest herbal encyclopedia, which was newly published this year and included many herbs that were discovered in recent years.

Even Quirrell and Voldemort Harry had a gift prepared, uh, the gifts for them were together... a painting by a Muggle painter, "Saturn Devouring His Son."

Created by Spanish artist Francisco Goya in 1823, it is a painting that even wizards can understand. After all, Saturn is the incarnation of Cronus in Greek mythology. He was the leader of the Titans and killed his father Uranus. Fearing that his offspring would kill him in the same way, he ate his children one after another after they were born.

Well, Harry had to admit that part of the inspiration for sending this painting came from the prophecy made by Professor Trelawney, the part about the Dark Lord.

I hope Quirrell and Voldemort like it.

Wizards like this kind of mysterious and meaningful things, preferably with a bit of antiquity and symbolism.

By the way, Harry also had to thank his Uncle Vernon who was far away. After all, after receiving the letter sent by Harry, it was Uncle Vernon who went to buy a replica of the original painting for him.

It was a pity that he didn't go back to celebrate the Christmas with them, but Harry had already sent his gifts in advance - a course of weight loss potion for Uncle Vernon and Dudley, which would allow them to have a healthy body while maintaining their daily habit of eating and drinking.

As for the gift for Aunt Petunia, it is a three-course beauty potion that can make the user beautiful... This is definitely the right gift for a woman.

Judging from Uncle Vernon's reply, they seemed to like this gift quite a lot.

I have to say that preparing gifts is really a very troublesome thing, especially when you don’t want to be perfunctory. Figuring out your friends’ preferences always makes people rack their brains.

Harry and Ron spent the first day of the holiday directly in the suitcase. It was even a cool autumn day here, neither hot nor cold, and Ron had a great time.

So much so that when Harry woke Ron up the next day, the boy hesitated for several seconds before jumping up with a scream.

"Time to go out and open your presents, Harry!!"

Wearing only pajamas, Ron rushed up the ladder with a thump, then shrank back down in less than a second, his whole body shaking like a sieve.

"Merlin's pantyhose! They're so cold!!"

It was indeed very cold. After all, it was still winter with heavy snow outside. Although the fireplace in the dormitory was burning firewood, to be honest, the temperature was just that.

When Harry finished breakfast and got out of the suitcase, he saw Ron wrapped in his fur coat, opening presents under the Christmas tree with great interest.

"You came out?" Ron looked up after hearing the sound of Harry coming out and said, "Thank you for your gift. Uh, is that the legendary Muggle model? I see the pattern is a ship. Very cool!"

"HMS Hood, a British Royal Navy battlecruiser," Harry shrugged and said, "My cousin recommended it to me. It's said to be very realistic. It's very complicated to assemble, but you'll feel a sense of accomplishment after you've assembled it. It would be great if you like it."

"Of course!" Ron said excitedly, "I really like to build something this delicate, and it's a big Muggle ship!!"

"After we put it together, we can use magic to make it move. Dad will be so jealous of me!" At this point, Ron's expression suddenly became a little uncertain. "Do you think it can carry the two of us and charge across the Black Lake after using the magnification spell?"

Harry tried for a moment to imagine the scene Ron was describing.

"...I think it might be a little weird to use the word charge on a ship. After all, a ship is not a horse." Harry said delicately, "But it should be fine. We are not afraid of falling into the water anyway."

Even without using magic, the giant octopus in the Black Lake would send the students who fell into the water back to the shore, and the most they would do would be to catch a cold.

(End of this chapter)