From Hogwarts to Strixhaven.

Chapter 678 The Dragon's Lair in the Forbidden Forest
After lunch, Ivy led the delegation to the Forbidden Forest, a dark forest where students were forbidden to sneak in and where many different kinds of magical creatures lived.

As a new landmark in the Forbidden Forest, Ivy's White Tower is undoubtedly the best signpost for navigating the area.

The pristine white pagoda, nestled among layers of ancient trees, appears exceptionally ethereal. Years of wind and rain have not left unsightly marks on its exterior, but have instead added to its mystique. The occasional roars of dragons serve as a warning to every visitor: those who overestimate their abilities will not return alive.

Ivy is a true dragon, and has a natural deterrent effect on the fire dragon kept beneath the White Tower in the Forbidden Forest.

He hadn't initially thought that, having changed bodies, he would still be recognized by the Goblet of Fire's test questions. After all, dragons were hardly intelligent creatures; their innate magic-resistant scales and imposing bodies made them top predators in the magical world. But the moment they saw Ivy, they all abandoned their natural prejudices against each other and formed a dragon herd with Ivy.

“Incredible…” Charlie Weasley took off his dragon-skin gloves and scratched his head involuntarily. “This is the first time I’ve ever seen these dragons get along so well…”

It's not uncommon for fire-breathing dragons to form herds in protected areas. The Hehidari black dragons of Scotland have been cared for and managed by wizarding families living on the islands for generations. These individual Hehidari black dragons live closer together than other fire-breathing dragons, sometimes even sharing a territory with three or four individuals. During mating season, these Hehidari black dragons can even form large herds, flying together in a kind of courtship spectacle.

The docile Welsh green dragons share similar traits; their temperament is among the most docile of all fire dragons. Aside from their tendency to steal sheep from farmers' pens, they cause little trouble for the staff of local fire dragon reserves. Consequently, they form larger and more numerous herds.

Even the temperamental Chinese Fireball Dragon is known for its tolerance of its own kind, let alone flying with other fire dragons during the breeding season.

However, if this happened between different species of dragonfish, it would be something that dragonfish researchers would be willing to publish several papers in top journals about.

"Their nests all seem to be built in the mountains below the White Tower. Even with such close physical proximity, they still can't get along?" the little elephant Kuntoli asked with great interest, even taking out his notebook to record Charlie's words as a fire dragon researcher.

Although the dragon's lair is physically close, there is still considerable hostility between these fire dragons. If the staff at the breeding base hadn't properly satisfied the fire dragons' appetites, and if the White Tower's magic had been enough to divide the territory of the four fire dragons and block their flames, there would probably have been a fire dragon war every three to five days.

Romania's Fire Dragon Reserve is located in a mountainous region where several countries meet, with Hungary and Ukraine situated on either side. As a result, several different species of fire dragons live within the reserve, not just the most famous native longhorn dragon.

However, the Romanian longhornosaur, as a native species, is still the most numerous. They often form herds in protected areas and compete with other fire dragons for hunting grounds. Even the largest Ukrainian iron-belly dragon has to avoid them, and the vicious Hungarian wood bee also does not benefit from this competition.

“After all, they initially came to Hogwarts as part of the Triwizard Tournament. After the tournament, your teacher kept them here using magic.” Charlie couldn’t stop talking about dragons, his face beaming with excitement as he launched into a long explanation. “The magically created mountain contains winding dragon lairs, fulfilling the needs of four mother dragons to hatch their cubs and care for them. However, since the four mother dragons are all of different species, it’s impossible for them to live in harmony. This is the first time I’ve ever seen anything like it.”

The four fire dragons living beneath the White Tower are a black Hungarian wood bee, a red Chinese fireball, a silver-blue Swedish short-nosed dragon, and the smallest and most common Welsh green dragon.

Now, the four fire dragons, each a different color, lay obediently in front of Ivy, letting him stroke them, even their breathing seemed cautious. You know, these fire dragons also snore, fart, and even breathe fire when they're asleep.

Several small baby dragons followed behind their mother, craning their necks to examine the two-legged creature in front of them. However, before they could figure out what was going on, the overwhelming maternal love pressed them all to the ground.

“Taking care of these dragons must be tough, Charlie?” Ivy withdrew her hand from stroking the silver-blue scales of the Swedish short-nosed dragon, turned around and smiled, “I’m going to take them all with me.”

“Hagrid will definitely cry!” Charlie Weasley was a tall young man with all the distinctive features of the Weasley family, but the muscles on his arms and the scars on his body from the dragonfire indicated that he was not some ivory tower kid.

"Actually, the work at Hogwarts is quite easy. After all, we don't need to ride flying broomsticks and play chasing games with dragons in the mountains. We just need to record their conditions regularly." Charlie shrugged. "It seems my work at Hogwarts is coming to an end. Without dragons, I, as a dragon researcher, will have to go to other protected areas. I hope the protected areas in Wales will approve my application. My mother always nags me to find a job closer to home."

“The dragon section of the breeding base will not disappear,” Ivy assured Charlie. “After all, dragons are a very important trade commodity. Every year, many students who graduate from Hogwarts go on to work in dragon-related professions. It’s much safer to cultivate their adaptability to dragons in school than to have wild dragons in the reserve teach them. At least the Green Dragon Reserve in Wales doesn’t want our dragon section to disappear, because people who can adapt to that dangerous working environment are extremely rare.”

"So that rumor is true?" Charlie wasn't surprised by Ivy's explanation. "Various protected areas are interested in sending dragons to Hogwarts?"

"And they're all extremely dangerous ones: the Ukrainian Ironbelly, the Hungarian Wood Beetle, and the Hehidari Black Dragon." This was the news Ivy heard from Fudge during lunch. As the only magic school in all of Europe, and even the world, that raises dragons, all the major dragon sanctuaries hope that students graduating from Hogwarts will work there.

Due to the danger posed by fire dragons, the fire dragon researcher updates very frequently.

“I still hope Hogwarts can accept some more docile and unique dragons.” Dumbledore gave Ivy a subtle glare.

When setting up the dragon's lair beneath the White Tower, Ivy deliberately added a protective spell to the area and linked it to Hogwarts' protective magic, ensuring that Dumbledore, as the headmaster, would always be the first to know if anything unusual happened there.

If the fire dragon under the White Pagoda is too lively, his old bones might not be able to handle it.

“You’re the principal, you’re in charge,” Ivy said, distancing herself from the situation.

He turned to the knights from Grallion: "Are you confident enough to fight demons while riding these fire dragons?"

"Lord Doom, will your sacred reins also work on them?" asked Ashius, the Grand Master of the Dawnblade Knights. "I've heard that dragons have strong magic resistance, and these fire dragons..." Dragon scales are effective against wizard spells, with only their eyes and noses being relatively weak points. If they were to reach Grallion, they might become monsters with resistance to natural magic.

"The Sacred Reins might not work." After all, it's only a second-circle spell; we can't ask for more.

“But I have another way.” Ivy pulled a small silver whistle from his pocket, something he had used to train Nobeta.

Norbert is the Norwegian Ridgeback egg that Hagrid won from Quirrell. After being hatched by Ivy, he trained Norbert for a long time using methods similar to those used for training dogs, barely managing to turn Norbert into a beast that could understand human emotions.

Ivy's training methods can be summed up in two words: whip and candy, that is, punishment and reward. When punishing the little dragon with magic, he would also blow a whistle to reinforce its memory, hoping to create a conditioned reflex, just like Pavlov's dog and bell.

However, Ivy eventually used a more magical method to turn Nobeta into an obedient child, which was to bind it to another obedient child.

Nobeta is now considered Cassandra's familiar, but since the little sorcerer has gone to Diagon Alley to settle her parents and isn't here, Ivy has had to resort to another method to attract Nobeta.

Logically speaking, animals that become magical pets will receive an increase in intelligence, with warlocks' magical pets being the most prominent. Under the conventional advancement path, legendary warlocks' magical pets usually possess higher intelligence than their masters.

Spellcasters and warlocks share the same key spellcasting attributes, so at some foreseeable day, the little dragon Nobeta will grow up to be a smarter creature than its master, Cassandra.

But that was all in the future. When Ivy blew the dragon whistle, the grumpy little dragon Nobeta immediately flapped its wings and flew over from a corner of the Forbidden Forest.

It seems that Ivy's magic and whistle have left a deep impression on it.

The little black dragon that once resembled a tattered umbrella has completely changed. At only seven years old, it can only be considered a little girl by any calculation method. However, in the past seven years, Norbeta has grown into a big guy capable of hunting sheep on its own.

A ferocious roar came from above, casting a shadow over the forest clearing. However, the Norwegian Ridgeback's fierce howl turned into a timid whimper the moment it saw Ivy.

Norbeta landed as quietly as possible, obediently and ingratiatingly offering its spiky head to Ivy's palm. It seemed that even after several years apart, Ivy's image in its heart had not faded.

Nobeta is about three-quarters the size of an adult dragon, but half the weight. Even so, it's still a large creature capable of carrying an adult. Considering the seven years of synergy he's developed with Cassandra, Ivy's young sorcerer could very well become the first dragon knight in the Crusader Army.

“Come and meet Nobeta.” Ivy patted the little dragon’s head. “This guy I raised myself has also established a magical connection with my apprentice. However, compared to the sacred reins, this magical connection is rooted in blood, making it closer and more unbreakable.”

"Can the knights of Juanze City also perform such magical rituals?" Regil asked almost impatiently. The black dragon with black thorns in front of him was a perfect match for the aesthetics of the Hell Knights.

“I suspect some localization work will be needed. Nobody knows if these dragons can adapt to the environment of Grallion.” Ivy clapped her hands to disperse the dragons surrounding the delegation and looked at the white mage tower built above the dragon's lair. “This is the final stop of this visit, my first mage tower.”

The White Tower is made entirely of pure white marble, but Ivy did not intend to live in it when she built it. Therefore, apart from the simple living area at the top of the tower, each level of the White Tower consists of a maze with a different style.

The combination of the Traceless Extension Spell and the Weather Spell might become a spell that all dungeon lords would covet in the not-too-distant future.

The White Tower was, after all, something set up to dampen the magical world's enthusiasm for Ivy. He once announced to the entire magical world that those who could pass the White Tower's test would gain his favor, become his apprentice, and have the opportunity to learn the magic to bring the dead back to life.

Dumbledore had hoped that the White Tower would become a place of study for Hogwarts students, so it was opened to students at the end of each semester as part of their final exams.

Ivy granted the authority to the white-bearded old man, and he also needed the old wizard to lead the Hogwarts professors in maintaining the White Tower. As long as the rooms at the top of the tower were not invaded, he had no psychological burden.

“I have something else to tell you,” Dumbledore said with a smile, standing in the lobby of the White Tower. “Your cat seems to have developed a rather peculiar magical reaction with your tower.”

Howling Flame, created by Ivy, is a living elemental being from the Spectre Garden. In appearance, it resembles a majestic Maine Coon cat.

Given its limited potential as an elemental being, Ivy quickly reduced it to a pet and a means to return to Hogwarts, rather than a combat ally. Back then, to create the Howling Flame, Ivy even sacrificed a feat point by selecting the [Streahel Garden Statue].

As for the "miraculous magical reaction" mentioned by Dumbledore, it was actually a resonance between Ivy's two magical creations, which turned Howling Flame, a purely elemental creature, into the spirit of the White Tower. Not only could it quickly jump between the different levels of the White Tower, but it could also move and transform the various rooms of the White Tower, and even the magic within them, at its own will.

(End of this chapter)