Hogwarts Study Panel

Chapter 409, Section 407: Obtaining the Pendant Box

Chapter 409, Section 407: Obtaining the Pendant Box (55)

Sheen always acted according to his sound plan, rain or shine.

Dumbledore always relied on his wisdom.

Just like now, he's pulling a small, shimmering green boat, as if he knew it was there by some prophetic tale.

“You know Tom very well.”

This is Sheen's explanation for it.

"It's my duty, um, Principal's duty. May I have your left hand?"

Dumbledore held Sheen's good hand.

"Magic always leaves a trace, sometimes a very obvious one. I taught Tom Riddle and I know his style."

Dumbledore said that with a soft thud, the small boat crashed into their side of the lake shore.

Dumbledore stepped aside and carefully led Sheen onto the ship.

This place is too small; they might have to squeeze together.

Sheen thought for a moment, then quickly opened the Wizard's Book. A sleek, understated wooden door stood on the small boat. He stepped inside and poked his head out:
Would you like to come in as a guest?

"I am glad to."

Dumbledore entered with a smile.

So the small boat set off immediately, and all around was silent except for the soft rustling sound of the bow cutting through the water.

The small boat was moving automatically, without their intervention; it seemed as if an invisible rope was pulling it toward the green light in the center of the lake.

Soon, the cave walls disappeared from view, and they felt as if they were sailing on the open sea. The only strange thing was that the ship's sailor was Butler Pukchi.

Willson looked smug and arrogant, showing no fear even though it felt like there were a thousand hands beneath the lake.

“Fairies, they have unique magic.”

Dumbledore said, picking up the pumpkin juice that Butler Pukcher had left on the table.

"Very unique magic, Headmaster Dumbledore."

Sheen resisted the urge to eat a late-night snack, even though the butler, Pukchi, was a very good cook and always left him some food at the wizard's hut.

“I can’t wait to hear your story from Iphamoni.”

Of course, it's better to say it in a dream.

Dumbledore said with a smile.

Before Sheen could answer, the dutiful voice of Butler Pukchi rang out:
"Dear Mr. Green, we are almost there."

They peered out, and sure enough, the green light seemed to have finally grown bigger and brighter. A few minutes later, the small boat gently bumped into something and came to a stop.

Sheen raised his lit wand and saw that they had arrived at a smooth, rocky islet in the middle of the lake.

The island was about the same size as Dumbledore's office: a large, flat black stone slab, empty except for the light source emitting that green glow.

Now that we're closer, the green light appears much brighter.

They saw that the green light was coming from a stone basin that resembled a meditation basin, with a base underneath.

Sheen instinctively walked quickly toward the stone basin, while Dumbledore followed behind.

They stood there side by side, gazing into the stone basin. It was filled to the brim with a vibrant green liquid, shimmering with phosphorescence.

"Looks like we need to do something?"

Dumbledore appeared relaxed.

At the same time, he moved his hand slightly toward the liquid.

He quickly cast some magic around the liquid.

Sheen memorized all of these spells.

"Oh—a liquid. You can't put your hand in it, you can't break it apart, scoop it dry or drain it, you can't make it disappear with a vanishing charm, you can't change its shape with magic, or change its properties in any other way."

Dumbledore seemed distracted as he raised his wand again, twirled it in the air, and conjured a tall crystal goblet in his hand.

"I can only conclude that this liquid needs to be drunk."

Sheehan stared at Dumbledore as if the other might suddenly gulp down the entire liquid.

Dumbledore stared at Sheehan, guessing that the man had already intended to do so, but now the liquid was in his hands.

"There's no need for that, I think you already know."

Without a doubt, this potion will prevent us from obtaining the Horcrux. It will likely paralyze the wizard, make him forget why he came here, cause him extreme pain, make him unable to concentrate, or otherwise render him powerless.

"If that happens, Sheehan, I'll need you to make sure I keep drinking it." Dumbledore said softly.

Then I saw a clear rejection in Sheen's eyes.

"I need to emphasize to you that it's in my hands now, and you can't take it."

After saying that, he winked mischievously.

"Why can't we..."

Sheen asked.

“I am much older than you, Sheen, and I am worth far less than you.”

Dumbledore answered without hesitation.

"Some animals drank it."

Sheen finished speaking after being interrupted.

Then Dumbledore saw some strong and robust animals emerge from the Wizarding Book.

"Some potions are hallucinogenic, so I wonder if they might be able to neutralize each other?"

Sheen shook the crystal bottle in his hand.

In fact, this was not his guess—Professor Snape would always talk about some common knowledge about potions when he was in the cellar.

Dumbledore paused, then his gaze turned serious:

“Ferencer is right, your talent in prophecy is no less than in any other area.”

He then stepped aside to allow a group of animals, who were floating around after drinking the potion, to drink the liquid in the cup.

The liquid was quickly drunk up, and the animals all collapsed to the ground to sleep. Only one warthog seemed very thirsty. Ignoring the pool that Butler Pukchi had magically created, it instead gulped down two mouthfuls of lake water.

This caused the lake surface to no longer be smooth as a mirror, but to be violently churned.

Sheen looked up and saw countless white heads and hands emerging from the dark water—men's, women's, children's—all with sunken, sightless eyes, floating towards the rocks.

—A large number of corpses emerged from the dark lake.

Dumbledore, however, watched Sheehan with great interest.

Sheen drew his wand in the next instant:
"The fire dragon flaps its wings—"

A massive fire dragon descended from the sky, and under Dumbledore's watchful eye, Sheen was able to unleash his magic without reservation.

The fire dragon grew larger and larger until it was almost indistinguishable from an ordinary fire dragon. It stood guard on the shore, spewing dragon fire.

Eliminating corpses is as easy as Dumbledore eating a pile of cockroaches.

"A new curse?"

Dumbledore's eyes were deep and unfathomable.

“A trivial change…”

Sheen commanded the fire dragon.

"Alright alright."

Dumbledore interrupted him.

However, the corpses kept coming in endlessly, and Sheen felt dizzy after only five seconds.

He has been weakened after all.

“Oh, then I…”

Dumbledore, on the other hand, seemed quite relaxed.

"Yes, Will, it's time."