Exploring the Safe House

Basil was currently breaking into Voldemort's seventh safe house.

Seven, the number Voldemort was most obsessed with and considered the most magical.

His original plan was to create seven Horcruxes.

What about that seventh safe house?

So, even though Transfiguration Class was next after meeting Quirrell, Basil couldn't wait any longer.

He apparated directly in front of Slytherin's Statue and summoned Lyle.

He had Lyle send his Diary to that safe house.

And he himself projected part of his consciousness onto the Diary.

Regarding Summoning Cards, Basil didn't have the same extraordinary control over the creature and item cards as he did over plant cards.

But he could still project his consciousness into them, experiencing it as if he were there.

Just like when he recreated Harry's inner fear before, he merged with the Boggart, read the image of fear through its eyes, and projected it into Harry's mind.

Right now, even though he was in Transfiguration Class, his consciousness, another self, seemed to have spun around with the house-elf Lyle and apparated away from Slytherin's Statue.

This sensation was extremely peculiar.

He didn't know how a house-elf's Apparition differed from a wizard's.

Perhaps it was due to the extreme distance of the Apparition.

Before reappearing, that is, in the intermediate stage between vanishing from his original spot—vanishing—and appearing in a new location—reappearing—the feeling was incredibly strange.

Everything around him turned pitch black, and he felt an intense pressure from all directions—up, down, left, right, front, and back.

He couldn't breathe.

His chest felt as if it were being squeezed tightly by iron bands, his eyeballs seemed to be pushed back into his skull, and his eardrums felt as if they were being pressed deep into his head.

Though this sensation lasted only an instant, it felt like an eternity.

It was a severe test of both mental and physical fortitude.

He wondered if Apparition would be less uncomfortable after becoming proficient, or for wizards in general.

Then, what appeared before his eyes was a narrow, cramped little room.

The walls were inlaid with green, cold-glowing Gems.

The ceiling had been magically enchanted.

He could clearly see the scenery above—it was the dark, deep riverbed covered in aquatic plants.

Dotted with patches of white sand and gravel.

Judging by the Scottish salmon swimming by in the riverbed from time to time, they were likely still in Scotland.

This lake was connected to the sea.

And the eels here were enormous, each seven to eight meters long.

Once upon a time, to impress a British backpacker girl traveling in China, he had specifically learned about the famous attractions near her hometown.

So, was this Loch Ness?

Normally, eels would leave Loch Ness around the age of ten and head to the Atlantic and Florida, where they would mate, lay eggs, and die.

But due to the lack of natural predators in the lake, a large number of eels defied their instincts and stayed here.

Combined with the low water temperature, they moved less and thus grew larger and larger.

The Loch Ness Monster was actually these giant eels.

Of course, that was the Muggle, or rather, his past life's explanation.

In reality, this was not a secret in the wizarding world.

The Loch Ness Monster was actually the world's largest Kelpie.

Kelpies were shape-shifting water spirits found in Britain and Ireland.

Although they could transform into various shapes, their most common form was that of a horse, with broad cattails serving as a mane. They would lure unwary people to ride on their backs, then dive into rivers or lakes, devouring the person whole before letting their internal organs float to the surface.

The one in Loch Ness preferred the form of a sea serpent.

A wizard observer from the International Confederation of Wizards had identified it as a Kelpie after witnessing it transform into an otter when a group of Muggle investigators approached, and then revert to a sea serpent once they had left.

The Misinformation Office worked diligently to convince Muggles that all photographic evidence of the "Loch Ness Monster" was fake.

So, in this world.

The Loch Ness Monster wasn't considered a giant eel.

Instead, it was a product of sensationalism.

"So, you want to create a new Summoning Card? A Kelpie?" Riddle, who had emerged from the diary, conversed with Basil in his mind.

Just now, while Basil was thinking, he had also dealt with the traps left by Voldemort.

Those were the glowing emeralds.

If the intruder hadn't been a House-elf, Voldemort himself, or someone he had empowered with a counter-curse.

These lights would have transformed into threads, piercing the intruder's body.

Controlling the intruder and sending a message to the creator of the magical trap.

But the one who arrived was Riddle.

He was practically one and the same as Voldemort.

So, he simply cast a Lumos charm, and after the magnetic fields matched, the trap automatically subsided.

On the other end, Basil, who was mentally cataloging the key points for teaching Ron Transfiguration, replied in his mind, "Of course! This is the biggest Kelpie in the world. The creatures summoned by Summoning Cards are inscribed primordials. This way, the Kelpie I summon will be the biggest and most fearsome. Not to mention it can be upgraded later!"

Having understood the essence of the cards with Riddle's guidance, he could now take pictures through the eyes of his summoned creature.

"But first, you should check the safe house. Who knows what treasures might be inside?" Basil rubbed his hands together like a fly.

"Mr. Granger, what are you doing?" Professor McGonagall, slightly displeased that Basil hadn't sought her out, found fault.

"Professor, Basil is teaching me Transfiguration," Ron quickly explained. "He's added an extra step to the casting procedure you taught: mentally reciting the intended product three times before casting. This increases the success rate of Transfiguration."

"That is indeed a good method," Professor McGonagall nodded. "However, in a duel, no one will wait for you to recite it three times. This is purely an exam technique. After you succeed, I suggest you gradually reduce the number of recitations. Five points to Gryffindor!"

She paused again. "But that's not what I asked. I was referring to Mr. Granger's strange actions."

Damn it! Are you picking a fight?

Basil's eyes darted around, and he found an excuse. "This is how I concentrate. Rubbing my palms generates heat. I'm sensing the subtle changes in my palms."

"Oh?" McGonagall pursed her lips. "Have you been reading books from the School of Philosophical Thinking?"

"What is the School of Philosophical Thinking?" Basil asked, surprised.

Did I just stumble upon it by sheer luck?

The students practicing nearby stopped their movements.

They all looked at Professor McGonagall curiously.

McGonagall surveyed the surroundings and said helplessly, "I didn't want to bring it up. The theories of that school are too far-fetched. Or rather, they would lead you astray."

"The founder of this school, Benjamin Modern, believed that the best way for wizards to strengthen themselves was to look inward. He claimed that every wizard was powerful enough to determine how the world is. Instead of needing to study theories, knowledge, or observe how the world is, they were weak."

"Wizards only needed to meditate with their eyes closed all day, sensing subtle changes within themselves. If they persisted, various special abilities would automatically emerge."

"Is that true?" Ron eagerly raised his right hand.

Seamus and Neville nearby also showed looks of longing.

Professor McGonagall shook her head. "This school was very popular in Yorkshire in the 17th century. The most accomplished among them could only master the Levitation Charm without a wand, incantation, or gestures (also referring to wand movements), meaning without any casting medium or action. Their leader's most powerful technique was merely conjuring a Fireball in his palm."

Thanks to jeffths for the monthly ticket and other classmates for their recommendations and continued reading.