Someone Has Gone Missing? I Don't Know!

Regarding the side effects of Felix Felicis, Sean can only speculate at the moment.

However, this conclusion was reached after he synthesized information from multiple sources, and the sources were generally reliable, so his guess was not entirely illogical.

Sean felt that Felix Felicis might have diverted good fortune from some future day to the day it was taken, but this diversion was not simply moving something from one box to the other.

Based on his understanding of Potions and the idealistic miracle side, the misappropriation of Felix Felicis might be a balance.

Your luck has been enhanced, while the side that was misappropriated has declined, resulting in a state of bad luck.

In summary, it can be described as Equivalent Exchange.

Sean immediately thought of Runes. Runes are a script of rules, and their learning, use, and even research must follow rules. These rules mean a fixed flow of magical symbols, and the different effects of Ancient Magic come from the combination and arrangement of different symbols.

Runes are closely related to alchemy because both follow the same principle— Equivalent Exchange.

Magic is a miracle, but unlike modern spells, Ancient Magic was bound by rules and had no upper limit.

As long as it is within the rules of Runes, there is no upper limit to Ancient Magic; the more magic power you output, the greater the effect of the spell.

This situation of Equivalent Exchange is actually very similar to the side effects of Felix Felicis that Sean received.

However, the difference is that you have twelve hours of good luck, but you may encounter twelve hours of bad luck in the future.

Sean wasn't surprised that this historically significant Potions was linked to Ancient Magic. What intrigued him was how the side effects manifested and just how severe their negative impact was.

Furthermore, Sean suspected that the side effects of Felix Felicis might not be as exaggerated as some might think, since people's luck wouldn't be that extreme either— Felix Felicis appropriates good fortune from a future day and amplifies that effect.

However, the effects of the medicine were not amplified on the unfortunate day that came.

The unfortunate Colombia witch likely took an overdose of Felix Felicis, which caused the side effects to accumulate, resulting in such a bizarre and coincidental manner of death.

This seems to prove another point—that the good luck gained from Felix Felicis is diverted from a fixed day in the future.

That's why there's a time interval between doses of Felix Felicis.

For example, if you take Felix Felicis today, it will bring you good luck sometime five years from now. If you continue to take it during this period, the luck from that day will continue to be diverted, and the side effects will keep piling up.

When that day comes, the accumulated side effects will erupt, and multiple unfortunate coincidences may turn an unlucky day into a deadly one.

However, if that's the case, then shouldn't I have taken it beforehand...?

Sean became uncertain. He had planned to take Felix Felicis again before the end of fifth grade for the Lottery Draw.

If my guess is correct, then the two short-term uses of Felix Felicis will bring me two days of double bad luck.

Normally it's fine; he's strong enough that to kill him, it would probably take seven or eight Felix Felicis in succession. But on a crucial day...

This made Sean hesitate, and the original plan had to be temporarily suspended.

If only we could predict when we'd be unlucky...

Sean mumbled as he drifted off to sleep; it was time to rest.

——

"That's my student! He's gone missing at your Hogwarts! And he's Champion in this year's Triwizard Cup of Fire!" Karkaroff roared at Professor McGonagall in the Great Hall Entrance Hall.

Upon waking up early, they discovered that Leon Schneider had disappeared on Durmstrang's large ship.

Karkaroff immediately came to cause trouble.

Professor McGonagall calmly pushed up her glasses. "Please calm down first. The disappearance of Mr. Karkaroff - Schneider is also a concern for Hogwarts, but I must say that Durmstrang students never stay overnight at Hogwarts Castle, and everyone knows that."

"What do you mean?" Karkaroff's eyes widened. "A man this big, are you hiding on the ship playing hide-and-seek with us?"

"That's a question for you to answer," Professor McGonagall retorted without backing down. She already disliked Karkaroff, and his unreasonable behavior only made her more disgusted.

However, as the host, there are some things that must be done, and Professor McGonagall is also a responsible professor.

Ignoring Karkaroff's questioning, she calmly gave the orders. "Prefect, inquire with the paintings and ghosts in the castle about whether they have seen Mr. Schneider, and compile a record of his last movements—also instruct them to search for this missing gentleman."

"Yes, Professor." The Prefect received the order, and although they were not happy about it, they did not refuse.

Sean, standing in the Prefect ' line, glanced at the roaring Karkaroff and narrowed his eyes with interest.

Leon Schneider came looking for trouble, and the other party couldn't possibly be unaware of it. The fact that Leon Schneider didn't return all night clearly indicated that their plan had failed.

However, Karkaroff showed no intention of questioning himself; he acted like a principal whose student had gone missing—something that should be explained to other professors, not questioned by a student.

It seems the Returners doesn't want to make a big deal out of this... Sean thought thoughtfully.

He glanced again at Durmstrang's group, but didn't see Reinhardt Nott. That guy was also part of the plan, but judging from the looks of it, he seemed to be just bait...

Sean obviously can't go to Durmstrang's big ship to grab the other party now, and also capture those lurking agents who are still hiding in the shadows—but that day won't be too far away.

He and Hermione walked toward the castle tower. Although it was just a formality, they couldn't just stand there motionless.

The "murderer" went to investigate the missing persons' trail... A slight smile appeared on Sean's lips.

It has a kind of dark humor.

Leon Schneider's ashes are still in his ring, Sean plans to bury him in a nice cemetery.

Upon arriving at the tower, Hermione winked at Sean, who understood and opened the wooden door to the Room of Requirement.

"Sean, what happened?" Hermione grabbed his arm as soon as he entered the room.

Just as she was about to speak, a wooden door opened from another direction, and Stephanie walked in with Daisy.

Clearly, everyone noticed that this matter was related to Sean.

Sean shrugged. "Oh, so you guys also think I'm involved in Leon Schneider's disappearance?"

Hermione glared at him, annoyed. "You didn't come home all night, and Cho Chang saw you leave the Common Room in the middle of the night yesterday. You didn't respond when she called you."

"Okay—I admit it, I did it." Sean blinked.

Hermione shrugged, with an expression that said, "I knew it."

Stephanie looked around the Room of Requirement: "Where is he?"

Sean snapped his fingers, "That's it."

"That's it?" The three girls all looked at Sean.

"Sean ... what did he do to you?" Hermione asked worriedly, and the other two had the same expression.

This pleased Sean somewhat, as his friend knew his personality and didn't question him about why he killed someone, but instead asked what the other person had done.

Daisy seemed to see through Sean's thoughts. She pursed her lips and said, "Please don't make that face, Mr. Wallop —I know you too well. You won't kill him unless he does something drastic."

Sean nodded and then recounted what had happened the night before. He concealed the truth about the Sin and made it vague, but he didn't even hide the existence of Slytherin.

After hearing Sean's words, Hermione covered her mouth in astonishment. "My God, Salazar Slytherin?! My God, he lived in the Chamber of Secrets... I need to process this..."

Daisy, concerned, pulled Sean around and asked, "Are you alright?"

"Of course it's alright."

"That's good—humph, that person deserves to die!" Daisy said angrily, hands on her hips, showing none of her delicate and gentle image.

Stephanie glanced at Daisy, a hint of surprise in her eyes—she had initially thought that Daisy, being young and inexperienced in killing, might be frightened after hearing that Sean had killed someone.

Sean shrugged at Stephanie, indicating that she was overthinking it.

The Little White Flower is not as harmless as she appears. Despite being tormented by the Blood Curse and the Obscurus for so many years, she has not become weak. To be precise, in some ways, she is more decisive and efficient Hermione.

The group huddled together to discuss the possible next steps of the Returners. Just as they were about to leave, Daisy suddenly exclaimed.

"Hey, does that mean that Durmstrang will only have two players left for the final match?"

Sean paused for a moment, then scratched his head. "I hadn't thought about that... but it doesn't make much difference."

Watching his confident figure lead the way away, the girls exchanged glances and smiled unconsciously.

Hermione was closing the door last, habitually glanced inside, then her gaze sharpened.

"Twelve Fail-Safe Ways to Charm Witches"...

If I'm not mistaken, it's that book, right?!

"Hermione, what's wrong?"

"Oh, oh, it's nothing, I'm coming." Hermione quickly responded, her eyes flickered, and then she quickly left.

Ultimately, after piecing together the information from the paintings, statues, and ghosts, Leon Schneider left Hogwarts Castle after dinner, clearly indicating that the student's disappearance had nothing to do with Hogwarts.

Unable to get a satisfactory answer, Karkaroff angrily led his men away, saying, "I'm definitely going to file a complaint!"

"Who did he complain to?" Daisy asked with interest, licking her lollipop.

Sean shrugged. "It's just polite talk—if I could, I'd like him to file a complaint with the International Confederation of Wizards."

"And then Durmstrang really did get a new headmaster," Hermione continued.

——

"Mr. Karkaroff —don't you think Durmstrang should get a new principal?"

Inside the cabin of the Durmstrang ship, in a dark room, a cold voice came from Black Hood.

Karkaroff wiped the cold sweat from his brow and rubbed his hands together as he replied, "No, no, no—if a student goes missing and I don't make a scene, it might arouse their suspicion..."

Before he could finish speaking, the Black Hood stretched out a withered hand and slapped Karkaroff hard across the face.

"You self-righteous idiot..." the Black Hood said through gritted teeth, "Wallerup is completely unharmed, so will he lose his memory?!"

Karkaroff froze.

"Why are you idiots..." The Black Hood seemed about to slap Karkaroff again, but after the other man instinctively dodged, he angrily withdrew his hand.

"Ordinary wizards don't know what's going on here, but do you think the people around Wallerup don't know? You've caused a scene, and it might end up with Dumbledore! Dumbledore is our real pawn, and this could expose him completely! You idiot, when Grindelwald comes knocking on our door, I'll definitely cast a Imperius Curse on you and throw you onto the deck."

"Yes, yes... I'm sorry, I'm very sorry, sir..." Karkaroff said timidly.

Seeing that the other person's anger had subsided a little, he cautiously said, "But, sir... Dumbledore very cunning, he really can't be trusted..."

The Black Hood gave him a cold look, and only after the latter had completely lowered his head did he sneer, "Karkaroff, don't think I don't know what you're thinking... Are you that worried that Dumbledore will take your place in the future?"

Karkaroff chuckled awkwardly and stammered, "No, that's not what I meant. I've dealt with Dumbledore a bit, and he might not necessarily be sincerely joining us..."

"We don't need his trust and allegiance, as long as he doesn't betray us—" Black Hood patted Karkaroff's cheek. "In my opinion, you are more uneasy than Dumbledore."

"How could that be! I will be the most loyal one under my master's command!" Karkaroff immediately declared confidently.

The Black Hood remained noncommittal. He stood up, floated towards the wall, and said as he left, "The plan against Wallerup is on hold for now."

"Yes, I understand."

When the other person left, Karkaroff unusually showed a wronged expression.

What he said this time was truly from the bottom of his heart. How could Dumbledore be trusted so easily?

Even if the Returners has something on the other party, they can't be so at ease, can they?

Moreover, Karkaroff didn't think someone like Dumbledore would have any leverage over him...

After passing through several walls, the Black Hood arrived at the room where the young wizard was being held.

Inside, a Returners was waving a wand at a young wizard in a cage, doing something unknown, while the child's eyes were closed, clearly showing signs of pain.

The Black Hood didn't disturb him, waiting until the other person finished before asking, "How was it?"

"A portion of his magic has been completely lost. Clearly, the Obscurus part of Leon Schneider has been completely gone."

The Black Hood's eyes suddenly turned sinister. "Wallerup... both containers fell into his hands."

"But this time, [Sloth] clearly intervened..." another Returners asked, puzzled.

"This only means that Pride has also made a move..." the Black Hood said. "However, it's a blessing in disguise that Pride has been able to awaken faster, which is a good result. Go, have our people withdraw and let Wallerup go for now. This is not our main task."

"Yes."