Setting Out

"Hagrid, what's wrong with him?" Hermione's voice was urgent.

Given the current situation where Voldemort has made a comeback and Death Eater are lurking in the shadows, the old headmaster's words are bound to cause unease.

The golden flames flickered twice at the sudden, urgent words, then slowly returned to normal under the soothing influence of the internal Magic Power circulation, burning quietly and releasing gentle light and heat.

Dumbledore continued to look at the flames, a smile playing on his lips, his expression calm. "Don't worry, there's no immediate danger. Our Professor of the Care of Magical Creatures just encountered a little trouble on his way back to Hogwarts."

"What trouble? Where did he go?" Hermione pressed.

"He wants to bring a friend with unusual appearance who is inconvenient to travel back to Hogwarts. He needs to avoid the local natives, Muggle, and other wizards, so he has been unable to set off for a long time..." Dumbledore, then said thoughtfully, "I need you to go and meet him."

Hermione's worried expression vanished, replaced by a blank stare. She asked coldly, "His friend isn't some kind of Fantastic Beasts like Fire Dragon, Thunderbird, or Horned Serpent, is he? A level 5X danger beast, the kind that could destroy a large city if it gets out of control."

"Rest assured, I guarantee in the name of the principal that his friend may be a bit taller, but like us, he has two hands and two feet, eyes, a nose and a mouth, no extra scales or wings, he won't breathe fire from his mouth, and he won't butt us with sharp horns containing highly toxic substances..."

Loren carefully placed the Gubra'i Immortal Fire into a heat-resistant snake bone container, then put it into the pendant around his neck, and fell into deep thought while holding the pendant.

Based on the timeline, Hagrid should currently be on a diplomatic mission, trying to win over the giant race.

If I remember correctly, the friend he wanted to bring back was his half-brother, the Pure-blood giant Grawp...

Pooh!

This white-bearded old man shamelessly tarnishes the reputation of the Hogwarts Headmaster.

Loren glanced sideways at Dumbledore: "Tell me, is it a 5X dangerous creature as rated by the Ministry of Magic?"

"Well..." Dumbledore stroked his beard, his expression conflicted.

Hermione's slightly softened gaze sharpened again as she stared expressionlessly at the old headmaster. "A bit taller, otherwise the same as us... a giant, right? Judging from your tone, a Pure-blood giant, on par with an adult Fire Dragon in terms of danger."

"Ahem..." Dumbledore looked away guiltily, and said hesitantly, "I'm not entirely sure about the specifics either. You should ask Hagrid when you see him..."

It's strange, Hermione's eyes look exactly like Minerva's.

However, the one who made the mistake was Professor Rubeus Hagrid, Care of Magical Creatures. What does it have to do with him, the principal?

Hermione, noticing the headmaster's gradually calming expression, frowned and asked:

Where is he hiding now?

"At the foot of Ben Nevis Mountain, I don't know the exact location."

In mid-August, the weather was sunny.

After Hermione finished breakfast, she went upstairs and found Kreacher behind the curtains in the Second Floor living room.

After the Doxy were eliminated, this elderly House-elf seemed to take their place and live here. It often stands alone behind the curtains, silent and just staring blankly. The other people in the old house did not object, as they thought it was better to be out of sight, out of mind.

As the sun rose, the white fur protruding from the old elf's ears was gilded by the sunlight, dispelling some of the weariness from his body.

"Kreacher".

Hermione called softly, went to the window, and opened her right palm to show the slightly charred locket. "The locket has been destroyed by Dumbledore. Regulus's wish has been fulfilled. We were in a bit of a rush last night and forgot to tell you."

"It's done..." Kreacher murmured softly, his expression dazed.

Hermione didn't like this elf who discriminated against people of the same bloodline, but seeing him like this, she felt a pang of sadness for no reason. She paused for a moment and said softly, "I'm sorry, I can't give you the locket yet. Loren needs to keep it to study the Rune on it."

"Keep the Dark Lord's things if you want them..."

The old elf, who had been alone in the old house for more than ten years without ever feeling bored, exhaled, releasing the stubbornness that had been holding on all this time. His thin, bony back slumped even lower.

"Loren and I are leaving. We'll probably go straight back to school when the semester starts. You... take care of yourself."

Hermione sighed, stood up, and walked downstairs.

The old elf murmured Regulus's name repeatedly, tears streaming down his face. He slowly raised his head, looking in the direction of the Leo Constellation, his lips trembling. "Young Master Regulus, do you see it? Do you see it...?"

They made their way to the underground Kitchen and walked over to Loren.

The room was crowded with people, all standing not far from the fireplace, watching Sirius Black rummage through it, checking whether the long-dormant fireplace could still carry people on their journeys.

"Isn't it said that minors can't join the Order of the Phoenix? Why are they being sent out on missions?"

Harry and Ron angrily questioned the adult wizards present, their faces full of indignation.

Loren glanced back at him, spread his hands, and sighed helplessly, "Dumbledore's arrangement, and I didn't really want to go either."

"..." Harry and Ron were even more furious upon hearing this, gritting their teeth and inhaling sharply, like Crookshanks enraged by Doxy.

Mundungus, with his messy ginger-yellow hair and a pipe dangling from his mouth but not daring to light it, muttered enviously, "Look at that, a fireplace not regulated by the Ministry of Magic. No wonder they're from a big family; with this, they'll never be too poor..."

George and Fred's eyes lit up. They tacitly avoided Molly's gaze and shuffled over to ask for the reason.

"You don't understand, do you? The fact that fireplaces aren't monitored by the Ministry of Magic means there are clandestine transport channels, which in turn mean scarce goods, and no taxes are levied..."

Sirius Black had been tinkering all morning, straightened up, patted the soot off his clothes, and spat twice. "It's pretty sturdy, the fireplace still works. If you're going to Ben Nevis Mountain, there's an open Slop Bar in the wizarding village in Scotland. The owner is a cousin of Old Tom from the Leaky Cauldron, so he won't bother you. Just leave when you get there... The return trip is a bit more troublesome. See if you can take the Knight Bus."

"We have a more convenient way to get back, so don't worry," Loren said calmly, nodding.

Apparition is not prohibited at 12 Grimmauld Place, so they can just teleport back. If they find Hagrid, it will take some time, and they might be able to return to Hogwarts in time for the start of the school year.

"I made some pies for you to take away. Remus said you have some fresh food, and some fried chops and fried fish..."

Molly, wearing an apron, walked over, intending to hug Loren and Hermione, but stopped herself when she noticed the oil and flour stains on her apron. She withdrew her hands, her voice slightly tearful, and complained, "I really don't know what Dumbledore was thinking. Doesn't the Order of the Phoenix have any adult wizards? Why send two little ones like you on a mission..."

"It's alright, we're not going to deal with Death Eater."

"If I'm lucky, I'll be back in less than two days."

Loren and Hermione let Mrs. Weasley do as she pleased, packing up all sorts of hot food and stuffing it into the pendant. After saying goodbye to everyone, they went into the fireplace.

Floo Powder rose up, and a flash of green flame appeared.