Hogwarts Would Fall Apart Without You!

In fact, Hermione wasn't wrong; the diet of a large creature like the Kraken isn't that different from Colossal Squid of the Kraken.

Pabbie confirmed this, turning to Harry with expectant eyes. "Newt wants me to come and help him for a while during his holidays, assisting him with longer-term observation and recording. He said the trolls seem to react well to non-aggressive magical fluctuations, and he thinks my magical traits might be suitable. Also, he needs help processing some rare magical plants around the Fjord to make more advanced calming and disguise potions."

"Really?" Harry said, scratching his head. "Isn't this fine too?"

"Yes, I'll probably be in Norway for about a month before the summer break." Pabbie looked at Harry, her eyes filled with undisguised anticipation. "Harry, you—are you interested? I know you might be busy, with Veratia and Cass— "

She paused, her voice softening slightly, but still clear.

"But I think this will be a truly remarkable adventure. And, Newt said, if the research goes well, it might completely change the Wizarding World's perception of this legendary creature, and even lead to the establishment of new protected areas."

Harry actually wanted to say that they should be wary of Voldemort and Runcorn teaming up to cause trouble during the summer vacation, but looking at Pabbie's expectant expression, he couldn't bring himself to refuse.

After all, Harry's worst skill is saying no to people.

"Let's go take a look then. Anyway, there's no rush with Runcorn and Voldemort's matter, and I can get back anytime." Harry smiled and slept.

Pabbie's smile was as bright as sunshine; Harry's response made her very happy.

"Great! I knew you'd be interested! If Newt knew you'd join, he'd definitely prepare double the amount of windproof and waterproof tents and warming medicine!"

She happily shook Harry's arm.

"Hey! I want to go too!" Ron shouted, his eyes shining. "Kraken! Merlin, that's way cooler than dealing with spiders! I can help—um—keep track of how many times the tentacles swing? Or take care of the food?"

This time, Hermione didn't kick him. Instead, she seriously considered it. "If Mr. Scamander needs an assistant, and research involves the behavior of Magical Creatures and potential conservation initiatives, this could serve as valuable practical experience after NEWTs, and might even help with future applications for a position in the Department for Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures— "

She has already started planning her life goals after graduation—even though she is only in sixth grade this year.

"Great! Let's all go!" Pabbie said happily. "You know how lonely it is in Northern Europe. Oh—I remember Newt saying that the Kraken travels to the Arctic Ocean in the summer. Last year we went to Arctic Ocean, so why don't we make the Arctic Antarctica destination this year? What do you think?"

"Good idea." Harry nodded in agreement. "I've never been to the Arctic yet. But then again, I went to Antarctica last year, and the Arctic this year. I don't even want to think about where I'll go for the summer after graduation next year."

"To Mars," Ron was the first to raise his hand.

"I'm also going to Neptune or Pluto," Hermione said, rolling her eyes, "to let you experience what it means to be freezing cold—"

"We can't get there using the current methods, but who knows what the future holds?" Harry smiled and said, "It all depends on whether Mr. LeMay will pull the strings."

Hearing Harry's words, Hermione and Ron nodded in agreement.

Indeed, given this trend, it's hard to say whether the technology for manned Mars landings will emerge within the next ten years.

Anyway, it's not like Elon Musk, who's the world's number one CJB.

"I wish we could go to Mars," Hermione said wistfully. "I really want to see if it's like in the America movies, where there are Mars, or maybe an ape Civilization— "

Hermione's words made everyone at the table laugh, even the Hufflepuff students who were eavesdropping in the back couldn't help but chuckle.

Mars? Civilization?

"If we really find Mars, I hope they're not as obsessed with gold as the Goblin, or as cryptic as the Centaurs," Ron said, already on his second bowl of pudding. "But what if they're good at red magic? Like Disarming Charm, or those red ones that Stunning Spell —and maybe even the Cruciatus Curse?"

"There's no necessary connection between magical colors and planetary colors, Ron," Hermione corrected habitually, but in a gentle tone. "Besides, based on current Astronomy observations, Mars likely lacks liquid water and a stable magnetic field, making it unlikely that complex life forms similar to Earth could evolve, let alone Civilization. Muggle probes—"

"Don't forget, Muggle detectors can't detect magical fluctuations, Hermione."

Pabbie chimed in playfully, still clinging to Harry's arm as if she'd found the most comfortable cushion.

"Perhaps there's an ecosystem hidden inside Mars by Ancient Magic? Like those hidden valleys and lakes we've discovered. Newt said that the most amazing things in the world are often hidden in the most unexpected and unseen places."

"That makes sense," Ron nodded. "Just like how Muggle, even standing at the door of the Leaky Cauldron, can't see into the Magical World."

Such a conjecture is indeed not impossible. After all, who can say for sure that inside the distant red planet, there isn't an oasis protected by ancient and powerful planetary magic, inhabited by Mars wizards or magical creatures who rely on entirely different forms of magic for survival?

"Pabbie is right," Harry chimed in, his green eyes sparkling with imagination, "Magic always requires us to leave enough room for interpretation regarding the 'possibility'."

"However—" he began again, "Our most pressing task right now is to pass the NEWTs exam. After all, that's the most urgent thing, isn't it?"

Ron counted on his fingers. "I also need to find some time to go to Hogsmeade and raid Zonko's Joke Shop for all their new products, see if there's anything useful for dealing with the trolls—or at least the giant octopus. Pabbie says it's docile, but we always have to be safe, right? Oh, and I need to pick out a birthday present for Ginny; she's recently become obsessed with the new album by the Weird Sisters— "

"It seems she really does share your mother's taste," Hermione said, shaking her head helplessly.

"My mom likes Cetina Warbeck, not the Weird Sisters," Ron said with a shrug. "Though I think they're essentially the same."

"Then it's settled," Harry concluded, tapping the pudding plate lightly with his spoon. "After the exams and taking care of some necessary matters, we'll go to Norway to find Newt and see the legendary Kraken. As for Mars— "

He glanced at Hermione and Ron, and smiled.

"Maybe in a few years, maybe decades, or maybe when we're old, magic will have really developed into interstellar travel, and we can form a retired Hogwarts faculty Mars expedition team," and Hermione, you can be the captain then.

Hermione was amused by the idea and, unusually, cracked a joke, "Then Ron can take care of the food and tell corny jokes to ease the tension."

"Hey! My jokes aren't lame at all!" Ron protested.

"That joke you told last time about Troll and ballet almost got the Sphinx hanged itself," Harry added with a grin.

"Hey, he didn't die in the end, did he?" Ron protested again.

The protests were ineffective, and amidst the laughter and chatter, dinner in the Great Hall drew to a close.

"Well then, see you in a couple of days," Pabbie said, standing up. "I still need to help Newt come up with some final exam questions. Ah, you know, I'm the acting professor of Care of Magical Creatures now."

"Yes, you're still school board member," Harry, not forgetting to remind him, "Hogwarts will fall apart sooner or later without you."

"Hehe." Pabbie grinned and leaned in to kiss Harry on the cheek. "See you in a couple of days, bye-bye~"

After saying goodbye to Pabbie, Harry returned to the Common Room with Ron and Hermione.

On Wednesday afternoon, the five Dark Wizard Harry had borrowed from Nurmengard were sent to Hogwarts by Vienna.

Just to be on the safe side, Harry cast a harmless Imperius Curse on each of them, to prevent them from getting carried away during their sparring and causing any irreparable damage.

That evening, Ron spread the word far and wide to all the colleges.

The core members of the Dueling Club groaned in despair, but the other young wizards' eyes lit up.

But after realizing they also had to deal with the Dark Wizard, they sighed in despair.

On Friday night, the Room of Requirement was transformed into a spacious combat training ground.

Five Dark Wizard, "borrowed" from Nurmengard, stood on one side of the field. They wore matching dark gray robes, their faces expressionless, their eyes somewhat vacant.

It's obvious they've been under some kind of mysterious Charms.

Harry stood in the center of the field, serving as the organizer and safety referee for this special training session.

He wore a simple travel robe, his wand casually tucked into a leather sheath at his waist, but he wasn't worried, as everything was under control.

"To make a long story short, you all know what you're about to face. The rules are simple." Harry's voice echoed clearly in the somewhat empty room. "Two people per team against a visiting professor. The goal is to incapacitate your opponent or force them to surrender—without causing permanent damage, of course. You may use any spells you know, except for Dark Arts. I will be watching closely and will intervene if necessary. Understand?"

"Understood!" the students answered in unison, their voices filled with tension.

But many more are eager to try.

Students, being the most unruly of the time, began to look forward to real combat training after realizing that Harry wouldn't punish them severely.

"Then," Harry stepped back to the sidelines, raising one hand, "Ron, Hermione, you two go first!"

The two stepped forward, and before they could react, the Dark Wizard raised his hand and cast a red Charms.

Faced with the Stunning Spell aimed directly at her face, Hermione almost instinctively swung her wand.

"Shield Charm!"

The Protego's light shield instantly deployed, blocking the attack.

Ron seized the opportunity and roared, "Disarming Charm!"

A beam of red light shot out, but the Dark Wizard nimbly dodged it by sidestepping, and then used a "Leg-Locker Curse" technique to strike Ron's lower body.

"Impedimenta!" Hermione reacted quickly, the Impediment Jinx slowing down Ron's casting speed, and Ron rolled away to avoid it.

"Cooperate with me, Ron! Use the left wing to create a distraction, I'll find an opening!"

Hermione spoke rapidly, her wand flashing several Impediment Jinx and Jelly-Legs Jinx in succession, attempting to restrict the Dark Wizard's movement.

"Good!"

Ron understood immediately and began using simple, practical, but highly disruptive Charms.

"Rictumsempra (Rictumsempra)!"

A beam of silver light shot toward the Dark Wizard's waist. Although it was easily blocked, it successfully drew his attention.

"LocomotorMortis (Leg-Locker Curse)!"

Hermione seized the moment when Ron was distracted while she blocked his spell and unleashed a precise Leg-Locker Curse.

The Dark Wizard reacted extremely quickly, crouching and rolling to barely avoid the attack, but the hem of his robe was grazed by the spell, causing his movements to slow down by a fraction.

"Opportunity!" Ron roared, raising his hand to unleash a Stunning Spell, but the Dark Wizard raised an Protego to protect himself, blocking the Stunning Spell.

Hermione's mind raced.

She noticed that although the Dark Wizard's aggression and some of his judgment were restricted, his combat instincts and defensive habits remained sharp and sophisticated.

She was even wondering how Harry had managed to subdue the Dark Wizard? What Charms had he used?

"Ron! Don't give him a break!" Hermione shouted, casting a Stunning Spell at the same time. "Stunning Spell!"

The two attacked the Dark Wizard from different angles, forcing him to constantly adjust his defensive stance.

The students around them watched the back-and-forth battle with great excitement.

Although they didn't know who these teaching assistants were, they at least enjoyed watching the fight.

Where did Harry find so many highly capable teaching assistants?

Nurmengard: Yes, from where?

Ron used every Charms he knew that he could, even turning a discarded cork into a barking dog and throwing it at him.

Although the Dark Wizard Crushing Spell the large dog back to its original form, it was enough to disrupt his vision.

The Dark Wizard was overwhelmed by the two Charms, which rained down from both directions.

His parries remained precise, and his evasions were still sharp, but his steps began to become unsteady, and his breathing became rapid.

"Now! Ron!" Hermione shouted, "Give it your all!"

"Disarming Charm!" Ron roared, and a red Charms shot towards the Dark Wizard.

At the same time, he quickly followed up with a sinister Rictumsempra on the other side.

The Dark Wizard remained calm; he erected a barrier and deflected both Charms one by one.

Little did they know, Hermione's Charms was the real killer move!

"Binding Charm!"