Forbidden Forest Cabin

Over the next few days, neither of them mentioned what had happened that night.

Naturally, Cypher did not press Iris about her feelings.

The three of them studied and practiced magic as usual.

Originally, Iris had wanted to add some Muggle knowledge to their studies, but Cypher said that knowing basic common sense was enough. It would not be too late to learn more once their magical abilities hit a bottleneck.

Activating his Corporeal Patronus and surviving a near-death adventure had made Cypher's mind even more resilient.

Now, his magical ability had improved once again.

Luna and Iris had also improved slightly. Luna had trained alongside him, so her progress was probably a kind of spiritual ascension as well. As for Iris, Cypher temporarily attributed it to her improving health.

Several times, Cypher had wanted to ask what exactly her illness was, but he feared Iris might be too sensitive about it, which would not be good for her mood. Naturally, his final decision was that if she did not mention it, he would not ask.

Time passed in the blink of an eye, and the weekend arrived.

Cypher and Luna could no longer keep it hidden, but they concealed part of the truth. Neither of them wanted Iris's emotions to fluctuate too drastically.

So they only told her that they were going to Hogsmeade to auction off a Norman Dragon Blood Grass, but had accidentally been caught by a professor.

Of course, Iris knew what it was for. Smiling, she said she still needed to deduce the magical runes for Legilimency, so she would not accompany them to play in the Forbidden Forest.

It was morning. The sky had brightened, and the dew left on the lawn from the night before glittered in the light.

Since they were going into the Forbidden Forest, Wizard Robes would be far too cumbersome.

Both of them wore sportswear. It was worth mentioning that Luna's outfit had been designed by Cypher with the tastes of a later era in mind. Paired with Luna's neat ponytail, it made her look especially bright, lively, and energetic.

Along the way, she drew envious looks from countless young witches.

After breakfast, the two arrived together at the castle entrance. Two Aurors in black stood guard on either side of the gate.

They had long since received the notice that the two of them were to serve detention at the edge of the Forbidden Forest.

Even so, they carefully examined the permission slip Cypher produced, written for him by his own Head of House.

After confirming that everything was in order, an Auror gestured for them to leave.

The heightened security would only last for this week. The Ministry of Magic could not possibly keep so many people stationed at Hogwarts, where an attack was almost impossible.

What had happened in Hogsmeade was because no young wizards had been caught up in it. They did not know Cypher and Luna's identities, since they had arrived through a secret passage.

Once the weekend was over, these Aurors scattered around Hogwarts for guard duty would return to their busy jobs.

After leaving the castle gates, Cypher and Luna reached the path above the great lawn.

The gentle morning sunlight fell over them, while the scent of grass and flowers filled their noses.

The oppressive mood Cypher had been carrying these past few days was swept away, and his spirits rose with it.

The two headed east, walking side by side along the gravel path toward the edge of the Forbidden Forest.

This path was not easy to traverse.

There were far too many dead branches, fallen leaves, and newly grown twigs.

It was obvious that Ogg rarely took this route to the castle.

Perhaps he did not walk at all. There were many ways to travel in the Magical World.

If he had business at the castle while far away from it, his first choice would be teleportation, his second would be Apparating, and his last would be a flying broomstick.

Cypher felt that a flying broomstick was the most likely option. Ogg certainly could not teleport, and Hogwarts prohibited Apparition.

Walking in front, Cypher cleared a path for Luna.

Ice blades danced around Cypher, forcibly cutting out a rounded tunnel through the undergrowth.

After much difficulty, the two finally reached the end of the gravel path.

Cypher stopped and looked ahead.

Through the gaps between the countless tree trunks, they could vaguely make out the corner of a wooden cabin.

After confirming the direction, Cypher began clearing the way again.

When they reached the cabin door, Cypher stopped and assumed a defensive stance.

Seeing this, Luna silently hurried behind Cypher, intending to fight back-to-back with him.

"No, no, Luna."

Cypher did not know whether to laugh or cry. He had simply noticed several obvious traps in front of the cabin, clearly meant to tell people not to barge in carelessly.

After he explained, Luna stuck out her tongue and left the negotiating to Cypher.

"Exploding Charm!"

The blast drew the cabin's owner's attention.

"Find your own way in, or hurry back. I really don't know what the Headmaster was thinking, sending first-year students to help me with work."

The man's rough, straightforward voice made Cypher sigh in relief.

He liked dealing with frank men like this.

They had to find their own way inside? What did that mean?

Cypher was somewhat puzzled, but after carefully observing the traps, realization dawned on him, followed by helpless amusement.

The traps Ogg had set did not include arrows or anything like that.

They would hurt badly if they struck someone, but they would not actually injure them.

It was probably a test of whether they were clever enough and capable enough.

Otherwise, Ogg could not look after them every moment while they were in the Forbidden Forest.

Cypher focused and carefully observed the traps, intending to break them using the methods an ordinary young wizard would use.

Yes, he could have simply bulldozed his way through with powerful magic, but openly exposing himself before a stranger was not very appropriate.

Just mechanical traps? Cypher did not believe that. He used the technique Dumbledore had taught him, and a faint glow appeared in his eyes.

The magical runes left behind by crudely cast spells immediately became clear before his eyes.

"Basic Protego." "Basic Guarding Charm." "Basic Impediment Jinx"...

They could not even be considered basic spells. At best, they were spells whose magical runes had been put together well enough not to collapse on their own.

Of course, they were still enough to stop some unsuspecting young wizards.

But for Cypher, dispelling these spells was effortless.

Luna did not even need to lift a hand.

As Cypher walked forward, he waved his wand, dealing with every trap and removing every obstructing spell with a flick of his wrist.

"Creak—"

Cypher pushed open the battered wooden door, which let out a groan after years of exposure to the elements.

The inside was rather dim, though the dense forest outside was not much brighter.

The first thing Cypher saw was a bearded middle-aged man. He was somewhat thin and gave off the impression of a cowboy from the Wild West.

At that moment, he was holding a cup of tea as he lounged back in a battered wooden chair.

It looked like he had been about to bring the cup to his lips.

Beside him was an old but exceptionally well-maintained flying broomstick.

Cypher nodded to himself, confirming his guess.

Then he looked at Ogg resentfully. First-years were not allowed to bring flying broomsticks.

The two of them had gone through quite a bit of trouble getting here.

Across from them, Ogg, who had been worrying just moments ago, stared at the two who had pushed open the door in astonishment.

Even older students should not have been able to get through so quickly, much less dispel the spells.

The school sending two freshmen had disappointed him somewhat.

After all, he wanted helpers, not children to take care of.

Yet these two freshmen were stronger than ordinary upperclassmen.

For a moment, the calm mindset he had developed over years of guarding the Forbidden Forest nearly broke.

Fortunately, he came to his senses in time and set down the cup he had been holding all this while.

He got up, walked to the side, took his hat from the wall, and put it on.

Then he went to a workbench nearby and picked up a bow and arrows from it.

Then he strode toward the door.

Then, without looking back, he said to them,

"Follow me! Did you come here to have a sip of tea?"

Cypher watched as Ogg silently packed up and walked out of the room.

He glanced at the earthen pot suspended over the brazier in the center of the room, where unknown fragrant herbs churned in the boiling water.

Then he looked at Ogg, who kept walking without slowing down, and fell silent.

If I said I was thirsty and wanted a sip, you would pretend not to hear me, wouldn't you?