Lady Alsha's Exchange Meeting

Matthew's Stunning Spell struck the Three-Headed Dog's middle head, knocking it unconscious.

But the other two heads were completely unaffected. They lunged at Matthew, snapping furiously.

"The three heads aren't just for show. It's a True Triple Core Processor." Matthew calmly raised an Iron Armor Charm.

"Armor Protection!"

Matthew did not reveal his Silent Casting here. Dumbledore had been able to evade his Magic Sense decades ago, and Harry Potter was someone Dumbledore watched closely. If Dumbledore was hiding here and watching them now, Matthew would never know. He did not want to reveal too much of his strength at Hogwarts, so he showed only what a Senior Excellent Student could do.

An azure shield held the Three-Headed Dog's sharp teeth at bay. It was far weaker than a Basilisk, and its teeth lacked the deadly venom that could instantly break Matthew's Iron Armor Charm.

But the Three-Headed Dog had an advantage of its own: three heads meant it could attack fast!

The two heads bit at the shield again and again. Their attacks came so quickly that Matthew's Iron Armor Charm soon grew unstable.

The middle head was also about to wake. This was the Three-Headed Dog's Hidden Trait: knock out only one or two heads, and the others would soon rouse them.

"Preserved Egg, hold it off," Matthew called. The black cat nestled in his hood instantly understood what he meant.

Preserved Egg flicked his tail a few times. The black tufts that fell from it turned into six clones and charged at the Three-Headed Dog.

Seeing the little things rush at its faces, the Three-Headed Dog bit one to pieces without hesitation.

But when the clone was torn apart, it split into even more black cats.

The Three-Headed Dog was not smart enough to understand what was happening. It kept snapping at Preserved Egg's clones.

Unless Preserved Egg himself was killed, the dog was only fighting against his magic. Until that magic ran out, every blow would produce more clones.

Before long, the room was packed with black cats.

The Meditation Method has done a lot for Preserved Egg, Matthew thought.

Matthew had taught Preserved Egg the Meditation Method recently. Once Preserved Egg learned it, he Directly Entered a State of Magic Outburst, and the magic within him grew considerably.

Now his clones could split many more times.

Unfortunately, Preserved Egg did not know Ancient Runes. Matthew had only taught him how to practice the Meditation Method; further progress required building a Runic Model in his Sea of Consciousness. Until Preserved Egg learned Runes, he would remain a Level One Wizard Apprentice.

"Let's go," Matthew said to the others, who were staring in amazement.

He had come only to see what the Three-Headed Dog could do. He had a feeling that getting the Philosopher's Stone would probably require taking part in Dumbledore's Obstacle Course Game.

Matthew stepped past Harry, turned the doorknob, and returned to the corridor. Filch had already gone.

Once everyone was out, Matthew shut the door, leaving the Three-Headed Dog to keep playing with the black cats.

"Preserved Egg is amazing! He made so many copies of himself to stop that Three-Headed Monster!" Ron sounded excited, but then his spirits fell. "If only Scabbers could do that..."

Neville felt the same way, but his Trevor did nothing but hide from him.

At that, Harry imagined Scabbers splitting into a roomful of rats...

Thank goodness Scabbers did not have Spirit Cat Bloodline.

"Is it all right to leave those clones in there?" Hermione asked. She was holding a black cat she had picked up on her way out.

Matthew smiled. "The clones disappear on their own once they run out of magic."

He had barely finished speaking when the clone in Hermione's arms vanished.

"I wanted to take one back to the dormitory to play with," she said, disappointed.

She decided that next year, she would go to Diagon Alley and buy a cat to keep as a Familiar.

"What is the school thinking, putting a dangerous monster in there?" Ron grumbled. "Without Preserved Egg, we'd have been done for tonight!"

Matthew only smiled at them and said nothing.

"I noticed a Trapdoor under its feet," Hermione said. "I think it might be guarding something."

Her words reminded Harry of the package Hagrid had collected from Vault 713 when they visited Gringotts. Perhaps that was what the Big Dog was guarding.

Harry did not mention it. He had promised Hagrid he would keep the secret.

"It's getting late. Go back and get some sleep." When they reached the Entrance Hall, Matthew parted ways with them.

A few days later, at Whitestone Manor in the Wizarding World.

Today was Lady Alsha's Exchange Meeting. Matthew had received an invitation when he attended the previous banquet.

He handed his invitation to the attendant at the entrance to Whitestone Manor.

"Mr. Matthew, please come in." The attendant returned the invitation, placed a hand over his chest, and bowed.

The manor had fewer guests today than it had for the banquet and ball. Matthew could sense that everyone attending this time was a wizard.

The attendant did not lead him to the hall where the ball had been held, but to a building on the right side of the manor.

"The Exchange Meeting has several areas. This is the rest area, where food and drinks are plentiful. If you need anything else, you can ask one of the servants here," the attendant explained.

After entering the building, Matthew saw Lady Alsha speaking with someone in the entrance hall.

Lady Alsha looked as radiant as ever. Her Black Gauze Dress perfectly accentuated her graceful figure, while Black Long Gloves reached up her slender arms, lending her an air of elegance and mystery.

When she noticed Matthew, Lady Alsha excused herself from the person she was speaking with.

"Lady Alsha, it's a pleasure to see you again," Matthew said warmly. "You're as beautiful as ever."

Lady Alsha smiled with easy grace. "Mr. Matthew, thank you for the compliment. I'm delighted you could attend today's Exchange Meeting."

She turned to the attendant. "You may go. I'll show Mr. Matthew around myself."

Once the attendant left, Lady Alsha said warmly, "The Exchange Meeting will last all day. If you get tired, you're welcome to choose a room here to rest."

Lady Alsha led Matthew out of the entrance hall and down a long corridor to a spacious hall.

Lady Alsha explained,

"This is the trading area. Here, you can trade money, information, items, spells, Meditation Methods, or anything else of value with other guests.

This Exchange Meeting is not anonymous, so most items traded here are fairly common. People also exchange a great deal of information.

Every three months, though, we hold an anonymous auction. Higher-value items sometimes appear there.

The next auction is coming up soon. I'll notify you a week beforehand."

The place was laid out somewhat like a tavern, though its decor was far more refined. Small round tables and stools filled the hall. A notebook with a Parchment Cover sat on each table, and every table seemed to bear a Number Plate.

They found a table near the side and sat down.