While the students at Hogwarts were busy memorizing, Lin Du was not idle either—
He was occupied with researching Fiendfyre.
Inside a cramped space isolated by the Undetectable Extension Charm and multiple protective wards, the air faintly warped from the unrest of Magic Power.
Fine beads of sweat formed on Lin Du's forehead. The deep crimson Fiendfyre spewing from the tip of his wand was like a fierce, unruly venomous snake, constantly trying to break free of his control. It shifted into grotesque shapes, radiating a scorching, evil aura.
"Withdraw!" Lin Du barked, forcefully tracing the path of the counterspell with his wand.
The Fiendfyre roiled violently and contracted. At last, it let out a piercing shriek and dispersed into a wisp of smoke, leaving only a pungent smell on the charred black floor.
"Tch, still no good." Lin Du panted lightly and lowered his wand, a trace of barely perceptible exhaustion and frustration between his brows.
"The form is barely controllable, but its 'activity' is too strong. The risk of backlash far exceeds expectations. If I want precise control, or to safely channel its power, none of the current approaches seem viable."
Chao Feng lay lazily atop a nearby bookshelf and yawned, a hint of schadenfreude in his golden vertical pupils.
"I told you long ago, this stuff is wicked. Why wrestle with it? You'd be better off studying something practical, like how to make the House-elves in the kitchen sweeten the pudding a little more."
Ignoring the teasing, Lin Du walked over to a basin and splashed his face with cool water, trying to dispel the dizziness brought on by intense concentration and the heavy expenditure of Magic Power.
"There must be a more efficient method of control in theory. We just haven't found the key yet..."
Just as he was preparing to sort through his thoughts again, there came a soft tap at the office window.
A dull-feathered, utterly ordinary-looking owl stood quietly outside, holding an unsigned letter in its beak.
Chao Feng immediately pricked up his ears. "Hm? At this hour? Whose letter is that?"
Lin Du opened the envelope. After reading the letter, he could not help frowning.
It was a letter from an "old friend."
Lin Du had traveled for many years and made friends far and wide—no matter what corner of the world he was in, he could name the nearest magical black market with his eyes closed.
This letter came from an "old friend" he had met at a hidden market somewhere in southern Europe.
Lin Du pulled out a piece of parchment and hurriedly wrote a brief reply, arranging to meet her at the famous The Hog's Head in Hogsmeade on Saturday.
Even after the owl vanished into the night, he was still speculating about why this "friend" had suddenly contacted him.
He clearly remembered their first meeting.
It had been at a small town market hidden by magic along the coast of Portugal. She had called herself "Selene," with silver hair that flowed with a moonlit sheen and eyes that seemed to contain the stars—
It was the unforgettable beauty of a Veela.
Selene conducted herself according to ancient and strict principles of equivalent exchange. Whether it was lost magical manuscripts, unusually potent potions, or rare magical creature materials, she always seemed able to find a source.
Lin Du had dealt with her several times, and every transaction had gone quite smoothly. Between them, a certain trust based on mutual benefit and caution had formed.
Thus, he was indeed curious as to why Selene had come to him of her own accord this time.
Naturally, he was equally curious about what "good stuff" she had brought with her this time.
At ten o'clock on Saturday morning, The Hog's Head was dimly lit, and the air was thick with the mingled smell of butterbeer and some ancient grime.
It was still early, and only one customer sat in the corner.
Lin Du walked straight toward that table.
Selene was sitting there. Even in such surroundings, she remained dazzlingly out of place.
She wore a dark green robe today, which made her silver hair shine all the more brilliantly. When she saw Lin Du, a languid, meaningful curve touched her lips.
"You're here." Her voice was like silk brushing over feathers, carrying an innate allure.
As Lin Du sat down across from her, an invisible magical barrier quietly rose, isolating their figures and voices from the outside world.
"Selene." Lin Du nodded in greeting, his expression calm.
She leaned forward slightly, her captivating eyes carefully studying Lin Du's face. Then she gave a soft sigh of admiration. "So many years have passed, yet time has left scarcely any trace on you... It seems the Eastern arts of preserving one's health truly live up to their reputation?"
Lin Du calmly avoided her teasing gaze. "Let's skip the pleasantries. What do you want from me?"
Selene chuckled and leaned back in her chair, her expression growing somewhat more serious. "I came to discuss a deal. A secret that may interest both of us..."
"What secret?" Lin Du asked.
"The possibility of 'Transcending Death.'" Selene's red lips formed the words, her voice lowering further, seductive and soft. "A secret said to be connected to the most crucial legacy of the second Dark Lord."
Lin Du's heart stirred, but his face remained impassive. "It sounds tempting, but also extremely dangerous. What is the price? And what makes you think I would know anything about it, or be able to obtain the relevant information?"
"Intuition, and... my faith in your abilities, dear Lin." Selene smiled. "As for the price, we first need to establish a basis for our cooperation..."
She elegantly extended a hand, palm up. As an ancient, obscure syllable escaped her lips, a wisp of magical energy like liquid moonlight began gathering in her palm, slowly swirling.
"This is the Moonlight Vow, derived from the oldest magic of my people." Selene's voice became ethereal and solemn. "Unlike your wizards' Unbreakable Vow, it requires no third-party witness, but it is just as binding."
She looked at Lin Du, her gaze allowing no refusal. "Swear to me, Lin Du. Swear that if you discover at Hogwarts any item or information directly related to the secret of 'Transcending Death,' you will not destroy it, conceal it, or share its core secret with anyone other than me before informing me."
Lin Du could feel the powerful magical force contained within that mass of silver energy. It carried the unique aura of the Veela—beautiful, yet dangerous.
He fell silent for a moment, realizing that if he refused, she would never reveal anything substantial.
"I swear," he said in a low voice, placing his hand over Selene's palm.
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