The Much-Besieged Magic Nodes
Grindelwald's words were like a proclamation, and Xiwen's expression changed drastically in an instant.
He received a chilling message from his alternate self, who was still attending classes at Hogwarts Castle—
An unusual vibration reverberated throughout the entire castle.
The vibration felt strangely familiar, as if it were the same sound that occurred when the castle's Magic Node was destroyed back in first year!
Meanwhile, the professors at Hogwarts Castle also realized what was happening and quickly stopped the classes that were in progress in the classrooms.
To prevent a repeat of the dangerous situations that occurred three years ago, such as young wizards being injured by a falling staircase and being locked in the common room, Headmaster Dippet immediately notified all students to assemble in the empty Quidditch Pitch.
At that moment, Xiwen was in a classroom taking Muggle Studies. After receiving the notice to go to the Quidditch Pitch, he quietly changed direction in the chaotic crowd and opened a Dimensional Gate in a secluded spot.
Based on his experience from the last time Magic Node was destroyed, Xiwen knew perfectly well that such a vibration meant that two Magic Node had already been destroyed.
Furthermore, he knew the locations of all the Magic Node by heart, and knew that Ravenclaw's Magic Node were hidden within the Room of Requirement's magical system, making them difficult for intruders to discover. Therefore, the two destroyed nodes must be among the remaining three.
So Xiwen used the Dimensional Gate to visit the Magic Node of Slytherin, Gryffindor, and Hufflepuff in turn to check on the situation.
As expected, the Magic Node of Gryffindor and Hufflepuff were engulfed by a ball of crimson flame.
This blazing flame occasionally transforms into various ferocious monsters and Beast, such as pythons, fire dragons, eagles, and their hybrid forms. Its shape is constantly changing, and sometimes it can even form powerful Fantastic Beasts of the 5X level.
The fierce and unpredictable flames seemed poised to destroy everything around them at any moment!
"This is... Fiendfyre!" Xiwen's pupils suddenly contracted.
Fortunately, this Fiendfyre is not like the one described in Miranda's Book of Spells, which indiscriminately hunts down any nearby life, destroys anything it can devour, and can instantly incinerate everything.
It now appears to be restrained by a powerful force, having merely devoured the Magic Node within Hogwarts Castle before ceasing its activity and lurking deep within the castle.
Seeing Xiwen dared not stop for a moment and immediately opened Dimensional Gate to return to the Slytherin Magic Node that had not yet been consumed by Fiendfyre.
Having just stepped through the golden halo and arrived at the location of Slytherin's Magic Node, Xiwen was immediately confronted by a nervous-looking black-haired witch.
The black-haired witch appeared very restless and anxious, her forehead covered in sweat.
She carefully held a crimson card in her left hand, while her right hand gripped her wand tightly, the veins on the back of her thin hand standing out prominently.
"I remember you. You are Carlotta Pinkstone, a seventh-year student in Gryffindor."
The witch was startled by Xiwen's sudden voice. She instinctively raised her wand and cast a Stunning Spell in the direction of the sound.
The spell she hastily used seemed too weak in front of Xiwen casually flicked it aside and then used a Disarming Charm to take the wand from her hand.
"You didn't get hit by the Imperius Curse again like you did two years ago, did you?" Xiwen asked, looking at her with confusion. "But there shouldn't be any Grindelwald's mole at Hogwarts anymore, so who could have put the curse on you?"
As he spoke, Xiwen cast a dispelling spell on Pinkstone.
"Surgito (Surgito)."
Pinkstone, still under the influence of the spell-dispelling charm, kept his lips tightly pressed together and did not respond to Xiwen's question.
Just as Xiwen thought the spell had failed and was about to cast another General Counter-Spell on her, Pinkstone suddenly flung the crimson card in his left hand at the wall behind Xiwen.
That's the location of the Slytherin Magic Node!
The crimson card rapidly expanded and Transformation in mid-air, gradually transforming into a ferocious beast formed of flames amidst a deafening roar of noise!
Xiwen's expression changed drastically, and he quickly used several Obstacle Charm to block the path of the new Fiendfyre, trying to stop it from continuing to approach the Magic Node.
However, Xiwen's Obstacle Charm had no effect whatsoever; on the contrary, its magic was instantly devoured by the Fiendfyre, which even provided it with more nourishment.
After absorbing several Obstacle Charm, the Fiendfyre had enough energy to transform its form, instantly becoming a 5X-level Fantastic Beasts, the Chimera.
Seeing that things were going badly, Xiwen immediately opened Dimensional Gate, using a golden halo to encircle Fiendfyre and teleport it directly to Dumbledore.
"Dumbledore, it's extremely urgent!" After sending out Fiendfyre, he reminded Dumbledore through the gap in the golden halo.
At this moment, Dumbledore was still standing on the circular stone platform in the center of Lestrange Mausoleum, facing off against Grindelwald across the distance.
The sudden appearance of the Fiendish Fiendfyre, which nearly slammed into his face, caused Dumbledore's lips to twitch involuntarily.
However, his movements remained remarkably swift.
Upon hearing Xiwen's reminder, a layer of silver light immediately appeared in Dumbledore's left hand, and then he stretched his left hand directly towards Fiendfyre.
The once fierce Fiendfyre, enveloped in silver light, immediately became listless and weak. The crimson fire was gradually suppressed, becoming feeble and exhausted.
A moment later, Dumbledore suppressed the flame to the size of a small flame, then gently clenched his left hand, and the Fiendfyre completely dissipated in his palm.
Hearing this, Xiwen breathed a sigh of relief, then looked sharply at Grindelwald.
"Grindelwald, when did you cast the Imperius Curse on Carlotta Pinkstone?" he demanded.
"In front of hundreds of Saints, shouldn't you explain to them whether using Unforgivable Curses on a student who is still in school really aligns with your promise to them, and is also for the future of the Wizarding World?!"
Grindelwald was not bothered by Xiwen's questioning at all; instead, he laughed happily.
"I suppose you've misunderstood me, Mr. Rozier," he said with a chuckle to Xiwen. "Why don't you ask Miss Pinkstone behind you if I used Imperius Curse on her?"
Before anyone knew it, Carlotta Pinkstone had emerged from the Dimensional Gate that Xiwen had just opened, her gaze fixed intently on Grindelwald.
"Lord Grindelwald never used the Imperius Curse on me. Everything I did was of my own free will." Her voice trembled with excitement, but there was no fear in it; instead, she spoke with a touch of fanaticism.
Pinkstone then turned to Dumbledore and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Headmaster Dumbledore. I know my actions have caused great harm to Hogwarts, and I will have no complaints if I am expelled from the school."
Dumbledore, unaware of what she had done, turned his gaze toward Xiwen.
"The Pinkstone- Encapsulated Fiendfyre card destroyed two Magic Node, but I stopped it from destroying the third," Xiwen sighed and said softly.
Dumbledore's expression turned serious.
"Pinkstone, you've been at Hogwarts for seven years, and the N.E.W.T. (NEWT) are at the end of this month." He frowned, saying regretfully, "Why do something like this at such an important time? It would be such a shame to be expelled now."
Pinkstone silent, staring apologetically at the ground.
At that moment, Grindelwald's voice rang out, interrupting Dumbledore's next words.
"Albus, I think you should be more concerned with Fiendfyre, who is still in Hogwarts Castle, than with Miss Pinkstone," Grindelwald interjected.
"Go back to Hogwarts and enjoy the gift I've prepared for you!"