"Invincible?"
Rackham calmly repeated the two words, "You think we set up this trial to grant you 'invincibility' so you can 'protect' whomever you want?"
"Strength will never make a person truly invincible."
"It only reveals what's in people's hearts. When you say you want to protect her, perhaps you mean it sincerely."
"But as you rise higher and higher, and your strength grows, the words 'I've got your back' will easily become..."
"It should become 'You must listen to me'."
His deep gaze shifted to Hermione, then returned to Draco, and he said earnestly:
"I have seen too many exceptionally talented wizards, and most of them initially harbored goodwill and a desire to protect."
"But once you start to feel invincible, your mind will be the first to lose control. Ancient Magic itself doesn't discriminate between good and evil; it only obeys the will of its wielder. The most dangerous time is when you start to feel 'invincible.'"
Finally, his words went straight to the point, and were the most serious response to Draco's joke:
"To protect her, you don't need to be 'invincible'."
What's needed is to never put yourself above her, and to always remember that she is someone who walks alongside you, not a vassal who needs you to take care of everything and look down on you.
Draco was taken aback by this sudden and profound admonition, then found himself both amused and exasperated. He had only made a casual joke, and the other party had delivered a lecture on an age-old proverb.
But he also knew in his heart that Rackham was not trying to suppress his spirit, but rather to pull back the part of him that was about to slip into arrogance.
Seeing Draco get "taught a lesson," Hermione, though agreeing with Rackham's point, still wanted to defend him.
She looked earnestly at her reflection in the mirror and said, "Mr. Rackham, Draco... he's not that kind of person."
"He has always... respected my ideas, we face everything together, I..."
She tried to find the right words to describe the intimate yet equal relationship between them.
Rackham raised his hand to indicate that she didn't need to say anything more.
Then a hint of relief appeared in his eyes. "For you to defend him like this shows the depth of your friendship."
"But that's precisely why we need to be more vigilant. The strongest fortresses often begin to crumble from internal, overlooked cracks. Remember this, and examine it constantly."
Draco's joking expression vanished. Looking at Rackham in the mirror, he nodded solemnly. "I understand, sir. I will no longer think about invincibility."
"I understand, sir. I won't think about being 'invincible' anymore." He responded sincerely, echoing Rackham's words.
This was both to express respect and to prevent the meticulous old man from continuing to argue with him until dawn.
Rackham in the mirror was silent for a moment, then the tense expression on his portrait finally eased slightly. He slowly said, "Remember what you said today. More important than mastering Ancient Magic is whether you can hold onto this original intention."
As he finished speaking, Draco turned around and gazed intently into Hermione's clear brown eyes.
The previous playful tone vanished, replaced by an unprecedented deep affection. He held Hermione's hand and said:
Hermione, all I want is to become stronger.
"It's not to 'protect' you or show off how great I am."
"It's so that I can stand with you through thick and thin. No matter what storms we encounter in the future, I hope we can walk side by side, so that you don't have to struggle alone, and I don't have to pretend to be strong by myself."
Hermione's cheeks flushed again, but this time it wasn't from shyness, but from the emotion she felt.
She gripped Draco's hand, nodded firmly, her gaze unwavering. "I believe in you. We're together!"
"There's one more thing I must remind you," Rackham said solemnly, "The trials of Ancient Magic are a dialogue between the inheritor and the essence of magic, a tempering of character and will."
"Therefore, you must face each trial alone, without the assistance of anyone else."
Draco seemed to have expected this, and readily replied, "Yes, sir! I understand."
"Well then," Rackham's portrait seemed satisfied with Draco's decisive attitude, "Given your performance so far, I think you're ready to begin."
"The map beneath your feet has marked the exact location of the first trial for you."
After he finished speaking, Rackham's portrait in the mirror was like a reflection in water being scattered by a pebble. As the light and shadow shifted, it slowly disappeared, and the mirror became clear again, but the person was no longer there.
Draco and Hermione turned to look at the enormous round mirror.
On the miniature model of Hogwarts Castle in the mirror, a bright golden beam of light rose from the center of the map.
Then, like a precise javelin, it struck the image of an ancient tower on the north side of Hogwarts Castle.
"Looks like our first target is right next to the school, that's convenient," Draco said, looking at the location. "Let's head out now; this matter is considered settled."
"Hmm." Hermione nodded, taking one last deep look at the magical map at her feet, Rackham's warning still echoing in her mind, "Let's go back and plan things out properly."
The two did not linger any longer and returned along the way they had come.
We've returned to the original teleportation point.
The teleportation array was activated; a flash of blue light appeared.
They reappeared by the lake with its bird bath and ancient stone walls; dusk was approaching.
Draco lit the tip of his wand again, using it as a makeshift torch, where Jackdaw had been waiting.
Seeing them emerge unharmed, a look of relief appeared on his face as he cradled the head. "You... you're back! That's wonderful!" His voice was filled with excitement.
"You rascal, you're not secretly hoping something bad happens to us, are you?" Draco teased with a half-smile.
Jackdaw quickly denied it, shaking his head vigorously like a rattle-drum. "No! Of course not! I was just... just worried you might be in danger, after all, that place..."
Hermione tugged at Draco's sleeve. " Draco, stop teasing him." She turned to the ghost and said,
"Mr. Jackdaw, we found your... remains inside. We've also determined the cause of your death. You were attacked by the Ancient Magic stone statues guarding the Chamber of Secrets."
Draco obediently took the sack containing the bones out of his pocket and waved it in front of Jackdaw:
"Here you go, all your 'hardware' is here, not a single piece is missing, and your wand is included too."
Upon seeing the bag of remains, the body and head of the Jackdaw trembled violently, as if countless emotions were surging within him, but ultimately they all transformed into a profound sense of relief.
"I understand now!" he sighed deeply. "... Thank you all! I... I can finally let go."
As he spoke, his translucent ghostly body began to become increasingly transparent, starting from his fingers.
Seeing this, Draco quickly said, "Hey, you just left after giving your instructions? Are you just going to leave like that?"