Draco and Hermione finished breakfast and left the school.
They handed Jackdaw's bag of bones, letters, and diary to their waiting servants, instructing them to handle them carefully and return them to the Malfoy Manor and the Granger family.
After finishing their business, the two returned to the school area and ran into Professor Babbling was also returning from her business.
The two men pulled her aside and whispered about their discovery of " Young Rookwood," a descendant of the Keepers of Ancient Magic, Chuck Rookwood.
Moreover, he had colluded with the Goblin Ranrok... and they also talked about the Map Chamber.
Professor Babbling listened, her eyes sweeping over the two of them before finally settling into a wry sigh.
"You two, truly befitting of Gryffindor..." she exclaimed. "Didn't I tell you not to act rashly? And yet you turned around and ran into the Forbidden Forest, opening the Map Chamber."
Hermione's eyes darted around as she explained, "Professor, the situation was urgent, and we felt we couldn't just stand by and do nothing..."
Professor Babbling was amused and waved her hand, saying, "Alright, I was just joking."
"While caution is important in the face of such a significant matter, your ability to act is certainly commendable."
"Now that the trial has officially started, let's hurry over there. The tower isn't too far; we can get there on a broomstick."
"Judging from the tower's location, it's quite a distance from Hogwarts. Riding a broomstick would probably take a long time."
Draco raised a different opinion.
"It would be more efficient to just Apparition there directly."
Professor Babbling paused, looking at him in surprise. "You've been there? You know the exact coordinates?"
"No." Hermione quickly shook her head in denial, afraid that the professor would misunderstand and think they had acted on their own again.
"It's a slight enhancement from Ancient Magic," Draco attributed the cause to that mysterious Ancient Magic power.
"This allows my Apparition to reach further than a typical wizard can, and it's also slightly... a bit more agile." He spoke vaguely, leaving just the right amount of detail unsaid.
"The mystery of Ancient Magic is indeed far beyond what modern Mahoutokoro match," Professor Babbling murmured with admiration.
As she spoke, a longing light suddenly appeared in her eyes.
"It's a rare opportunity, Professor," Draco chuckled.
Professor Babbling didn't ask any more questions, simply nodding. "Since you're confident, let's set off immediately."
The next moment, Draco took Hermione and Professor Babbling's arms respectively, and with a precise Apparition, landed them behind a hidden thicket not far from San Bakar Tower.
Not far away,
The ancient, towering San Bakar Tower stands silently.
However, outside the heavy stone door at the bottom of the tower, a Goblin stood guard vigilantly, weapon in hand.
"It seems Young Rookwood has learned about his family's heritage and is joining forces with Ranrok to seize the legacy of Ancient Magic." Hermione observed the situation through the branches.
She continued her analysis in a low voice,
"However, judging from the fact that they are only guarding the main gate and patrolling around, they probably haven't found a way to start the trial yet, otherwise they wouldn't need to send people to guard this place."
"You're right," Draco agreed, his gaze sweeping over the last, intact trial tower.
"They guard the main entrance, their vision and alert range completely covering the entrance. It's almost impossible for them to sneak in silently; we have no choice but to confront them head-on."
"Then let's use the softer method." Professor Babbling drew her wand from her robes, a decisive glint in her eyes.
"We'll use the Disillusionment Charm to sneak in and get close, then use ' Stupefy,' ' Petrificus Totalus, ' and ' Incarcerous ' to subdue them all at once. Do you two both know the Disillusionment Charm?"
If it were any other ordinary student, she might have some reservations, but since it was Hermione and Draco, this question was more of a confirmation.
Draco and Hermione nodded simultaneously.
Hermione turned to Draco and instructed him:
" Draco, you can't just take their lives so easily this time. Judging from their condition, they might just be being controlled by Ranrok's Dark Magic, and not doing anything malicious."
Upon hearing this, Draco looked closely at the Goblin and noticed that their eyes were vacant, with an ominous crimson glint in them.
"Hmm," he responded, "Something's definitely not right. His eyes are red, like he's being controlled."
"Then we absolutely cannot kill them. We should try our best to capture them alive or incapacitate them."
"Understood," Draco said, assigning the task with a playful air. "So, honey, the front door is yours now?"
Hermione blushed at being addressed so intimately by Professor Babbling, and glared at him irritably.
"What kind of time is this to keep yelling! Focus on the battle!"
As she spoke, her hands continued moving, already casting Disillusionment Charm. Her figure quickly faded and eventually blended into the surrounding environment.
Hermione quickly subdued the Goblin at the door.
The subsequent actions were swift and silent.
Draco, using the Disillusionment Charm and his masterful Apparition skills, appeared ghost-like near the remaining five Goblin.
Throw the spell precisely.
Stupefy, Petrificus Totalus, and were rapidly imprisoned!
In an instant,
The three Goblin then fell to the ground or were bound by magical ropes.
Hermione was equally adept, quickly finishing off another survivor for Draco. The last one was swiftly and decisively taken down by Professor Babbling's Silent Stunning Spell.
The whole process took only a few breaths.
The three dispelled the Disillusionment Charm and were about to walk towards the tightly closed doors of the Trial Tower when a voice suddenly rang out:
"I've been waiting for you for a long time..."
A more agile Goblin slowly emerged, her red eyes flashing with ferocity. She wore a wine-red beret and a tight-fitting black and red combat outfit.
The shoulder armor and chest armor gleamed with a dark red magical light, and he held a short sword with a bloodthirsty red glow in each hand.
After it finished speaking, four Goblin wielding giant axes surrounded it menacingly.
The Goblin leader, wearing a wine-red beret, suddenly roared, and its armor burst forth with a blinding red light, a violent surge of magical energy spreading out from it. With a sharp "snap," the magical ropes binding it snapped!
"Interesting, they even know how to wait for their prey to come to them," Draco scoffed. "But the last Goblin who dared to wait for us is now gone."
As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his wand with lightning speed, and several magical ropes shot out with the incantation—"Imprison All!"
Five silver-glowing magical ropes shot out swiftly, as if they were alive, and precisely wrapped around the limbs of the five Goblin, instantly binding them tightly in place, rendering them unable to move.
The chief Goblin, wearing a beret, let out a furious roar, and her armor suddenly burst forth with a blinding red light.
A powerful burst of magic suddenly erupted, snapping the magical ropes binding it.
It was just about to swing its sword and pounce
Draco had already used Apparition, instantly appearing beside it and delivering a powerful elbow strike to its head.
The leading Goblin didn't even have time to scream before it collapsed to the ground, completely losing consciousness.
Draco then tapped his wand lightly.
Several Stupefy landed precisely on the four bound Goblin, stunning them all.
Everything happened in the blink of an eye; from Draco's attack to all the enemies falling to the ground, it took only two or three seconds.