You Can Sit on My Lap

cold,

This was William's first impression.

Even with the Warming Badge, you can still feel the icy chill of the lake water.

Beneath the water's surface lay utter darkness. He waved his wand, and a white orb of light shot out, plummeting downwards like a powerful flare.

The luminous orb fell, illuminating something at the bottom of the lake.

Countless heads lay silently at the bottom of the lake, with rows of Inferi standing on top of them.

The Inferi seemed to have been asleep for a long time and were suddenly awakened. They all raised their heads and stared at William with their empty eye sockets.

Staring at so many whitish, bubbly corpses, William felt a chill run down his spine. He turned and swam toward the shore.

He had barely turned around when he saw more than a dozen Inferi wandering over, seemingly trying to block his path.

These Inferi had been hiding under the boat, waiting for it to capsize.

Despite this Accio, William was not too afraid.

An ordinary wizard would surely die. Because one cannot open their mouth to chant spells underwater, and their escape route is blocked... Unable to breathe, they cannot last more than a few dozen seconds.

But William has professional diving training and can stay afloat for a long time. Moreover, he can Nonverbal Spellcasting.

Several Inferi were close at hand, their black arms looming over William's head.

He extended his wand, twisted it with his right hand, and magic, enveloping the lake water beside him, collided with the Inferi.

The bodies of several Inferi were quickly thrown aside, then instantly pulled up and thrown backward.

Several more Inferi were already close, and a chilling, deathly aura swept over them.

Their arms were stuck to William's robe, and just as they were about to tear it off, William's magic was already in effect.

The lake water behind him suddenly condensed and rose several meters high, like a white dragon entering the water, drawing an arc.

As William pointed his wand with one arm, the condensed energy naturally surged forth, lunging towards the Inferi.

The terrifying Inferi that appeared was instantly scattered into pieces and plummeted rapidly into the depths of the lake.

Ignoring the Inferi, William, who was about to burst from holding his breath, quickly swam towards the lake.

What else?

Didn't you see at least hundreds of Inferi charging towards us from the bottom of the lake?

They have brothers too! Even if they want to cause trouble, they'll have the Yuanpang take the lead while they stay behind and do nothing.

Who is the Yuanpang?

That would be... Fawkes!

shore,

Hermione quickly found the Gillyweed in her Safety Watch.

Overwhelmed with protective instincts, she was about to swallow the herb and jump into the lake to save William when Dumbledore stopped her.

"Wait, William is coming up." Dumbledore seemed to have gained supernatural insight.

But it wasn't William who came up first.

Suddenly, water splashed several meters into the lake, and a Inferi was thrown out.

Fawkes was lying on a large rock by the lake, dozing off.

Her posture was elegant, like a noblewoman giving birth... If I had to describe it, it would be like a hen squatting in her nest laying an egg.

Then, a few, a few, a whole basin of... well, I don't know what quantifier to use to describe the Inferi, came crashing down.

The Inferi was thrown around in a daze, and Fawkes was even thrown back and fell into the water.

William was also bewildered. He was sprinting and almost reached the lake when he saw an oval object swimming downstream beside him.

He naturally stepped forward without hesitation. As the unidentified water-like creature approached his feet, he used a Wudang Cloud Ladder to step on it.

William accelerated through the water again, breaking through the lake's surface.

The object he used as a stepping stone rushed toward the enemy at an even faster speed, and was then submerged in the vast ocean of the Inferi War!

William surfaced and swam quickly toward the shore. Hermione bent down, grabbed his hand, and helped him out of the water.

"Are you alright?" Hermione asked.

William waved his wand, and the water on his body vanished instantly, his clothes drying completely. "I'm fine."

A flash of fire, and with a snap, Fawkes appeared on the shore.

It was furious, stubbornly holding its neck up, staring intently at William.

He was completely bewildered by the stares. However, the tuft of hair that always stuck up on Fawkes's head was actually pressed down.

It felt like someone had stepped on my foot.

Hermione covered her mouth, somewhat shocked, as if she had discovered something.

The lake surface was no longer smooth as a mirror, but was being violently churned.

William and Hermione turned to look, and everywhere they looked, there were white heads and hands emerging from the dark, murky water.

Men, women, and children—all had sunken, sightless eyes—hundreds of Inferi emerged from the dark lake.

They climbed ashore, their withered hands gripping the slippery rocks, and charged towards the three men.

Dumbledore looked at the Inferi, smiled slightly, and raised his wand high.

A burst of air erupted from the tip of the staff, and golden flames filled the sky above the cave before crashing into the lake in an instant.

The mist rising from the water's surface spread outwards, displaying a dazzling golden hue.

William also flicked his wand, and a golden-red ring of fire encircled the rock, trapping some of the Inferi.

Hermione, as if guided by a telepathic connection, gently waved her wand and summoned the iron cage.

Given their stingy nature, always trying to take advantage of every opportunity, seeing so many well-prepared Inferi... how could they not try to fleece them?

Voldemort will return sooner or later, and he will create Inferi again. These things will be the perfect practice tools.

The Dementor are almost drained; now we can use the Inferi to fill the gaps.

If he weren't pressed for time, William would have liked to take Inferi from the lake.

Once the war begins, have Dumbledore hold Voldemort back first, and then dump the remaining Inferi directly into the Death Eaters' house.

For example, Old Ma's family... why not get a stack?

As the flames raged, the Inferi floating underwater seemed to dare not show themselves again.

Dumbledore pulled the small boat out again.

William also took off the Safety Watch, preparing to hand it to Fawkes.

Hermione rolled her eyes and suddenly said, "Fawkes seems to be able to Apparition here."

William and Dumbledore somewhat taken aback, but after a moment's thought, they understood why she had said that.

Fawkes was just underwater, and then suddenly appeared on the shore. It can obviously Apparition here.

However, both of them were focused on the Inferi and didn't notice this. But the exceptionally perceptive Hermione did.

In fact, not only Fawkes, but even House-elf can freely appear in places where wizards cannot Apparition.

For example, Hogwarts.

Their magic is quite different from that of wizards.

"Of course, it seems Voldemort has made another big mistake." Dumbledore looked at Hermione with satisfaction and smiled.

He ignored the Magical Creatures and the House-elf; his eyes were only on the wizards.

Indeed, he only saw wizards as a threat to him, and always looked down on those "non-humans".

It seems I can only give him a "T" at most.

"Let's go, let's go straight to the center of the island," Dumbledore said, raising his arm.

Fawkes grabbed the principal, a flash of flame, and he disappeared into the air with him.

"We're leaving too." William walked to the shore.

"Aren't we waiting for Fawkes?" Hermione asked, puzzled.

He looked towards the island and shook his head, saying:

"No need to wait. Fawkes is incredibly stingy. He's definitely retaliating against me and won't take us there. Let's just take the boat."

William complained aloud, but inwardly he gave Fawkes a thumbs up.

The boat was too narrow, but Hermione could still sit on his lap.

"The boat doesn't look very stable," William warned again. "It could easily capsize."

"Really?" Hermione looked nervously at the small boat. "What should we do?"

William smiled and picked up the adorable girl who, despite being timid, dared to jump into the water to save him, and though seemingly brave, was afraid of capsizing the boat.

Hermione blushed but didn't struggle. He walked effortlessly to the deck and then set her down.

"The boat is so narrow, you can sit on my lap." William was trying to Hermione again.

Before he could finish speaking, Fawkes suddenly appeared. He grabbed Hermione's arm, flashed past, and disappeared from the ship.

"..."

William sat on the boat, waiting alone for two minutes.

He was certain... Fawkes wasn't coming to pick him up!

Fawkes, you son of a bitch... I'll turn you into braised chicken one day.

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