Chapter 20: Oaths and Covenants
On the shores of Loch Lomond, it was already completely dark.
In the clear night sky, which has not yet been obscured by industrial haze, the moonlight silently slanted down, shrouding the entire lakeside in a layer of silver-white tulle, and the sound of the splash of water stirring when three large fish turned over was occasionally heard from the fish bucket on the lawn, and the stone piles that had been piled up to make a fire had long since cooled, and the blackened stones were covered with water droplets.
After a flash of fire, Elena and Dumbledore appeared next to the lake.
"Well, before you know it, it's so late? So, if you waste so much time in the afternoon, you might as well do what I said at the beginning. β
The girl looked around, looked at the old man beside her with a little complaint, and said.
Dumbledore smiled wryly and shook his head, not intending to refute.
He had really seen what it meant to be difficult, an unbreakable oath that seemed to him to be very simple, and it had taken him more than half an afternoon, and if it weren't for Grindelwald's eloquence, he might not have been able to negotiate it by now.
"And this mark is so ugly, Professor Dumbledore, you didn't mention anything that would leave a scar before!"
Elena raised her left hand dissatisfied, wrinkled her little nose, and looked as if she was crying but not crying.
In the bright moonlight, it was clearly visible that three shallow chain marks appeared on the back of the girl's white and immature hands, corresponding to the three vows she had made on the tower of Nyumengard.
"After a day, the mark will fade out of its own accord, and it won't be visible until you trigger it. β
Dumbledore explained calmly, unmoved.
After a long afternoon of verbal wars, he had learned how to keep a pleasant mood in conversation with the silver-haired little Lori, which was to selectively ignore the girl's inconsequential complaints, including the act of pretending to be pitiful.
Seeing that Dumbledore didn't react any more, Elena pursed her lips in no interest, her big bright eyes turned, and she tugged at the long cuffs of Dumbledore's wizarding robes, and said tentatively.
"Professor, I thought carefully about your trip to Diagon Alley tomorrow, and sure enough, there was something wrong. Otherwise, forget it. β
There is no doubt that in the wizarding world, Dumbledore is definitely the top "national male god" that everyone knows, not to mention the series of saviors and patron saints, just the headmaster of Hogwarts alone is enough to make his every move attract the attention of the entire wizarding world.
Elena couldn't imagine the inhumane spectators they would be in the next day when they were found to be in Diagon Alley, helping a cute, weak, helpless little witch to buy school supplies.
"In fact, all you have to do is give me the bursary Galleons, and you can rest assured. The girl patted her chest and said proudly, "No profiteer can deceive me so easily, even if I am the only one, I can smoothly buy all the materials that should be used for school." β
Dumbledore lowered his head and took a deep look at the innocent-looking silver-haired little Lori, and the ruined Headmaster's office, the trembling Phoenix Fawkes, and the half-empty owl shed appeared in front of himβhe wasn't worried that Elena would be deceived, he was worried about the Diagon Alley shopkeepers who didn't know the truth and didn't have the slightest psychological defense.
Besides, after watching the-for-tat debate between Elena and Grindelwald, he was even more determined to educate and pay attention to this dangerous half-breed little Lori.
He even had a strange premonition that if Elena was left alone in Diagon Alley, he would get into big trouble, and when the time came, he would have to come and clean up the mess after being bound by his oath.
"No, I swear to protect you to the best of my ability until you are raised to be a mature witch who can stand on your own. β
Dumbledore shook his head and replied in a resolute tone that could not be refuted.
"Alright, let's go back early. β
"Tomorrow morning at nine o'clock, I'll take you to Diagon Alley to pick up some necessary supplies for the new semester, like spell books, and wands or somethingβ"
As he spoke, Dumbledore suddenly paused, and patted his forehead with some annoyance.
"Oh, it looks like I'll have to ask Minerva for a list of the books and equipment I'll need for new students. β
After all, since he became the headmaster of Hogwarts, he has never led new students to Diagon Alley to buy supplies. He really couldn't remember exactly what he was going to buy now.
"In short, remember your vows, Elena Kaslana. β
Dumbledore rubbed Elena's little head, bent his knees slightly, looked at the girl's blue eyes seriously, and said, "Although there is no sorting yet, from now on, you are already a member of Hogwarts." β
"You know, don't rub my head all the time, your hair is oily. β
The silver-haired little Lori pushed away the big hand on top of her head dissatisfied, she decided that after she grew a little taller in a few years, she must wear ten-centimeter high heels to see who could touch her head casually.
"As for the oath or something, it will remind me of it itself, so you don't have to worry. β
Elena smiled slightly, raised her left hand, and clenched her fist violently, and the chain mark that had been hidden suddenly lit up, like a chain of flames, spiraling all the way up the girl's forearm.
In the darkness of the night, it looks as sacred and powerful as an inviolable Valkyrie.
"Nonsense! This is not a toy! Never try to challenge an unbreakable oath until you have twice as much magic as me and Grindelwald. β
Dumbledore's face sank and he scolded angrily.
The old man's pupils shrank slightly, and his gaze looked solemnly at the three dazzling oath light chainsβthe idea of breaking all oaths in an instant, even Grindelwald today may not be able to do this.
Obviously, Elena deliberately touched the prohibitions in all the vows made at the same time in her mind, and the warning phenomenon was triggered, but as long as she carried out any of the thoughts in her mind now, the unbreakable vow would take her life in an instant.
"Don't panic, it's not a big problem, just kidding. I don't want to die so soon. β
Elena stuck out her tongue mischievously, released her fist, patted Dumbledore, who had a black face, and said lightly.
"Isn't that ...... Don't hurt others, don't be an enemy of the wizarding world, and do everything I can to continue the legacy of Hogwarts. It's very simple, even if you don't say it, I won't actually disobey it. β
"Remember, tomorrow morning at nine o'clock ......"
Dumbledore, who had always been kind, finally couldn't help but stare at the silver-haired little Lori, and he had already begun to wonder if it was a mistake to bring this little scourge to Hogwarts.
"Wait, Professor Dumbledore, there's one more important thing. β
Seeing that Dumbledore seemed to be planning to leave, Elena hurriedly waved her hand, grabbed him by the sleeve, and stopped him.
"What else, dear Miss Caslana?"
Dumbledore took a deep breath and asked patiently in a gentle tone.
"Yes, yes!
The silver-haired little Lori turned around, laboriously picked up the bucket placed on the shore, handed it to Dumbledore flatteringly, nodded the three big fish in the bucket with her chin, and said in an expectant tone.
"Professor Dumbledore, I remember there was a magic that could extract the bones of creatures, look at it, why don't you help me ...... the bone spurs of these three fish together"
Syllable!
Before Elena could finish speaking, the air in front of her suddenly exploded.
Dumbledore's face was dark, and he didn't even say goodbye, and just disappeared in front of her eyes.
ββββ
(Meng Meng Da Youmeng wants to eat, the new book asks for recommendation ticket support!
PS: I'm sorry to be a little late, because there was supposed to be a negotiation plot of Dumbledore, Grindelwald, and Elena signing an unbreakable oath at the Newmengard Tower, but I found that I really can't control the plot of intellectual negotiation between two characters with super IQs like Grindelwald and Dumbledore. So I just skipped it. If I improve in the future, I'll try to flashback.
I'm sorry~~ I really tried hard, I want to give you a better and more complete story, but compared to the old author, the pen is really pitiful.
After all, I'm a guy who can only sell cute~