The Fool in Hogwarts

Bonus 400 PS, next bonus at 500 PS

◇◇◇

Harry and Ron exchanged glances. Although they thought Hermione had a point, they still refused to ask Vade for help.

"Why?" Hermione asked, puzzled. "Don’t you want to find out who Nicolas Flamel is as soon as possible?"

"It’s too expensive," Ron said awkwardly. "A single divination from him costs at least ten Galleons. I don’t have that kind of money."

"I do have ten Galleons, but it still doesn’t seem safe," Harry said uneasily. "The three of us are the only ones investigating Nicolas Flamel. If he finds out, won’t he become suspicious?"

"Ahem. That’s exactly what worries me.

"We’re Gryffindors, while Moria is a Slytherin. We have no idea what he might do."

"I think you’re both overthinking it." Hermione rolled her eyes. "Fine, keep searching on your own. Send me an owl if you discover anything."

Hogsmeade Station.

The Hogwarts Express sounded its whistle and slowly departed, carrying the students returning home for Christmas.

Outside the windows, everything was covered in white. Snow blanketed most of the scenery along the route, though the compartments remained pleasantly warm.

Vade and Daphne sat in the same compartment, eating sweets and chatting.

"What are you planning to do during the holidays?"

"I’ll go to Diagon Alley to buy some materials I might need for alchemy, then put on a few magic shows to earn some pocket money."

"Magic shows?" Daphne did not seem to understand the term and frowned slightly. "The Ministry of Magic forbids underage wizards from using magic in front of Muggles.

"Until we come of age, our wands are subject to a spell called the Trace. It detects magic performed around an underage wizard and sends an alert to the Improper Use of Magic Office, reporting the type and location of the spell."

"I know." Vade remained unconcerned. "But the Trace has its flaws. It cannot identify the caster precisely.

"In other words, as long as an adult wizard is nearby, the Ministry won’t know who used the magic and usually won’t investigate.

"They only check whether an underage wizard cast the spell if a serious incident occurs and the Ministry becomes involved."

In truth, the Trace mainly restricted Muggle-born witches and wizards. Pure-bloods and half-bloods could almost ignore it.

More importantly, Vade could cast magic without a wand. As a Sequence 7 Magician, he also knew how to interfere with divination. A single paper figure would be enough to deceive the Trace.

"But there won’t be an adult wizard with you. If you’re caught, you could receive a warning, be expelled, have your wand snapped, or even face trial before the Wizengamot."

"That’s true. The Trace is rather unfair to orphans, especially those living in the Muggle world.

"However, I should clarify something. Stage magic is a form of visual deception, a performing art. It doesn’t involve actual magic."

"Stage magic isn’t magic?"

"Exactly. I can show you."

Vade took a deck of tarot cards from his pocket. He placed them face down in his left hand, held the bottom card with his right, and quickly flashed it before Daphne’s eyes.

"Did you see a card just now?"

Daphne nodded. "Yes."

Vade smiled mysteriously and drew the Emperor card from the deck. "This is the card you saw, isn’t it?"

"How did you know?" Daphne asked in surprise. "Was that Legilimency?"

"Of course not. I don’t know Legilimency yet. I simply made sure you saw the card I wanted you to see. I didn’t use any magic throughout the entire trick.

"A wizard might assume it was Legilimency, but a Muggle would call it mind-reading."

Daphne considered this. "It’s impressive, but it also seems rather primitive."

"It is primitive. Stage magic cannot compare with real magic, but to Muggles who don’t know magic exists, this is what they believe magic to be."

Vade patiently explained, then performed several more simple tricks for Daphne before opening a detailed book on alchemy and beginning to read.

Time passed without either of them noticing.

The train arrived at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters that afternoon. Many people had already gathered there, all parents waiting to collect their children.

However, only witches and wizards could enter the platform. Muggle parents without magic had to wait outside.

The moment Vade and Daphne stepped off the train, Daphne spotted an aristocratic-looking couple in the crowd, along with a pale-faced girl who shared her hair colour.

"Father, Mother, Astoria!" Daphne ran over happily, gave her parents a tight embrace, then gently stroked her younger sister’s hair.

"Daphne, I missed you so much!"

"I missed you too. I’ve kept every letter you sent me each week." Daphne smiled, then suddenly remembered something and waved Vade over.

"Let me introduce you. This is Vade Moria."

Vade smiled awkwardly and inclined his head slightly. "Good afternoon, Mr and Mrs Greengrass."

Mr and Mrs Greengrass exchanged a glance before turning their attention to Vade.

The boy was certainly handsome enough. The question was what he was like in every other respect.

"Is he your boyfriend?" Astoria asked timidly.

Vade instinctively wanted to deny it three times in succession, but doing so in front of her entire family would be rather impolite, so he forcibly restrained himself.

"No. Your sister and I are only classmates and friends."

"Good friends," Daphne added, though the look she gave Vade contained a trace of resentment.

"That’s a shame," Astoria said regretfully.

Vade paid no attention to the remark and quietly activated his Spirit Vision to examine Astoria.

The colours of the aura surrounding each part of her body were fainter than those of a healthy person. The white light enveloping her body was also mixed with the colour of blood, and it was far denser than Daphne’s.

Unless something changed, her lifespan would not reach even half that of an ordinary witch.

Vade deactivated his Spirit Vision and looked at the girl whose remaining years were limited. Remembering the promise he had made, he could not help falling silent.

Breaking a bloodline curse was impossible for a Sequence 7 Magician, but for Sequence 0: The Fool, it would hardly count as a problem.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Vade picked up his trunk, said goodbye, and left.

The Greengrass family boarded a carriage, which rose into the sky by itself and flew towards a grand manor.

"Daphne, would you mind telling us more about your good friend?" Mrs Greengrass asked with a smile.

"Vade may be a half-blood, but he’s very talented in divination and Potions," Daphne said. "His divinations are highly accurate, and he’s also the best student in Potions."

"Being a half-blood is not a serious problem, so long as he is neither a Muggle nor a Squib," Mr Greengrass said meaningfully. Then his tone shifted. "However, Daphne, you must understand that only if he proves himself sufficiently exceptional can he become the Greengrass heiress’s... good friend. Otherwise, he can only remain an ordinary friend."

"Father, I promise he won’t disappoint you."

(To be continued.)