Chapter 1005 Lockhart’s Redemption

The principal's office suddenly became quiet.

People subconsciously held their breath and looked at the tiny, wrinkled baby bird that emerged from the ashes.

The little chick fluttered a few times in Elena's hand with some fear, as if it wanted to find a place to hide. However, the newly reborn bird had little strength in either its wings or claws, which made its struggle look more like Rubbing and coquettishly in Elena's palm.

"Will it remember those things before? Professor."

Elena looked at the cute little guy in her hand with gleaming eyes and asked in a low voice.

"You see, it seems to like me very much and has been nuzzling me quietly——"

"Every time the Phoenix reaches nirvana, it is equivalent to a brand new life."

Dumbledore had a soft smile on his face, walked over and touched the little bird's head, and said with a smile.

"It's almost time. It's been in its previous state for many days. I've been telling it to move quickly. Unexpectedly, it still insisted on waiting until you came before actively choosing Nirvana and rebirth - but it doesn't like it now. You, it is afraid..."

He couldn't help but chuckle again when he saw the extremely complicated expression on Elena's face.

"Fox is a phoenix, Elena. When a phoenix is ​​dying, it often wants to make its nirvana more meaningful. However, when it rises from the ashes, it is a brand new little creature. Phase. Compared with the magical oppression in your blood, it is too immature now——"

If according to Eastern divination, Veela and Phoenix are not compatible by nature, and they are destined to fight if they come together.

However, compared to the first meeting last year when school started, the scene today is obviously much more harmonious.

After more than a year of learning magic, Elena has become increasingly adept at controlling magic. Now she rarely lets her blood affect her emotions.

On the other hand, the newly reborn little Phoenix is ​​too immature. Under the absolute comparison of strength, Fox cannot escape from Elena's clutches even if he struggles desperately.

The most important thing is that the scary witch lady is not even afraid of the so-called Phoenix True Fire.

Effortlessly extinguishing the flames that the little bird finally spat out, Elena lit a faint blue flame at her fingertips with her backhand.

Guji! OVO!

The poor little Phoenix's eyes widened. After hesitating for a few seconds, he finally stopped struggling.

"That's good. Then, I'd better call you Fox——"

Elena narrowed her eyes with satisfaction and put the phoenix into her pocket in front of Dumbledore.

"Professor, I feel that little Fox seems to be destined for me in this life. I will raise him for a few days and then bring him back to you when he grows up."

The newly born little Phoenix is ​​warm all over, and it looks like a small warm baby when placed in his pocket. Compared with the disobedient and arrogant Golden Retriever Turkey before, it is obviously much more obedient. Sure enough, the baby still has to grow up. Grab it.

"Unfortunately, you may have to leave it in the principal's office."

Dumbledore said, waving his wand lightly, and the pile of ashes flew back to the nest on the bird's shelf like a veil.

"Phoenixes are different from other creatures. There is no domestication relationship between them and wizards: the ancestors of the Dumbledore family have made an ancient magical contract with the phoenix. Whenever a Dumbledore needs help, the phoenix will fly to him. "

The phoenix is ​​a very fascinating magical creature.

Except around the time of Nirvana, it is very beautiful most of the time: it is covered with amazing red and gold feathers.

More importantly, it is also a very powerful and wonderful creature. They can carry extremely heavy things. Their tears have a healing effect. Like house elves, they can ignore most restrictions and travel freely through space. Loyal, brave and pure.

If a succubus symbolizes cunning, cruelty and chaos, then the phoenix is ​​undoubtedly her most appropriate antonym.

"Hmm, is that so? I thought the phoenix would also have the habit of imitating and learning... After all, it is also a bird."

Elena glanced at Dumbledore suspiciously. She always felt that this old carrot was lying to her.

At least, judging from the feedback from the quiet and motionless little guy in the pocket, he probably liked her quite a bit this time.

Dumbledore shrugged, sat back in the high-backed chair behind the desk, and stared at Elena with his light blue, penetrating eyes. He looked particularly calm, as if he was watching someone. Such a naughty child made Elena hesitate.

After all, if Fox really couldn't be raised by other wizards, then the custody rights she had snatched would be meaningless.

"A contract is a contract, but the growth cycle of the phoenix has nothing to do with the contract——"

At this moment, a faint voice came from the door of the principal's office.

When Dumbledore suddenly became helpless, a certain retired old devil grinned, crossed his arms and said with a smile.

"I gave this phoenix to Albus. It was already an adult bird at the time - as for its magic power and growth, its fire phoenix appearance was still ignited by my magic power... Maybe it really won't obey my instructions. , but this does not affect your ability to keep it and play with it first..."

"Oh, Professor Apokalis," Dumbledore twitched the corner of his mouth, "The magical creature this child raised has-"

"As the owner of the three-headed hell dog, I think Elena is fully capable of taking care of the young Phoenix. Moreover, a pure, brave, and beautiful creature like the Phoenix fits the character and appearance of this little girl very well—— Albus, you are not young anymore and you cannot do everything yourself as you did before. Sometimes it is appropriate to let young people practice and learn more, right?"

Dumbledore wanted to say something, but his words were interrupted again by Grindelwald. The old devil looked at Elena and blinked.

In Grindelwald's long life, watching Dumbledore suffer was undoubtedly one of his greatest pleasures.

But now, there is an extra little fun to make Elena happy.

Good things like this kind of killing two birds with one stone have become increasingly difficult to find recently. After all, Dumbledore's body is no longer what it used to be. Many exciting activities and gameplay may not be implemented one by one as unscrupulously as before.

"Let's leave it to that about the Phoenix. We'll have time to talk about it in detail later. The focus today is not about the Phoenix's nirvana -"

Grindelwald waved his hand, directly sealing Dumbledore's subsequent struggle space, and looked solemn.

"So, Mr. Lockhart, are you ready to face your past experiences head-on? This is not just public opinion and some of your personal aftermath, there may also be questioning from the Ministry of Magic, and even from students. , parents, or attacks from your former fans.”

"Professor Apokalis, I-"

"...It seems you are still a little hesitant, right? That's understandable. You are so popular now -"

"Mr. Tower!" Lockhart took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "I won't back down this time. If I can't face the past, I won't be qualified to stay in the Major Arcana. I hope I can put an end to those nightmares."

"Oh," Grindelwald said, raising his eyebrows, "Okay, so what's the plan now, Miss Fool?"

He shrugged his shoulders noncommittally and turned his head to look at Elena with interest.

Ever since he met Elena, Elena had always been so naive that it made people laugh, but it happened that all her naive ideas worked.

There seems to be no choice or sacrifice in this little girl's world. Grindelwald really wants to see how far such a pure idealist can go, and when will she finally emerge from that fairy tale world? back to reality.

At least, from Grindelwald's current perspective, there seems to be no solution that has both ends.

"Do you think I am an omniscient god, Grandpa?"

Elena retorted angrily, not rolling her eyes at the old devil for the sake of Grindelwald helping her trick her into getting the Phoenix.

"So, you're saying...you haven't thought about it yet?"

said Dumbledore, looking a little strange.

"Well, I have some general ideas——"

Elena spread her hands, looked at the wizards with different expressions in the room, and explained calmly.

"Judging from the results and core procedures, Mr. 'The Hanged Man''s previous dark history, as well as the people he has hurt, will definitely be confessed to the magical public one by one. But in terms of operating techniques, order, and caliber There is still a lot worth detailing.”

"The same words and stories, told in different ways, will have completely different effects."

"A world where no one is hurt is not something that only exists in fairy tale worlds."

Elena paused for a moment and looked not far away.

At this time, Lockhart was looking at her with a complicated expression. The young wizard was silent for a moment, seeming to consider several rounds of questions.

"I've always been confused, Miss Fool, do you really think I'm qualified for the position of the Major Arcana?"

He said seriously, looking around the three demon kings in the room, "Perhaps, I am more suitable for an A-class member, rather than a member of the Major Arcana who shoulders such high expectations and power? After all, no matter in terms of ability or past, Even considering all other considerations, I——"

"What nonsense are you talking about? Mr. Hanged Man."

Elena glanced at Lockhart curiously and answered without any hesitation.

"Do you think the Major Arcana is a child's play? Your qualifications do not come from someone else's appointment - it comes from your attainments in the field of magic and memory, including your potential to bloom in the future. Brilliant results...the manpower at your disposal, the resources at your disposal, the knowledge you can acquire, are all based on what you, Gilderoy Lockhart, deserve."

Elena said calmly, looking at Lockhart carefully and smiling slightly.

"This seems to be the optimal allocation of resources at the moment, and you have never let anyone down. Are you starting to be afraid of the flashlights of reporters?"

Lockhart didn't know how to respond.

He suddenly remembered the farewell words of the director of the Black Sea Shipyard: "This child, the last work of the former Soviet Union, is left to you, wizards. Now let me forget your names and faces, and let them remain in my memory. Completely decompose it into steel... Do you understand the details?"

At this moment, those admirable Muggles were still grieving and troubled by their false memories.

As the leader of memory tampering, he still guards everyone's memories - just like an encrypted envelope, no one except him can let those real memories return to the minds of Muggles. This is also "forgetting" "The reason why it is so difficult to recover.

Then he recalled the particular execution he had witnessed in the principal's office.

I am reminded of the words written by the foundation on the title page of the membership: "While others live in the sun, someone must fight in the shadows to prevent those dangerous things from being exposed to the public, so that others can live in a sane and In the ordinary world.”

He also thought of the fiery and pure gazes of the scholars at those institutes, of the students discussing his longing in private, of the regrets Quirinus Quirrell confided to him, of facing Voldemort's Horcruxes on the streets of Russia. of passion...

Of course, there is also Arkhipovna's increasingly casual teasing, and the agreement about teaching him how to masturbate after Christmas...

And the growing worry in his heart, fearing that one day he would turn back into the bad, vain, and exaggerated self he once was.

And now, the hope of redemption lies before him—and behind him, stands the entire future.

"Of course not," said Lockhart. "There's nothing to fear anymore."

After the Christmas hunt was over, he went to help Arkhipovna try to apply for permission to visit the Hyperion.

Speaking of which, as a member of the Major Arcana, Lockhart has never been to the legendary "Succubus City".

But think about it carefully, as the "Huberion Repair Base", as well as the entrance to the core worlds such as "Gringotts Technical Branch", "Valkyria Research Institute", "Destiny Group Material Reserve", etc., where It should be an academic holy place far beyond the research institutes outside the school.

Anyway, he is also a member of the Major Arcana, so there is nothing wrong with him being the top administrator in charge of that area.

In this way, he could regain some ground in front of the woman from the Landau Institute.

"..."

Elena was silent for a few seconds, then turned her head to look at Grindelwald.

"I just thought about it and brought in an extra magician from Salzburg."

"A...magician?" Grindelwald raised his eyebrows meaningfully and his eyes flickered.

"Well, when the time comes, Gringotts will also have a mixed mobile operator of goblins, giants, and Black Olipa on standby at any time."

Elena touched the little bird in her arms with disgust.

Due to the change in time points, there is no way to use Phoenix Fox to blind the basilisk in this operation. It is better to be more prepared, lest the flags of guys like Lockhart are really raised, which would be too bad.

"It would be fine for the basilisk to stay quietly in the castle and die, but what if it happens to escape..."

Elena squinted her eyes, glanced at the clouds outside the window, and whispered sweetly.

"In short, if something unexpected happens, just cover the ground with firepower - strive for zero battle damage, and forget about it if the snake skin is broken."

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Great!