Chapter 219: The Assembly Begins

The word “detention” stung Harry’s eyes.

But to their surprise, Mr. Filch did not harass them; he merely led them to the outskirts of the castle.

They strode across the dark grounds, enduring the cold wind and heavy rain.

Harry still did not know what punishment awaited them, and so their unease deepened.

Malfoy trembled violently; Harry and the others were no better off.

It was said that En had gone to the Headmaster’s office and would depart together with Headmaster Dumbledore and a Professor of Alchemy.

Only now, as they imagined beginning their detention without En or Headmaster Dumbledore present, did they feel the full weight of their dread.

They had grown accustomed to En’s presence—no matter what happened, as long as En remained in the castle, they were never truly in danger.

They had learned this the last time the troll came, and this night’s curfew violation only reinforced that belief.

Now, En was leaving… yet Professor Quirrell still existed, and had become even more dangerous.

He could strike at any moment and take Harry’s life.

The moon was bright, but clouds kept drifting across it, plunging them into darkness.

Harry could see the lit windows of Hagrid’s hut. Then, they heard a distant shout.

“Is that you, Filch? Hurry up, I’m ready to go.”

“It’s me.”

Mr. Filch gave them a long, lingering look—filled with a disdain Harry and the others could not comprehend.

Hearing Hagrid’s voice, Harry and the others finally relaxed a little—surely, if they were with Hagrid, nothing too bad would happen?

“You don’t actually think you’re going to have a grand time with that fool, do you?”

Think again, boy—you’re going into the Forbidden Forest!”

Mr. Filch impatiently reminded them again,

“Stay close to that fool, or you’ll regret it!”

What he really meant wasn’t just trouble from the Forbidden Forest—it was not to cause trouble for a certain young wizard.

“The Forbidden Forest?”

Malfoy stopped dead, his voice far from its usual calm,

“We can’t go in at midnight—it’s full of everything—I heard there are werewolves.”

“That’s your own fault!”

Mr. Filch’s attitude toward Malfoy was pure loathing,

“Don’t let me catch you trying to dodge detention—especially you!”

He glared fiercely at Malfoy, then left.

…

Outside the Forbidden Forest, in the Office of Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Professor Quirrell, wrapped in his turban, trembled violently in the corner—he had been pushed to his limit. He feigned casualness as he glanced at a biscuit lying among the clutter; his empty stomach let out a loud growl.

He began slowly pulling out some cookies. The firelight illuminated the corner, then flickered away again.

At the same moment, in the Headmaster’s office.

En looked curiously at Professor McGonagall—he had never heard she was skilled in Alchemy. He realized how little he truly knew.

“My student, come to me.”

Professor Professor Tela first exchanged a glance with Professor McGonagall; both nodded politely, then Professor Tela took En’s hand.

Headmaster Dumbledore’s eyes narrowed into slits:

“Time is such a fascinating thing—it steals memories from me in the blink of an eye. I’d almost forgotten…”

The phoenix perched on his arm opened its eyes, and he took a gentle sip of hot tea,

“Minerva, my outstanding student—I’ve invited you to join me countless times, yet now, at last, you’ve agreed… truly—what joy…”

En now understood: just as Flora Olivia Professor Tela could bring her student Wizard Sean Green along,

Albus Dumbledore could certainly bring his beloved student Minerva McGonagall with him too.

Few young wizards knew that the Headmaster and Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts were, in truth, teacher and student.

The crackling of the fireplace in the Headmaster’s office mingled with the bubbling of potions and the tinkling of silver objects.

In En’s hand, the invitation to the International Alchemy Assembly spontaneously flew out, soon transforming into a peculiar portal:

Etched upon it were various magical runes; at its center, the Runic script read “Legend,” “Era,” and “Future.”

“Hold tight to me.”

Professor Professor Tela stepped forward with En, entering the door on the left, where green flames burned.

En glanced curiously—this looked like a variant of the Floo Network.

So this was… an automatically following fireplace door?

It certainly resembled… a Portkey.

En could no longer see Hogwarts Castle. Beyond the door stretched a long corridor.

Above the corridor was a magical sky, a sea of stars churning within.

At the far end stood an ancient, cracked plaque, slowly revealing names—En saw his own name etched upon it.

There were twenty-four plaques in total; at the very top, faintly glowing letters read:

“Nine nights I hung on a wind-tossed tree,

Pierced by a spear; I was offered to Odin,

Self-sacrificed to myself, upon that tree no man knew!

No bread I ate, no drop I drank.

I gazed downward, seized the Runes,

As I seized them, I cried out—twenty-four stone slabs fell from the tree.”

These were two famous verses from “The Words of the Gods,” Odin’s own account of his revelation of the Runes.

At the bottom of the plaques was inscribed:

“Awaiting twenty-four masters of an era.”

As En stood stunned, Headmaster Dumbledore spoke gently:

“Oh, so many statues… it reminds me of a fine one on the third floor of Hogwarts…”

En looked at the countless statues lining the corridor, then silently glanced at Headmaster Dumbledore.

He suddenly understood who had single-handedly founded the noisy Castle Cat Club.

“Please follow me.”

At that moment, a house-elf appeared before En—he had materialized instantly, and En had noticed nothing.

Dressed in ragged cloth, he held a delicate plaque, standing respectfully before En.

At the same time, En noticed many doors burning with green flames opening, revealing a modest number of wizards emerging.

Each wizard’s appearance was accompanied by the sudden appearance of a house-elf.

“Take your plaque—you shall witness the vast expanse of the Alchemy world.”

Professor Professor Tela whispered.

She was joyful and excited—ordinary alchemy apprentices, even if they attended the Assembly, could only offer trivial opinions.

But she, with her student, would announce that Alchemy would rise to greatness once more—announce… the arrival of an era.

Some would rejoice, some would panic; some would curse, some would covet;

Yet no matter what, every alchemist would admit:

This era held no fierce rivalry—only,

Wizard Sean Green.