[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-wizard-war-at-hogwarts":3,"chapter-wizard-war-at-hogwarts-wizard-war-at-hogwarts-chapter-121":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Wizard War at Hogwarts",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2358094,4612,"Chapter 121: Fear","wizard-war-at-hogwarts-chapter-121",121,"\u003Cp>“I think you’ve met your match,” Professor McGonagall couldn’t help saying; Harry even thought she was holding back a laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as they were at an impasse, Ginny and Ivy entered the Great Hall, staring at the table in astonishment: “Turkey for breakfast?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tension between Zhang Qiu and Trelawney eased considerably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dumbledore chuckled and added new chairs for them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wake up, Ginny,” Ron tapped her head. “It’s already noon!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, sorry, we stayed up late last night,” Ginny yawned again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The moon was so beautiful last night—big and round,” Ivy said as she sat down and reached for chips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry recalled the lunar phase, then narrowed his eyes at Zhang Qiu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t want to, but the Divination said so,” she shrugged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, I just remembered—where’s our dear Professor Lupin?” Trelawney suddenly blurted out; Harry thought she was deliberately picking the worst possible moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s sick,” Snape said stiffly. “I’ve brewed him medicine; he should recover soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Getting sick at Christmas is truly pitiful. Of course, I foresaw it—I just wanted to remind everyone…” Trelawney whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah! This sausage is absolutely delicious!” Harry suddenly interrupted loudly. “Can I have some more?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course,” Professor Doudou said as he handed him the sausage. “This brings up the new EU standards passed by Muggles. If the Department of Magical Law Enforcement hadn’t firmly resisted the pressure, we’d no longer be able to enjoy authentic British sausages.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard about that news two years ago,” Ivy chimed in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, but the problem is Hark has no other notable achievements,” Professor Doudou said. “So every time he gives a speech, he emphasizes sausages.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The adults laughed heartily at the political joke; Harry joined in, but Trelawney still looked gloomy, even slightly humiliated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The feast could have lasted until nightfall, but Harry and Ron were obsessed with the Firebolt; seeing Professor Doudou find an excuse to leave midway, they too prepared to depart after eating their fill. Shortly after they left, Zhang Qiu followed them out and suggested they let Wood inspect the broom before mounting it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ll have to wait until Wood returns to school,” Harry grumbled. “But we can’t wait any longer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine, it’s harmless enough,” Zhang Qiu sighed. “I’ll head back to my dorm—I’m not interested in brooms.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From that Christmas afternoon onward, their remaining holiday was entirely consumed by the Firebolt; it wasn’t until after term resumed that someone, out of envy, finally voiced a different opinion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think what you’re doing is dangerous,” Hermione said the moment she returned. “The broom might have been sent by Black—he knows you can’t resist the Firebolt.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you telling me how to do my job?” Harry mimicked Professor Doudou’s tone. “We’ve been riding it for days now—clearly, there’s nothing wrong with it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, and both Professor Doudou and Professor McGonagall checked it,” Ron added. “Harry suspected Snape sent it, but Snape ‘informally’ denied it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I recall correctly, the Firebolt is expensive, isn’t it?” Hermione hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Expensive? It costs more than all seven brooms in Slytherin combined!” Ron gestured wildly. “It’s hard to imagine Snape has made so much dirty money over the years—he might be selling house points on the side.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seven Nimbus 2001s?” Hermione frowned. “Seventeen thousand Galleons? That’s eighty thousand pounds—for just one broom?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you’re going to calculate it that way, it’s cheaper than a Rolls-Royce,” Harry shrugged. “Don’t obsess over the price. What matters to me is that I need a broom for the match—if he’d given me a Nimbus series, I’d be just as happy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Snape heard you say that and switched the Firebolt for a Shooting Star overnight,” Ron elbowed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I’ll swap my gift to him for shampoo,” Harry growled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hermione looked puzzled at the two of them clowning around, sighed without speaking, then shook her head and walked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the first week after term resumed, Harry couldn’t help seeking out Lupin again to ask about the Patronus Charm—and this time, he got a satisfying answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lupin told him he would give him private training every Thursday. He emphasized “private” because he couldn’t use real Dementors to train Harry; he could only use a Boggart instead. Only Harry would see a Dementor in the Boggart—others present would cause interference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Harry had to cross out “learn the Patronus Charm together” from his note. He feared Zhang Qiu might see that terrifying Dark Wizard in the Boggart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At eight p.m. on Thursday, Harry left his dormitory and went to the classroom for History of Magic. Lupin thought it was spacious enough for practice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five minutes later, Lupin arrived with a Boggart inside a suitcase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then…” Professor Lupin drew his own wand and gestured for Harry to do the same. “The incantation I’m about to teach you is extremely advanced magic, Harry… beyond the capability of most wizards. It’s called the Patronus Charm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m ready,” Harry said eagerly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. When performed correctly, it summons a Patronus,” Lupin continued. “A Patronus is a force of pure positivity. Dementors cannot make people truly despair, so they cannot harm a Patronus—they fear it. But I must warn you, Harry, this spell may still be too advanced for you. Even many qualified wizards struggle with it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What does a Patronus look like?” Harry asked curiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Every wizard’s is unique.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then how do you summon it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Use an incantation, effective only when you focus all your mind on a very happy memory.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry briefly recalled fragments of happy memories. He decided to think of last year’s championship moment—the triumphant victory achieved through skill and teamwork, the trophy won fairly, the cheers of teammates, the streamers thrown by spectators, that golden rain of joy worth remembering for life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright,” Harry gripped his wand tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The incantation is…” Lupin cleared his throat. “Expecto Patronum!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Expecto Patronum,” Harry whispered it several times, then pointed his wand forward and shouted: “Expecto Patronum!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a puff, a cloud of silver mist burst from the tip of Harry’s wand—but it quickly dissipated into the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you see that?” Harry exclaimed. “Something appeared!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Excellent,” Lupin smiled. “Yes, and now… are you ready to face the Dementor?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes,” Harry gripped his wand tightly. “Open the box.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lupin opened the box. Thick black mist drifted out. For an instant, Harry’s heart leapt into his throat—he felt the Dementor was about to emerge from the fog.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But nothing came. The swirling mist gradually filled the entire room, and Harry remained breathless, waiting for the Dementor to appear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lupin sensed something was wrong. He gripped his wand, watching Harry closely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry’s breathing grew rapid. The mist thickened. His thoughts scattered. It wasn’t a Dementor in the fog—it was Voldemort. Or perhaps not Voldemort, but something far worse. He heard whispers, then screams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, a figure stepped out of the black mist. It resembled a Dementor—but wasn’t. It carried a massive scythe. Beneath its cloak, a slow voice whispered: “Peverell…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry could no longer hold back. He finally realized his true fear—not the Dementor, not Voldemort—but the forbidden entity standing at the end of magic, the great terror that wore the face of Death. He had thought he’d nearly forgotten it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Expecto… no, silly…” As Harry tried to mutter the Silencio charm, fear gripped him again. What would happen if he mocked Death? Would he die young? Would his soul vanish completely, leaving not even a memory behind?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Silly silly,” came a voice from beside him—not Lupin’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Death suddenly lifted his robe, revealing a long, sensual leg.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know you might not want to come with me,” the hooded face transformed into a beautiful girl. “But what if I wore black stockings?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry snapped out of his terror and saw Zhang Qiu grinning at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Boggart also noticed Zhang Qiu. It pulled out that strange belt again: “Cobra…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Silly silly!” Zhang Qiu said again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s happening? What’s happening? What’s happening?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The belt suddenly sprouted a mouth and shouted. In the end, it didn’t become a strange Dark Wizard—it became a girl in armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I must admit my plan failed—the Boggart didn’t turn into a Dementor in front of you,” Lupin said awkwardly. “But the good news is, I’m glad to see Miss Zhang has overcome her fear and defeated the Boggart again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you’re going to practice the Patronus Charm secretly, you should have invited me,” Zhang Qiu winked. “I can actually summon a Dementor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?” This time, even Lupin looked as stunned as Harry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Third Chapter of the Xuan Jun Qi Zhang Mi Jing: The Scroll of Summoning and Binding Spirits,” she said. “It allows one to summon or command a Dementor.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1437,"2026-06-21T04:54:27.874Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","67623870a0b166b1c835cb2209b483db82cdb37e0afd5e720c34aea668f215cc","wizard-war-at-hogwarts-chapter-122","wizard-war-at-hogwarts-chapter-120",528,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwizard-war-at-hogwarts-cover.jpg"]