"Hogwarts' server is actually quite useful!" Victor Wick thought happily as he disconnected his Magic Operating System from the castle's network.
While Hogwarts couldn't assist him directly in combat, the castle provided his OS with an immense amount of computing power.
This made decrypting and analyzing advanced magic feel significantly more effortless!
Take the Patronus Charm, for instance!
Previously, Victor's approach to magic had been overly focused on logical thinking, and he truly lacked any happy memories.
Consequently, he had never quite mastered the Patronus Charm.
Even with his attempts to use his coding abilities to refine it, he could only produce a vague mass of white mist at best...
Although that mist was no less powerful than someone else's corporeal Patronus, he always felt it was a bit of a letdown.
But now, that disappointment could finally be rectified.
He felt that the spell had been completely perfected, thanks to the massive computing power borrowed from Hogwarts!
Victor stood up and raised his wand; his Magic Operating System immediately began executing the Patronus Charm!
A moment later, a cluster of white mist, more brilliant than ever before, drifted from the tip of his wand.
Then, a small creature emerged from the vapor.
"What... what on earth is this thing..." Victor frowned slightly, staring intently at the little creature.
It appeared to be a tiny bird.
To be precise, it was a mechanical hummingbird with a heavy steampunk aesthetic!
Victor pulled out a magnifying glass to examine his Patronus closely...
The mechanical hummingbird was composed entirely of precise geometric structures, resembling a 3D wireframe model where every facet reflected a cold, silver light.
Its wings, seemingly made of metal, were vibrating rapidly, emitting a faint humming sound.
The noise sounded like the whirring of a server fan, or perhaps the buzzing of a distant swarm of bees...
Most striking was its head—a perfect sphere without eyes. On its forehead sat a prominent rune: 'ᛊ'.
This ancient rune representing the sun glowed softly, appearing to respond to Victor's summons.
"This isn't magical at all..."
While Victor was dazed, Lucky had already padded over, attempting to pounce on the little thing floating in the air.
However, since the Patronus had no physical form yet, Lucky's paws kept swiping through thin air.
Victor absentmindedly grabbed a biscuit and stuffed it into the dog's mouth, then directed the mechanical hummingbird to the table.
He sat in his chair, resting his chin on the backs of his hands with a slight frown, silently observing the hovering mechanical bird.
Victor actually understood why this had happened.
It was because his Patronus wasn't summoned through traditional methods involving personal emotions.
It had been forcibly 'constructed' through code, rather than 'growing' from feelings.
So, that was why it presented such a cold, inorganic state.
Victor thought for a moment, then suddenly raised his wand and tapped the mechanical hummingbird lightly on the head.
This time, he inputted a few memories from his life that could be considered somewhat happy.
A second later, the hummingbird tilted its head. The movement combined the precision of metal with the fluidity of life, and the previously sharp buzzing sound softened considerably.
The hummingbird then began to move on its own, circling Victor once before coming to a halt in front of him again.
The rune on its head pulsed with light, as if it were greeting him...
Nurmengard.
Heavy snow once again covered the ruined castle.
Grindelwald looked up at the snowflakes drifting through the narrow window; he had lost count of how many snowfalls he had seen in Nurmengard.
Suddenly, a trace of a smile appeared on his face.
"I thought you said you would never see me again?"
"I believe you owe me a reasonable explanation regarding the Nurmengard Institute of Magic," Dumbledore's voice drifted in from outside the door, colder than the snowflakes landing on Grindelwald's face.
"Ah... you found out by accident... So, what do you plan to do about it?"
Grindelwald sat on the stone bed in the corner, unhurriedly pulling his tattered clothes tighter around him.
"You are not to interfere with those people anymore. You will stay here, exactly as you are supposed to," Dumbledore said coldly.
Grindelwald chuckled softly but did not answer.
Dumbledore's voice came again. "Even if you truly intend to cause trouble, please wait until the matter with Tom is resolved... You should know that getting involved now, regardless of your intentions, will not benefit you in any way."
Grindelwald looked toward the door in surprise.
In the doorway, he could only see Dumbledore's tall, thin shadow.
Grindelwald sighed softly; he had actually detected a hint of compromise in Dumbledore's words...
"You still don't trust me, Albus."
"Your actions make it very difficult for me to trust you again... Gellert."
A smile flickered on Grindelwald's face once more. It had been a long time since he had heard Dumbledore call him by his name.
"Rest assured, my word still holds. I have already handed all those people over to you and Victor Wick. I will not interfere further... I assume you've already visited the Nurmengard Institute of Magic over there?"
Dumbledore remained silent. He had indeed gone there, but when he arrived, he found only an empty complex of buildings without a soul in sight.
"Since you've been there, you should know my people have completely withdrawn. Those young ones are now entirely free. As for what becomes of them in the future, that is up to you," Grindelwald said indifferently.
"Gellert, what exactly are you trying to do?" Dumbledore's brow furrowed.
"Go now... Albus. Just as you said before... we shouldn't see each other again."
Wednesday night, the entire school was eating dinner in the warm Great Hall.
Suddenly, the Great Hall doors swung open, and a gust of cold wind blew in, making the students sitting nearby shiver.
Dumbledore strode in, followed by a beautiful young girl who looked to be about thirteen or fourteen.
In an instant, the entire Great Hall fell silent. Boys and girls alike were captivated by the unique charm radiating from the girl.
Harry's eyes widened as he stared at the unfamiliar, beautiful girl.
Ron had been midway through a large bite of a chicken leg, but upon seeing the girl, the meat dropped onto his plate with a dull thud.
Hermione shot an annoyed look at the two useless boys beside her, but she couldn't help staring at the girl's face either. 'Her hair is beautiful...'
Victor silently set down his fork, his gaze also landing on the girl...
The girl noticed Victor's look and gave him a faint smile.
Victor's brow furrowed.
'Is this how you sneaked into Hogwarts?'
'And Dumbledore... didn't you go to find Grindelwald? Why are you letting Fleur Delacour in so easily?'
Dumbledore caught Victor's eye and gave him a meaningful look, then stood before the staff table and announced loudly, "Everyone, I am pleased to announce that Miss Fleur Delacour will be transferring from Beauxbatons to Hogwarts. Please welcome your new classmate."
Amidst the thunderous applause, Professor McGonagall, though somewhat surprised, rose to leave the hall to fetch the Sorting Hat.
Victor's eyebrows twitched. One visit to Grindelwald, and Fleur had gone from a student at the Nurmengard Institute of Magic to a transfer from Beauxbatons?
What kind of agreement did those two old fogies reach?
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