A broken Hogwarts

Owen felt a little confused.

Only five days had passed since the day he and Mr. Shafiq were attacked. Just as he was gearing up to execute his fishing plan, he heard Mr. Shafiq tell him that the matter had been resolved.

Owen sat at the dining table chewing his baked potato chips with a confused look on his face, listening to Mr. Shafiq talk about how he asked the Aurors of the Ministry of Magic to arrest those guys, feeling empty in his heart.

"...After the last attack, I informed the Ministry of Magic about this matter. The Aurors attach great importance to these guys who dare to commit crimes in Diagon Alley. They happen to be wandering around with great energy recently - you I know, in order to catch those two fugitives - so I caught these guys conveniently."

"It has been clearly investigated. It is a small organization formed by a group of daring thieves and robbers. They are extremely confident and want to do something big." Albert said with a look of disdain and disgust, "So they targeted He broke into our family and wanted to kidnap the young master of the Shafiq family for ransom, hoping to live on this ticket for the rest of his life..."

He glanced at Owen, who was a little sluggish, and was very surprised by his appearance. Wasn't this kid always fearless?

He looked a bit like a child... He comforted him with inexplicable relief: "You don't have to worry anymore. They broke into your bookstore to lure you there so they could do something to you, so they were outside St. Mungo's Hospital. Keep an eye on...your bookstore can reopen."

Owen glanced at him, his whole body still a little weak. It was like preparing a wonderful performance with great enthusiasm only to have it canceled at short notice. This feeling of suffocation in his chest made him feel unable to perform well.

"How did they know that I opened that bookstore?" He lowered his head slightly and poked the barbecue on the plate with the fork in his hand.

Not many people knew that the bookstore in Knockturn Alley belonged to him. Apart from Natasha and Lupin, the only insiders were the Shafiqs. Every time he went to the bookstore, he never showed up in front of outsiders. He would recite the Illusion Charm to himself outside the store.

"It's not difficult to find out this kind of thing." Albert said casually, "Maybe someone saw you through the window or something..."

Adeline put her chin in her hand and listened quietly, a strand of black hair falling lazily beside her ear. She said in a slightly hoarse voice: "Then why did they attack you again, Albert?"

"Oh, because they let Owen escape." Albert sneered, making a fist with his right hand and gently hammering the table, "Two idiots happened to see me entering the potion store, and they slapped their heads and decided to attack me... They Maybe you think you can extort more Galleons if you catch me?”

"With those people's IQs, begging is more suitable for them." He said lazily, "Oh, before that, they have to stay in Azkaban for a while."

Adeline nodded slightly and slowly touched the crystal goblet with her long white fingers.

Owen squinted his eyes and said thoughtfully: "That's it..."

……

Over the next few days, Owen's life returned to calm.

The bookstore in Knockturn Alley has reopened after renovations. Natasha and Lupine set up more security and defense measures in the store, but they were not harassed again in the past few days.

In view of Mr. Lupine's dedicated work performance, Owen generously doubled his salary, making this job from an obvious squeeze to a privileged and decent job.

In this regard, Natasha hesitated for a long time and pulled out a lot of hair. But for the sake of saving her life, she didn't say anything in the end. She just stayed alone for a long time.

Shafiq Manor is as peaceful and laid-back as ever. Mr. and Mrs. Shafiq were busy with their own affairs. Melet played with the velvet called dango all day long, Nicks nibbled on roses every day, and Owen "sleeped" in his study all day long.

He had been studying Voldemort's flying spell in the wall-facing space for the past few days. Although this magic is complex and difficult, after persistent study and targeted learning, he has almost mastered this spell.

In his spare time, he also thought about the method that Tom taught him to improve his magic power. Different from the magic fusion experiments he had used, this was a complete black magic ritual, with dark and evil attributes.

The idea of ​​this ritual is very simple: burn a magic mark on the body as a "container". When he kills other creatures with his own hands, this mark can absorb part of the vitality that escapes when the creature dies, as well as the emotions of resentment and despair. . When enough killings are done to fill the mark, the mark will feed back to its owner, triggering a jump in magic power.

Although this ritual is a one-time use and can only be used once by each person, even so, it has great value to Owen.

There is no need to go out of your way to kill, just let nature take its course. In the future, he will always encounter enemies, and in the process of solving them, he can also increase his magic power. There is nothing more wonderful than this.

Naturally, such a black magic ritual cannot have side effects. It will undoubtedly distort people's minds and make them more evil and dark, but how to avoid this situation is already Owen's specialty.

"Tsk, it really suits me. Tom is really a good man." He said sincerely.

After spending some time in the wall-facing space to thoroughly study this ritual, and confirming that its side effects could be tolerated by the Black Demon Guard, Owen completed the ritual in reality without hesitation.

He used his own blood and a specially prepared potion to form ink, and used his wand to draw the ink to carve patterns on the inside of his right wrist. Amidst the sometimes short and sometimes long spells, accompanied by a tingling sensation like a needle and a sense of mental trance, a special black mark was engraved on the skin.

The cross-shaped intertwined bones are intertwined with patterns of snakes and thorns, which are in sharp contrast with Owen's pale skin and look strange and cruel. Then it disappears into the skin and usually doesn't show up.

Owen was very satisfied with this and even asked the house elves in the manor to make a Chinese meal to celebrate.

When there was only one week left before the start of school, he remembered that he should go to Diagon Alley to buy textbooks for the semester.

On a sunny afternoon, Owen found Nicks, who was so bored that he breathed fire at the sun, and said with a smile: "Nix, do you want to go out with me?"

Nyx turned her head and stared at him with her beautiful eyes, shook her long tail feathers, and let out a sweet chirp with joy.

Feeling the joy and urgency coming from the other party, Owen examined it for a while, and suddenly said with a pity on his face: "But your appearance is too eye-catching."

Nyx raised his head high and let out a cry of pride and dissatisfaction.

"I don't want to be the focus of the crowd and be watched by everyone." Irving shook his head regretfully.

Facing the disappointed and dissatisfied look in Nyx's eyes, he pretended to think for a while, and then said: "Unless you transform into a less conspicuous appearance."

"Tweet!" Nyx shouted angrily. But it won't deform.

Owen's eyes rolled slightly mischievously, and he said seriously: "I can help you transform. My transformation skills have improved a lot recently."

Although it is difficult to use transfiguration to transform magical magical animals, especially those with powerful magical powers. But if the other party is willing to cooperate, it is possible to temporarily change the other party's appearance, but it is very difficult to block the other party's ability.

Owen successfully transformed Melete into a mouse a few days ago, and even allowed her to only exert the power of a mouse. However, due to the strong will of the cat to resist, the transformation spell soon became ineffective. Because of this incident, Melete ignored him for several days.

But if you want to use polymorph on a phoenix or fire dragon, it would be a dream to do this.

"How about it, have you thought about it?" Owen urged.

Nyx looked hesitant. Between transforming into something ugly and not being able to go out to play, it finally chose to let Owen help it transform.

"Chirp!" Don't make me look too ugly, or I'll burn you!

Owen raised the corners of his mouth slightly, showing a successful smile. It is very rare to have a phoenix as a training object for transfiguration.

Nowadays, Nyx is still very easy to deceive. Although the phoenix is ​​a very intelligent magical animal, Nyx is still a little bird less than one year old, has not seen much of the world, and is actually very simple-minded.

Owen pulled out his wand and pointed it at Nyx, and threatened with a straight face: "You must not resist, otherwise, you will never change your mind!"

Nyx nodded quickly, staring nervously at the wand in his hand.

Owen recited the transformation spell, and the phoenix's gorgeous and graceful figure slowly shrank in the sound of the spell, and its feathers also changed colors.

When he lowered his wand, Nyx had transformed into a majestic owl. The whole body is covered with dark brown fluffy feathers, a pair of enlarged eyes are still red, and there are three long black feather crests on the top of the head, which looks very strange.

Nyx stretched his wings uncomfortably, turned his head and looked at himself, feeling a wave of grievances and displeasure toward Owen. It opened its beak toward the sky and spit out a jet of black, hot fire.

"Sure enough, it just changed the appearance." Owen smiled and patted his left shoulder, motioning for Nyx to stand on it. After putting a bag of gold coins and the book list for the next semester in his pocket, he pondered for a while, then turned and came to the living room. Adeline was sitting on a soft armchair, reading a book. When she heard the movement, she raised her head and asked in a soft voice: "Are you going out?"

"Well, go to Diagon Alley to buy books." Owen waved his wand and lit the fireplace.

"Do you want me to go with you?" Adeline asked gently.

"Don't bother, Mom, I'll just go by myself." Owen smiled at his mother and threw a handful of Floo powder into the fire. He lifted Nyx into his arms and stepped into the rising green flames.

Adeline stared quietly until Owen's figure disappeared in the flames. Her dark green eyes flickered slightly, and she suddenly closed the book in her hand with a "pop" sound.

In the Leaky Cauldron, Owen walked out of the fireplace covered in ashes, waving his wand to clean himself up. He glanced around with a smile at the lively chatting crowd, nodded politely to the old bar owner, then walked across the bar to the backyard wall, and tapped a wall brick three times with his wand.

The wall tiles moved, opening the door to Diagon Alley for him.

Although the weather is a bit hot, Diagon Alley is still bustling with activity. Bustling pedestrians were passing back and forth, and various sounds reached my ears in confusion.

Owen walked slowly along the streets of Diagon Alley, with a dazzling array of merchandise displayed in the windows of the surrounding shops. The owl-shaped Nyx looked around curiously with his big eyes wide open, looking dizzy.

As the school year approaches, large numbers of students from Hogwarts flock to Diagon Alley. Owen met several acquaintances and stopped to chat with them.

"Wow, your owl is very handsome, where did you buy it?" When he passed by the Eela Owl store, the clerk who was fanning the door said to him.

"Wild." Owen replied casually. Nyx turned his head and glared at the clerk fiercely, and the owl shop began to squawk one after another.

There is a sample Firebolt in the window of the Quidditch boutique. A group of young wizards are gathered outside, staring eagerly at the graceful broomstick and drooling. Many adult wizards will also stop here reluctantly. moment.

Owen had no interest in flying broomsticks. He went into Madam Malkin's Robe Shop and bought a few robes that fit him. He also ordered a vanilla ice cream at Florin Fusco's Ice Cream Shop, although most of it went into Nee's. kes belly.

The window of Flourish Blossom Bookstore that should have displayed thick gilded magic books was now occupied by a large iron cage, which contained more than a hundred thick books with green covers. The books were entangled together, tearing at each other menacingly, fighting fiercely, with broken pieces of paper flying everywhere.

Owen took out the book list from his pocket and walked into the bookstore. He saw the clerk with a look of helplessness and annoyance holding a big cane covered with scars and beating the books hard, trying to stop them from fighting.

"Oh, from Hogwarts?" The clerk looked like he was about to cry after seeing Owen. "Do I need to take Care of Magical Creatures class?"

"Yes..." As soon as Owen nodded, he saw the clerk gritting his teeth, putting on a pair of thick gloves, and using a walking stick to carefully open the iron cage in front of him.

Several "Monster Books of Monsters" that were fighting with each other jumped up from the cage, and pounced on the clerk like a vicious dog. The clerk poked them hard with a cane, and finally managed to grab one of them, and took the thick, struggling book out of the cage.

With a "bang" sound, the clerk slammed the cage door and breathed a sigh of relief. The book in his hand slipped out of his hand with a crash, fell to the ground and bit his ankle viciously.

"Oh, loosen your mouth! Damn stinky book!" The clerk kicked it hard and finally got it flying out. The books flew into the bookshelf area at the back, causing a flurry of exclamations.

"I swear, I will never buy these goods again! Never again!" The clerk rushed over with a cane on his face in embarrassment. Accompanied by the clicking sounds of biting and the chaotic sound of the bookshelf collapsing, the book ran out sideways like a weird crab, and was stepped on by a foot halfway.

"Ah, hi, Owen. Are you here to buy a book too?" Luna waved at Owen with her gray eyes widened, then lowered her head and curiously looked at the book struggling at her feet.

"Yeah. Just you?" Owen said, holding back a laugh. He just saw the clerk having a good time, so he didn't bother him. Yes, it is like that.

"Dad is buying some materials outside to catch colorful ball fish." Luna said in an ethereal voice. She raised her head again and stared at Nyx on Owen's shoulder with her slightly bulging eyes.

"It doesn't look like an owl." She tilted her head with an expression of surprise and novelty. Her messy hair hung down on her bright yellow robe, looking very strange.

Nyx raised his head haughtily.

"Maybe it's a Bubblesnot in disguise," Luna continued.

"Pfft-" Owen covered his mouth and laughed. Nyx cried out, flapping his wings in annoyance, his claws scratching his shoulders painfully.

"This is Nyx." Owen said in a good mood.

The clerk ran over from the bookshelf area sweating profusely, and breathed a long sigh of relief when he saw the book Luna was stepping on.

"Oh my gosh, that sucks!" he complained. "I thought The Invisibility Book was bad enough... I've been bitten five times today."

"I think they are like a group of small animals." Luna murmured dreamily, leaning down and touching the book gently. When he touched the spine of the book, the struggling book suddenly trembled and lay obediently on the ground motionless.

"It's so good, isn't it?" Luna bent down and held it in her arms, smiling without any impurity.

"Oh, so that's what it's like..." The clerk looked at the torn books in the cage that were flying into pieces. In the end, he didn't dare to reach in and touch them. He raised the cane in his hand resignedly and almost tore a book. The book in half is separated from the other books.

"What other books do you want to buy?" the clerk took the time to ask. He took the book from Luna, tied it tightly with a belt, and handed it to Owen.

"Clearing the Fog to See the Future and Numerology and Grammar." Owen said, "Oh, and the Defense Against the Dark Arts Guide."

"Okay, have you started taking divination classes and arithmetic divination classes? I think taking two divination classes will make you talkative." The clerk put down the crutch in his hand and looked for a book in the corner, "Of course, you He must be a top student in primary school, I think those who would choose three elective courses are..."

"But don't you need "Intermediate Transfiguration" and "Standard Spells, Level 3"?" The clerk put the books on the counter.

"I already have it." Owen put the book in his hand on it. He had already learned all of this, including the ancient runes.

"As expected, you are a top student." The clerk tsked, then looked at Luna who was standing beside her in a daze, "What do you want to buy?"

Owen paid, put the books into his small bag, and chatted with Luna. Luna talked enthusiastically about the process of catching large-mouthed ball fish with her father during this vacation. Her wide-open eyes always looked at Nicks from time to time.

Nyx proudly turned his head away from her. But Owen connected with it and felt that this bird, which had always been disliked by everyone, unexpectedly did not hate Luna.

It wasn't until Luna's father came to pick her up that Owen walked back along the street.

At this time, he heard Blaise Zabini's voice coming from far away: "Owen! I'm here!"

Owen turned to look, and Blaise was waving to him with a smile, running towards him from the door of a thrift store: "Look what cool stuff I found!"

He excitedly handed Owen a small iron ball, his expression looking a bit exaggerated.

Owen looked down at the heavy iron ball, which was stained with reddish-brown rust and looked ordinary. He weighed it gently and found that it was obviously solid.

"What..." He looked up. But before he could finish his words, his eyes suddenly started to spin.

He felt as if a hook had hooked his navel and pulled him flying into a kaleidoscope of swirling colors.

Owen's hands were tightly glued to the iron ball, and there was only the sound of the howling wind in his ears.

"Oh, it's a portkey." He thought a little unexpectedly but as expected. (End of chapter)