The Prisoners of Hogwarts

Chapter 35 Magic Detection Bracelet

The fire in the fireplace crackled softly, and the brief silence, almost tangible, filled every inch of the stone house.

Lin Qi's smile didn't completely fade from his face, but his eyes sharpened, his gaze fixed firmly on the old man opposite him.

There was a hint of understanding in that smile.

"You still can't trust me." Lynch's voice was calm and clear, not a question, but a statement of a cold fact.

Dumbledore's deep blue eyes, behind his half-moon spectacles, calmly met his gaze, their eyes distant and profound.

He did not deny it, but responded calmly yet firmly in his distinctive, buzzing voice: "On the matter of eliminating Voldemort, I completely trust your position."

He paused, then elegantly crossed his hands in front of him, gently rubbing his thumbs together.

"But at the same time... I also believe that on the road to that common goal, in the process of eliminating Voldemort, you will definitely take the opportunity to accomplish your own plans—plans that may not be contrary to 'eliminating Voldemort,' but will inevitably hide far-reaching impacts and potential dangers. Mr. Lynch, this is precisely where I cannot fully trust you."

Dumbledore's words were no longer roundabout, but direct and to the point.

Setting aside those ambiguous words and discarding those probing questions with ulterior motives, they frankly pointed out the invisible chasm between them.

His trust in Lynch was limited to the objective, but never included the means or the hidden intentions in the process.

Lin Qi leaned back slightly, sinking into the soft sofa back.

This gesture made him appear more relaxed, even somewhat nonchalant, a stark contrast to the focused intensity in his eyes.

He didn't speak, but stared at Dumbledore with his dark eyes for a long time.

The firelight from the fireplace danced on his pale face, and the air seemed to freeze for a moment, plunging the entire stone house into a deathly silence.

After a long silence, Lin Qi's lips finally curved upwards again, breaking the suffocating silence.

"So," his voice was as steady as before, as if the brief moment of frozen air was a hallucination from memory, "what do you intend to do, Headmaster Dumbledore, trap me in this stone house again?"

He spread his hands, making a gesture of "whatever you say," but his gaze remained fixed on Dumbledore, not missing a single subtle change in the other's expression.

Dumbledore stroked his long, silvery-white beard, a slow, rhythmic motion, as if organizing his thoughts or adding weight to his next words.

"Of course not," he said slowly, his voice calm and composed.

His gaze drifted to the side, his words tinged with a nostalgic sentiment, "When I was young, the Ministry of Magic suspected me of plotting something... well, something that didn't quite suit their tastes."

To monitor my movements, they put a pair of specially made wristbands on my arms.

His gaze fell on Lynch. "Those bracers can precisely record every spell I've cast, regardless of its magnitude or strength, whether it's benevolent or malevolent. They will only record all my magical actions with absolute accuracy."

He didn't say anything more, but Lynch already understood what he meant.

Lynch raised his left hand, his gaze falling from Dumbledore's face to his empty wrist.

His expression remained unchanged; he simply extended his right hand, pinched his left wrist with his fingertips, and slowly rubbed it.

But in those unfathomable black eyes, a storm was silently brewing and swirling.

It was only a few breaths, but it felt like centuries.

The storm in his eyes subsided, replaced by a calm that was as still as a deep well.

Lin Qi raised his head, revealing a perfect, standard smile on his face.

"Yes." His voice was clear and crisp, without the slightest hesitation, as if he were merely agreeing to a trivial request.

"You underestimate how important Voldemort is to me..."

Lynch lowered his hands and spoke calmly to Dumbledore.

The direct and straightforward answer clearly surprised Dumbledore.

A barely perceptible look of surprise flashed in the old man's blue eyes behind his glasses, which was quickly replaced by a deeper worry.

Lynch's compromise only deepened his doubts.

"But I have one condition," Lin Qi continued, his smile still on his face.

But that smile wasn't the usual warm and gentle one; the corners of his mouth were stretched wider, like a child about to play a prank.

"What are the conditions?" Dumbledore asked calmly, his eyes slightly narrowed, preparing to make a difficult choice.

Lin Qi sat up straight and held up one finger in the air.

"It's very simple." His tone was relaxed, as if he were promoting a brilliant business idea. "Become the spokesperson for our Stone Tower Merchant Guild's Wizard Battle Cards."

"Look, our cards are all the rage in the wizarding world. From Hogwarts students to Knockturn Alley merchants, everyone's playing them."

But just as flying broomsticks hire Quidditch stars as spokespeople, our Wizarding Battle cards also need a spokesperson who is influential, authoritative, and... popular enough.

Who can compare to Albus Dumbledore, the greatest white wizard of this century and headmaster of Hogwarts, in these aspects?

"You becoming the spokesperson for Wizarding Battle Cards will bring immeasurable benefits to the promotion of the cards and the reputation of the Merchant Guild!"

He paused, his smile fading slightly, and added, "Of course, our chamber of commerce will not shortchange you in terms of compensation."

Dumbledore was caught off guard by Lynch's unconventional thinking.

At this moment, even someone as wise as him couldn't fathom the hidden purpose behind Lin Qi's suggestion.

He stroked his long, snow-white beard with his right hand and pondered for a moment.

"Please allow me to refuse, Mr. Lynch."

Dumbledore looked into Lynch's eyes and said sincerely, "As the headmaster of Hogwarts and the chief wizard of Wizengamor, my position makes me incompatible with such commercial activities."

Lynch stroked his chin, staring at Dumbledore's expression: "Then, may I invite you as a special guest to attend the inaugural World Wizards Card Championship this year?"

Without waiting for Dumbledore's reply, he added, "We will invite the Director of the Department of Magical Sports to give the opening remarks, and even invite the Minister of Magic to watch the game."

Dumbledore gave Lynch a deep look, as if trying to discern from his smiling face whether there was a deeper intention hidden behind this seemingly casual request.

Finally, he nodded.

Attending a grand event as a special guest is not unusual for him.

"I'll be there." Dumbledore's voice returned to its calm hum. "In fact, I myself enjoy this novel game quite a bit. For a while, I ate a lot of Chocolate Frogs to collect the cards."

"I'm glad you like this game."

The two looked at each other and laughed.

But the laughter subsided not long afterward.

Without further ado, Lynch extended his hands.

Dumbledore pulled the knotted elder wand from his sleeve.

His movements were elegant and precise. The tip of his wand drew a smooth arc in the air, and a point of pure and soft silver-white light gathered at the tip of the wand, which gently touched Lin Qi's wrist.

A silver light, like a living stream, flowed lightly across Lin Qi's wrist.

A pair of small, exquisite silver bracelets appeared out of thin air and fit perfectly on Lynch's wrists.

Their designs are simple and unadorned, without any complicated patterns.

It feels cool to the touch and has a metallic texture, but it lacks the weight that metal has.

There was no discomfort as I moved my arms; it was as if they were an integral part of my body.

Lin Qi looked at the silver bracelet on his wrist, which gleamed with a restrained, cold luster in the firelight of the fireplace.

"From now on," Dumbledore said, retracting his wand, his voice calm and even, "it will faithfully record every spell you cast."

I hope that we can both find a foundation for continued cooperation from this hard-won "openness."

"Of course, Headmaster Dumbledore." Lynch lowered his hands, naturally concealing the bracelet under his sleeves, his face still bearing that impeccable smile. "You will see my sincerity."

Dumbledore did not linger any longer.

He stood up, his gaze lingering for a moment on Lin Qi's pale face, before taking his leave and walking out the door.

The wooden door closed gently, cutting off the last ray of light and sound from the outside world.

Inside the stone house, the firewood in the fireplace crackled and popped, causing the flames to flicker violently.

The smile on Lin Qi's face faded like the tide.

He took a deep breath and then exhaled it slowly.

The expression on his face conveyed an indescribable emotion.

He slowly raised his left hand, pulled open his sleeve, and gently stroked the silver bracelet that had just been put on him with his fingertips.

The cool metallic touch traveled through his fingertips, clearly reminding him of everything that had just happened.

"Ha..." A very soft sigh escaped his throat, sounding exceptionally clear in the silent stone house.

"Sir! Totz has made another cup of tea!"

After Dumbledore left, Thortz reappeared in the stone house.

Just as Lynch and Dumbledore began their conversation, Thortz, who strictly adhered to the rules for house-elves, left the stone house and did not return until Dumbledore had left.

They had already quietly tidied up the cup Dumbledore had used and made Lynch a new cup of tea.

Lynch was still in a state of deep emotion.

He lowered his hands, sank back into the sofa, and stared at the leaping flames in the fireplace, muttering to himself, "Tortz...you must remember, in this world, never let anyone know what you truly want unless you have already gotten what you want."

Because once others know your goals and understand your bottom line...

So no matter how smart, wise, or knowledgeable you are, your behavior is predictable and can be seen through...

Totz stood to the side, completely bewildered, not understanding the meaning behind Lynch's words.

Lin Qi glanced at the silver bracelet on his wrist again and then pulled up his sleeve.

"Everything is perfectly arranged now." Lin Qi smiled. "Let me be a model teacher for a while."

Meanwhile, at Hogwarts Castle, in the Headmaster's office.

The enormous stone beast spun to make way, and Dumbledore walked in with steady steps.

The office was warm and comfortable, with portraits of past principals on the walls, some dozing off, others peeking out curiously.

Phoenix Fox let out a low, clear cry from its perch on a branch.

Professor Snape stood silently in the center of the office, like a frozen black silhouette.

He wore his ever-present black robe, his face even more sallow and gloomy than usual, his thin lips pressed into a stern line.

He exuded a chilling aura that kept strangers at bay, clearly indicating that he had been waiting for a long time.

The sound of Dumbledore opening his office door was like a switch; Snape whirled around, his dark eyes fixed on Dumbledore, filled with anxiety, doubt, and an almost accusatory urgency.

"How is it?" Snape asked anxiously, his voice low and hoarse, every syllable tense, as if he were suppressing a huge emotion.

Dumbledore walked behind his enormous desk and sat down, his fingertips touching his lips. Through his glasses, his deep blue eyes gave Snape a long, complex look, containing certainty, gravity, and a hint of weariness.

"Just as you guessed," Dumbledore's voice boomed, sounding particularly clear in the quiet office, "He admitted that he himself did what happened in the Lancashire factory area."

"How did he do that?" Snape's pupils contracted, shocked by the fact. "This place is hundreds of kilometers away from Lancashire. Even if that potion could increase a wizard's casting range, it couldn't possibly cover such an astonishing distance!"

Dumbledore looked at Snape: "It is clear that Mr. Lynch has invented an alchemical artifact that allows him to cast spells remotely."

But I believe that the potions you concocted also played a key role in it.

Although he hid it well, I could still sense the weakness hidden beneath his calm exterior.

This is probably the consequence of the side effects of the potion that you mentioned erupting within his body.

Snape frowned deeply. "How weak... are you?"

"It is difficult to cast a copy spell," Dumbledore stated calmly.

Snape's eyes lit up, like a snake spotting its prey: "You've subdued him?"

"No, Severus, why would I do that?" Dumbledore's voice remained calm.

Snape's expression froze instantly, then twisted into a grimace of absurdity and rage: "Why?! That way you could use your masterful Legilimency to pry open his mind! To extract all his dirty secrets! We could gain the upper hand against the Dark Lord! Instead of having to be constantly on guard against him and dealing with him like this!"

Dumbledore raised his hand with an undeniable air of authority.

"Severus." His voice remained steady, yet carried an undeniable power. "Upholding our principles is the biggest difference between us and Voldemort!"

If we were to use any means necessary to achieve our goals, like him, then we would become him.

He paused, his gaze becoming deep and distant, as if piercing through the castle walls and looking towards the stone house deep in the Forbidden Forest.

"Furthermore, I have already put a magic detection bracelet on Mr. Lynch, so from now on I will know every spell he casts."

"But we still can't, Severus. I can sense that he accepted the bracelet not because he was powerless to resist, but because there were some longer-term plans hidden beneath that calm." Dumbledore's voice lowered, carrying a heavy premonition. "We still need to be wary of Voldemort, this unpredictable pawn, in the game of fighting Voldemort. But for now... we hold a slight advantage."

Dumbledore's words were like a bucket of ice water, extinguishing the anger that had been burning in Snape because of the other's "missed opportunity".

Beneath the flames and ashes, a deeper, colder, and more chilling sense of vigilance suddenly arose.

Inside the principal's office, the two wizards fell into a long silence.

Finally, Snape's deep voice broke the silence.