Mysterious Journey

Chapter 762 Code Name: Magician

A squib is someone born into a wizarding family who cannot use magic.

Even though, theoretically, squibs often have descendants who are born with magical abilities.

However, in the eyes of most wizards, a squib is essentially a "Muggle of wizarding descent." In fact, in the magical world, squibs are even more despised than Muggles. Wishing a wizard's child to be a squib is almost the most venomous curse imaginable.

The Ministry of Magic does not keep birth records of squibs, nor does it track their lives.

For nearly a thousand years, no squib has ever been admitted to a magical school as a student. Even if they possess some magical knowledge due to their parents, they are given no opportunity to participate.

Due to the general disregard for squibs in the magical society, they exist as a special kind of unregistered resident in the magical world.

Therefore, the most common approach for most wizarding families when dealing with a squib is to send them to Muggle schools when they are young and then "advise" them to fully integrate into Muggle society—and never return.

Even wizarding families that can accept Muggles and Muggle-borns don't particularly embrace the existence of squibs.

For example, the Weasley family rarely talks about their squib relative who works as an accountant in the Muggle world. As for some pure-blood families, they quietly dispose of such "shameful" occurrences through various "accidents" once they discover them in their lineage.

On the other hand, compared to ordinary Muggles, squibs at least barely qualify as marginalized members of the magical world.

Whether it's for the British Ministry of Magic, the Hogwarts Board of Governors, or the parents of students, the benevolent Albus Dumbledore providing a sanctuary for displaced foreign squibs is not considered an inconceivable act.

The Ministry of Magic, the International Confederation of Wizards, and the ancient pure-blood wizarding families mostly prefer harmony and compromise.

For instance, if Albus Dumbledore were to propose that magical education be reformed and that squibs be introduced as faculty members, it would undoubtedly be rejected by everyone. However, if he advocated for opening Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to Muggle students and professors, they would compromise and agree to allow a small number of squibs to reside around the school, assisting with some trivial tasks.

In fact, apart from being born into a wizarding family rather than a Muggle family, squibs also differ from Muggles in many ways.

Squibs have some understanding of the magical world; they can see things that Muggles cannot, such as Dementors and ghosts. Some squibs can even use certain magical items and magical creatures to help them.

However, in today's magical world, there is still only one way to prove whether someone is a squib.

That is by checking the records to see if the parents of a "squib" are wizards, thereby confirming whether they truly belong to the magical world, rather than being a Muggle—this is also the most crucial part of the entire "Hogwarts Academy City Project," a complete transformation!

Therefore, it is essential to ensure that everything is flawless when these "special employees" are first entered into the records.

Fortunately, due to the impact of the dissolution of the Soviet Union, it is not complicated for the Tianming Group to add the names of some "deceased wizards" to the records of the Russian Ministry of Magic and the Ukrainian Ministry of Magic amid the chaos.

After all, during the wizarding war decades ago, there were simply too many wizards who went mysteriously missing or were killed in battle.

As for what Arthur Weasley needs to do, it is merely to seize the opportunity of a surprise inspection and find a reasonable excuse for the International Magical Cooperation Department of the British Ministry of Magic to submit a request for assistance to the Russian Ministry of Magic, helping to check the records and verify the true identities of these "squibs" from the former Soviet magical world who have appeared within the vicinity of Hogwarts.

Undoubtedly, from this moment on, they have all become "Muggles in the magical world" with wizard fathers or mothers.

"Dumbledore is truly a good man, squibs—tsk, so what did the Minister say?"

Old Perkins shook his head noncommittally, a hint of disgust appearing on his face, and did not continue the topic of squibs.

Perhaps only a great man like Albus Dumbledore would consider these marginalized people. At least in Perkins' personal view, squibs are not something to be liked—after all, among the cases handled by the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office over the years, the troubles caused by squibs reselling magical items have been all too common.

"In the beginning, the Minister originally intended to extradite them all back to Russia..."

("Oh, that would be wonderful!" Perkins muttered quietly.)

Arthur Weasley shrugged, changed the subject, and said somewhat helplessly.

"However, due to the request of a new professor who is about to arrive at Hogwarts, the Ministry has chosen to give the decision-making power to the school, but all the subsequent daily expenses of these 'squibs' will be borne by Hogwarts and the new professor themselves."

"Hmm? An upcoming... new professor? At this time?"

Old Perkins raised his eyelids and glanced at the calendar on the desk, saying with some astonishment.

"If I remember correctly, Arthur, shouldn't Hogwarts have already started? Besides, today's newspaper has already published the names of the two newly added subject professors. Surely there isn't another 'squib' who can stand on the podium, is there?"

"No, I heard it's someone, um, a once very famous wizard."

Mr. Weasley shook his head, gently stroking the angular badge in his pocket with his left hand, and said softly.

"As for the subject, it's not a completely new subject. It's one of the thirteen elective courses that Hogwarts used to have, but it was later forced to close for various reasons. If nothing unexpected happens, we should know about it by next week at the latest. This new professor is planning to recruit a disciple at Hogwarts to pass on his knowledge."

"As for more things..."

Looking at Perkins, whose face was full of curiosity, Arthur Weasley shook his head seriously.

"Sorry, Perkins. Minister Fudge and Professor Dumbledore have specifically instructed that this is temporarily 'top secret information' and that the Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts will jointly announce it to the public after everything has been determined."

"Oh, Arthur... You know I'm discreet. Please, tell me..."

"I really can't, but I can give you a little hint."

Arthur Weasley raised a finger, looked around, and whispered mysteriously.

"I heard that the new professor who is coming to teach at Hogwarts is a wizard whose name appears on Professor Dumbledore's Chocolate Frog Card. That's all. Don't force me to make a mistake, Perkins. You know the rules of the Ministry."

"A name on Dumbledore's card?"

Perkins frowned and thought for a moment, a look of shock flashing in his eyes.

"Wait! Could it be... Gellert Grindelwald? Is the Dark Lord planning to find a successor at Hogwarts?!"

"Of course not! What are you thinking! Perkins, you can submit your ideas to *The Quibbler*!"

Arthur Weasley was so frightened that he spat out a mouthful of water, coughed violently, and said rather helplessly.

"Ha, sorry, sorry, just joking..."

Old Perkins grinned, patted Arthur on the shoulder, and said with a laugh.

"If the first-generation Dark Lord could serve as a professor in Hogwarts Castle, then the world would probably have fallen long ago. Maybe the person sitting in front of me now wouldn't be you, but a secret minion trusted by the Dark Lord."

"Forget it, I'll just show it to you directly, so you don't have to guess."

Arthur Weasley shook his head, opened his office drawer, and took out a Chocolate Frog Card from it.

"Here, take it... I usually help Ron collect cards anyway..."

Perkins took the card from Mr. Weasley, turned it over, and read the words on the back:

(Click to expand for details)

"Arthur, you said it wasn't Grindelwald, but it's written right here—"

Old Perkins said jokingly, his gaze slowly sliding down, gradually freezing on the last name.

As a wizard nearing the end of his life, Perkins was all too familiar with that name. He finally understood why the Ministry of Magic and Dumbledore were so cautious and secretive. Even he had felt a moment of excitement.

Nicolas Flamel, the current owner of the only remaining Philosopher's Stone in the wizarding world.

At the same time, he is also the only alchemist in the magical world who knows how to make the Elixir of Life.

"Arthur, you just said—Nicolas Flamel might be planning to choose a disciple at the school?"

Old Perkins looked at the text on the back of the Chocolate Frog Card, remained silent for a long time, and then raised his head with envy.

"Indeed, indeed! That's right! No wonder Hogwarts recalled a group of outstanding graduates this year. This would explain it. If I remember correctly, all seven of your children are in Hogwarts this year, right?"

"Hmm? Speaking of which..."

Arthur Weasley was slightly stunned, subconsciously turned his head, and glanced at his desk, which was already full of in-trays. In the only tidy small area on the edge of the desk, there was a family photo of them.

Percy, Fred, George, Ron, plus his youngest daughter Ginny, who just entered school this year, and his two brothers, Bill and Charlie, who received an invitation from Hogwarts to return to campus for further studies...

Unknowingly, all his children were on this ship about to set sail, heading towards a new era.

Arthur Weasley thoughtfully gently stroked the family members in the photo frame, his eyes flickering slightly.

Are these all part of your plan, Professor Dumbledore?



France, Paris.

A secret magical safe house.

Nicolas Flamel, who had just celebrated his 666th birthday, sat at the entrance of his alchemy workshop, carefully reading a letter from Hogwarts, occasionally shifting his gaze to the door, as if waiting for a friend to visit.

Ding-dong—

With the sound of the doorbell, the door not far away gently opened.

"Scamander? Of course, of course, I should have known you would come. I've been waiting for you for a long time."

Nicolas Flamel turned his head and looked at the white-haired wizard at the door. A rare smile appeared on his wrinkled, aged face. As a remnant that does not belong to this era, he has very few remaining wizard friends.

Albus Dumbledore counts as one, and Newt Scamander can barely be considered half.

As for the reason why this "young wizard" came here, Nicolas Flamel could almost guess it. He sighed softly, put down the letter he had read several times, and gently snapped his fingers to summon the tea set.

"Tea? Coffee? Water? Or whiskey?"

"Perhaps... whiskey..."

Newt Scamander closed the door, walked in quickly, and took a deep look at Nicolas Flamel.

In all the years he had known Flamel, Newt had sensed a different aura from Nicolas Flamel for the first time. The time that had once stagnated on this alchemist seemed to be flowing again, which was not good news.

After hesitating for a few seconds, Newt composed himself and asked cautiously.

"Not long ago, I heard Professor Dumbledore say that the Philosopher's Stone..."

"That's right, the Philosopher's Stone has been destroyed. However, we still have some Elixir of Life here, enough for me and Perenelle to take care of some things properly. After such a long day, we can finally go to bed and rest. Of course, all of this is based on the premise that... there is nothing unplanned—"

Nicolas Flamel tapped the edge of the envelope on the table with a troubled expression, making a crisp metallic sound.

Beneath the parchment envelope from Hogwarts, a dark silver, strangely shaped metal badge lay quietly. Due to being partially covered by the long letter, less than half of it was visible at this time.

However, the two people in the room knew the contents of the metal badge under the letter—[o5-1]

[Codename: Magician]

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Chapter 1!! A big chapter!