It was already evening when we left the Russian Hammer Tavern and returned to Hogwarts.
"Is school starting again? Time flies so fast."
Elena sat on the edge of the terrace outside the Ravenclaw lounge, watching the "little ants" pouring in on the castle avenue below, thinking about the complicated layout of the holidays over the past few days, and sighed slightly.
"Oh, evil capitalism..."
If it were half a year ago, she had the opportunity to participate in the capital feast of the disintegration of the Soviet Union, she might directly choose the same methods as European and American countries, driving up prices, shorting the ruble, destroying the market mechanism... Within the scope of the rules, capital can gain
After all, benefits are limited. Only by completely destroying the market can we obtain nearly unlimited benefits in the past, present and future.
But now that she has entered Hogwarts, she has to consider the problem from another perspective. This not only needs to take into account the interests of wizards and the magical world, but also the new options that the magical power of magic can bring.
At least in front of Elena at this time, the future split into two intertwined but completely different paths at this year's winter solstice. The ending of one of them has already been written, the alliance collapsed, the Stars and Stripes danced on the bear corpse,
Billions of people will face nearly ten years of famine, and half of humanity's most brilliant knowledge will be buried forever under the snowflakes of Moscow.
The other road leads to an unknown new world. The power of magic will protect the red afterglow. The Iron Throne soars in the sky. The course of history begins to change from this moment on, but the future will also be shrouded in a layer that she can no longer see.
It was a blur, which was what she was most hesitant about before.
After returning from the Nikolayev Shipyard, Elena has been thinking that maybe she doesn't need to place too much emphasis on foresight of historical events - people's hearts will always change, and relying too much on this aspect may lead to serious consequences.
.
Even Mr. Makarov, who has a firm belief, has been shaken, furious, crying and other emotional out-of-control situations during several "archives". Elena does not think that the "plots" in her mind will still exist.
Performed as scheduled.
You know, the plot of the Philosopher's Stone has almost been blown away by her little wings, and the plot of the Chamber of Secrets is unlikely to happen again. Instead of praying for the restraint of the world, it is better to take the initiative to seize the future.
Hold it tightly in your own hands.
Gu Gu Gu——
Elena looked at the sky in the distance and stretched out her hand to catch the grain reserves falling from the sky, as if she was holding up the whole world.
And I, Elena Kaslana, am...
"Elena, guess who I am?"
At this moment, a pair of fleshy little hands suddenly covered her eyes from behind, and two groups of false human hearts collided with Bai Mao Tuanzi's back, almost knocking her off the terrace extending outwards from the castle.
A familiar voice came to my ears.
"Uh, Hannah, you scared me...you, how did you know I was here?"
The atmosphere that had finally been brewing was suddenly broken up. Elena stuffed the food reserves into her chest, opened her hands that were covering her eyes, and turned around in surprise to look behind her.
In addition to Hannah Abbott, Hermione Granger and Luna Lovegood are also there.
The three excited little faces were all flushed, and the girls' frail bodies were trembling slightly under the large wizard robes. It was obvious that the three of them had just returned from the wind and snow outside the castle, and they rushed here directly.
"Luna told me, she felt you might be waiting for us here...Long time no see, little reserve."
Hannah chuckled, stretched out her hand and rubbed the little head on Elena's chest skillfully, and answered casually.
A little behind Hannah, the panting Hermione glanced at the white-haired dumpling who jumped off the terrace just now, with a look of shock in her eyes, and her eyes wandered between the smiling Luna and Elena in disbelief.
.
"It's amazing. How did you know, Luna? You must have written the letter secretly, right?"
"Well, I just guessed...I think Elena should be on the terrace."
"Isn't that too much of a coincidence? Hogwarts Castle is so big, you should have played here with Elena before, and this is the best place to observe the castle avenue, so..."
"Granger, you always think too complicatedly. In fact, I really just guessed..."
Elena looked at Hermione who looked unwilling, then looked at Luna who retorted quietly, and said with a smile:
"Okay. Stop arguing, let's go back to the Gryffindor common room - I'll take you to see Harry's new baby! And the Weasley boys, they play chess together these days, but
You bullied me bad, I need help!"
In fact, neither Grindelwald nor Dumbledore understood that from beginning to end, Elena did not have such huge ambitions.
All she wants is to be able to live the life she wants freely, and to have the ability to make the people she cares about not hurt, and to be happier... However, this number of people is becoming more and more now.
stand up.
If the most powerful person would be called the Demon King, then Elena actually wouldn't mind wearing this crown.
Because as Grindelwald said, protection is the most powerful force in the world.
…
Ukraine, a wizard hotel in Kiev.
Kurt Meyer, who had already changed into non-magical clothes, pushed a stack of documents in front of Gilderoy Lockhart, the "Destiny Temporary Security Advisor", and said in a bad tone
"This is your first job and your only responsibility for now. As long as you complete it, you will be free."
"Just that? Helping maintain the secrecy of a large Muggle industry?"
Gilderoy Lockhart roughly flipped through the documents in front of him and said with a little surprise, "Actually, you don't have to be so cautious. If it was just this, we wouldn't have to use that method before..."
"Huh, keep reading."
Kurt snorted coldly, with a look of unwillingness and threat on his face.
"Although I don't know why, Miss insists on letting you serve as the chief security consultant for this event. In other words, you will be able to mobilize thirty wizards, including me, to carry out magic protection work - the only condition is
, the secret must not be leaked, all sounds, images, and memories can only be left on that slipway."
"Wait? I'm in charge? And there are thirty wizards?!"
Lockhart was slightly startled and pointed at himself somewhat exaggeratedly.
The wizard quickly lowered his head and looked at the document in his hand.
It is expected to take three months to half a year. The total planned gold galleons are estimated to be 12 million, and there are 30 resident wizards. In an emergency, all destiny employees in Ukraine can be mobilized. When life is threatened, the use of
Most of the single-target spells against people, including Avada's Kedavra and the Imperius Curse...
Gulu...
Lockhart immediately looked around the room and saw the dozen or so middle-aged and elderly wizards who were staring at him unkindly. The handsome blond wizard swallowed nervously and showed an awkward yet polite smile.
.
"Um, is there something wrong somewhere? Apart from my slight talent for the Forgetting Curse, actually..."
If he was still glad at the beginning that he was not the target of revenge, Lockhart was already filled with uneasiness. In today's magical world, he can mobilize the power of dozens of elite wizards at will, and it is not the Ministry of Magic.
In his impression, even the Death Eaters who were under the mysterious man back then needed to come out in full force.
Where are these people...
"Don't worry, there is nothing wrong. Since my granddaughter says you can do it, then you can definitely do it."
At this moment, an old and hoarse voice came in from outside the door.
Gilderoy Lockhart raised his head and saw a well-dressed old gentleman opening the door and slowly walking in.
"If you don't achieve the results we want, it must be because you are deliberately causing trouble or being lazy. As for the consequences, it must be something neither of us wants to see... Of course, we are not unreasonable villains and hooligans.
rogue."
The old man pulled out a strange scab-covered wand and looked at the anxious Lockhart with a smile.
"Following the ancient tradition of the magic world, you can directly end this contract through a one-on-one wizard duel - as long as you can defeat me in the duel, then all this can be written off."
"Duel?" Gilderoy Lohart calmed down and asked subconsciously.
"That's right, it seems I don't need to explain too much." The old man grinned, showing a particularly nostalgic look, "Dear Mr. Lockhart, considering the special period, I can give you one day to come.
Pick a duel assistant." (Click to view notes)
Huh? And you can also choose an assistant?!
A trace of hesitation flashed in Gilderoy Lockhart's eyes, and he began to think about the powerful wizards he knew. As a celebrity in the wizarding world and an honorary member of the Anti-Dark Arts Alliance, he still knew a lot of them.
Awesome character.
However, facing this unknown and mysterious old wizard, one may not necessarily be sure of victory.
"In that case..."
After hesitating for a few seconds, Gilderoy Lockhart gritted his teeth, raised his head and looked at the leader of the mysterious organization who began to look through the pile of "employment contracts" in front of him with great interest, and took a deep breath.
said.
"Then I choose Dumbledore! You must know Albus Dumbledore, right? Yes, he has actually been my pen pal for many years, and it makes sense for me to choose him as my assistant!"
"Huh? Albus?"
The old wizard repeated with a strange expression, raised his eyebrows, looked at Lockhart with a joking expression and shook his head.
"I'm very sorry, I guess not."
"Sure enough, I knew it. Wizards' duels are nothing more than a nasty game of cat and mouse."
A look of desolation appeared on Gilderoy Lockhart's face. He should have understood that the other party would never give him a chance to contact Dumbledore. How could such a low-level loophole appear in such a mysterious and huge magical organization?
middle.
"No, no, no, I think you misunderstood. I didn't intend to break the contract."
The old wizard raised his finger and shook it, and said with a gentle expression, "It's just that according to convention, it is impossible for the same person to serve as the assistant of both parties in the duel at the same time. Albus is already my duel assistant, so you may need to find someone else."
one person."
"Besides, as far as I know, he doesn't seem to have a pen pal like you... right?"
A dangerous light flashed in the old man's eyes and he said softly.