NABC Chapter 81 Delfino begins its operation
Chapter 81 Delfino begins its operation
Chapter 82 Delfino Begins Its Operation (Part 1)
Ares didn't know if it was just a coincidence, or if Nicolas Flamel was intentionally avoiding the topic.
Although the visit was fruitful in many ways, it was a pity that he did not meet with Flamel himself... Although Mrs. Flamel promised him that when Flamel returned, she would suggest that he personally go to Hogwarts to teach some alchemy to the young wizards.
But Ares didn't have much hope for this.
If it were back when he was running the "Odd Jobs Shop," Ares would have had plenty of time to visit Beauxbatons School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, but this rushed two-day holiday doesn't allow him to do so.
I took the Knight Bus back to Diagon Alley; it was already Sunday afternoon.
After he registered all the shops provided by the shop owners in Diagon Alley, he used the fireplace to get to Hogsmeade and finally arrived at Hogwarts. The early winter night was already covered with stars.
The castle on the cliff had completely faded away, with only the windows of the offices of a limited number of faculty members, including Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall, still flickering with candlelight.
At the edge of the open field, where a cold wind was blowing, Hagrid's afternoon was also illuminated by a dim firelight.
Ares paused for a few seconds on the path leading from the school gate to the castle, then veered off in his own direction and headed toward the Forbidden Forest.
"Who is it?"
Hagrid's sharp questioning was accompanied by a weak bark.
"It is I, Ares Delfino."
"Oh my God, Professor Delfino!"
After a series of clanging and banging sounds, the door opened a crack, and Hagrid's dark eyes flashed with shock through the gap. "It's almost midnight, Professor Delfino. Are you on patrol on campus tonight?"
After confirming it was Ares, Hagrid opened the door. He was dressed in a disheveled state, his mole-skin coat stained with night dew and spiky quills, and his boots covered in mud.
"Oh, no, I went out for a bit and just got back."
Ares smiled as he spoke. Hagrid had invited him inside from the biting cold outside, and he glanced at Tooth, who was slumped listlessly by the fireplace. "Looks like you just got back too?"
"Another accident has occurred in the woods—"
After making tea for Ares, Hagrid plopped down on the edge of the bed and sighed heavily. "The centaurs and eight-eyed spiders I told you about last time."
"Ah, I remember now. I also promised you that I would try to help you resolve the conflict when I had some free time."
Throughout the original books, Hagrid's cooking skills are consistently criticized. However, to be objective and fair, Hagrid's tea-making skills are quite good.
After taking a few sips of the black tea in his wooden cup, Ares let out a satisfied sigh.
"Yes, you said that, but I've forgotten one."
Hagrid's furry face was etched with a sorrowful expression. "To be honest, I never expected anything from you... They were causing such a ruckus tonight. If I hadn't arrived in time, a tragedy would have almost occurred. Sigh, as far as I can tell, they secretly hope to wipe each other out."
Ares twitched his brow in silence.
Just like this visit to Flamel, it made Ares realize once again that even if he understood the plot, he could not control everything that happened in the real magical world.
Ares, who retains most of the plot memories, vaguely recalls the territorial disputes between the centaurs and eight-eyed spiders in the Forbidden Forest. However, the true extent of these disputes is something that only Hagrid knows.
As his thoughts were stirred, Ares also noticed Hagrid's tired black eyes glancing at him. After a few casual words, it was time to get down to business.
Ares looked at Hagrid gently. "It's like this. When school started, Professor Dumbledore forbade first-year students from playing 'Protector Captain.' When I led the young wizards in causing trouble, you also spoke up for them, Hagrid."
"Oh, even if that's the case, you didn't need to come all the way here in the middle of the night to thank me, did you?"
Hagrid moved his beard in surprise.
"It's not worth it... I didn't come here for this reason."
Ares reached into his pocket and rummaged around. "Besides dealing with the centaurs and spiders, I also said I had connections to get you a Norwegian Ridgeback egg..."
Hagrid's sleepy little eyes suddenly widened. He stared at Ares incredulously, a half-finished yawn stuck in his throat, making him look both strange and comical!
"But now things have changed a bit, Hagrid."
Ares pulled out a bottle and looked at it... He'd made a mistake; it was the one Madame Lemaître had given him.
"Please don't be so formal, Professor Delfino."
Hagrid immediately slumped down like a wilted eggplant, yawning repeatedly. "Regarding this matter, I didn't really dare to count on you... well, how should I put it, buying dragon eggs violates wizarding laws, and who in their right mind would want to enter Azka..."
"Oh, that's not what I meant, Hagrid. I meant besides the Norwegian Spinosaurus egg... ah, we found one."
Ares finally found the glass bottle that held the mother dragon.
He pulled the bottle out of his pocket, and in the scorching yet dim firelight, his clear, blinking eyes reflected Hagrid's seemingly petrified face. "Besides the dragon eggs, I also got a female dragon... well, she doesn't look very well, that's because she's been tortured... but I can assure you, she's still alive."
The wooden door was pushed open a crack in the biting night wind, and the chill made Ares sneeze uncontrollably. The candle in the Weaver's Light flickered briefly in the short silence—"Oh my god!"
Hagrid's sudden roar was like a sudden gust of wind, making Ares's black hair dance wildly and even causing the hut to tremble a few times!
"A Norwegian Spinosaurus...and its eggs!"
Hagrid suddenly rushed in front of Ares, excitedly splattering paint everywhere!
His massive face loomed close to the glass bottle, excitement and elation surging in Hagrid's small, dark eyes. "Living...this is incredible, Professor Delfino, how did you get it!"
"Ah, I do have some connections... but I can't reveal them to you, Hagrid. Anyway, I've fulfilled my promise to you, haven't I?"
To avoid getting splattered with stardust, Ares quickly shoved the glass bottle into Hagrid's large, fan-like hand and stepped back. "Of course, as you can probably tell, this female dragon isn't in good condition... she might need careful care to survive."
"I figured it out!"
Hagrid handled the glass bottle with surprising gentleness, but his unshaven face was contorted with rage. "How did it get like this, Professor Delfino?"
"Uh...yeah, I've been persecuted."
"Oh, I see, those dark wizards deserve to go to hell!"
"Cough cough—"
Ares pursed his lips, coughed twice with his fist loosely clenched, and said, "To be honest, it's already over."
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