Chapter 65: Magic Crystals that Amplify Power

Hagrid patted his chest proudly. "O' course, no problem! When the dragon egg's abou' ter hatch, I'll have Harry's Hedwig bring yeh a note!"

Everyone left the hut contentedly after getting Hagrid's promise.

Not long after Irina and the others departed, a figure suddenly appeared outside Hagrid's hut. 

The owner of this figure knocked on the door.

"Who's there?!" came Hagrid's wary voice. Irina and the others had just left. It was obvious they wouldn't be back so soon, and the matter of the fire dragon mustn't be known to others.

"It's me, Lynn Rowle. We met last year," Lynn said calmly.

After a while, the door opened a crack, Hagrid peering out cautiously. "Is it you, Mr. Rowle? I wonder what yeh want ter see me about?"

Hagrid remembered this student. He'd been on the same boat with Lynn when welcoming the new students last year. In his recollection, this was a child with strong magical talent that he'd praised before.

Lynn said softly, "Hello, Mr. Hagrid, I heard you acquired a dragon egg and planned to hatch it?"

Hearing this, Hagrid panicked. Where had this child heard about it?!

"No, yeh must've been misled. There's no such thing!" Hagrid flatly denied it.

"Please don't rush to refuse, Mr. Hagrid," Lynn said, his expression impassive. 

He raised his right hand slightly, and a square iron plate with half-meter sides appeared in his grasp. "In fact, I am an alchemist. I made an alchemical product that can perfectly simulate the flame environment required for hatching a dragon."

As he spoke, Lynn channeled magic into the iron plate, and a ball of magic flame rose from its surface. It looked very impressive, but not too hot.

Hagrid's eyes lit up at the sight. From Lynn's words, he could tell the boy's intentions were good. After thinking it over, he invited Lynn inside and brewed a pot of tea. 

Lynn's eyes turned to the dragon egg in the fireplace. "I'm willing to give this alchemical product to you, Mr. Hagrid. In addition, I can provide a space for the young dragon to grow - a suitcase with an internal space equivalent to two houses. And this suitcase was made through alchemy, not the Undetectable Extension Charm, so it doesn't violate Ministry laws."

The alchemical array Lynn used to refine the suitcase came from the storage array of the Mirror of Erised. After removing the runes that could freeze objects' time flow, the effect was like Newt Scamander's suitcase enhanced by a powerful Extension Charm. 

Of course, to allow living things to survive in the suitcase's interior space and consolidate its stability, Lynn had also added many alchemical arrays learned at Nicolas Flamel's hut.

Though Flamel mainly taught Lynn alchemical knowledge, some principles overlap with Formation Alchemy, which Lynn practiced along with magic. So Flamel inevitably mentioned how Formation Alchemy could achieve the same ends when explaining certain principles.

"Really? Thank yeh so much, Mr. Rowle! Yer such a good lad!" 

Hearing Lynn's offer, Hagrid was overjoyed, never expecting to find such a generous soul.

But then Lynn spoke again. 

"However..." His voice made Hagrid's heart jump. "You know, I'm an alchemist, and alchemy is about equal exchange."

Looking into Lynn's calm eyes, Hagrid felt unreasonably panicked. "So what d'yeh want in return?"

Lynn said softly, "Some materials from precious magical creatures, such as unicorn horns and feathers. Also, when this fire dragon is born, I'll need a vial of its blood."

As he said this, Lynn took out a 100ml syringe.

Ever since learning magic alchemy from Nicolas Flamel and combining the Formation and magic alchemy systems, Lynn had planned to refine an alchemical product to enhance his combat strength, imitating the Infinity Gauntlet from the movies.

Through magic alchemy's refinement, he could obtain power-imbued gloves, while Formation Alchemy's arrays would allow the gloves to absorb each gem's power and amplify the user. 

Of course, this product needn't look like a gauntlet - that appearance was too crude. Before that, Lynn intended to make the Power Gem for amplification first.

As for why a Power Gem, in Flamel's book on magic alchemy was a method for refining magic crystals that could amplify power, saving Lynn from conceiving an entirely new alchemical plan.

The raw materials needed included plentiful magic power, gemstone or crystal carriers, and symbols of power. Lynn readily had the first two, but for the third power symbol, his idea was the dragon's blood.

In Lynn's view, the fire dragon was undoubtedly a symbol of power, but only a living one truly represented power - dead dragons' blood from the market wouldn't suffice. Only fresh dragon's blood qualified as a power symbol.

Hence Lynn needing this newborn's blood. One hundred milliliters wasn't an undue burden for a fire dragon hatchling. And the generous reward made it hard for Hagrid to refuse.

So after some hesitation, Hagrid agreed. "Okay, but yeh mustn' hurt it!"

Lynn smiled, bowing to Hagrid. He left the iron plate and a suitcase he'd pulled from thin air, then departed Hagrid's hut.

Since Hagrid had consented, Lynn would naturally begin preparing the alchemy. Of course, he had to return to Rowle Manor to refine this power-enhancing magic crystal. There were only two months till finals, and Quirrell's threat hadn't lifted, so Lynn just needed to ready the raw materials and alchemical knowledge.

As for preserving the dragon's blood after collecting it, Lynn believed the Mirror of Erised's time-freezing array would provide the perfect solution. 

"It's almost the end of term, so I'm busy!" Lynn murmured, gently rubbing his brow. What troubled him wasn't the simple final exams, but a dark devil lurking in the shadows, poised to strike.

(End of this chapter)