Chapter 177 - Conspiracies and Secrets (7)

Still in Dumbledore's office, Asterion looked curiously at the beautiful red and gold bird on the perch.

A phoenix.

Unlike the Elder Dragons, which were extinct, the Phoenix and the Unicorns were still alive and well. Although the two races were not as intelligent as the Elder Dragons, they were not to be underestimated.

Both races had their own unique magic that no other race in the world possessed, with the Phoenix being able to pass through any Anti-Apparition spell and its immortality. The unicorn could sense if someone was pure or not and could run away as fast as the wind.

The Phoenix, called Fawkes, looked at Asterion and then at Morgan, its wariness of the girl most obvious. The bird showed a very human fear in its feathered face.

This caused Dumbledore to narrow his eyes in thought; although he knew that the cursed spirit in the form of a girl was not normal, he hadn't expected even one of the purest creatures on the planet to show fear and caution.

Feeling someone tugging at his clothes, Asterion looked to the side and saw Morgan pointing at the Phoenix and then at his own mouth, his big red eyes looking at him with a look of expectation.

The intention was obvious, to eat Fawkes.

How could Asterion not understand what Morgan was trying to say?

Looking at the girl who looked at him expectantly, Asterion replied in a soft tone. "No, you can't turn Fawkes into cookies and eat him."

Morgan gave him a slightly angry look and ate the cookie in her hand with ferocious bites, her eyes occasionally glancing at the red and gold bird.

Dumbledore couldn't help but twitch his lips at the sight of the two of them interacting. Turn Fawkes into a cookie and eat him? What a greedy, cursed mind!

Dumbledore cleared his throat loudly and spoke calmly, adjusting his glasses that were sliding down his nose. "I suppose you want to know the result of the interrogation."

Asterion nodded and waited silently for his words.

"Patricia cooperated as you said and talked about some secret R-bases in England and some in other countries, as well as some information about hierarchy and history." Dumbledore said with a dissatisfied look on his face. "Unfortunately that was all, the R organization is very cautious even with its high ranking members."

Asterion wasn't surprised, this was an organization that was still alive after a millennium, not a secret club of college friends. If it were that easy to find, it would have been destroyed long ago.

"And Pilgrim?" Asterion asked, narrowing his eyes. He had handed the man over to Dumbledore the day before, he must have already known the result of the torture.

Adjusting his glasses again, Dumbledore showed an amused smile playing on his lips. "I didn't get much information from the man, he had taken an Unbreakable Vow, a vow taken by all members with Semi-Special and Special degrees."

Asterion's eyes lit up as he listened to the man's words. "Looks like you've got quite a problem on your hands."

Dumbledore laughed at his words and nodded. "This information alone says that the other side has special class wizards."

"That's normal, it's a thousand year old organization. Force was the strongest form of protection in the world." Asterion commented, bringing the goblet to his lips and drinking the entire contents in one go.

"I know all the known Special Grade mages in the world, I have a few suspicions about who they might be, but they're just that, suspicions." Dumbledore placed the cup in the fire and spoke with an amused smile on his lips. He hadn't expected to be able to participate in something so interesting at the end of his life.

"We will have our answer at the Geneva Convention, where all the Special Grade wizards will gather to discuss the new treaty restricting the actions of Special Grade witches and wizards." Asterion spoke, his eyes shining for a moment. This would be the first convention he had ever attended, a meeting with all the Special Grade wizards of the world gathered in one place.

Dumbledore nodded in agreement with the boy's words, he knew that this Geneva Convention would be very interesting, England would be attending with two wizards and one witch of the Special Grade.

Albus Dumbledore, Asterion Black and Rose Potter.

With Rose and Asterion, England became extremely powerful in a short period of less than ten years, surpassing many nations.

"Did he say anything else?" Asterion narrowed his eyes and asked with a calm expression. His eyes looked at Dumbledore with a penetrating gaze.

Dumbledore laughed at the boy's sharp words and replied calmly. "Apart from a few interesting things about me, nothing very relevant to you, Lord Black."

Asterion snorted coldly, not believing a word of what the man in front of him was saying.

"Albus, as arrogant as ever." A male voice was heard above the two wizards.

Dumbledore and Asterion raised their heads to see a portrait of a middle-aged man wearing a very nice suit.

"Ancestor." Asterion greeted the animated portrait of the man with an elegant smile.

Dumbledore just stared amusedly at the image of the former headmaster of Hogwarts.

Looking into Asterion's red eyes, Phineas stroked his beard and looked very pleased. Because of Dumbledore, he already knew the glorious deeds of this descendant of his.

Phineas felt nothing but pride at having another red-eyed bearer in House Black.

"Boy, remember, don't trust that old fox, no Hogwarts headmaster is easy." Even though he was restricted from saying certain things, Phineas still warned his offspring. He didn't want his precious offspring to be betrayed on a dangerous occasion.

"Your words hurt my feelings, Headmaster Black." Dumbledore spoke with a slightly offended tone as he smiled gently.

"Humph!" Phineas just snorted coldly and didn't believe a word of what Dumbledore said; of all the wizards and witches who had held the position of Headmaster of Hogwarts in the course of its thousand years, Albus Dumbledore was by far the strongest and most cunning after Rowena Ravenclaw.

"Thank you for your warning, Great-Great-Grandfather." Asterion smiled teasingly at Dumbledore and thanked his ancestor for his concern. But then again, he had never trusted Dumbledore, the man was far too manipulative to gain his trust.

"Since my business is done, I will take my leave." Asterion said, getting up from his chair and leaving the office, holding Morna's hand.

When the door was closed, Dumbledore looked at the animated portrait of Phineas and spoke in an amused tone. "I thought you were going to tell your precious offspring the secret of Hogwarts."

Phineas seemed offended by Dumbledore's words and replied with all the elegance and arrogance of a Black. "Like all the Headmasters before me, I have taken an oath never to reveal the secrets of Hogwarts. Besides, my dear descendant does not need to know the terrible secret this school hides in its bowels."

"How honorable of you." It was Dumbledore's turn to mock Phineas.

"But I really want to know how, in Merlin's name, this organization called R managed to discover this secret that only the Headmaster of Hogwarts knows." Dumbledore spoke, leaning back in his chair, his face terribly grim, an expression shared by Phineas and all the animated portraits in the office.

"You need to check the seal again, Albus, perhaps the seal is weak and the white thing has woken again." Phineas said with a voice full of dignity.

At the thought that the monster had awakened and was about to break out of the seal, the dead former Headmaster of Hogwarts' face turned pale. It wasn't for nothing that he was afraid, this creature had almost destroyed the entire island of Great Britain!

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Author's Thoughts: Does anyone know what creature is sealed beneath Hogwarts?

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Next Chapter Second Volume: Chapter 178 - Decision and two wives (1), Chapter 179 - Decision and two wives (2), Chapter 180 - The Old King of Camelot (1), Chapter 181 - The Old King of Camelot (2), Chapter 182 - The Old King of Camelot (3), Chapter 183 - Second Trial of the International Tournament of Witchcraft and Wizardry (1), Chapter 184 - Second Trial of the International Tournament of Witchcraft and Wizardry (2), Chapter 185 - Second Trial of the International Tournament of Witchcraft and Wizardry (3), Chapter 186 - Second Trial of the International Tournament of Witchcraft and Wizardry (4), Chapter 187 - Second Test of the International Tournament of Witchcraft and Wizardry (5), Chapter 188 - Asterion & Daphne (R-18), Chapter 189 - Asterion & Daphne, Chapter 190 - How to Train Your Dragon (1), Chapter 191 - How to Train Your Dragon (2), Chapter 192 - How to Train Your Dragon (3).