Chapter 56 "Skyler's Supplier"

In contrast to the gloomy and disheartened atmosphere among Harry's group, Skyler was enveloped in a sea of joy and exhilaration.

When the Quidditch match's outcome was announced, it wasn't the Quidditch team captains or Cedric who captured the Snitch and reversed the game, receiving the most attention – it was Skyler!

It's unclear who shouted Skyler's name first, but it didn't take long for the entire stadium to erupt.

"Skyler! Skyler! Skyler!..." The deafening cheers filled the air as everyone shouted with all their might.

The tremendous sound waves surged like a tidal wave, starting from the Slytherin stands, spreading to the Hufflepuff section, and then to the Ravenclaw part...

Little witches and wizards raised their hands and shouted with all their hearts.

At this moment, they had forgotten about bloodline differences and the division among houses.

They only remembered one thing – it was Skyler! He brought hope and courage.

He was the one who led them to defeat the dreadful Dementors. It was he who kept everyone's hearts together.

People cheered with emotion, and some even shed tears of joy. It seemed that the originally overcast sky had been pierced by the resounding cheers, allowing a glimmer of golden morning light to shine upon the field.

During dinner, the students gathered in the Great Hall, excitedly discussing the day's events. The atmosphere was heartwarming.

Skyler approached the long table of Hufflepuff, congratulated Cedric, and introduced himself to the Hufflepuff players.

After a lively conversation, the players developed a favorable impression of their polite classmate.

When he left, Skyler was surrounded by several senior girls from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, eagerly inquiring about the Patronus experience.

Most of them were fifth-year students and above, and they somewhat regretted their disdain for the Patronus Charm exchange event held earlier.

Skyler provided some brief guidance and encouraged them to try it themselves.

He assured them that if they encountered any problems, they could come to him for advice.

Delighted, the girls returned to their seats.

As Skyler tried to move away from the group of girls, he was intercepted by Morag, whose tone held a tinge of envy. "You're certainly popular!"

Skyler cleared his throat to mask his embarrassment. "Everyone is just excited about what happened today," he responded before swiftly changing the subject. "You did remarkably well today; I saw your Patronus! Releasing a complete physical Patronus under the influence of so many Dementors is quite an achievement."

Praising Morag like this caused her cheeks to blush, and she stammered, "You, you did well too... I saw your Patronus... I wanted to say that your Patronus is incredibly powerful!"

Skyler smiled and replied, "Actually, the strength of a Patronus isn't necessarily related to its size. Throughout history, there have been many instances of small yet formidable Patronuses. For example, in the Middle Ages, Ilius had a Patronus in the form of a remarkably strong rat. And about a century ago, the witch Simpocia Lohr had an incredibly potent little ladybug as her Patronus... so my Patronus may look intimidating, but it's not all that remarkable."

Morag gave Skyler a sly glance. "You're still quite modest, aren't you? Why don't you mention the wizard Andros in ancient Greece, whose Patronus was the size of a giant, making him invincible in his time? Moreover, I can't help but feel your Patronus isn't in its true and complete form. Have you been holding back? I have a feeling that if you gave it your all, your Patronus might not be any less impressive than the principal's phoenix Patronus."

Skyler shook his head, humility in his words, "You're giving me too much credit. I'm just a third-year student, and comparing myself to the principal wouldn't be fair."

Morag paused as if struggling to find the right words, then lowered his gaze slightly, clenching the fabric of his clothes, and whispered softly, "Thank you for what you did today. You protected everyone and helped me regain courage in that desperate situation. You even guided me in summoning my Patronus... Also, you looked really dashing today!" After saying this, Morag's cheeks turned a shade of red, and she quickly turned and left the auditorium, heading back to the Ravenclaw dormitory.

Is that it? Skyler pondered, finding himself somewhat expecting more, perhaps even a kiss on the cheek...

Well, maybe he was getting ahead of himself.

After a sumptuous dinner, Skyler returned to his dormitory and was pleasantly surprised to find Dobby waiting for him.

Dobby respectfully informed him, "Little Master, Dobby has located Mr. Nicholas. We can leave at any time. Would you like to depart now?"

Skyler had been working on an "Anti-apparition Sickness Bracelet" since the Patronus Charm exchange meeting ended three weeks ago.

With his dedication and effort, he successfully created a prototype of the Anti-apparition Sickness Bracelet.

Based on experimental results, it effectively mitigated the discomfort caused by magical apparition.

However, it had some limitations.

If the Apparition involved rapid rotation or lasted too long, the bracelet might break. Skyler knew he still needed further refinement.

Although these Anti-apparition Sickness Bracelets weren't yet suitable for long-distance magical apparition, Skyler, the affluent wizard, had other options.

He fastened five bracelets on each arm and took Dobby's hand to perform apparition. In the process, five of the bracelets shattered, but they successfully transported themselves thousands of miles to the Black Forest in Germany.

Skyler felt quite content with the journey.

Even after breaking half of his wristbands, he experienced no side effects or dizziness from Apparating.

After all, a protagonist should be above such inconveniences.

Why should he suffer from motion sickness during a magical apparition? That would be beneath him!

The Black Forest, as the name implied, was a dark and expansive woodland similar to the Forbidden Forest.

It was filled with Dark Creatures, such as Acromantulas, Vampires, and other magical beings.

Quirrell met his fate here, facing these malevolent creatures.

Erklings are close relatives of House-elves, larger than Goblins, with an average height of three feet.

They possess long, pointed faces and a strong penchant for the taste of children.

These malevolent creatures emit harsh clucking sounds that captivate children, leading them away from their guardians, ultimately becoming Erkling prey.

Despite their ability to speak human languages, they are categorized as "beasts."

The German Ministry of Magic has implemented strict controls over the Erkling population, leading to a significant reduction in their attacks on children.

In legend, there exists a little-known Kobold tribe living in seclusion.

Kobolds, closely related to goblins, resemble goblins in appearance, albeit with darker skin.

What sets this goblin race apart is their exceptional skill in concealment.

They excel in invisibility, camouflage, and transformation, making their existence elusive and rarely known to others.

(Note: Cobot does not appear in the original work; it stems from German folklore in the Black Forest.)

These matters are unrelated to Skyler's current agenda, as he does not need to venture deep into the Black Forest.

Instead, he's focused on the outskirts of the forest, specifically a pure wizarding village called Vidbas Village, similar to Hogsmeade.

Elreby and Badmore Broom Company have their headquarters in this village.

Guided by Dobby, Skyler navigated a secluded alley and used a secret rhythm to knock on the door of an inconspicuous wooden house.

The door opened slightly, revealing the rugged face of a typical German man.

At this moment, Skyler dressed the same way he had in Knockturn Alley. He spoke in a low voice, fluently in German, saying straightforwardly, "I'm looking for Nicholas; I was referred by the giant spider."

"Come in!" the man promptly opened the door, allowing Skyler to enter before closing it again.

The interior of the house was simple, more like an office or a work establishment than a residence.

The man wasted no time and inquired, "I'm Nicholas. What can I do for you?"

"I need some Phantom Sniffing Grass, and I'm willing to negotiate the price," Skyler responded.

Nicholas sneered, "Phantom Sniffing Grass is only available in Ministry-monitored plantations in Europe. I'm afraid there's little I can do."

Skyler was well-versed in dealing with individuals like Nicholas. He sneered back, saying, "I believe that with the right incentives, anything can be acquired. For example, this..." Skyler revealed a bottle of Eight-Eyed Spider Venom and dangled it before Nicholas. "I think you're aware of its value, and I can procure it easily."

Nicholas stared at the bottle with unmasked greed in his eyes.

"I have a consistent supply of this venom. So, if you can assist me in obtaining the Phantom Sniffing Grass, we might have a long and profitable partnership," Skyler offered yet another tempting bait.

Upon hearing the mention of a consistent supply, Nicholas's expression shifted.

After careful consideration, he agreed to cooperate with Skyler.

Despite their first meeting, they could trust one another in their magical world due to the existence of the "Unbreakable Vow," a highly reliable form of magical contract.

Once the details of their cooperation were settled, Skyler Apparated back to Hogwarts, led by Dobby, where many significant events had occurred recently.

Several noteworthy events took place at Hogwarts.

Professor Lupin's return to teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts, although he appeared somewhat unwell with looser robes and dark shadows under his eyes, added enjoyment to the class.

This particularly benefited the Gryffindors, as many of them, except for Hermione, had not completed Snape's assignment on werewolves.

Slytherin students, aware of their head of house, were also diligent in completing the task. Meredith, skilled in observation and reasoning, had even deduced Lupin's identity as a werewolf, but Skyler had guided her not to share this knowledge with anyone apart from Daphne.

Unbeknownst to them, Hermione had also made the same deduction.

During one of Lupin's classes, he introduced a new dark creature, the Hinkypunk. It was a one-legged, smoke-like figure that appeared delicate and non-threatening.

However, it had a dangerous habit of luring travelers into dark, swampy fields at night.

Carrying a small lantern, it would hop through the foggy swamp, using the lantern's light to entice those who followed it into the swamp, leading to suffocation and death.

Hinkypunks were not classified as creatures; rather, they belonged to the category of Spirits, similar to Ghosts, Banshees, and Keppola.

The Ministry of Magic placed them under the jurisdiction of the Spirits Division within the Department of Biological Management and Control.

Since they lacked a physical form, ordinary magic couldn't affect them, and only advanced dark magic could harm them.

For instance, the basilisk's gaze could petrify a spirit entity.

However, dealing with Hinkypunks was not difficult as long as individuals learned to resist their temptations and ignore their existence.

The second significant event was Harry's discharge from the school hospital.

Although life seemed to return to normal, the loss in the Quidditch game continued to affect him.

Harry often found himself gazing at the remains of his broken broomstick.

Despite the efforts of his friends to cheer him up, his mood remained somber.

In late November, the Ravenclaw team defeated Hufflepuff, particularly impacting Cedric, who displayed personal strength but couldn't compensate for the overall weaknesses of his teammates.

Captain Quidditch had been crushed by Roger Davis in the first match, resulting in a terrible loss.

This unfortunate outcome motivated Wood, the Gryffindor team captain, to push his players even harder.

They had a slim chance to win the championship, but they couldn't afford to lose another match.

Wood insisted on rigorous day-and-night training, and the players often practiced flying in the cold December snow.

In addition to Quidditch training, Harry was also learning the Patronus Charm from Professor Lupin.

He needed to cast a complete Patronus as quickly as possible to ensure there were no accidents in the upcoming match.