Chapter 13 - The Element
While Asmodeus was indulging in his feast, Dumbledore, who had spent the night constantly Apparating towards Germany, finally reached his destination.
Entrance to the German Ministry of Magic
Dumbledore was awaited by Minister Schmidt and the entire top echelon of executive power.
"Director Dumbledore, thank goodness you're here," said Minister Schmidt, who appeared well over 80, approaching and embracing Dumbledore warmly.
In contrast to the ineffectual English Minister Fudge, who only cared about his own power, Minister Schmidt was an Auror who had fought on the front lines against the fanatics commanded by Grindelwald.
He genuinely understood and respected the fight for one's country, not just a thirst for power, and he wasn't going to ignore a problem just because it might harm his approval ratings, unlike Fudge.
Moreover, he knew and respected Dumbledore's power. He had witnessed the legendary duel against Grindelwald and understood that even if the entire German Ministry of Magic gathered to attack Dumbledore or Grindelwald, they wouldn't leave a scratch on them.
So, after the friendly embrace (although, in Dumbledore's case, it might have a different undertone), Schmidt stepped back and said, "We've been waiting for you, Director Dumbledore. An hour after Grindelwald's disappearance, this letter appeared at the castle gate."
With that, he pulled a letter from his pocket, which read, "Greetings, my old friend. How have you been all these years? Did you miss me? Well, never mind that; let's get straight to business. I'll be waiting for you at the address xxxxxxx at 6:00 PM on the third of September. Come; we have much to discuss."
Seeing this note, Dumbledore's pupils narrowed, and he said, "I'll go alone; evidently, he wants to negotiate something."
"But, Director, isn't that dangerous?"
"No, besides, if there is danger, you would be a burden."
Dumbledore didn't mince his words; it wasn't the time for that. "Well, until the meeting with Grindelwald, there's still a whole day, and this old man needs to rest. Do you have a place to stay?"
"Of course, you're always an honored and welcome guest in Germany."
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The next morning, Asmodeus woke up and checked the tasks and achievements offered by the system.
"Shock Snape with your knowledge of potion-making - reward 15 points."
"Pet the old lady cat - 50 points" (semi-legendary achievement).
"Listen to the cry of a young Mandrake for 2 minutes without using magic and without losing consciousness - reward 20 points."
"Well, let's rule out the third one; I'm not a masochist," thought Asmodeus.
"Both of the first two are quite achievable, but the second one is a bit dangerous."
Anyway. So, after washing up, he headed to the dining hall for breakfast. While he was eating, someone patted him on the shoulder and with a familiar but displeased voice said, "Why are you ignoring me?!"
To his right appeared a curly-haired girl with a disdainful expression. "When did I ignore you?"
"Yesterday, you never came up to me!"
"Why should I come to you?"
"Because we're friends!"
"Alright, but yesterday after dinner, I went straight back to my room, and during lunch, I was memorizing the class schedule, so I didn't have time to chat. Besides, haven't you made new friends in Gryffindor?"
"Well, there's Neville, two idiots, and my roommates, but I've known you longer," she muttered quietly.
Due to Asmodeus' intervention, Hermione didn't get acquainted with the rest of the Golden Trio on the train. Eventually, they did meet, but they didn't become friends as quickly as in the original. As Asmodeus was the first classmate she met in the magical world, she naturally wanted to maintain a connection.
Asmodeus wasn't against talking to Hermione; he didn't really like solitude. It's just that he found it challenging to communicate with kids on an equal footing.
"Where will you be during the lunch break?"
"I don't know yet. Probably, I'll grab a bite and go to the library."
"Alright, we agreed. We'll meet in the library."
"Okay," Hermione nodded and went back to the Gryffindor table.
Alright, what's next for us? Transfiguration and a lesson with the elderly cat professor.
He thought, standing up from the table and heading towards the exit of the dining hall.
At the Gryffindor table, a conversation was taking place:
"Hermione, do you know him?"
"Yes, we met on the train."
"Cool."
"What's cool about it?"
"Don't you know he made a feather levitate during the Charms class, and there was a fire cocoon around him?"
"No, how did he do that?!"
"I don't know. I thought you knew."
Hermione didn't reply but pondered. Remembering what the Sorting Hat said, "Fire, fire everywhere."
She decided to ask Professor McGonagall why her and Asmodeus' spells differed. She looked towards the professors' table and saw McGonagall and Flitwick finishing their meals, getting ready to leave the dining hall. She stood up and walked towards them.
"Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, please wait."
"Oh, Miss Granger, what happened?"
McGonagall asked with doubt on her face.
"Professor McGonagall, I heard that during the Charms class, Asmodeus' levitation spell was different from ours."
"Ah, the girl is talking about the fire that appeared around the feather?"
"Yes, I want to know why it happened."
"Alright, let me explain to you. Do you mind, Professor McGonagall?"
Flitwick said.
"Yes, I'm also curious to hear your explanation."
"Well, Miss Granger, what do you know about Mana or magical energy?"
"We use it to cast spells."
"Correct, but not only that. You already know that the more Mana a wizard has, the more spells they can cast without getting tired, and the stronger the spell will be. But what do you know about the elements of this magical energy?"
"Nothing," Hermione said a bit dejectedly.
"Haha, don't worry about not knowing about the elements. In fact, 99% of all wizards have never thought about it, and they don't need to."
"So, almost all wizards in the world have magic of a neutral element or no element. Yours, mine, Professor McGonagall's, and all the little wizards in the hall, our Mana doesn't have a specific element, so to speak, no color. If it were a color, it wouldn't even be white; it would be more like transparent or colorless."
"Understand?"
"Kind of," Hermione replied.
"So, Mr. Morningstar is different from us. His magic has an element and a color. His element is fire, and his magic is red because he has a very high affinity with the fire element. So, when casting spells, it can cause an unexpected reaction, like in the case of the Levitation spell [Wingardium Leviosa]. Since Miranda Goshawk wrote 'Standard Spells' based on data from ordinary children wizards with neutral magic and didn't adjust spells for people with elements."
"Doesn't that mean he has to learn spells differently?"
"In a sense, yes. People with elements are generally very gifted, and they don't have problems optimizing spells for themselves."
"Do you have any other acquaintances with an element?" Hermione asked in surprise.
"You also have, Miss Granger. Headmaster Dumbledore, he also has an affinity with fire, though not as strong as Mr. Noren, but he's also very close to the fire element."
"Why do they have an element, and others don't?"
"I can't say for sure, but it's likely influenced by their lineage. For example, the Dumbledore family is known for having a phoenix come to their aid when they are in trouble."
"But doesn't that confirm the theory of pure-bloods?"
"No, no, not at all, Miss Granger."
"Miss Granger, honestly, none of the so-called 28 pure-blood families have any special blood or element."
"And the term '28 pure-blood families' was introduced in 1930 by an idiot named Cantankerous Nott."
"Never be ashamed of your blood, in fact, any wizard of Muggle origin had a wizard ancestor at some point."
"Although we don't know who was the first wizard, we can almost certainly say that all wizards share common roots. Most likely, there was a group of the first wizards, and we are their very distant descendants."
"Then is there a way to acquire an element?"
"I'm sorry, Miss Granger, I don't know."
"Then can you tell me who else can be considered people with elements?"
"Well, actually, most of them became great individuals, as I mentioned earlier, our director and the immortal Nicolas Flamel."
"Wait, who is Nicolas Flamel?"
"You can look it up in the library; I think you'll find it interesting," said Flitwick with a smile.
"Okay, is there anyone else?"
"Well, I don't really want to talk about the others."
"Please, Professor Flitwick, I'm very interested."
"Alright, then. Gellert Grindelwald and the one you can't name, both have truly special lineages."
"What kind?"
"Gellert Grindelwald and Nicolas Flamel have the gift of prophecy, which is also a special blood, and the color of their magic is more dark blue than non coloured like ours."
"Ah, the one you mentioned third?"
"Um, well, he's a very bad person. He has blood that allows him to speak with snakes, but I don't know exactly the color of his magical energy, although I have a guess that it's going to be green or black."
"Alright... thank you."
Thoughtfully, Hermione said her thanks and left.
"Professor Flitwick, you shouldn't have told her that. She has a very strong spirit of rivalry; I'm afraid Miss Granger will compare herself to Mr. Noren."
"Minerva, I think she would have found this in books anyway. She has a thirst for knowledge, albeit not as strong as in Ravenclaw, but still."
"I hope so," said McGonagall.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone