Mysterious Journey
Chapter 842 Magic Names and Contracts
Gently closing the wooden door of the office, Erina gracefully curtsied, her eyes sparkling.
"Please allow me to reintroduce myself, Theresa Apocalypse—that is my magical name. I imagine a wizard as learned as you would know that there is no such family in the magical world, right? I don't know why, but according to a tradition passed down from long ago, it is best for us wizards not to use our real names directly when discussing important matters..."
Unlike Severus Snape's somewhat damp, cold, and cluttered potions professor's office, Horace Slughorn's office was noticeably more comfortable. The warm room contained several soft armchairs of the kind found in common rooms.
And besides the somewhat nervous and flustered old walrus, there was another wizard in the room.
"Well, is that so... Grandpa?"
Erina casually tilted her head, a smile playing on her lips, and said sweetly.
From the door to the armchair, there was only about ten feet of distance.
Before Erina's words had even fully fallen, the distance between her and the two old men had shrunk to less than three feet, or about one meter—within this range, even Albus Dumbledore would be threatened.
"In the last chapter of the *Bible: New Testament*, St. John used the word 'apocalypse' to record and describe the vision of the descent of 'God' and the coming of the end of the world. Of course, these things are not important at the moment. More importantly, in the tradition of our Apocalypse family, using a magical name doesn't just represent discussion, it also represents..."
Grindelwald shook his head helplessly, and with a gentle flick of his wand,
the invisible magical protection spread rapidly outward like ripples. In less than half a second, it sealed the walls, ceiling, and door, as if a transparent bubble had flashed into existence and disappeared without a trace.
However, Horace Slughorn still made no move.
Perhaps for him, the vast difference in strength was enough for him to understand how to behave as decently as possible.
"...the most sincere invitation."
Erina took out a roll of parchment from her chest and handed it to Slughorn with a smile.
Otto Apocalypse should have already explained the contents of this contract once. Whether through reasoning or calmly explaining the reasoning, the effect, at least for now, should be quite good.
In the warm room, Horace Slughorn shook his head with a wry smile and reached out to take the roll of parchment.
"I knew it would be like this. I understand."
In fact, Slughorn had already begun to regret it that afternoon after announcing Erina's detention.
There were no shortage of problem students at Hogwarts. As an old man who had worked in this castle for decades, Slughorn had never seen other professors praise his courage for punishing a student.
And when the same sentence came from the mouth of the head of Gryffindor House, it became even more unsettling.
Sure enough, just after noon today, Professor Otto Apocalypse had politely come to his door—the reason being to discuss magical combat techniques, with the reward being access to the Philosopher's Stone, which was impossible to refuse.
After hours of one-sided torment, Slughorn finally found an opportunity to declare surrender.
If he had known that the legendary Paracelsus would be so protective, even if that witch-child had roasted frog legs with fire in potions class, Slughorn would probably have turned a blind eye and let it go. It wouldn't have come to this...
The eighty-year-old potions professor slowly opened the parchment in his hand, browsing the details he had just heard once.
"Dear Mr. Horace E. F. Slughorn, we are pleased to inform you that you have been approved to teach in the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry - Academy City area. You will be temporarily responsible for popularizing potions, with the initial goal of allowing some Muggle scholars to understand the principles and composition of potions, and on this basis, to try new potion combination ideas based on conjecture..."
"As Hogwarts' special wizarding assistance, your scope of authority and movement includes..."
"Please be sure to note that not disclosing the specific contents of this contract is also part of the contract. If an accident occurs due to your individual subjective or partially subjective reasons, Hogwarts, Destiny Group, and Gringotts have the right to pursue subsequent accountability."
Destiny Group, Gringotts Wizarding Bank... Slughorn's eyes widened slightly, and he sighed again in his heart.
As a wizard who constantly kept abreast of the latest developments in the magical world, he naturally knew the current power structure of Gringotts.
Since the "Black Magic Scam," Gringotts Wizarding Bank had lost its previously completely independent status, introduced financing from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and the Austrian Destiny Group, and became a mixed joint-stock system.
Almost simultaneously, a report that had left a deep impression on him flashed through Slughorn's mind.
"...The Wizengamot Court and the Ministry of Magic have ruled that the Lestrange family, suspected of colluding with Death Eater Peter Pettigrew to illegally steal public wealth from the magical world, has forfeited all wealth in their vaults at Gringotts Wizarding Bank, and returned it to the victims..."
At the time, he had only felt some唏嘘(xī xū - lament), lamenting the decline of an old magical family.
But now, when Slughorn saw this roll of parchment, a chill instantly ran through his heart.
Slughorn finally realized the unease he had felt when he first saw that report—the long-standing wealth and accumulation barriers of magical society were collapsing and disintegrating, all maintained by the fairness of Hogwarts and Destiny Group.
Or, more accurately, held in the hands of a group of wizards whose faces he could not see clearly.
"Well, this... this contract, I think..."
Slughorn rubbed the edge of the parchment with his fingers and said softly with a solemn expression.
"Muggles simply cannot understand the mysteries contained in potions. In the past so many years, there has never been such a precedent. Moreover, even if they are hired by Hogwarts, it is somewhat against the rules..."
"Working in the Academy City will pay you an extra salary and an additional project incentive bonus."
Erina smiled slightly and placed another contract next to Slughorn's hand.
"Casslana, oh no, Miss Apocalypse, listen to me, it's not about the money—"
"Starting salary of 250 Galleons per month..."
"Potions are not as simple as you think. Muggles' theories are of no reference value..."
"500 Galleons."
"What I mean is that, besides moving their mouths, they can't even complete the most basic potion brewing. This is a matter of magic. On the one hand, it can't be taught, and on the other hand, it doesn't make much sense..."
"1000 Galleons, plus a signing fee of 8342 Sickles and 579 Knuts."
Horace Slughorn's cheeks twitched.
This arrogant little witch, did you think you could insult a potions master with money?
Even if you accurately stated the amount of my deposit in Gringotts Wizarding Bank, would it be enough to break the bottom line of an old professor who has worked diligently at Hogwarts for decades?
Horace Slughorn had wanted to rebuke her loudly like this, but...
He sighed, lowered his head, took a light breath, and said softly and helplessly.
"...Okay, I understand. I will try my best."
"Thank you for joining us, Mr. Slughorn! Now let Professor Apocalypse briefly explain the work content, precautions, initial task breakdown, and some small suggestions in the Academy City..."
Grindelwald nodded gently, and with a deft twist of his wand, he began to write words in the air.
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Goo ah!