From Azkaban To Hogwarts

There are three major wizarding schools in Europe, Hogwarts, Durmstrang and Beauxbatons.

But this does not mean that there are only these three magic schools - each magic school has developed slowly from scratch. For example, the Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the United States is a descendant of Slytherin in the seventeenth century. It was established and developed in the United States by the mixed descendants of the Gunter family.

At the beginning, Ilvermorny Magic School only had a dilapidated stone house with two professors and two students - a rudimentary thing that could not be compared to Slytherin's own wand, which is now transformed into snakewood and is still growing lushly. .

This is information provided by the school - not every magic school likes to expose secrets, and ordinary people simply cannot get this information.

As for Durmstrang, where William and the others visited this time, they were so petty that they didn't even disclose their address. Students didn't even know where they were studying after reading the book.

Regardless of the fact that the school recommended William and the others to learn German, it was purely due to Durmstrang's language preference due to historical issues - although Grindelwald was kicked out by Durmstrang, but with the career of the first Dark Lord It is booming and speaking German there has become a trend.

Although Dumbledore defeated Grindelwald in the duel, the school had no plans to change it this time - Dumbledore was a pure Hogwarts student.

"Okay, I understand the general situation, but the final question is - how can we teach the class if the students don't know it?"

William listened to the additions of other professors who were traveling with him and asked curiously.

"Waiting for the boat to pick up, they have a big boat, and they are using it until now——"

Professor Corey took the trouble to popularize science, "It's still a wooden boat, what era has it been, a wooden boat, tsk tsk..."

'The Hogwarts Express isn't much better...'

William couldn't help but want to complain, but in the end he held it in with perseverance - now is the time to speak out unanimously, and this is not the time to complain about the two words "Hogwarts Express, sorry Express".

Although he was more interested in complaining about the Hogwarts Express, which looks like a train, but is actually powered by magic, and the steam chimney of the locomotive is just a decoration, it looks like a hot pot on the train, but now it is indeed Not suitable.

"If the time is correct, there are still five minutes."

The person accompanying the Ministry of Magic looked at the time and then confirmed - As for Professor Corey's complaint just now, he looked like I didn't hear anything.

"Wait, Professor, it won't be long." Adams said cheerfully, "I hope I can get some good seeds this time. There are several herbs that can only be grown openly here due to their uses."

It didn't take long, maybe a few minutes, before William's hand touched the wand before he realized it, and then, the calm lake in front of them began to make waves.

'Strange... why is the water like this? ’

William subconsciously took a step back, and then looked at the water surface - something seemed to be coming out of the water, but the water was flowing as if something was about to be sucked in.

‘Spatial movement similar to apparation? ’

'Drain an area of ​​water and replace the hull, or...'

Such an idea is tempting, but William's knowledge base is not enough for him to figure this problem out - although he has been working hard on the escape magic of apparation, this is not his main focus after all.

'This is Durmstrang's ship... If Singed is here, I'm afraid he doesn't want to dismantle it... But it's hard to say... This is not his main attack. ’

William couldn't help but think as he watched the boat gradually emerge from the water.

The ship had an eerie, skeletal appearance, as if it were the remains of a wreck that had just been raised, and the portholes shone with a dim, foggy light that looked like ghostly eyes.

Extraordinary and unusual—but no more than that.

Except for the initial means that was transferred from nowhere, this thing is not even comparable to the Hogwarts Express - it is not that William prefers Hogwarts, but that is the fact.

'Spells to reinforce materials, meaningless intimidation spells, some kind of defensive spells, decorations that look scary but don't feel any magic fluctuations...'

'Most things are more perfunctory than the Hogwarts Express chimney...except that they are big...nothing to praise...'

To put it bluntly, this thing is just pretending to be old-fashioned, but in fact it is inferior to the Knight Bus.

Let's put it this way, in order to show that the materials are extraordinary and the craftsmanship is luxurious, most of the spells above are permanent. However, in the magical world, permanent spell casting requires materials other than the wand, and is generally weaker than ordinary spells...

However, William also knew that he was too eager for quick success and too picky - of course, school exchanges must show history, and this boat is a living history of the founding of the school. It is foolish to consider practicality.

Just like the rising star Ilvermorny - the Snakewood matter can be concealed completely, but people still secretly announced it through unofficial channels, because it doesn't have a long history?

In just a short while, the wooden submarine was almost docked. As a wooden plank was placed on the shore, the professor in charge of reception on the ship had kindly stepped forward.

"Welcome to the Hogwarts team, I am Hans Becker, who is responsible for picking you up." (Hans... William was holding back a laugh)

"Are you Professor McGonagall?"

"That's right, I'm responsible for driving the boat there, and there are a few senior students on the boat who help run it."

"Of course, we have prepared a banquet to entertain guests from afar. Principal Karkaroff is already looking forward to it in Durmstrang."

"Officials from the German and Austrian Ministry of Magic are already waiting at the school. I believe this negotiation will achieve great success."

"No, according to school rules, we will not be involved in the specific affairs of the Ministry of Magic of various countries..."

(The bids from these two co-authors are high...)

…

Although Mr. Hans, who could hit two or three bricks with one brick on the streets of Germany, responded appropriately and his hospitality was neither humble nor overbearing, William still couldn't help but complain a lot - compared to Hogwarts, Durmstrang There seems to be more involvement in politics.

"Understandable,"

After a group of people entered the guest area, Professor Corey arranged a slight soundproofing spell and spread it to the younger professors, "Not everyone belongs to Hogwarts, Durmstrang does not belong to any country. , don’t even think about getting sustainable and stable teaching funds.”

"Hogwarts has no tuition fees, but Durmstrang's fees are always quite high - but most countries will provide education subsidies."

"They recruit students from England to Bulgaria, but they don't recruit Muggle wizards."

"The address is unclear. I can't remember it. It's mysterious. There's never been one."

"..."

William didn't listen to what he said later - this ship looked good, and its stability was not much better than that of ancient wooden ships. To put it bluntly, the ships used to transport prisoners in Azkaban were even more comfortable than this one...

He ate some chocolate and forced himself to fall asleep without caring about the world.

——

"yawn…"

When William woke up with a yawn, they had arrived at Durmstrang.

"Here we are, I really envy you, you slept all the way..."

Adams whispered while complaining about Professor Corey's terrible desire to popularize science.

"Some of them are good to listen to. If I didn't like this claustrophobic and dark environment, I would listen to them."

William spread his hands helplessly - it wasn't that he was biased against the ship, but that the ship didn't even have many lights. The lighting was all based on ancient patterns. Who could resist?

'More rigid than the UK, and they say this school is not in Germany...'

He shook his head and left the cabin with the team in front.

Then he felt a little regretful of his previous prejudice.

Just as he thought, this was no longer the lake they were waiting for Durmstrang to send someone to pick up, but another scene.

The low shrubs have disappeared, and the grass weighed down by the snow has also disappeared. Looking down from the boat, the field of vision is so wide and scary that it makes people feel unnaturally awe-inspiring.

At first glance, it is pure white snow without any impurities. It spreads on the steep slope, making people feel as if the whole world has been dyed white by some magic.

And below the snow, there are floating clouds - yes, if the wind hadn't occasionally torn apart those connected clouds, no one would be able to tell the difference between this piece of white and that piece of white.

‘This is… on the mountain? ’

William was stunned for a moment and then realized.

He looked towards the water under the boat and confirmed that it was also a lake. He did not apologize for his previous judgment - it was not that they had moved to the mountains, but that there was a mountain lake here.

"Please allow me to introduce, this is the most beautiful lake in Durmstrang."

"Of course, of course, everything here is open to students."

"The students are..."

"..."

"We are going to the castle next. Principal Karkaroff is waiting for us there."

After a brief introduction to the environment, William finally recognized the small castle with only four floors - compared to the mountains, lakes, continuous pine forests, and the clear washed sky, the castle was simply insignificant. Won't pay attention at all.

But William knew very well - without the castle, the scenery here would probably not be worth mentioning at all.

"The mountain peaks have been modified by magic, and the lakes are..."

Although it was well concealed, William still found traces of being drastically transformed by magic.

The alpine lake does not freeze in the winter - William believes this is the result of magic more than the hot springs, not to mention the overly neat looking woods.

How could there be a gangster among the three major magic schools? William had seen the previous records of the Triwizard Tournament, and the other two were quite competitive. You know, that was Hogwarts a hundred years ago. The professor hasn't been cursed yet!

——

"Welcome, Professor McGonagall."

When William and his party arrived at the small castle, the principal of Durmstrang was already standing at the door of the auditorium to greet them.

But there were no students there - it was Christmas break after all.

In fact, considering the confidentiality work, if it were not a holiday, they would not be able to enter with a big fanfare - if the talks collapsed, it would really be a mistake, and no one wanted to see such a situation happen.

"Have a hard time on the road," the tall, thin man with white hair was none other than Karkaroff. He was welcoming Professor McGonagall with a happy face - or rather, a happy face.

"And of course you too, professors from Hogwarts."

When he tried to show favor to the professors of Hogwarts, William finally had the opportunity to look at the headmaster of Durmstrang, who was born in Hogwarts.

A former Death Eater who escaped trial and the current Headmaster of Durmstrang - no matter which identity he is in, it is not simple.

'Although there must be a reason why Durmstrang doesn't have a suitable candidate, this prisoner who escaped the punishment of Azkaban is not an easy person...'

As the guy who came closest to successfully escaping from prison before Sirius, Karkaroff had a reputation in Azkaban that he didn't even know he had.

Igor Karkaroff, the lucky man of Azkaban, the representative of the defectors, the most successful prison escapee - of course, the last one was later taken away by Sirius.

But this does not affect his legend at all - after a series of operations, he escaped from trial!

He escaped judicial trial by betraying his original Death Eater companions, and then directly left the UK, the main place of Death Eater activity, to avoid subsequent pursuits - the legend only ends here, but William did not expect that this would-be Prisoners can make subsequent stories even more legendary.

‘The competition among the three major colleges is fierce, and it’s not like the traitors regrouped and then defected. What did he do? ’

Durmstrang only recruits purebloods and teaches dark magic. Although it says it does not discriminate or anything like that - but whoever believes it is stupid. In the early years, there was even a ban on Hufflepuff here and at Hogwarts. Warriors of strange origin enter the castle for conflict.

Under such a background, he becomes a principal - if he is not a legend, who is?

William looked at the man with a goatee in front of him with his hidden eyes - the story of Sirius's escape from prison is just a story, the real escape depends on the man in front of him.

'The Dark Lord is really in bad shape right now... the Death Eaters are probably all trash after they leave the UK...'

William shook his head. He really felt that Wormtail who was sent to Azkaban was a waste - look, the person in front of you who betrayed the Dark Lord has become the headmaster, and you are still worried about the Death Eaters. …

'But this year we will be talking about the Triwizard Competition...'

Only William, who clearly remembered the information that the Dark Lord was going to be resurrected in the Triwizard Tournament, looked at this real prisoner who had worked so hard that people had to admire him, and didn't know what attitude to give.

But fortunately, the other party didn't plan to talk to him about anything - the negotiation was a matter between the vice-principal and the professor, and the principal still had to talk to the principal. He also came out to express welcome and swear his sovereignty over the castle.

"It's been a hard journey. Although we have a lot to talk about, at least we can't go hungry. I think the kitchen is ready."

Karkaroff's annoying and abnormal voice sounded again, but the content was quite human.