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"Uh..."
Indor froze. Tossed his cards down and smoothly deflected.
"Oh, you guys keep playing. Drank too much butterbeerâbathroom break."
"Hey, seriously?"
"Winning money and suddenly needs the bathroom?"
"Nature calls, brothers."
Indor grabbed something invisible and squeezed through the crowd. Grinned at his gambling buddies' crude jeers as he headed toward the bathroom. At the stairs, he suddenly turned and dragged the invisible Hofa upward at a sprint.
"You're here so fast. My luck was finally good..."
Hofa didn't answer. His head hurt worse by the second. No idea what was happening. Could only let Indor drag him.
When Indor pushed open the door, the pain peaked.
Hofa collapsed. Face white as a sheet. The invisibility spell shattered.
Indor hadn't expected this. Spun around, saw Hofa on the floor. Panicked.
"Hey, kid, you okay?"
Everything went black. Hofa's limbs felt frozen. Head splitting open.
"...Hurts."
Indor touched his forehead. Cursed. "You idiot! You kept the Disillusionment Charm active the whole way?"
"What else..."
"You drained your magic! Damn it! Nobody taught you?"
Hofa got it now. The Disillusionment Charm wasn't foolproof. Not an Invisibility Cloak. Like any spell, it drained stamina and focus. He'd been so excited about invisibility that he'd forgotten his limited reserves.
Dangerous.
"Help me... up."
Eyes closed. Whispered.
Indor quickly helped him onto the chair. Ran downstairs. Came back with two large mugs. Held one to Hofa's lips, fed him hot butterbeer.
Bitterness mixed with buttery sweetness slid down into his stomach.
Some energy returned.
After a while, color slowly came back to the world.
Hofa slumped in the chair. Stared at the ceiling.
Indor muttered, "Impressive. Learned the Disillusionment Charm this fast. Some people never learn it."
"Shut up, gambling addict." Weak. "I need quiet."
Indor stayed silent, then said anxiously, "Thought you'd come tonight. Didn't expect you this soon."
"Don't want to add 'nighttime wandering' to 'sneaking out.'" Hofa snapped. "Say what you need. Don't tell me you want me conning people again."
"No. Don't need money now."
"Then why call me?"
The goblin didn't answer. Walked to the window, looked out cautiously. Closed the blinds.
"What happened?" Hofa rubbed his temples. Magical exhaustion left him drained.
After drawing the curtains, the goblin snapped his fingers. Magic sealed off sound. Silence.
"Hofa, you have to help me. My homeland's about to fall."
"What?" Eyes wide. "Your homeland isn't that German Black-something..."
"Heligoland. German island." Looked up, drained his beer. "Beautiful island. Unfortunately, we can't hold out much longer."
Ears drooped.
"Can't hold out... what's going on?" Frowned. "Explain."
"How much do you know about wizard wars?" Didn't answer directly.
"Not much. Tell me."
Indor: "Wizards came from Muggles, but they're still human. Every major Muggle war has wizard involvement. Wizards create conflicts easier than Muggles. Different schools, philosophies, beliefs. Sometimes a spark ignites wizard conflicts.
Often, Muggle wars are facades for wizard wars.
Heligoland was German territory. 1807, British wizards occupied it. 1814, ceded to Britain. British wizards dominated the island. My family immigrated then.
Technically, I'm British.
But 1890, Britain returned the island to German Mugglesânot German wizards. British Ministry still bars German wizards from Heligoland.
1914, World War I. Wizard wars happened there. Even after WWI ended, no peace. Wizards kept clashing, fighting, dying."
"What does this have to do with finding me now?"
"Don't you see? War's starting again. German wizards are gathering. Europe's a powder keg. These disputed territories get hit first. We need massive wizard support."
"Go to the Ministry."
"The Ministry?" Mocking laugh. "Those fools don't believe another world war's possible. Like Gringottsâonly thinking about Galleons..."
"I just saw Ministry wanted posters outside."
Irritated wave. "That's Magical Law Enforcement. International Office doesn't agree. Minister Fawley already removed one department head. What do you want me to do?"
Hofa fell silent. History repeats.
Previous life, British politics didn't see inevitable war until Chamberlain fell, Churchill rose. Later, when Voldemort returned, Ministry refused to believe war could break out. Even carved "I must not tell lies" into Harry's arm.
Indor stepped forward. Grabbed Hofa's shoulders.
"My only hope is Headmaster Dippet at Hogwarts. He's always supported us. Most wizards on Heligoland are his former students."
Hofa startled. "Wait. Hogwarts has been supporting you?"
"Yes. We provide funding. Hogwarts recruits wizards. Twenty years."
Hofa didn't speak. Stood, paced.
Headmaster Armando's opening speech now seemed loaded.
Sixth-years and above may go to designated areas for Auror training.
Sending students to those areas probably wasn't simple training. Training wizards as soldiers.
Interesting. On war, Hogwarts always seemed hawkish. This time, later during Voldemort's war.
Why come to him?
Already guessed. Remembered what he'd seen after flying classâHogwarts's teleportation array destroyed.
Stopped pacing. Looked at Indor.
"School hasn't sent anyone in a while."
"Correct."
Stood quickly. "Do you know something?"
"School's external array was destroyed. I have theories. Someone's interfering with your cooperation. But that's speculation. You shouldn't have come to meâI'm a first-year. Why didn't you find..."
"I tried!"
Irritable. "I tried! Can't reach anyone at Hogwarts. Can't Apparate thereâtoo many protections. Could only find you."
"What about Dumbledore?"
Shook his head violently.
"Albus Dumbledore?"
"Didn't find him. Know him, don't trust him. His relationship with Gellert Grindelwald is unclear. Grindelwald's in Germany now. Won't go to him."
Frowned. Sat down slowly. Tapped fingers. Key factor he'd overlooked.
Grindelwald. Dumbledore's lifelong friend and lover.
Before Tom Riddle, this man was the most terrifying dark wizard. First Dark Lord.
And he had the Elder Wandâone of the Deathly Hallows. Power couldn't be underestimated. Indor's distrust made sense.
After thinking: "So what do you want me to do?"
"Take me to Hogwarts. I must see Headmaster Dippet."
Shocked. Asked again.
"What?"
"Take me to school. Find Dippet."
"Me? Take you to school? To the Headmaster?"
Pointed at his nose. Eyes wide.
Indor: "Yes."
"I'm out."
Turned to leave.
Never expected this request. Sneak someone into the castle? As a first-year? Impossible! Hogwarts was locked down. Students needed guardian signatures for Hogsmeade. Even fifty years later under Dumbledore it wouldn't workâlet alone under Dippet.
Indor grabbed him. "Hey, don't go!"
Hofa exploded.
"Know how strict our rules are? Know what risk I took seeing you?
Now you want me to take you to Dippet? Are you insane? I'm a first-year. Nobody.
If they ask where I met you, how do I explain? Maybe today I sneak you in to find Dippet, tomorrow I'm expelled. They'll snap my wand. Then I'm homeless in London."
"That's hypothetical! Speculation!" Panicked.
"Is it really just speculation?" Stared without blinking.
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