At Hogwarts, Apparition is a spell that only adult wizards are permitted to learn and use.
This rule exists because practicing it carries extremely high risks.
Step one: Fix your mind firmly upon your destination.
Step two: Focus your determination to occupy the visualized space.
Step three: Turn on the spot, feeling your way into nothingness, moving with deliberation.
In the Harry Potter universe, this is the only spell for instantaneous teleportation. The key points of learning it are summarized so simply.
Rey knew these steps and had practiced them privately, but the result was always the same: he remained rooted to the spot without any sign of movement.
Unable to find a breakthrough, he had given up.
Rey, an eleven-year-old with an adult soul, failed to learn this spell. But thirteen-year-old Helena succeeded.
At the very least, she had successfully used it for short-range, line-of-sight teleportation multiple times.
Long-distance Apparition and short-range Apparition are two completely different concepts.
If short-range Apparition within line of sight is the beginner stage, then unseen long-distance Apparition is advanced.
As for someone like Godric Gryffindor, for whom Apparition had become as instinctual as breathing—moving instantly with just a thought—that was the pinnacle of mastery.
Helena's skill had been stuck at the beginner stage, but her sudden appearance in the tent marked her official entry into the advanced tier.
For her first long-distance jump, her body experienced a painful sensation of being squeezed and stretched.
Fortunately, it was only pain—like being yanked hard—and she hadn't Splinched. Succeeding was lucky enough, let alone Side-Along Apparition.
When she crashed into Helga's arms and heard Rowena's gasp, Helena realized she had successfully Apparated a long distance.
Ignoring her physical discomfort, she immediately shouted at Rowena, "Mom, please save Rey!"
Usually as composed as an adult, Helena now had tears in her eyes and was incoherent with panic.
---
Facing a dragon, the Four Founders felt caution, not fear.
Rey was their future student; they had to save him.
After understanding what Helena said, Rowena and the others wasted no time. Grabbing Helena, they Apparated immediately to the edge of the Black Lake.
The entrance to the treasure cave was on the shore beneath the castle cliff. It wasn't hard to find, especially with Helena guiding them.
The four flew, each using their own methods to enter the exposed cave, and then proceeded inward following Helena's directions.
As they approached the vault, they saw Terence Barrow lying unconscious on the ground.
Salazar Slytherin immediately stepped forward to check on his disciple.
"It's fine. He was just knocked out."
Salazar nodded to the concerned group, indicating Terence was unharmed.
Helena naturally stayed behind to care for Terence, while Rowena and the others entered the vault. Their priority was to determine if Rey was still alive.
They wanted to avoid a direct conflict with a dragon burdened by a draconic mission at all costs.
For the four most powerful wizards in the world, even the dragon shared this sentiment. Otherwise, when facing Godric Gryffindor's challenge earlier, the dragon wouldn't have just displayed its power—it would have killed him.
Strength is the standard for equal dialogue. The three disabled wizards who broke into the vault were the perfect example.
When the disparity in strength is too great, there is no need for dialogue unless there are special circumstances.
The entrance to the vault was massive; otherwise, the dragon's body couldn't have fit through easily.
When Rowena and the others appeared at the entrance, they too were stunned by the countless treasures.
Godric Gryffindor's reaction was the most pronounced. Shocked, he unconsciously took off his pointed hat, feeling almost blinded by the golden light before him.
Salazar Slytherin fared better; the vast hoard only made him pause for a beat.
As for Rowena Ravenclaw and Helga Hufflepuff, they remained the calmest.
Surprise flashed in their eyes, but they immediately began scanning for the dragon and Rey.
Seeing them recover so quickly from the sight of the treasure, admiration appeared in Madam Hooch's eyes. Aside from these four, every wizard who had come here had made a fool of themselves—including Terence Barrow, who had been knocked out earlier.
Rey was standing next to Madam Hooch, her left hand gripping his shoulder.
Seeing Godric and the others arrive as predicted, Rey finally let out a breath of relief.
It seemed his life was saved.
---
Rolanda Hooch, after Terence's unintentional interference, had intended to kill Rey.
To survive, Rey immediately revealed that Helena had escaped.
Rey argued that Helena wouldn't abandon him. That meant she would go for help. Therefore, Godric Gryffindor and the others, who had previously wanted to challenge the dragon, would return.
Once they arrived, his words could be verified.
Instead of killing him now, she could wait a little longer. It wouldn't be too late to act after confirming the truth of his claims.
After all, with Rolanda Hooch's strength, she could kill Rey even in front of Gryffindor and the others.
This fact-based persuasion bought Rey a temporary reprieve. So when he saw Rowena and the others appear at the entrance, he sighed, knowing he had survived.
"He says you want to build a wizarding school here?"
Before Rowena or the others could speak, Rolanda Hooch, holding Rey, asked first.
Godric Gryffindor and the others were surprised. They didn't see a dragon, only a witch with grey hair in black robes holding Rey hostage.
However, now...
This witch was speaking to them in Draconic.
Godric froze; clearly, he hadn't fully processed it.
He was the only one here who knew some basic Draconic. The other three recognized the sounds as Draconic but had no idea what she was saying.
So, they needed a translator—an advanced one.
Godric naturally wasn't qualified. The other three looked at his awkward expression and knew he couldn't translate the sentence.
Language is a massive barrier to communication. None of the four were fluent in Draconic, making the situation awkward.
Rolanda Hooch understood instantly. She tightened her grip on Rey's shoulder slightly.
Her meaning was clear: she wanted Rey to translate. She wasn't afraid of Rey deceiving her because she had forced him to make an Unbreakable Vow.
The vow was simple: ensure he didn't lie to her until this matter was resolved.
---
Rey yelped in pain. He didn't understand what Rolanda Hooch meant. To his ears, she was speaking human language.
It was like Harry Potter talking to the snake at the zoo for the first time. He didn't know Parseltongue; he just knew the snake understood him, and he understood the snake.
As long as you speak, I can understand. He hadn't realized she was speaking a different language.
Rolanda Hooch repeated what she said, then glanced sideways at Rey.
This time, Rey wised up. Although he didn't fully understand, he could glean some context from the expressions of Rowena and the others. So, he repeated Rolanda Hooch's words.
Different audience, different mode of speech.
Like in real life: if someone speaks to you in the national language, you unconsciously switch to that mode. If it's a fellow villager, you switch back to your local dialect.
The transition is fast, often unnoticed by the speaker.
Rey was doing exactly that, switching between Draconic and human language seamlessly, without any barriers.
Only now did Rey realize that his ability to communicate normally with the dragon-turned-human Rolanda Hooch wasn't because she spoke human language, but because he understood Draconic.
As for the earless old man who had confronted the dragon earlier, his shouting had merely been a unilateral declaration that the treasure was his.
It was this coincidental declaration that led Rey to mistakenly believe the dragon was speaking human language.
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