novelhk Chapter 569: The Greedy Snake
Chapter 569: The Greedy Snake
Chapter 569: The Greedy Snake
Chapter 569: The Greedy Snake
Inside the Ancient Magical Writing Office—
"I heard you've been spending a lot of money lately?"
Valen sat on a small stool, responding weakly.
"Seriously, you've invested in several clubs too?"
"Hmm." Valen, hands behind its back, looked around, ignoring the presence of Felix in front of it.
"And you're even paying to write a biography? Hiring that student who runs the newspaper?" A newspaper shook in front of Valen.
Valen was stunned. It seemed like its little secrets had been uncovered.
"It's time," solemnly stated Felix. He sat across from Valen, waved his hand, and from a ring, out popped—Valen widened its eyes in surprise—a deformed snake?
Valen stared at the little creature before it, a shiny green snake with a disproportionately large head. Since its appearance, it had been happily swimming around, gaping widely and joyfully twisting around. Valen suddenly reached out, grabbed its tail, shook it, and like a flexible rope, the snake bounced in the air twice, spitting out a bronze Knut from its mouth.
Valen's eyes widened. Was this a money-spitting snake?
"This is a piggy bank," Felix explained. "Today, I'll teach you two new concepts: saving and interest." Valen, engrossed in play, paused and slowly turned to look at him. "Huh?"
"Simply put, it's about saving your pocket money, putting it in a place like this," Felix gestured towards the wriggling snake, "It's specially prepared for you. You can stash some of your treasure in it."
Fundamentally an alchemical item, the little snake nodded, its mouth wide open.
"Huh?" Valen looked at Felix in confusion. Why put money in the snake when it had its own pocket?
"It's different," coaxed Felix. "Think about it, the money in your pocket only decreases, right?" Valen nodded blankly. "Exactly," Felix raised his voice for emphasis. "But if you put money in the snake, after some time, it multiplies."
Valen stared at Felix, then lowered its gaze to the snake it held. Was this creature really a treasure?
"How much can it multiply by?" Valen asked hesitantly.
"It varies... It changes dynamically. Depending on how much and how long you save, the outcome changes. Put in one Galleon and put in ten, the results won't be the same; it's a tenfold difference. And if you save for a day versus ten days, that's another tenfold difference. Calculate how much it multiplies by," Felix challenged.
Valen counted on its fingers, then looked up at Felix, puzzled.
"A hundredfold," Felix revealed.
Valen was astonished.
"That's right," Felix grinned. "Don't worry; I'm not taking your money. I'm just giving you a way to earn. It's a secret... Your money is still yours; it's just moving from one place to another. Sound good?"
After much inner struggle, Valen finally closed its eyes and nodded solemnly.
"Rattle rattle."
"Rattle rattle."
"Rattle rattle."
Valen glanced at its small pocket, suddenly feeling empty, then looked at the small pile of shiny Galleons on the ground, and its joyful feeling returned.
"Converted, it's a total of 2007 Galleons," Felix exclaimed. "Let's deposit two thousand Galleons, shall we?"
Valen silently stared at him. It wanted to hit him.
"It's very profitable. Let me calculate for you; it involves complex mathematical formulas... You haven't learned arithmetic yet? Ah, that's a shame."
As night fell, Valen, still holding a sheepskin paper filled with numbers, feeling lost, witnessed the small pile of Galleons on the ground being swallowed by the insatiable snake.
"Rattle!!!"
Hagrid was thrilled to see Harry, shouting and panting towards him. They guessed for a while based on the projection, finally realizing he wanted to see Harry's Patronus charm.
Hagrid also bought a magical radio for entertainment. Upon leaving the cave, Ron couldn't believe it, "Did I get Confunded? I heard 'A Cauldron Full of Hot Love' inside the cave, with a pair of feet over twenty inches tapping along!"
"Don't worry, your brain is safe," Hermione said. Initially reluctant to come, she now found it worthwhile, "We might have a little faith in Hagrid's dreams, right? Ready to welcome a sixteen-foot forest ranger?"
At that moment, Harry felt like he could've convinced Hagrid to take his time, maybe an extra two years... Unfortunately, he didn't get the chance. Snape had been relentless lately, picking on him. Harry wasn't sure if Snape had figured out his thoughts; last year, Professor Lupin mentioned Snape's expertise in Legilimency.
In the Great Hall, Valen sneaked in among the students' feet. Felch was about to intervene but, upon recognizing Valen, his wrinkled face immediately brightened. Valen casually slipped a small fish to Mrs. Norris, then slid into the hall.
"Goodness, it's quite skilled," Neville praised.
Suddenly, a high-pitched, nasal scream came from inside the hall. The students in the entrance hall paused. A short, plump woman stepped out.
"That's Umbridge," Harry immediately said, recognizing her haughty demeanor and recalling her being hauled out of the school in disgrace. He hadn't expected to see her here; he thought she'd been sacked along with Fudge's downfall.
"She's learned to tone it down," Ron remarked. Harry understood; Umbridge now wore a tightly cinched bright green wizard's robe, still conspicuous but a far cry from the previous flashy pink.
"Felch, I just saw a big rat," Umbridge squeaked.
"It's Valen, Professor Snape's pet, and it's not a rat, it's a Niffler," Felch said, displeased.
Umbridge froze, noticing Felch's displeasure. A sweet smile bloomed on her slackened jaw. "Oh, I see. The little one looks quite cute. Do you like cats, Mr. Felch? I adore them—"
She pointed at Mrs. Norris, nibbling the fish at Felch's feet.
"She has a name, it's Mrs. Norris," Felch said stiffly. Umbridge closed her mouth. Suddenly, Felch shouted to the crowd, "Watch out!" He gasped and rushed into the crowd; the surrounding students immediately dispersed, revealing a bewildered junior student.
On the floor by the student's feet was a squishy Cauldron Cake.
"Pick it up!" Felch shouted again, and the student almost instantly complied. Muttering to himself, "Always causing trouble... Heh heh... Tarnishing the castle... Don't move it!" He suddenly yelled at a student brandishing a wand toward the floor.
"Allow me," Felch, with flushed cheeks, used his special wand to point at the cake remnants on the floor. "Clean as new!" he loudly commanded.
The cake residue on the floor vanished, and Felch grinned, stepping back to the door of the Great Hall.
Umbridge was utterly surprised; she knew Felch was mute, but now he was performing magic? And those oddly named clubs, that newspaper—Hogwarts felt entirely unfamiliar to her.
"Umbridge?" At that moment, another young man emerged from the Great Hall. "Professor Toftley is letting the sixth years in." Umbridge glanced at him, "I was just about to say the same, Mr. Avery."
The young man's eyebrows immediately furrowed.
The sixth-year students began gathering on their own. Harry saw Chaser Katie Bell mingling among them, excitedly entering the Great Hall. Walking towards them was Angelina Johnson, Gryffindor's Quidditch captain, looking pleased.
"Successful?" Katie asked as she passed by.
Angelina gave her a thumbs-up.
In the Great Hall, two tables in the middle were moved elsewhere, replaced by two rows of wooden hoops spaced about ten feet apart. About a dozen adult wizards stood near the hoops, and the four Heads of Houses from Hogwarts were there too.
"Good morning, everyone." Wilkie Twycross stepped forward, drawing all the sixth-year students' attention. "I hope you saw the notice posted in the entrance hall before coming in. The Ministry is busy, but they've managed to allocate some resources, hoping that all Hogwarts students can master
the required illusionary or follower transfigurations as Bonnes believes it can reduce casualties."
"Today is the first day, and my colleagues and I will be checking your progress. From what we've seen previously, your learning is going well. I have to thank this year's Defense Against the Dark Arts professor; I know teaching illusionary transfiguration can be exhausting..."
"So," he waved his wand, "those who have mastered or think they have mastered illusionary or follower transfiguration, step forward. We'll start with this group for assessment..."
"Don't be a troublemaker," Felix told Valen on his shoulder. "Let's just watch the show." He squinted; Umbridge and Avery entered reluctantly. Their presence somewhat irritated Felix's gaze.
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