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HP: Fairy Tale Wizard - 117
🕑 Added 2025-09-30 14:57:04 +0000 UTCChapter 117: Harry Potter Retrieval War! Opening!
Another "analysis" session—this time the words surfacing in his mind swam like fish, fitting together with previously retained words to form a complete sentence.
That is, the "truth".
"Harry Potter voluntarily allowed himself to be taken into the Black Mirror Country by the Queen's alchemical device, the black mirror, to obtain the peace he dreamed of and escape all reality."
Sterling exhaled, feeling like dust had finally settled.
As expected, Avalon's hand was behind this—no surprise there.
However, this was his first time discovering traces left by someone he knew from Avalon in the present world. He had always thought he might be unique, but now it seemed his distinctiveness wasn't that extraordinary after all.
"Sterling Page, what did you discover?"
Snape asked with arms crossed, seeing that Sterling apparently had some findings.
Sterling wrote the Scholar of Stars' conclusion in his notebook, then tore out the paper and handed it to Snape.
Snape's expression changed from relief upon receiving the note, to gravity upon seeing the first line, to confusion after finishing it.
"Is this real?"
What Snape really wanted to ask was, "This isn't some story you wrote?"
What was all this? Black Mirror Country—as far as Snape knew, no such place existed in the entire magical world. Plus peace, escaping reality—to Snape, it felt like Lockhart's travel series.
However, considering Dumbledore's trust and subtle hints about how complex this "seemingly human" being before him was, Snape chose to believe.
Before seeing Sterling, he hadn't known someone could brew potions by spinning cauldrons. Why couldn't these unknown things simply be beyond his experience?
Seeing Snape's expression return to calm, Sterling knew he had accepted this seemingly absurd truth—quite surprising. Given how resistant he was to innovation in potions, Sterling had thought it would take much longer.
"Yes—I'm afraid you need to contact Professor Dumbledore immediately."
"Dumbledore—I'll find McGonagall right now."
Snape quickly left, his pace much faster than usual, almost approaching a run.
Sterling manifested a small chair and sat down, gazing up at Harry Potter floating in the potion.
Honestly, if not for the adequate lighting here, this scene would resemble those old horror movie mad scientist laboratories.
Harry soaking in the potion, was the pitiful test subject.
Wouldn't that make him the mad doctor Snape's assistant?
Sterling's mind wandered—he figured McGonagall and Snape would need time to contact Dumbledore. Dumbledore had gone who knows where and never returned these many days.
Once, while analysing Harry, he had "accidentally" overheard conversation between Snape and Professor McGonagall mentioning Dumbledore possibly being in Egypt.
Sending owls there would kill them, crossing seas and deserts with the same return journey. If truly possible, Sterling would consider petitioning the author of "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" to classify such an owl as a magical creature.
Probably XXXXX-level at that.
Of course, the professors wouldn't use such methods—even Sterling had remote communication badges. He didn't believe Dumbledore lacked mysterious alchemical devices or magic.
Nicolas Flamel was Dumbledore's old friend after all.
Enhanced "two-way mirrors"? Distance-transcending communication magic? Or perhaps—
"Bang!"
The office door burst open. Professor McGonagall entered with a dark expression alongside Snape. Unexpectedly, Terry, Hermione, and Ron followed behind them.
"Professors? They are—"
"This is all Dumbledore's idea," Professor McGonagall sounded very angry, glaring at Ron, who was fidgety without Neville's ever-present supervision, making him reflexively check his attire for improprieties.
Snape's expression wasn't good either, though it rarely was—few could tell his mood had worsened.
"I think when he returns, I should examine his brain. I'd like to see if sugar-spawned worms have crawled into that old fool's head!"
McGonagall looked at Snape reproachfully, then tried calming herself, pulling out wooden blocks from her pocket and conjuring chairs for everyone before sitting down.
"Dumbledore insisted on having those three listen in—originally including Neville, but his condition made me unable to trust him, so I firmly refused to bring Neville."
Professor McGonagall had wanted all four to stay obediently at school. In her view, students studying was enough—if not for everyone being helpless regarding Harry Potter, she wouldn't have allowed Sterling such deep involvement.
But Sterling was indispensable. Could these normal young wizards participate in such matters?
Though not speaking as directly as Snape, McGonagall had mentally criticised Dumbledore several times.
"I think we—"
Ron's voice disappeared under McGonagall and Snape's combined gaze.
Terry and Hermione sat obediently on McGonagall's conjured chairs upon entering, legs together, backs straight—clearly good students at a glance.
Looking at slouching Ron, sometimes Professor McGonagall wanted to dock Gryffindor a point or two.
"So, Mr Page," McGonagall began, "Dumbledore believes you might have a way to—well, rescue Harry Potter?"
Obviously, without Dumbledore's endorsement, Professor McGonagall wouldn't believe Sterling's "truth" either.
"I can only say it's possible."
Sterling didn't dare guarantee anything—he could enter Avalon, but whether he could bring people in or out was truly unknown.
Moreover, somehow Harry had been taken to the Black Mirror Country. Thinking of those citizens making eerily calm expressions at mirrors, Sterling felt chills.
Plus the Queen—the "truth"—said she orchestrated this "kidnapping". If she refused to release him...
Dumbledore: Go defeat the "Queen".
Sterling: Me?
Fight an Avalonian great wizard?
Even the present world's Voldemort, theoretically below great wizard level, could barely be parried by Sterling in an incomplete state. As for Maleficent or Vivian, Sterling had never compared.
But he had seen Maleficent's dragon form—once airborne, she could truly shroud entire forests in her shadow.
By comparison, he could estimate the Queen's level. Anyway, Sterling definitely couldn't fight her.
"Also, Dumbledore gave us a note to deliver to you."
Snape pulled out a note with an expression like everyone owed him a bottle of Felix Felicis—though its length resembled a letter to Sterling.
Sterling opened it.
"According to discussions with Nicolas, you might be able to bring several children under eighteen with strong connections to you into Avalon together."
Starting with a thunderbolt? Interesting.
Sterling nodded and continued reading.
"This method might differ slightly from your solo entry—Nicolas thinks we need to combine your magic powers before you enter Avalon as usual, but I believe it needn't be so troublesome. Blood is more characteristic than magic power in some respects."
"Of course, due to the under-eighteen limitation, we cannot help you—but I believe friendship bonds can achieve more than a magically accomplished professor. So I had Minerva bring children I consider capable of participating today."
"Naturally! Nicolas and I are trying to rescue Harry from another angle. You needn't feel pressured—we don't expect you to achieve the feat of bringing Harry back."
"I hope for your growth there—oh, perhaps I forgot to mention: your ability to bring people to Avalon comes from an Egyptian coincidence. When this coincidence ends, you can no longer bring others. I'll explain later, but this may be these children's first and only chance to enter Avalon."
"I prefer Minerva and Severus not know about Avalon—it wouldn't benefit them. I told them the Black Mirror Country is a hidden small organisation. Please help weave this lie."
"Of course, whatever you choose to do—is fine."
A Fawkes tail feather was attached, tucked in the "note's" middle.
Sterling was curious how Dumbledore fit so many words on one paper.
"Mr Page," Professor McGonagall called his surname seriously.
"Dumbledore says you must solve this problem—he believes only you can do this."
"I naturally completely oppose this, but Professor Dumbledore asked me to trust your judgement. He said he'd fully reveal his arrangements for you to decide whether to risk it."
"If it were other young wizards, I'd never agree to such suggestions treating student safety carelessly. But, Mr Page, if it's you—I can place some trust in you."
"You're the most excellent young wizard I've ever taught. I know even without considering your other magical aspects like charms, your Transfiguration ability alone suffices to protect these children—so—"
"Please think carefully, Sterling Page. Consider what Dumbledore told you—do you have absolute confidence guaranteeing safety for yourself and children possibly accompanying you?"
"Don't consider Harry's problem—if we need to risk ourselves for Harry, I'd have no objections. But you young wizards have no reason to participate. I absolutely won't allow trading young wizards for young wizards—absolutely not."
"So, Mr Page, please tell me—can you do this?"
McGonagall rarely spoke so long to young wizards—of course, even rarer was sending them on adventures, which she had never done.
Without Dumbledore's absolute insistence, she couldn't have done this.
Even so, she left room.
Dumbledore originally wanted all five to go "train" and rescue Harry—but she forcibly removed Neville, lacking strong magical accomplishments, from the roster. She planned on defying Dumbledore's instructions—seeing any hint of Sterling's uncertainty, she would firmly watch them all, forbidding adventure.
Even for Harry—Lily and James's child.
Sterling was also his foster father's child. Terry and others were their respective parents' children—no young wizard was more important.
If they were adults wanting to sacrifice for someone, McGonagall would be proud of their noble character.
But they were still children.
Under Professor McGonagall's sharp gaze, Sterling nodded without hesitation.
"I'm certain."
Not considering rescuing Harry, self-preservation posed absolutely no problem.
What kind of place was Avalon?
Now preparing for the Black Mirror Country came—Great Wizard Vivian's godson, Great Wizard Maleficent's apprentice, the Mermaid Kingdom's eternal friend, and Snow White Kingdom's Second Princess's close friend.
Maleficent had given Sterling a feather protecting him in the present world—Avalonian methods would be even more numerous.
He couldn't defeat the Queen, but she absolutely couldn't harm him either.
Though currently neither Maleficent nor Vivian could be contacted, if he faced real danger, they would definitely appear to protect him.
This he believed absolutely.
However, since he was bringing people... Sterling planned on visiting the long-missed Sea Kingdom to get some things.
Professor McGonagall's and Sterling's unhesitating eyes locked for a long time. Finally, she wearily removed her glasses and wiped them with a cloth.
"Then—I'll trust for now."
She stood up, leaving the office with somewhat unsteady steps. Snape quickly stepped forward, inconspicuously supporting her.
Watching her retreating figure, Sterling felt complicated emotions.
He could see Professor McGonagall now bore heavy psychological pressure—she was truly wholeheartedly considering them.
But according to Dumbledore, his ability to bring people to Avalon was just coincidence, a brief miracle. So he couldn't miss this opportunity.
Sterling looked at the three, rendered bewildered by the recent conversation yet afraid to speak due to the atmosphere between Sterling and McGonagall, slowly saying in a gentle voice:
"Have you heard of Avalon?"
