Chapter 131: The Missing Diary
"Lynn, do you have any last words?!"
Before the start of the evening feast, Irina caught Lynn arriving for dinner in the entrance hall outside the Great Hall. She drew her wand, glaring angrily at Lynn.
Seeing the gritting Irina staring daggers at him, Lynn didn't hesitate to raise his hands in surrender. "Wait, don't attack yet. I have a gift for you as an apology."
Even though Lynn knew it wasn't a good thing to tease Irina for his own amusement, he really couldn't help himself that morning...
Of course, Lynn wasn't someone who didn't know when to quit. After doing something wrong, he would naturally make amends for his actions.
Lynn took out an exquisitely patterned wooden box from his pocket and handed it to Irina.
"What gift? Is this... a bracelet?"
Upon seeing the beautiful wooden box, Irina suppressed her anger and opened it to reveal a translucent jade bracelet inside.
Lynn explained, "Remember the alchemy experiment I was working on when you contacted me via the two-way mirror last time? I was trying to craft this bracelet. It's called the Guardian Jade Bracelet and can greatly weaken the effects of dark magic cast upon the wearer. Even the other two Unforgivable Curses besides the Killing Curse will have their power reduced!"
After learning of the bracelet's powerful effects, Irina couldn't help but feel delighted. Although she was still a bit resentful of Lynn's teasing, she decided to mercifully spare his life.
"I can sense a special magical force emanating from this bracelet. Is this its effect?"
Irina carefully put on the Guardian Jade Bracelet on her left wrist and felt the pulsing magic it radiated, saying so.
Lynn smiled and nodded. "Yes, if the dark magic attacking you is not too powerful, it can even block it directly."
Seeing the smiling Lynn, Irina gave him a sideways glance before haughtily snorting, "I'll let you off just this once, you little troublemaker!"
...
Day by day, time passed.
During this period, Lynn crafted many alchemy products similar to the Guardian Jade Bracelet that could resist dark magic, including but not limited to inconspicuous small items like pendants, rings, and charms. Hermione often noticed that after Irina returned from spending time with Lynn, her hands would have a new ring, her neck a new pendant, or her robes adorned with a few pretty charms.
Of course, Irina had complained that these defensive alchemy products made Hermione and the others even more suspicious of her relationship with Lynn. But these little items were the least likely to be suspected as special alchemy products. For objects capable of protecting her life, Irina wore them without exception.
Perhaps the only consolation for Irina was that one of the rings appeared to be merely a decorative floral ring, rather than a metallic ring with any special meaning.
While these defensive alchemy products could not immunize the wearer against the physical harm caused by dark magic like the Cruciatus Curse, those special forces that targeted the soul could be blocked by them.
Take Neville's parents, the Longbottoms, for example. If they had worn Lynn's defensive alchemy products during Voldemort's reign, even though they were tortured by the Cruciatus Curse, they would not have suffered any aftereffects because the curse's assault on their souls would have been blocked.
After all, the soul, that profound and mystical entity, is an extremely enigmatic existence even in the wizarding world. There have been only a handful of kinds of magic that can target the soul over thousands of years. Yet Lynn's alchemy products could defend against these forces, indicating his extraordinarily high level of skill.
Even in the French wizarding world, including the great alchemist Nicolas Flamel and Lynn's mentor Valison Green, there were probably only a handful of alchemists capable of crafting alchemy products that could defend against soul-targeting magic!
Aside from that, since the Horcrux diary fell into Irina's hands, Hogwarts castle had remained quite peaceful during this period.
Harry, having not entered Tom Riddle's memories, also did not suspect Hagrid like in the original story.
However, precisely because there were no further attacks, the young wizards thought that whoever the attacker was had likely quit while they were ahead. As a result, those students who had suspected Harry of being the Heir of Slytherin gradually warmed up to him.
In one Herbology class, Ernie Macmillan, who had previously despised Harry, politely passed him a bucket of wiggling mushrooms.
In March, several Mandrakes had a lively "dance party" in the third greenhouse, delighting Professor Sprout as it meant these Mandrakes were nearly mature.
The imminent maturation of these Mandrakes also meant that Mrs. Norris, Justin, and Nearly Headless Nick, who had been attacked, would soon be revived.
Soon, the Easter holidays arrived.
The second-year students also faced the dilemma of choosing elective courses.
Just as described in the original story, Hermione was unwilling to give up any of the electives, believing they were all important for her future.
As for Harry, who disliked Professor Snape, he said he only wanted to drop Potions, but unfortunately, Potions was a required course, so he would likely never realize that wish.
Well, unless Hogwarts was occupied by Death Eaters.
"Irina, what courses are you planning to take?"
After discussing fruitlessly, Harry and Ron turned their gaze to Irina, who was eating snacks.
"Hmm," Irina wiped her mouth, "I'll probably only take the Care of Magical Creatures class."
Like Lynn, Irina was also unwilling to let useless courses that led to unemployment after graduation occupy her time.
Just as Lynn, the alchemist, chose the relatively easy Ancient Runes course suited to him, Irina chose Care of Magical Creatures, fitting her affinity for magical animals.
Harry said in surprise, "Ah? You're only choosing one? Then won't you have a lot of free time?!"
Irina smiled, "You don't need to reference my choice. You know I just like slacking off."
Unable to get the result they wanted from Irina, Harry and Ron continued their discussion.
As the year at Hogwarts was always busy, shortly after the Easter holidays ended, the Quidditch matches were about to start again.
However, on the Friday before the Quidditch match was set to begin, Irina received some bad news.
"There's trouble, Irina! Quick, come back to the dorm with me!"
Originally leisurely strolling, Irina was hurriedly pulled back to their dorm by an anxious-looking Hermione.
Their dorm seemed to have been broken into, with everything in disarray, and Irina's pillow had been tossed onto the floor.
Oh no...
Seeing this scene, Irina's pupils dilated slightly as she looked distraught.
Ever since the diary had been dropped and seen by the surrounding students last time, Irina felt there was some risk in carrying it on her person. So she had hidden the Horcrux diary under her pillow.
But now, not only had her pillow been overturned, but the diary was also nowhere to be found.
(End of chapter)
[i know you people are mad, well from now on the story will deviate from the plot]