Chapter 93 "Meredith's Blood"

Skyler and Dino made their way back to the camp.

Upon catching sight of Skyler's expression, the Greengrass sisters, Daphne and Astoria, sensed that his efforts had yielded no results.

"Daphne," summoning courage, Daphne approached Skyler, enveloping him in her embrace. "Don't do this, please? We're here for you; together, we can rescue Meredith."

Astoria, biting her lower lip, took the initiative to lean against Skyler's back, her hands gently placed across his waist.

She hugged him quietly, expressing, "Skyler, and I, I will study hard and won't be a burden to you anymore..." Her words carried a hint of tears.

"Daphne... Astoria..." Skyler expressed compassion, "I don't blame you. I just regret not being more decisive... I should have used a forbidden curse on them."

A steely resolve flashed in Skyler's eyes; Lockhart and the two other men in black were now deceased, yet the investigation continued.

The woman among the three who had escaped already harbored suspicions in his mind, waiting to be confirmed.

Determined, he vowed not to hold back in the future. He desired to make the Shadow Dragon rue the day they provoked him, letting them witness his wrath.

Gareth returned to the camp, wearied by the passage of time. The Ministry of Magic initiated an investigation, sending the case to the Auror office.

Gareth pledged to leverage all family resources to aid the inquiry, driven by the fact that Meredith is his daughter.

However, his optimism waned, given the elusive and mysterious nature of the Shadow Dragon organization, an entity unknown to him.

Morgaddon, the longtime steward of the Greengrass family, had faithfully served for two decades.

Never did Gareth anticipate that Morgaddon would turn out to be a spy. Reflecting on his past trust in Morgaddon, Gareth lamented the unintended consequences—Morgaddon now held many family secrets, leaving Gareth deeply unsettled.

According to Gareth, Morgaddon was a young man who serendipitously saved his life years ago and subsequently chose to stay with the Greengrass family as a gesture of gratitude.

Over the past two decades, he demonstrated unwavering dedication, aiming to earn Gareth's complete trust.

Suppose the encounter between Morgaddon and Gareth wasn't a mere accident. In that case, it signifies a disconcerting truth: the power of the Shadow Dragon is more formidable than imagined, with a reach extending further than anticipated.

It's not limited to the Greengrass family; the possibility exists that this clandestine organization has infiltrated numerous prominent wizarding families.

This concern extends beyond personal worries. The two deceased individuals held significant status within well-known wizarding families.

The adversary, absent from the original book, proves to be more challenging than anticipated, potentially surpassing the difficulty of dealing with Voldemort.

The paramount question remains: why target Meredith? Gareth acknowledged that Meredith's family yields no tangible profit.

Despite Gareth's visits to Shafiq's ancestral home after joining the Greengrass family, he found minimal valuables, lacking even a secret room.

As Meredith's last descendant, the likelihood of her deceiving them, based on their understanding of her character, is slim.

"Unless..." Gareth and Skyler simultaneously entertained a dreadful conjecture.

Sensing the gravity of the situation, Daphne asked anxiously, "Unless what?"

Gareth and Skyler exchanged glances, and Skyler finally voiced their unsettling suspicion, "The most precious thing in Meredith has never been a family treasure, inherited magic, or a valuable magic book—" Skyler paused, grappling with the weight of his own conjecture. "She is the most precious thing!"

"I don't understand," Daphne shook her head. "She's just a young witch with modest talent. In terms of ability, she can't compare to a true prodigy like Skyler. Are they after her for her... body?" Daphne questioned, her expression incredulous.

"Yes, it's for her body," Skyler clarified, "but not in the way you might be thinking. To be precise, it's for the blood coursing through her veins!"

"Bloodline?" Astoria inquired.

Gareth sighed, "Skyler, I may have spoiled them too much, neglecting to discuss the significance of wizards' blood."

Skyler nonchalantly remarked, "No worries. Let me enlighten them now. The power of wizards originates from our blood. It determines our ability to learn magic, as well as our talents and potential. This is what pure-blood families have long considered the essence of nobility."

"But... Didn't you say that qualities like character, talent, will, and choice are more important than blood?" Daphne interjected.

"That's correct. Because Muggle wizards inherently possess bloodline power. Although pure-blooded clans deliberately conceal this—so-called Muggle wizards actually descend from pure wizarding families like ours. A certain generation along the line might have a hiccup, causing a deviation, but the power of the blood remains dormant, awaiting reactivation in a specific descendant's generation."

Skyler elaborated, "Bloodline determines our talents and potential, but not our upper limit. What truly defines the upper limit of our magical power is the strength of our soul and the intensity of our spiritual power. These factors determine how potent our magic is and the power of the spells we cast. The same spell, when cast by a Grand Master, differs from ours due to disparities in magical power. Naturally, the nuances of magical skills and emotional enhancements cannot be overlooked."

Not only did Daphne and Astoria find their perspectives refreshed, but even Gareth listened intently. He hadn't anticipated that Skyler would grasp the intricacies of blood and magic to such a profound extent, surpassing his own understanding.

"Tell me about Meredith!" Skyler's heart clenched, yet he maintained a stoic expression. "The power concealed within the blood of each wizard varies. Take, for instance, the Weasley family—"

"Ah," Daphne interjected, "Do you also understand the power of their blood?"

"That's not the case," Skyler shook his head. "Muggle science delves into a profound field known as genetics. According to genetics, red hair is a recessive gene, so everyone in the family exhibits red hair. It's, well, quite unscientific."

"Their red hair," Skyler asserted confidently, "may very well be a physical manifestation of a unique magical power. The magical influence of their family extends to their hair color—"

"An intriguing perspective," Gareth acknowledged, "Magic's impact on appearance—why haven't I considered it before?"

Skyler pressed on, "From my observations, the Weasleys' magic likely revolves around 'innovation.' Arthur Weasley's ability to transform a Muggle car into that shape is innovative. I've heard that his late brother, better known as Billius, shared similar eccentric interests and excelled in creating unexpected surprises."

(Note: Billius is from the original book. The twins described him as fond of being weird. At parties, he often took out flowers from private parts to give away surprises. In 1993, Ron mentioned that he was seeing ominous Passed away within 24 hours)

(Note: According to Rowling's official website, Arthur has two brothers. Except for Bilius, the other brother did not give a name, but he attended Bill's wedding and was so drunk that he mistook Harry for his own. son)

"Their eldest son, William Weasley, is renowned for his peculiar costumes. The Weasley twins have crafted numerous unconventional gadgets during their school years. It appears that innovation runs in their family with each member expressing unique talents."

Daphne focused on Skyler's eyes, inquiring, "So... Skyler, do you believe there's some kind of bloodline power awakened in Meredith?"

These were the individuals Skyler trusted most, and he never considered concealing the truth. In fact, he couldn't hide it. He had exposed the abnormality of his pupils in front of them at least twice, so he nodded.

"Consider the Weasley family and me as examples. You must recognize that different family bloodlines correspond to distinct talents. From this, we can surmise that Meredith's Bloodline must also hold a special place..."

"In summary, I believe that the Shadow Dragon organization, dormant for an extended period, must harbor a grand scheme. Their ability to expose their existence and capture Meredith suggests that she occupies a pivotal role in their plans. I suspect Meredith won't be harmed in the short term, so we must capitalize on this opportunity to bolster our strength urgently."

Despite employing multiple complex attack methods and precise tactics in the recent battle against six adult wizards, Skyler remains dissatisfied with his own strength.

Although he gained an unexpected advantage, the exposure of many of his strategic advantages in this battle leaves him vulnerable in future encounters where opponents are prepared.

Eyeing Dino, Skyler posed a deep-voiced question, "Dino, with your Master's fate uncertain, what plans do you have?"

Dino appeared vacant, devoid of any expression, resembling a lifeless figure in the eyes of others.

Stripped of his master as a guiding force and the routine of obeying instructions, he seemed lost in despair, as if life had lost its meaning.

Skyler's inquiry left him silent, unsure of how to respond, prompting him to lower his head in silence.

"In this situation, follow me! I assure you that I will spare no effort to save your master!" Skyler's penetrating gaze conveyed determination. "I need more allies. Are you willing to assist me, Dino?"

As if recovering his lost soul, Dino lifted his head to meet Skyler's unwavering gaze.

A small flame of hope ignited within him for reasons unknown.

With a vigorous nod, he declared, "Well! Master Malfoy, starting today, Dino will be your most loyal servant! I will be at your service, ready to fulfill any command, even if it means breaking into pieces for you."

Swearing allegiance in the master-servant contract, warmth filled Dino's chest. He felt liberated from shackles, reborn with a newfound fighting spirit.

Following Skyler, he considered it the greatest reward from fate, a testament of loyalty to his new master. He surrendered to Skyler entirely, body, spirit, and soul.

[House-elf "Dino" has been obtained!]