Chapter 9: The Three Chambers
Felix Harp gently traced the inside of his wrist, where there was a nail-sized, flesh-colored pattern. Unless closely examined, few would notice this intricate design.
In reality, this pattern was an ancient magical inscription, concealing a small pocket of space within.
Within this space rested a backup wand.
Given the limited size of the pattern, it could hold only a few items. Moreover, the ancient magical inscription remained sealed, only to be unlocked under specific conditions.
And the condition for unlocking it was to apply a layer of his own blood.
This was his most secretive and imperceptible last resort—
For a day when he found himself in a disadvantageous position, disarmed, wandless, or even stripped of his ring, this magical inscription would aid him in turning the tide.
As long as he wasn't immediately killed, he would have a chance to turn the tables.
The ring on his left hand was apparent, while the magical inscription on the inner side of his right wrist was hidden—a balance of light and shadow, nearly perfect.
And now, Felix was preparing to complete the construction of the third chamber.
The reason for his caution wasn't solely because Hogwarts was a treacherous place with potential dangers or because he had malicious intentions. It was because he knew that from the moment he became the ancient runes professor at Hogwarts, he had officially stepped into the "plot."
Given his shallow understanding of the plot, it was difficult for him to foresee events, hence the need for early precautions.
He didn't believe in so-called "fairy tales"; he only believed in his own power.
Yet, no matter how little he understood the plot, he was clear about some fundamental things.
For example, in the previous life, Harry Potter's adventure experiences were condensed into eight movies, which roughly aligned with eight years in the magical world, considering one movie per school year. This fit Felix's imagination: seven years of in-school adventures, plus a year after graduation to completely defeat the enigmatic figure—seemed flawless.
A very rigorous deduction.
Now, one school year had already passed. If everything went as expected, Voldemort would meet his end in seven years.
Thinking about this, Felix felt somewhat relieved.
He was by no means Voldemort's match at the moment, but the future was uncertain.
"You need to drill a hole in your gum with a small drill, then do the same on your artificial wisdom tooth, screw them together, and finally fix and adjust the position."
Suddenly, Felix's teeth started to ache...
And the girl's informative monologue carried on, "Even if you get the tooth filled, it's not a one-time solution. On the contrary, after damaging the gum, it becomes more susceptible to harm. If your oral hygiene isn't good, it could lead to gum decay, plaque buildup, causing your original teeth to loosen, fall out, and require further repairs..."
"Please, no more!" He had a mental image now.
Although he could use magic to heal and numb the pain, his mind was traumatized.
Seeing Felix's discomfort, the girl shook her voluminous hair and went to a corner to read a book, visibly content with herself.
Almost twenty minutes later, Dr. Granger emerged again.
In his hands, he held a silver-white tray bearing a polished and refined artificial tooth.
"Looks great, doesn't it?" Dr. Granger praised his own craftsmanship.
However, Felix merely nodded briefly; he was still shaken by what the girl had said!
Following Dr. Granger's instructions, he tested the artificial tooth—of course, there were no drill holes or wires, just a comfort assessment.
"Very nice!" Felix Harp praised. "However, I've decided not to get the tooth filled anymore."
"Is that so? It seems you've made the right decision." Dr. Granger didn't feel annoyed by losing a business opportunity; instead, he was happy for him.
However, the customer had a new request, "I'd like to purchase this tooth as a souvenir."
"A souvenir?" Another odd request, Dr. Granger thought, and even his quiet book-reading daughter looked up to glance at him.
"Yes, a souvenir."
"Very well." In the end, Dr. Granger only charged for the materials.
As Felix exited the clinic, Dr. Granger still felt a bit puzzled. He turned to his daughter and remarked, "A very peculiar customer, wouldn't you agree, Hermione?"
Hermione Granger looked up, watched Felix's figure disappear around the street corner, shook her head, and returned to her book.