"Aftermath?!" He couldn't help but exclaim. "How is that possible?"
That earthquake-like scene just now—so cataclysmic it felt like a natural disaster—was merely the aftermath of a battle?
Cedric suspected that Professor Hufflepuff was exaggerating; he simply couldn't imagine what the real clash must have looked like.
"You don't believe me?" Helga saw straight through Cedric's thoughts.
Cedric gave an awkward smile. Well… it wasn't exactly his fault for doubting her.
Even in the wizarding world, such a thing sounded too magical.
"Ah." Helga sighed softly. She hadn't planned to show Cedric the great battle of that era. In her mind, events buried so deep in history didn't need to be dug up again. They would only bring unnecessary fear and wild imaginings to the children.
But now, it seemed she had no choice but to let her student witness something real. Mistaking that for the pinnacle of magic? The very thought was laughable!
Helga could already imagine a future where Cedric went to find that "old snake" or his heir, proudly declaring that he had reached the pinnacle of magic—only to cause the ground to merely ripple a little in response.
It would be mortifying! Hopefully, she would already be resting in her grave by then… otherwise…
Considering the necessity of broadening her student's horizons, Helga changed her mind.
She clapped her hands lightly once more, and the surrounding scenery began to shift again.
The cold rain and the familiar Black Lake of Hogwarts vanished. Cedric now found himself standing on a grassy meadow dotted with tiny flowers. He was just wondering why Professor Hufflepuff had brought him to such a place when Helga appeared beside him and gestured for him to turn around.
Cedric turned his head—and instantly shivered in fright. He was standing right at the edge of a cliff, with a vast, raging sea churning beneath his feet!
He immediately took two steps back, retreating to what he deemed a safe distance, and only then let out a breath of relief before carefully observing his surroundings.
"Don't worry," Helga's voice sounded gently beside his ear. "This is a manifestation of my memory. You won't be harmed here."
Cedric didn't respond. His attention was fixed on the distant sea, where he noticed something strange—it seemed he wasn't standing on a cliff at all, but rather on a floating island suspended in the air.
"Professor, this place is—" Cedric began, but stopped mid-sentence, stunned. There were two people standing beside him.
On his left was the familiar Professor Hufflepuff who had brought him here. On his right stood a middle-aged woman whose features closely resembled Helga's. Based on what the professor had just revealed, Cedric realized this must be a much younger version of Helga Hufflepuff.
"This is Sky Island—the Gate of Asgard. The sea beneath your feet is the North Sea."
"Asgard?!" Cedric was startled. He knew a bit about ancient mythology—Asgard was said to be the realm of the gods in Norse legends, the dwelling place of the Aesir.
But wasn't that a Muggle myth? How could such a place actually exist?
Cedric remembered hearing from his father that before the Statute of Secrecy was established, Muggles and wizards had lived together. Because of that, many magical creatures and figures had made their way into Muggle mythology—like the famous unicorns and dragons.
The so-called gods in those myths were likely just ancient wizards whose powers had been exaggerated over time.
Yet as he looked down at the massive floating island suspended nearly a thousand meters in the air, Cedric began to doubt that theory. Could magic really make something like this—an entire island—float in the sky?
Suddenly, a peal of thunder rumbled in his ears. He looked up and saw the once-clear sky darken in an instant—or rather, almost the entire sky. Directly above the island, the sunlight still shone brightly, forming a circular patch of light amid the spreading gray clouds, like a white spot on a sheet of dark paper.
"The weather here has been altered by magic," came Helga's calm voice.
Cedric: !!!
Did she mean the patch of clear sky above them—or the endless storm clouds blanketing the entire sea? Surely she meant the clear sky, right?
Helga: "Both."
Soon, lightning and thunder began to roll within the clouds—but then something strange happened. Above the storm clouds appeared a faint, flickering red glow, as if something were burning on top of them.
Cedric squinted for a moment, thinking his eyes must be playing tricks on him, because it truly looked as though there were flames within the clouds.
That was absurd. If that were really the case, how vast would such a sea of fire have to be?
"A magnificent sight, isn't it?" Helga spoke again. "How many times in a lifetime can one witness the beauty of burning clouds?"
Cedric: "Huh?"
"You mean to say," he stammered, "that above those clouds, there's actually a sea of fire burning?" He felt foolish even asking.
"That's right. Otherwise, why else would the clouds take on the color of flames?"
"How wide must that sea of fire be…" Cedric murmured, glancing toward the distant horizon, which was also tinged red.
He hadn't expected an answer, but Helga responded anyway.
"I don't know," she said softly. "But it's said that even in Constantinople, one could observe the change in the heavens."
Cedric fell silent. He was beginning to understand what the pinnacle of magic truly meant.
"Look down," Helga said, pointing toward the distant sea. Cedric followed her gaze—and saw the largest serpent he had ever laid eyes on. In front of that creature, a human was no bigger than a tiny insect.
He had no doubt that this serpent could wrap itself around the entire Hogwarts Castle and crush it into rubble with a single squeeze.
Soon, the serpent went berserk, churning up waves so massive they nearly touched the clouds above.
"Godric fights in the sky," Helga said quietly, "and Salazar fights upon the sea."
"And you, Professor?" Cedric asked instinctively—then immediately realized the question might have been rude. Because the young Helga Hufflepuff was standing at the edge of the floating island, watching the battle before her with bright, eager eyes.
As though the two battling in the heavens and the sea were complete strangers to her. "My task, hmm… you'll find out soon enough," Helga replied with a teasing smile.
[Mortals, do not overstep.]
A thunderous voice resounded through the air, though Cedric couldn't understand a single word of it. Fortunately, Helga promptly cast a spell on him, allowing him to comprehend what was happening in this unfolding "scene."
The younger version of Helga Hufflepuff, who had been standing silently until now, suddenly spoke:
[Aren't you going to help Jörmungandr and Thor? Without support, they'll die soon.]
[I was ordered to guard the Gate of Asgard. I cannot leave without command.]
To Cedric's astonishment, the mighty voice actually responded to her.
[Very well. I'll send you to them myself.]
Helga spoke decisively, without hesitation.
The moment those words left her mouth, the light on the island flared blindingly bright. Cedric could see nothing but a sea of white before his eyes.
He quickly shut them tight.
_______
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