Chapter 140: Who Are the Jewels For? A Look at the Stone's Wards
In the Great Hall.
It was close to mealtime, but there were not many students at the tables.
End‑of‑year exams were looming. Most of Hogwarts had already sunk beyond rescue into the sea of revision.
Fifth‑ and seventh‑years in particular were bent double over their books, facing OWLs and NEWTs, the exams that would shape the course of their futures.
Rumour had it that some of the older students were so anxious they needed a dose or two of Calming Draught from Madam Pomfrey just to cope.
"Do not worry. You have all worked hard. You will be fine," Leonardo said, reassuring the little group who attended his extra lessons, urging them not to stress too much.
It would be their first time sitting Hogwarts' formal exams. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Malfoy, and Daphne were all showing more or less obvious nerves.
Coo.
An owl swooped low over the table and dropped a medium‑sized parcel neatly in front of Leonardo.
He flicked his wand, and the wrapping loosened itself. From the feel of it, it had to be Aunt Penelope's reply.
He lifted the lid.
Inside lay a neat black box, filled with jewellery and trinkets in every style. Necklaces, rings, brooches…
Leonardo opened the accompanying letter.
[Dear Leonardo,
Here are the jewels you asked for. I picked out some styles that young ladies are fond of.
Time was a bit tight, so I did not have anything custom-made. If your friend has a particular preference, just write and tell me, and next time…]
He stopped at the first line, an odd look in his eyes.
Aunt Penelope had clearly got the wrong idea.
They were not for a girl at all. They were for a Niffler called Ginger.
He looked back into the box. Most of the pieces were indeed on the feminine side, light and delicate without being gaudy.
Gold and silver, with diamonds, jade, emeralds… plenty of variety.
Ginger would be thrilled.
The others had noticed the parcel. Once they saw it was a box of jewellery, Harry, Ron, and Malfoy all looked away. None of them had much interest.
Ron did wonder, briefly, how much it was all worth, but he knew too little about Muggle currency to make sense of it. He went back to gnawing his chicken drumstick.
Hermione and Daphne were another matter. They snuck glances at Leonardo's profile, then at the box. The pieces were clearly for girls and for someone young.
Both of them wondered, in perfect unison, who he meant to give them to.
They did not look like anything he would wear himself.
Leonardo simply shut the lid and slipped the box into his pocket.
Both girls began thinking about how to ask and when.
Whoosh.
A ball of scarlet flame flashed into existence in midair.
Fawkes burst from it and let out a clear, bright cry.
Leonardo caught the meaning and nodded. "I am free now."
At his answer, Fawkes hovered over his head. Fire flared once more, and boy and phoenix vanished.
In the space of a heartbeat, Leonardo was back in the familiar Headmaster's office.
"Good afternoon, Headmaster."
"Good afternoon, Leonardo."
Once he had taken a seat, Dumbledore said, "Exams are close now. Lessons must be keeping you busy."
"The Ministry has had its share of troubles as well. Fudge has been seeking my help quite insistently of late…"
Leonardo listened to the easy tone and knew the year's drama was about to begin.
Once the exams were done, Dumbledore would be leaving the school for a time.
That would be Quirrell and Tom's cue to move, after a year of manoeuvring toward their prize.
The Philosopher's Stone.
"There are a great many things that must be watched over here at Hogwarts as well," Dumbledore went on. "I am an old man. My strength is not what it was."
Leonardo understood. He smiled. "How can I help you, Headmaster?"
A half‑transparent red gem appeared on the desk.
Dumbledore smoothed his beard and rested a finger on the Stone, speaking in a tone of mild vexation. "It no longer holds the power to grant immortality, but there are still those who would try. I have had to keep it in the safest place I know—Hogwarts.
"Of course, I have already asked the professors to lay down several protections. Together, they will keep the Stone safe."
Leonardo kept the twitch at the corner of his mouth firmly under control.
Set up all the challenges first, and only then place the prize. A prize that was, in truth, past its expiry date.
And Hogwarts' "safety" began and ended with Dumbledore himself.
As for a Hogwarts without him… well.
A long tail feather, deep red with a golden tip, was passed to him.
Leonardo took it carefully from Fawkes's beak and looked to Dumbledore.
"Fawkes' tail feather," Dumbledore said. "If you burn it, he will bring me back at once."
Leonardo understood. If anything went wrong, he was to call in reinforcements.
To give Quirrell and Voldemort room to act, Dumbledore would not place any magical surveillance on the Stone. He did not want to startle the snake.
He could afford it. Love's protection clung to Harry, and Dumbledore knew Voldemort could not truly harm the boy. On top of that, the energy left in the Stone was not enough to restore Voldemort fully.
Looking at it from the end back, the Dark Lord's entire scheme this year could neither kill Harry nor bring him back to power.
All that effort for nothing.
"By the way, Leonardo," Dumbledore added, "would you like to see the protections for yourself?
"They are the work of your professors. You may find the process of unravelling them quite enjoyable."