“Voldemort’s current state is very weak, looking somewhat like a ghost.
Perhaps we can start from this aspect.” Charlen was also thinking about how to set up trials to protect the Philosopher’s Stone during this time.
The purpose of the trials was not to actually stop Quirrell, Harry, and the others, but to leave a test for Harry and his friends.
“Only Ghost-type and Dark-type are effective against Ghost-types.
Perhaps I can place some Pokémon of these two types there.” Charlen had quite a few Ghost-type Pokémon.
The Gastly line from the first generation now had several different colonies in the reserve.
Each colony had about a dozen Gastly and two Haunter.
As for Dark-type Pokémon, Charlen only had one in his hands—an Umbreon evolved from Eevee through high friendship.
This Pokémon was of a very high level, having been trained by Charlen several years ago.
The only other Dark-type Pokémon would have to wait for the batch of starter Pokémon he had received to evolve.
Greninja and Meowscarada both have the Dark type.
However, in Charlen’s eyes, there was still some distance before these two Pokémon could evolve into their final forms.
Perhaps they could complete their evolution around Christmas.
For now, he could bring the Gastlys over first.
Thinking of this, Charlen took over a dozen empty Poké Balls, sat on Pidgeot’s back, and began to search for traces of Gastly in the reserve.
Making the reserve too large had this one downside—it was a bit of a hassle when looking for things.
Fortunately, Charlen himself had a Gengar.
The status of this Gengar was almost that of the King of the Ghost-types in the reserve.
It did not take long for it to lead Charlen to a colony of Gastly deep in the forest.
With Gengar around, catching Gastly was exceptionally easy.
Moreover, the levels of the Pokémon in the reserve were generally low; those that could reach level thirty or above had been meticulously trained by Charlen over the past month.
Normal Pokémon were only around level ten.
“Gengar!” Charlen’s Gengar was currently waving its chubby little short hands to direct the Gastlys.
“Gengar!
Gengar!” The Gastlys also became active as if injected with chicken blood, each Gastly’s face showing its trademark grin.
It was as if they were saying, “Don’t worry, Boss Gengar!
When that no-nosed guy comes, we’ll make sure he gets what’s coming to him!” Charlen brought them to the room on the fourth floor.
As soon as he entered, the three-headed dog named Fluffy noticed Charlen.
However, it did not dare to growl in front of him.
Upon seeing Charlen, it immediately moved aside, revealing the trapdoor beneath its body.
“Very good, good boy.” Charlen threw it a large piece of bloody meat.
Fluffy’s three heads immediately began fighting over it.
Although they shared one stomach, each head had its own tongue.
Who would want to get fat without actually tasting the delicious food?
Meanwhile, Charlen opened the trapdoor and jumped down.
“Wingardium Leviosa.” Charlen waved his wand and cast a Levitation Charm on his robes.
His wide robes immediately carried him down as he floated gently.
He landed softly like a feather, yet this tiny sound still alerted the guardian of the first trial—Devil’s Snare.
Devil’s Snare was a magical plant.
A mature Devil’s Snare could stretch out snake-like tendrils to bind anyone who approached it, causing injury or death.
Dealing with Devil’s Snare was very easy because they did not like light and heat.
And among the spells first-year wizards had to learn was the Fire-Making Spell.
“Incendio.” Charlen waved his wand, and a ring of fire immediately formed around him.
Sensing the heat of the fire, the Devil’s Snare immediately twisted its vines and shrank back into the dark corners.
“This plant is actually somewhat similar to Bramblin from the ninth generation.” The ninth generation’s Bramblin, from the Paldea region, was a Tumbleweed Pokémon of the Grass and Ghost types.
This Pokémon would drift with the wind, its body made of tangled thorns.
Those thorns could absorb the life energy of prey!
The room after passing through the Devil’s Snare was an empty room, which was also the place Dumbledore had left for Charlen to set up his trial.
As usual, Charlen cast an Undetectable Extension Charm to expand the space, and then began to set up the layout.
Not knowing how many hours he had busied himself, Charlen finally finished setting up his trial.
Just as he was preparing to head back up, he heard a few childish voices.
First came a whimper.
“We’re done for!
We’re dead!
We’re dead meat!” Then came a girl’s voice, sounding somewhat sharp.
“Get over here!
Alohomora!” “Ron and Hermione?
Looks like I’ve run right into them breaking into this room.” Charlen marvelled at the coincidence, while also worrying about any accidents, so he immediately hurried up.
“He thinks this door is locked,” Harry whispered.
He had been stood up by Malfoy, and the despicable Malfoy had even lured Filch over.
Fortunately, Filch had not inspected the lock closely.
Hermione had just used an Unlocking Charm.
“I think we’re going to be fine—come on, Neville!” But Neville kept tugging on Harry’s sleeve.
“What’s wrong?” Harry turned around.
For a moment, he believed he had walked right into a nightmare.
“We’re dead—” Ron said in terror.
Now they knew why this place was forbidden.
They were facing the eyes of a monstrously giant dog, a dog so large it filled the entire space from ceiling to floor.
It had three heads, three pairs of rolling, vicious eyes, three noses—twitching and quivering in their direction—and three drooling mouths, with saliva hanging down from its yellowish teeth like slimy ropes.
It stood there motionless, all six eyes staring fixedly at them.
Just when the four young wizards thought they were doomed, a voice came from the side, bringing them a wave of relief.
“Quiet down, Fluffy.” Charlen waved his hand casually, and the floor immediately turned into a chain thicker than a thigh, instantly binding Fluffy.
“Professor Gold!” The four of them almost cried when they saw Charlen.
Heaven knew what they had just gone through.
“You four, it is—ten minutes to midnight right now.
Why are you out here instead of sleeping in your dormitories?
Not to mention, Dumbledore said this place is strictly out of bounds.” Charlen asked, though he already knew the answer.
At this, Harry’s face flushed with shame.
For Harry, Hagrid and Charlen were the people he was most grateful to.
After all, they were the ones who had brought him out of Privet Drive.
To be caught red-handed by Charlen breaking school rules made him feel worse than words could describe.
“Professor, we…” Harry opened his mouth, unable to say a word.
“I told you guys not to come!” Hermione cried out, her voice filled with panic and exasperation.
“Alright, it is getting late.
I will take you back to your dormitories to rest first.
Come to my office tomorrow afternoon.” “Professor, are you…
are you not going to expel us?” Hermione asked, suddenly full of hope.
“Generally speaking, we do not expel any young wizards.
However, punishment is inevitable.
I will tell you the details tomorrow.”