Hearing Professor Sprout's words, Ciel's expression shifted to genuine surprise. The original story did mention that Gryffindor left a legendary sword for truly brave students, and Slytherin concealed the Chamber of Secrets within Hogwarts' depths.
But it never mentioned that Lady Hufflepuff had established similar arrangements for her house. However, thinking carefully, it made perfect sense. There was no logical reason why only Gryffindor and Slytherin would leave something meaningful for students, while Lady Hufflepuff, the most tolerant, generous, and sharing toward her pupils, would leave nothing behind.
It seemed the original story simply hadn't covered this particular aspect of Hogwarts' hidden heritage. Moreover, even if little badgers had received Hufflepuff's inheritance over the centuries, given their characteristically low-key nature, they definitely wouldn't cause as much dramatic commotion as Gryffindor or Slytherin heirs typically did.
Not mentioning such quiet achievements was quite normal for Hufflepuff students. Then, looking at this mysterious door materialising before him, he took a steadying breath.
Since his aunt told him to enter, and she appeared quite pleased rather than concerned, there probably wasn't any immediate danger. Perhaps even some substantial benefits awaited inside.
Lady Hufflepuff was a wizard standing at the magical world's absolute pinnacle. According to his system's evaluation standards, her speciality magic should have reached three complete sublimations. This represented a level worlds apart from him relying on the Unyielding Strength trait to briefly reach the second sublimation of Legendary Strength only when facing mortal peril.
Then anticipation brightened his features as he stepped through the mystical doorway. Soon after, the door sealed itself behind him with barely a whisper.
He suddenly felt a sensation similar to entering the Room of Requirement, reality shifting around him subtly. But what appeared before his eyes was a chamber somewhat reminiscent of the common room, not luxurious but radiating warmth and profound comfort.
Just stepping inside made one feel completely safe and deeply relaxed, as if all worldly troubles had been left behind. On the opposite wall hung an impressive full-body portrait in an ornate golden frame.
A kindly woman sat within the painted scene, holding a gleaming golden chalice, smiling at him with eyes that sparkled with ancient wisdom and maternal warmth.
"Oh, it's been so many years since another student has come. Let me see..." Her voice carried the musical quality of gentle bells. "Dear, you're called Ciel, right? Ciel Sprout. Sprout is such an ancient surname. I still remember first meeting your ancestor centuries ago."
Her painted eyes crinkled with delight. "Triggering my carefully designed conditions in the first year. Dear Ciel, you seem to be an absolutely excellent little badger."
He looked at this kindly woman with growing awe. Without need for formal introductions, he naturally understood this was Hufflepuff's founder, the legendary Lady Helga Hufflepuff herself.
"My Lady, it's an extraordinary honour to meet you," he said, offering a respectful bow.
Lady Hufflepuff's smile deepened with genuine warmth. "Such a polite little gentleman. Seeing such an excellent little badger, though I'm merely a portrait now, I'm still tremendously happy."
She gestured graciously. "Come, this is our first meeting. Don't be nervous, dear. Would you like something to drink? I have something quite special prepared."
Then Lady Hufflepuff snapped her fingers with practised elegance. Golden cups and ornate plates materialised on the central table, along with a crystal pitcher containing what appeared to be rich purple-red wine that seemed to shimmer with inner light.
His eyes widened with surprise. "This is... Transfiguration magic? But doesn't Gamp's Law clearly state that food and water cannot be conjured from nothing?"
Hearing this astute observation, Lady Hufflepuff became even more delighted, clapping her painted hands together: "Merlin above! Our little badger has grown up wonderfully indeed. Knowing Gamp's Law exceptions in the first year... I'd wager many Gryffindors don't grasp this even in the fifth or seventh year!"
"Child, you're truly a genius!" Her praise rang with absolute sincerity.
He showed a bewildered expression, sensing Lady Hufflepuff was perhaps overly indulgent toward little badgers, like doting grandparents who found everything their grandchildren did absolutely praiseworthy.
Then Lady Hufflepuff explained with twinkling eyes: "Don't worry, dear. I don't possess the ability to overturn Gamp's Law foundations. That would be quite beyond even my considerable capabilities."
"This isn't Transfiguration at all, just bringing forth magical wine I stored at Hogwarts many years ago. Preserved with special crystalline containers and protective enchantments, after a thousand years, not only won't it spoil, but has developed richness and fragrance far exceeding anything achievable through time's natural precipitation."
Her voice carried obvious pride. "Even possessing some quite unique magical effects now."
With Lady Hufflepuff's words, the crystal cup floated gracefully upward, pouring a small measure of the mysterious purple-red liquid. An extraordinary fragrance spread through the air, complex and intoxicating.
After breathing in this incredible aroma, his expression shifted to one of absolute amazement. On his system panel, Magic Power Strength, Magic Perception, and even his once-sublimated Legendary Life and Legendary Strength were all noticeably brighter than before.
"What exactly is this?!" he gasped, hardly believing what his enhanced senses were telling him.
Seeing his shocked reaction, Lady Hufflepuff showed unmistakable pride: "My wine brewing and culinary mastery aren't below some renowned potion masters, you know. Plus a thousand years of careful fermentation... this wine liquid's effects are quite remarkable, aren't they?"
"It can strengthen physical constitution and develop magical talents significantly. After all, our little badgers often mature later than other houses. Drinking a cup lets those talents emerge much earlier than they would naturally."
Her expression grew slightly cautionary. "But this wine's effects are extraordinarily potent. Previous students who drank it slept beautifully for days afterward. I remember one particularly ambitious young man even slept nearly a full month."
"So one really can't drink too much at once." She gestured encouragingly. "Come, child, drink it. The future will be infinitely brighter."
At this moment, under Lady Hufflepuff's expectant gaze, he no longer hesitated. This wine liquid... just inhaling the fragrance could cause such dramatic system panel reactions. If actually consumed, the benefits should be absolutely enormous.
Then he raised the crystal cup to his lips and drained it completely. Subsequently, as warmth spread from his core outward, unprecedented wonderful sensations began permeating every inch of his flesh and magical channels.
On the system panel, his Platinum-level Magic Perception was visibly becoming richer and more complex. Gold-level Magic Power Strength changes were even more obvious and dramatic.
Golden light blazed across the display, with distinct threads of platinum radiance beginning to weave throughout. Just these changes alone were enough to amaze him at Lady Hufflepuff's wine brewing mastery.
But what drew his attention most were his Legendary Life and Legendary Strength, both having already undergone one sublimation. After that first qualitative transformation, these two abilities' improvement had become increasingly slow and difficult.
After all, advancing from first to second sublimation represented definitely qualitative change. The difficulty might be several times greater than his initial sublimation of these abilities from the basic Legendary level!
But now, under this wonderful wine's magical effects, though these abilities' growth wasn't dramatically obvious, their brilliant legendary radiance was indeed increasing at barely perceptible but steady speed.
At this time, Lady Hufflepuff had prepared for him to fall into wine-induced magical slumber. But unexpectedly, he remained remarkably clear-headed and alert, seeming to want even more.
This made Lady Hufflepuff show joyful expression after momentary surprise: "You child have an excellent constitution indeed. Being able to properly digest such potent magic is wonderful."
"Our little badgers should always eat and drink well when the opportunity presents itself."
Then, without the slightest hesitation or reluctance, Lady Hufflepuff poured him another completely full cup.
He hesitated for just a moment. Before he could voice any concerns, Lady Hufflepuff spoke with an absolutely loving expression: "Don't worry at all, dear. Drink as much as your constitution can handle."
"Even if you drink every last drop of wine here today, it's perfectly fine. Before my passing, I arranged enchantments so this wine accumulates naturally year by year."
"According to past student visitation frequency, decades might pass without a single visitor. Even if consumed completely, by the next worthy student's arrival, another precious cup will have accumulated through magical means."
Her eyes sparkled with generosity. "Resources should be properly used. Like prepared food, if not eaten when fresh, even the finest cuisine becomes waste."
"Drink, child, drink as freely as your heart desires."
He showed a deeply grateful expression. He wouldn't refuse such extraordinary generosity. After all, substances that could benefit him so tremendously... besides his system reward orbs... were truly rare discoveries now.
Such miraculous opportunities were absolutely irrefutable. Then he again took the wine cup and drained it with appreciation.
As magical warmth surged through him again, those abilities on the system panel continued their steady improvement. Compared to first consumption, effects were slightly diminished but still quite considerable.
After he finished this second cup, Lady Hufflepuff observed he still showed no signs of intoxication and continued filling cup after cup with motherly care.
Finally, Lady Hufflepuff gave him every precious drop from the crystal pitcher. Only then did he finally release a lengthy, satisfied burp and feel a slight pleasant haziness.
But when his gaze fell on the system panel, excitement immediately dispelled this negligible intoxication completely.
[Legendary Life (Legendary, First Sublimation, Enhanced)]
[Legendary Strength (Legendary, First Sublimation, Enhanced)]
[Magic Perception (Platinum, Significantly Enhanced)]
[Magic Power Strength (Gold, Approaching Platinum)]
Legendary Life and Legendary Strength's radiance had visibly increased compared to their previous state. Though still relatively insignificant compared to second sublimation progress requirements, on the arduous path from Legendary to Mythical levels, such progress increase represented very considerable advancement.
Without drinking so much of this magical wine, he couldn't estimate how much personal effort achieving such improvement would require.
Besides this dramatic enhancement, Magic Perception's platinum radiance blazed much more brilliantly, saving him at least two or three Golden Snidget harvests worth of advancement.
But what pleased him most was Magic Power Strength's transformation. Now, his originally Gold-level Magic Power Strength was mostly covered by platinum radiance, just one crucial step from truly advancing to the Platinum level.
He even sensed that triggering Underwater Enhancement would let this ability's boost drive Magic Power Strength to breakthrough, temporarily reaching full Platinum level.
This was extraordinarily meaningful for his magical development. His biggest fundamental weakness, Magic Power Strength, could temporarily be compensated. Compared to his conservative estimates, this represented at least half a year of advancement!
After these changes manifested, even he couldn't hide his profound joy. He looked toward Lady Hufflepuff, preparing to thank her properly.
But now he saw Lady Hufflepuff also observing him with an extremely strange expression, her painted features showing genuine bewilderment.
"No one has ever consumed my entire pitcher without the slightest intoxication," she murmured, voice filled with amazement. "Once a mountain giant stole half a pitcher from me. When I discovered it, the creature was nearly dead drunk."
"The next time it awakened was three full years later." Her eyes widened further. "Much less after a thousand years' fermentation... this could probably render several giants completely unconscious."
"Child, you have absolutely no adverse reaction at all. This can't be explained by simply a special constitution." Her gaze grew suddenly fervent. "Unless... you possess the Titan Giant bloodline?!"
He paused, considering this recurring observation. So far, quite a few beings seemed convinced he was related to Titan Giants. Troll Priest Sirius, the North Sea Kraken... all firmly believed his body flowed with ancient Titan Giant blood.
Unexpectedly, Lady Hufflepuff now harboured similar assumptions. But why was Lady Hufflepuff so excited about the potential Titan Giant bloodline?
As this question flashed through his mind, Lady Hufflepuff in the portrait finally composed herself. She apologised gracefully: "Child, did I frighten you with my enthusiasm?"
"I didn't expect that the bloodline we four founders once desperately sought would appear before me a thousand years later. This is truly beyond incredible."
"Even in our time, the glorious Olympian era was already complete legend, Titan Giant bloodlines long severed from the world."
Her voice grew wistful. "I did encounter a North Sea Kraken once, thinking to bring it back to Hogwarts for study. But that fellow was far too cunning, and its bloodline too diluted to be worth such tremendous effort."
"After that disappointing experience, we abandoned hope entirely. We thought as time passed, Titan Giant bloodlines would only become more diluted, perhaps never appearing again in meaningful strength."
"Unexpectedly, today I actually met you." Wonder filled her painted features. "This is simply a miracle beyond all expectations!"
Speaking, Lady Hufflepuff couldn't help growing excited again, leaning forward in her frame.
"Having such extraordinary performance at this young age shows your Titan Giant bloodline is remarkably rich and potent."
She took a deep breath, showing a serious expression, and asked him a completely unexpected question: "Child, have you learnt the Patronus Charm yet?"
He paused and nodded affirmatively. Lady Hufflepuff's expression immediately grew tense with concern.
But hearing him explain his Patronus hadn't fully formed yet, currently only releasing silver smoke from his wand tip, she finally sighed with visible relief.
Then she made an urgent request: "If possible, I desperately hope you'll attempt to condense a higher-level Patronus. The higher and more powerful, the better."
He showed a confused expression, brow furrowing. From information he'd gathered, Patronus form depended entirely on the wizard's personality and consciousness. There seemed no hierarchical distinction between different forms.
Lady Hufflepuff seemed to read his thoughts and smiled knowingly: "For wizards not pursuing magical extremes, Patronuses naturally have no hierarchy. They're merely manifestations of inner will."
"If not actively fighting Dementors, they're only useful for sending messages between distant locations."
Her voice grew serious. "But saying Patronuses have no hierarchical differences is truly self-deception of the highest order."
"Put a chicken Patronus beside a phoenix Patronus, and a loach Patronus next to a basilisk Patronus. Even Squibs could immediately tell which Patronus emanates greater power."
"In our time, Patronuses were crucial components of evaluating wizards' ultimate potential. The rarer and more powerful the condensed Patronus, in some sense, the higher level that wizard might eventually reach."
Her eyes sparkled with ancient knowledge. "Moreover, there might be extraordinarily special functions available."
Hearing this revelation, he couldn't help recalling Dumbledore's Patronus Charm he'd witnessed firsthand. That silver phoenix soaring majestically was indeed tremendously shocking to behold.
Especially in the original story, others' Patronuses, even saviour Harry Potter's, only emitted basic silver light. But where Dumbledore's phoenix Patronus passed, silver radiance blazed like divine fire, turbulent and surging with overwhelming presence.
Its magnificence was truly incomparable to ordinary Patronuses. Could this be what Lady Hufflepuff called powerful Patronuses' special characteristics?
Seeing his thoughtful expression, Lady Hufflepuff nodded approvingly: "It seems you've witnessed similar extraordinary Patronuses. Is it your headmaster, that remarkable child called Dumbledore?"
"He's truly a once-in-a-millennium genius, having advanced far beyond where I stood back then. Even farther than the other three founders combined."
"I know his Patronus well... a magnificent phoenix. Sufficient to match Salazar's legendary basilisk Patronus, even slightly superior in raw power."
Then her voice carried deep longing and fervour: "But whether phoenix, basilisk, or even horned serpent, even the mighty North Sea Kraken... though all extremely powerful Patronus forms... there's still one type of Patronus that far surpasses them all."
"We four founders back then, even the most talented and ambitious Salazar, had absolutely no chance to obtain such glory."
She stared directly at him, speaking each word with profound emphasis: "That is mythology itself. Olympian era beings once worshipped as living deities... Titan Giants."
"Using them as Patronuses, their power and special features far exceed phoenixes and basilisks combined. Even one of the Patronus Charm's original creation ambitions was recreating lost Olympian glory, condensing Titan Giants through pure will, and making deities reappear in our world."
Her voice dropped to a reverent whisper. "Otherwise, why would its incantation be called 'Expecto Patronum'? The gods to summon and expect are Titan Giants themselves!"
Hearing Lady Hufflepuff's astounding revelations, his heart churned with profound shock. Dumbledore, Herpo's mysterious manuscript, now Hufflepuff's founder's portrait... these magical world's most elite wizards throughout history all emphasised the Patronus Charm's supreme importance.
This spell seemed truly connected to the magical world's most closely guarded secrets. Will. This spell is fundamentally related to will itself. And will represent one of magic's most crucial determining factors.
Whether the Four Founders, ancient Greek Herpo, or current Dumbledore... all had reached wizardry's absolute peak while pursuing mythical Olympian levels. But currently, none of these brilliant wizards had succeeded in that ultimate quest.
Could it relate to Lady Hufflepuff's words? The Patronus Charm's condensed Patronus level could somehow represent a wizard's ultimate ceiling and potential.
To reach mythical levels in magic, perhaps one needed Patronuses comparable to actual Titan Giants? If so, he truly couldn't rush condensing his Patronus carelessly.
Though developing Legendary Life and Legendary Strength might let his physical body enter mythical realms, if possible, who would willingly abandon magic in Harry Potter's magical world?
Thus, the Patronus Charm truly required extremely careful consideration and planning.
At this time, Lady Hufflepuff continued looking at him with intense focus: "We founders all failed pursuing such mythical Patronuses. But you possess a crucial condition we fundamentally lacked."
"That is genuine Titan Giant bloodline flowing through your veins."
"Patronus form condensation relates directly to things most closely connected to your essential being. Salazar's wand used basilisk horn as its magical core... his family maintained countless connections to basilisks throughout generations."
"So when his Patronus finally formed, it naturally became a magnificent basilisk."
"Now that remarkable child called Dumbledore... I know this family's history well. Outstanding members often have phoenix companions throughout their lives."
"Having a phoenix as Patronus was completely natural for him."
Her eyes blazed with hope. "And you, Ciel, possess the Titan Giant bloodline coursing through your very essence. You might actually use Titan Giants themselves as Patronuses."
In the portrait, originally seated Lady Hufflepuff had unknowingly risen to her feet. Then a scene that genuinely surprised him unfolded before his amazed eyes.
Dazzling silver light emerged from the portrait itself. A badger, identical to the one on Hogwarts' official crest, crawled gracefully from the painted frame into reality.
Lady Hufflepuff's voice resonated from within the magnificent creature: "Don't be afraid, child. This is my personal Patronus left within the portrait through extraordinarily special methods."
"Because of it, my portrait can smoothly communicate and retain precious memories and knowledge from life itself."
"I left it precisely for contingencies, for this exact moment when it would be needed most."
He frowned, not understanding Lady Hufflepuff's ultimate intentions. But the next moment, he watched this silver Hufflepuff symbol seemingly ignite with ethereal flames.
Pure silver radiance flowed from within like liquid starlight. Lady Hufflepuff's voice became increasingly ethereal: "Child, human will condensing mythology as Patronus is nearly impossible through normal means."
"The only way to achieve this is for a wizard very close to mythology to voluntarily sacrifice his own Patronus."
"Using his Patronus as nourishment to nurture new hope for the future."
"Only then is there even the slimmest possibility of success."
His pupils suddenly contracted with understanding shock. Only now did he realise what Lady Hufflepuff truly intended.
"Wait... Lady Hufflepuff?!" His voice carried genuine distress.
He truly couldn't comprehend such sacrifice. Was it worth going this far?
After discovering he might condense a mythical-level Patronus, Lady Hufflepuff directly began burning her own Patronus without hesitation. As she'd explained, after the Patronus burnt completely, her last remaining will in this world would dissipate forever.
This portrait would become completely ordinary. Was this truly worthwhile?
Lady Hufflepuff sighed softly, her voice filled with peace: "Child, my will won't simply dissipate into nothing. From establishing this beloved Hogwarts, my will already has the most perfect inheritance possible."
"Even with special magic on portraits delaying my will's natural dissipation, after a thousand long years, this Patronus's power has lost much of its former strength."
"Rather than continuing to fade slowly, it's better to use it to create genuine hope for our magical world."
Her voice grew urgent. "Hold your breath and focus completely... feel the Titan Giant bloodline flowing in your flesh!"
As her words ended, flames on the silver badger burnt more fiercely than ever. Pure silver smoke gathered toward him like drawn magnets.
His wand tip involuntarily spurted silver smoke too. And like receiving crucial nourishment, it began rapidly growing and expanding, seemingly gestating something momentous.
He sighed inwardly with complex emotions. He knew his own true situation. He possessed no actual Titan Giant bloodline whatsoever.
Lady Hufflepuff's hopes for him to condense a mythical-level Patronus would probably end in disappointment. But soon after, his mind experienced a flash of inspiration.
He thought of the World Tree root he'd obtained from the Ministry's deepest vaults. Connection to mythology? Would the World Tree count as sufficiently mythical?
World Tree root, Fire God seed, Demeter's Chalice... his currently obtained mythical items all seemed closely connected to the legendary World Tree.
But could Patronuses actually be plants? Why not try it?
Then he closed his eyes with determination. As Lady Hufflepuff had instructed, he tried recalling his profound connection to World Tree roots.
And that mountain-heavy, earth-shaking sensation he'd felt from World Tree roots in the Ministry's secret vault.
The next moment, dramatic anomalies erupted in silver smoke pouring from his wand tip. What should have been ethereal silver smoke seemed to gain tremendous physical weight.
A mountain-like crushing weight pressed down on him, attempting to use the World Tree as a Patronus foundation.
Crack.
Instantly, he collapsed to one knee as tremendous pressure bore down. Skin split like parchment, and blood flowed in crimson streams across the floor.
Even Lady Hufflepuff was stunned by this unprecedented scene: "This... how is this possible? How could condensing Patronus cause such severe physical harm? Ciel, you must stop immediately!"
But now, his gaze reflected flames covering the silver badger. These flames seemed absolutely inextinguishable. The silver badger was covered in spreading wounds. Even Lady Hufflepuff's voice was becoming intermittent and weak.
He could feel pure power from the silver badger continuously flowing into him as nourishment, nurturing his developing Patronus.
Previously, he had momentarily wondered... perhaps this represented possession from his previous life's fantasy novels? Perhaps there were Lady Hufflepuff's hidden calculations behind this generous offer?
But now he could clearly sense there was nothing manipulative whatsoever. This was completely a selfless gift from this house founder.
From generously giving him every drop of precious wine to now burning even her remaining will as nourishment for this student she'd met only once.
Lady Hufflepuff never made any demands or asked for anything in return. All pure dedication.
This realisation made him take a steadying breath. He disliked unnecessary trouble or risks. Sometimes, there simply was no choice available.
At minimum, he couldn't let Lady Hufflepuff's sacrifice be wasted.
The next moment, amid increasing cracking sounds, he raised his head and spoke with absolute firmness: "Lady Hufflepuff, please continue. I can still hold on."