"Defensive, alerting, and locking spells... there are a few I can't quite identify," Glenn mused silently, trying to discern the enchantments Dumbledore was casting.
Hermione seemed to have caught on to Dumbledore's intentions as well and refrained from urging him.
After all, this teleportation door was essentially an illegal international portal. It was necessary to take precautions to prevent exposure, and Dumbledore's current spellcasting was precisely for this purpose.
Professor McGonagall did not remain idle either. Once she understood Dumbledore's intentions, she silently waved her wand, adding her own enchantments to the setup.
Thirteen minutes and forty-eight seconds later, Glenn noticed that the two of them had stopped casting spells.
It seemed the preparations were complete.
"Alright, we can leave now. Glenn, Hermione, activate the teleportation door," Dumbledore said, putting away his wand and stepping back to make room for the two youngsters. Professor McGonagall followed suit.
Removing the black silk covering, Glenn exchanged a glance with Hermione. They nodded at each other. Hermione handed Crookshanks to Professor McGonagall, and then each placed a hand on the door panel.
Lin Yingqing had set up a magical lock for the teleportation door as a gift for the two youngsters. The door would only activate upon recognizing the magical energy of Glenn and Hermione.
As Glenn and Hermione placed their small hands on the wooden door and infused it with their magical energy, the seemingly ordinary wooden door suddenly radiated a dazzling light. The brilliant glow spread outward, soft yet so intense that the four people nearby instinctively shielded their eyes.
As the soft light gradually faded, everyone's gaze returned to the teleportation door. To their surprise, the wooden door...
...remained unchanged.
However, Glenn and Hermione could now feel a slight pull from the door, indicating that it had been activated.
The young girl pondered the significance of the door's disguise.
She quickly found the answer.
"So, Grandma set up this disguise to tell us to hide the teleportation door in the doorway of a room and use it as an ordinary wooden door, right?" Hermione's lips twitched as she took Crookshanks back from Professor McGonagall, speculating aloud. "But we've been carrying it around with us all this time. That doesn't seem like the intended use, does it?"
Glenn, however, seemed unfazed. Shrugging, he replied, "Hiding it as a daily-use wooden door makes it less likely to be noticed. But carrying it with us makes it more convenient when we want to use it."
Hermione thought for a moment and realized he had a point. She decided not to dwell on it further.
"Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, Glenn and I are ready to activate the teleportation door," Hermione said, turning to the two professors. Worrying that they might not know how to use it, she added, "Once the door is activated, you just need to walk through it to reach the destination."
Professor Dumbledore, of course, knew how to use the teleportation door. He simply smiled and nodded at the young girl. Professor McGonagall, on the other hand, observed the door with great interest. Her curiosity had been piqued, and she was evidently fascinated by this magical device. However, seeing that Glenn and Hermione seemed to be doing something to activate the teleportation device, she restrained her curiosity and remained silent.
Following the instructions in the letter that came with the teleportation door from his grandmother, Glenn stepped forward, muttering incantations under his breath. He extended his left hand, which was adorned with the Hand of Sorcery, and traced a pre-determined trajectory.
"Teleportation door, activate." As Glenn uttered the final incantation in the Dragon language, the wooden door before them opened automatically, revealing a scene entirely different from the headmaster's office.
Glenn recognized the location beyond the door: it was the room he and Hermione shared.
"The teleportation door is connected and ready for use," Glenn announced, turning around.
Dumbledore sensed the spatial fluctuations within the teleportation door and confirmed the safety and reliability of the passage. He nodded. "Let's go."
Dumbledore gestured for Professor McGonagall to enter first, followed by Glenn, Hermione, and Crookshanks. He stayed behind to ensure their safety. Once the three had passed through the door, Dumbledore finally stepped inside.
The door then closed behind them, leaving an ordinary wooden door standing incongruously in the middle of the headmaster's office at Hogwarts.
The portraits of past headmasters on the wall, seeing that Dumbledore and the others had finally left, began chattering animatedly. They discussed the teleportation door and Dumbledore's decision to keep an illegal international portal hidden from the Ministry of Magic. However, Glenn, Hermione, and the others—along with their cat—couldn't hear any of it. By then, they had safely arrived in Longguo.
---
Longguo, Kyoto, in an unremarkable room within a siheyuan.
A wooden door in the room suddenly glowed briefly before opening on its own. Then, four people and a cat stepped through from the other side.
It was Glenn, Hermione, and their companions.
Both youngsters were already accustomed to the sensation of passing through the teleportation door. Dumbledore showed no particular reaction either. Professor McGonagall, however, was visibly intrigued. This mode of transportation, distinct from and more comfortable than Floo Powder, was truly refreshing.
It seemed that future academic exchanges with the wizards of Longguo would be worthwhile.
Once all four people and the cat had entered the room, the teleportation door closed automatically. It flashed briefly before returning to its ordinary appearance.
Glenn tried to open the wooden door again, only to find that the scene beyond it was no longer the headmaster's office at Hogwarts. Instead, Lin Yingqing stood smiling in front of the door, waiting for them.
"I noticed the teleportation door at the entrance to your room emitting magical energy fluctuations, so I knew you had arrived," Lin Yingqing said, stepping aside to make way. She welcomed them warmly, "Come on in. Everyone's here except for the two birthday stars and your professors."
The young girl skipped out, pulling Glenn along while carrying Crookshanks, eager to find her parents. Lin Yingqing smiled and turned to Dumbledore and McGonagall, speaking in English. "Welcome, Uncle Dumbledore. And this must be Ms. McGonagall. It's a pleasure to have you here for Glenn and Hermione's birthday party."
Dumbledore chuckled and waved his hand. "No need to stand on ceremony, Yingqing. Just treat us as Glenn and Hermione's friends."
Lin Yingqing was momentarily taken aback but quickly adjusted herself, laughing softly. "I suppose I was a bit nervous. Alright, let's head out now." With that, she led Dumbledore and McGonagall out of the room.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
"9 amazing fanfics available on my Patreon.
Support for 280+ advance chapters:
patreon.com/DarkGolds"