Even as Harry finished recalling the strange tale behind Ilvermorny and the legacy of Salazar Slytherin, in reality, only a few seconds had gone by.
The silence still lingered around the four of them.
Madam Villanelle stood on one side, still carrying disbelief on her face.
From that, Harry could tell that not even she had known that Darcie would end up saying something like that.
Of course, Professor Dumbledore had indeed not directed either him or Darcie on what to do if Headmistress Theodore Whitethorn ended up refusing their invitation. So, how would Madam Villanelle of it anyway?
However, now that Harry thought about it, Professor Dumbledore's off-handed remark to study Ilvermorny's history stood out like a sore thumb.
And, unlike him, Darcie seemed to have caught the hidden intention.
Now, it all made sense to him.
Why had Professor Dumbledore sought him and Darcie out for this task, to begin with?
Perhaps it was because of Harry being a Muggle and Darcie being a Pure Blood, matching Ilvermorny's trait of non-biased treatment to all students.
Perhaps… it was more than that.
"Haha…"
The laughter jolted Harry out of his contemplative stupor.
"Hahaha…" The old witch was laughing, but her eyes were fuming. "Claim the legacy of Salazar Slytherin?" Professor Whitethorn repeated Darcie's words before turning her head to look at Madam Villanelle. "Claim?!"
Madam Villanelle buried her disbelief ten feet deeper and held herself upright as if she had known of this matter since the very beginning.
"Like it or not, Headmistress," the High Counselor said, "but we all know the darkening situation of the world. We are looking for just about any way to remain a step ahead of our enemies. May it be our students' skills, or an external item? Lord Black Phoenix wouldn't have put such a demand if it weren't for the greater good of all."
Harry's lips twitched.
If even he could easily tell that Madam Villanelle had made these words up on the spot, then less needed to be said about the old witch.
However, it didn't matter if the words were made up or not.
Because Madam Villanelle… hadn't lied.
Sure enough, instead of scoffing at those words, the Headmistress's laughing lips tightened into a thin line. "Do not presume that I don't have a grasp of what's for the greater good and what's not, Madam Villanelle," she hissed, her gaze slowly shifting to Darcie. "Ilvermorny has sacrificed lives… lives! Each student behind these walls is prepared to sacrifice even more if it ever came to that. So, spare me the bullshit and take this nonsense back to Lord Black Phoenix. A No is a No. The legacy resting in Ilvermorny's grounds belongs to Ilvermorny. You cannot just knock on the castle's doors and claim it. No matter how prodigious you are."
Silence.
Cold wind blew against Harry's back, making him shiver.
He regretted it.
He truly regretted it now.
Coming here… with Darcie.
It was supposed to be a simple invitation for a tournament.
When did things become so… grand and ominous, making them lose their grip over the situation?
It felt to Harry that he didn't even belong among the three figures.
But… there was an unacceptable thrill in his heart, too.
What was going to happen next?
What would Darcie do?
Because, for now, she hadn't lost the cold, defying look in her eyes, despite the Headmistress's harsh words.
"Part Four, Schedule Six, Page 164."
Silence.
Harry had never seen color drain from a face faster before.
Professor Whitethorn's skin already had a pale texture. Now, it became completely white, her dark pupils stirring behind her glasses. Then, slowly, she licked her lips, almost openly admitting that Darcie's meaningless words meant a lot more than they seemed.
"The Rulebook of Ilvermorny, written by Isolt Sayre," Darcie said. "It clearly states that any Parselmouth, foreign or indigenous, can attempt awakening Salazar Slytherin's wand if they pass the test of the Four and formally join Ilvermorny as a staff member or student, or any other position open for recruitment at the Headmaster's or Headmistress's discretion."
Professor Whitethorn's wrinkled hands shook.
"The Rulebook of Ilvermorny is… the School's deepest secret," the witch said, her voice lacking her previous confidence. "How… Sigh… It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter how you know this content from the book. No student can be a student of two Schools at once. And Ilvermorny has put a hold on accepting exchange students, too…"
The Headmistress paused.
Harry looked at Darcie, amazed.
She had taken out a letter from her robes, having the seal of… Ministry of Magic.
"Coincidentally, I expressed my interest in learning Ilvermorny's wandless magic yesterday, formally submitting an application to the Ministry of Magic," Darcie said. "And fortunately, the Ministry of Magic deemed my application… urgent enough to hold an urgent session of the Wizengamot. Unanimously, the Council of Ministers passed a bill, allowing a few, selected, meritorious students to have the privilege of being students of more than one School of Magic."
Harry's mouth opened and remained like that as the stunned Headmistress took the letter from Darcie's hands, Madam Villanelle looming over her shoulder to read its contents.
"… Quite a coincidence…" Professor Whitethorn said, looking toward the girl.
Darcie nodded innocently. "… And fortunate, too."
Harry had a distinct feeling that the Headmistress wanted to crumble the letter right here and now.
However, despite having no interest in politics, he knew she wouldn't do that.
Ilvermorny wasn't an American School of Magic anymore.
It was a British School of Magic, just like Hogwarts, and came under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Magic, despite it enjoying some exceptional independence when it came to academic and non-academic matters.
A refusal to acknowledge a formal bill passed by the Ministry at this point, after the gracious bestowal of new grounds for the School and accompanying town…
It was a checkmate, as Ron would put it, Harry realized.
"… Very well…" Professor Whitethorn said, folding the letter, bringing a smile to her face. "Ilvermorny will allow you two to have one… only one… chance to awaken Salazar Slytherin's Wand after you have passed the test of the Four. As you said, those are the rules."
Then, carrying an unsettling smirk on her face, the Headmistress returned to the castle…
… forcing Harry to realize that the previous checkmate had done nothing but start an even bigger game!