In LOTR with Harry Potter system

Facing Thorin's suspicion, Sylas remained cold and composed.

"I made a promise to help you reclaim the Lonely Mountain. I don't break my promises."

He didn't say more. Whether Thorin lived or died in the end, that was beyond his control.

After all, his promise extended only to aiding in reclaiming the mountain. Nothing more.

Thorin failed to catch the subtle undertone in Sylas's words. Instead, his face broke into a satisfied smile.

"Good. I'm glad to hear that. Don't worry. Once we take back the mountain, you will not only receive one-tenth of the treasure, as we agreed, but also the friendship of the House of Durin."

Just then, a startled cry rang out.

With a sharp whoosh, Gandalf shot into the sky atop the flying broomstick, soaring higher with every second. He glided through the air effortlessly, cutting smooth arcs, dipping low in daring dives, and sweeping up again like a great bird catching the wind.

The others watched, wide-eyed. It was as if the old wizard had been flying for decades.

He twisted and turned with the agility of a seasoned Quidditch Seeker, showing no signs of his age or inexperience. The wind whipped at his cloak, and his long beard trailed behind like a silver ribbon.

Sylas could only stare, equal parts stunned and envious.

He hadn't even explained how to ride the broomstick. Gandalf had simply figured it out on his own. And not just that, he was flying better than Sylas ever had.

Was this the difference between a Maia and a mortal?

Sylas felt a deep pang in his chest. Why was the gap between people so massive?

Gandalf finally looped around in a wide circle, then descended, landing lightly on the ground. His eyes sparkled with exhilaration, and his laughter echoed among the rocks.

"This broomstick is wonderful! With it, I could fly to every corner of Middle-earth."

Seeing the unrestrained joy on Gandalf's face, Sylas gave a small, amused smile.

"If you like it that much, I'll make one for you when this journey is over."

Gandalf's eyes lit up again. He made no attempt to hide his delight.

"And in return, Sylas, I'll craft for you a staff of true power. Not only that, I'll even teach you one of my personal tricks."

He gave a sly wink as he said it.

Sylas raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.

Anything Gandalf considered a unique trick was bound to be impressive. After all, he wasn't just any wizard. He was one of the Istari, a Maia cloaked in mortal form.

But when Sylas pressed for details, Gandalf only chuckled, waving off the question with a teasing glint in his eye.

Seeing Bilbo and the Dwarves eyeing the flying broom with great curiosity, Sylas generously offered to let them give it a try.

Unfortunately, neither Hobbits nor Dwarves possessed innate magical ability, and the broomstick refused to respond to their commands. They took turns calling "Up!" with eager voices, but the broom lay motionless on the ground like an unimpressed log. In the end, they gave up with disappointed sighs.

Still, what they lacked in magic, Gandalf was more than happy to make up for.

The old wizard grinned mischievously, mounted the broom, and offered to take them on short rides through the air. His enthusiasm was infectious.

One by one, the Dwarves clambered onto the broom behind Gandalf, clutching tightly as they were whisked into the sky. Fili, Kili, and even the wise old Balin took turns, their shouts of amazement and occasional terror echoing across the skies. From below, they looked like a flock of startled birds wobbling through the clouds.

Gandalf's flying style was... enthusiastic. The old wizard pushed the broom to its limits with reckless delight, soaring high, diving low, and spinning in hair-raising loops. 

The final passenger was Bofur, the roundest and most cheerful of the Dwarves. With a laugh and a shout, he took off with Gandalf. The broom dipped dangerously under the weight, wobbling like a duck in a storm, but miraculously, it held firm. When they landed, Sylas let out a long breath of relief. His prototype broom had survived its wildest test yet.

Thanks to Gandalf's "aerial taxi," the entire company reached Dale well ahead of schedule.

Dale, nestled in the valley just before the Lonely Mountain, offered a clear view of the peaks looming above. Its ruined streets still bore the scars of dragon fire, though life had begun to creep back through the cracks in the stone.

Just as Sylas set foot on the ancient stones, the familiar voice of the system echoed in his mind.

[Hogwarts Sign-in System: Location detected, Dale. Would you like to sign in?]

His eyes lit up. "Sign in," he thought instantly.

[Sign-in successful! Reward: "The Wizard's Oath" acquired!]

Curious, Sylas pulled the newly materialized book from his inventory and flipped through its aged parchment pages.

It was a treasure trove of magical contracts.

Within it were detailed descriptions and incantations for some of the most ancient and powerful contract spells: the Unbreakable Vow, the Fidelius Charm, and Blood Pacts, among others.

The Unbreakable Vow was the most severe. Two parties would swear upon their lives. Should either break the terms of the vow, death would follow instantly via magical backlash.

The Fidelius Charm was a brilliant spell of concealment, where a secret would be hidden within the soul of a chosen Secret-Keeper. So long as the keeper remained silent, the truth would be impossible to discover, immune even to Veritaserum or Legilimency.

Blood Pacts, however, intrigued Sylas most. Those who formed such a bond could no longer directly harm one another. It was more than a simple spell; it shared their souls and magical essence, binding them together on a fundamental level. Dumbledore and Grindelwald had once made such a pact in their youth.

Sylas closed the book with a satisfied smile.

Though these spells carried no offensive force, they were powerful tools in negotiations, diplomacy, and trust. In a world of alliances and betrayal, magic like this was priceless.

He glanced toward Thorin, who stood nearby, gazing at the Lonely Mountain with hard, unreadable eyes.

A bold idea took root in Sylas's mind.

Perhaps, he thought, 'I should have Thorin swear a new magical contract, one that would bind him even if dragon sickness takes hold...'

However, after some thought, Sylas decided not to complicate matters with a magical contract. If Thorin dared to go back on their agreement and refuse him his share of the treasure, then Thorin would learn firsthand how unwise it was to provoke a wizard.

Now that he had obtained contractual magic from the sign-in system, Sylas's magical knowledge had expanded significantly. Excited, he began to study the spells and enchantments in depth.

Meanwhile, the group that had arrived at Dale wasn't in a rush to proceed to the Lonely Mountain.

They decided to rest and wait, staying in a house that Sylas had magically repaired, sturdy, warm, and comfortably enchanted.

There was still time until Durin's Day, the most important date marked on the Dwarves' calendar.

According to the hidden moon-runes that Elrond had deciphered from the map, the back door to the Lonely Mountain would only reveal itself when the last light of Durin's Day struck the mountainside, shining directly on the hidden keyhole. That would be their only chance to unlock the secret entrance.

With time to spare, the company remained in Dale and began discussing their strategy for infiltrating the Lonely Mountain and reclaiming their homeland.

Gandalf, seeing that Thorin remained unwavering in his determination to proceed, decided to stay and help refine the plan. He feared that, left unchecked, Thorin's obsession might lead them straight into disaster, and awaken the wrath of the dragon Smaug.

Everyone agreed on a single, dangerous goal: to steal the Arkenstone from within the mountain without alerting the dragon.

It was the one treasure above all others that Thorin desired, for with it, he could claim the title of King Under the Mountain and rally the Seven Dwarf Clans to his cause. Only united could they hope to defeat Smaug and restore the kingdom of Erebor.

However, Smaug was no ordinary beast. The dragon had a keen sense of smell and was deeply familiar with the scent of both Dwarves and Men. If any of them approached, he would surely awaken.

That left them with only one option, Bilbo.

Bilbo volunteered without hesitation, offering to slip inside the mountain and retrieve the Arkenstone.

But Gandalf strongly opposed the plan. Smaug was already awake. He doubted even Bilbo's natural stealth would be enough to hide him from a creature so ancient, cunning, and powerful. The slightest sound, the smallest misstep, could end with Bilbo burned to ash.

Sending the Hobbit into Smaug's lair, Gandalf argued, was akin to sending him to his death.

But ultimately, Bilbo's volunteering made Gandalf fall silent.

...

Stones PLzz

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