63: You Remind Me of My First Love [Third installment]

Hogwarts Library.

Immersed in the ocean of knowledge, Ian had no idea that his performance in Transfiguration had prompted a profound conversation between the current and future headmasters in the Headmaster's Office.

The world of Transfiguration was endlessly fascinating.

The steady growth of proficiency was addictive.

[Transfiguration (Level 3): 114/800]

After a significant boost in proficiency, the time had quietly slipped into the afternoon.

Ian checked the clock on the wall.

There were still a full fifty minutes left before Potions class. Considering the rather rebellious nature of the Hogwarts staircases, he had to cut his library trip short today.

Of course, so he would have something to study tonight, Ian decided to check out a few books to take back.

"Look at me! Look at me!"

"I can show you five hundred ways to identify magical creatures!"

"Care to learn a bit about culinary arts?"

"My knowledge is overflowing, my spine is about to burst!"

...

It had to be said that the Hogwarts library was truly miraculous. Even outside the Restricted Section, Ian still spotted several books capable of making sounds.

However, none of these were the books he actually wanted to read. Following the library's classification system to browse among the shelves, Ian finally selected a few volumes he had long intended to read.

*A Brief Compendium of Past Hogwarts Students*
*Detailed History of Medieval Wizards*
*Legends of the Mirage*
*Lands of Illusion: Purgatory*
...

While none of these books contained knowledge that would directly enhance his power, they concealed the secrets Ian urgently needed to uncover. He wanted to trace the footsteps left in history by Professor Mara and Penderov.

He also wanted to know what kind of connection existed between himself and the Mirage. At the same time, Ian harbored a suspicion that Ariana might belong to the family of a Hogwarts student from centuries ago.

Although the lovely senior student had promised to help him inquire, if Ariana's older brothers had already graduated, he feared she might not be able to unearth any useful information.

Ian had always taken matters concerning his friends very seriously.

Perhaps these books on the open shelves wouldn't answer all his questions, but he could only explore them step by step. If worse came to worst, he could find a way to sneak into the Restricted Section at night to look for the remaining answers. The Restricted Section was treated like a sieve with people repeatedly slipping into it anyway; one more rule-breaking student wouldn't make much difference.

Just as the Sorting Hat had said, Ian possessed traits belonging to multiple houses.

"I'd like to check out these books."

Ian placed a total of seven or eight books onto Madam Irma Pince's desk. She was a thin, elderly woman who looked rather like an undernourished vulture.

"A little Ravenclaw wizard?"

Madam Pince was busy maintaining her feather duster at the moment.

Able to spend three hundred and sixty-five days a year organizing and guarding books in the Hogwarts library, Madam Pince clearly belonged to the divorced or widowed category.

"Yes, madam."

Ian maintained proper social etiquette.

"I happen to like you little Ravenclaws because you know how to cherish books far better than the other houses." Madam Pince's gaze softened slightly as she looked at him.

She glanced over the books Ian wished to borrow.

"Generally speaking, I only allow little wizards to borrow up to five books at a time." Madam Pince was clearly implying that Ian was asking to take out too many.

"Perhaps I could be the exception to the rule?"

"Madam, I simply wish to acquire more knowledge so I can become a wizard useful to the world. I never knew my father since I was a little boy; he likely died not long after I was born."

"I heard he died fighting You-Know-Who, falling right on the eve of dawn. I hope to study hard and succeed so he knows I haven't let down his protection."

"He died to give me a better life, and I must push myself to excel." Ian temporarily borrowed his roommate Michael's backstory.

This was indeed quite touching.

How should one put it? Perhaps, possibly, roughly, or so he had heard... Wasn't this simply telling a truth through a novel form of expression? While playing the sympathy card, Ian also attempted a bit of bribery.

Ian now controlled the extraordinary characteristics of [Thought Perception] very subtly, which slightly diminished its effect, but it was still enough to let him know how to proceed.

"Madam, I brought some delicious fudge from home to school. Next time I come to return the books, I hope I'll have the honor of bringing some for you to taste."

Elderly, lonely women fell for this trick every time.

"No candy-eating while reading." Madam Pince did not refuse. In an era where the Tang-girl inequality had yet to be invented, not refusing naturally meant tacit consent.

"Of course not. I promise they will return to their homes safe and sound." Ian nodded obediently, and Madam Pince's expression softened even further upon hearing this.

"You really are quite endearing, and you even look a bit like my first love when I was young. I hope you won't betray my trust, nor fail these precious books."

Madam Pince finally logged the books out for Ian.

"Of course, thank you for your help."

Ian hugged the books and thanked her hastily.

Although he didn't believe for a second that Madam Pince's first love could possibly be as handsome as he was, he also realized that Madam Pince wasn't nearly as difficult to reason with as many little wizards claimed.

He left the library.

He didn't encounter any little wizards on his way back—or rather, aside from Ravenclaws, very few students ever frequented this particular corridor leading to the library.

"Hiss—meow!!"

Along the way, Ian had a chance encounter with a bristling cat. It let out a low, fierce howl at him, baring its teeth and wearing a ferocious expression as it blocked his path like a neighborhood bully. This was caretaker Argus Filch's cat, Mrs. Norris, whose temperament was just as eccentric as Filch's.

"Excuse me, please."

Ian preferred to reason with others first.

However—

"Hiss—meow!!!!"

Mrs. Norris only howled louder.

"Descend into Fear!"

Ian only liked well-behaved cats who were kind to people, so he unhesitatingly drew his wand and bestowed a complimentary roadblock reward upon Mrs. Norris in the empty corridor.

"Waaaaah!!"

Mrs. Norris covered her eyes with both paws and began rolling around in terror on the ground, emitting wails like a human infant as she experienced god knows what sort of psychological torment.

The magic's effect would last for a few minutes. Ian stepped around Mrs. Norris and headed straight back to the Ravenclaw common room to stash his borrowed books in his dormitory.

He checked the time.

There was still half an hour left.

However—

"Hurry up! Hurry up! My brother told me we absolutely cannot be late for Potions!"

"The seniors said anyone who's late gets forced to drink a whole bottle of a love potion!"

"Why did I hear it was venom from an Acromantula?"

...

The first-year Ravenclaw students were all flustered, terrified of being punished for arriving late to Potions. For some reason, their clever little brains couldn't fathom how Severus Snape could possibly hand out such rewards.

Perhaps it was because they were still too young and inexperienced; no matter how brilliant a brain might be, youth was still youth.

"We clearly have plenty of time to spare."

That was what Ian said out loud.

In action, however, he quickly joined the mass rush toward the Potions classroom.

For this class, Ravenclaw would be attending alongside Slytherin.