HPDBC Chapter 109, Chapter 108: This wave! It's the peak match!
Chapter 109, Chapter 108: This wave! It's the peak match!
Chapter 109, Section 108: This wave! It's the peak match!
The wind and rain raged outside the castle.
Upon hearing Snape's address to the unfamiliar wizard, Ian went from turning back every few steps to turning back every six steps, unable to resist even after Snape glared at him fiercely.
This is Quirinus Quirrell! The Defense Against the Dark Arts professor who taught Harry Potter and Hermione in their first year, and the special Defense Against the Dark Arts supplies that aren't supposed to arrive at school until next year! This guy should be a professor of Muggle Studies right now, and on a long leave of absence traveling around!
"The butterfly effect?"
Ian stared around like a pervert, watching as Snape, along with Quirrell, whose personality had changed drastically even though Quirrell didn't have a tumor on the back of his head, headed towards the stairs leading to the eighth floor.
"Did they encounter Voldemort or not?" He was very curious about this, and only looked away after Snape and Quirrell disappeared from his sight.
"His personality has changed completely; it must have been there for this lifetime?"
Even while having dinner with William and Michael, Ian kept pondering this question in his mind.
Given his understanding of the story, it would be difficult to accurately determine the answer to this question, but that did not stop him from thinking about how to test and verify his conjecture.
I definitely can't show up myself.
Perhaps we need to ask for help from others?
Ian looked at William and Michael, who were frantically drinking water because of the jalapeno peppers.
"Good heavens! Why are there chili peppers everywhere?! Have the elves gone mad?"
"While chicken legs stewed with chili peppers are delicious, I guess I can only choose between chili peppers and an intact butt. I guess this is a Halloween tradition at Hogwarts every year?"
"Halloween traditions like this? Well, looks like I'll just have to put up with it."
The two roommates have always been somewhere between being smart and not so smart, so if they were asked to probe Quirrell, Quirrell might not only discover their intentions but also follow the trail to Ian. This is clearly not a wise choice, given the high value of Ravenclaw's top graduates.
If Quirrell were still just an ordinary professor, it wouldn't matter. But if Quirrell had actually sided with Voldemort, then the problem would be much bigger. Ian hadn't even refined himself into the Hogwarts wizard yet, and he didn't want to face such inexplicable malice right now. He knew he didn't possess the recklessness of a Hogwarts honey badger like Harry Potter.
"Should we just go and tattle?" Ian didn't mind becoming the class monitor he hated most in his past life, and he believed that Dumbledore would be happy to explain Quirrell's current situation to him.
However, Ian felt a little helpless when Dumbledore disappeared on the Marauder's Map once again after meeting with Quirrell and Snape.
Where Did the Principal Go Season 2?
Asking Grindelwald would be a viable option to get an answer, but he didn't like being alone with Grindelwald, which was a rather perplexing issue for Ian.
"He's just an ordinary Ravenclaw wizard. Even if Quirrell has really sided with Voldemort, he probably won't find out so quickly that I stole the things from the Room of Requirement." Ian had some suspicions about Quirrell's early return, which was why he kept thinking about Quirrell's condition at the dinner party.
"Damn it! What kind of drink is this?!"
While Ian was leisurely eating, William, Michael, and the other young wizards were jumping up and down in a frenzy because some of their drinks had been laced with freshly squeezed chili sauce! It was definitely a memorable Halloween dinner, very special and in line with the excitement of Halloween.
"Did your house-elves fall into the chili pepper nest today?!"
The food wasn't bad.
It's just that there aren't many people in the UK who can handle spicy food.
Students from both grades were munching, but because they were all very hungry after playing all day, they still didn't give up eating despite their gurgling mouths.
The food disappeared even faster than usual.
The dessert after the meal was a lifesaver for every little wizard with swollen lips. However, as the spiciness gradually subsided and their expressions began to relax, they probably didn't realize a certain truth.
The God of Chili Peppers would fairly favor everyone who ate a chili pepper during their toilet break the following day. Ian, who failed to achieve his Halloween prank of a bird shower, still managed to quietly complete his act. Of course, Ian's prank didn't entirely escape his own wrath.
Because everyone's demand for drinks and water had increased dramatically, Ian only managed to grab a drink with an unappetizing, garish color, which was a drink that most young wizards wouldn't normally choose.
Ian took two sips.
Michael and William immediately asked him how it tasted.
"It has a slightly sweet aftertaste."
His natural response failed to fool his two roommates, instead leading them to believe he had a problem with his taste buds. Frustrated at failing to trick them, Ian angrily threw the cup into the trash can.
It has a watery, leaky taste.
How could it not be called a lingering sweetness?
Ian finally understood why no one drank this beverage; it just goes to show that the wizarding world always has some strange foods that no one cares about but have survived to this day.
After the dinner.
As they left the auditorium, students of all ages chatted about school gossip as usual. Ian even overheard gossip about Gilderoy Grindelwald on his way to the library.
"Did you know? Professor Lockhart is going to publish a new book!"
"Really? Although he's strict and likes to scare people, I'm still a fan of his books. Didn't he say he didn't have any new book publishing plans this year?"
"Professor Lockhart said that Hogwarts inspired him, and he's going to write a brand new story about Hogwarts. I even peeked at his manuscript in his office!"
"What is it? Does it have anything to do with us?"
"It's 'Dumbledore the Magician'! It's a biography written for our great headmaster! This is the first time Professor Lockhart has written a story from someone else's perspective!"
"Oh! That's really exciting! Maybe we'll see Dumbledore battle Grindelwald!"
Grindelwald seems to have really let himself go, actually wanting to publish a book under Lockhart's name. Ian doesn't doubt the book's value or the authenticity of its content; he's just a little curious whether the real Lockhart has actually passed away. Otherwise, how could Grindelwald do something like this?
"Quirk, Grindelwald, Voldemort—" "- None of them could stop my love of learning." Ian returned and re-borrowed several books in the library, studying diligently until it closed, even more so than usual, because he expected to gain the [Extraordinary Trait] in his alchemy within the next few days.
The sky was getting dark.
As Ian left the library, he glanced out the window. The dark clouds and lightning were even more intense than when the rain had started, and the rain poured down in sharp, streaking lines.
It blocked the view of the Forbidden Forest in the distance and dampened Ian's desire for a nighttime stroll. He could only return to the Ravenclaw common room and give the young wizards a spells lesson.
The students listened attentively.
Ian also spoke with great enthusiasm.
"Ravenclaw gets five points!"
Finally, after seeing that everyone had mastered the [Summoning Spell], Ian ended the evening tutoring session with a joke that seemed to have become a recent routine.
The young wizards, still wanting more, began to return one by one, while others stayed in the lounge to continue practicing magic.
Of course, there are quite a few people who have started to learn Muggle courses on their own in order to deal with the Bronze Falcon. Whether they are upperclassmen or lowerclassmen, they have all had the experience of being frequently stumped by the Bronze Falcon.
The clever little witches have recently stopped liking to chat with Ian, because they've discovered that every time they have a pleasant conversation with him, they're met with tricky questions from the bronze eagle-headed witch.
"It must have fallen in love with you."
This was a sentiment that Qiu Zhang had mentioned to Ian many times. Ian had tried to reason with the Bronze Eagle Head, but the Bronze Eagle Head remained dissatisfied with others taking up Ian's time.
Because of love?
of course not.
"You see, I've even learned to be selfish. That's the wisdom you've given me, but I want even more wisdom." This was Bronze Eagle's original response to Ian.
It did indeed look much smarter and more human-like than at the beginning, and Ian felt like he was providing training material for a magical version of artificial intelligence.
of course.
The Bronze Falcon denied Ian's view on this point and firmly believed that he was about to have real life.
"Get me out, you stupid bird!"
Once everyone had gone to bed, Ian skillfully slipped out of the lounge. The heavy rain seemed destined to continue all night, but his destination wasn't the Forbidden Forest, but the House of Requirement—regardless of why Quirrell had returned early, brewing himself some more Infinite Power Potions was never a bad idea.
"Snape's sleeping, Quirrell's in the kitchen, alright, alright, let's begin the zero-dollar purchase!" Ian first confirmed the locations of the dangerous individuals in the quiet, deserted hallway. He didn't actually want Snape's valuable materials, but Snape had mocked his payment behavior last time.
In order to avoid being ridiculed by his good uncle as a foolish and self-righteous man, Ian could only save his Galleons with tears in his eyes, and each time he had to bring some other materials to confuse the situation.
This was something that had to be done, and it would definitely make Snape less wary. That's why Snape was teaching by example; Ian had observed that there were definitely more people at Hogwarts than just him and the twins who would steal Snape's materials. Those seventh-year students were all repeat offenders.
"I just got a little more than others." After putting away his Marauder's Map, Ian started to stroll around. He even had the time to ask the portraits about Gryffindor.
"He was being chased by a dog, and no one knows where he ran off to." The portrait artists were happy to recount the founder's ordeal, vividly describing the exciting scene of the afternoon to Ian.
"As expected of the founder, his skills are truly unparalleled. This allowed him to run all over Hogwarts without being bitten." Ian listened with great interest, but at the same time, he was also a little puzzled. If his vicious dog had chased Gryffindor to the treasure vault, it should have returned to guide him.
What method did Gryffindor find to get rid of the vicious dog he had painted?
That should be roughly the case.
Realizing this, Ian became somewhat unwilling.
"I need to find a way to lure him out again, and then the next time I see him, I'll draw a few Transformers and chase after him. I don't believe he can handle Transformers with just a portrait."
Ian made up his mind.
Ms. Ravenclaw's assessment of him clearly underestimated him.
He wouldn't send out a bunch of vicious dogs.
If Ian's magical painting skills weren't too lacking, failing to capture any of the spirit of the subject, he would have originally intended to depict Cthulhu as the creature hunting down Gryffindor's portrait.
"This is what happens when you don't work hard! You'll lack the means to deal with things when they happen!" Ian admonished himself in his mind before running quickly toward Snape's office, which was not far away.
That's why people say this place is a hotbed for thieves.
As soon as Ian entered, he saw a strange figure doing zero-dollar shopping.
"Forget everything, and all is emptiness!"
Because Ian pushed open the door to the dimly lit office, he startled the criminal who had arrived earlier. The criminal, alert, turned around and immediately cast a spell.
Clean and efficient.
Without the slightest hesitation or doubt.
Ian ducked to avoid the spell, and his glowing wand illuminated the entire office, momentarily stunning the evil wizard who was about to continue casting spells.
The young wizard, already inside the house, instinctively raised his hand to shield his eyes. A flash of light, comparable to a flashbang, effectively interrupted the young wizard's spellcasting.
"Aurora, attacking your friends is wrong." Ian didn't immediately offer her a warm fire in the winter because his decent night vision allowed him to see the thief clearly.
"Huh? Ian! How come it's you?!"
Once Ian dimmed the fluorescent light, Aurora could clearly see the person standing at the gate, and the Germanic girl immediately became somewhat at a loss.
Her fair face immediately turned as red as a monkey's bottom.
I felt a bit scared afterward.
"I'm sorry, Ian, I thought it was Professor Snape." It's hard to imagine that the young wizard, who was apologizing in a flustered tone, was originally planning to cast a forgetting spell on a professor.
She even used it as a reasonable explanation for her behavior—which made Ian's eyelids twitch a few times, and for a moment he didn't know whether he should question his good uncle.
"Those little wizards in Slytherin have corrupted you."
Ian sighed.
"Huh?"
Aurora looked quite bewildered after putting down her wand.
"Didn't you teach me this? Last time you told me that I could find anything I needed in Snape's office, and that Snape's office had everything—"
The little girl's honest response made Ian lose face.
"I'm just describing Professor Snape's amazing office."
He began to argue his way out.
"You were selling back then."
Aurora was clearly not as easily fooled as Ian thought. "What are you holding?"
Ian could only step forward and change the subject. He looked at the bag that Aurora had opened and shown to him, a bag that was much, much smaller than the empty sack he was holding.
"Ian, that was really close." Aurora's face was full of guilt, clearly still feeling remorseful for almost attacking Ian.
"You should probably cast a forgetting spell on me when I'm not looking, and if I can't dodge it, then I'm out of luck." She even made a suggestion that seemed very fair.
"Put it on the tab first, I like to earn interest." Ian wasn't too concerned about Aurora's sneak attack. In the Room of Requirement, he not only practiced magic but also how to dodge magic.
"Sri Lankan vulture bile, Berkshire grass, half-ear grass sprouts, ferret heart tendons, Icelandic Yuris stalactites, and salamander serum."
Ian approached Aurora's bag with his wand, which was now glowing softly, and identified the herbs inside. "Hiss, who are you planning to use this True Ejaculation Potion on?"
This is absolutely second only to his actions of brewing aphrodisiacs.
"My grandfather."
Aurora blinked and closed the small bag again. Her low, honest answer perfectly illustrated who truly deserved the title of the most daring person at Hogwarts.
"??????"
Ian's expression was priceless.
He thought he was already incredibly audacious and invincible.
I didn't expect there to be such talented people among this year's freshmen!
"I feel like a newborn egg in your presence."
Ian gave a heartfelt assessment, and Aurora tilted her head, about to say something more.
suddenly.
"Click~"
The sound of the doorknob being turned rang out sharply. Aurora raised her wand and pointed it at the door, and Ian immediately pressed it down for her and cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself and Aurora.
All in all.
With his in-depth study of magic, Ian has been able to master many spells that are not too difficult or require high proficiency, to the point where he no longer needs to chant incantations.
Just as the door was opened.
Ian and Aurora's bodies first developed numerous transparent holes, which spread out like water stains, and the two of them vanished into nothingness like ice shards under the blazing sun.
Inside the office.
Their bodies entered a state of concealment.
The person who entered the office was completely unaware that there were two other people in the office before. He cautiously peeked in and first observed the situation in the office before squeezing in through the crack in the door with utmost care. Then, he quietly closed the door as if afraid of being discovered.
"A Muggle studies professor?"
Aurora recognized the newcomer in her mind with surprise.
Ian's expression was somewhat strange.
Does Snape's office get so many visitors every night?
That can't be!
How much wealth would it take to withstand such squandering!
"The eye of an eagle, the nerves of a snake—" Even when no one else was around, the skinny Quirrell looked like a weakling. He scurried around Snape's office and stole several materials before leaving. Ian stopped Aurora from following him out of curiosity.
"We need to be careful. This professor doesn't look like a good person at all." Aurora agreed with Ian's words. After all, how could a thief be considered a good person?
As for her and Ian... they weren't exactly good people to begin with.
"This guy didn't even go back to his dorm." Ian observed Quirrell's movements through the Marauder's Map and saw Quirrell walk into an extremely secluded and abandoned classroom.
"Should we arrest him and say he stole everything?" Aurora stared in disbelief as she looked at the materials that Ian had swept up and stuffed into sacks.
She realized she had underestimated Ian's abilities.
He won't admit it.
Ian shrank the sack and stuffed it into his pocket.
"Then let's make it so that there's no way to prove it?"
Aurora held up her wand, looking somewhat eager to try.
"Isn't that a bit inappropriate?"
Ian hesitated for a moment. "It is wrong to attack our professor in Hogwarts Castle, and I suspect he has sided with some very troublesome criminal forces."
He felt that as long as they weren't directly confronted, dealing with one or two Death Eaters wouldn't be a problem. Quirrell's actions just now had clearly shown that Quirrell had become a traitor. The materials the other party was carrying were key materials for many dark magic spells, and most importantly, this guy had a bloody smell on him.
"My grandfather's saints now listen to me."
Aurora blinked.
The meaning is self-evident in concise and clear words.
"Let's see what he's up to!" Ian didn't want Quirrell to cause any trouble that would disrupt his peaceful studies, but he obviously had more to worry about than Aurora.
I looked at the markings on the map.
Ian led Aurora slowly towards the empty classroom where Quirrell was—the two were still under the illusion spell, and Ian had cleared away anything in the vicinity that might make a sound if accidentally touched. They stood outside the window and looked inside; Quirrell was indeed casting dark magic, just as Ian had expected.
They didn't return to their dorm rooms, probably worried about leaving traces of black magic there. Then, they saw...
In the middle of the classroom was an empty basin filled with blood. Quirrell was using the stolen materials to perform ritual magic, chanting obscure and incomprehensible incantations.
As the blood in the basin bubbled and boiled, eventually forming a ferocious face, Quirrell immediately knelt on the ground and spoke in fear and trepidation.
"Master~"
His voice was full of flattery.
"Are the items still there?"
A hoarse voice came from a face made of blood.
"I've been to that room, and your treasure isn't there," Quirrell replied in a trembling voice, his tone tense, his eyes darting around nervously.
Perhaps he was worried that Dumbledore might suddenly return after leaving the school—it can only be said that this guy was clearly overthinking it.
He certainly didn't know that Dumbledore had fallen in love with skipping work.
"Just as I thought!"
The face, made of blood, churned fiercely, clearly showing the fury of the person on the other end. "I had a feeling when that piece of trash, Averson Caro, disappeared without sending back any news. I never expected someone would actually find what I hid! That damned piece of trash didn't even find out who took it!"
The sound wasn't loud.
However, this is clearly due to Quirrell's settings regarding "volume".
The person on the other end was practically roaring.
"Master, I—I—I have completed the task you entrusted to me. May I now return to your side and continue to serve you as your loyal servant?"
Quirrell lay on the ground and begged.
"You also need to help me find out who stole my things." The face made of blood didn't agree to Quirrell's request; he simply issued the order to Quirrell in an extremely cold tone.
This made Quirrell tremble uncontrollably.
"I'm afraid, Master, I'm afraid. Dumbledore might find out about me. He made me feel something was off today. I even suspect he's discovered my connection with you."
Quirrell's voice was trembling with tears, and filled with deep fear and dread.
"Don't worry, our great Dumbledore is not as smart as you think. His enemies will soon overwhelm him. All you need to do is seize the opportunity to find the thief for me."
Voldemort's deep, hoarse voice carried a hint of gritted teeth.
"I'm just a professor who teaches Muggle Studies. It's an elective course, so I don't have much contact with people. I'm not that familiar with the other professors either."
"Perhaps—perhaps Dumbledore took your things." Quirrell tried his best to persuade the other person, who was clearly really unwilling to stay at Hogwarts any longer.
Can also understand.
After all, he was a traitor to Hogwarts.
"Then let's find a way to get Dumbledore to transfer you to another position—Defense Against the Dark Arts is a good option." The Dark Lord was clearly still resentful about his application for the position being rejected back then.
He might have hoped that his servant could become the professor of this course, thereby proving something he had always cared about: whether he was worthy or not. Dumbledore's insult to him back then had indeed bothered him a lot.
"But, but this course is currently being taught by Gilderoy Lockhart." Quirrell wanted to refuse, but he noticed the blood-red face in the basin staring at him with a sinister expression.
"Then kill him!"
Lord Dark Lord's tone was full of disdain.
"Just a clown trying to attract attention. Don't forget, you're a Ravenclaw graduate wizard. This is your best chance to prove whether you're good enough."
"Kill that guy, take his place, and complete the task I've given you!"
A hoarse, low voice echoed in the classroom.
Ian and Aurora could hear it clearly from outside the classroom, peering through the window.
"Yes, Master—for you."
After a few minutes, Quirrell finally seemed to have made up his mind and lay down on the ground to respond to the Dark Lord connected to the churning blood in the basin.
This moment.
Ian finally breathed a sigh of relief.
he knows.
The peaceful days will soon be back.
He and Aurora didn't even need to do anything.