HR Chapter 74 Bizarre! Absurd!
The night was deep.
Ian's explanation had indeed been thorough and detailed. The solid foundation brought by "one proof, forever proof" and the complete understanding of every detail made the more than ten young witches and wizards of Ravenclaw feel they had truly gotten their money's worth.
They gained knowledge.
Ian gained today's Silver Sickles, as well as the [Potions Mastery] Proficiency from revisiting known knowledge and gaining new insights, with a total of seven or eight points of Proficiency, which was quite a significant increase.
"See you tomorrow! If you think it's worth it, come again!"
Ian bid farewell to the increasingly enthusiastic and grateful young witches and wizards, savoring the sense of accomplishment from imparting knowledge and reaping rewards, and returned to his dormitory.
In the dimly lit dormitory, Michael's snoring voice rose and fell. William, who had been frightened into a quail by Aurora in the afternoon, was not, as Ian had expected, studying diligently under a small desk lamp.
He was completely wrapped up in his blanket, not so much sleeping as curled up into a ball, occasionally squirming a bit inside.
If it weren't for the fact that Ian only sensed fear, unease, and a bit of... disbelief, he would have suspected his roommate was playing a magical version of the 'Holy Grail' at night.
'Eleven years old?'
Westerners do tend to develop earlier.
"The descendant of a German Auror indeed feels it more deeply." Ian thought perhaps William hadn't recovered from the afternoon's Potions class, and he might very well lose a valuable new friend because of it.
This was something that couldn't be helped.
It was up to William to figure it out for himself. Ian hadn't experienced the chaos of Europe in the past, so naturally, he couldn't empathize with the family education William had received.
"It's only 11 o'clock at night, and I'm the only one in this dormitory still studying." Ian didn't have a self-illuminating desk lamp, so he raised his glowing wand and began to read by its light.
Originally, he had planned to read the books borrowed from the library tonight to uncover the secrets of the Twilight Zone, but the Half-Blood Prince's 'Advanced Potion-Making' was also quite captivating.
[Successfully read Potions textbook, Potions Mastery +3]
[Successfully read Potions textbook, Potions Mastery +2]
...
With the annotations by Severus Snape, this Potions textbook, which could be considered a rare edition, provided a learning experience far beyond what Ian could achieve by studying alone.
'Advanced Potion-Making' is a Potions textbook used in N.E.W.T.-level Potions classes at Hogwarts.
It contains many Potions recipes, many of which Snape had improved upon. Ian even noticed some newer handwriting in the margins, indicating recent revisions and additions.
The entire book was the result of a Potions Master's painstaking research, allowing Ian to learn and comprehend at an astonishing speed. He quickly underwent a true transformation.
[Potions Mastery (Level 3) 3/400]
This skill reached the same level as Transfiguration, enabling Ian to reflect on the shortcomings of today's lecture and possess a more professional judgment and control in the field of Potions.
"I've become stronger, but I haven't gone bald."
In addition to the Potions-related knowledge, Ian also discovered some pleasant surprises. The blank spaces in the book actually contained some self-created charms that proved Snape's extraordinary talent.
[Langlock Charm (Level 1) 3/100]
[Muffliato Charm (Level 0) 27/50]
[Levicorpus Charm (Level 1) 3/100]
The descriptions and explanations from the creator himself were far beyond what ordinary textbooks could offer. Ian chose to learn the most practical spells from the list.
As for the [Sectumsempra Charm], which he had already learned, it was also included. Through a much more detailed explanation than the previous note, Ian gained over seventy points of Proficiency.
"Almost all of them are Jinxes. My Half-Blood Prince uncle didn't cross them out?" Ian noticed the newer handwriting and didn't think it was Snape's oversight.
The old bat probably wanted Ian to learn them... which was quite intriguing. Perhaps it was because Voldemort's secret return next year had already been put on the agenda.
Ian wasn't sure.
Or maybe he wanted Ian to be wary of the Acolytes in the house?
Today in the Hogwarts house-elf kitchen, he had seen Professor Ronnie Ehrlich with a somewhat exposed hand due to carrying a basin, revealing the gold Snitch tattoo of a bookstore owner.
The bag was an Acolyte.
"At least he's a capable teacher; anyone who can be an Acolyte is no ordinary person." Ian continued reading Snape's annotated textbook until around two or three in the morning.
Outside, a light drizzle began to fall.
Having gained quite a bit of Proficiency, he quietly washed up and went to bed.
Before sleeping,
Ian glanced at William's bed— his green-haired roommate was still curled up like a hedgehog, occasionally moving, indicating he was still awake and up to something.
As night fell, sweet dreams awaited.
…
The next day.
"Wake up, wake up, hurry up, something's wrong!" Ian was shaken awake as he had been the day before, and he opened his eyes to see Michael raising his large, dark hand.
Fortunately, it didn't come crashing down.
"What happened? Did Hogwarts Castle grow wings and fly away?" Ian rubbed his sleepy eyes; this was the time of day when his mind was the foggiest.
"No, the Dark Arts Defense class this morning has been canceled." Michael's eyes were filled with terror and anxiety as he trembled while speaking to Ian.
"I heard that the teacher who teaches our Dark Arts Defense class has gone missing! Some say he died last night!" Without any lemonade, Michael's words made Ian's mind go blank!
"Hiss! Dead? That was quick?"
Ian was stunned.
He knew how dangerous the position of the Dark Arts Defense teacher was, but he never imagined that the teacher would die on the first day of school. After all, he was a genuine Acolyte!
Ronnie Ehrlich's face from last night still lingered in his mind.
He had praised the man as a tough wizard, and now, within a day, he was gone? This speed was simply faster than the incompetent wizards Gilderoy Lockhart kneeling in the Dark Arts Defense position!
It was too unreasonable!
How could Voldemort's curse take effect so quickly?
"It shouldn't be; this is Hogwarts, and he's a powerful wizard." Ian felt as if he might still be dreaming, not fully awake.
"Whether he's dead or not is unknown, but he has definitely gone missing. Flitwick, the Head of House/Director, just came to notify us that today's class is canceled, and the professors are currently searching the entire school for him." Michael's anxious and fearful voice, along with his wide-eyed expression, did not seem like a joke.
"I'll go find out more."
With that, he dashed out of the dormitory.
Just as Ian was trying to digest this shocking news,
"Um... Ian."
William suddenly popped out from the bathroom. He didn't seem to care about the missing Dark Arts Defense teacher but rather awkwardly approached Ian's bed.
"We're good friends, right?"
It felt like yesterday's scene was repeating itself.
"Of course."
Ian sensed that William might have come to a realization.
"Then..."
William's demeanor became even more awkward, his expression a mix of anxiety and inner struggle. He spoke in a voice tinged with a hint of tears.
"Can you introduce me to join the new generation of pureblood... Acolyte team? Last night, my grandfather said that if I couldn't join you, he would go back and have my dad kill me."
"I feel like he's serious."
William's voice was increasingly choked with emotion.
It was another moment of sheer bewilderment for Ian!
'What the hell!'
'Isn't your grandfather a German Auror?'
'Is he asking you to apply for membership?'
Ian pinched his face in confusion.
He felt like he had woken up too abruptly today!
'(End of Chapter)'
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