And what happened next?
The next day, that guy was still alive and well at school! Wasn't this a blatant cover-up? The death of Foley Carrow, along with the Gringotts heist.
There were already rising rumors of unrest within Slytherin.
"He should indeed be a descendant of the Prince house; don't tell anyone else, but I overheard Snape cursing. He might also have Dumbledore's bloodline." Daphne Greengrass felt the most uncomfortable part was here. If Ian had laid out the cards like this on the boat, how could she have mocked him?
She would have rushed to curry favor instead!
And that Grindelwald... the two of them were simply incredible, not reminding her at all, just watching her make a fool of herself, and after making a fool of herself, she had to lie on the hard bed in the infirmary for a few days!
"My damned mouth!"
Daphne Greengrass had already lost count of how many times she regretted wanting to slap herself. Her current psychological shadow area was such that she worried that other Muggle-born little wizards would encounter another Ian Prince. Heaven knows how many times she praised Ian daily to slightly ease her worries about being called to the Head of House's office!
"What!? No wonder! No wonder! Don't worry, Daphne, this news is too shocking; I won't tell anyone else. I'm really glad we survived from his hands!" Gressa Selwyn clearly did not expect the "truth" to be even scarier than she had guessed. She looked somewhat flustered, standing up and pacing back and forth in the corridor.
"No! I need to get my dad to give him more money! Otherwise, his daughter definitely won't survive until graduation! It's all Flint's fault for making us watch him wet his pants!" One could only say that she was indeed a wealthy young lady from a pure-blood family, understanding at such a young age that spending money could avert disaster.
If only Ian were here.
He would definitely berserk and give Miss Gressa Selwyn a thumbs up.
This person was truly on the ball.
"I think he might start selling relics of other founders at school after a while. If we can become his loyal customers... we would definitely have value in living for him." Daphne Greengrass, who had been pondering Ian's thoughts, might be even more precocious.
She knew that Slytherin House couldn't possibly have that many relics.
It was just a way to save herself.
...
Breakfast was very important for Ian.
It was the start of the day.
Also, the crucial nutritional combination for growing at his age.
Because he couldn't bear to see his younger brothers and sisters go hungry at the Orphanage, he had entered school smaller and skinnier than his peers. Now, he was determined to seize the opportunity of a free meal to grow taller.
Although Hogwarts' cooking methods weren't particularly rich, the portions and variety were extremely ample, with the table laden with all sorts of food.
"I've been hungry for more than twelve hours!" Ian devoured his food vigorously.
Completely unaware that the two Slytherin girls were calculating how much "protection money" they should pay.
He was enjoying a hearty meal.
The silver plate was piled high with crispy fried bacon, each piece golden and sizzling, exuding an enticing, savory aroma. Beside it were plates of fried eggs, the whites as white as jade and the yolks a bright orange-yellow with a soft texture that was irresistible.
There were also freshly baked loaves of bread, including whole wheat, white bread, and croissants in various styles.
"Give me another croissant." Ian snatched the croissant that his good roommate had just gotten.
This was truly delicious; each layer glistened with butter, and with one bite, the flaky pastry crumbled like snowflakes, accompanied by a rich milky fragrance.
"Are you going to attend the Flying class?" William looked at Ian's empty hands, amazed at his speed.
"Indoor Flying class? Forget it; that would be more uncomfortable than History of Magic. I'm planning to go to the Forbidden Forest to collect some materials." Ian had already confirmed Dumbledore's location on the Marauder's Map.
Neither he nor Snape was present.
Only Grindelwald occupied the headmaster's office and slept comfortably in the big bed for another night.
"I'm really envious that you got Madam Hooch's special permission to skip class." The Chocolate Frog boy was somewhat envious as he munched on a large piece of bacon, with butter residue still clinging to the corners of his mouth.
"If your flying skills could impress Madam Hooch like Ian's, I think she would allow you to skip the Flying class too."
William took the opportunity to praise Ian while eating.
"Uh... I don't think Madam Hooch allowed me to skip class; I was just managing my time effectively." Even with Ian's thick skin, he felt a bit embarrassed by William's praise.
"That's the spirit! Understand? And you have courage!"
William always found new angles to showcase his eloquence. He wasn't suited for Hogwarts; he should have been thrown into an ancient palace to be a thousand-year-old.
Ian felt a bit helpless.
Michael's expression was even more helpless than Ian's. "I only regret helping you answer the roll call a few times. Now, Madam Hooch calls me Mr. Prince. Sometimes, when she calls my name, I don't even dare to answer. She's already deducted points from Jordan several times. I must look like a bad student in her eyes."
This situation was clearly something Ian had not anticipated. He had always thought professors would remember every little wizard, perhaps this was also related to Ian not having attended many Flying classes seriously.
"In the Muggle world, there's a book called 'The Art of Seduction,' which teaches how to date. I can bring you one next semester." Ian just wanted to compensate Michael for the stigma he had suffered because of him.
Unexpectedly.
Michael jumped up.
"From today on, Jordan is already in a state of being dead at the start of Flying class, my friend. Only after Flying class ends will Mr. Jordan be revived." Michael's reaction not only startled those around him but almost made Ian spit out the milk he had just sipped.
"You are truly a hero, Michael."
Ian quickly stood up and pressed Michael back into his seat.
He and his roommate had reached an agreement.
Naturally, they had gained the capital to skip class with a clear conscience.
The two little wizards, both happy, continued their breakfast, while the newspaper delivered by Owl brought some unexpected news to Ian.
It was news from the Daily Prophet.
"My heavens! Is this true?"
Looking at the newspaper handed to him by William.
Ian's expression was quite remarkable.
Of course.
Whether it was Aurora at the Slytherin table or Professor "Lockhart", who had just left the headmaster's office and was elegantly sipping hot milk at the teacher's table, their reactions were even more dramatic than Ian's. Professor "Lockhart" actually sprayed the milk he had just sipped.
"Cough cough!" Choking on water, three people in Hogwarts' Great Hall lost their composure, with "Lockhart"'s expression being the most out of control.
Before them, the Daily Prophet had bold, large letters that read:
"Breaking! Exclusive Report! From Austria, Grindelwald has accepted an interview in prison for the first time, discussing his past with Dumbledore!"
Perhaps the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor was indeed not lying.
Great seers sometimes cannot predict certain unexpected occurrences.
(End of Chapter)
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