The Old Ones of Hogwarts

Chapter 15: Magic, here I come!

It's a bit cold.

Ian glanced back at the closing door, then looked up at the faded lettering of "Olivendine Wand Shop," and realized he had discovered the biggest scam in the wizarding world.

"What a cunning and wicked person."

Ian muttered his assessment of Ollivander, even suggesting that Voldemort's large following was probably not solely due to Voldemort's use of gourd-eating as a threat.

Ollivander probably has to take some blame too!

Think about it!

If you meet a fortune teller when you are around ten years old and he tells you that you will definitely become a great general in the future, and then happen to meet Chen Sheng and Wu Guang when you grow up.

Who could withstand that?

Most people would probably mistakenly take tragedy as fate!

"The root cause of the chaos in the magical world has been found!"

Ian felt that with this discovery, he would definitely be able to write an excellent paper, but unfortunately, Hogwarts was unable to publish his brilliant ideas in the journal.

"Perhaps I should consider the Daily Prophet. Such a famous newspaper must pay well for articles." Ian thought to himself as he looked around for Snape.

The unreliable professor didn't abandon Ian. He saw Snape standing outside a shop, so he quickly ran towards Snape.

"Professor! I've discovered a shocking secret!"

Ian felt that if he could include a Hogwarts professor's name in his article, the chances of it being selected and published by the Daily Prophet would be much greater.

There's a chance I might get a little more in royalties.

"Mr. Prince, I have no interest in your childish and foolish ideas. Now, you should choose a pet that can help your studies."

Snape gave Ian a cold glance at the wand that was tucked into his pocket.

immediately.

He then raised his hand and knocked on the glass window of the shop in front of him. Only then did Ian realize that it was a pet shop, with many pets locked in cages inside.

Cats, toads, owls, lizards, and mice—a wide variety of species, even some small animals with magical bloodlines—but none of them appealed to Ian.

Indeed.

Ian still has a soft spot for owls.

However, there are quite a few owls kept at Hogwarts. In Ian's opinion, petting an owl for free is definitely more cost-effective than petting an owl that requires money and care.

In comparison.

Ian prefers to keep some special pets of his own.

"Professor, can I buy the pet I want?"

Ian tentatively opened his mouth.

"Um."

Snape snorted a single word through his nostrils.

"Then, how about I have a phoenix?"

Ian blinked.

Lions… well, lions are animals that know their own limitations, so they probably wouldn't say that. Snape's eyes twitched noticeably at the sight of Ian's wild idea.

"Are you sure you didn't drink too much of the soothing potion and still haven't woken up?" Snape was genuinely shocked; he had never seen such a shameless person!

How about I give you a phoenix?

I want more!

Someone give me one!

"A bird with phoenix blood will do? I saw that shop uses phoenix feathers to make wands." Ian's implication was clear: he thought phoenixes should be quite common.

As a child living in a Muggle orphanage, it's perfectly reasonable for him to have such an understanding. However, Ian genuinely does want a phoenix.

How cool.

"Apart from the Dumbledore family, no wizard in this century has been able to win the favor of the phoenix. I advise you to quickly forget about this unrealistic fantasy."

Snape rolled his eyes.

He continued speaking slowly to Ian, "Of course, perhaps Mr. Prince has enough influence to persuade Dumbledore to give you his phoenix."

obviously.

This was just a sarcastic remark directed at Ian.

"Why don't you go and put in a good word for me, Professor? Dumbledore will definitely give you that kind of face!" It wasn't that Ian was shameless enough; he had simply found a way to deal with Snape.

as predicted.

Just that one sentence.

Snape was speechless and had no idea how to respond.

"A sharp-tongued fellow!"

In the end, Snape only glared fiercely at Ian.

"If your mind were any different from a troll's, you wouldn't be fantasizing about the impossible; you would simply choose a cat or a mouse."

"They are the best partners you can use for potion experiments." Snape was clearly suppressing his anger, but he still slowly gave his advice.

just.

This suggestion clearly doesn't align with most people's perception of pets.

"What you call a test subject isn't a pet, is it?"

Ian sighed helplessly.

Is there a difference?

Snape gave a cold sneer. "Perhaps you'll go to foolish Gryffindor, where only mediocre people would have any compassion or love for these animals."

He then started criticizing the college he hated the most.

Ian chose to ignore it.

"Forget it, I've spent enough money today. I don't want to keep any pets. I can't even support myself." Ian leaned against the glass wall and stared for a long time.

At last.

He still couldn't find any animals he liked.

He has the soul of an adult.

Their love for pets is naturally different from that of ordinary children.

"This is your own choice."

Snape didn't try to persuade him further.

He flicked his robe, turned around, and left.

"If we can't raise a phoenix, can we raise a snake?" Ian quickly picked up his suitcase and followed. Snape had been watching over this suitcase before.

"First-year students are not allowed to bring such dangerous pets." Snape slowed his pace to wait for Ian to catch up, giving Ian a standard squinty look full of disdain.

"Didn't you say it was over? Now you want to change your mind? Too bad, you've missed your chance to buy it." Snape's lips curled up slightly, and his deadpan face finally showed a hint of emotion.

"No, I'd like to get a pet in my second or third year." Ian didn't know if Harry Potter was in the same year as him, and he might have to rely on a savior to get a satisfactory pet.

Yes.

Ian wants to raise a snake monster.

This is the kind of pet an adult soul truly desires!

Big is truth!

"Ha, it seems Mr. Prince doesn't not want a pet, but rather feels that none of the pets in the pet store are good enough for him. I hope you won't regret this foolish decision today."

"Don't blame me for not warning you, even a pet with just a trace of magical animal blood will cost more than a little wizard like you can afford."

Snape had a look in his eyes that said he knew Ian inside out.

"Okay, thank you for reminding me, Professor."

Ian nodded.

He did not show the troubled expression Snape had expected.

This made Snape frown slightly.

Ian, on the other hand, looked around at the various amazing shops without any concern.

"Get ready."

Snape suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Before Ian could even turn around and ask...

His hand then gripped the back of Ian's neck again.

next moment.

Ian felt dizzy and disoriented.

He knew this was the feeling when Apparition was activated. However, compared to the previous experience where he felt nothing at all, he now felt slightly dizzy and nauseous.

Not serious.

Perhaps Snape's medicine has lost some of its effectiveness?

Just as Ian's thoughts were wandering.

"Splash~"

As vision suddenly cleared, the journey of phantom appearance ended, and the bustling streets of Diagon Alley disappeared from sight, replaced by a quiet and peaceful village.

The babbling of a stream in the distance mingled with the occasional hooting of an owl, and the air was filled with the sweet aroma of various magical foods and candies.

This is Hogsmeade Village.

A magical village hidden in the embrace of the Scottish mountains.

"You lived here until the start of the semester."

Snape led Ian, who was looking around like a curious child, to the front of a secluded cabin. Before Ian could even feign curiosity and ask where they were, Snape had already pulled out a key and tossed it, along with the remaining half-bag of Galleons, to Ian.

"If I catch you running around again, you'll be in big trouble." Snape warned sternly before turning and leaving without hesitation.

His back looked somewhat hurried, as if he was in a great hurry to deal with something—could it be that he forgot to turn off the stove before leaving home to brew a pot of precious magic potion?

"It sounded like he was telling me not to... run around anymore?"

Ian noticed something unusual about Snape's words.

but.

Looking at the stacks of textbooks in his suitcase, Ian's biggest desire right now is to become a real wizard; everything else needs to be put aside for the time being.

"Magic! Here I come!"