The Old Ones of Hogwarts

Chapter 144, Section 143: Back on Track! I've been utterly offended!

Chapter 144, Section 143: Back on Track! A Deep Offense!

First, there's the time loop.

Then came several more days of exciting activities.

Ian cherishes the peace and quiet of campus life, and although it is still Christmas break, he quickly returned to his daily life and studies.

The atmosphere on campus was unusually harmonious. Even Gryffindor and Slytherin did not continue their fighting. For the students, holidays always brought them joy and allowed them to temporarily put aside their grudges.

Despite having dreaded holiday homework to complete, the young wizards always manage to find ways to avoid being bothered by it; for example, the Gryffindor students opted for temporary amnesia.

Some of them would borrow their friends' assignments to copy on the last day, while others had already planned to get punished by the professor together before the holiday.

Anyone who secretly does their homework is a coward.

They are clearly the group that gives professors the biggest headache.

In comparison.

Students from other colleges were much more disciplined. For example, Ian found someone to help him with his homework before the holidays, and William basically took care of all of Ian's homework this semester.

He had even copied Ian's handwriting so well that it was indistinguishable from the real thing, and he also knew to deliberately write some wrong answers and very different solutions on his own homework.

This ensured the professors wouldn't discover Ian's involvement in their assignments. After all, he was born for the Ministry of Magic; his quick wit was perfect for helping the leadership write all sorts of documents.

but.

Most people don't have a roommate as good as Ian, so they choose other ways to solve their homework. Slytherin students, for example, love to send their homework to Ravenclaw students for a hefty sum, and the Ravenclaw students almost always agree to this service.

After all, who wouldn't enjoy reinforcing their knowledge, plus a little extra pay? Most Ravenclaw students finished their homework on the very first day of vacation. No professors worried about Ravenclaw students; everyone knew it was the most competitive school.

of course.

When it comes to the most competitive group during this Christmas break, the Hufflepuffs who stay at school are undoubtedly number one, because they have an almost endless amount of homework.

These were all tasks that Ravenclaw students had taken on from Slytherin and then outsourced to the badgers at a low price—not all students in Ravenclaw liked to reinforce their knowledge.

Many people may not know that most of the business geniuses in the wizarding world also come from Ravenclaw. They have the same capitalist mindset and thinking as Ian.

The homework was passed around.

They pocketed a large portion of the money, just like unscrupulous intermediaries.

Furthermore, they don't need to worry at all about the teachers discovering anything wrong with the assignments that are outsourced to the Hufflepuff students, because the usually honest Hufflepuff students would never submit the same answer sheet twice.

Yes.

The honest little badgers won't copy existing answers; instead, they'll come up with some new ones. Otherwise, they'll feel bad about the meager sums they received.

"Perhaps this is why Hufflepuff graduates, though they may be ordinary, are rarely truly mediocre. Even if they are just selling books in a bookstore, they can do their job to the best of their ability."

"Moreover, Hufflepuff has actually produced many outstanding individuals."

Ian was quite moved.

He knew about the situation at school because he also wanted to join the ranks of those taking orders. However, after discovering Hufflepuff's far more serious attitude and the exorbitant pay that would make some entrepreneurs weep, he ultimately gave up the idea of ​​joining the cutthroat competition. Completing dozens of junior wizards' assignments wouldn't even cover the cost of creating a single "Assignment Pen."

"Since it's already built... I'll find some time to put up a 'Slytherin' sign and sell it for a high price." After putting away his work, which had once again suffered a setback, Ian threw himself into his holiday life.

Being able to sleep until you naturally wake up is definitely the most comfortable thing.

Aside from occasionally opening the door to read in the library when it was closed, he didn't do anything that might violate school rules or cause a disturbance.

This was probably also related to Professor McGonagall keeping a very close eye on him. Ian guessed that Professor McGonagall had also had that strange dream and knew about some of his reckless actions in the time loop.

Professor McGonagall even hid the guardian statues in the school, probably because Ian, along with Peeves, had once conducted a "riot drill" for the young wizards in a certain cycle.

"Hide these smaller ones, I still have four larger ones!" Ian believed that no matter how much Professor McGonagall tried to protect herself, she would never have imagined that he still had four statues of the founders that he could control.

He simply felt that the young wizards, who had already synchronized many of their memories, didn't need to go through another exercise. He also cared about his reputation; the young wizards' current evaluation of him had already reached the level of a "little devil." If he had known that Slytherin would scheme against him like this, Ian would never have done so much in the time loop.

"Young professor, are our dreams really prophecies?"

"Some people say you erased our memories, which must mean something that already happened."

"Prince, who is inherently evil, is even being warned by God. I think our dreams are a kind of warning and reminder from God."

……

It's obvious without even guessing.

The last sentence came from a Slytherin student. Although they were all afraid of Ian, regardless of age, they couldn't stop talking about him in private.

It is said that there is a "Rebel Against Princes" within Slytherin House, whose members are mostly young wizards of various ages who have been mistreated or humiliated by Ian.

After learning of the organization's existence, Ian curiously inquired about it from Aurora, only to discover that Miss Daphne Greengrass was actually the leader elected by the organization.

Most people probably felt that she had the biggest grudge against Ian and suffered greatly from his persecution. What Ian found somewhat regrettable was that Miss Daphne Greengrass never spoke ill of him in the alliance; in fact, it could be said that Daphne Greengrass almost never expressed any opinion about Ian.

"This is a very smart approach."

Aurora's opinion on this matter puzzled Ian.

"Is this what you call being smart? Shouldn't I be the one who's magnanimous and didn't hold it against her?" Ian thought that Miss Daphne Greengrass might still have a rebellious streak.

but.

Aurora, however, held the completely opposite view.

"She joined this organization purely to collect activity fees. Daphne and her girlfriend are really broke now, and they're just swindling money from people in the League by using pastries provided by the fairies."

Aurora recounted the situation to Ian in great detail. Ian had snatched a lot of the rare food from her plate, but the Germanic girl didn't seem to mind.

How do you know so much about these things?

Ian was slightly surprised and put all the broccoli he didn't like into Aurora's bowl. Finally, Aurora, who had maintained a calm demeanor throughout, glared at him fiercely.

"Don't take it if you don't like it."

Aurora picked out all the broccoli again, clearly indicating she didn't like this very healthy food. Understandable, since the healthiest foods are often the least palatable.

"The little elves secretly put it in my plate because they were afraid I'd be picky and malnourished." Ian said with a hint of helplessness. He now has to drink three cups of Poisonous Horned Beast Milk every day under the supervision of the little elves. This is probably because Ian recently complained to the little elves in the kitchen about not being tall enough.

The effect is indeed quite good.

Ian has grown almost a centimeter in the past few days. I wonder if the little elves added something else to his milk.

"You are indeed a picky eater."

Aurora glanced at the meat filling Ian's plate.

"This is all protein, definitely high-quality food." Ian felt his diet was definitely healthy, since he always dipped his fried chicken in a lot of chili powder. Chili powder could speed up his heart rate and increase his metabolism, thus helping him metabolize the fat in the fried chicken more effectively.

"Let's continue talking about Daphne and the students."

"In fact, Daphne would even secretly hint to others that it was better to obey than to resist... I think Daphne and her girlfriend are indeed smart people."

"If you extend an olive branch to her and her family, I don't think they would refuse. After all, things that happen at Hogwarts rarely remain secrets."

Aurora's words were clearly pointed; she might already know about Voldemort, and she was also implying that Ian knew about this not only because of her, but also because of the pure-blood families.

"They have informants at school? No, they must have portraits acting as their eyes and ears." Ian recalled that there seemed to be a portrait in the basement room earlier.

Aurora neither confirmed nor denied his speculation.

"It's also possible that Dumbledore is building momentum for you."

She also shared her own opinions and speculations.

"What kind of momentum are we creating?"

Ian blinked.

"You're just a first-year student, yet you've already accomplished many incredible things. I think even if you don't want to, your future will definitely not be ordinary."

"Just as my grandfather said, fate bestows upon a person a gift and at the same time gives that person a historical mission, just like the life of Albus Dumbledore."

Aurora looked up at the little wizard sitting opposite her.

"This mission isn't about what you think or what you do; it's that wherever you live, something significant will always happen that will draw you in."

I'm currently reading the error-free version! This is the first time I've published this novel.

"My grandfather believed that no one understood this better than Dumbledore and himself. Following this line of thought, it's understandable that Dumbledore would build up the hype for you in advance."

"You are more talented than them, and the miracles you can perform will be greater... This will eventually lead you to a cause that they could no longer accomplish."

Aurora may be repeating Grindelwald's words, which could largely explain why Grindelwald was so fond of Ian and didn't interfere too much with Ian's thoughts and growth.

This prophet, who stirred up the biggest waves in the last century, must have firmly believed that even if he did nothing, Ian would eventually be swept up by fate and walk the path he had not completed.

"I don't want to fight with Muggles, nor do I want to shoulder the responsibility for the rise and fall of wizards." Ian curled his lip; he was nothing like the ambitious figure portrayed by the Mirror of Erised.

"The abilities you possess... will lead you down this path, whether willingly or unwillingly. Looking at Daphne's changing attitude, you should understand why."

"Ian, the wizards have longed for a king for a long time." Although Aurora also had a childish side, she was always much more mature than Ian in some particular aspects.

"Isn't there a Dark Lord? There are two more, and my uncle will be the third." Ian blinked and quickly finished off the food on his plate.

"I'm talking about the true king... the king who belongs to all wizards." Aurora put down her cutlery as Ian snatched the rest of her beef ribs.

"I fully support you in undertaking this great cause, really, Aurora. After all, we're friends. Just give me any title of wizard with the power to print money."

Ian chuckled as he munched on a beef rib. He felt that what Aurora had said was too abstract and too far-fetched, something a first-year student shouldn't be thinking about.

"My grandfather said that only you have the opportunity; I don't have your talent and strength."

Aurora shook her head.

Ian continued to train his masseter muscles.

"To summarize your grandfather's point of view, it was that power was the reason I became king?"

His words made Aurora's eyes flicker slightly.

"You see, you were already aware of this a long time ago."

The German girl spoke very earnestly, expressing her feelings.

"..."

Ian wanted to say that these were lines from a game he had played, but he was worried that Aurora would ask him what game it was, so he could only cough a few times and take a sip of water to calm himself down.

"Let's talk about Miss Daphne Greengrass. You seem to know a lot about her, and about that so-called 'Rebel Against Prince Alliance'."

Ian changed the subject.

He never expected that after a moment of silence, Aurora would actually respond with a somewhat guilty tone.

"Because I'm also in this league."

The German girl stared intently at her empty plate.

The voice was much softer than when he was talking to Ian about whether or not the Wizard King was the Wizard King.

"????"

Ian choked on some water.

"What the hell?"

He looked at Aurora with an incredulous expression.

"In order to put into practice some of the ideas you taught me, I naturally have to blend in with them and become one of them. Now they think I am the undercover agent they placed next to you."

Aurora's voice had a deliberately calm quality to it.

"Wow~ Could they get any more outrageous?"

Ian gasped in shock.

"Haven't you noticed that lately, the Slytherin students haven't just stopped openly provoking you, but you've actually become a little more fond of them?"

Aurora suddenly spoke up again.

"Indeed, they've become much more polite and shown me some respect." Ian recalled that the Slytherin students he had encountered in the past few days did seem less unpleasant than before.

"This is also thanks to me."

The German girl seemed to be trying to take credit.

"My grandfather told me that all I needed to do was spread this book within the college, and some of the conflicts within the school would be greatly alleviated as a result. It seems to be working quite well now."

"I've earned quite a few Galleons, and I'll definitely have to share half with you." With that, Aurora pulled out a book with an antique cover and a bulging money bag.

She opened it in front of Ian, and it was full of Galleons.

"What kind of book can sell for so much money?" Ian asked curiously, picking up the book titled "How to Win Friends and Influence People: The Secret of Prince" which even had Gilderoy Lockhart's signature on it.

This is clearly Grindelwald using a pseudonym to publish a book at the school again.

"How should I teach the other young wizards to respect me?"

Ian flipped through a few pages.

His previously beaming face instantly froze. After a brief silence, he slammed "How to Win Friends and Influence People: The Secret of Prince" onto the table.

"Damn! Isn't this just a parenting bible for Muggles?!"

The little wizard's face began to turn as red as a pig's liver.

The voice was excited.

It was as if I had experienced a real offense in my life.

(End of this chapter)