The whole conversation suddenly went off the rails.
It went from asking whether Hermione knew about Archmages to proving that Archmages truly existed.
But even when it was nearly curfew and Hermione left Basil and the others' dormitory, she still did not believe in the Archmages Basil spoke of.
Basil had racked his brains and dug up the wave-particle duality of light from his Previous Life memories, using it as an example.
He said that magic might be like light, both a wave and a particle.
It existed, yet did not exist.
Wizards served as the observers.
Magic manifested because Archmages were powerful observers, causing it to collapse from a state of nonexistence and descend into reality—that was, into a wizard's body.
But even after he explained it to that extent.
Hermione had only humored Basil by constantly saying, "Right, right, right," or occasionally nodding.
As for Harry, Ron, and Neville and Seamus, who returned later.
They all thought Basil's words were possible.
Because the wave-particle duality Basil spoke of seemed extremely profound to them.
Profound and complicated things were generally correct.
Besides, they actually found Hermione rather annoying.
She monopolized Basil all day long.
Leaving them no chance to copy their homework—cough, cough—ask questions.
She barged into their dormitory as though no one else existed.
She was arrogant and loved tattling at the slightest provocation.
Take Seamus, for example. After blowing up the item he was supposed to Transfigure for the thirtieth time in Transfiguration Class.
He had somehow learned on his own to reduce the noise and power of the explosions.
So that his face would no longer be covered in soot and his hair would not stand on end.
Sometimes, even Professor McGonagall failed to notice Seamus's explosions.
But Hermione would always point it out without mercy. "Professor, Seamus blew up XX again."
In short, they had suffered under Hermione for far too long.
Yet in the days that followed.
Everything turned out differently from what they expected.
Hermione Granger, the nosy know-it-all in their eyes, actually stopped tattling.
When others made mistakes or broke school rules, she no longer spoke up to point them out.
Of course, those people did not include Ron, Harry, or Basil.
But in everyone else's eyes, this Hermione had become much more likable.
Her roommates even began talking to her.
After all, she had good grades, was cute, did not like talking, earned points for the House, and let people copy her homework. Who would not like her?
But in Ron's eyes.
Hermione's ugly true face only became more apparent.
"She's targeting us!" Ron said after being refused when he tried to borrow homework for reference.
Harry nodded repeatedly.
Because of this, even the most advanced Nimbus 2000, delivered directly into Harry's hands at breakfast that morning, no longer seemed appealing.
They felt they were being treated differently.
When Ron saw that Malfoy had received only a Cleansweep Seven, he did not mock him.
This greatly surprised Basil.
First, he was surprised that Ron was so obsessed with copying homework.
Second, the Malfoy family apparently could not even afford a Nimbus 2000 now.
But Basil had gotten it wrong.
The Malfoy family was indeed struggling financially.
But that was only compared to how wealthy they had been before.
No one would have imagined that Draco Malfoy had chosen the Cleansweep Seven himself.
Some time ago, Lucius Malfoy had spent a great many Galleons through an intermediary to find a wizard skilled in White Magic and commission a book cover made from precious unicorn tail hair.
As a result, Draco Malfoy's supply of snacks had been relatively reduced.
From this, he guessed that his family had become comparatively poorer.
But even so, when Lucius Malfoy learned that his son had become a Seeker through his own efforts.
He had intended to spend another great deal of Galleons on the best Flying Broomstick.
But Draco Malfoy anticipated this and wrote ahead of time, asking for a Cleansweep Seven that was sufficient for his needs and considered excellent among current brooms.
In his letter, he persuaded him, "The Cleansweep Broom Company is the founder of racing brooms and the oldest racing broom company. The Cleansweep Seven is also a new broom they released this year. It is good enough. Its handling is also slightly better than the Nimbus 2000. Although its top speed is somewhat slower, it can still make three-hundred-and-sixty-degree sharp turns anywhere in the air."
Lucius Malfoy was deeply moved by this.
But he did not know that Basil was also preparing to give him a surprise that would leave him "moved."
Recently, Voldemort often wondered whether he had grown old.
Besides Dumbledore, three other people had discovered him.
Dumbledore had discovered his trail.
He had long been mentally prepared for that.
After all, that idiot Quirrell was not honest.
He was still wavering.
He often tried to hint at Voldemort's existence to Dumbledore.
Hehehe! What an idiot! As stupid as the trolls that idiot was best at dealing with!
Did he really think Dumbledore did not know?
He had already merged with him, the greatest wizard, the Dark Lord who had gone furthest down the path beyond death.
And he still hoped to turn back?
However, Quirrell's ridiculous, naïve wavering completely stopped after the opening feast.
Because that damned so-called savior, who had survived purely by luck and the sacrifice of his lowly mother—Harry Potter—had directly pointed out his existence!
Harry Potter was one of the people who knew his whereabouts!
Could that brat truly possess some power Voldemort did not understand?
Snape, that useless fool!
Why had he not listened to the entire prophecy back then?!
Quirrell was also too useless.
Snape was very likely still his spy, but because Quirrell was so weak.
He, the Wizard King who had nearly ruled the British Isles, did not even dare acknowledge one of his own subordinates!
Snape loved that Mudblood, but he did not love her son and targeted him all day.
What did that mean?
It meant Snape—no, Severus—was still loyal to him!
Severus must have gone to the Potter home afterward and discovered that he had actually intended to spare that Mudblood.
Cough, cough! He could not let his guard down!
What if Snape was still Dumbledore's man?
Speaking of those who had discovered his trail.
That detestable Basil Granger, who had killed his dog, was definitely one of them.
Even more infuriatingly, that Granger had mocked him to his face for having no nose!
Once he revived, he would definitely—wait, this Granger looked rather pleasant.
Hmm, perhaps he was quite talented.
And he was pure-blooded!
How about using the Cruciatus Curse on him a few times, then turning this Granger into his Death Eater?
But the other one absolutely could not be spared!
Dumbledore's diehard loyalist, the youngest son of the Weasley family—Ron Weasley!
This Weasley claimed Quirrell was not a bad person, that it was resonance from the power Voldemort had left behind.
Hmph! Did he think Voldemort was an idiot like Quirrell?
He was trying to lull him into lowering his guard!
This Weasley was even pretending to be stupid!
Voldemort had looked into it.
Arthur Weasley's sons were all outstanding!
How could Ron Weasley be an exception!
But none of that was important.
What happened today was the real matter!
Today, he had actually discovered his Diary on that Granger, his future Death Eater!
His most precious Horcrux!
"Lucius Malfoy, you have brought death upon yourself!"
"This is how you safeguarded my Horcrux?"
"You let my Death Eater be possessed by my younger self ahead of time!"
"Abraxas, for your sake, I'll spare little Draco's life. Hmm, and for Bellatrix's... Narcissa can be spared as well."
During Defense Against the Dark Arts, sensing the Horcrux at such close range from the back of Quirrell's head, Voldemort howled inwardly.
The Abraxas mentioned here was Lucius Malfoy's father, Abraxas Malfoy.
He was Voldemort's senior and a first-generation Death Eater.
Many fanworks establish that he and Voldemort had a very good relationship.
But the only available information was this:
In 1968, Nobby Leach, then Minister for Magic and the first Muggle-born Minister for Magic in history, was forced to resign after contracting a mysterious illness. Abraxas Malfoy was believed to have been involved in this conspiracy, but no evidence could prove it.
At some point before September 1996, Abraxas died of Dragon Pox, a disease relatively common among the elderly. Horace Slughorn was very saddened when he heard the news.
P.S.: Thanks to classmates At That Place, Junyu, 20200928174846394, Drifting Snail, Three-Poured Field Snail, for their monthly votes, and to the other readers for their recommendations and continued reading.
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