Morning

Snape was truly terrified, and almost furious to death!

How could he have imagined that Cyberlina would use such radical methods to teach Harry? He had wanted to stop them as soon as Cyberlina started forcing Harry, but found he couldn't move at all! He could only curse Cyberlina's stupidity in his mind while worrying that the two of them, separated by only a flight of stairs, would completely mess things up.

And yet, and yet—the two of them were acting like they were playing!

He was the only one there, trembling with fear!

The more Snape thought about it, the angrier he got. He glared fiercely at Cyberlina.

Cyberlina wore an innocent expression.

After that ordeal, being given a calming draught, and then enduring Snape's sarcastic lecture, Harry was completely clear-headed. He even felt clearer than he had before he got angry. He crouched down, picked up his wand, raised his hand and wiped his face haphazardly, then adjusted his glasses. Finally, he lowered his head, fiddled with the inside of his robe, and with a mixture of uncertainty and earnestness, thanked Snape.

"Th-thank you, Professor Snape..."

—For your calming draught, and even more for your protection.

Snape paused. He merely glanced at Harry before immediately looking away, glaring at Cyberlina again.

"Oh, how surprising, the boy who lived actually knows how to say 'thank you.' But save it, I don't need your gratitude. I wasn't doing it for you, I was just—displeased with a certain audacious old troll." Snape crossed his arms and gave Cyberlina a malicious smirk. "Prepare to explain yourself to Dumbledore, Professor Sekerei!"

"I will," Cyberlina said, patting the book in her hands before placing them behind her back. She smiled at Snape. "If Albus comes looking for me over this."

—So I will continue with my previous actions.

She showed no sign of being troubled or angered by Snape deliberately revealing her identity in front of Harry.

Snape moved his lips, feeling stifled. He let out a cold snort and swept his robes as he descended the stairs.

"I hope I don't come out with two corpses!"

"You won't, will you, Harry?" Cyberlina looked at a hesitant Harry. "You look like you have something to tell me."

"So..." The previous events had been thrilling. After breaking out in a cold sweat, Harry understood what Cyberlina meant. "If someone isn't bad, then even if they use dark magic, it's completely ineffective, right?"

"It depends on the specific situation," Cyberlina said, straightening her back and tilting her head slightly as she smiled at Harry. "You're still a pure-hearted child, Harry. Your heart is clean and kind. You might have some dark tendencies now due to confusion and pressure... but you're fundamentally a good child. So even if your talent is great, the power of Crucio is very weak, and coupled with my own strength, your Crucio is effectively nothing against me."

Hearing Cyberlina's unreserved words, Snape, who had already descended the stairs, turned his head to look at her with an unreadable expression. Just then, he saw the book she had behind her back disappear from her hand.

Harry was startled by the "confusion and pressure" in Cyberlina's words. He held his breath, and after listening to her, let out a long sigh.

"Thank you, Senior Sekerei."

Hearing this familiar address, Cyberlina raised an eyebrow slightly. Snape closed his eyes speechlessly.

"What are you thanking me, your senior, for?" Cyberlina looked at Harry, a hint of teasing in her smile, but Harry, of course, didn't realize it.

"Thank you for teaching me," Harry said, his eyes bright as he looked up at Cyberlina. "Actually... I've been very troubled lately because I really don't know how to face my Parseltongue... I'm sorry, I know you've advised me before, and I did feel much better after your words, but I'm still bothered by it.

But now, after going through that, I finally understand what you meant—as long as I don't intend to do bad things, I can never do bad things!"

Parseltongue was too sensitive a matter. The Sorting Hat's inclination to place him in Slytherin was also a bit delicate. He couldn't tell Ron and the others, so he had to keep it all to himself.

Combined with the various people calling him "the boy who lived," he had become so anxious that he couldn't sleep—which savior belonged to the evil Slytherin?

He was frustrated, but he couldn't lose his temper with those people. After all, most of them didn't mean any harm when they called him that—except for Malfoy. So he had argued with Malfoy several times already.

Nearly Headless Nick, also feeling troubled, saw his preoccupation and talked with him for a while. But in the end, Harry only ended up with Nick's worries, because—when Nick asked what was bothering him, he had shamefully run away.

"You said something, Harry," Cyberlina said, reaching up to ruffle his messy hair. "So you're not angry that I brought you here to experience dark magic?"

Harry's face immediately flushed red, and he stammered, "I, I... I just... Oh... I'm sorry, Senior Sekerei, I didn't mean to, it was just—a bit impulsive."

Harry suddenly realized that perhaps he had also vented the emotions caused by his recent irritation and anxiety onto Senior Sekerei.

"Very good, Harry, now let's talk about the other characteristics of dark magic."

Harry: "?"

"It affects your emotions, your mind. This influence might be an intensification of your emotions, or a change in your thinking."

Cyberlina's finger touched the scar on Harry's forehead again. This time, besides feeling cold, Harry also felt a slight itch. However, out of guilt for doubting Cyberlina's intentions, he didn't retreat. He frowned, processing the slight discomfort.

"So you need to have a firm will, Harry. Otherwise, you'll easily be corrupted by dark magic and become a bad wizard, a... madman corrupted by dark magic."

Harry looked into Cyberlina's eyes, feeling that they contained many things he couldn't understand.

"But Senior, when I suddenly felt angry just now... I wasn't using dark magic."

"Oh, sorry, I forgot to mention," Cyberlina retracted her hand and smiled at him. "This study is already filled with dark magic."

Harry: "!!!"

"You see, Harry, you were only slightly affected, so you are undoubtedly a steadfast person. I'm happy to see that." Cyberlina's smile was sincere. "I hope you remain this steadfast and kind in the future."

The blush that had just faded from Harry's face returned, and his voice buzzed like a mosquito humming, "Mhm!"

Then, the three of them returned to the quiet state of doing their own things, as they had been when they first entered the study, until—

"Sekerei, do we go back the way we came to leave the study?"

"No," Cyberlina said, standing by the strange statue on the mezzanine, her eyes still on the book in her hands. "We go through this door next to us."

"Is it far from the Slytherin common room?"

"Not far, it's just—ah." Cyberlina stopped reading and looked up, realizing that Harry, leaning against the bookshelf, and Snape, below, were both looking at her.

"Heh, so even the all-knowing Sekerei can be careless in such a place," Snape sneered. He raised his wand, conjured a clock, glanced at it, then immediately closed his book and put away his notebook. Like the wind, he strode down the stairs, returning the two books in his hand to their original places.

Cyberlina gave a helpless smile and put the book in her hand back on the shelf. Harry, not understanding why, followed their lead and returned the book he was holding—a straightforward book on magical theory—to its place.

It wasn't until the three of them turned the stone door that Harry understood why they had suddenly left.

That door turned way too obviously!

If they had really come out during the day, they would have attracted the attention of the students—especially those from Slytherin.

"Good thing the timing is clever, whether it's students or patrols—"

Cyberlina stopped abruptly before she could finish speaking. Snape let out a cold laugh. After Cyberlina took out her wand and cast a Disillusionment Charm on herself, he followed suit and cast one on himself.

Harry stared with wide eyes as the two of them disappeared.

"Don't speak, it's the Disillusionment Charm," Cyberlina whispered in his ear.

Harry nodded. The next second, he felt his own body become illusory. At the same time, an arm wrapped around his shoulders, and then—the people beside him started sprinting!

To avoid falling, Harry had no choice but to run along.

Just as they rounded a corner, Harry saw McGonagall, wand raised, looking vigilant.

Harry: "!!!"

Hearing the chaotic sounds of running approaching, McGonagall, who had been patrolling all night and was preparing for one last round before resting, felt a bit angry—how could she not have noticed these children out gallivanting at night? And they were running so fast, weren't they afraid of falling? It was pure recklessness!

However, as the footsteps turned the corner, McGonagall saw no one. She only felt a gust of wind pass by her.

She froze for a second, then turned and raised her wand again.

"Stop, all of you!"

It was useless. The footsteps ran further and further away, not slowing down.

McGonagall immediately transformed into a nimble tabby cat and gave chase. But no matter how fast she sped up, she always remained a distance behind the footsteps ahead.

Finally, McGonagall stopped on the sixth floor. Besides the fact that she simply couldn't keep up, there was another reason—any higher and they would reach the Gryffindor dormitory!

Very well, these children had better not let her catch them!

The three runners stopped when they were one corner away from the Gryffindor common room.

Snape angrily shook off Cyberlina's hand. He truly felt he was losing his mind. Why had he cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself? Why was he running? He wasn't a student sneaking around; he was a professor!

The rapid running and his anger left Snape breathless. He leaned against the wall, raising a trembling finger to point at Cyberlina. "You, you—cough cough—you giant troll with a brain full of snot! I assume you never considered that I am a professor! A—an old professor who doesn't need to be dragged by you for a chase around Hogwarts because you're afraid of getting caught!"

—He didn't mention at all that he had cast the Disillusionment Charm on himself in the first place.

Snape, who didn't exercise often, looked utterly disheveled.

Because they had run in such haste, and Cyberlina had been dragging him by his sleeve, his robes were somewhat wrinkled, and his greasy black hair was messy. His complexion was as unpleasant as ever, but the paleness of his face was offset by a healthy flush from running, making him look less gloomy. He leaned against the wall, panting, the early morning sun streaming through the narrow window and gilding his messy hair, highlighting his wrinkled robes—his disheveled state was even more apparent, but he looked less severe and gloomy.

At least, his cold, sarcastic tone didn't sound as grating.

Harry and Cyberlina exchanged a look, then burst into laughter together.

Snape, not understanding why, was furious.

Cyberlina found it amusing. She patted Snape's puffed-out chest and pulled him along as they walked downstairs. Harry only then belatedly realized—they all lived underground, so they had run all the way up to the eighth floor to escort him back.

However, the gratitude that had begun to rise lasted only a few seconds before Harry's excited heart shattered with a "splat."

"Due to Mr. Potter's nocturnal excursion, Gryffindor is docked ten points!" Snape's angry voice was tinged with a hint of triumph. "Mr. Potter is confined to detention for one week, starting Monday."

Harry: "..."

Harry returned to the dormitory, feeling a little angry, only to find Ron sitting on his bed with his arms crossed and legs folded.

Hearing the door open, Ron turned his head ferociously. Harry saw the dark circles under his eyes.

"...Good, good morning?" Harry greeted him guiltily.

"Good morning!?" Ron jumped off the bed, puffed out his chest, and confronted Harry. "Speak! Where did you go last night!"

"Ron, Ron..." Harry backed away, leaning against the door. "Calm down first."

"Why didn't you take me?" Ron glared at Harry, pouting.

"I—" Harry shuffled sideways, moving away from his spot. "Someone invited me, and it wasn't convenient to bring you along..."

"Someone asked you?!" Ron's eyes widened, and he chased Harry towards the bed. "Who, who was it? Which house? Boy or girl?"

Harry gave a few awkward, perfunctory laughs, then struggled to pull out the Invisibility Cloak, which had somehow returned to its original state—bulging his robe pocket.

"Don't laugh, tell me—huh? What's this?" A tattered piece of paper fell out of Harry's Invisibility Cloak. Ron, quick as lightning, grabbed it and read the words, "'I'm afraid there's already a... vast difference between them and me? No one accepts—' Wait a minute, why do some of these words look so awkward?"

"Let me see!" Harry snatched the paper from Ron's hand. Surprisingly, despite their struggle, the tattered paper remained undamaged.

Having been immersed in ancient texts all night, Harry, who understood that some words might differ from current usage, confirmed that this belonged to Slytherin's study.

"Oh... this is bad. I actually brought something out from inside." Harry felt that the most pressing matter was to return the item. He hurried out of the dormitory, intending to catch up with Cyberlina and Snape, who should not have descended too far yet.

"Wait a moment!" Ron blocked Harry with his arms outstretched. "Where is 'inside'? What good place did you find now?"

"It's not exactly a good place," Harry looked down at the paper in his hand, then suddenly stopped—

[I originally thought Godric and I had the same vision, that he also agreed that the disciples we accepted should all be outstanding talents. But the problem is that he was also brainwashed by that foolish idea, saying that people of Muggle origin have the same potential as pure-bloods.]

"Harry?"

"Wait a moment, Ron."

[After I expressed my dissatisfaction with his misconception, Godric became furious.]

Harry suddenly realized that this paper was written by Salazar Slytherin himself!

[I am tired of fighting, and I no longer wish to see the incompetent children in the corridors pushing and shoving, pretending to be witches or wizards.

At this moment, I have gravely realized that I must leave this place.]

"Harry—"

Unable to bear Ron's disturbance, Harry read out the contents of the paper directly.

"...

Next, I will put that creature into a state of slumber until someone who shares my views awakens it: the chosen heir will rectify the sins inadvertently committed by others, those who are unworthy will only tarnish my legacy, and my heir will bear the heavy responsibility of purifying Hogwarts."

"I think we can go ask Professor Bins. He's been at Hogwarts since it was founded, so he must know what this letter is talking about!" -- Hermione said this on the dining table in the Great Hall, after discovering Ron and Harry whispering tiredly about something -- suspecting them of sneaking out at night and interrogating them -- finally, through Harry's stammering, she only learned that the paper came from an ancient place -- Hermione, whose curiosity was piqued, said.

Harry actually really wanted to say that he could directly ask Sekerei, his senior, she would definitely know. But if he said that, he would have to explain the whole story, which would involve Parseltongue, dark magic, and that study filled with dark magic in Slytherin... So he chose to remain silent, vaguely agreeing with Hermione, and then proposed that he needed to return the paper.

Hermione and Ron exchanged a look and agreed.