Magic, Here I Come!

The weather was a little cold.

Ian looked back at the gates slowly closing behind him, then glanced up at the weathered sign of Ollivanders Wand Shop. He felt that he had discovered the biggest scam operation in the wizarding world.

"What a cunning villain."

Ian muttered his assessment of Ollivander. He even felt that Voldemort having so many followers was probably not just because Voldemort used Avada Kedavra to threaten people.

Ollivander probably deserved some of the blame too!

Just think about it!

If, when you were around ten years old, you met a fortune-teller who told you that you would definitely become a great general in the future, and then happened to run into Chen Sheng and Wu Guang after growing up.

Who could resist that?

Most people would probably mistake tragedy for destiny!

"I've found the root of the wizarding world's chaos!"

Ian felt that, based on this discovery, he could definitely write an excellent paper. It was just a pity that Hogwarts had no journal worthy of publishing such brilliance.

"Perhaps I should consider The Daily Prophet. Such a famous newspaper must pay well for submissions." As Ian let his thoughts wander, he looked around for Snape.

The unreliable professor had not abandoned Ian and left. Ian spotted Snape standing outside a shop and quickly hurried toward him.

"Professor, could you teach me how to write wizarding papers?"

Ian felt that if his article carried the name of a Hogwarts professor as well, its chances of being selected and published by The Daily Prophet would be much greater.

Maybe he could even earn a little more in royalties.

"Mr. Prince, I have no interest in learning about the childish and foolish thoughts of children. Now, you should choose a pet that can assist with your studies."

Snape gave the wand tucked into Ian's pocket a cold glance.

Then.

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

Cats, toads, owls, lizards, and rats—there was a wide variety. There were even some small animals with magical bloodlines, but none of them stirred Ian's interest.

To be fair.

Ian did have a bit of a soft spot for owls.

However, Hogwarts kept quite a few owls itself. In Ian's view, owls he could pet for free were definitely more cost-effective than owls he had to pay for and take care of himself.

By comparison.

Ian wanted to raise some more unusual pets.

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

Ian asked tentatively.

"Mm."

Snape grunted out a single syllable through his nose.

"Then, how about a Phoenix?"

Ian blinked.

A lion... well, lions were animals with enough self-awareness to know better, so he probably could not ask for one. Faced with Ian's wild fantasy, Snape's eye twitched several times.

"Are you sure you didn't drink too much Calming Draught and still haven't woken up?" Snape was genuinely stunned. He had never seen anyone so shameless!

Get you a Phoenix?

I want one too!

Who's going to get me one?!

"A bird with Phoenix blood would work too? I saw that the shop uses Phoenix feathers to make wands." Ian's implication was obvious: he thought Phoenixes should be quite common.

For a child who had grown up in a Muggle Orphanage, such an assumption was naturally understandable. Still, Ian truly did want a Phoenix.

How cool would that be?

"Other than members of the Dumbledore family, no wizard this century has received a Phoenix's favor. I suggest you quickly forget such unrealistic fantasies."

Snape rolled his eyes.

He continued in his slow drawl, "Of course, perhaps Mr. Prince has enough influence to make Dumbledore give you his Phoenix."

Obviously.

It was merely a jab at Ian.

"Then why don't you ask him for me, Professor? Dumbledore will definitely give you that much face!" It was not that Ian was shameless enough; he had simply found a way to deal with Snape.

Sure enough.

With just that one sentence.

Snape was left so speechless that he had no idea how to respond.

"You sharp-tongued brat!"

In the end, Snape could only glare viciously at Ian.

"If your brain differs from a troll's in any way, you won't stand here fantasizing about impossible things. You'll obediently choose a toad or a rat."

"They are the best companions you can use for potion experiments." Snape was clearly suppressing his annoyance, yet he still gave his advice in that slow manner.

Still.

That sort of advice clearly did not match most people's idea of a pet.

"Those are test subjects, not pets."

Ian sighed helplessly.

"Is there a difference?"

Snape sneered coldly. "Perhaps you'll go to foolish Gryffindor. Only those mediocre fools would feel sympathy and affection for these animals."

He was once again taking shots at the house he hated most.

Ian chose to ignore him.

"Forget it. I've spent enough today, and there aren't any animals I want to raise. I can barely support myself." Ian leaned against the glass wall and watched for a long time.

In the end.

He still failed to find an animal he liked.

He had an adult's soul.

Naturally, his taste in pets differed from that of ordinary children.

"That is your choice."

Snape did not try to persuade him further.

With a sweep of his robes, he turned and left.

"Since I can't raise a Phoenix, can I raise a snake?" Ian hurriedly followed with his suitcase. Snape had been looking after that suitcase the whole time.

"First Year students are not permitted to bring such dangerous pets." Snape slowed down to let Ian catch up, looking at him with his usual sideways gaze of contempt.

"Didn't you say forget it? Changing your mind already? Unfortunately, you've lost your chance to buy one." The corners of Snape's mouth curled upward slightly, and his dead-fish expression finally showed a hint of movement.

"No, I want to raise one in Second Year, or Third Year." Ian did not know whether Harry Potter was in the same year as him. If he wanted a truly satisfactory pet, he might have to rely on the Savior.

Yes.

Ian wanted to raise a Basilisk.

That was the kind of pet an adult soul wanted!

Bigger was better!

"Heh. It seems Mr. Prince does not dislike pets; he simply believes none of the pets in that shop are worthy of him. I hope you do not regret today's foolish decision."

"Don't say I didn't warn you. Even a pet with just a trace of Fantastic Beasts blood will cost far more than a Young Wizard like you can afford."

Snape looked as though he had seen right through Ian.

"Alright, thank you for the reminder, Professor."

Ian nodded.

He did not show the troubled expression Snape had expected to see.

That made Snape frown slightly.

Meanwhile, Ian looked around without a care at all the strange and wonderful shops.

"Prepare yourself."

Snape suddenly stopped.

Before Ian could turn around and ask why.

His hand had seized the back of Ian's neck again.

The next moment.

Ian felt the world spin around him.

He knew this was what Apparition felt like when it began. However, compared with his previous experience, when he had felt nothing at all, this time he felt slightly dizzy and nauseous.

It was not serious.

Perhaps part of Snape's potion had worn off?

Just as Ian's thoughts began to wander.

"Whoosh—"

As his vision suddenly cleared, the Apparition journey ended. The bustling streets of Diagon Alley disappeared from before his eyes, replaced by a quiet and peaceful village.

The distant murmur of a stream intertwined with the occasional hoot of owls, while the air was filled with the sweet scent of all kinds of magical food and candy.

This was Hogsmeade Village.

A magical village hidden among the mountains of Scotland.

"You'll live here until school starts."

Snape brought Ian, who was looking around like a curious child, to a secluded Small Wooden House. Before Ian could pretend to ask what this place was, Snape had already taken out a key and tossed it to him along with the remaining half-bag of Galleons.

"If I catch you running around again, you won't like what happens." Snape gave his stern warning, then turned and left without hesitation.

His retreating figure seemed rather hurried, as though he was rushing off to deal with something—could it be that he had forgotten to turn off the fire under a pot of precious potion before leaving?

"Did he seem to say I shouldn't... run around again?"

Ian noticed something unusual in Snape's words.

However.

Looking at the stacks of textbooks in his suitcase, what Ian wanted most now was to become a real wizard. Everything else could be set aside for the moment.

"Magic! Here I come!"