Secret Talk Before School Starts

After Harry was found, everyone began their normal shopping. Mrs. Weasley first went to find Ginny and George, who were still getting measured for clothes and worrying about Harry.

An hour later, everyone gathered at Flourish and Blotts. The bookstore was exceptionally lively today, with countless middle-aged witches trying to push their way in—all to get a live book signing from Gilderoy Lockhart.

"We get to see him!" Hermione exclaimed. "I mean, almost all the books on the list are written by him."

The group slipped through the crowd and secretly made their way to where the parents were queuing. "Heavens, you're finally here. We'll be able to see him soon!" Mrs. Weasley seemed even more excited.

Gradually, they could see a blond-haired, blue-eyed wizard sitting there signing books. A short, ill-tempered man was hopping around taking pictures, nearly stepping on people several times. Just as he hopped towards Ron again...

"Bang!"

He flew directly from Ron's side to Lockhart's. "Who!" the short man angrily looked behind him, just in time to see Bing Huan slowly retracting his leg.

"Just a reminder, you're not a monkey. And even if you were, act like a human."

Lockhart also looked over, raising an eyebrow. "Isn't this Harry Potter?"

He quickly came over and pulled Harry into the camera's view. After taking the photo for tomorrow's front page, he grandly presented Harry with a complete set of books and announced that he himself would be the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts in September.

Bing Huan frowned, observing the entire scene. He had initially thought Lockhart was just someone with some talent who was overhyped, but now... whether he actually possessed that talent was becoming questionable.

Bing Huan's current state of knowing a little bit of everything was due to his own excellent talent and comprehension, coupled with having the world's strongest teacher, which drastically reduced his learning time. Even so, after the age of five, Bing Huan still spent ninety percent of his time meditating to recover energy rather than sleeping.

Hermione: "What's wrong, Huan? Is there something wrong with him?" Her precious Bing Huan wouldn't usually wear such a scary expression.

Bing Huan shook his head. "Most wizards' magic power increases with age. By that standard, he seems like a very normal wizard."

"What's wrong with being normal?"

"Precisely because he's normal, it's abnormal."

"Huh?" Hermione was confused now.

Bing Huan knew at a glance that she had subconsciously treated herself as an ordinary person again. "Who do you think knows more, him or me?"

"From his books, it seems like he knows more."

"Yes. So, what if I told you that after I turned five, I barely slept until I came to Hogwarts? Cultivators can recover their energy while accumulating power, but the Wizarding World doesn't have this ability.

In other words, if I were here, it would take me at least until I was twenty to reach my current level. He's not that old this year, is he?"

"Twenty-seven."

"Then it's strange. Mediocre talent, not old, where did all this power come from?" Bing Huan looked at Lockhart, who was still holding onto Harry. "Clearly, he still needs to learn how to take pictures and chase trends."

"But I learn very quickly too." Hermione felt Bing Huan was underestimating ordinary people.

"Don't you think you've grown faster and healthier than others your age since you were little? And that picture that occasionally appears in your mind is the Mental Power Meditation Method. I don't need to remind you how important mental power is for learning magic, do I? What gives you the confidence to call yourself ordinary?"

"Ah~"

"Moreover, over the past year, I've given you medicinal pills or tonics for a healthy body every now and then. When you were reading by my side, I even used my mental power to clear your meridians. Even a small, stupid pig would be able to fly by now~" Bing Huan said, pinching Hermione's cheek with a mock fierceness.

Hermione batted away his offending hand. "I always thought I was just a little bit clever~"

Bing Huan rolled his eyes. "You should look at who you're surrounded by. Harry is the Chosen One, Draco is the genius of the Malfoy family. Even Ron, who has the least outstanding talent among us five, is only because... why don't you guess who the prefects and head boy were in Gryffindor in the previous years?

Last year, Ron was just held back by an old wand that didn't suit him, and he wasn't very motivated to learn. This year, Ron's Charms grades will definitely improve by a large margin."

At this moment, Lockhart finally let go of Harry, and Mrs. Weasley got her signed book as she wished. Everyone began to walk out of the store. Hermione tilted her head and asked, "What about you?"

"I've been beaten by Dumbledore and Grindelwald."

Hermione: (‧_‧?)

As they reached the store entrance, Draco also came out. "Hey Potter! Getting on the front page just by visiting a bookstore, truly worthy of being the Chosen One."

"Don't talk nonsense! He doesn't want this." Ginny glared at Malfoy angrily. Harry quickly explained to Ginny, "Ginny, Draco is just joking. He's the one who saved me from Knockturn Alley today."

But Draco's focus clearly wasn't on being misunderstood. "You have a girlfriend?! Potter!"

Ginny's face turned red. Harry pointed behind him speechlessly. "What are you talking about! Those two are the ones who got together."

Draco looked over. o_O???

"Weren't they always like this? It seems a bit more excessive now."

"They confessed a few days ago."

"Did what?!"

"Confessed."

"When?!"

"A few days ago."

"Did what?!"

"You die!"

Draco seemed to see the Chosen One and ran up to Ron. "Weasley, you don't have a partner, do you?" Ron disdainfully shook off his hand. "Where would I get that thing."

Draco breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good. Bing and Granger are together. It shouldn't be hard for Potter to find a girlfriend. If you surpass me again, I might as well just hit my head against a wall."

"No, explain yourself, what do you mean?" I can't be behind you, can I? "You can't be ahead of me, right?"

Draco smirked confidently, "I admit, you're quite good among students, but you're still a bit behind if you want to compare yourself to this young master."

"Draco, what did I tell you? Be polite to your friends." Lucius appeared behind Draco at some point.

"Yes, Father."

Lucius turned to Hermione, "This must be Miss Granger. Draco mentioned you're the top of the year. I wish you good grades in the new semester. I apologize, but I need to borrow your escort for a moment. Mr. Bing Huan, I'll be waiting for you on the second floor."

Watching Lucius go upstairs.

Draco said, "Father, you make me feel like a stranger."

Hermione replied, "He doesn't seem like a bad person~"

Bing Huan said, "Isn't it normal for employees to praise the boss's wife? I'll be right back."

Bing Huan followed him upstairs. Lucius took out a notebook with a sealed cover. "Is this Voldemort's contingency?"

"This is his diary from his school days. It contains a piece of his soul."

"A piece of soul? Splitting one's soul isn't easy, especially in the Wizarding World. And why seal it so tightly?" Bing Huan casually toyed with the diary, intending to open it.

Lucius quickly stopped him, "Don't. The moment the diary is opened, the Dark Lord's soul will be able to sense the outside world. To be safe, I've temporarily sealed it with magic. As you said, splitting one's soul according to one's will requires planning a wicked murder.

The things that seal these fragments are called Horcruxes. When the owner is killed, they can use the Horcrux to preserve their chance of resurrection. However, there is a price. The more the soul is split, the more fragile it becomes. When subjected to immense shock, new fragments might be created without the holder's knowledge."

"Meaning, there are many more things like this? How many do you have under control now?"

Lucius nodded, "What I can confirm is that there won't be more than ten, and they are all recognizable items. The Dark Lord is proud, arrogant. At least ancient family heirlooms would catch his eye. It's a pity that all we have control over is this diary."

"What are your plans for this diary?" Bing Huan sent the information to Dumbledore, reminding him to keep an eye on it.

"Originally, Ginny would have been a very good choice, but given the Malfoy family's current stance, it's obviously unsuitable. We haven't figured anything out yet and are doing our best to find one."

Bing Huan glanced at Lockhart downstairs, who was still beaming. "How much does this guy know?" Lucius walked over upon hearing this. "His experiences are interesting, but he doesn't know much. While there's no proof he's lying, there's also no proof he's telling the truth."

"Has he never fought in public?"

"Almost never. If he has, it's only been small spells from first and second-year textbooks."

Bing Huan raised an eyebrow. "Then let's go with him?"

"Is that appropriate?"

"A waste of space who is basically confirmed to be a good-for-nothing, what do you think he desires most?"

"Power befitting his reputation. The Dark Lord is most adept at manipulating people in that regard. Before the school year starts, I guarantee the task will be completed."

Time quickly passed until evening. Everyone was pulled by Bing Huan to the Daoist Sect's hotel for dinner. Mrs. Weasley was still reminiscing about meeting Lockhart, "He's so handsome!"

Fred said, "Mom, we're eating."

George added, "Where exactly is that guy handsome?"

Bing Huan said, "Madam, forgive my bluntness, but aren't all of us here more handsome than him?"

Ron and Draco chimed in, "Exactly!"

The children had been fed by Bing Huan quite a bit this year. The foundational pills and nourishing medicinal meals had greatly improved their development and appearance compared to their peers. Bing Huan himself had been guided in cultivation and body shaping since he was in the cradle.

If the "Golden Trio" were just a bit more developed, looking like slightly immature fifteen or sixteen-year-olds, then the Twins and Percy had fully matured and been further optimized. Compared to them, Lockhart had no advantage besides experience.

Mrs. Weasley wanted to say something in defense of her idol, but the children's almost reader-defying good looks made her unable to go against her conscience. After dinner, the families bid each other farewell. Harry returned to The Burrow, while Bing Huan went back with Hermione to spend the last few days of summer vacation with her parents.