Ending

"I thought you'd say a few more words to that little girl."

Professor McGonagall stroked Book as she smiled at Luke, who was being "manhandled" by Madam Malkin.

Luke gave an embarrassed little smile. "There's no need to rush. She'll be coming to Hogwarts next year anyway. And there's still the summer break."

Professor McGonagall had only meant to tease Luke a little, but his long-term plans left her rather speechless.

Students who were already thinking about summer break before school had even started... well, there were quite a few of those.

After that, the two fell silent, and only the sounds of Madam Malkin bustling about remained in the shop.

At last, Madam Malkin finished taking his measurements and went into the workshop to sew Luke's robes and outerwear.

With magical tools, making a piece of clothing did not take long, so Luke and Professor McGonagall were asked to wait a while.

Professor McGonagall sat quietly in her chair while Luke looked over the ready-made clothes displayed in Madam Malkin's shop.

After a long while, Luke finally could not help but speak. "Professor, you don't need to feel sorry. I agreed to the deal willingly. And honestly, I didn't know about that Contract to begin with, nor did I approve of it."

"Besides, I truly don't think the Lans Family, having been tortured beyond endurance by those people, could serve me sincerely. I wouldn't dare entrust anything important to them. And there would be no need to give them anything unimportant, either."

"On the contrary, the benefits I gained from them this time have already satisfied me beyond measure."

Professor McGonagall looked into Luke's eyes and saw only sincerity there.

Then she shook her head somewhat helplessly. "I don't see any particularly sincere benefits. If you hadn't agreed so quickly that I didn't even have time to interrupt, I would never have let you agree to this."

"A Hogwarts School Board Member does not have much power. As long as Dumbledore remains, Hogwarts will not have another headmaster. Even the Board of Governors would not be irrational enough to parachute in a new headmaster. As for money, you'll have to keep pouring money into it. In truth, this position is just a money pit."

"I know there have always been people urging the Board of Governors to dismiss Dumbledore. If Dumbledore ever truly agrees, you must withdraw as soon as possible."

"As for those so-called businesses, as long as you have enough money, you can buy as many as you want. With the money you have, you could do whatever you pleased in business."

"Gryffindor's Magic Notes are even more absurd. As an artifact, they may be quite valuable. But claiming they have any practical value is complete nonsense! If they could truly be deciphered, the Lans Family would never have used them as bargaining chips. And even if they could be deciphered, what if it wasn't actually a set of Magic Notes, but merely an ordinary diary written in code? Or even travel notes?"

"Uh, let me interrupt you, Professor." Luke hurriedly spoke before Professor McGonagall became even more worked up. The glare she shot him made him a little nervous. "To be honest, if it's a diary, I might be even happier. I'd quite like to know about the Four Founders' funny stories."

What Luke did not say was that he did not believe the thing was truly meaningless. If it really was Gryffindor's notes, then the information hidden within the cipher might even be Gryffindor's so-called inheritance.

As a descendant of Slytherin, he was fully qualified to say that. After all, in the small room within a chest in his cabin, there was something similar.

Professor McGonagall's anger was thrown off balance. She herself could not say whether she was angry at the Lans Family, at Luke for being unable to keep calm, or at herself.

"Professor, there are very few things in this world that can truly have it both ways." Luke smiled faintly. "I learned long ago not to pursue perfection too excessively. Today, you neither wanted your friend to end up being ridden roughshod over again, nor did you want your student to suffer even the slightest loss. That was simply too greedy."

Professor McGonagall did not find it especially strange to be lectured by a child. For one thing, maturity had been her deepest impression of Luke throughout the day they had spent together. Aside from showing a little of the emotion appropriate for his age when facing Luna, he had been polite and composed at all other times.

For another, after so many years as a teacher, whether it was the innocence of youth or the high spirits of adolescence, she had always been able to learn much from children. A thousand people had a thousand faces, and some children could amaze even her as a teacher. Clearly, the child before her was one of them.

Professor McGonagall held Luke's gaze for a moment, then sighed. "You're right. I was too greedy."

"Greed is a good thing. Greed gives people the desire to act."

Luke turned his attention back to the exquisite ready-made clothes and began thinking. Perhaps he should buy a few more sets for everyday wear. The order would be fairly large, and Madam Malkin clearly would not normally keep the fabric he wanted in stock, so he decided to leave it for now and have Madam Malkin send them directly to Hogwarts or his home once they were finished.

"Would you like to join Gryffindor?"

That question suddenly rang out beside Luke's ear.

Luke looked at Professor McGonagall and saw sincerity in her eyes. She clearly truly wanted Luke to join Gryffindor. Or rather, perhaps that had been the purpose of her guiding new students here.

Was it to prevent Slytherin House, which was still a loose collection of scattered sand, from having an absolute leader? Or had she seen the shadow of certain people in him and wanted to keep him close? Or perhaps, to those who knew Voldemort's origins, the surname "Gaunt" carried an innate original sin.

Luke thought all of those might be true, but none of them should have been Professor McGonagall's reason. She had likely come to guide him simply out of curiosity. As for inviting him, it was probably because their day together had truly earned him Professor McGonagall's approval.

"Thank you for the invitation, Professor. But there is something in Slytherin that I wish to pursue."

Luke declined Professor McGonagall frankly without being rude.

Professor McGonagall was not disappointed. This was the result she had expected.

"What is it? The thing you seek?"

She still could not help asking.

"An opportunity, Professor. An opportunity for change."