Seeing Through

"Luke, I truly think you're right. We should make something of ourselves. For example, I really want to become a world-famous Quidditch player. That way, I'm sure I can make my family proud."

Marcus hovered beside Luke, chattering endlessly as though he had encountered a once-in-a-thousand-years kindred spirit.

"You and you, your dormitory is here. Go in." As they passed a room, Marcus pointed at two people in the group and had them enter. Then he turned back to Luke and said, "I've always despised those people who bully younger students and discriminate against half-bloods. Do they know how many outstanding Quidditch players are half-blood Wizards? Do they know how many new tactics created by Muggle wizards have brought innovation to Quidditch?"

"I also heard that Muggles have things like football and basketball. I know they definitely aren't as cool as Quidditch, but surely there are still things worth learning from, right?"

"You, by yourself. This dormitory."

The boy Marcus pointed at did not hesitate. Though he had clung to Luke from beginning to end and refused to let up, leaving everyone else without a chance to go up and speak with Luke, he was still fairly responsible for the time being. There were around twenty rooms, yet he did not get a single one wrong. He did not even need to call names or check a list.

Luke showed no impatience whatsoever. Although Marcus was talkative, long-winded, and not particularly handsome, his views were very important to Luke. Whatever the reason, the person before him was clearly someone he could win over. And he was a member of the Flint family, making him all the more worth winning over.

"You're absolutely right, Marcus. And not only when it comes to Quidditch—we can learn from Muggles in many areas. We also have to admit that both half-blood Wizards and Muggle wizards include powerful, even great, people. If we want the success we seek, then we absolutely cannot be hostile toward them. We should become friends with them instead."

Luke spoke to Marcus with considerable seriousness. A brilliant smile appeared on Marcus's face, making his already large buck teeth seem even bigger.

As Malfoy listened to the two of them, he really wanted to say, "What is there to get close to about Mudblood wizards?" But when he thought of what he had said at the feast today, and the admiring looks everyone had given him while he said it, he silently swallowed the words.

Though something about it felt a little off, the feeling of being the center of attention was truly wonderful!

Just as Malfoy was immersed in that pleasant feeling, Marcus pointed at him and Goyle beside him. "You two, this room."

After saying that, he ignored the two of them and continued walking and talking with Luke.

Malfoy suddenly felt that someone had insulted him, and instinctively wanted to fly into a rage. But when he came back to himself and realized it was Marcus, he looked at his tall, burly frame and recalled his status as Quidditch captain. Malfoy decided to endure it for now.

With a cold snort, he led Goyle into their dormitory.

Luke's dormitory was actually the very last one. No one knew how that arrangement had been made.

"What you said makes so much sense, Luke. Can you play Quidditch? I can ask Professor Snape to let you join us early. There are plenty of benefits to joining the team, you know~"

Marcus's tone when he said that last sentence was somewhat strange.

The corner of Luke's mouth twitched. He felt that Marcus was being a little inappropriate.

Was Luke that kind of person?!

"Well, we can discuss it later."

Quidditch teams received plenty of preferential treatment in every House. It was not as exaggerated as the treatment American schools gave their football teams, but it was still considerable.

Compared to that, however, Luke had no expectations for such treatment, nor did he have any interest in the sport.

With the time he would spend training, he would rather go to the Forbidden Forest and take a look at those Magical Creatures.

"Alright, be sure to come if you get the chance!" Marcus said with a smile. "This is your dormitory. I should head back too. You should have classes tomorrow. Watch out for those staircases, and it's best to get up early so you don't end up late."

"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing."

Marcus waved goodbye to Luke, then disappeared around the corner.

However, Luke did not tell Marcus that they had no classes tomorrow morning. In the afternoon, they had A History of Magic with Ravenclaw. He could use the morning to familiarize himself with all the routes in advance.

When he pushed open the door and entered the dormitory, the magical lamps lit up automatically. A faint sound of running water reached his ears. The enchanted room was dry and warm. A snake was depicted on the ceiling, and Luke's luggage had been placed beside his bed.

There was only one bed in the room. Compared with a four-person dormitory, he could arrange his bed however he liked, and set up the entire dormitory as though it were his own room.

If nothing unexpected happened, he could spend his seven years of schooling in this room.

But if nothing unexpected happened, then something unexpected was bound to happen...

Book leaped out of Luke's arms, lowered his body, and gave a huge yawn. They had walked quite a lot today and expended plenty of energy. Book was still a kitten, and he was already exhausted.

Luke smiled at Book's movements, then stepped forward and opened his trunk, taking out a large cat bed.

Book quietly climbed into his own little space, curled up, and soon began breathing evenly.

Luke, meanwhile, quietly unpacked his belongings. Although his suitcase had also been enchanted with the Undetectable Extension Charm, it was nowhere near as exaggerated as Newt's in the films. Its space had only been expanded a little.

After spending more than half an hour taking everything out and putting it away, Luke found the room even more welcoming.

Then he took out his wand and cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself.

Compared to the other students in shared dormitories, he had an advantage on the first night of school. He did not need to get acquainted with any new roommates. In other words, he could move freely now.

Still, he was not impatient. He simply waited quietly. He had already made his plan for tonight during the feast.

Late at night, Luke, who had long been prepared, slipped out of his dormitory and prepared to begin his first nighttime excursion. But when he reached the common room, he discovered that someone was still sitting there. It was the girl named Taylor.

That startled him, but he did not lose his composure. After all, he was quite confident in the effects of the Disillusionment Charm.

Just as Luke crept forward on tiptoe, Taylor's crisp, wind-chime-like voice suddenly rang out beside his ear.

"I'm not here to stop you. I just want to ask you a few questions."