"Though it may sound unpleasant, I have to say that your adoptive father seemed rather irresponsible. He seemed... not to have understood the current situation." After coming back to her senses, Professor McGonagall frowned.
Lynn spread his hands and looked at her helplessly. "But the outcome is the same. You may not know much about my circumstances, but to tell you the truth, my life at the orphanage was not very pleasant, so I paid to find my current adoptive father myself.
He became my legal guardian, gave me sufficient freedom until I came of age, and promised to fully cooperate with all my decisions, as long as he signed wherever his signature was required. In return, once I had the right to inherit my parents' estate, I would give him a certain amount of compensation.
Simply put, our adoptive relationship was nothing more than a financial transaction."
Everything Lynn said was true, though the process had naturally not been so simple. After all, a child only a few years old making a deal with an adult could never have relied on money alone.
Besides that, he had used a few underhanded methods that were not fit to discuss with outsiders.
As she listened to Lynn's account, the expression on Professor McGonagall's face gradually softened.
She was not truly made of stone. She was merely stern on the outside and warm-hearted within, a common flaw among felines.
"Poor child, your circumstances really are rather special." Professor McGonagall had already imagined how young Lynn had maneuvered among dark and sinister adults, only to ultimately rely on cold financial transactions to obtain his freedom.
She did not even dare think too deeply about the hardships and difficulties he had endured.
She thought for a moment before continuing.
"Before going to Hogwarts, you will still need to visit Diagon Alley to purchase the necessary school supplies and textbooks. While it is not as dangerous as Knockturn Alley, I think it would be best for an adult to accompany you.
"So, Hogwarts will send another professor over after some time to help you complete your preparations before enrollment. Be sure to watch for letters delivered by owls."
"No problem, Professor."
Naturally, Lynn had no objections. It was unlikely that anything would go wrong even if he went to Diagon Alley alone, but having someone familiar with the wizarding world lead him around would certainly be better.
Besides, the professors at Hogwarts were all excellent teachers. Even Snape merely had a slight flaw in his personality.
Getting acquainted with them early could not possibly be a bad thing.
Having said everything she needed to say, Professor McGonagall did not stay long. She still had to visit the next Muggle-born student's home to provide enrollment guidance.
Before leaving, she offered Lynn a rare smile.
"I can see it, Belloc. You are a child of noble character, clever and brave. Hogwarts looks forward to your arrival."
Lynn scratched his head shyly. Just as he was about to modestly say something, that familiar voice suddenly rang out in his mind again.
You received the sincere praise of Transfiguration class professor Minerva McGonagall. Transfiguration talent +1. Transfiguration effect +1.
At the same time, Lynn felt as though some change had occurred within his body, though he could not put his finger on exactly what it was.
But one thing was certain: it was a change for the better.
Lynn's expression immediately changed, and he looked eagerly at Professor McGonagall, who was preparing to use Apparition to leave.
"Then, I'll see you at Hogwarts..."
"Wait, Professor! Quick, praise me again!"
"..."
Professor McGonagall stopped in astonishment, her hand poised to wave her wand, wondering whether she had heard wrong.
Westerners might be more open, but surely not open enough to be this shameless. Professor McGonagall looked at Lynn strangely, as if trying to see whether his skin was truly thicker than the walls of Hogwarts Castle.
"Professor, you know that I'm an orphan." Lynn looked at her pleadingly, giving his acting performance everything he had.
"Since I was little, I've lived amid orders and criticism. Even the adoptive father who took me in now only covets the inheritance my parents left behind. So I have never heard anyone praise me before. Your praise just now nearly moved me to tears."
As Lynn spoke, he began to sniffle softly, as though he had truly been moved to tears.
"Perhaps my request is a little unreasonable, but could you please praise me one more time?"
Professor McGonagall had lived to her age; she was not so easily fooled.
She eyed the spectacularly acting Lynn suspiciously, feeling that something was off.
Seeing that his performance had failed to work, Lynn could only turn up the intensity.
He wiped away the tiny tear he had painstakingly squeezed from the corner of his eye and sighed.
"Fine, Professor. I was being presumptuous. Someone like me truly has no merits or strengths, not even the right to receive praise from a teacher..."
"Ahem."
When Lynn put it that way, Professor McGonagall began to feel somewhat guilty. After all, he was only an eleven-year-old child, at an age when he needed recognition from others.
"Don't belittle yourself, Belloc. You... you..."
They had known each other for too short a time. Apart from the two words she had spoken on impulse just now, Professor McGonagall could not think of anything else to praise him for.
Lynn had no choice but to offer her some indirect hints.
"Look, I'm not bad-looking, and I even found myself an adoptive father. That's so filial of me..."
After holding it in for a long while, Professor McGonagall finally managed to say one sentence.
"You are a good child."
The next instant, the voice indeed rang out in Lynn's mind again.
You received an insincere good-person card from Transfiguration class professor Minerva McGonagall. Nothing happened.
Lynn, who had been delighted a second ago, went green the next.
I threw away even my dignity, and this was all I got?
Having told a lie, Professor McGonagall now felt uncomfortable all over.
"It is getting late, Mr. Belloc. I must leave."
"Take care, Professor."
"..."
After Professor McGonagall left, Lynn summoned the system in his mind and viewed his current attribute panel.
Name: Lynn Belloc Title: None Magic Power Index: 2 Free Points: 0 Magic Talents: Transfiguration 3, General Spells 2, Offensive and Defensive Spells 2, Dark Magic 5, Potions 2, Alchemy 2, Herbology 2, Ancient Runes 2, Divination 0... Main Quest: Go to Hogwarts. Reward: Legilimency. Timed Quest: 1. Obtain a wand. Reward: Magic Power Index +1. Countdown: 30 days. 2. Successfully cast your first spell. Reward: 1 Free Point. Countdown: 40 days. Note: There is no penalty for failing a timed quest.
Lynn studied his attribute panel for a long time, skipping dinner in the process, and roughly figured out how it worked.
Aside from Transfiguration, Divination, and Dark Magic, all his other magical talents were at 2, while the maximum was 10. That meant 2 was probably the talent level of an ordinary wizard.
The reason Transfiguration was at 3 was because Professor McGonagall's praise had just given him 1 point.
Lynn could understand why Divination was at 0. This sort of mystical ability depended entirely on talent. You either had it or you did not; it was basically impossible to develop later in life.
What he could not understand most was his talent for Dark Magic.
What was with starting at 5 points?
So he had been born villain material?
Lynn's face darkened, feeling that his kind personality had been questioned.
As for the Main Quest and timed quests below, there was not much to say.
Going to Hogwarts was practically set in stone, and Legilimency—the magic he needed most right now—was basically being given to him for free.
The next two timed quests were not difficult either. The only problem was that he did not know when the professor Professor McGonagall had mentioned, the one who would take him to Diagon Alley, would arrive.
If that person had not arrived by the time the quests were close to expiring, Lynn would go looking himself. Though he did not even know the approximate location of The Leaky Cauldron, there would always be a way.
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