"Bang!"
Snape shot to his feet.
He stared fixedly at the painting, a trace of fear even showing in his eyes.
It was as if he were facing a terrifying curse—or the sweetest cake imaginable.
Flowing hair, shining eyes, and a smile as bright as the sun.
It was clearly only a black-and-white portrait, yet Snape seemed to see those flame-like locks, those emerald eyes, and hear the girl's silver-bell laughter beside his ear.
In a voice he could never hear again, she called his name:
[Severus~!]
It was lifelike.
Snape suddenly came back to himself.
He yanked the painting open and angrily raised his hand—then carefully put it away again.
Damn it.
Now Snape knew why a single painting had left that group of Muggles so dazed.
This was simply a demonic work of art.
"Well, sir?" Ethan curled the corner of his mouth. "Are you satisfied?"
"...How did you know this person?"
Snape spoke one word at a time, his dark eyes shooting straight into Ethan's.
Ethan tapped his own head and said, half truthfully and half falsely:
"You passed this imagination on to me, this profound thought. I merely painted it."
At that moment, he was in an excellent mood.
Judging from Snape's reaction,
Ethan was certain that the painting was a success.
Look how much Professor Snape liked it!
[An Extraordinary Grade Artwork has been detected and automatically recorded in the Gallery] [Name: "Always" (given away)] [Type: Portrait] [Grade: Tier 1 · White Rare] [Description: A portrait of a deceased person, the love of someone's life] [Effect: Can vividly evoke memories, making people feel as though they are there and fully immersed. When given as a gift, it can permanently increase a specific person's favorable impression] [When you browse the Gallery, you can view this painting on the wall] [Current number of artworks recorded in the Gallery: 1] [When the number of recorded artworks reaches 5, you will receive the Novice Gift Pack] [Your Soul Fusion Degree has increased by 1%] [Current Soul Fusion Degree: 26%]
As the system's notification sounded, Ethan felt a warm current surge through all four limbs.
Like someone freezing drinking a mouthful of hot soup, Ethan only then realized how stiff and sluggish the magic power inside him had been.
Was this the effect of increasing his Soul Fusion Degree...?
Ethan felt that although it was only 1%, he could now paint Extraordinary Grade artworks more easily.
But what had caused the increase?
Ethan raised his eyes and looked at Professor Snape.
Perhaps it had something to do with coming into contact with important figures in this world?
Ethan pondered inwardly.
Everything would be revealed once he entered Hogwarts.
The only thing he was certain of was that if he wanted to improve his painting skills and create more Extraordinary artworks,
he had to increase his Soul Fusion Degree.
Hogwarts...
How exciting.
Ethan's eyes darkened as he ran his tongue over his back teeth.
"...Originally, I was going to report your bizarre condition to the Ministry of Magic, or perhaps report it to Dumbledore."
Snape's voice sounded almost like a mutter.
"But then I thought about it. What does it have to do with me?"
A slight curve lifted the corner of Snape's mouth. He drew a letter from inside his robes and flicked it toward Ethan.
"I'm only here to deliver a letter. That's all."
Wow, he makes accepting a bribe sound so noble~
Ethan clicked his tongue inwardly and took the letter curiously.
A shield-shaped wax seal was stamped on the thick envelope.
A large capital "H" stood in the center, surrounded by four animals: a lion, a snake, a badger, and an eagle.
It was Hogwarts' admission letter!
A surge of excitement immediately rose in Ethan's heart.
He eagerly opened the letter—taking care not to damage the exquisite wax seal—and removed the thick parchment inside.
[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Admission Notice] [Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore (Order of Merlin, First Class; Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot; President of the International Confederation of Wizards)] [Dear Mr. Vincent:] [We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Enclosed is a list of the books and items you will need.] [The term begins on September 1. In view of your special circumstances, we will assign someone to assist you and inform you of the matters requiring attention before the start of term.] [Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall]
The second page listed the textbooks, equipment, and other things he would need for the start of term.
Afterward, Snape launched into a long explanation of Wizarding World common knowledge, whether Ethan had understood it or not.
He explained what Muggles were, what Hogwarts was, the Four Houses, and so on.
Though he was deeply unwilling, perhaps because of the painting, Snape's explanation was quite detailed.
"What I must remind you of is that your actions have already violated the Wizarding World's Statute of Secrecy—displaying magic in front of Muggles," Snape said.
"In other words, those foolish paintings of yours."
"Before you have even begun school, you have forced the Ministry of Magic to send several people to erase those Muggles' memories and make them move away from those damn paintings."
"At the same time, they must reclaim all those evil [contraband items]."
Ethan: "Reclaim them? Does that include the one I just painted for you, Professor Snape?"
"..."
Snape was rarely rendered speechless.
He narrowed his eyes and scrutinized Ethan's innocent, guileless face, as though the question had merely been asked without ulterior motives.
"...If you come to my House, Slytherin, I will definitely take 'special care' of you."
Snape gritted his teeth and hissed the words like a snake.
He swept his large hand, and a cloth bag appeared on the table. The crisp clinking of coins came from inside.
Beside it was a ticket for Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.
"Hogwarts provides assistance for special students. It isn't exactly generous, but with proper planning, it will last for some time."
"Everything you need to know before the start of term has already been explained. I believe you, the Little Genius Painter of Spider's Alley, can go to Diagon Alley and buy your own things."
"I can. Thank you for coming all this way, Professor Snape." Ethan nodded and raised a smile.
Snape snorted through his nose and walked over to the empty cabinet, running a hand over it as if inspecting it.
Then, like a great black bat, he flapped out through the doorway and vanished without a trace.
Ethan closed the door and let out a long breath.
Clutching the envelope, he felt that everything that had just happened was like a dream.
At that moment, Ethan suddenly noticed that a book had appeared inside the previously empty cabinet.
Ethan walked over and saw plain golden lettering on its black cover: Advanced Potion-Making.
...He knew at a glance who had left it behind.
"Well, well, Professor Snape, what a hypocrite."
Ethan shook his head with amusement.
He picked up the book eagerly and opened it, finding annotations from its previous owner inside.
"Bezoar, a stone taken from a goat's stomach. It can neutralize many poisons and is an ingredient in numerous antidotes... Annotation: It has an extremely strong, gamey odor that induces vomiting. If it has no gamey odor, it is counterfeit."
"Ugh, it sounds disgusting just from the name..."
Still, if it truly came down to life or death, he probably wouldn't have the luxury of caring about that.
Ethan thought this to himself.
By lamplight, he continued reading.
It was late now. Although he was extremely excited, Ethan decided to wait until tomorrow before going shopping in Diagon Alley.
Early the next morning, London, Charing Cross Road.
Ethan stood between a bookshop and a record store.
Pedestrians came and went around him, but not one of them turned their gaze toward the place he was looking at.
—The Leaky Cauldron.
Before you continue