A Pleasant Conversation

Dumbledore sighed. The Honey Water in his cup had long since gone cold.

"How about this, Lucien? Would you be willing to come here once a week for afternoon tea?"

"Think of it as keeping a lonely old man company for a chat?"

As he spoke, Dumbledore even winked at Lucien, as if the silence from earlier had never existed.

Lucien did not hesitate and agreed at once.

"It would be my honor."

"How about after each tutoring session with Professor Quirrell, I come visit you?"

Hearing Lucien's words, Dumbledore nodded with a cheerful smile.

"That would be even better. We could talk about your thoughts on Defense Against the Dark Arts."

Ah, now that was the reaction he should have.

Dumbledore making such a suggestion let Lucien relax.

Afternoon tea and chatting were secondary. The main point was to check whether he had been affected by Quirrell using dark magic.

If Voldemort, in his current half-dead state, could still pull tricks right under Dumbledore's nose, then why had he been afraid of old Dumbledore back then? He might as well have challenged him directly and held a decisive battle atop Hogwarts.

"Oh, right. Newt also mentioned that you may write to him directly, which will make it easier for you to ask about the Undetectable Extension Charm."

"Of course, please don't tell anyone else his contact details, or that old friend of mine will have to move again. Mm, he rather likes quiet places with few people."

Lucien said he definitely would not reveal it.

Grandpa Newt was the ultimate social recluse. He probably talked more to Magical Creatures than to people.

Besides asking about the Undetectable Extension Charm, he could also ask Newt about Magical Creatures.

When it came to understanding those magical beings, no one could surpass him.

If Lucien wanted to pioneer Transfiguration involving magical creatures, he would definitely have to first study magical creatures themselves. Newt was an expert in this field, a living encyclopedia. If he did not consult him, then who?

"Phew. Lucien, is there anything else you would like to ask?"

Lucien said without thinking:

"Alchemy. I'm somewhat interested in Alchemy, but Alchemy classes aren't offered until the upper years."

"And the books on this subject in the library are only popular introductions. There's no actual theory or guidance."

"I heard from Madam Pince that in the Restricted Section..."

However, before Lucien could finish, a sharp voice interrupted him:

"Ha! This boy actually wants to go to the Restricted Section. A first-year new student already wants to come into contact with that dangerous knowledge. Truly born wicked..."

"Phineas, could you shut up! Use that troll-like brain of yours and think. Wasn't it your Slytherin that contributed the most fresh blood to dark wizards?"

Lucien looked toward the source of the voices. Dozens of portraits hung on one wall.

He quickly recalled the Hogwarts history volumes he had read and matched the two speaking headmaster portraits to their names.

Phineas Black, the most unpopular headmaster in the history of Hogwarts, bar none.

Morgan Wiggins, from Gryffindor, author of Dueling is an Art.

Every past headmaster of Hogwarts left behind a portrait, and one could speak and communicate with them.

There really was a reason Phineas was unpopular. Lucien had not even said he wanted to go to the Restricted Section, yet Phineas had already jumped out to deny and oppose it.

One could imagine how miserable the students had been during his tenure. He had probably forbidden this and forbidden that.

This kind of headmaster or leader would not care what you learned at school or how you were getting by. He would only care whether you caused trouble at school.

"Hmph. Those fellows who degenerated into dark wizards did so only because their minds were not firm enough. What does that have to do with Slytherin?"

"Albus, as headmaster, you must strictly control the students..."

Lucien looked at the chattering little old man with the goatee. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a figure flash through the portrait in the upper left.

Bang!

The hateful Phineas collapsed, disappearing from his frame.

In his place was a beautiful woman wearing silver-rimmed glasses.

If he ignored the heavy tome raised in her hand, and ignored the fact that she had just knocked Phineas out with that very book, Lucien would definitely have thought she was an elegant and quietly refined lady.

"I am very pleased that Ravenclaw has gained a young wizard like you."

Lucien stood and greeted her.

"Good morning, Madam Wendrian. I'm also very fortunate to have entered Ravenclaw."

Sharon Wendrian, graduate of Ravenclaw, author of Curses and Counter-Curses.

Sharon was very satisfied with Lucien, and her tone was elegant and gentle:

"Ravenclaw's Little Eagles should pursue wisdom and master knowledge. You've done very well."

"What you said just now was right. In the wizarding world, knowledge and power can be equated."

"So when you study knowledge, encountering danger and the unknown is perfectly normal. Do not be afraid, do not always think of solving everything alone, and do not be reluctant to ask Hogwarts's professors for guidance..."

Facing Headmaster Sharon's earnest instruction, Lucien said sincerely:

"Thank you for your teachings. May your wisdom continue to guide Ravenclaw."

Watching this from the side, Dumbledore felt deeply gratified. He could see Lucien's sincerity, his respect for teachers, and his pure desire for knowledge.

Dumbledore summoned a sheet of paper. Lines of book titles appeared on it automatically, and he signed his name.

"Take it, Lucien. What you want is on there."

Lucien took the book list and found that there were many titles on it.

The fields it covered were also varied: charms, alchemy, Herb, Transfiguration...

Among those book titles, one name made Lucien's brows lift:

Identification of Dark Magic

Why did Old Dumbledore approve this book? Is he telling me to be on guard and avoid Quirrell's tricks?

As expected, the Restricted Section of Hogwarts's library really has good stuff.

That place is Hogwarts's greatest treasure vault!

"Headmaster, this book, Identification of Dark Magic?"

"Heh heh, don't worry. This book teaches people how to identify Dark Magic. It does not contain any specific Dark Magic spells."

"Simply understanding Dark Magic, or even mastering Dark Magic spells, will not have any effect on a person's mind."

"Only using Dark Magic frequently over a long period of time and studying Dark Magic deeply will cause irreversible distortion."

Lucien nodded and put away the book list.

"Speaking with you has been very pleasant, and I have gained a great deal as well."

After Lucien came out of the Headmaster's Office.

He went down the stairs, planning to make a trip to the library first to borrow books.

The others could wait for now. As for alchemy, he would borrow those first.

Mm, after borrowing the books, I'll go to Hagrid's hut, begin analyzing the Transfiguration Pocket Watch, and try to solidify Transfiguration.

Passing a corner of a hall.

Lucien saw Malfoy, whose hand was still wrapped in bandages. Standing beside him was a middle-aged man with long pale-gold hair who looked very much like him.

Oh, little Malfoy and big Malfoy.

Lucius looked at his son with slight confusion.

"Draco, why are you still wearing bandages? Is the Hospital Wing's standard that poor?"

"Uh, Father, my arm still hurts a little. It probably hasn't healed completely yet."

What Malfoy did not say was that, in truth, as long as he was still wrapped in bandages, he could bring up in a few words to anyone he met how Harry had taken care of him in the Hospital Wing and apologized to him.

Lucius was just about to say something when he suddenly saw a passing student glance at him.

Those dark-green eyes somehow made Lucius's heart throb with unease.

Although he could not understand where that feeling came from, the Malfoy family's unique "people-reading skill" still made him take an interest.

"Draco, I prepared a precious healing potion for you. It won't let your body be left with any hidden injuries."

Malfoy was very happy and was just about to thank his father when he heard his father say:

"That student who just passed by—do you know him? Tell me about him."