In the end, Vaughan neither agreed nor refused.
He still needed time to process the sheer amount of information brought by the Web of Fate and the Road to Legend.
Besides, although the subjects he and Dumbledore had discussed had touched upon the most profound magical knowledge, at heart, he was still only a first-year student.
For the sake of talent points, he still had to return to reality.
He needed to study hard, make sure he could complete the system's main quest, and claim the rewards.
In any case, Harry's trial had not yet begun. Dumbledore's invitation had merely been an attempt to involve him more deeply in the plan, hoping that his presence could disrupt the fates of Harry and Voldemort.
That night, Vaughan suffered from the rare bout of insomnia. When he appeared in the Great Hall the next day and finally graced his loyal Gryffindors with his presence again, the dark circles beneath his and Harry's eyes became a unique sight at the long table that day.
"I'd bet he spent the whole time he was gone brewing up all sorts of nasty ideas. Maybe he spent all last night figuring out how to torture us, Harry!"
At noon, Ron said despairingly to Harry and Hermione in the Gryffindor common room.
Unfortunately, Harry, who had stayed up all night and was still in a daze, did not notice what Ron had said.
Only Hermione, her sharp ears twitching, remembered Ron's words.
And so, that afternoon, everyone saw Ronald Weasley—the boy who had become famous for being "the Savior's friend" and "killing a troll with his brother Vaughan," only to swiftly fade from public attention—suddenly become the castle's star once more—
For some reason, Peeves had set his sights on him.
It rode on Ron's head, dyed