He Likes Them Older

In the basement office, only the dim flames of the wall lamps flickered gently.

Gavin stared at the Crystal Bottle on the table; the last bit of pale blue liquid at the bottom of the bottle was shimmering on its own.

After a full three seconds, he finally looked up at Snape opposite him:

"Can this thing form naturally?"

"I have no idea."

Snape stared coldly at the bottom of the bottle, his voice completely flat:

"I don't even know if it's really Wizard's Water."

Gavin frowned.

"The separation of the potion and the Revealing Charm only prove that it has no trace of artificial formulation or boiling."

Snape tapped the table with one finger:

"As for where it comes from and whether it's the same thing as the 'Wizard's Water' in Middle Ages manuscripts, I have no proof. As you said, the wizard who drank it did indeed experience regeneration, but who knows if drinking a second bottle will turn him into a pile of rotten flesh."

Gavin's initial fervor cooled down.

He's right.

Cordelia's life was not in immediate danger, and he would never gamble with her body in the face of someone whose background was unknown.

But--

Perhaps?

Gavin tapped the armrest twice with his fingertips, Gavin his head to look at the Crystal Bottle:

Should we find someone to test the effect?

Snape looked away, his dark eyes landing on Gavin's face, and he gave a cold laugh:

"If you agree to lie on my dissection table as a guinea pig, Mr. Gu, I have no objection whatsoever. It will save Madam Pomfrey the trouble of brewing your medicine tomorrow."

Gavin pursed his lips and leaned back in his chair:

"I'll definitely do it next time."

Snape snorted and swung his staff to lock the Crystal Bottle back into the protective cabinet behind him.

With a click, the cabinet door closed.

He turned and extended his right hand to Gavin:

"Formula."

Gavin didn't renege on his promise. He grabbed a blank Parchment from the corner of the table, picked up a pen, and wrote down the proportions of the "Biphasic Transformation Potion" and the key points of stirring in both directions in separate pots. He then casually pushed it across the table.

Snape grabbed the Parchment.

His pupils contracted slightly after scanning only the first five lines, and his breathing quickened slightly.

"Bicorn? Using reverse processing of homologous paired horn materials?... I can't believe it can be used like that..."

He stood under the wall lamp, quickly going through the whole process in his mind.

After confirming the ingredients and formula, and confirming that it was indeed used in combination with the Amortentia, Draco was indeed not in mortal danger. Snape's tense jaw finally relaxed.

But he did not put away the prescription.

Instead, his eyes grew brighter and brighter. He grabbed Quill and began rapidly working out equations along the edge of the Parchment, muttering to himself:

"If we shorten the boiling time of the Fluxweed by three seconds... no, it seems we could use..."

Gavin looked at him for a while.

Suddenly, an idea came to me.

While Snape was engrossed in the prescription, Gavin leaned forward, lowered his voice, and tried to whisper a devil's word:

"Professor, what you learn from books is never enough. If you really want to understand pharmacological changes... why don't you brew a pot yourself and try it out for yourself?"

The rustling Quill suddenly stopped.

The air in the office seemed to freeze instantly.

"It'll be back in twelve hours anyway," Gavin continued. "Life's too short to resist, why not give it a try?"

A picture has already appeared in my mind--

With her long, flowing, jet-black hair reaching her shoulders, wearing a black, fitted dress, and a pale, cold face, she stood on the podium as "Miss Severus Snape" with her sharp tongue.

If he could actually meet her just once, he'd accept losing another hundred points from Hufflepuff.

I wonder if Rolf will see this and give Snape a separate spot on the School Beauty Ranking.

Age shouldn't be a problem.

Perhaps it's even a plus?

Perhaps, someone else will call her--

Mother?

Behind the desk, Snape slowly raised his head.

The veins on his forehead throbbed, a string of green sparks flew from the tip of his cane, and he pointed at the gate, squeezing out three words through clenched teeth:

"Get out!!"

Gavin tactfully got up and left the office, gently closing the wooden door behind him for Snape.

He turned his head and stopped in his tracks.

Under the dim torchlight in the corridor, Cordelia did not return to the lounge; instead, she stood alone by the stone wall with her hands behind her back, waiting for him.

Hearing the door open, she immediately turned her head, her gaze sweeping over his face first, then over his hands, before her tense shoulders relaxed slightly.

What did he say?

"Just threaten him with something he can't do, plus a month of nighttime confinement."

Gavin walked over and waved, his tone relaxed:

"I told you not to wait for me outside. It's just to see Snape. What could possibly happen?"

Cordelia did not laugh.

She took two steps forward, standing in the flickering torchlight, calmly gazing at him, and spoke softly:

"Three weeks ago, when you went to see Dumbledore, I thought so too, but then..."

Gavin's smile froze.

The joke that was about to be said was immediately swallowed back.

He looked at the girl's slightly reddened eyes in the firelight, remained silent for two seconds, then reached out and grasped her slightly cool fingertips:

"I'm sorry, I forgot to consider your feelings. It's all over. I'll take you back to the lounge."

Cordelia let him lead her, and nodded in agreement.

The entrance to the Slytherin Common Room is just at the other end of the corridor; it usually takes less than two minutes to walk there.

But Cordelia was walking unusually slowly tonight.

At the corner, a dozen steps away from the stone wall, she came to a complete stop.

Gavin stopped and turned to look at her:

"What's wrong? Did you forget the password?"

"Not that one..."

Cordelia did not look up.

She stared at the cracks in the stone bricks beneath her feet, her fair ears gradually turning crimson. With her other hand, she reached out and clenched Gavin's Black Robes cuffs, creating several creases.

After holding it in for a full five seconds, she finally managed to squeeze out a sentence in a voice barely audible:

"I don't want to go back to my dorm to sleep tonight."

Gavin stood there, stunned, his eyes wide open.

"... ha?"

Cordelia's cheeks flushed bright red instantly. Enraged and embarrassed, she raised the tip of her boot and kicked his shin, but her hand gripping her sleeve wouldn't let go.

"When you were lying in the Hospital Wing, at least I could see you were still breathing the moment I opened my eyes! Now that you've been discharged, what if I wake up tomorrow morning and you're gone again?!"

Gavin was in a state of utter shock, much like receiving a call from his advisor while on a roller coaster, informing him of his thesis defense the following week.

But as the last few words reached his ears, Gavin's softest spot in his heart suddenly crumbled.

He didn't refuse again, or say anything more, but simply gripped her wrist tightly in return.

"Okay, I won't go back to the dorm tonight. I'll stay with you."

"Um..."

Cordelia's face was burning red, and she didn't dare to look up at Gavin anymore, letting him lead her forward.

Gavin led Cordelia away from Filch's night patrol, and they went up to the Seventh Floor, familiar with the way, and entered the Room of Requirement.

The room was transformed into a warm and quiet lounge, with Pine burning in the Fireplace and two single beds placed side by side in the center.

After washing up and turning off the wall lamp, the two of them got into bed.

Gavin felt incredibly comfortable lying in bed.

It must be said that the beds in the Room of Requirement are much more comfortable than those in the Hospital Wing, giving one a sense of security and comfort.

However, the room was quiet for only a few minutes before the sound of fabric rubbing against each other came from the bed on the left.

"Gavin," Cordelia's muffled voice came from the darkness, "I can't sleep."

"Counting sheep?"

Gavin gave his advice with his eyes closed; he was almost asleep.

"I've counted to three hundred already, but I still can't sleep."

Cordelia turned to the side, staring at him in the dim light of the Fireplace.

"How about... we push the two beds together... I want to... sleep holding you..."

Gavin jolted awake, startled.

"... Isn't this a bit inappropriate?"

"What's wrong with that?" Cordelia's ears burned slightly, and she sat up abruptly, forcing herself to maintain a composed demeanor. "Don't forget that Contract. I'm your client now!"

No, does the magical world also have unspoken rules?

Gavin nervously pulled the blanket up a little higher and muttered under his breath:

"... I remember that Contract didn't include a clause about sleeping with someone."

The girl on the left bed paused in breathing.

Cordelia was clearly furious, gripping the corner of the blanket and glaring at him for a full three seconds.

Just as Gavin thought she was about to throw a pillow at him, she suddenly let go, slowly turned her back to him, wiped her eyes, and floated over in a soft, gentle voice:

"Hmph... Fine, then I won't fight."

She shrank further under the covers, her voice carrying just the right amount of nasal tone:

"Anyway, a few days ago at the Hospital Wing, when some people were lying motionless, I stayed by their bedsides for twenty-one days without complaining about the hard bed or my sore arms... Now that some people have woken up, even borrowing half an arm requires a Contract agreement."

Gavin: "..."

Even though he knew the girl was deliberately teasing him, his defenses crumbled completely in an instant.

It's over.

I feel like the things that have happened these past few days will haunt her for the rest of her life.

Two seconds later, Gavin sighed resignedly, took out his Wand, and waved it casually.

The two single beds slid together silently, fitting perfectly to form a large double bed.

Gavin extended his left arm and patted his own shoulder.

"Come here, Mr. Client, your servants are ready."

The girl, who had her back to him, smiled almost imperceptibly, then immediately turned around, rolled into his arms with practiced ease, rested her head on his arm, and even grabbed the collar of his pajamas.

"Then you're not allowed to leave," she whispered against his neck.

"Don't leave, go to sleep."

The familiar, warm breath enveloped her nose, and the girl's tense nerves completely relaxed, her breathing quickly becoming even and long.

However, Gavin found himself unable to fall asleep.

Firstly, I was startled awake and couldn't fall back asleep for a while.

Secondly--

Her soft, warm body pressed against his side, the girl's hair brushing against his chin, and a delicate fragrance wafting towards his nose.

He had just silently recited "pure as water" in his mind when the girl in his arms unconsciously nuzzled against his neck, her warm breath seeping into his collar.

The little bit of resolve they had just mustered crumbled on the spot.

It's unclear whether it's because the soul is damaged or hasn't recovered, or because the large amount of Life Force originating from Cordelia within the body hasn't been fully digested.

He was completely unable to remain calm in front of Cordelia.

Gavin opened his eyes, his face blank, and stared at the ceiling in despair.

That damned vixen, she's corrupted my resolve.

I want to sleep too...

The next morning at 7:30, the Great Hall was filled with the aroma of roasted bacon and oatmeal.

Cordelia walked into the Great Hall looking refreshed, while Gavin, half a step behind, sported a pair of black eyes.

Under everyone's gaze, Cordelia patted Gavin's arm cheerfully, then turned and went to the Slytherin table for breakfast.

Gavin, on the other hand, floated unsteadily toward the Hufflepuff Long Table.

He plopped down between Rolf and Ernie, picked up a glass of hot milk, and stared blankly into space.

In less than three seconds, three heads appeared in front of him at the same time.

Justin glanced at Cordelia, who was radiant in Slytherin's group, then turned to look at Gavin's dark circles under his eyes and gasped.

"Merlin's socks, Gavin! You were just discharged from the hospital yesterday, and last night you went to the Forbidden Forest to wrestle with Troll?!"

He lowered his voice and pointed to Gavin's eye socket:

"Didn't you just sign that 500-page Contract with Miss Rowle the day before yesterday? The second clause was that you had to go to bed on time!!"

"She went to bed on time." Gavin weakly, taking a sip of milk.

I'm talking about you!

"Party B is clearly responsible for standing guard nearby overnight, and being on call at any time."

Gavin suddenly felt like he was working at Amazon in his past life. How did he end up feeling like a beast of burden even during his student days?

Rolf, standing nearby, looked Gavin up and down with a coffee cup in hand, a pained expression on his face, and patted him heavily on the shoulder:

"Have some self-control, brother. We all understand you haven't seen each other in a long time, but... a man's body isn't made of iron."

Gavin turned his head expressionlessly, grabbed the driest, hardest slice of toast, and shoved it directly into Rolf's mouth:

"Whether my body is made of iron or not is another matter, but your mouth had better be."

Rolf, with a piece of toast in his mouth, grunted twice before finally managing to get it out. He was about to tell Gavin not to be shy, and at the same time, he was about to share some of his own experience.

Then they heard several Ravenclaw and Gryffindor passing by in the aisle whispering excitedly in each other's ears:

"Have you heard? The Malfoy family doesn't have any sons! Draco's real name is actually 'Draco Malfoy.' Lucius forced his daughter to drink a male-changing potion for thirteen years in order to preserve the Pure-blood families's inheritance rights!"

"Oh~~~ No wonder she always uses so much hairspray and holds her chin so high—she's afraid her fake Adam's apple will fall off when she lowers her head!"

"So, it wasn't anyone who drugged her last night! It was Miss Malfoy who had been secretly in love with Goyle for too long, and couldn't bear the shackles of the Pure-blood families's marriage contract. So, at the banquet, she deliberately stopped taking the male-transforming drug, reverted to her true form, and publicly pursued her love for Goyle!"

"No wonder she's always been with Crabbe and Goyle since first grade! Everyone used to think they were bodyguards, but they're actually Miss Malfoy's handpicked candidates for her future husband!"

"Did you see the despair in Crabbe's eyes this morning? Thirteen years of love, finally waiting for him to grow up, and then watching helplessly as the one he loved ended up in Goyle's arms... Ah--"

"It hurts so much!"

"I heard that Crabbe actually likes Goyle?"

"Oh? Really? Could you explain in more detail?"

Immediately afterwards, another group of people at the next table mysteriously joined in the conversation:

"I heard she refilled her male enhancement pills at six o'clock sharp this morning. Look how pale she is, she must have taken too much of those 'secret medicine' and it's harming her body!"

"Oh! So that's why she needs strong men like Goyle and Crabbe? Wait, that's not right--"

The person seemed to be deep in thought:

"Hey, so don't you think Troll are actually better?"

"What's the meaning?"

"Similar intelligence, but a much stronger physique?"

"..."

Just as the two groups were arguing about whether Goyle or the Troll was more suitable, a series of flapping wings swept in from above the dome of the Great Hall.

Hundreds of messenger Owl swept across the Long Table, dropping the freshly printed Daily Prophet to the young wizards with a clattering sound.

A senior Ravenclaw boy at the next table casually tore open his newspaper, glanced at the front page, and nearly dropped his eyeballs into his Oatmeal:

"Merlin's beard! Look at today's front page headline in the Daily Prophet!"

A dozen or so heads immediately crowded around.

The front page of the newspaper featured a large, black-and-white animated image that occupied half the page.

In the scene, a blonde girl named Malfoy is standing on tiptoe, trying to kiss Goyle by using her thick neck to hold him. Goyle's face is shiny with oil, and he is holding a piece of steak in his hand, while Crabbe is frozen in the background holding a silver fork, looking very helpless.

Above the photo is a bold, extra-large title:

The Passion Winter at Hogwarts: The Unseen Nights of the Three Little Snakes, But—Is That All There Is?

"Burning Winter? What does that mean?" someone asked curiously.

"Quiet down, listen to what Rita Skeeter has to say--"

The Ravenclaw boy cleared his throat and read aloud with great excitement:

"According to an unnamed senior Healer at St. Mungo's's and sources familiar with the Malfoy Manor, the so-called case of the Hippogriff causing the injury was nothing more than a self-inflicted wound orchestrated by Young Malfoy to escape an arranged marriage and remain at school with Mr. Goyle and Mr. Crabbe!"

"Watching Young Malfoy embrace Mr. Goyle so tightly, we can't help but applaud this love that defies societal norms. At the same time, we can't help but wonder: when Lucius Malfoy was studying at Slytherin, did he also harbor the same burning, secret affection for both Mr. Goyle Sr. and Mr. Crabbe Sr.? Faced with such pure love in the next generation, would Mr. Malfoy continue to use a false diagnosis to separate them? Did he, at that moment, also regret that perhaps if he had been braver, things would have been different?"

After the reading ended, the aisle remained silent for a full two seconds.

Immediately afterward, the two groups of students who had just been discussing the secret to turning men suddenly looked up, their eyes shining, as if a new world had been opened to them:

"... So that's how it is?!"

"I knew it! Why have Goyle Sr. and Crabbe Sr. been so devoted to Lucius Malfoy for so many years? I used to think they were master and servant, but it turns out the three of them were already a couple back in Slytherin when they were young?!"

"Hiss— Lucius later married Mrs. Malfoy, wasn't that because of family pressure that he betrayed his vow? No wonder Goyle Sr. and Crabbe Sr. always kept their son by Draco's side!"

"I understand! So, when Young Malfoy confessed his love to Goyle in public last night, he was actually repaying his father's past emotional debt and completing the unfinished love story of their parents?"

"My God, a Pure-blood love story spanning two generations and thirty years, this is so touching!"

Gavin, holding his glass of milk, suddenly fell into deep thought.

Is there any possibility?

Did Cordelia actually not drug him yesterday?

What I just heard--

Is that really the truth?

He glanced to the right at the Slytherin table, following everyone's gaze.

At six o'clock in the morning, the effects of the drug wore off, and Malfoy, now back in his male form, sat in his usual spot, too ashamed to bother with the fake bandage on his right hand anymore.

At that moment, he was using his right hand to vigorously stab the fried egg on the plate with a silver fork.

Goyle, standing half a foot away, didn't even dare to make a sound while chewing his bacon; Crabbe, on the other side, sat three feet away with his plate, his eyes glazed over, seemingly lost in thought.

Just then, a huge, long-eared Eagle Owl swooped into the Great Hall and threw a letter with its sealing wax almost crumpled into Transfiguration onto Malfoy's plate.

After scanning only the first two lines, Malfoy's face drained of all color, and the veins on the back of his right hand bulged.

Normally, upon hearing those outrageous rumors around him, Malfoy would have jumped up, pulled out his Wand, and started cursing to vent his anger.

But today he just kept his head down, crumpled Lucius's letter into a ball and stuffed it into his pocket, without saying a word.

Perhaps the lingering pain from the bone reconstruction hadn't completely subsided, he raised his right hand somewhat irritably and forcefully tugged at the stiff collar of his shirt that was tightly wrapped around his Adam's apple.

His movements paused as his fingertips brushed the edge of his collarbone, a fleeting look of disorientation crossing his gray eyes.

At the Hufflepuff Long Table, Gavin held a glass of milk and squinted.

Something's not right.

Given Malfoy's usual hot-tempered nature, being publicly ridiculed like this would have made him flip the table and pull out his Wand long ago. Why is he acting like a completely different person today?

Could it be that--

What unknown side effects did the combination of the Biphasic Transformation Potion and the high-concentration Amortentia produce on him?

Gavin was pondering whether to observe further when Fred and George strolled in from either side of the aisle.

As they passed behind the Slytherin table, the two suddenly stopped.

Fred first hoisted his right arm across his chest, then suddenly yanked his sleeve, pinched his throat, and grabbed George's neck, falling into his arms:

"Oh, Gregory ~~ How come I never noticed before that the way you chew your steak is so manly~~"

George, with half a Roast Sausage dangling from who-knows-where in his mouth, immediately cupped Fred's face in his hands with deep affection, and looked back at him with a gruff voice:

"Oh, Draco, I've never realized you were so—beautiful."

There was a moment of silence.

"Pfft--Hahahahahaha!!"

The entire Great Hall erupted in laughter, with some people at the Gryffindor table even pounding their fists in laughter.

"Weasley--!! You two penniless bastards are asking for it!!"

Malfoy was so enraged that his face turned a deep Liver-Colored. He slammed his silver fork down, jumped up from the bench, grabbed his Wand, and was about to fight the twins when Pansy and the Slytherin Prefect scrambled to pull him away.

Seeing the familiar chaos at the Slytherin table, Gavin nodded in relief and looked away.

It seems he was overthinking it; there were no aftereffects.

Malfoy is still the same Malfoy.

Gavin ordered a meat bun and planned to drink some milk to perk himself up.

On the other side, Ernie snapped shut the notebook he had just finished writing in, took out a thumb-sized Crystal Bottle filled with amber-colored liquid from his medicine pouch, and pushed it to Gavin's side:

"Drink it, it's a mild energy supplement my grandfather prescribed. But I must remind you, Gavin, any Potions can only temporarily relieve fatigue and can never replace a normal daily routine—"

Ernie hadn't finished speaking.

Gavin stared at the bottle of medicine, then suddenly froze.

I almost forgot, the prince of wizarding medicine is right beside me.

The next second, he sat up straight, his eyes flashing with an alarming light, and grabbed Ernie's wrist with his other hand:

"Ernie, does your grandfather have any tonics that are even more potent than this?"

Ernie was startled, took a half-inch back, and stammered:

"Even more potent? This is already the highest concentration a third-year student can tolerate! Anything higher is for keeping an old wizard alive on the verge of death. What on earth did you do to need that kind of stuff?"

"It's not for me to drink."

Gavin released his wrist and tapped the medicine bottle with his finger:

"You mentioned this in second grade: your grandfather has always wanted to brew a new medicine that surpasses the ancient formulas. Has there been any progress?"

Upon hearing that it was a serious academic question, Ernie breathed a sigh of relief, but shook his head regretfully at the same time:

"It's not that easy. The only thing stronger than our Restorative Potion in the world is Nicolas Flamel's 'Elixir of Life.' My grandfather spent half his life trying to get close to it, but he never even got close."

You've been hustling for half your life? You must have accumulated quite a few good things.

Gavin's heart skipped a beat, and he looked at Ernie: "Ernie, are you going home for Christmas this year?"

"Huh? I was planning to stay at school to study--"

"No, you don't want to." Gavin his hand, interrupting him directly, his tone sincere. "You've been away at school for so long, you must miss your grandfather. Christmas should be spent at home with your family."

Ernie was completely confused. "... Huh?"

Gavin patted him on the shoulder and said, "Take me with you when you go home. I miss your grandpa too."

Ernie was completely stunned, blinking his eyes. "Wait a minute... do you know my grandfather? Why are you suddenly thinking about him?"

Gavin said seriously, "Missing someone doesn't necessarily mean you have to see them in person. There's an old the East saying, 'Respect the elderly as you would your own parents,' and your grandfather isn't just yours alone."

Is that so?

Ernie was somewhat bewildered by the East philosophy of life.

How could my own grandfather--

Suddenly it became public?

Rolf, who was standing nearby, stared in disbelief. Curious, he nudged Justin with his elbow and whispered, "Justin, what is Gavin doing?"

Justin shook his head. "I don't know. But... I recently heard a rumor about Gavin that might explain it."

Rolf immediately perked up and leaned closer to ask, "What rumor?"

"Gavin him--"

Justin lowered his voice and mysteriously uttered the second half of the sentence:

I like older men, the older the better.

"... ah?!"

Rolf nearly dropped his coffee cup, and Gavin and Ernie next to him turned around in unison, staring at Justin in shock.

Justin clearly enjoyed the attention he was receiving. He cleared his throat with a reserved air and looked around at the three of them with a surprised expression.

"Haven't you all heard? It's been all over Ravenclaw and Gryffindor for the past two weeks!"

The three heads shook in unison.

Justin immediately perked up, gesturing vividly as he spoke:

"I heard that three weeks ago, Gavin invited Professor Dumbledore to the top of the Astronomy Tower to confess his Dumbledore! But Professor Dumbledore refused, and in a fit of rage, accidentally injured Gavin, Gavin then remained unconscious in the Hospital Wing for three whole weeks!"

There was a deathly silence around the dining table.

Ernie stared blankly for two seconds, then abruptly turned to look at Gavin, his face filled with terror. He scrambled back a considerable distance from the bench, clutching his chest tightly.

"So, you failed to confess your feelings to Professor Dumbledore, and now you've changed your target? To my grandfather?!"

Justin was very satisfied and took a sip of Pumpkin Juice.

Let this world descend into chaos in my hands!

Gavin looked speechlessly at Ernie, who wished he could crawl under the table.

"If I really had that hobby, I'd just apply to be a caregiver at St. Mungo's's Geriatrics Hospital. Wouldn't it be better to eat at the buffet? Wouldn't that be one Dumbledore?"

"Puff--"

Justin sprayed out his Pumpkin Juice and looked at Gavin in horror.

"A buffet?"

Gavin ignored him and continued, "I just wanted to ask your grandfather for the recipe for the nourishing Potions."

"Oh... you should have said so earlier! You scared me to death."

Ernie breathed a sigh of relief and moved back to his seat, and Rolf and Justin also breathed a sigh of relief.

"But even if you get my grandfather to look at your notes, it won't help."

Ernie shrugged and sighed.

"He was still complaining in his letter last month that no matter how you combine the ingredients for ordinary Potions, you can't get past that hurdle. To really achieve that kind of effect, you probably can't avoid the Philosopher's Stone."

Is the Philosopher's Stone unavoidable?

Something seems off.

I have Philosopher's Stone!

Gavin paused, his hand holding the milk glass still, and the drowsiness in his mind vanished instantly.

The origin of the Wizard's Water is unknown, so we dare not use it indiscriminately. The real Philosopher's Stone is still in Dumbledore's custody.

But he has a youth version.

The old man still hasn't returned the Ruby Ring that he promised to recharge before the start of the school year.

Gavin casually stuffed the energy supplement on the table into his pocket, pondering when to go to the Seventh Floor to find Dumbledore and get the Ring back, when a series of hurried footsteps suddenly stopped Hufflepuff Long Table.

Professor McGonagall, dressed in a dark green Robes, appeared at the end of the corridor and looked at Gavin in front of the group:

"Mr. Gu, Professor Dumbledore requests your presence in his office now."

Rolf, still engrossed in the gossip, couldn't help but look up curiously and ask:

"Professor McGonagall, do you know what Professor Dumbledore wanted to see Gavin about?"

Professor McGonagall paused, surprised that the other person would speak, and pursed her lips, saying:

"Albus didn't elaborate on the specifics... but it seems to be related to what happened at the Astronomy Tower."

The area around the dining table fell silent instantly.

Ernie, Rolf, and Justin froze, exchanging a horrified glance.

Gavin, who was worried about not having time to ask Dumbledore for the Ring, immediately lit up when he heard this. He didn't even finish the half-finished milk in his cup, nor did he touch the hot meat buns he had just ordered. He stood up abruptly and excitedly followed Professor McGonagall.

Watching Gavin's eager, excited back as he forgot all about eating his beloved meat bun, Justin dropped his fork onto his plate with a clatter, muttering to himself:

"... Could it really be true? I... I was just kidding..."

Rolf stared intently at Gavin's retreating figure as he disappeared through the Great Hall doors. After two seconds, he suddenly turned to Ernie and said seriously:

"Ernie, whatever you do, don't let Gavin come to your house."

Ernie is still in a crash state. "... Huh?"

Rolf said with a pained expression, "Otherwise, you'll have to have a new grandmother."

On the Seventh Floor, the Gargoyle with the dripping spout spun open at the command "Make candied red bean dumplings".

Gavin stepped onto the spiral stone steps, knocked on the Oak Door, and, after receiving permission, pushed it open and went inside.

The Headmaster's Office was brightly lit.

Dumbledore, wearing a crimson nightgown and carrying a cup of hot Black Tea, was smiling as he reached for the Sherbet Lemon in the silver dish.

Good morning, Gavin. Looks like you didn't sleep well last night... well, maybe not very well?

The old principal's gaze lingered on Gavin's dark circles for a second.

Good morning, Professor.

Gavin casually agreed and walked to the desk, about to ask for the Ruby Ring.

Dumbledore, however, first put down the Sherbet Lemon he was holding, pointed to a letter sealed with black wax on the corner of the table, and spoke gently:

"There's something I need to ask your opinion on. Professor Croaker would like to invite you to his workplace. What do you think?"

Gavin frowned:

"Sol Croaker? His workplace? That's not it—"

"That's right."

Dumbledore smiled and nodded:

"He wants to invite you to the Department of Mysteries."