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"I don't want to go bald!"
The little girl's voice was tinged with tears, though she stubbornly held her ground. "Then I'll learn magic too! I'm sure I can figure out a way to undo your curse!"
To be fair—
Despite her current ignorance, Miss Soon To Be Beaver's deep-rooted confidence was still plainly evident. She truly had a gift for learning magic.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have earned the reputation of "Hermione and her two useless male companions."
"School won't teach you how to lift curses. But I can offer you something through my Transfiguration class, it can turn this table into a delicious little cake." At last, Ian revealed his true intent: "All for just one thousand, no, five hundred, okay, three hundred pounds. At that price, you'll be free from the baldness curse you brought on yourself, oh!"
Ian had no idea how many little savings Hermione had.
He'd even played a small trick with his words, just in case Hermione ever tried to complain to a visiting professor. He wasn't afraid of punishment, but he did care about maintaining his image.
"I don't believe you! I'll ask my dad to send me to Hogwarts!" Miss Soon To Be Beaver hadn't forgotten the name Ian had mentioned earlier. In her mind, her father could surely find a way to get her into the school.
This kind of thinking was common among children from elite families. In fact, Hermione's future as a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Magic was no doubt positively influenced by her upbringing.
After all, in Western countries, dentists are relatively rare and highly valued. Outstanding dentists can even make their way into the upper class.
Being surrounded by that kind of environment, it's no surprise she developed a knack for politics… just like how she firmly believed her father could get her into a magical school.
This kind of thinking wouldn't exist in the mind of someone like Harry Potter, who grew up effectively as a left-behind child.
"Once you're at Hogwarts, this price won't be available, oh..." Ian showed no worry at all. He didn't believe that a student as eager for knowledge as Hermione could resist the temptation of a Little Ian's Magic Masterclass. In the last few months, he had already expanded his lessons across other Houses.
Truly, the school was blooming with his pupils.
"You're only one year ahead of me!" Hermione shouted. "I'm leaving!"
In her eyes, the little wizard was genuinely terrifying, she even imagined black devil horns growing out of Ian's head.
The little loli instinctively wanted to distance herself from Ian. However, as she ran around recklessly within Ian's memory illusion, she acted too fast for Ian to even lift a hand to stop her dangerous behavior.
"This is just an illusion. In reality, we're still in the orphan—" Before Ian could finish his sentence, there was a dull thud.
The next moment—
Miss Soon To Be Beaver (Hermione) was seen clutching her forehead and collapsing to the ground. She had clearly run straight into the edge of the memory illusion, into a wall that existed in the actual orphanage.
"I did warn you." Ian sighed and helped Hermione back up.
"You did that on purpose!" Hermione finally couldn't hold it in anymore and burst into loud sobs.
"..."
Honestly?
Hermione crashing into a wall wasn't something Ian had planned. His memory illusion magic certainly wasn't on par with Dumbles', so of course there were invisible boundaries to it.
"You crybabies are something else." With a flick of his wand, Ian dispelled the illusion. He and the now-crying Hermione returned to the orphanage hallway.
"Here, take a book. Stop crying." Ian pulled a book from his money pouch, a work by the one and only Gilderoy Lockhart. He used to have quite a few of these, though most of them had already been repurposed as toilet paper.
To be honest, wizarding world toilet paper was simply not up to par.
"What book is this? A magic book?"
For most kids, candy might be the go-to to cheer them up, but Hermione was an exception. She was immediately drawn to the trash-tier book Ian offered.
"Magical Me" Just from the title alone, Hermione seemed to see a doorway into a fantastical world.
"You still have to lift the curse!" Hermione clutched the book Ian handed over tightly.
"Didn't you say you'd find a way to fix it yourself?" Ian blinked innocently.
"Of course I can!"
Hermione, who had always been strong-willed, instantly replied. Though she was still deeply worried about going bald, she also remembered the thorn-covered table Ian had pulled out earlier, and wasn't about to gamble on that option.
"Well then, then it will be alright. Taking a gift means no tattling, oh."
Ian smiled slyly as he manipulated the eleven-year-old girl before him, just as he had anticipated. After Mr. Granger arrived, Hermione didn't breathe a word about what had happened earlier.
Even when Mr. Granger asked why her eyes were red, she only replied that sand had gotten in them. At least when it came to keeping promises, Hermione's only exception seemed to be eating tables.
"If possible, Mr. Prince, I'd like you to recommend my daughter to your school. Whatever compensation you need, feel free to ask."
Mr. Granger had clearly already deduced much of the situation. That generous donation he made definitely wasn't for nothing. The way he subtly allowed Ian to spot the donation certificate during their conversation was a calculated move.
"You see? Your dad's much more generous than you," Ian teased Hermione before turning back to her father when she pointedly looked away.
"If you're able, I hope you can keep an eye out within your social circle for families interested in adoption. I'd really appreciate it if you could help some of my younger brothers and sisters here."
Ian knew the value of teaching someone to fish over simply giving them one. No amount of donations could compare to finding a true home for the children of the orphanage.
"Of course, it would not be a problem!" Mr. Granger agreed immediately. He reached out and patted Ian's head. "You're a wise child. Looks like Ms. Helena wasn't wrong about you."
Ian graciously accepted the compliment.
"As for Hogwarts, that won't be an issue either. Miss Granger will soon receive her School letter. And once she's at school, I'll definitely look out for her."
"You might not know this… but I'm kind of a school tyrant," Ian whispered the last bit conspiratorially, casting glances left and right. It was a blunt self-introduction, since he figured Mr. Granger wouldn't quite understand his self-proclaimed status as the "emperor" of Hogwarts.
"I sincerely thank you," Mr. Granger replied, showing no surprise at Ian's "confession." Perhaps he'd already seen the brilliance in the boy.
Before leaving with a still-worried Hermione, Mr. Granger gave Ian a friendly wave and even made his daughter say goodbye.
Reluctant and slightly indignant, Miss Soon To Be Beaver obeyed.
"I will find a way to break that baldness curse! I will!"
She seemed to have mistaken the book Ian gave her for a real magical textbook. As she left the orphanage with her father, she continued to clutch Magical Me tightly in her arms.
At that moment, young Miss Hermione Granger still had no idea—
The "baldness curse" might just be the smallest of the psychological shadows she'd ever have.
The true looming shadow was her soon-to-be mentor: Ian Prince.
And it had only just begun to descend upon this girl who hadn't even officially stepped into the wizarding world.
Of course, that shadow would also be what ultimately pushed her fate toward greatness.
Whether it would be a blessing or a curse… perhaps only the future Hermione, writing her own epitaph, would know.
(End of chapter)
"I don't want to go bald!"
The little girl's voice was tinged with tears, though she stubbornly held her ground. "Then I'll learn magic too! I'm sure I can figure out a way to undo your curse!"
To be fair—
Despite her current ignorance, Miss Soon To Be Beaver's deep-rooted confidence was still plainly evident. She truly had a gift for learning magic.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have earned the reputation of "Hermione and her two useless male companions."
"School won't teach you how to lift curses. But I can offer you something through my Transfiguration class, it can turn this table into a delicious little cake." At last, Ian revealed his true intent: "All for just one thousand, no, five hundred, okay, three hundred pounds. At that price, you'll be free from the baldness curse you brought on yourself, oh!"
Ian had no idea how many little savings Hermione had.
He'd even played a small trick with his words, just in case Hermione ever tried to complain to a visiting professor. He wasn't afraid of punishment, but he did care about maintaining his image.
"I don't believe you! I'll ask my dad to send me to Hogwarts!" Miss Soon To Be Beaver hadn't forgotten the name Ian had mentioned earlier. In her mind, her father could surely find a way to get her into the school.
This kind of thinking was common among children from elite families. In fact, Hermione's future as a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Magic was no doubt positively influenced by her upbringing.
After all, in Western countries, dentists are relatively rare and highly valued. Outstanding dentists can even make their way into the upper class.
Being surrounded by that kind of environment, it's no surprise she developed a knack for politics… just like how she firmly believed her father could get her into a magical school.
This kind of thinking wouldn't exist in the mind of someone like Harry Potter, who grew up effectively as a left-behind child.
"Once you're at Hogwarts, this price won't be available, oh..." Ian showed no worry at all. He didn't believe that a student as eager for knowledge as Hermione could resist the temptation of a Little Ian's Magic Masterclass. In the last few months, he had already expanded his lessons across other Houses.
Truly, the school was blooming with his pupils.
"You're only one year ahead of me!" Hermione shouted. "I'm leaving!"
In her eyes, the little wizard was genuinely terrifying, she even imagined black devil horns growing out of Ian's head.
The little loli instinctively wanted to distance herself from Ian. However, as she ran around recklessly within Ian's memory illusion, she acted too fast for Ian to even lift a hand to stop her dangerous behavior.
"This is just an illusion. In reality, we're still in the orphan—" Before Ian could finish his sentence, there was a dull thud.
The next moment—
Miss Soon To Be Beaver (Hermione) was seen clutching her forehead and collapsing to the ground. She had clearly run straight into the edge of the memory illusion, into a wall that existed in the actual orphanage.
"I did warn you." Ian sighed and helped Hermione back up.
"You did that on purpose!" Hermione finally couldn't hold it in anymore and burst into loud sobs.
"..."
Honestly?
Hermione crashing into a wall wasn't something Ian had planned. His memory illusion magic certainly wasn't on par with Dumbles', so of course there were invisible boundaries to it.
"You crybabies are something else." With a flick of his wand, Ian dispelled the illusion. He and the now-crying Hermione returned to the orphanage hallway.
"Here, take a book. Stop crying." Ian pulled a book from his money pouch, a work by the one and only Gilderoy Lockhart. He used to have quite a few of these, though most of them had already been repurposed as toilet paper.
To be honest, wizarding world toilet paper was simply not up to par.
"What book is this? A magic book?"
For most kids, candy might be the go-to to cheer them up, but Hermione was an exception. She was immediately drawn to the trash-tier book Ian offered.
"Magical Me" Just from the title alone, Hermione seemed to see a doorway into a fantastical world.
"You still have to lift the curse!" Hermione clutched the book Ian handed over tightly.
"Didn't you say you'd find a way to fix it yourself?" Ian blinked innocently.
"Of course I can!"
Hermione, who had always been strong-willed, instantly replied. Though she was still deeply worried about going bald, she also remembered the thorn-covered table Ian had pulled out earlier, and wasn't about to gamble on that option.
"Well then, then it will be alright. Taking a gift means no tattling, oh."
Ian smiled slyly as he manipulated the eleven-year-old girl before him, just as he had anticipated. After Mr. Granger arrived, Hermione didn't breathe a word about what had happened earlier.
Even when Mr. Granger asked why her eyes were red, she only replied that sand had gotten in them. At least when it came to keeping promises, Hermione's only exception seemed to be eating tables.
"If possible, Mr. Prince, I'd like you to recommend my daughter to your school. Whatever compensation you need, feel free to ask."
Mr. Granger had clearly already deduced much of the situation. That generous donation he made definitely wasn't for nothing. The way he subtly allowed Ian to spot the donation certificate during their conversation was a calculated move.
"You see? Your dad's much more generous than you," Ian teased Hermione before turning back to her father when she pointedly looked away.
"If you're able, I hope you can keep an eye out within your social circle for families interested in adoption. I'd really appreciate it if you could help some of my younger brothers and sisters here."
Ian knew the value of teaching someone to fish over simply giving them one. No amount of donations could compare to finding a true home for the children of the orphanage.
"Of course, it would not be a problem!" Mr. Granger agreed immediately. He reached out and patted Ian's head. "You're a wise child. Looks like Ms. Helena wasn't wrong about you."
Ian graciously accepted the compliment.
"As for Hogwarts, that won't be an issue either. Miss Granger will soon receive her School letter. And once she's at school, I'll definitely look out for her."
"You might not know this… but I'm kind of a school tyrant," Ian whispered the last bit conspiratorially, casting glances left and right. It was a blunt self-introduction, since he figured Mr. Granger wouldn't quite understand his self-proclaimed status as the "emperor" of Hogwarts.
"I sincerely thank you," Mr. Granger replied, showing no surprise at Ian's "confession." Perhaps he'd already seen the brilliance in the boy.
Before leaving with a still-worried Hermione, Mr. Granger gave Ian a friendly wave and even made his daughter say goodbye.
Reluctant and slightly indignant, Miss Soon To Be Beaver obeyed.
"I will find a way to break that baldness curse! I will!"
She seemed to have mistaken the book Ian gave her for a real magical textbook. As she left the orphanage with her father, she continued to clutch Magical Me tightly in her arms.
At that moment, young Miss Hermione Granger still had no idea—
The "baldness curse" might just be the smallest of the psychological shadows she'd ever have.
The true looming shadow was her soon-to-be mentor: Ian Prince.
And it had only just begun to descend upon this girl who hadn't even officially stepped into the wizarding world.
Of course, that shadow would also be what ultimately pushed her fate toward greatness.
Whether it would be a blessing or a curse… perhaps only the future Hermione, writing her own epitaph, would know.
(End of chapter)