[Note: Read up to Chapter - 138 on P patron at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]
.
.
.
.
Aris spent the whole morning in the lab, working on how to make the perfect Huǒ Lóng Xuè Wǎng Stew while researching various recipe books of East Asian cuisine.
Along the way, he picked up some interesting tidbits about the special properties of Dragon Blood and several other interesting dishes involving other magical creatures.
Naturally, these had little to do with the twelve uses Dumbledore had discovered.
But culinary aside, Aris also discovered other things involving the use of the Dragon Blood. Some are even related to the smithing…
For instance, dragon blood can also be used as a consumable in imbuing fire-attribute...
"Adding Dragon Blood in a specific sense while forging weapons can imbue fire attributes to the weapons..."
"Also, long-term use can help wizards with talent towards Fire magic boost their elemental affinity. Though the boost is small — probably because the dragons here aren't all that powerful..."
"But if it were Iris's blood, the effect should be..."
At the thought, Aris's eyes lit up.
He swallowed hard without realising it.
Well, he'd experiment when he got the chance.
If the results were good, he'd just bluff his way through... no, he'd have a proper chat with Little Dragon and see if they could work something out.
Surely there were some conditions to negotiate!
Doesn't the little girl love gold?
Perfect timing — the last thing left in the Shafiq family treasury was gold!
That's the blood of the Black Dragon from a different dimension!
Worth a countless times more than the blood of Dragons from this world!
As lunchtime approached, Aris finally cracked how to solidify the dragon blood, though the cost was a bit steep, needing a fair few potions as backup.
But that was nothing to Aris — a drop in the ocean for him.
If it meant satisfying Dumbledore's taste for good grub, it was well worth it!
As for cooking skills? Well, as a Bachelor in his previous life, he did have the necessary skills to survive.
Still, the process of solidifying the Dragon Blood would take at least a whole night.
And then Aris suddenly remembered something else.
He'd promised the Centaurs yesterday that he'd help rebuild their homes in the Forbidden Forest.
Didn't expect he'd completely forgotten because of all the Quidditch chaos. What a blunder!
So after lunch, Aris headed straight for Hagrid's hut.
"I've no idea what's happened to Iris in the Forbidden Forest!"
She hadn't come back to the castle for two days now.
Aris was used to it by now — the girl really was out there doing her thing. Ever since Dumbledore gave her the go-ahead to roam the Forest, she'd often been out all night, especially these last couple of days.
She hadn't even checked in with Aris!
If it weren't for the system still keeping tabs, Aris might've thought she'd legged it and didn't want him as her master anymore.
This made him feel a little strange… a little lost.
'Is this what fathers feel like when their little princess doesn't want to marry them anymore?' he chuckled in amusement.
…
Soon, Hagrid's cabin came into view.
The edge of the Forbidden Forest wasn't far from the castle — just a few hundred meters… or maybe a kilometre or two away.
It didn't matter, for most little wizards, that was just a trek, and Aris took it as a casual evening stroll.
"Huh? Looks like Hagrid's already got a few visitors!"
As Aris got closer to the hut, he heard a few familiar voices from inside.
"Nicolas Flamel? I feel like I've heard that name somewhere..."
It was Hermione, chatting with Hagrid about something serious.
Moving a bit nearer, Aris heard Harry's voice again: "We know this is important and secret, but there is definitely someone at school trying to nick that thing right now — you've got to believe me, Hagrid, I'm sure of it!"
"Hagrid, we're not making it up, Hermione can back us up!"
"Alright, you lot, don't talk about this thing..." Hagrid sounded a bit annoyed.
Maybe it was because he'd accidentally dropped the name 'Nicolas Flamel' on Harry and the others when he was supposed to remain absolutely quiet about it.
But obviously, Harry Potter was not listening…
"Hagrid, I want to ask — is Professor Dumbledore really taking this seriously?" Harry asked again. "Aris said he'd have a word with Dumbledore after what happened in the Quidditch game, but I haven't had the chance to find out what's going on..."
"But with what you've been through, getting this dragon egg… it feels like this whole thing's getting messier by the minute."
"You like dragons, right? And someone at the tavern just happens to hand you a dragon egg... Don't you reckon that's a bit too much of a coincidence? I reckon they were waiting for you. Their aim's to squeeze some info out of you... About that three-headed dog in the corridor on the fourth floor!"
The room fell silent for a moment, then Hagrid suddenly stood up, a bit anxious and worried that if they continued to talk about this, he'd end up slipping out things he ought not to tell'em.
Aris even heard a heavy stool clatter to the floor — the big bloke was clearly getting anxious from the questioning.
"Hagrid!" Aris finally stopped listening in on the drama and called out from outside.
"Aris?" The boy's voice caught everyone in the room off guard.
The hut's door swung open quickly.
Though the house was small, the door stood nearly as tall as two or maybe three grown adults.
The whole place wasn't tiny after all — it wasRubeus Hagrid's home.
But the structure was simple, more like a yurt, so from a distance it looked like a little cottage.
"Aris, I was wondering when you'd show up!" Hagrid grinned, clearly pleased to see him — and also glad to get a break from Harry and the others' relentless questioning.
Inside, Harry and the others peeked out too.
Hermione gave Aris a sulky look from the doorway, still miffed.
Aris noticed the little miffed gesture but couldn't recall what he'd done to deserve that.
"Aris, come tell Hagrid — tell him that someone is definitely planning to nick that thing from the corridor on the fourth floor?" Harry grabbed Aris's hand like he'd found a lifesaver and pulled him over.
"Huh? What are you talking about?" Aris feigned confusion.
"Huh??" Harry was caught off guard by Aris's feigning confusion.
"Aris, weren't you the one who told us earlier that someone might be after whatever's in that corridor?" Ron asked, equally confused.
"When did I say that?" Aris looked surprised.
He hadn't mentioned anything about that!
Was he really going to get blamed for that now?
"Hermione told us you reckoned something was dodgy with Professor Quirrell!" Harry said earnestly, looking at Hermione.
"When did I say that?" Hermione was taken aback too. "I just said I trusted Snape more than Quirrell. That's also what Aris said!"
She glanced over at Aris as she spoke.
Hearing all this roundabout chat, Aris was left speechless.
Wasn't that just a casual comment — If anyone can be suspicious, then it ought to be Quirrell… not Snape?
Then how does Harry's words sound like I am accusing Quirrell of being the one after the stone…?
Now, while that guess is indeed true… but still…
"Harry, don't you think your imagination is running a bit wild?"
Aris looked at the saviour, feeling utterly helpless.
Is this what it means to be the protagonist?
No matter what, they'll always find something for themselves to do!
Aris had no doubt — if he had told Harry outright that Quirrell — possessed by the remnant part of Voldemort's soul — was the one after the Philosopher's Stone, then Harry, the daft git, would probably rush in to have a go at him!
Honestly, isn't that exactly how it went in the original book?
As soon as Harry heard Dumbledore wasn't in the castle, he rushed off fearlessly with his mates.
Not once did they think about dying!
If it weren't for the Headmaster's sharp mind and the protagonist's lucky streak... as well as the Magic his mother had left behind on him.
Harry Potter would've been the fastest protagonist to die in history!
He would have even taken Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley along with him!
"First off, I know bugger all about this business!" Aris said firmly, putting some distance between himself and the mess.
Then, turning to Harry and the others, he said seriously, "We are still too young for this kind of thing — no need to get tangled up in all this nonsense! You should be hitting the books and practising your spells."
"If you've got any spare time to worry about these things, go crack open those textbooks!"
"Have you finished all your first-year courses yet?"
"Mastered all the charms taught by Professor Flitwick?"
"And do you even know who Nicolas Flamel is?"
"You know nothing, you are far too weak… and you're still wandering about here worrying about things that are far bigger and dangerous for a first-year wizard like you. Besides, do you really think Hagrid's going to spill all the secrets about those dangerous things to three little wizards that are way over their heads?"
The rapid-fire of questions left Harry and his crew looking dazed.
They just stared at Aris and shook their heads.
A guilty look even crossed Hagrid's face.
He quickly realised he'd probably said too much, and sheepishly lowered his head.
Just then, a small hand shot up.
Hermione looked a bit put out and said softly, "I... I've already finished previewing all the first-year courses... and I've learned all the charms taught by Professor Flitwick so far..."
"It's just... Nicolas Flamel... I feel like I know the name, but I can't quite place it..."
Harry and Ron glanced over at her with the admiration of two students who've just been schooled.
But Aris ignored her and patted Harry on the shoulder, "Think about what I just said…" before turning to the half-giant, "Hagrid. Come on, let's go!" and strode off toward the Forbidden Forest.
"Oh, alright then!" Hagrid was even keener than Aris to get away from Harry and the others.
Without a moment's hesitation, he headed back to his hut, grabbed his big crossbow, called to Fang, and followed Aris.
"Wait, Hagrid! What are you up to?" Hermione couldn't help but ask as she watched them disappear into the forest.
"Well, Aris has some business in the Forbidden Forest, and Dumbledore asked me to go along..."
Hagrid didn't try to hide it.
To him, it was only natural for a few young wizards to be curious when someone decided to enter the restricted area of their own accord.
"Aris has business? In the Forbidden Forest?" Harry stared after Aris's retreating back, dazed.
What on earth could be going on with him out there?
Besides, isn't the Forbidden Forest off-limits to young wizards?
So, how is he able to wander in and out of that restricted area so easily?
And, since Hagrid was tagging along, which meant that professors were aware of this so-called business that Aris has in there…
As for why he was allowed in there despite the forest being very dangerous… well, Harry reckoned that it's either because Aris's strength is good enough to be able to protect himself!
Or perhaps something else was at play…
Either way, Harry was miffed… miffed that his warning was being ignored like this…
"I've got an idea!" Hermione suddenly piped up, quite out of character.
"Why don't we go with them? We'll be careful — not too close, but not too far..."
"There shouldn't be any danger where they're headed."
Harry and Ron both gasped at this.
They aren't even able to investigate that corridor on the fourth floor… now Hermione was telling them to venture into the Forbidden Forest, which is clearly more dangerous than that corridor.
Not to mention, she, Hermione Granger, was suggesting that they venture into the Forbidden Forest without the professor's permission!
For a moment, they wondered if this was really the Hermione they knew… the same Hermione who nags them to no end whenever they break even the smallest of rules.
They stared at Hermione, wondering if they'd heard her wrong.
"I heard there are some seriously nasty magical creatures in the Forbidden Forest... even werewolves..." Ron's voice trembled a bit.
To most young witches and wizards, the Forbidden Forest was the ultimate no-go zone.
Packed with terrifying creatures, it was easy to die there if you weren't careful.
And without a professor tagging along?
Breaking in like that was just asking for trouble.
"We're not alone — we've got Aris and Hagrid with us, right?"
Hermione also looked a bit scared, but she swallowed her fear and tried to convince Harry and the others.
Honestly, she didn't know why, but hearing Aris was heading into the Forbidden Forest made her want to follow and have a peek.
It was just her curiosity.
She wanted to uncover whatever secrets in that forest had caught Aris's interest.
Usually, he wouldn't even leave the lab, let alone the castle!
But today, he'd come here with a purpose and was entering the Forbidden Forest; there must be something interesting there, right?
There was also worry... worry whether he'd really be alright…
"But from what Aris said earlier, it sounds like he wants us to investigate Nicolas Flamel. Otherwise, why would he mention the name so specifically, and add 'do you even know who Nicolas Flamel is?', right?"
Ronald, looking a bit pale, clearly didn't want to go into the forest and was making excuses, though a smart excuse.
"I reckon it's better to look into Nicolas Flamel now, anyway. After all..."
Harry was about to say more, but was cut off by Hermione.
"Aren't you curious?"
She looked at Harry and the others, genuinely puzzled.
It was clear these two were usually nosy about everything!
Otherwise, they wouldn't have kept going on about this whole matter.
So why, at the crucial moment, were they suddenly so hesitant?
"You all know Aris's personality — apart from studying, there's not much that grabs his attention. But today, he went out of his way to head into the Forbidden Forest. That's a bit odd, isn't it?"
"Maybe this has something to do with whatever that three-headed dog is guarding?" Harry's eyes suddenly lit up.
Hermione was takenaback by Harry's sudden assumption, but she neither agreed nor disagreed.
Instead, Ron gave a puzzled look and said, "What's the connection between the Forbidden Forest and the corridor on the fourth floor?"
"Well…" Harry couldn't come up with an explanation and shrugged randomly, "I don't know… just a hunch… Well, we might find something… anything…"
Although very hesitant, Ron could only nod, resigned to his mate's hunch, "Alright then!"
Hermione rubbed her forehead, still speechless.
No wonder Aris said that Harry had a wild imagination — turns out it's true...
Regardless, since the two agreed to join her, she didn't speak any further on Harry's wild imagination, and simply said to them, "Anyway, now that you've decided… let's quickly go, otherwise, we won't know where they are going!"
Then, with Harry and Ronald accompanying her, she hurried off in the direction Aris and Hagrid had gone.
Though Hermione was a bit scared, she wasn't too worried about dangers in the Forbidden Forest — she knew just how strong Aris was.
Besides, Hagrid hadn't said they weren't allowed to follow, right?
Even if Aris found out, what could he say?
Humph, leaving me behind...
The little witch thought proudly, quickening her pace without realising it.
Ahead, she could just make out two figures walking.
But what Aris and Hagrid didn't know was that three little tails were quietly trailing them.
.
.
.
.
Drop power Powerstonessssssssss!
[Note: Read up to Chapter - 138 on P patron at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]