Ethan walked up the stairs to the common room with the three little ones.
Once the professors were out of sight, Ron couldn't wait to exclaim:
"Ethan, you're amazing!"
"That was a troll! Merlin's socks, even Headmaster Dumbledore probably couldn't have defeated a troll alone when he was in first year!"
Those meteor-like streaks of light had left a deep impression on Ron.
So beautiful, so powerful!
With just one strike, they pierced through the troll's rock-like skin and pinned it firmly to the wall!
So incredible!
This miraculous power—this was real magic!
"If only I could cast magic like that..." Ron murmured, falling into fantasy again.
Fantasizing about appearing before everyone like a divine soldier descending from heaven, saving them from danger.
"With diligent practice, there will always be rewards," Ethan said. "Magic won't betray you, just like painting."
Just like his current painting skills, which were built from mountains of practice books and stacks upon stacks of drawing paper from his previous life.
Ethan gripped his wand.
Just thinking about finally having a wand that perfectly matched him—even being able to directly convert magical power into paint—made him hum softly.
When using "Avis," it had never been so smooth before.
Two months of effort hadn't been in vain.
He'd worn out quite a few paintbrushes alone.
Tonight, I'm sleeping with my paintbrush!
Ethan made up his mind, small flames igniting in his eyes.
Just then, watching Ron wave his arms like a windmill, Ethan suddenly thought:
His dramatic entrance had indeed proven his abilities.
But correspondingly, it had deprived Harry and Ron of training opportunities!
Setting aside Harry jumping three meters high and hugging the troll from behind—that was an Ironman triathlon, not magic.
Ron had genuinely lost a chance to practice the Levitation Charm.
This wouldn't do.
Ethan's expression grew serious.
He was a good wizard and absolutely couldn't steal someone else's spotlight.
With this thought, Ethan turned to the still-grinning Ron and said, "Ron, when you have time, let me teach you some spells. We can start with the Levitation Charm. How about it?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Hermione, who had been silent, immediately looked up with burning eyes.
But Ron looked like someone had grabbed his throat—his excited shouting immediately died as he stared in terror with wide eyes.
Teach him spells? Who? The Dark Lord Ethan?!
Brother, no medicine can save me!
"Although Ron kept saying, 'I want to learn, I want to learn,' he was all enthusiasm and no follow-through when it came to actual hard work."
"This... this... that would be so much trouble for you."
Under Hermione's disappointed gaze, Ron backed away while pulling at his good brother Harry, desperately giving Harry meaningful looks.
Brother! Save me!
Harry received the signal, cleared his throat, mustered his courage, and faced the smiling "Dark Lord" in front of him, saying, "Ethan, thank you for saving us tonight."
"If not for you, we might have been smashed into pulp by the troll's club."
As he spoke, Harry's mood inevitably dropped.
He had wanted to save people, but in the end, he was the one being protected.
Recalling how he had overestimated himself by blocking Ethan's path and actually hindering his spellcasting, Harry's face burned with embarrassment.
Ethan shifted his gaze from the nervous Ron to the dejected little savior.
After thinking for a moment, he smiled: "It's fine, Harry, you don't need to mind it."
Harry was stunned.
He inexplicably felt like Ethan was about to fly away on a golden cloud.
"You stood in front of me, with Ron and Hermione behind me—how could I not act?"
Ethan smiled.
This smile appeared incredibly handsome in the moonlight, with bright teeth and clear eyes.
"Brother, brother!"
Ron was completely moved. Even at home, he had never received such attention.
Harry felt the same way, even feeling his nose tingle and his eyes moisten slightly.
Sometimes, Harry felt that although Ethan was the same age as him, he had the feeling of an elder.
Willing to break rules to run over and save them.
Indeed, beneath that eccentric and strange behavior, Ethan's essence was still very kind...
"Moreover," Ethan grinned, "I was going to fight the troll anyway—just doing it in passing."
Harry and Ron: "..."
Instantly, their surge of emotion got stuck in their throats.
What was this feeling of completing a side quest while doing the main mission?!
Didn't Ethan run over specifically to save them?!
Harry fell silent, his expression gradually becoming vacant.
Hmm.
Even those twisted little thoughts had completely vanished.
Truly worthy of being Ethan.
Ethan tilted his head, leaning over to ask sincerely:
"Harry, why aren't you talking? Are you naturally quiet?"
"..."
Please just shut up!
Harry suddenly felt that if someone could truly become friends with Ethan—the intimate kind—that person would either have an extremely broad heart with endless tolerance, or be just as strange as Ethan and actually have common topics to discuss.
Or both.
Lost in thought, they reached the fork in the path.
Ethan: "Good night, I hope you enjoyed this Halloween. Sweet dreams."
With that, he turned and continued upstairs.
Watching Ethan's departing figure, Ron sighed, "This was the most thrilling Halloween I've ever had. I'll probably never forget it for the rest of my life."
First Professor Quirrell falling from the sky, then a troll attack.
This year's Halloween was like a night parade of a hundred demons.
"Mm."
Harry also nodded, thinking:
Is this what Halloween is like in the wizarding world... so urban?
At the same time, Harry was thinking about doing something for Ethan.
After all, since the start of school, Ethan had directly or indirectly helped him quite a bit.
He also wanted to help Ethan as much as he could within his abilities.
Just as both were lost in their own thoughts, Hermione, who had been silent, suddenly spoke:
"I want to become like Ethan too."
Hermione raised her head.
Her eyes had completely lost their usual arrogance, having settled into complete humility.
Harry trembled slightly, actually seeing the shadow of Malfoy—who had been beaten to his knees by Ethan—on her face.
Ron was shocked: "You don't want to be human anymore?!"
"..."
Hermione's composure broke in one second.
She rolled her eyes dramatically and said, "I mean, I want to learn from him, not be confined to textbooks, practice more... uh, and consider others' opinions more."
As she spoke, the little girl lowered her head, her cheeks slightly reddening.
Just the single spell "Avis" had made Hermione intuitively feel the vast gap between her and Ethan.
Like an unbridgeable chasm.
Hermione couldn't even imagine catching up to him.
No.
The gap hadn't been this large before.
Hermione remembered on the train before school started, Ethan had used "Accio Toad."
Although impressive, it was still within the realm of "ordinary people."
In just two months, such tremendous progress!
This talent was simply daunting!
Hermione bit her lip, feeling both unwilling and excited.
Even if she couldn't surpass Ethan, she had to try her best to keep up with his pace!
Hermione's eyes filled with longing.
For the first time in her life, she wanted to work so hard to chase after someone.
"Hiss—"
Seeing her fervent expression, Ron scratched his head, thinking,
What was that Muggle word... Dean had taught him before.
Oh right, it was "virus."
Ethan really was a highly contagious virus.
...
Ravenclaw Common Room.
Ethan skillfully stepped through the portal he had created and entered the common room.
The moment his figure appeared, the originally noisy common room immediately fell silent.
Countless eyes looked at him, mixed with admiration and nervousness.
Tonight's protagonist was undoubtedly Ethan.
Ravenclaw's greatest oddity and also their legendary prodigy freshman.
Destined to leave a significant mark in history.
Whether good or bad.
"Look who's here!"
Professor Flitwick was also among them.
The tiny professor broke the silence, enthusiastically approaching with open arms:
"I just told the students about your feat of single-handedly defeating the troll! They're all eager to see you show off again!"
"However, before that, someone wants to talk to you."
Professor Flitwick winked mysteriously.
He stepped aside, revealing a young man behind him whom Ethan didn't recognize.
This young man looked gloomy, thin as a stick, with a grayish-white complexion and thick dark circles under his eyes, looking completely drained.
"He's one of the vice presidents of Ravenclaw's elite society! Sean Mike! Top of his year every year!"
Gossip king Michael somehow appeared beside them, whispering excitedly.
"Hmm~"
Ethan raised an eyebrow, noncommittal.
"Wait! Why is he walking toward you?!" Michael gasped, gripping Ethan's sleeve tightly, dumbfounded:
"Could it be—this is impossible—they never accept first-years—"
"Tap."
Ethan calmly looked up at the thin upperclassman standing before him.
Before the other could speak, he preemptively said, "Senior, you didn't lose some punishment game and have to confess to me, did you? Sorry, but I'll have to politely decline."
Sean: "..."
What nonsense!
He was so angry he almost couldn't maintain his composure and wanted to storm off.
But under Prefect Robert's watchful gaze, Sean had to suppress his anger and reluctantly extend his hand to Ethan, saying, "I, Sean Mike, formally invite you, Ethan Vincent, to join Ravenclaw's elite society—"
"The Round Table Council."
[Chapter Complete]
***
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