Hogwarts Castle, Gryffindor dormitory
Nearly midnight.
But the common room was brightly lit.
Harry, Ron, and other students were all crowded by the windows, anxiously and excitedly looking toward the direction of the selection competition.
Originally, it was pitch black there with no movement at all. Just when they felt bored and were yawning, ready to go to bed, things suddenly changed.
First came a low, deep roar. Due to the distance, by the time the roar reached the common room, it was already very faint. But immediately after, they heard rumbling sounds, as if there was an earthquake, with faint red lights flickering in the distance.
"The toad colony has gone berserk!" Hermione said with certainty, her small face almost pressed against the glass. She bit her lower lip and said anxiously:
"How could this happen? A toad colony rampage is extremely dangerous! The professors should have taken precautions to prevent this situation!"
As if responding to her words, the originally dark cliff edge suddenly lit up with various colored spell lights. Red, yellow, purple... various colors intensely intertwined, with vague shouts occasionally heard.
Anyone could tell something was seriously wrong.
"Merlin! They didn't say the selection would be life-threatening from the start!" Ron clicked his tongue, muttering excitedly yet worriedly: "Is Ethan alright? He's just a first-year like us!"
"Hey brother!" The Weasley twins came up on either side, grinning as they said, "You're all first-years, but he's already playing in the big leagues! Little brother, you need to step up your game!"
"Or quickly grab onto those coattails!"
"Get lost!" Ron angrily shoved away his brothers, muttering something about "young wizards' affairs, how can you call it riding coattails."
"Harry! We need to do something!" Hermione whipped around to look at Harry, who had been silent, speaking rapidly:
"Ethan might be in danger right now! Someone must have accidentally angered the Toad King, causing the entire colony to go berserk!"
"It's so chaotic there now, the professors are overwhelmed... they might not even be able to look after Ethan!"
"Oh my god! Maybe Ethan is lying in the cave right now, his leg broken, his treasure gone, moaning in pain and despair! But no one comes to save him until the end, and he can only die alone and lonely!"
As Hermione spoke, tears began to well up in her eyes.
Harry thought to himself: How can you be so sure when you weren't even there?
"I know you're anxious, but don't be anxious yet," Harry pushed his glasses and pursed his lips, saying slowly: "Do you really think Ethan would be in danger?"
Hearing this, both Hermione and Ron were stunned.
"Uh, think about it. Do you remember the painting Ethan made before the selection?"
Saying this, Harry couldn't help but shudder. That painting of an eyeball. Though it was painted with pigments on canvas, it seemed like someone was hiding behind it, watching them.
The center of the pupil was pitch black, like a tunnel. Staring at it for too long gave one the feeling of being sucked in.
Perhaps to repay their help, Ethan had specifically placed this painting in front of them and tested its effects together. Harry felt this was completely unnecessary. He appreciated the thought.
The sight of that eyeball rolling around had given Harry nightmares for several nights in a row. In his dreams, countless eyeballs covered the sky, staring down at him directly. It nearly made him fall headfirst into a cauldron during Potions class.
Reminded by Harry, Hermione and Ron fell into silence, obviously remembering something.
"Given Ethan's abilities," Harry added, wearing a pained expression, "he's only ever tormented others. No one has ever been able to torment him."
Maybe this chaos was even caused by Ethan.
...
Meanwhile, at the selection starting point.
Lake water lapped against the rocky cliff edge in waves. By the bright moonlight, Ethan looked at the ring in his hand with surprise.
The pitch-black diamond-shaped gemstone and the carved gold setting looked very elegant and noble. Holding it, Ethan seemed to feel a resonance of magical power.
[Ignorant and foolish one... let me peer into your thoughts...]
Low, hoarse murmurs drifted in the air, as if through thick glass. Ethan couldn't hear clearly. He felt his vision blur, as if a wisp of mist had entered his mind.
The next second, the magical power that had been swirling around the ring froze. Like a kitten whose paw had touched a hot pot, the magical power whooshed back. It became an ordinary, unremarkable accessory. A ring of unclear significance.
Ethan casually tossed the ring into his leather bag containing his paintings. Vaguely, he seemed to hear a fleeting roar. Though it felt somewhat familiar, Ethan didn't think much of it.
Magically enchanted items weren't numerous, but they weren't rare either. This proved it was a qualified trophy. Enough to let him pass the selection.
Thanks to Senior Sean's generous gift. Rest in peace.
Ethan curved his lips in pleasure. Incidentally, trophies could be kept as mementos.
The waiting time was somewhat long. Ethan sat down cross-legged, propping his chin and looking at the colorful spell lights ahead. Various colors and effects intertwined like a grand fireworks display, occasionally mixed with students' excited shouts.
"Hogwarts is still too urban..." Ethan sighed softly.
When he had the chance, he definitely had to let Luna see this beautiful scene.
Ethan turned his head, his cobalt-blue eyes reflecting Penelope's dirt-covered face. He had used a portal to bring the senior out when the chaos began.
At this moment, Penelope sat collapsed on the ground, mouth agape, staring blankly at Ethan as if completely stunned.
Being alone with Hogwarts' celebrity should have been something other girls envied and desired. However, now Penelope's heart was filled only with deep fear.
She didn't know exactly what had happened. But she knew the instigator of all this chaos was the seemingly pure and friendly boy in front of her!
Too naive.
Her previous belief that Ethan was mentally immature was simply too naive! Ethan clearly knew better than anyone here exactly what he was doing. And once he determined his goal, he would steadily advance toward it, even if it meant crushing everyone along the way.
The only thing Penelope was grateful for was that she had previously stood on Ethan's side out of admiration and sympathy. At least for those who helped him, Ethan could show a bit more care.
Recalling Sean's miserable state when she was teleported away, Penelope couldn't help but shudder.
...Headmaster Dumbledore, how about letting Ethan be the next prefect! She couldn't manage anyway!
Penelope felt like crying, hugging her knees and shivering.
...
After an unknown amount of time, the fireworks... ah, no, the spells gradually stopped. Not far away, several swaying figures appeared.
Ethan stood up, cast a Scouring Charm on himself, and walked leisurely toward them.
"Good evening, everyone. Is the selection over?"
"..."
Everyone looked at Ethan with dead eyes.
At this moment, Ethan was neatly dressed, his black robes fluttering in the cold wind, revealing his straight, upright figure. His pale face didn't have a speck of mud on it. His features were picturesque, with only his black hair slightly tousled by the wind, which instead added a few touches of unrestrained handsomeness to Ethan.
In contrast, everyone else: mud-covered, disheveled professors and students lying scattered about.
It was like one side had just attended a banquet while the other had just fled as refugees. The contrast couldn't be more stark.
[Chapter Complete]
***
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