"What's wrong, Cho Chang?" Cho's good friend Marietta Edgecombe leaned over to ask.
"No... nothing..." Cho said while crumpling the paper crane in her hands.
But Marietta had already noticed the paper crane. Her eyes lit up with envy as she said: "It's a message from the Round Table Council, right? I so wish I could become one of them too. I'd do anything."
Marietta cupped her face, murmuring. Cho forced a laugh. Biting her lips, she carefully glanced toward Ethan not far away. Accidentally, she met Ethan's gaze.
"Ah!" Cho quickly turned her head, feeling her cheeks gradually heating up.
"Oh, you're blushing?" Her friend teased.
"Stop it." Cho playfully hit Marietta, feeling both shy and a bit happy. But thinking about what the Round Table Council might ask her to do, Cho's expression dimmed again.
Sigh. Why couldn't Ethan join the Round Table Council instead of starting his own club? Really can't understand.
To commend Ethan's selfless dedication, Dumbledore gave Ravenclaw a hundred points in one go. And generously allocated venues for Ethan's use.
In the four house hourglasses, the blue hourglass immediately shot up a large section. Originally somewhat neck-and-neck with Gryffindor (thanks to Hermione's points), now it was completely ahead. Forming a "convex" shape.
Ethan smirked with satisfaction. Perfect. Now I can safely advance the 'Hogwarts Destruction Plan.
Dumbledore: "So, will you personally manage the club training affairs, Mr. Vincent? I'm afraid this might conflict with your studies."
Ethan thought for a moment. A name popped into his mind. Ethan curved his lips, his gaze falling on Professor Lockhart, who was giggling foolishly with the atmosphere.
It's decided... it's you! My free labour force!
Ethan: "I hope to ask Professor Gilderoy Lockhart to manage this matter for me."
Suddenly being called upon, Lockhart startled: "Ah? Me?" Managing other people's affairs sounds thankless!
Lockhart was about to make excuses to decline when he suddenly remembered [Mr. Lamp's] command: [Unconditionally assist all of Ethan's requests].
What exactly is the relationship between Ethan and that [Mr. Lamp]? Damn! Why did he choose Ethan instead of me?!
Lockhart felt his talent had been insulted. He stood up abruptly, forcing a smile: "Of... of course, no problem! Mr. Vincent! I'd be happy to help you!"
Hmph! Once I gain [Mr. Lamp's] appreciation, we'll see who listens to whom!
Lockhart secretly glared at Ethan... [Mr. Lamp] himself. His heart full of optimistic spirit that "the future boss will definitely back me up."
Indeed. Some people, when whipped, develop servility. Ethan thought. Looking pitifully at the high-spirited Lockhart.
The morning Great Hall assembly finally ended. The good news was that to help everyone forget last night's attack and relax, morning classes were cancelled.
After Ethan finished his belated breakfast, he downed a cup of pumpkin juice. Together with Luna, he strolled leisurely to the library.
Ethan's mind was full of finding "giant bait". Accidentally, he collided head-on with a "wall". His nose hit squarely against the thick fur coat, making Ethan tear up from the pain.
The biggest injury since the start of term.
"Oh! It's you, Ethan!" Hogwarts' gamekeeper, second place in biological crossbreeding experiments, and wild the Pokemon master Rubeus Hagrid turned around, shouting in his rough voice: "Sorry! I didn't see you just now. Are you alright?"
Ethan wiped the tears from his eyes, rubbed his numb nose, and shook his head. Just about to say "I'm fine"...
"Don't shout in the library! Or I'll have to ask you to leave!" Librarian Madam Pince glared furiously at Hagrid. Then turned to Ethan warmly: "Good morning, child. Come, would you like some chocolate?"
Her usually sharp, acerbic face showed a touch of concern. Obviously having heard about last night's events.
Hagrid: "..." This differential treatment is too obvious!
Ethan suppressed a laugh, saying obediently: "No need, thank you for your kindness, Madam Pince. I want to find books about insects, preferably large insects."
Madam Pince: "Fifth shelf on the left, dear."
"Ahem," Hagrid cleared his throat, asking, "Um, books about spiders..."
"Find them yourself! I'm busy!" Madam Pince immediately turned into a demon, glaring as she walked away.
"Pfft." Ethan couldn't help laughing. Looking at the tall half-giant standing there pitifully. He tugged at Hagrid's sleeve, whispering: "Follow me, Hagrid. These popular science books are all kept together."
Hagrid immediately breathed a sigh of relief, looking at Ethan gratefully: "Oh..."
Before Hagrid could be thrown out for talking loudly, Ethan quickly shushed him and led him toward the bookshelves.
"Encyclopaedia of Insects, A Hundred Harmful Bugs, If You Marry an Insect, The Taste of Insect Mouthparts...?" Ethan's finger tracing the book spines stopped, producing a question mark. Something's not right with you.
While Ethan was carefully selecting, on the other side, Hagrid had already hastily grabbed a pile of books and rushed toward Madam Pince. Turning back, he shouted to Ethan: "Thanks, Ethan! Come visit my hut sometime... um, maybe later; I've been a bit busy recently!"
Ethan raised his eyebrows. Watching the half-giant run off like his pants were on fire, clutching his books urgently.
Something happening in the Forbidden Forest again? Maybe Hagrid wants to catch spiders for the Norwegian Ridgeback dragon mother and child to eat, to join this big family?
Ethan didn't understand this beast enthusiast's thinking. He shook his head, carrying his selected books toward a long table. Luna had already secured seats in advance.
"I'm writing my History essay," Luna said cheerfully, showing Ethan the neat, beautiful handwriting on parchment, "Goblin rebellions. I think Professor Binns won't mind if I add the deeds of a legendary fifth-year transfer student below the main text."
Ethan: "That's historical fact. It's just been hidden and altered by later generations because it was too shocking. Just like the Chamber of Secrets."
Ethan's voice wasn't loud. But perhaps because everyone else was paying attention to this area, the moment he said that word, the library fell completely silent. The sounds of turning pages and scribbling stopped. Students looked at each other, then a Hufflepuff boy boldly stood up and walked toward Ethan.
"Hey, do you remember me? I'm Justin from Hufflepuff. I sat next to you during the first Defence Against the Dark Arts class."
Ethan nodded: "I remember now." The first Defence Against the Dark Arts class? That was two months ago. Sorry, I don't have a habit of remembering boys' names.
Justin stiffened but didn't mind. Come on, this was Ethan Vincent! So busy with important matters! Though nobody knew what he was busy with.
Justin said excitedly: "You saw it too, right? The bloody writing on the wall! 'The Chamber has been opened. Enemies of the heir, beware'! Filch tried desperately to scrub it off, but no matter how hard he scrubbed, it wouldn't come off!"
Ethan nodded. I not only know about it. I wrote it.
"Do you know?" Justin said mysteriously, leaning close to Ethan... Ethan leaned back. "Actually, we have a guess about who opened the Chamber!"
Ethan was surprised, asking curiously: "Who?" Could they already suspect him? Was this a test? Indeed, he had performed quite prominently in this incident. Being suspected was normal.
Ethan's heartbeat quickened involuntarily. Adrenaline surged, making his blood boil. His cobalt-blue eyes lit up with excitement.
If Justin said his name, what an exciting development that would be!
Justin: "Don't be scared when I tell you. It's..."
Go ahead! Say that name!
"Harry Potter".
Ethan: "Oh... huh?" Ethan froze, excitement crystallising in his eyes. Who? Harry Potter? Why the Saviour? Why???
Just then... Clatter clatter. A sound came from behind Justin. Ethan and he both turned to look.
They saw the "person who opened the Chamber", Harry Potter, standing just a few steps away. Books had fallen at his feet, his face extremely ugly. Besides him were the nearly inseparable Hermione and Ron.
Justin: "!!!"
Ethan: Oh ho.
"I... I didn't say anything!" The Hufflepuff boy shouted and was thrown out of the library by Madam Pince...
An awkward silence fell between Ethan and the trio.
"Ethan..." Hermione called out helplessly. Ron puffed his cheeks, staying silent.
Harry clenched his fists... he wasn't angry at Ethan; he just didn't know how to face this. What if Ethan believed it? If Ethan avoided him like the plague...
Harry didn't know how devastating that would be. Harry gathered courage and looked up! Meeting Ethan's fierce glare.
Harry: "?" No horror or disgust. Only indignant confusion. As if Harry had stolen a piece of Ethan's meat.
Ethan: So you're the one who stole my thunder?Indignant.
"Pfft." Harry finally couldn't help laughing. His previous worry and tension vanished. Truly Ethan... can't use conventional logic to understand him.
Harry thought with relief and comfort. The trio sat across from Ethan and Luna.
Ethan: "So why are you being spread as the one who opened the Chamber?"
Harry glumly told Ethan about following the voice and being first to discover the bloody writing. "Must have been spread by some ghost, since the deathday party was happening then."
So it was just coincidence?
"Sigh." Ethan patted Harry's shoulder, muttering, "Lucky you." Being treated as the culprit, like drawing the werewolf card in Werewolf... must be very interesting.
Harry: "???" Though still not understanding Ethan's logic, Harry was unexpectedly comforted. Like when you think the sky is falling, but to someone else it's just a trivial matter.
Mood inexplicably improved. Harry finally smiled.
Hermione brought up another topic: "Right, when we came just now, we ran into Hagrid. He told us his 'good friends' in the Forbidden Forest have been having some problems lately."