Amid the pleasant screams echoing behind him, Ethan Vincent stood leisurely by the roadside with Harry, who kept glancing back nervously. Ethan's gold-tipped cane tapped gently against the asphalt.
It wasn't long before a rumbling sound, like thunder, rolled in from the night sky, growing louder as it drew near.
"Here it comes," Ethan said, his cobalt-blue eyes locked on a point in the darkness above.
"Is that a—flying car?!" Harry gasped, staring wide-eyed at the approaching object.
The turquoise flying car swooped down with an elegant flourish, coming to a halt right in front of them. A shaggy red head popped out from inside.
Ron Weasley grinned at his stunned best mate, waving triumphantly. "Get in, Harry—ouch!"
From behind, the Weasley twins, George and Fred, pressed down on their younger brother's head, shouting, "Listen to that tone of yours—"
"—as if you're the one who drove the car!"
"Let me go!" Ron struggled, his face burning with embarrassment.
Watching their playful squabble, Harry felt a warmth spreading through his veins. He was nearly moved to tears.
This was the essence of real, living people!
Harry and his luggage were bundled into the car. As the door slammed shut, he suddenly realized Ethan was still standing outside.
"Aren't you coming with us, Ethan?" Harry asked, puzzled.
"No," Ethan replied. At the same moment, he draped a cloak over his shoulders—one that seemed to materialize from thin air—and pulled up the hood.
Instantly, most of his face was shrouded in shadow, leaving only his pale chin, the slight upward curve of his lips, and one piercing cobalt-blue eye visible.
"I have a meeting with a friend named Luna Lovegood. We're heading to Diagon Alley to shop for school supplies."
Ron blinked in surprise. "At midnight?"
Ethan's lips curled into a smile as he gazed at the bright moonlight. He murmured, "Sometimes, the moon's glow is the key to unlocking hidden realms. All we need to do is step into them at the perfect moment."
Ron: "Oh—"
Ethan: "It means finding solitude for deep thought, free from outside distractions."
Ron & the Twins: "Oh, oh, oh!"
Their eyes widened with excitement. Someone who could vibe with Ethan like that—and be called a "friend" by him outright? That was unheard of!
The twins were dying to pry for more details right then and there, but Ethan's smile was like an iron wall—completely impenetrable.
They had no choice but to relent, hit the accelerator, and let the old car rumble slowly back to life.
Harry poked his head up through the canopy, waving his arms frantically and shouting, "Thank you—Ethan!"
Ethan waved back. "I'll send you another birthday present~"
Harry: "..."
Harry sank back into his seat in silence, watching his aunt's family shrink into the distance behind them. His mood lifted, growing brighter by the second.
"This is definitely the best birthday I've ever had!" Harry yelled.
"Mate! Don't jinx it—there's still plenty of night left!" Ron said, adopting the air of a wise old sage.
The two shared a look and broke into wide grins.
"Wow! Bird droppings!!"
September 1st, 11:00 AM sharp.
King's Cross Station, Platform 9¾, London.
After a low whistle, the deep red steam train began to chug slowly forward.
Ethan and Luna sat in a compartment, reading in peaceful silence.
Just then—
Whoosh!
The compartment door slid open, revealing Hermione's anxious face.
Ethan glanced up from his book, Harmless Minor Hexes—Starting with Tongue-Tying, and asked, "Toad lost again?"
Hermione: "No, it's worse. I can't find Harry and Ron anywhere."
She was on the verge of panic! What if Harry and Ron missed the start of term?
"I have to tell Prefect Percy right away. Nothing's more important than Harry and Ron going missing—hmm? Your magazine's upside down."
Hermione's keen eyes zeroed in on the inverted magazine in Luna's hands.
Luna looked up, sporting her outlandish blue-and-pink spectacles, which made Hermione's brow furrow instantly.
"Oh, hello. I'm Luna Lovegood. Would you like a copy of the new issue of The Quibbler?"
Hermione: "No, thanks! Harry and Ron are more important—they're missing!"
Luna listened patiently, then said softly, "Alright then. Ethan used a new technique in this issue. It transmits the magical effects of paintings right through the printing..."
Before she could finish, Luna felt a presence settle beside her. She turned to find Hermione's eyes sparkling with interest.
"Please, I absolutely must have one. Thank you!"
Luna watched contentedly as Hermione dove into the painting titled "Eris's Call," growing still, her gaze distant and unfocused.
It wasn't until the minute hand had ticked halfway around the clock that Hermione snapped back to reality.
Wait, that's not right! What was I here for?!
"Harry and Ron—"
Luna cut her off, gazing out the window as she said softly, "Sometimes, the things we've lost return to us in the most unexpected ways—"
Hermione: ?
"Anyway, Harry and Ron couldn't possibly be in the sky—in the sky?!"
Hermione lunged toward the train window, staring in shock at the turquoise car flipping and tumbling through the air.
And inside it, two very familiar figures.
Hermione: !?
Ethan's gaze slid past the stunned Hermione, locking with Luna's. He praised her, "See? This is the kind of attitude a club member should have. Ron hasn't passed the official test yet, but he's already showing real promise."
Luna nodded seriously, clenching her small fist. "Mmm, I'll work hard."
Hermione: "....—."
Are they already indoctrinating new students before term even begins?
As expected of Ethan.
Hogwarts Feast.
"Ravenclaw!"
The Sorting Hat screeched the moment it touched Luna's head.
"I've never seen the Sorting Hat place someone in Ravenclaw so quickly."
Ethan's roommate, Anthony Goldstein, a third-year, clapped hesitantly beside him.
He spoke with the tone of someone who'd been at Hogwarts for years: "At this age, you can't expect young wizards to have much thirst for knowledge yet. Even I made the Hat think for a minute or two back in my day."
But Anthony fell silent soon after.
He was shocked to see Ethan actually stand up, applauding with a genuine smile on his face.
It wasn't just him—the whole table noticed the unusual display.
The hall gradually quieted, with students whispering among themselves.
Slytherin Prefect Gemma Farley lifted her chin slightly, her expression icy.
Hermione pursed her lips, a fierce competitive fire blazing in her eyes.
Luna seemed utterly oblivious to the stares fixed on her.
She removed the Hat, thanked Professor Flitwick—who was overseeing the ceremony—with polite grace.
Then, she skipped lightly over to the Ravenclaw table—straight to Ethan's spot.
"Welcome to Ravenclaw, Luna!"
Ethan spread his arms wide, giving her a warm welcome.
His classmates around him instinctively rose and shifted their seats to make room.
"Here, you'll learn true wisdom. You'll uncover the secrets lurking behind the world and chase the radiant light buried deep in the universe!"
His words landed with powerful conviction.
The newly sorted Ravenclaws, along with the young wizards still awaiting their turns, let out awed "Wows," their faces lit with surprise and admiration.
Ravenclaw sounds pretty great!
Only the older students wore odd expressions.
They thought to themselves:
Secrets behind the world? The light of the universe?
Have we ever chased those things?
Never heard of it!
Maybe Ethan's speech had an impact.
After that, more new students were sorted into Ravenclaw, exciting Professor Flitwick so much he nearly bounced in place.
He had a feeling.
Ethan, and this new student Luna Lovegood whom he clearly favored, were a pair of hidden gems—dragons in disguise!
They could propel Ravenclaw to heights it had never reached before!
After savoring a lavish feast, Dumbledore took the stage as usual to highlight the key announcements.
But this year, alongside the usual warnings about the Forbidden Forest and Filch's "no magic in the corridors" rule, there was a new addition:
"...For the sake of everyone's physical and mental well-being, if you encounter a pitch-black door anywhere, please do not enter it!"
"Ignore it and simply walk by. It will vanish on its own after some time."
His grave voice reverberated through the Great Hall.
The new students' faces paled.
This... this sounds absolutely terrifying?!
The older students stayed as quiet as church mice, while Ethan beamed with a bright, sunny smile.
As if he'd just been showered with compliments.
"What happens if you go in?" Ethan overheard a new student whisper.
He turned his head abruptly, fixing the frightened first-year with a gentle stare. "Oh, nothing much. At worst, you'll get teleported to a sealed Chamber of Secrets, or kick off an automatic challenge, or step into a dazzling wardrobe universe."
...
The new student's eyes bulged, and he shook with fear.
Mommy, it feels like I'm about to embark on a perilous journey QAQ
"Additionally," Dumbledore's tone softened as he glanced toward Ethan at the Ravenclaw table.
"Club recruitment will take place next Monday, and club leaders may post their promotional posters on the bulletin board."
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