First, Rey needed to know exactly how long Terence Barrow had been shamelessly pestering Helena Ravenclaw.
Of course, he couldn't ask so bluntly. Rey rephrased it slightly: "How long have you liked Helena? When did you start pursuing her?"
The question was simple, but Terence's answer left Rey utterly astounded.
Half a year. For six whole months, Terence Barrow had been stalking Helena like this.
My God! It was hard to imagine that Helena hadn't gone insane yet. Her mental fortitude was truly exceptional.
"Well... you could try this approach first..." After hearing Terence's shocking confession, Rey pondered for a while before speaking.
Pursuing a girl requires balance.
You can't be too intense, nor can you be too cold. Too intense, and you end up like Terence, making Helena disgusted. Too cold, and the girl loses interest, feeling no sense of accomplishment in being pursued.
After analyzing Terence's current situation, Rey formulated a plan. He suggested Terence back off for a while—specifically, don't seek Helena out for a week.
Women are like that. Right now, she finds you annoying. If you continue to pester her, you'll face obvious rejection, just like Terence experienced today.
So, it was time to cool down. After half a year of pursuit, she needed a break.
Six months was long enough for a woman to form a habitual, passive response to his stalking—a habit she might not even be aware of.
If he suddenly stopped for a few days, the abrupt absence of that habit would naturally become noticeable. That's when she would start asking herself a very strange question: Why isn't he annoying me anymore?
Most people are like that, men and women alike.
Take Rey himself. Before he traveled back in time, after being scared by the Bloody Baron a few times, he found himself wondering where the ghost was when he didn't show up. Rey, being a glutton for punishment, had even actively searched the castle for the Bloody Baron.
Maybe that's just human masochism.
Terence Barrow knew absolutely nothing about courting girls.
Rey, a modern man from the 21st century, might not have dated many girls, but he had watched enough melodramatic TV shows. As the saying goes: I haven't eaten pork, but I've seen a pig run.
---
While Rey was giving Terence Barrow a crash course in romance, Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor stood under a distant tree, watching the non-stop chatter of Rey and the nodding Terence.
The scene made the already stern Salazar Slytherin look even colder.
However, Godric Gryffindor beside him was grinning from ear to ear.
"I'm getting the feeling that this Rey kid has the potential to be a Gryffindor."
The sunny Godric was puzzled as to why his Sorting Hat had placed Rey in Ravenclaw.
"Hmph. The school grounds are still occupied by a dragon. Isn't it a bit early for that? Besides, have you ever seen a Gryffindor talk that much?"
Salazar Slytherin shot back grumpily. Godric was just trying to stroke his own ego again.
The founding of the school had been decided long ago. They had discussed the name, the curriculum, student selection—everything.
All they needed was a suitable location to build the school and implement their plans. But they found a dragon instead.
"As for the dragon, we just need to ask Rey. He's a student from the future; he'll know," Godric said reassuringly.
Then he took the lead and walked toward Rey and Terence. Salazar followed helplessly.
Clearly, the sunny and optimistic Godric possessed an inexplicable charm that made his best friend tolerate him no matter how annoyed he got.
"Hey! What are you talking about? Let me hear it too." Godric's voice cut in while Rey was brainwashing Terence.
Walking silently, the sudden appearance of the two professors startled the boys.
Rey was surprised—he hadn't been able to find the four founders earlier, and now two of them were back. Terence was terrified. Salazar Slytherin's icy aura and the look of disappointment in his eyes made the Slytherin noble want to crawl into a hole.
Salazar didn't mind Rey being smarter than Terence. But he deeply minded that Terence, a noble Sir, was nodding like an idiot in front of Rey.
"Uh, Professors, you're back!"
Rey sensed the hostility in Salazar's gaze and quickly changed the subject to ease the awkwardness.
"Follow me."
Before Godric could respond, Salazar dropped two words that made Terence shudder. With one last glance at Rey, Terence followed Salazar Slytherin away.
---
Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus (Never Tickle a Sleeping Dragon).
After talking with Rey, Godric Gryffindor received the motto that every Hogwarts student would come to know.
"Is that it? No other history about the dragon?"
Godric asked again, unwilling to give up. He didn't care about the motto. Rey looked at him in surprise. "Professor, why do you want to know about dragons in the school history?"
Rey genuinely knew very little about dragons in Hogwarts: A History. He only remembered one line: Dumbledore discovered the twelve uses of dragon's blood. As for what those twelve uses were, the textbooks didn't specify.
"Doesn't the school history record that the castle was built after four great wizards destroyed a giant dragon?"
Godric finally couldn't hold back and asked directly. Beating around the bush wasn't the Gryffindor style.
"Giant dragon? Building the school!"
Rey repeated the key words. He hadn't expected to have the chance to witness the founding of Hogwarts.
Hogwarts: A History mentioned that the castle was a living entity created by the magic of four great wizards. Witnessing the castle's creation would be incredibly meaningful.
Rey showed a keen interest. After some consideration, Godric finally promised, "If you can think of a way to deal with the dragon, I might let you participate."
"Professor, I don't even know what the dragon looks like. How can I think of a solution?"
Rey answered carefully. His point was valid, leaving Godric Gryffindor speechless.
---
With no leads on the dragon, and the great Gryffindor standing right in front of him, Rey immediately seized the opportunity to ask about magic practice.
Specifically, the spell that turned the user into black mist for flight. Rey remembered the spell was called "Mist Form," but he couldn't recall the first name of the person who taught it to him—only the surname Burke.
Rey explained the principles and the practical method he had learned. Godric Gryffindor's face, usually bright, suddenly turned cold.
It was Dark Magic. Just from Rey's description, he could tell.
"There is nothing inherently wrong with Dark Magic. But before you touch it, you need to be strong enough."
Godric warned Rey seriously. He asked Rey who had taught him this Dark Magic, but Rey's description was too vague for Godric to identify the person.
However, since Rey had already been taught Dark Magic, Godric planned to discuss it with Rowena Ravenclaw. He intended to ask Salazar Slytherin to teach Rey how to ensure he wasn't corrupted by the Dark Arts while learning them.
---