[Beep ——]
[Congratulations to the host for completing the first dialogue with the target of affection “Bellatrix Black”, reward obtained: Magic Perception Enhancement.]
The system’s electronic voice, which had been silent for a long time, finally sounded in her consciousness, bringing a most practical bonus.
Isolde’s hanging heart dropped slightly.
This reward wasn’t overpowered, but it happened to fit her current state of just being exposed to magic and being unfamiliar with magic control.
At least it could save her some detours in her subsequent studies, which could be considered a rare conscience from this hands-off system.
But before she could scrutinize the specific effect of the reward, Bellatrix’s approaching aura made her whole body tense up.
That slender yet oppressive finger stopped half an inch from her cuff, and the inquiry in the grey eyes grew more intense.
The tip of her nose sniffed slightly, as if capturing that wispy, elusive familiar magic.
Rodolphus was left aside, his face turning green and pale alternately, watching Bellatrix’s abnormal attention to Isolde.
His heart was full of resentment, yet he did not easily interrupt the actions of the eldest The Handmaiden of the Black Family.
He could only clench his fists and glare fiercely at Isolde, as if he wanted to tear her apart alive.
Isolde clutched the wand in her pocket, the slight coolness of the cedar wood seeping through the fabric as the magic perception micro-enhancement recently rewarded by the system took effect.
She could clearly perceive that the magic emanating from Bellatrix was a bit denser than the magic of several surrounding young wizards.
She held her breath and prepared herself to deal with any emergencies.
After all, the girl in front of her was a dark wizard who would make the entire Wizarding World tremble in the future, the proud Black, and no one could guess what she would do the next second.
But just when the atmosphere was tense to the extreme, at the moment when Bellatrix’s fingertips were about to touch her sleeve, the girl suddenly withdrew her hand.
The inquiry in the grey eyes flashed past, replaced once more by indifference and alienation, and that fleeting interest just now seemed to be merely Isolde’s illusion.
She glanced down at Isolde condescendingly, her eyes devoid of the previous appreciation, leaving only apathy.
Even carrying a hint of imperceptible contempt.
The surname Winnier was almost unknown among Pure-blood families, obviously not an object she would care about.
“Nothing.”
Bellatrix spoke faintly, her voice reverting to its previous languid and cold hardness.
Without giving Isolde another look, she turned and walked out of the compartment, her long Black hair sweeping across her shoulders with the movement, leaving behind a haughty figure.
From beginning to end, she didn’t ask another word about the scent of that trace of magic.
Nor did she give Isolde any more glances, as if the recent approach and inquiry were just a bored act of momentary whim.
Rodolphus was completely dumbfounded; he had thought Bellatrix would help him make things difficult, but he didn’t expect her to just walk away so lightly.
He was stunned for a few seconds before reacting, glaring fiercely at Isolde and making a harsh threat:
“Consider yourself lucky! Don’t think this matter is over just like that; inside Slytherin, you’ll have a hard time!”
After saying that, he also hurriedly chased after Bellatrix’s footsteps and left the compartment.
“Hey, Black, wait.”
The compartment door was slammed shut, and that arrogant and oppressive aura finally dissipated.
Isolde let out a long sigh of relief, a thin layer of sweat already oozing from her back.
She slumped in her seat, her fingertips still trembling slightly from the moment of close-up eye contact with Bellatrix just now.
She could truly feel the strength and danger in the other’s bones, which was completely different from the text descriptions she saw in books.
Bellatrix in reality came with an aura that made people dare not look her in the eye.
She touched the wand in her pocket, feeling the subtle changes brought by the system’s reward.
In her mind, she could more clearly perceive the magic flowing within herself, no longer as vague and chaotic as before.
She rejoiced inwardly that Bellatrix hadn’t pursued the matter deeply, otherwise, with her current magic level, she wouldn’t have been able to cope at all.
As for the familiar trace of magic that had been perceived, Isolde guessed it must be related to the Talent Resonance bestowed by the system.
It’s just that the system still refused to explain further, so she could only temporarily suppress her doubts and take it one step at a time.
Is Talent Resonance a resonance with familiar characters or target characters?
The train continued to move forward, the scenery outside the window changing from lush woods to rolling mountains.
Twilight deepened, and the silhouette of Hogwarts castle in the distance faintly emerged under the setting sun, with spires and towers arranged in an orderly fashion, shrouded in a faint magical halo, mysterious and magnificent.
Isolde collected her mood, no longer thinking about the Lestrange and Black, just quietly looking out the window, silently planning her upcoming campus life in her heart.
Bellatrix’s indifference after hearing the surname just now had already sounded an alarm for her.
Students in the carriages successively packed their luggage, changed into school robes, and prepared to get off the train.
Isolde picked up her suitcase, followed the crowd out of the train, and stepped onto the land of Hogsmeade station.
The night air carried a slightly cool moisture.
The tall figure welcoming the students stood not far away, calling the first-year newborns to board the small boats, cross the pitch-Black lake, and slowly sail toward the castle.
The small boats gently glided across the water, the lake surface shimmering with specks of fluorescent light like scattered stars.
Hogwarts castle became even more magnificent in the night, with every window glowing with warm light, as if welcoming the arrival of these new students.
Isolde sat in the small boat, looking at the castle before her, her heart filled with shock.
The scenes she saw in movies in her past life were now truly standing here, becoming one of them; it was more or less dizzying.
Getting off the boat, passing through the heavy wooden door, and heading up the spiral staircase, she finally arrived at the resplendent Great Hall.
The ceiling was a deep starry sky, countless candles floating in the air, and four long tables lined both sides, corresponding to the four houses respectively.
The students’ laughter and chatter filled the entire Great Hall, creating a warm and cheerful atmosphere.
Isolde stood at the front with the other new students, her heart beating wildly as the sorting ceremony was about to begin.
She gripped the wand in her hand tightly, having already made plans in her mind.
Her target of affection was Bellatrix, and the other party was destined to enter Slytherin.
Wanting to get close to her, Slytherin was the most direct choice.
But she also knew that Slytherin had always valued Pure-blood and family background; her own family background was ordinary, and even if she forced her way in… she would be ostracized.
Furthermore, she had already formed a grudge with Rodolphus just now, and her days in Slytherin would only be fraught with difficulty.
Unless she truly had exceptional talent and beat people into submission.
But that wasn’t very realistic either.
Therefore, under these circumstances, should she still go to Slytherin?
The professor held a long list and began to call names one by one.
The new students stepped forward one by one and put on the tattered Sorting Hat.
Isolde watched the new students around her being successively sorted into various houses.
When Bellatrix’s name was called, she stepped forward calmly.
As soon as the Sorting Hat touched her head, it shouted out “Slytherin!”
The entire Slytherin long table erupted into warm cheers.
Bellatrix curved her lips into a proud smile and walked straight towards the Slytherin seats.
Radiating the confidence belonging to Pure-blood nobility all over her body.
Rodolphus closely followed and successfully entered Slytherin.
Finally, it was Isolde Winnier’s turn.
She took a deep breath, stepped forward, took the Sorting Hat, and placed it on her head.
As soon as the hat was put on, an aged yet slightly playful voice sounded in her mind:
“Hmm… Let me see, an interesting child, both ambition and goals are not small…”
Isolde recited silently in her heart: “Slytherin, I want to go to Slytherin.”
The Sorting Hat seemed to freeze for a moment, then retorted:
“Slytherin? Child, I see the intelligence deep in your bones, your curiosity about unknown things, and your extremely strong learning ability and insight.”
“Clear-minded and calm in the face of trouble, Ravenclaw is also a place suitable for you. There is the knowledge you want, and wise men who can stand shoulder to shoulder with you.”
“Oh, of course, Slytherin is not bad either, let me think…”
Isolde was extremely conflicted in her heart.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to go to Ravenclaw; Ravenclaw’s wisdom and learning were precisely what she yearned for.
Moreover, staying away from Slytherin’s disputes could allow her to study magic with peace of mind and enhance her strength.
But her target of affection was in Slytherin; once she went to Ravenclaw, the chances of meeting would be few and far between, and the difficulty of the affection-building strategy would skyrocket.
But upon second thought, given her current situation, even if she went to Slytherin, she would only be ostracized by Pure-blood family students, with not even a chance to get close to Bellatrix, and instead would be restricted everywhere.
It would be better to follow the Sorting Hat’s advice, go to Ravenclaw to study intently, prove herself with strength, and approach Bellatrix when she was strong enough.
As long as she became strong, she could make Bellatrix see her.
Perhaps that was the wiser choice.
After all, Bellatrix only recognized the strong.
Rather than squeezing her head to enter her house, it was better to precipitate herself in Ravenclaw and become someone who would make her look at her with new eyes.
Competition?
Since they couldn’t be the most prominent friends, they would start as rivals.
Figuring this out, Isolde stopped struggling and responded to the Sorting Hat in her heart.
At this time, the Sorting Hat had already said half of its words…
“I’ve decided, you will go to Sl—”
“I agree, go to Ravenclaw.”
As soon as the words fell, the Sorting Hat paused for a moment and immediately shouted loudly:
“Ravenclaw!”
Warm applause and cheers instantly sounded at the Ravenclaw long table, blue and bronze house banners gently fluttering aside, and senior students enthusiastically greeted her to come over.
Isolde took off the Sorting Hat, revealed a relaxed smile, walked towards the Ravenclaw long table, and found an empty seat to sit down.
That Sorting Hat guy was almost going to say Slytherin, right?
Isolde raised her eyes to look at the Sorting Hat again, glad it changed its tune fast enough.