Vincent didn’t care in the slightest what Theodore was thinking.
His gaze traveled down from the boy’s handsome face.
Theodore wore a set of black robes—though meant to be the most ordinary Hogwarts school robe, the fabric looked exceptionally fine, faint shimmers of magic flowing subtly across its surface.
The material was rather interesting; he should get a set made for himself next time.
It certainly looked quite sharp.
The robe’s collar was slightly open, revealing a spotless white shirt underneath.
The shirt collar featured delicate pleated detailing, resembling elegant lily petals.
A Slytherin-green tie served as a leafy backdrop, adding a touch of vitality to the ensemble.
Theodore could no longer hold back.
Anyone subjected to such a top-to-bottom scrutiny from another boy would be considered remarkably patient to have lasted this long.
“Have you stared enough? If you truly have nothing to do, why don’t you go read a book? Learn proper manners instead of staring like an ill-mannered animal.”
Ever since arriving at Hogwarts, any noticeable emotional outbursts Theodore had experienced were all because of this obnoxious Ravenclaw wizard.
Vincent withdrew his gaze, his expression unchanging despite the harsh words.
“Did I offend you? My apologies. I was merely surprised to see us both here. I assumed you Slytherins had your own private potions classroom.”
Vincent adopted a cynical, nonchalant tone.
When dealing with different subjects of observation, he was adept at slipping on different masks.
For instance, in front of his adoptive parents, he was merely a quiet, introverted child.
Who could have guessed that behind their backs, he had already quietly calculated—and confirmed—the feasibility of murdering them to inherit their fortune?
Theodore was always serious.
Vincent wanted to see what lay beneath that somber demeanor.
Upon seeing an unexpected person in the classroom, Theodore’s first instinct was to turn around and leave.
He had no desire to become any further involved with this Ravenclaw wizard, whom he viewed as thoroughly strange.
Hearing Vincent’s glib remark made Theodore even more annoyed, and he turned to leave almost instantly.
Potions could be brewed at any time, but if he got entangled with this creep, there was no telling when he’d be able to shake him off.
But before Theodore could make his exit, Vincent spoke up first.
“Fleeing in panic because you’re afraid of me?”
If someone had used such a deliberate provocation on Vincent, even if he knew it was a trap, he wouldn’t be able to suppress his irritation.
By the same logic, Theodore would be equally displeased.
He knew that Theodore as he was now would never brew potions alongside him, and that Theodore had likely always used the classroom alone in the past.
Thus…
Vincent’s mood had ultimately been affected by that letter, and Theodore’s sudden appearance offered his pent-up emotions an outlet.
The boy at the door halted his steps, turning back to face Vincent with an expression even darker than before.
“My being here has nothing to do with you,” Theodore replied icily, devoid of any warmth as he quietly sized Vincent up in return.
This guy had been acting bizarrely back on the Hogwarts Express, and he remained the same after arriving at Hogwarts.
Was it truly fate that he had been sorted into Ravenclaw?
Word was that house often produced a lunatic or two.
Perhaps by the time seven years had passed and they graduated, the person adding a stroke of eccentric mystery to Ravenclaw’s reputation would be Vincent Riddle.
Vincent raised an eyebrow, some of the casual ease vanishing from his face.
He had likely done something stupid.
“…Don’t mind me. No need to be so tense—I was just speaking off the cuff.”
He leaned back in his chair with arms crossed, looking relaxed and comfortable, but in truth, his mind was rapidly analyzing Theodore’s reactions.
Theodore frowned, feeling a swell of annoyance.
“I’m not tense. I simply dislike people prying into my business.”
“Disliking prying—is that your nature, or are you afraid someone might discover something?” Vincent pressed on, his gaze locked onto Theodore as though trying to see right through him.
“In this classroom, we could be considered kindred spirits. Outside of Potions class, we might be the only ones who actually come here to practice.”
Theodore scoffed.
“Kindred spirits? I don’t see that we have anything in common. Mind your own business. Don’t go thinking you’re special. If you want to graduate from Hogwarts in peace, you’d better learn to watch your tongue and stay out of my way.”
Every young wizard at Hogwarts ought to know that if they wanted an undisturbed life and education, it was best not to provoke a Slytherin pure-blood.
With that, he turned to leave once more.
This time, Vincent said nothing.
He had originally intended to study potions alone.
Theodore had been an unexpected variable.
Now that the variable was dealt with, Vincent didn’t feel particularly pleased either.
His read on Theodore was remarkably accurate—so much so that he could deduce Theodore’s actions using thoughts he himself might have had.
Once Theodore left, the reckless, cynical air about Vincent vanished completely, reverting to the reliable yet aloof figure Harry saw in him.
Lowering his head, he resumed the work he had set out to do.
If all went smoothly, he would resolve the trouble with his adoptive parents today and upgrade to a new telescope next week.
Since he could make his studies easier, there was no reason to suffer unnecessarily.
Vincent’s initial goal upon entering Hogwarts was to use magical methods to solve problems Muggles couldn’t—and besides, he wasn’t entirely sure what he wanted to do anyway.
It was just that no one would refuse a better option.
Given a path to greater power, why remain ordinary and aimless in the Muggle world?
Illness was simply one of the problems waiting to be solved.
His purpose at Hogwarts was to learn.
As long as that remained his primary goal, whatever he did along the way was merely a step closer toward that ultimate objective.
He continually flipped through his textbook, taking notes on parchment from time to time.
He listed several potentially useful recipes, then checked them against the ingredients on the shelves, considering whether he had everything required for each formula.
His movements grew increasingly mechanical, as if slipping into a trance of total concentration.
Unfortunately, he failed to complete his plan.
Muggle and magical medicine were two independent systems.
While there was some overlap, it was mostly limited to external injuries.
When it came to an organ as critical as the heart, extreme caution was required.
Vincent didn’t care whether his adoptive brother lived or died, but he couldn’t let the boy die by his hands—that would be an insult to his competence.
The next day, Vincent returned to the Potions classroom.
Just like yesterday, he sat at the long table, opening his textbook to continue searching for potions.
He had assumed yesterday’s encounter was a minor episode that wouldn’t affect him much.
Yet as he sat in the classroom, at a certain moment, his eyes darted toward the doorway.
Realizing what he had just done, Vincent frowned deeply.
It was the same problem as before: he was paying far too much attention to Theodore, as though tracking his own counterpart.
He and Theodore looked nothing alike, so he could be certain Theodore was definitely not his twin brother.
If he did have a twin brother, the boy probably wouldn’t have Theodore’s cold temperament anyway.
They said twins had complementary personalities, so perhaps his twin would be as fiery and passionate as a flame.
Then again, not necessarily—after all, the Gryffindor twins shared the exact same penchant for mischief.
He only hoped that his hypothetical twin didn’t share his habit of constantly observing people.
That would be far too strange.
Just as his mind was wandering, the door to the Potions classroom was pushed open again.
Vincent raised his head instinctively.
When he saw that the person walking in was Theodore, a sense of *at last* actually surged within his heart.
Theodore paused for a moment upon seeing Vincent, but he didn’t turn and leave immediately as he had yesterday.