Although Ethan had put up a new notice and hoped someone would bring him valuable magical items, he had clearly underestimated how stubbornly obsessed these young wizards were with sweets.
On Saturday evening, nearly all of Gryffindor’s little lions gathered in the empty classroom.
Ethan had asked Professor McGonagall for a small blackboard, and he was explaining the principles and spellcasting techniques of the Button Transfiguration step by step.
Of course, all of this knowledge came from Professor McGonagall.
However, the things Professor McGonagall taught were highly profound; conversely, she tended not to emphasize simple, foundational knowledge.
This often left the young wizards looking utterly dazed and confused, having no idea what she was talking about.
What Ethan needed to do now was to fill in these basic gaps completely.
Fortunately, Professor McGonagall’s teaching style was like this, allowing him to take advantage of this oversight.
Over the course of one evening, Ethan helped nearly seventy percent of the little lions master the basic Button Transfiguration.
By Sunday evening, under his tireless, step-by-step corrections, even the slower-paced lions (Neville and Seamus) finally made pleasing progress, successfully conjuring buttons.
For this, Ethan also gained nearly 50 exchange experience points, as well as ten bags of sweets labeled “1 Knut.” Half of these “one-Knut” sweets were actually Chocolate Frogs.
Ethan had no choice but to accept this.
Now he had to find a new way out—perhaps he could resell these sweets to someone at half price?
Over the last two days, several Hufflepuff students had also come to him for help one after another.
Originally, those who hadn’t been to the empty classroom just wanted to quietly borrow Ethan’s notes from their classmates.
To their surprise, every single request was flatly refused.
The little badgers who had received Ethan’s help felt, of their own accord, that since Ethan had put so much heart into helping them, they should at least show their gratitude properly rather than secretly stealing his wisdom.
Besides, Ethan hadn’t set any harsh conditions.
Thus, over these two days, Ethan gained 1 Magic Affinity, 1 Spell Resistance, 2 Agility, 1 Mental Resistance, and 22 exchange experience points.
Ethan’s past two days had been exceptionally fulfilling, so much so that when Harry and Ron invited him to watch the school’s Quidditch match, he had to politely decline.
“Harry, I think Ethan is perfect for a school professor,” Ron said.
“The things he explains are so simple and easy to understand that even Neville can learn them!” Harry nodded in deep agreement.
“I’m not an idiot, Ron!” Neville protested angrily.
“I just have trouble remembering things!” Harry and Ron couldn’t help but shrug.
On Sunday night, after the last few Hufflepuffs had left, Ethan cleaned up the classroom and walked slowly back to his dormitory.
He collapsed onto his bed and immediately fell into a deep sleep.
In the dead of night, he sat up, dressed, and crept out of the room.
Casting the Disillusionment Charm, he pushed open the portrait of the Fat Lady and slipped out quickly.
Having her sweet dreams interrupted, the Fat Lady started shouting at the empty air.
Ethan acted as if he heard nothing.
He ran swiftly to the library on the fourth floor.
Catching his breath, he located the purple magic book from last time in the Restricted Section, took it with him, and returned to the empty classroom on the second floor.
Ethan dispelled his Transfiguration spell, lit a candle, and read carefully.
It contained many highly practical advanced spells, at least far more useful than Quirrell’s.
*Maybe once I learn them, I can teach them to others too?
That way, I might be able to earn another fortune in experience points.* Ethan quickly copied down a few spells.
An hour later, feeling mostly recovered, he immediately cast the Disillusionment Charm again, returned the book, and quietly departed.
However, as he passed a sleeping portrait in the corridor, Ethan suddenly froze, reaching out to touch it.
[Violet’s Portrait] [Exchange Value: 1 (Mental Power)] Ethan’s eyes lit up.
Without any hesitation, he exchanged it and turned to run.
[Mental Power +1] A moment later, a startled and furious scream echoed faintly behind him, waking up quite a few of the surrounding portraits.
By then, Ethan had already returned to his dormitory and quickly lay down to rest.
At 7:30 in the morning, Ron woke Ethan up.
Ethan let out a massive yawn, still looking utterly exhausted.
“Ethan, have you been wearing yourself out lately?” Harry asked with concern.
“The recent weather is perfect for sleeping in,” Ethan mumbled vaguely.
Ron looked blankly out the window.
Outside, a violent storm raged with howling winds, pouring rain, and flashes of lightning.
Was this weather suitable for sleeping in?
Talking as they changed, the boys left the common room together.
They huddled together under a single large umbrella, crowding each other as they dashed toward the castle.
“Move the umbrella a bit more to my side!” Hermione yelled at them.
Everyone, including Ethan, had a question mark pop up in their minds.
*When did she squeeze in?* In the entrance corridor, young wizards were busy shaking out and straightening their damp clothes.
Ron looked Hermione over and asked in surprise, “Did you wake up late too?” Hermione yelled at them furiously, “I was in the common room the entire time!
How could you not have seen me?!” “Maybe it’s because you’re too small.
You need to grow a bit, Granger!” Ron grinned, and the others quickly headed into the Great Hall in a noisy bustle.
Hermione stomped her foot in rage, glared at Ethan, and walked off in a huff.
Ethan was completely baffled.
What did Ron’s words have to do with him?
Having ordered his breakfast, Ethan suddenly noticed Luna already sitting in the Great Hall.
He walked over with a smile.
“Morning, Luna.
You’re early today.” Luna was staring at some empty spot in the air, but when she saw him, she blinked.
“Ethan, it’s already eight o’clock.” Ethan gave a dry laugh and asked curiously, “How have you been these past two days?
I haven’t seen you around.” Luna thought back carefully, tilting her head.
“I found a very fun place and made some new friends there.
The rest of the time, I’ve been doing homework in the library.
The professors left so many assignments; it took me a whole half-day to finish them all.” Ethan lowered his voice.
“How are your roommates doing?” “I think they were caught speaking ill of people by the portraits in the corridor,” Luna pondered.
“Professor McGonagall was very angry, and Professor Flitwick was too.
They were almost expelled.” Ethan nodded and asked with concern, “They didn’t take it out on you, did they?” Luna blinked.
“Professor McGonagall said the school hasn’t made a public announcement about it.
She told us to keep the secret, otherwise no one will be able to save them.” “That’s good,” Ethan murmured.
Just then, his breakfast arrived, dish after dish, quickly covering half the table.
Luna looked at her own plate of pudding, apples, and milk, and then at Ethan’s “kingdom of food” and his mismatching physique—he was actually quite lean.
“It’s really hard to believe you can eat so much food,” she said with utter honesty.
Ethan thought for a moment and said uncertainly, “It’s probably because my Magic Affinity is on the higher side, so I get hungry faster and digest quickly.” So far, his Magic Affinity stat had surpassed all his other attributes.
*Bang!* The doors of the Great Hall were thrown open violently.
Severus Snape, clad in his black robes, swept inside in a whirlwind.
Behind him followed a stern-faced Professor McGonagall, Professor Quirrell, Professor Flitwick, and Filch.
All the young wizards looked at them in astonishment.
Severus Snape swept his stern gaze across the hall.
Pointing his wand at his throat, his magnified, somber voice echoed throughout the Great Hall.
“In the early hours of this morning, someone attacked a portrait in the corridor.
I want to know who among you did not stay tucked up in bed in your dormitories last night.” Ethan’s pupils contracted.
He forced himself to remain calm, but the moment he turned his head, his gaze collided directly with Luna’s pale eyes.
She stared at him without moving, as if she had instantly seen through all of his secrets.