[ Loan: Qilin (annual loan) ] [ Repayment Period: 365 days ] [ Loan Content: Obtain a Qilin ] [ Loan Task: Use the Philosopher’s Stone to concoct a Potion ] [ Evaluation: Qilin, an auspicious beast from Eastern legend, wards off evil, breathes fire, walks on clouds, and breaks through spatial barriers.
] [ Note: In the current world, the one chosen by the Qilin is regarded as a natural-born leader.
] A Qilin, a divine beast-level creature.
Having such a pet is definitely better than some round-faced fat chickens or toads!
The task is to use the Philosopher’s Stone to concoct a Potion, but it doesn’t specify what kind.
Hmm, in my first year at Hogwarts, I’ll have the chance to come into contact with the Philosopher’s Stone.
Anyway, as long as I keep an eye on that kid Harry Potter, finding the Philosopher’s Stone shouldn’t be a problem.
I remember Dumbledore likes that whole prophecy business; he must have already arranged for Harry to get the Philosopher’s Stone.
Can I find a way to get my hands on it early?
After all, I’ll need to study how to use the Philosopher’s Stone to concoct Potions.
[ Do you wish to take out the loan?
] “Borrow.” Lucien directly chose to accept.
It’s also an annual loan, but he felt this task was much simpler than perfectly mastering Transfiguration.
First, because he knows the way to obtain the Philosopher’s Stone, he has already solved the biggest difficulty of the task.
Second, the task doesn’t require a specific Potion to be concocted.
In other words, using the Philosopher’s Stone to concoct a cold medicine is fine too.
But that would be a bit wasteful.
Hmm, I’ll make a simple Potion first as a baseline to pay off the loan.
If conditions allow, I’ll try to concoct more high-end Potions.
The Philosopher’s Stone can turn stone into gold and grant immortality; I wonder if it can be used to concoct related Potions…
Seeing that Lucien hadn’t chosen a pet for a long time, Professor McGonagall asked: “Nothing you want?” Lucien nodded.
There really wasn’t a pet he liked here, and besides, he now had the divine beast Qilin.
“Then you don’t have to buy one now.
Not all young wizards have pets in their first year.
Let’s go to the last stop now, the one you’ve been looking forward to: Flourish and Blotts.” Hearing Professor McGonagall’s words, Lucien’s eyes lit up.
Flourish and Blotts is a famous bookstore in the Magical World, selling a vast number of magic books.
“Okay, Professor.” — Inside Flourish and Blotts.
Lucien moved between rows of bookshelves, occasionally pulling out a book and tucking it into his arms.
“‘Beginner’s Guide to Transfiguration’, must get this!” “‘Identifying Potions for the First Time’, useful, buy it!” “‘Encyclopedia of Beginner Charms’, definitely getting it!” “…Buy, buy them all!” Seeing the stack of books in Lucien’s arms rising rapidly, Professor McGonagall opened her mouth to remind him that first-year young wizards usually don’t need to buy so many books.
For one, the amount of introductory magic knowledge is quite substantial, enough for young wizards to study for a year or even two.
Second, young wizards at this age tend to be playful; if they can manage to read ten pages, that’s considered persistent, and buying books often just leads to them gathering dust.
But thinking of Lucien’s extraordinary talent, Professor McGonagall felt he could really digest these books quickly.
“Lucien looks like a good kid who loves to learn; he will surely study seriously.” Professor McGonagall glanced at the money pouch at Lucien’s waist, which was bulging.
“Anyway, he’s not someone short of money.” The pile of books was too high, so Lucien had to tilt his head to look at the bookshelf.
“‘Guide to Raising Magical Creatures’?” Just right, I have a Qilin to raise, I need to learn the relevant knowledge.
There’s only one left, buy it!
Lucien reached out and had just grabbed the book.
The other side of the book was gripped by a small hand.
“Ahem, I got this book first.
Could you please let go?” A childish but somewhat haughty voice sounded next to Lucien.
Heh, a bit polite, but only a little.
I want to see who is trying to snatch a book from Lord Lucien?
Lucien turned his head to look.
The owner of the voice was a little girl with pale skin and a thick mane of brown hair.
She had a pair of brown eyes, but the most striking features were those large front teeth, looking just like a little rabbit.
Her arms were also piled with a stack of books, just not as high as Lucien’s.
“Hello, Miss, who might you be?” Lucien gave a polite smile; this was the etiquette of his upbringing.
But his hand gripping the book didn’t loosen at all.
Looking at Lucien’s handsome smiling face, his dark green eyes deep and profound, like a pool of water that could attract a soul, the little girl blushed a little, but still raised her head, her tone softening a bit: “Hermione, Hermione Granger.” Who?
Lucien was stunned for a moment.
Of course, he knew the name Hermione, the big sister of the protagonist trio.
So soon, I’ve met someone from the protagonist group.
That was fast.
But I remember Hermione being a delicate little girl like a porcelain doll; who is this one with the little rabbit teeth?
Could it be that this world isn’t following the movie settings, but the original novel?
Or maybe it’s a mix of both?
Seeing Lucien not speaking, just staring at her blankly, Hermione suddenly pursed her lips and lowered her head unnaturally.
“Er, sorry, when I saw you, I remembered a friend.
You both have beautiful brown hair.
My name is Lucien, Lucien Greenwood.” Hearing Lucien’s words, Hermione quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
So he wasn’t looking at my teeth; he was just complimenting my hair?
Hermione’s fingers gripping the book suddenly loosened.
Lucien took the opportunity to pull away this ‘Guide to Raising Magical Creatures’.
Sensing the movement of the book in her hand, Hermione subconsciously tightened her grip again.
The two were about to fall into a stalemate.
“Miss Granger, have you found the books you like?” A short lady wearing a hat with heavy patches walked behind Hermione.
“Ah, Professor Sprout, I, I am still looking.” Sprout?
Lucien looked at this lady.
She had flowing gray hair and was looking kindly at the two young wizards.
“Pomona?” Professor McGonagall heard the voice and walked over, seeing her colleague, Pomona Sprout.
The Dean of Hufflepuff House, Herbology Professor.
“What a coincidence, Minerva, is this the young wizard you are responsible for guiding?” Professor Sprout nodded towards Lucien.
“Yes, he is Lucien Greenwood.
A very talented young wizard.” Hearing Professor McGonagall’s introduction, Professor Sprout was a bit surprised.
She knew this colleague she had worked with for many years; she was very strict in her teaching style and rarely praised a young wizard who hadn’t even enrolled yet so directly.
Professor Sprout looked back at Lucien and said with a smile: “I can tell, he must be a good kid who loves to read.” Seeing the many books in Lucien’s arms, Professor Sprout kindly reminded him: “First-year young wizards actually don’t need to buy so many.
You should save some pocket money for yourself.” Hearing this, Lucien didn’t react; who told him his money pouch was heavy.
Instead, Hermione’s body stiffened, and her hand that was gripping the ‘Guide to Raising Magical Creatures’ shrank back.
She had already spent quite a bit of the Galleons she exchanged, and her family wasn’t wealthy enough to exchange more Galleons with gold.
Seeing this, Lucien directly pulled the book away and piled it into his arms.
When it comes to knowledge, why be modest?
How can a girl be more fragrant than knowledge?