Lucien put away Professor McGonagall’s letter.
He now saw the initial possibility of opening up a new direction for Transfiguration, and had a lead on the matter of repaying the loan.
He turned his head and saw that the owl was still there, preening its feathers.
Sitting down at his desk, Lucien began writing a reply to Professor McGonagall: “Professor, thank you for your guidance.
I will keep your warning in mind and will not attempt…” Since Professor McGonagall had solemnly explained the dangers of Magical Creature Transfiguration, Lucien naturally wouldn’t be stubborn and insist on trying it immediately.
Take it one bite at a time, walk one step at a time.
Lucien knew very well that he should first master basic knowledge and build a sufficient foundation before attempting truly high-end and innovative Transfiguration.
As long as he developed stable Magical Creature Transfiguration within a year, he could complete the loan task.
The nib of his pen rustled against the paper.
He quickly finished the reply, put it in an envelope, and was about to give it to the owl perched on the window.
Suddenly, a pale golden figure flew in through the window and pounced straight toward the plump, snow-white bird.
“Hoo!
Hoo—” The owl was immediately startled and hooted incessantly, flapping its wings as it scurried around the room.
Seeing this, Lucien merely waved his hand helplessly.
“Lumen, stop scaring it.” The golden figure stopped, its large golden-red eyes blinking as it looked at Lucien.
Lucien was also looking at the Little Qilin, a smile playing on his lips.
Lumen was the name he had given the Little Qilin.
It meant flowing light, which suited its pale golden scales.
With a cluster of auspicious clouds swirling beneath its feet, Lumen stepped through the air to Lucien’s side and rubbed its forehead, where short horns had yet to grow, against Lucien’s cheek in an affectionate manner.
“Go and soothe that owl; I still need its help to deliver the letter.” Understanding its master’s intent, Lumen turned toward the owl flying wildly around the room.
Without the Little Qilin appearing to do anything, the startled owl slowed its flight and eventually perched on the window again.
“Hoo.” The owl tilted its head.
Lumen tilted its head up at Lucien, seemingly waiting for praise.
This was the Qilin’s mental communication, which allowed it to convey meanings directly within the minds of other creatures; Lumen had conveyed goodwill and reassurance to the owl.
Coupled with the fact that Qilins are naturally symbols of auspiciousness and are friendly toward other creatures, that was why the owl calmed down so quickly.
Gently rubbing Lumen’s small head, Lucien smiled: “Well done.” He handed the envelope to the owl by the window.
Having received the letter, the owl flapped its wings and flew away.
— Ten o’clock on the morning of September 1st.
Lucien arrived at King’s Cross Station.
This was London’s transportation hub, with a massive flow of passengers.
Lucien walked through the crowd and arrived at the famous Platform 9¾.
He slowed his pace and waited until he saw someone walk straight into the third pillar.
Lucien followed the person and naturally walked toward the barrier wall.
He passed straight through and entered a new world.
The Hogwarts Express, an old-fashioned steam train.
It hadn’t sounded its whistle yet and was sitting there quietly; it wasn’t time for departure yet.
Lucien wasn’t in a hurry to board; he walked along the platform for a bit, observing the magical train.
With its red engine and black carriages, it didn’t look much different from a Muggle steam train.
However, Lucien knew very well that this was a genuine piece of Alchemy; the Hogwarts Express was perhaps the magical product created by wizards that had the most interaction with the Muggle world.
Scanning the platform, it was full of young wizards saying goodbye to their parents.
The older young wizards were fine, as they had been to Hogwarts several times already.
But the newly enrolled first-year students were mostly long-faced, some even teary-eyed.
It couldn’t be helped; these freshmen were only eleven years old, and for many, it was their first time being separated from their parents, entering an unfamiliar school, and meeting new classmates and teachers.
Stepping onto the train, a smile curled on Lucien’s lips.
Hogwarts, here I come.
Making his way through, Lucien found an empty compartment at random, walked in, and stowed his luggage.
In fact, his luggage consisted of only a single suitcase.
This wasn’t an ordinary suitcase; it was one cast with the Undetectable Extension Charm that Lucien had bought on another trip to Diagon Alley.
The actual space inside was large enough to hold all of Lucien’s daily necessities and books.
Of course, it couldn’t compare to Newt Scamander’s suitcase in Fantastic Beasts.
His suitcase was like a small world, housing an unknown number of Magical Creatures.
In the future, I can study the Undetectable Extension Charm and see if I can modify and expand my suitcase; if I could throw out a large group of Magical Creatures during battle like Newt, it would probably give my opponents a little shock.
While thinking, Lucien opened his suitcase and took out several books.
Since there was plenty of time on the journey anyway, Lucien leaned against the window and began reading leisurely.
— “Platform 9¾ actually requires walking through a pillar?” Hermione walked through the carriage panting, dragging a pile of luggage.
She had clearly arrived at King’s Cross Station early, but ended up spending quite a while looking for the platform.
If she hadn’t spotted a family walking into a pillar between platforms nine and ten and then mysteriously vanishing, Hermione would likely have been wandering around for much longer.
Due to her haste, beads of sweat hung from the tip of Hermione’s nose, and her already bushy brown hair was even more disheveled.
Passing the compartments that were already full, Hermione came to a closed door.
She first calmed her slightly hurried breathing, then raised her hand and knocked gently.
“Hello, is there still a seat in here?” “There is, please come in.” The voice sounded a bit familiar, but Hermione didn’t think much of it; she just wanted to stow her luggage and sit down for a good rest!
With a whoosh, she slid open the door and looked inside.
A boy was leaning by the window, holding a book in his hands.
Sunlight streamed through the window, falling on the boy’s dark golden hair and reflecting a faint golden light.
Hearing the sound of the door opening, those dark green eyes looked up from the book and turned toward Hermione.
“Oh, Miss Granger, what a coincidence.” Looking at that handsome face and the faint smile in his eyes, Hermione actually forgot to respond for a moment.
The compartment was silent for nearly a full minute.
“Ah, yes, Lucien, what a coincidence indeed.” Hermione’s face immediately turned a bit red, but fortunately, she was already flushed from exhaustion, so it wasn’t obvious.
She turned her head slightly and murmured softly: “May I sit in here?” Lucien gestured with his hand.
“Feel free.” After a light cough, Hermione was about to turn around to move her luggage.
“Wingardium Leviosa.” Upon hearing the incantation, Hermione saw her pile of luggage float up and drift orderly toward the overhead rack.
“You’ve also studied spells in advance?!” The little witch looked in surprise at the wand in Lucien’s hand.
True to her overachiever nature, Hermione had read many basic magic books over the summer and tried to learn some very simple spells.
But that didn’t include the Levitation Charm Lucien had just used; Hermione figured that spell would have to wait for a teacher to teach it at Hogwarts.
She hadn’t expected Lucien to have already mastered the spell, and seeing how smoothly the luggage flew, his proficiency with the Levitation Charm must be quite high.
Could he be a so-called Pure-blood wizard, with elders at home who taught him magic in advance?
Looking at Lucien’s temperament, he seemed like a noble; was he from one of those Pure-blood families mentioned in books?
But there didn’t seem to be a Greenwood…
“Oh, thank you for helping me with my luggage.” Hermione thanked Lucien, realizing it a bit late.
“Just taking the opportunity to practice a spell, you’re welcome.” Lucien smiled politely, then put away his wand and resumed reading the book in his hand.
Seeing Lucien reading again, Hermione sat quietly opposite him, not daring to strike up a conversation.
But after only a few minutes, she couldn’t stand it anymore.
Hermione also wanted to follow Lucien’s lead and take out a book to read, but that would require taking down her suitcase, which would certainly make noise and disturb him.
She also didn’t want to trouble Lucien to use the Levitation Charm to get it for her again.
“If you want to read the books on the table, feel free to take one.” Lucien didn’t even look up, continuing to flip through his book.
Hermione was still a child after all; Lucien found her hesitant behavior quite amusing, so he simply reminded her that she could take a book to read herself.
Hearing Lucien’s permission, Hermione whispered a thank you.
She reached out and took the first book from the pile.
It happened to be: A Guide to Rearing Magical Creatures.