Dawn broke over London, the mist still clinging to the streets.
Linus Alvin pushed open the wooden door of his apothecary shop, setting off a crisp chime.
Behind the counter, the witch hastily rose and bowed, a thick ledger clasped in her hands.
“Sir, here are the sales figures for the past three months.” Linus took the ledger, his gaze sweeping over the dense columns of numbers.
The profits remained staggering, particularly those from the Elixir of Eternal Youth—a literal money printer for the wizarding world.
This potion could restore a person’s appearance to whatever age she desired; whether forty or twenty, a single bottle brought back the bloom of youth.
It didn’t extend life, but it allowed women to see their former youth in the mirror, while younger witches used it to maintain flawless complexions.
Better yet, the potion cast a subtle glamour effect—a real-life beauty filter.
Of course, the potion was not without its drawbacks.
Overuse led to tolerance building up, causing the effects to gradually fade.
So Linus had developed a second potion specifically to clear that tolerance.
With these two potions cornering the market, combined with the wild popularity of Yu-Gi-Oh!
trading cards, he was already an acknowledged tycoon of the wizarding world.
Yet wealth was never his ultimate goal.
He needed money—to fund far grander experiments.
The fusion of nuclear energy and magic, dimensions and souls, alchemy and modern science—that was his true objective.
After confirming that everything in the shop was in order, Linus draped on a black robe and grabbed a handful of Floo powder.
“Hogwarts, Professor McGonagall’s office.” Emerald flames swallowed him instantly.
A second later, he stepped into the familiar office.
Professor McGonagall sat behind her desk, immaculate as ever in her crisp green robes, her gaze sharp.
“Mr.
Linus, long time no see,” she said, her tone cool.
“Five years, to be precise,” she added.
“For five years, no one knew where you had gone.
If not for the occasional letter you sent, we would have thought you died in some laboratory.” Linus smiled faintly.
“You should have a little more faith in me, Professor.
It isn’t so easy to kill me.” McGonagall frowned deeply.
“That is not the issue.
You vanished without a trace after graduation, worrying countless people.
Even the Headmaster brought up your whereabouts on numerous occasions.” “My apologies,” he replied earnestly.
“I was thoroughly absorbed in my research during those years, and later ran into a bit of…
minor trouble.” “‘Minor trouble’?” McGonagall snorted.
“I hardly think anything you describe as ‘minor’ is truly insignificant.” With that, she stood up to lead the way.
The two walked down the corridor.
The magic stone gargoyle stepped aside in silence, revealing an ancient oak door.
“Go on in.
The Headmaster is waiting for you.” Linus pushed the door open.
Familiar warmth washed over him as blue flames crackled in the fireplace, the air rich with the sweet scent of lemon drops.
On a perch in the center of the room, a phoenix was lazily preening its feathers.
Linus smiled and reached out to gently stroke its crest.
“Fawkes, have you considered my offer?
Come with me.
I can give you a much better life.” The phoenix raised its eyes and chirped lazily, *Not interested.* “Ah, same as ever,” he chuckled softly.
“A marvelous spell, isn’t it?” a gentle voice suddenly remarked.
“‘Voice of Nature,’ allowing one to converse with living creatures.
I must admit, it is one of your finest inventions.” Linus turned around.
“Professor Albus Dumbledore, you look even more energetic than I remember.” “Thank you.
Would you care for some tea?” “If you don’t mind.” With a wave of Dumbledore’s hand, the teapot floated up on its own, steam wafting with a rich aroma.
The two sat across from each other in a moment of silence.
Dumbledore observed him with deep, soul-piercing eyes that could make anyone uneasy.
*Has he already reached that stage?* the Headmaster mused silently with a subtle sigh.
*Faster than Gellert and me…
faster even than Tom.* He took a sip of tea and asked, “Mr.
Linus, where have you been these past five years?” Linus replied calmly, “After my application for a professorship was rejected back then, I took your advice—to travel.
“I went to the United States, the Amazon rainforest in Brazil, the pyramids of Egypt, and even traveled through the Soviet Union and China.
Not just the wizarding world, but the Muggle world as well.” Dumbledore nodded slightly, but caught a faint trace of evasion behind those calm eyes.
He was not telling the whole truth, of course.
Travel?
That was merely the surface.
In truth, during those five years, Linus had become the world’s most mysterious “academic thief.” He had infiltrated magical academies, alchemy towers, and Muggle research institutes across the globe, stealing knowledge, incantations, ancient scrolls, and unpublished experimental data.
In the Americas, he disguised himself as an apothecary to slip into shamanic tribes; in the Soviet Union, he snuck into the Academy of Sciences’ underground magical energy reactors; in China, he paid a late-night visit to the ruins of Kunlun, discussing array formations and the nature of souls with a Taoist master.
He stole not wealth, but wisdom.
Sometimes he didn’t even use a single spell or weapon; a simple conversation was enough for him to plunder the core theories of an entire school of thought.
Thus, a legend arose— The “Shadowless Thief,” whose footprints spanned the globe, feared and avoided by both the wizarding and Muggle worlds alike.
Yet no one knew that this mysterious thief was none other than Hogwarts’ youngest brilliant graduate—Linus Alvin.
“I see.” Dumbledore slowly set down his teacup.
“I imagine your so-called ‘travels’ must have been remarkably…
fulfilling.” Linus merely offered a noncommittal smile.
After a moment of silence, Dumbledore turned and walked toward the ancient desk carved with runes.
“The professorship at Hogwarts has been vacant for years, and I need someone capable of sparking the students’ curiosity.
You—are clearly a dangerous yet captivating choice.” Linus stood up, his fingers lightly tapping the desk.
“Danger and curiosity—aren’t those the very essence of magic?” Dumbledore smiled faintly, a spark like blue flame flickering in his eyes.
“Welcome home, Professor Linus.”