Good thing I’m a professional diviner.
Wade murmured to himself silently.
He couldn’t remember who currently possessed the Marauder’s Map, but for a diviner, that wasn’t much of a problem.
It wasn’t some high-level mystical artifact, nor did it possess any special resistance to divination.
Patiently, Wade explored Hogwarts on foot.
From the first floor to the eighth, he familiarized himself with the locations of classrooms, professors’ offices, the library, the bathrooms, the Hospital Wing, and other important places.
He didn’t enter any of them, merely noting their locations.
Afterward, he returned to the Great Hall for lunch before heading back to the Slytherin common room.
Fortunately, Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle weren’t in the dormitory.
It was the perfect opportunity to perform a dream divination.
A pendulum would have been more suitable for locating a lost object.
But it was too conspicuous—and took longer.
On a sheet of parchment, he wrote a single question: “Who currently possesses the Marauder’s Map?” Clutching the parchment, he lay down on his bed and quickly drifted to sleep.
…
Within a hazy dreamscape, Wade gradually regained awareness.
He found himself standing on the first floor of the castle, outside a small room beside the Entrance Hall.
The room was cramped, dim, and untidy.
There were no windows.
Only a single oil lamp hanging from the ceiling provided a faint glow.
Two figures slipped quietly inside.
They opened a drawer labeled: Confiscated Articles — Highly Dangerous From within, they pulled out an old piece of parchment…
…
Wade opened his eyes.
Rubbing his aching temples, he let out a bitter smile.
The room beside the Entrance Hall belonged to the caretaker, Argus Filch.
And the ones who stole the Marauder’s Map…
…were Ron Weasley’s twin brothers.
Fred and George.
“This complicates things…” “I’m not exactly close to those two.” “And as a Slytherin, getting the Marauder’s Map from two Gryffindors who love sneaking around and causing mischief won’t be easy.” “…What should I do?” “I can’t exactly steal it.” The thought briefly crossed his mind.
Just as quickly, he dismissed it.
Stealing was the worst possible option.
If the Weasley twins discovered who had taken it, they’d become an endless source of trouble.
He needed to obtain the map through normal means.
Ideally…
They would hand it over willingly.
Not easy…
Wade sighed.
The Marauder’s Map would have to wait.
His immediate priority remained finding somewhere secluded enough to practice magic without being discovered.
The Forbidden Forest?
Too dangerous.
An empty classroom?
A storage room?
Still too much risk of someone walking in.
Maybe another divination…
Just then, the dormitory door swung open.
Draco entered, followed by Crabbe and Goyle, both carrying armfuls of snacks.
Without attracting attention, Wade slipped the parchment into his sleeve before greeting them.
“You guys took your time.” “I assume you were secretly studying in the library?” “As expected of the young masters of pure-blood families.” “So much more diligent than ordinary people.” A trace of embarrassment flashed across Draco’s face.
“I was planning to go.” “But Crabbe and Goyle wanted to keep eating, so we stayed in the Great Hall.” Wade glanced at the two boys happily stuffing cakes into their mouths.
These two really do lower Slytherin’s average…
“So…” Draco asked curiously.
“What’s going on between you and Greengrass?” “Theodore told me he saw you chatting happily with her in the common room this morning.” “Don’t misunderstand.” “I was simply giving her a tarot reading.” “We’re just classmates.” “You can do divination?” Draco looked genuinely surprised.
“One of the few talents I actually possess.” “Otherwise, why would a half-blood like me have been sorted into Slytherin?” “So your readings are accurate?” “No.” Wade raised a finger and shook it.
“Divination isn’t omnipotent.” “I can only interpret the outcome that’s most likely.” “I can’t guarantee absolute accuracy.” Then he smoothly produced his tarot deck.
“Interested in a reading, Mr.
Malfoy?” “Only ten Galleons.” Pfft!
Crabbe immediately began coughing.
Goyle hurriedly slapped him on the back until he recovered.
“Have you lost your mind?” Crabbe stared at Wade in disbelief.
“Who’d pay ten Galleons for a reading?” “Our allowance is only twenty Galleons a term.” “My allowance’s a bit higher.” Draco straightened proudly.
“Fifty Galleons.” So many premium customers…
My vision has been far too limited.
Wade suddenly realized there was a genuine business opportunity here.
Divination wasn’t the most stable source of income.
But every successful reading brought in a substantial profit.
He simply needed to build a reputation first.
“Daphne already paid for two readings this morning.” “Twenty Galleons.” “…Only tarot readings?” Draco asked.
“What else would they have been?” Wade frowned.
He couldn’t understand why Draco found this topic so fascinating.
Quietly activating Spirit Vision, he examined Draco’s emotional aura.
Light red…
Mixed with traces of orange.
…He’s enjoying the gossip?
2 “So why are you asking?” “Oh, nothing.” “I’m just giving you a friendly warning since we’re roommates.” “Don’t get any ideas about Daphne.” …Me?
Interested in an eleven-year-old girl?
That’s absurd.
Even if someone believed in childhood romance…
This was still far too early.
Whether it was Daphne…
Or even Hermione…
He regarded both as nothing more than ordinary friends.
Romance would only slow down his path toward becoming a god.
Besides…
They were still children.
“Thanks for the warning.” Wade rolled his eyes.
“But that wasn’t funny.” “Still…” “I’d like to know why.” “Is it simply because I’m a half-blood?” “So you think I’m beneath her?” “That’s part of it.” “But honestly, it’s not the main reason.” …Seriously?
So blood status actually was one of the reasons.
For a brief moment, Wade felt mildly looked down upon.
Then he dismissed the feeling.
A deity should be magnanimous.
“So what’s the real reason?” “Daphne is the eldest daughter of the Greengrass family.” “And this generation only has two daughters.” “Herself…” “And her younger sister.” “As the future head of the family, if House Greengrass wants its name to continue…” “…they’ll have to bring a husband into the family.” “…Become the husband who joins the Greengrass family?” Wade blinked.
“You have no idea how many people would fight for that opportunity.” “My father told me Daphne’s own father had to beat out countless rivals before he earned the right.” “…I’ll pass.” “I know my limits.” “Good.” “Otherwise, plenty of Slytherins would see you as a rival.” Wade almost laughed.
Fortunately, he was only a half-blood.
Had he been Muggle-born…
Life in Slytherin would probably have been even more difficult.
Coincidentally, Daphne found herself facing a similar situation.
Several girls in her dormitory advised her to keep her distance from Wade.
As the heiress of one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, however, Daphne Greengrass had more than enough confidence to ignore them completely.
She didn’t even bother explaining herself.
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