From a bird’s-eye perspective, Wade drifted through Hogwarts Castle.
Passing floor after floor, he eventually reached the eighth level, where he saw the tapestry depicting Barnabas the Barmy being chased by trolls swinging their clubs.
Then his view slowly turned one hundred and eighty degrees…
…before darkness swallowed everything.
The dream shattered.
Wade slowly opened his eyes.
He was still clutching a sheet of parchment.
Written across it was his divination question: A hidden place in Hogwarts suitable for practicing magic.
Sitting up carefully, he made sure not to wake Draco, Crabbe, or Goyle.
Then he pulled out the notebook hidden beneath his pillow and wrote: Eighth Floor — Barnabas the Barmy Tapestry.
The page was already filled with similar entries.
The Forbidden Forest.
Abandoned classrooms.
The fourth floor.
A massive willow tree.
These were all places he had discovered through repeated dream divinations over the past few days.
Unfortunately…
Every location either posed too much danger…
…or carried too great a risk of someone discovering him.
Two places, however, continued to bother him.
One was a bathroom.
The other was the eighth floor he had just dreamed about.
He had never actually visited the bathroom.
It appeared to be a girls’ lavatory that had long since been abandoned.
In the dream, the moment he stepped inside, an icy chill swept through his entire body.
It felt as though some terrifying beast had locked onto him.
The next instant…
A sharp pain pierced his mind like countless needles.
Before he could even react, the dream forcibly expelled him.
The eighth floor hadn’t felt nearly as dangerous.
But it seemed to possess a certain resistance to divination.
“I definitely shouldn’t go anywhere near that bathroom.” “Something unknown is hiding there.” “The eighth floor…” “That might be worth investigating.” “I’ll just have to pick a time when nobody’s around.” As the thought crossed his mind, another immediately followed.
The Marauder’s Map.
Without obtaining it, there was always the possibility that Fred and George would notice him no matter where he went inside Hogwarts.
During the day, he wasn’t too worried.
They wouldn’t openly pull out the map where everyone could see.
At night…
That was another matter entirely.
Seriously…
Who even invented that ridiculous map?
That’s completely unfair.
In the Great Hall, Wade absentmindedly ate breakfast while occasionally glancing toward the Gryffindor table.
Fred and George Weasley looked exactly alike.
The Marauder’s Map could be in either twin’s possession.
A pale hand suddenly waved in front of his face, pulling him back to reality.
“Who are you looking at?” Daphne asked, sounding distinctly displeased.
“No one.” “Don’t lie.” She pouted slightly.
Her gaze unconsciously drifted toward Hermione.
…What exactly are you imagining?
Wade stared at the young pure-blood witch in bewilderment.
Don’t tell me…
She’s actually interested in me?
And wants me to marry into the Greengrass family?
Impossible.
Absolutely impossible.
I’m only a half-blood.
I’ve spent every day deliberately acting average.
But…
That jealous expression doesn’t look fake.
Taking a deep breath, Wade forcibly pushed aside the chaotic thoughts.
“Don’t misunderstand.” “I’m simply jealous.” “Jealous?” Daphne blinked.
“Of what?” “Talent.” “Haven’t you noticed?” “Granger has performed better than any other first-year.” “You’re talented at Potions too.” “I won’t deny that.” “But all my talent seems concentrated in Potions.” “I’m terribly unbalanced.” “Meanwhile…” “She’s good at practically everything.” “A true all-rounder.” “I’m sure there are subjects she isn’t good at.” Daphne replied after a moment’s thought.
“A Muggle-born witch can only go so far.” “No matter how clever she is, her magic can’t compare to that of a pure-blood.” “And besides…” She paused again.
“If you compare yourself with students like Neville or Crabbe…” “You’re actually quite outstanding.” …Was that supposed to be a compliment?
When did my standards fall so low that I had to compare myself with the weakest students just to feel better?
“Thank you.” Wade laughed helplessly.
“I’ll take that as encouragement.” During breakfast, the post owls swooped into the Great Hall.
One by one, they dropped packages onto the tables.
Draco proudly received a box of sweets from his parents and immediately opened it for everyone to see.
Daphne smiled happily after receiving a letter from her younger sister.
Wade also received a package.
His subscription to the Daily Prophet.
One copy cost five Knuts.
Sometimes even more.
The front-page headline read: Latest Developments in the Gringotts Break-in The investigation into the unlawful break-in at Gringotts on July 31 continues.
Authorities generally believe an unidentified Dark wizard was responsible.
Gringotts representatives once again stressed today that nothing was stolen.
The vault in question had already been emptied earlier that same day.
A Gringotts goblin spokesperson declined to comment on what had previously been stored there, urging the public not to interfere with the investigation.
Looking at the accompanying photograph of goblins examining the vault, Wade couldn’t help chuckling.
Still investigating?
If you knew it was the Dark Lord himself…
You’d probably stop investigating and start panicking instead.
“Look!” “Neville got a Remembrall.” Dean pointed excitedly toward the transparent glass sphere in Neville’s hand.
“I’ve read about those.” Hermione nodded.
“If you’ve forgotten something…” “…the smoke inside turns red.” The moment she finished speaking…
Red smoke immediately filled the Remembrall.
“My grandmother sent it to me.” Neville looked miserable.
“She knows I always forget things.” “The problem is…” “I can’t remember what I’ve forgotten.” That afternoon, the Slytherin and Gryffindor first-years attended their very first Flying lesson.
The class was taught by Madam Hooch, a capable-looking witch with short gray hair and sharp yellow eyes.
The students from both Houses stood in two distinct lines.
A broomstick lay neatly beside each student.
“What are you waiting for?” Madam Hooch called.
“Stand to the left of your broom.” “Hold your right hand over it.” “And say…” “‘Up!'” “Up!” Voices echoed across the field.
The broomsticks’ reactions immediately revealed each student’s natural flying talent.
For the first time since arriving at Hogwarts, Hermione experienced genuine frustration.
Harry succeeded on his very first attempt.
His broom leaped eagerly into his hand.
Draco managed it after only three tries.
Hermione called for her broom over a dozen times before it merely lifted a few inches off the ground.
Most of the others weren’t doing much better.
Neville’s broom stubbornly refused to move at all.
Ron was even smacked in the face by his own broom.
“Put some feeling into it.” Madam Hooch advised.
Wade quietly relaxed his control over his magic just a little.
He intentionally succeeded slightly later than Daphne.
Only then did his broom rise neatly into his hand.
Once everyone had finally managed it, Madam Hooch blew her whistle.
“Now that you’ve all got your brooms…” “I want you to mount them.” “Hold on tight.” “And don’t slide off.” “When I blow my whistle…” “Push off hard.” “Rise into the air.” “Hover for a moment…” “Then lean forward gently and return to the ground.” “Listen carefully for my whistle.” “Three…” “Two…” If you’re enjoying the story, please consider supporting it!