get-shopping Chapter 168, Section 167: A Return to Diagon Alley!
Chapter 168, Section 167: A Return to Diagon Alley!
Chapter 168, Section 167: A Return to Diagon Alley!
Just as there is no such thing as a free breakfast, lunch, and dinner, there is never any kindness without a reason in the world, especially among wealthy families that have lasted for countless years.
Ian knew that Theodore Greengrass and his wife might have some needs of him, but he never expected that the couple would be after something like "helping the emperor rise to power"!
Faced with Theodore Greengrass's somewhat intense gaze, the young wizard felt he had to defend his nature, otherwise who knew what rumors would spread after he left tonight.
"Sir, Madam, I think you may have misunderstood something. I have no intention of reshaping the order of wizarding society. It's better to leave such a career to ambitious people."
"For me, studying hard and doing what I love after graduation is my goal," Ian said with genuine sincerity.
This is true.
His most ambitious plan was simply to build a minting machine and then happily mint existing currency secretly, rather than issuing currency himself and letting others enjoy the pleasure of counterfeiting.
Just after the young wizard began to express his thoughts, before Theodore Greengrass and his wife could even speak, Lupin had already lowered his head and touched his philtrum, seemingly deep in thought.
He believed he knew far more information than the pure-blood families, and considering the research he had witnessed by the young wizards, he figured that what they were saying now was probably not entirely a lie.
"He didn't really want to overthrow the wizarding world; he probably wanted to overthrow the Muggle world as well..." It's no wonder that Lupin was having such a turbulent thought now.
after all.
Last night, on Ian's birthday, the "drink" that the little wizard gave to the orphans was something he found increasingly strange, and he was convinced that it must be some kind of magic potion.
It was a potion similar to the one given to the little girl Catherine, but certainly even more astonishing; otherwise, the young wizard wouldn't have chosen to avoid my questions last night.
Even a powerful item like the [Squid Resurrection Potion] wasn't hidden, so what exactly was they trying to hide? Just thinking about it sent chills down Lupin's spine.
"Don't just keep your head down and stay silent. Say something already. You were the one who first provoked those werewolves, and you know why I continued to contact them."
At that moment, Ian nudged Lupin with his elbow again.
The down-on-his-luck werewolf quickly came to his senses. He first glanced at the young wizard with a rather complicated look, and then turned to look at Theodore Greengrass, his former classmate.
"Yes, it's the werewolf I'm looking for. Ian's frequent interactions with werewolves are solely for researching wolf venom potions. I don't think your intelligence is unaware of this." After regaining his composure somewhat, Lupin still chose to side with the young wizard, since he would only consult Albus Dumbledore about anything.
Regardless of whether the young wizard has any ambitions or intentions, it's best not to let these Slytherin students get involved, otherwise it certainly won't be a good thing for most people—Lupin has a deep prejudice against Theodore Greengrass, perhaps related to his childhood conflict with Theodore Greengrass.
Theodore Greengrass clearly also had a negative opinion of Lupin.
"There are some things that you and your stupid, pig-like friends can't understand, Lupin. After all these years, you're still the same self-righteous, disgusting person."
This was definitely the longest sentence Theodore Greengrass had said to Lupin all night. In fact, if it weren't for Ian's sake, he might have cursed Lupin in the face the moment Lupin approached his house. To be honest, most Slytherin students back then probably harbored similar resentment.
after all.
While Slytherin students might genuinely discriminate against and look down on students from other houses, James Potter's clique was undoubtedly a genuine bullying group. Things like pulling down pants, flicking heads, and hanging people upside down... Severus Snape was certainly not the only one to have been victimized.
"Of course, you are not included in my assessment, Mr. Prince." After saying this to Lupin, Theodore Greengrass turned to look at Ian solemnly.
"You are too young, so you may not yet realize that a wizard as outstanding and brilliant as you will always have many, many people who have expectations of you and even yearn for you."
"The wizarding world has not seen any changes for a very, very long time. I think you felt this when you first entered the wizarding world. So many places seem to have not made any progress for countless years... They may be very traditional, but this conservatism is not the result of wizards' deliberate actions."
Theodore Greengrass spoke with a steady and powerful voice, carrying the unique voice of a mature man, expressing a view that was completely contrary to the mainstream understanding of many young wizards today.
"If you delve deep enough into history, you'll find that those who drive history, whether Muggles or us, will always be the brightest new stars."
"Only those who rise like a comet, without falling or fading away, can guide a civilization toward progress, and we wizards haven't had such a person for many years."
"This is the main reason why the wizarding world has stagnated for so many years."
"Many people think that we who call ourselves the Holy Race are supporters of the old rules, but they don't know that at least most of my friends and relatives long for change in the wizarding world."
"Lying in past glories will only lead our family to decay. Only new challenges and opportunities can allow us to reap the glory of a new life."
"Failure? Fall? Fading into obscurity? These are not what Slytherin students fear. What we fear is watching our ancestors' glory tarnished while we are powerless to change it."
Theodore Greengrass's voice was loud and clear, and his wife nodded slightly beside him. Lupin frowned slightly, but he did not say anything.
"A very insightful opinion."
Ian admitted that Theodore Greengrass's words did have some merit, but he still felt rather helpless, "It's just that the profession of 'leader' is not what I'm after."
"In fact, you have much better options. I recommend my good friend Aurora. She is exceptionally talented, of noble birth, and the center of attention.
"Muggles all have their own queens, so wizards should have one too. How perfect!" Ian chose to use Aurora as a shield to draw "firepower."
however.
Theodore Greengrass shook his head slightly.
"Mr. Prince, as I just said, the glory of our ancestors is gone, so we, who seem to be a prominent family, do not actually have the right to make decisions."
"In the wizarding world, strength determines power. Some have already made their choice, and we can only decide whether to follow it." It must be said that for a descendant of a pure-blood family like Theodore Greengrass, admitting that his family's strength has declined is definitely not an easy thing.
He was indeed sincere and open-minded.
"Albus Dumbledore?"
Ian hesitated for a moment, glanced at Lupin beside him, and then uttered another name.
"Still Gellert Grindelwald?"
The young wizard could only think of these two old men as the "masterminds" behind the scenes. He was more inclined to believe the latter, because when the latter had talked to him before, he had always been trying to influence him and stimulate his ambition.
Faced with this inquiry.
Theodore Greengrass hesitated for a moment but did not choose to respond directly.
"Mr. Prince, you should know something about modern history, right?" He put down his knife, stared at the plate in front of him, and suddenly asked a trivial question.
"certainly."
Ian nodded in response.
Theodore Greengrass looked up at the incredibly young boy in front of him, a boy whose strength far surpassed that of him and most wizards.
"As for the former Dark Lord, that man whose name cannot be mentioned, most of his followers are ostensibly from our Slytherin pure-blood families."
"Do you know why?" Theodore Greengrass asked again, a hint of weariness in his eyes.
"Of course it's because you're all afraid of death and want to share the benefits and rights that come with being the Dark Lord." This was Lupin's somewhat indignant reply.
His views are not exactly prejudiced.
but.
Theodore Greengrass thought Lupin's thinking was indeed very narrow-minded. He glanced at this classmate he used to dislike, and a hint of pity appeared in his eyes.
"That's too one-sided, Lupin." Theodore Greengrass didn't refute it, but commented on Lupin's answer with a slightly mocking tone.
"I'll just watch you try to cover up your actions."
Lupin scoffed again.
"You bastard..."
Mrs. Armand Greengrass, who had been silently allowing her husband and Ian to speak, frowned as if she wanted to say something, but was stopped by Theodore Greengrass.
"To this day, Lupin, I still think that of your little gang, only James Potter is truly evil, while the other three are just naively stupid." Theodore Greengrass's opinion may not be objective, after all, Harry's father, who was able to join the Order of the Phoenix, was certainly not irredeemably evil.
but.
This view is clearly not one that Lupin can accept.
"He was a victim who fell in the struggle, and in that respect he was better than all of you." Lupin managed to suppress his anger well, because he also knew the resentment in Theodore Greengrass's heart.
Looking back after so many years since graduation, Lu Ping has indeed realized that some of their actions were excessive, stemming from youthful impetuosity and a lack of consideration for the subsequent consequences.
only.
Arguing about right and wrong now is pointless, and they were definitely not the only ones who did wrong back then; the Slytherin students were certainly wrong for liking to bully others.
"I never said that Porter wasn't a hero. I think there's part of the reason why his savior son has been celebrated for so many years, and that's because we've helped promote him."
"In fact, this also reflects our desire for change. Most of the next generation in our families have a certain fondness for Potter's savior son."
Theodore Greengrass looked at the young wizard who was lost in thought.
"Mr. Prince, before you appeared, both we and that other person were pushing things along, trying to create a savior who could bring a new dawn to the wizarding world."
"The Dark Lord may have fallen, but the wizarding world has returned to a stagnant state, which is not the development we wanted." Theodore Greengrass steered the conversation back to the question that Lupin had interrupted.
This time, instead of asking Ian further, they directly gave him the answer they had in mind.
"Death Eaters, the Dark Lord's followers, with the exception of a very small number of madmen, mostly grasped at this possible hope of change simply because they saw no other hope."
"They wanted to forge a new future, to continue and revitalize the family's glory, and also to prevent future generations from continuing to decay," Theodore Greengrass said with a hint of regret.
"However, history has proven that this was a wrong choice." Not only did his expression become somewhat melancholy, but Mrs. Armand Greengrass also had a complicated expression.
"It's because you're short-sighted and can't distinguish between good and evil."
Lu Ping then made another sarcastic remark.
Ian didn't say anything. He was staring at the remaining dragon meat and other precious foods in front of him, thinking about how to pack them up and how to preserve them after returning home.
Aurora's [Corpse Preservation Charm] might be used to make refrigerators.
"I'd rather call it grasping at straws when you're desperate," Theodore Greengrass rolled his eyes at Lupin, speaking in a sarcastic tone without backing down.
"As for why we are like this, you might go back and ask the person you are loyal to." His tone clearly carried a great deal of resentment.
These words might have sounded a bit too impulsive.
Mrs. Armand Greengrass immediately grabbed her husband's hand with some concern.
"Feel sorry."
Theodore Greengrass realized his slip of the tongue, raised his hand to rub his temples, and chose to stop the conversation in time, but Lupin was not very happy.
What are you trying to say?
Lupin wasn't being aggressive; he genuinely didn't understand.
"Many years ago, our elders thought they had found hope, they saw a leader, and then... he gave up. That's why many people, in their desperation, chose his student." Theodore Greengrass clearly couldn't hold back, his resentful expression showing how aggrieved he was.
"..."
Lupin suddenly realized that perhaps he shouldn't have asked.
He wanted to slap himself hard in the face.
"Alright, that's not the topic for us tonight." Mrs. Armand Greengrass glared at her husband, then looked at the little wizard who was cutting up dragon meat.
"I've already had the kitchen prepare the remaining dragon meat for you." She saw the little wizard secretly packing it into bags, so she immediately made a tactful statement.
"Oh, okay, thank you, kind lady." Ian said this, but he didn't stop eating and taking things, not because he was ill-mannered.
Instead, the young wizard felt he had to damage his image a little.
of course.
There was a slight sense of comfort in the feeling.
"It seems the food tonight suits your taste." Mrs. Armand Greengrass smiled helplessly, a remark that fully demonstrated that even pure-blood families like theirs were not without emotional intelligence.
"It's not bad, but I think it's not as good as pasta with No. 5 concrete." Ian continued, his slightly "crazy" response catching Armand Greengrass off guard.
Lupin, standing beside him, also looked completely bewildered.
What the hell?
concrete?
"That sounds good. I think we'll try out the combination you mentioned." Theodore Greengrass was surprisingly able to smile and respond to Ian's nonsensical remarks.
The little wizard gave him a thumbs up.
"You have plenty of time to think about your future path. We will not coerce you, nor do we have the ability to coerce you. All we hope is that you can understand our attitude."
Theodore Greengrass continued to express his rather explicit thoughts.
"This meal was very good. I think Miss Daphne has become my seventieth friend," Ian said happily, looking at the two sisters' barely touched plates.
The two sisters ran away again.
This behavior definitely increases favorability.
He could easily pack at least two extra pounds of dragon meat to take home.
"Then she should keep trying and continue to strive for a higher ranking." Theodore Greengrass felt that he had grasped the implied meaning in the little wizard's words.
The time that follows.
He started talking to Ian about some interesting things happening in the wizarding world, such as the fact that the wizarding world was currently preparing a movie called "Despicable Newt: The Fall of Grindelwald".
"Pfft~"
Upon hearing that the movie was from the Tower, at the strong request of Gellert Grindelwald himself, Ian spat out the drink he had just taken a sip.
"This is truly...a wonderful thing."
The young wizard just wanted to know how the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor felt.
Do you know anything about the lead actor?
As long as they don't talk about dominating or overthrowing the wizarding world, Ian feels he has plenty to talk about with the Greengrass couple.
Except for Lupin.
Perhaps this dinner party can be considered a success, with all the guests enjoying themselves. Time always flies when you're gossiping, and as evening approached, Ian opportunely suggested taking his leave.
"I have another appointment to keep." Ian brought up his appointment with Hermione Granger's family. He was telling the truth, but he didn't mention that the appointment was actually for tomorrow.
"Of course, no problem. We're already very happy that you came." Theodore Greengrass didn't try to stop him; after all, he had already achieved his goal.
"These are all pre-processed ingredients. You can take them home and cook them simply." Mrs. Armand Greengrass also handed over the small box prepared by the house-elf at the opportune moment.
Of course, she didn't forget to reimburse Ian for his travel expenses. The bulging money bag clearly showed that it was definitely more than two hundred Galleons, and this was indeed the case after the young wizard refused to see him off as he left the manor.
"A full five hundred Galleons!"
Ian was overjoyed as he looked at the overflowing money bag. He thought it wouldn't be so bad if Miss Daphne Greengrass became his sixty-ninth friend.
I don't want anything else.
Miss Daphne Greengrass had such generous parents.
"How do we get back?"
Lupin didn't seem to feel any sourness about it.
He just sighed.
Perhaps the previous conversation reminded him of his good friend, so the down-on-his-luck werewolf seemed a bit depressed and didn't even seem to want to tattle on Albus Dumbledore.
perhaps.
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Reporting is useless
He finally understood something.
"Of course I'll take the Knight Bus and go straight to the hotel in Diagon Alley... Are you going back to the orphanage or to Hogwarts? You don't have to come with me just to buy a book, do you?" It wasn't that Ian didn't want to add another fare to Lupin's bill; he just felt that Lupin might need some quiet space right now.
"Dumbledore told me to stay by your side for the entire holiday..." Lupin looked up at the bright stars in the sky. He actually wanted to go see the child his good friend had left behind.
"Ugh, the old headmaster is really toxic. Am I the kind of kid who lacks a sense of security?" Ian sighed helplessly and could only count out the two people's fare after walking back to where they had gotten off the bus.
He then raised his wand and summoned the Knight Bus.
"I think Dumbledore wants me to ensure the safety of everyone else..." Lupin had indeed understood this long ago, which was why he dared not let his guard down.
Perhaps it would be simpler if Ian were just a little wizard who needed protection, then he wouldn't feel increasingly powerless like he does now.
Other pure-blood families immediately pledged their loyalty, demanding allegiance and asking Ian to lead them on important missions. But he was just a werewolf, and all he could do was watch helplessly.
Can it be stopped?
It can't be stopped!
"Perhaps Dumbledore never intended for me to stop him, but just wanted me to prevent this guy from being led astray?" Lupin muttered to himself with some uncertainty.
Just like I said earlier.
He realized a lot tonight.
"Pfft~"
"Click"
Just at this time.
The Knight Bus arrived as scheduled.
Ian boarded the bus first, followed closely by Lupin. Their figures disappeared onto the grass along with the Knight Bus. In the distance, the couple who had been watching from the manor gate finally turned their gaze away.
"Could he really be the hope?"
Mrs. Armand Greengrass looked at her husband with some uncertainty.
"It will definitely be so."
Theodore Greengrass's response was very firm.
"But he looks so young, so... I don't know how to describe him, is he eccentric?" Mrs. Armand Greengrass was clearly not as assertive as she had been earlier.
Her tone was somewhat complicated, perhaps because the little wizard's "self-defilement" had indeed worked; in the eyes of this manor mistress, Ian's personality was indeed a bit too unconventional.
"What he said about pasta mixed with concrete, and that he would treat us to stir-fried dragon fruit with asparagus and pickled mango when he had time, I found it really inexplicable."
Mrs. Armand Greengrass's reaction was exactly what Ian wanted to see.
however.
The little wizard's plan is quite good.
However, some things were completely unexpected.
"My dear, you can't judge a book by its cover," Theodore Greengrass said softly, his eyes gleaming with wisdom as he gazed in the direction Ian had disappeared.
"That person whose name cannot be spoken has done something similar, or rather, all those in positions of power like to point to something irrational and claim it is irrational."
"This is a test of loyalty, to see if we will agree with his wrong views... Didn't you see that after I chose to approve, the boy chosen by Dumbledore gave me a thumbs up in satisfaction?"
"He was already exercising his rights as a leader, even if he didn't think so himself, which just shows that Daphne's classmate might have been born with the qualities to be a leader."
can only say.
Life is unpredictable, and the large intestine may not be able to contain the small intestine. Ian's actions were merely intended to lower the other party's favorability, but he never expected to encounter such profound understanding from a genius like Zhuge Liang or Pang Tong.
That means the little wizard isn't here.
Otherwise, the expression on his face would definitely be quite interesting.
"Is that so..." Mrs. Armand Greengrass clearly trusted her husband a lot, so although she was still a little suspicious about his whereabouts, she nodded thoughtfully.
"You're smarter."
Mrs. Armand Greengrass's expression grew increasingly enlightened as she thought about it.
Again.
A hidden dragon has appeared.
The phoenix chick will surely be here.
People who aren't family can't enter the same door.
The two chatted as they returned to the restaurant, which had been cleaned by the house-elves.
"When we get back, we should talk to Daphne more and encourage her to do well at school. We're already ahead of our friends in terms of choosing sides," Theodore Greengrass reminded his wife, knowing that his daughter always listened to her husband more.
"Yes, I know what to do."
Mrs. Armand Greengrass nodded, but a hint of worry appeared on her face. "Theodore, will our old headmaster cause trouble again this time?"
"First it was him, then it was Harry Potter, and now it's this Ian Prince. Who knows when he'll change his mind again."
It's clear that Armand Greengrass is experiencing some PTSD symptoms related to Albus Dumbledore, but if you put yourself in her shoes, her concerns aren't entirely unfounded.
"I think this time, our principal isn't the only decision-maker; he can't just veto it again," Theodore Greengrass thought, the exact opposite of his lover's.
He smiled confidently.
I looked at the small newspaper that had been displayed as a topic of conversation. The largest section was filled with news about the upcoming filming of "Despicable Newt: The Tragedy of Grindelwald."
Perhaps not all the men in the Greengrass family are "wise." After all, sometimes it really is the intelligent ones who think more deeply and see problems in more complex ways.
"What do you mean? Is there more than one person who thinks highly of this new Dumbledore follower of the Order of the Phoenix?" Armand Greengrass also noticed her husband's gaze.
She saw the image of a wizard with a small mustache on the newspaper.
His expression immediately became somewhat surprised and uncertain.
Just as Armand Greengrass seemed to realize something for the first time, Theodore Greengrass's next words caused her pupils to contract sharply.
"That's what sets Ian Prince apart from the others. What if, and I mean what if... Ian Prince wasn't one of the Order of the Phoenix followers our old headmaster valued?"
Theodore Greengrass lowered his voice.
"What do you mean?"
His wife's pupils flickered intensely.
"You saw the person with him too, Lupin, um, a core member of the Order of the Phoenix... Perhaps our old headmaster is already planning to have the Order of the Phoenix serve this young wizard in the future."
"That's not all."
"Judging from recent events, our former headmaster has changed his ways again and is promoting this young wizard. He is actively applying for or demanding the Order of Merlin for this young wizard... I suspect that his previous incident of forcibly breaking into Gringotts was also inextricably linked to this young wizard."
"What do you think is the purpose of all this?"
"All signs indicate that he has not only decided to make the Order of the Phoenix a force in the hands of this young wizard, but he himself has also staked his entire life's honor on it."
"We know that he defeated the mysterious man because of the recording stones he scattered. What we can see is just what the great Dumbledore wants us to see."
"Take all these factors together, and the answer is quite obvious." Theodore Greengrass's analysis made Armand Greengrass's expression turn doubtful.
"You mean Dumbledore wants to create a king?"
Her voice was filled with disbelief.
"Honey, your sense of smell should be more acute."
Under his wife's increasingly horrified and horrified gaze, Theodore Greengrass looked up at the family crest and spoke in a low, resolute voice.
"Dumbledore has already placed his bet... He's going to be a follower for once." Theodore Greengrass's voice echoed softly in the quiet restaurant.
"No! My God! Your idea is insane!"
Armand Greengrass's voice trembled slightly.
"It's not crazy, it might just be the truth. You might wonder why I'm so eager to place bets, but if you think about it carefully, there are some factors that support my view..."
The couple were still talking.
They were too engrossed in the analysis.
They were unaware of it.
The door behind me was slightly ajar.
"Daphne! Daphne! Have Mommy and Daddy been eaten?" A little girl named Astoria Greengrass asked her older sister with a sob in her voice.
"????"
Daphne, regretting embellishing the story, was now starting to worry that if her younger sister went to school and said something wrong, she might face an incredibly bleak school life again.
……
A new day has begun.
In the early morning, Diagon Alley is like an ancient dream gently awakened by magic, gradually breaking free from the silence of the night and blossoming with its unique vitality. As the first rays of sunlight pierce through the thin mist and gently caress the narrow streets paved with cobblestones, the entire alley begins to slowly awaken.
Along the streets, shops that have weathered countless centuries lit up with warm lights or hung up colorful signs, each exuding its own unique charm.
In front of the wand shop "Olivendine's Wand Shop," the slender wooden window slowly opened, revealing neatly arranged wands inside, seemingly waiting for their new owner.
A subtle fragrance of wood and magic floated in the air.
"This shop is also one of my properties!" The young wizard was showing Diagon Alley to Hermione Granger and her family, who were already overwhelmed by the sights, and he highlighted almost all the properties under his name.
"The owner of this shop loves to fool people. Wait for me to drink a bottle of medicine and transform myself, then listen to how he fools people. Maybe he has updated a completely new version this year. I need a reason and an excuse to raise the rent."
It's clear that Ian holds a grudge.
Before Hermione, whose mouth had already formed an "O" shape, and the couple with somewhat strange expressions could speak, a swaying, hunched figure walked out of the wand shop.
"Mr. Prince... I gave you the land deed..."
The old man, who was quite old, was helpless.
"what?"
Ian clearly hadn't expected this.
"Your ears are really sharp."
He could only laugh awkwardly and choose to evade the question.
"I didn't know you had a relative studying at Slytherin..." Ian changed the subject as he saw Hermione excitedly rush into the shop.
"Is this where we choose wands? Does having a wand mean I can cast spells?" Hermione was clearly very excited as she looked at the dazzling array of wands.
"Slow down, Hermione."
Mrs. Granger quickly followed her into the shop.
"Are you still going to transform?"
Mr. Granger glanced jokingly at the embarrassed Ian beside him.
"It's probably not necessary."
The little wizard's face turned slightly red.
And at this time.
Ollivander, who had entered the shop with Ian, finally answered Ian's earlier question.
"My grandson will be attending Hogwarts this year, but that's not why I'm investing in you, Mr. Prince, just as I said when we first met."
"You are destined for unprecedented achievements." Ollivander's tone was somewhat wistful as he pointed to a corner of the shop by the window.
The blond boy looked up and smiled.
But that face always gave the young wizard a sense of déjà vu.
(End of this chapter)