"Ivan, thank you."
Let's set aside Crookshanks for a moment. Ivan's offer to lend Hermione his advanced spell textbooks saved Hermione a lot of Galleons.
"Humph~ We are friends, aren't we?"
Ivan tousled Hermione's fluffy hair, causing the young witch a bit of embarrassment.
But Hermione didn't pull away.
It must be acknowledged that Ivan's presence alleviated the various uneasy feelings Hermione had upon her initial entry into the magical world.
They are of the same kind, from the same place, and are each other's only friends. This concept took root in Hermione's heart like a seed.
Before leaving Diagon Alley, the two agreed to study magic together.
There are still two weeks before Hogwarts starts. Hermione plans to learn some spells in advance to avoid being bullied by those young wizards from wizarding families after school starts.
During this time, Ivan also inquired with Professor McGonagall about the Trace.
The Trace is a tracking spell that can locate the approximate position of underage wizards and detect magical activities within a certain range around them.
When an underage wizard uses magic in front of a Muggle or if someone around them uses magic, the Ministry of Magic's Improper Use of Magic Office is immediately notified.
This notification is carried out through a contract magic that monitors underage wizards.
"Your wands have not been set with the Trace yet."
Professor McGonagall clarified: "The Trace is not set on wands; it is a type of contract magic."
At the end of the first year at Hogwarts, students receive a summer vacation notice stating that young wizards are not allowed to cast spells outside of school, and students are required to sign their names.
In the wizarding world, the name itself contains magic, and this notice also acts as a contract, which, to a certain extent, binds every underage wizard studying at a magic school.
"In addition, when a young wizard violates the rules and casts a spell outside of school, the Ministry of Magic will receive a notice."
The existence of this notice is based on the magic contract, so it will record the location and time when the young wizard breaks the rules.
As for what magic was cast and who cast it, the Trace cannot determine.
'And that's why the kids of the wizarding world can get away with it!'
"I see."
Ivan nodded and decided to review the spells in the textbook with Hermione over the next two weeks and share experiences.
Afterward, the three of them had lunch at the Leaky Cauldron.
McGonagall used Apparition to send the two home and then returned to Hogwarts via the Floo Network.
In the headmaster's office at Hogwarts, an old man stood behind the glass window.
He had a head of silver-white hair, waist-length, and so long that it could be tucked into his belt, and blue eyes that seemed to possess magical vision, as if they could see through people.
The old man's nose was very long but twisted, appearing to have been broken at least twice.
He is the headmaster of Hogwarts, the most powerful wizard in the wizarding world today, Albus Dumbledore.
"Albus."
Suddenly, Professor McGonagall walked in from the headmaster's office: "I have something to tell you."
Professor McGonagall did not keep him in suspense and directly informed Dumbledore about all the events concerning Ivan, including the occurrences in Ollivander's Wand Shop.
To be as detailed as possible, they even used the Pensieve to more clearly observe Ivan through McGonagall's eyes.
"Ambrosius..."
"The blood of the Eternal Family."
Dumbledore listened to all this patiently. He was well aware of the legend of Merlin's descendants: "It seems that our school will welcome another talented young wizard this year."
"Albus?!"
Professor McGonagall widened her eyes, seemingly puzzled by Dumbledore's calm demeanor.
"Okay, okay, I understand."
Dumbledore soothed Professor McGonagall's concerns. He opened a glass jar on the table, took out a struggling cockroach from it, and asked: "Would you like some?"
"..."
Professor McGonagall took a deep breath and maintained her composure: "No, thank you."
Although the cockroach cluster was not made of real cockroaches, but rather enchanted syrup, the sensation of it struggling in the mouth and the sound it made when bitten were enough to make Professor McGonagall averse to this peculiar candy.
Crack, crack.~
Dumbledore chewed on the cockroach cluster and said calmly: "It seems you are quite concerned about that boy, Minerva."
"Yes, I am worried..."
Professor McGonagall did not finish her sentence, but Dumbledore understood her implications. However, the old man shook his head and said: "They are different, Minerva."
Once bitten, twice shy.
Professor McGonagall had a favorable impression of Ivan.
But it is precisely because she is fond of this child that she hopes Ivan can take the right path.
To be frank, Professor McGonagall feels immense pressure and worries that she may not be capable enough to teach Ivan effectively.
She discussed the matter with Dumbledore primarily to seek additional guidance for Ivan to prevent a repeat of Tom Riddle's issues.
"Don't underestimate yourself."
Dumbledore looked into Professor McGonagall's eyes and smiled: "You are the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts, my finest Transfiguration professor."
The old man could empathize with Professor McGonagall's feelings, reminiscent of when he first encountered Tom Riddle—both elated and apprehensive.
"And we must acknowledge it."
Dumbledore continued: "Tom was an exceptional wizard, wasn't he?"
Setting aside external influences, Voldemort's achievements in magic are indeed formidable.
Thus, Dumbledore offered a few more words of reassurance to McGonagall before she departed.
"Ivan Ambrosius, huh?"
After Professor McGonagall left, Dumbledore slowly sat down.
The old man gazed out at the night sky, but his thoughts drifted to Gellert Grindelwald.
The blood of Ambrosius, tied to the descendants of Merlin, last notably manifested in Grindelwald.
Of course, Grindelwald did not possess the ability to make precise predictions or transform physically as Ivan could at such a young age.
The two were not related by blood. After all, the descendants of Merlin were scattered across Europe. This blood awakening seemed more like a miraculous gift of magic bestowed randomly upon wizards.
"Haah.. my old friend.. He is more gifted than you."
Dumbledore marveled at Ivan's talents but did not ponder whether this child would bring positive or negative changes to the wizarding world.
All they could do was impart some wisdom as elders, nothing more.
Standing at the door of the orphanage, Ivan felt as if he was entering another world.
Next to Ivan was a cart, laden with all the items he had purchased in Diagon Alley. On top of the cart, two cages housed an owl and Yuumi respectively.
Compared to the sedate owl, Yuumi was actively observing the Muggle world with curiosity.
The fluffy little cat attracted a lot of attention as soon as she arrived, especially with her agile movements which were truly endearing.
"Okay, we're home."
Ivan wheeled the cart into the orphanage, greeted Mrs. Mena and the staff, and then headed straight to his room.
Opening the cage, Ivan lifted Yuumi out.
The little cat didn't struggle; she was very intelligent and recognized that Ivan was her master.
"Meow~~"
After a cute meow, Yuumi settled beside Ivan submissively. She looked around, but ultimately shook her head with a hint of regret, as if she was slightly disdainful of the shabby room.
"Well, the conditions are indeed poor."
Ivan doesn't speak cat, but his four-point soul vision intuition allowed him to grasp what Yuumi meant: "Don't worry, I will have someone arrange a new house while I study at Hogwarts."
"When we come back from Hogwarts, we can live in the new house."
Over the years, Ivan has changed his appearance more than once, making his initial financial accumulation through football betting and other gambles.
Now, Ivan had accumulated enough money to live a comfortable life.
Moreover, he had fabricated a wealthy non-existent individual through various means such as insurances, bank accounts, real estate investments, and cash flows.
According to Ivan's plan, he would be adopted by this fictitious rich man and then move into a villa registered under the rich man's name.
This was what Ivan meant when he said he would leave the orphanage after the first year. Hehe~
"Meow~~"
"Are you hungry, little one?"
Ivan took out the snacks he bought in Diagon Alley from the box, served some to Yuumi, and then took out the first-year spells textbook and began to read.
Professor McGonagall had mentioned that the Trace would be cast during the first summer vacation for freshmen at Hogwarts.
This meant that for the next two weeks, Ivan could practice magic without any concerns about being detected by the Ministry of Magic.
"Ok! Dear me, your future looks exciting! BUT you still have to be careful."
The Obscurus within Ivan was immensely powerful, and any careless use could cause significant damage.
Even though he now possessed a wand that granted him remarkable control over his magic, mastering the use of this power was still a major challenge.
"Let's try it first."
Ivan opened the "Standard Spells, Elementary." He read through the book swiftly, almost absorbing ten lines in a glance.
"Charms are different from Transfiguration spells. Charms imbue specific properties onto an object or creature, while Transfiguration spells transform it into something entirely different."
In the first-year spells textbook, a total of nine spells are recorded: the Softening Charm, the Severing Charm, the Unlocking Charm, the Levitation Charm, the Locking Spell, the Mending Charm, the Banishing Charm, the Wand-Lighting Charm, and the Fire-Making Spell.
"It doesn't seem that difficult."
After reading through the textbook, Ivan mentally reviewed the spells several times, then organized the key information and categorized it for better understanding.
"Let's try it first."
"Start with the simplest one."
Theory is theory, after all; the actual effectiveness of a spell depends on its execution.
Ivan pulled out his wand from his sleeve, flipped the book to the section detailing the Wand-Lighting Charm, and chanted the incantation: "Lumos!"
As he spoke, a silver-white light emanated from the tip of his wand, serving as a small light source. It was bright yet not blinding, casting a reassuring glow that seemed to illuminate the soul.
"Success."
Ivan was not overly excited about successfully casting the spell. He was already familiar with magic, capable of casting spells wandlessly and controlling the Obscurus.
What intrigued Ivan more was the novel experience brought by casting his first spell with a wand.
"Just as I thought, the magical power in this world isn't merely a type of energy, but a 'force'."
In essence, magic is like objects of varying weights, and magical power is the strength required to lift them.
Consider the "Lumos" spell as an example. The magical power it requires is very minimal.
Low magical power requirements indicate that the force needed is weak and the difficulty of execution will correspondingly be lower.
"So, how about this?"
This time, Ivan decided to cast a spell wandlessly, without verbal incantations.
Almost immediately as he waved his wand, Ivan knew he had successfully cast the spell.
However, with the successful execution of the spell, a sense of unease crept into Ivan's heart: 'Did I use too much force?'
"o—SHIT!!"
"Meow!!"
Amid Yuumi's cries, Ivan was blinded by a dazzling white light.
The intense brightness stung his eyes, and even Yuumi, who had been eating, leapt up in alarm and scurried to hide at Ivan's feet.
"Ah, sorry, Yuumi, are you okay?"
Ivan, momentarily dazed, rubbed his eyes and took a moment to recover.
Looking down at Yuumi, who was climbing up his legs with the help of his trousers, he noticed the snacks scattered all over the floor. The little cat stared up at him with a look of reproach in her eyes, clearly upset by the disturbance.
"Well, that, ehm* little Yuumi, life is full of surprises, we have to adapt to unexpected situations."
In simpler terms, he hoped the cat would forgive her owner, right?
"???"
Yuumi might not understand human speech, but she could certainly pick up on Ivan's dismissive tone.
"Meow..."
The adorable little cat meowed in displeasure, expressing her dissatisfaction with her less-than-considerate owner.
"It was just an accident, I promise."
Ivan smiled apologetically, acknowledging the risk of the spell spiraling out of control.
He lifted Yuumi onto the table and filled her bowl with a generous amount of cat food as an apology. Then, as she licked his fingers, it seemed as if she was saying, "Bad master, but Yuumi forgives you."
"This little foodie."
Ivan muttered under his breath, his thoughts drifting back to the mishap with the spell.
"Just as I suspected, the illumination spell shouldn't use too much magical power; otherwise, it causes unpredictable alterations to the spell."
"Failure? Mistake?"
Ivan furrowed his brow slightly: "No, I think it's more of an expansion, an enhancement of the Wand-Lighting Charm."
Lower-level spells don't demand high magical power, meaning that if Ivan wants to cast them successfully, he must control his magical output.
This proves challenging for someone with potent magical abilities like him.
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GOT IT