After all, dragons give birth to dragons and phoenixes give birth to phoenixes. With descendants like Voldemort, one can only imagine Salazar Slytherin might also have had involvement with Soul Artifacts. Maybe using Soul Artifacts is a family tradition of the old Slytherin lineage?
"You should be off to class, Little Ian. Professor McGonagall doesn't like students being late." Albus Dumbledore unexpectedly escorted Ian all the way to the door of the Transformation Class classroom.
"Hiss, I thought we three had already teamed up." Ian was somewhat reluctant. He had attended this class long ago, and with a mind full of the mystery of Professor Arthur King, he really didn't want to repeat what he'd already done.
"You can ask Professor McGonagall about the Transformation Technique you want to learn. She always appreciates students with outstanding transformation talents like yours." Albus Dumbledore directly pushed Ian into the classroom.
Seeing the gazes of the little wizards already in the classroom directed at him, Ian looked back every step, finally resigning himself to the fact that he had to choose a seat and sit down in the classroom.
Outside the window.
The figures of Albus Dumbledore and Grindelwald were receding, and Ian, using some magic tricks, vaguely overheard the fading conversation between the two.
"It seems you've found the second Prophet you told me about." Albus Dumbledore spoke to Grindelwald, who shook his head in response.
"I don't think he's the person we're looking for. He's a third party... In fact, while reviewing your school's past records, I've already seen some anomalies in his resume."
The subject of their conversation was beyond Ian's scope of understanding. Even after Professor McGonagall entered the classroom, he continued to frown and ponder over the meaning of "second person" and "third party."
Meanwhile.
In the library after all three had left.
"This is truly unexpected." Professor Arthur King, after a long time since the three left, finally withdrew his gaze from the doorway.
"They're all crafty old men, each more skilled in performance than I am." Suddenly, the silhouette of Professor Arthur King emerged from behind a nearby bookshelf.
A ripple of space.
Another Arthur King materialized in the library. He was wearing his pre-explosion clothes, and the bronze-shimmering ring on his hand, like his clothes, remained intact.
"Sigh, messed it all up. I can only blame myself for relying on that thing too much and not having experienced anything similar for a long time." Arthur King twisted the ring on his finger.
In the next moment.
The Arthur King who had been in the library, wearing the robe given by Dumbledore, vanished like dust in the wind, disappearing so thoroughly as if he had never existed.
"I shouldn't have been so mouthy, teased the little guy in front of him. I should have realized that anyone you can play with can't be anything other than a brute..."
"Caught me by surprise, off guard!" Arthur King took out a photo from his robe, showing Ian with his two Dead companions.
"The path I'm on is really too hard... Maybe I should just find a place with clear mountains and clear waters to kick the bucket, ideally with a waterfall over my grave washing it every day."
In the library.
A breeze drifted in from the window.
The seemingly young professor appeared to be seriously considering this question.
...
Inside the Transformation Class classroom.
Professor McGonagall warily completed the class for the little wizards. Ian didn't seize the opportunity to seek extra help, and the older Cat Lady exited the classroom just as swiftly as he remembered.
"What is she busy with?"
Ian felt he could use the opportunity in the loop to explore things he normally wouldn't take notice of, so he followed Professor McGonagall throughout all of Hogwarts.
Of course.
The head of Gryffindor surely wasn't just admiring the craftsmanship of the statues. Each time she reached a statue, Professor McGonagall would carefully examine the marks on it.
"This one hasn't been tampered with."
"This one hasn't either."
"Bloody hell, who tampered with which statue?"
...
Ian managed to eavesdrop on Professor McGonagall's mutterings, watching her grow more anxious and hasty with each step until, after checking all the statues in Hogwarts, she appeared as if she had aged ten years.
Under the extraordinary perception of [Thought Perception], Ian clearly went from not being able to probe any of her psychology to sensing Professor McGonagall's inner panic and unease.
"Tampered with a statue? Hiss! Could I be the culprit?" Ian pondered over Professor McGonagall's muttered words, realizing the cause of her anxiety.
Realizing this while acting as an unwitting tail in the scene, Ian promptly and quietly slinked away, diving into the Room of Requirement to play magic ostrich.
He did think about going out to confess, to contribute to Professor McGonagall's good night's sleep, but the thought of her possible lengthy lecture made his head ache. Even within the loop, Ian felt intimidated by such a scene, more frightened than by Snape's sarcastic remarks.
"Serious, stern, responsible, and fond of preaching middle-aged professors are the most nerve-racking." Ian in the Room of Requirement burned a cauldron along with his Dementor.